Rapid Detection of Cysticercus cellulosae by an Up-Converting Phosphor Technology-Based Lateral-Flow Assay

Cysticercosis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the larvae of Taenia solium in pigs and humans. The current diagnosis of porcine cysticercosis is difficult, and traditional pathological tests cannot meet the needs of detection. This study established a UPT-LF assay for the detection of Cysticercus cellulosae. UCP particles were bound to two antigens, TSOL18 and GP50; samples were captured, and the signal from the UCP particles was converted into a detectable signal for analysis using a biosensor. Compared to ELISA, UPT-LF has higher sensitivity and specificity, with a sensitivity of 93.59% and 97.44%, respectively, in the case of TSOL18 and GP50 antigens and a specificity of 100% for both. Given its rapidness, small volume, high sensitivity and specificity, and good stability and reproducibility, this method could be used in the diagnosis of cysticercosis.

Taenia solium in the Anterior Chamber: Surgical Management of a Rare Case of Live Free-Floating Parasite

Ocular cysticercosis is a preventable cause of blindness. It is a parasitic infestation caused by Cysticercus cellulosae—which is the larval form of Taenia solium. In 1829, Soemmering reported the first case of a live anterior chamber cysticercosis. In the following, we report a rare case of a 13-year-old male who presented with a live adult Taenia solium in the anterior chamber without any systemic features and its successful management.

Isolated Cysticercosis of Sternocleidomastoid Muscle: Role of Ultrasonography

Cysticercosis is considered a common healthcare problem, especially in developing countries. The invasion of muscle by the larval stage of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium (i.e., Cysticercus cellulosae) usually occurs in association with CNS cysts, concurrent muscle cysts, or both. Isolated skeletal muscle involvement is rare and presents with nonspecific symptoms resulting in a diagnostic dilemma for the treating physician. We report a 20-year-old female with isolated cysticercosis of right sternocleidomastoid muscle presenting as a right neck swelling and mild pain for 4 months, whose diagnosis was established by ultrasonography (USG) and computed tomogram (CT) scan. She was managed conservatively with oral albendazole therapy for four weeks resulting in complete resolution.

Cysticercus cellulosae Regulates T-Cell Responses and Interacts With the Host Immune System by Excreting and Secreting Antigens

Cysticercus cellulosae (C. cellulosae) excretes and secretes antigens during the parasitic process to regulate the host immune response; however, resulting immune response and cytokine production in the host during infection still remains unclear. We used C. cellulosae crude antigens (CAs) as controls to explore the effect of excretory secretory antigens (ESAs) on T-cell immune responses in piglets. C. cellulosae ESAs induced imbalanced CD4+/CD8+ T-cell proportions, increased the CD4+Foxp3+ and CD8+Foxp3+ T-cell frequencies, and induced lymphocytes to produce interleukin-10, which was mainly attributed to CD4+ and CD4−CD8− T cells. The ESAs also induced Th2-type immune responses. The results showed that the ability of C. cellulosae to escape the host immune attacks and establish a persistent infection may be related to host immune response regulation by the ESAs.

Regulation of DNA methylation on key parasitism genes of Cysticercus cellulosae revealed by integrative epigenomic-transcriptomic analyses

Background The life cycle of Taenia solium is characterized by different stages of development, requiring various kinds of hosts that can appropriately harbor the eggs (proglottids), the oncospheres, the larvae and the adults. Similar to other metazoan pathogens, T. solium undergoes transcriptional and developmental regulation via epigenetics during its complex lifecycle and host interactions. Result In the present study, we integrated whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and RNA-seq technologies to characterize the genome-wide DNA methylation and its effect on transcription of Cysticercus cellulosae of T. solium. We confirm that the T. solium genome in the cysticercus stage is epigenetically modified by DNA methylation in a pattern similar to that of other invertebrate genomes, i.e., sparsely or moderately methylated. We also observed an enrichment of non-CpG methylation in defined genetic elements of the T. solium genome. Furthermore, an integrative analysis of both the transcriptome and the DNA methylome indicated a strong correlation between these two datasets, suggesting that gene expression might be tightly regulated by DNA methylation. Importantly, our data suggested that DNA methylation might play an important role in repressing key parasitism-related genes, including genes encoding excretion-secretion proteins, thereby raising the possibility of targeting DNA methylation processes as a useful strategy in therapeutics of cysticercosis.

Cisticercosis hepática: a propósito de un caso y revisión de la literatura

La cisticercosis hepática es una enfermedad parasitaria bastante rara que consiste en el compromiso hepático por el cisticerco, con pocos casos reportados en la literatura, ninguno antes reportado en Colombia. Esta infección es producida por Cysticercus cellulosae, la forma larvaria del helminto Taenia solium. Es adquirida al consumir los huevos de la Tenia spp que se encuentran en la comida poco cocinada o el agua. En los casos reportados de cisticercosis hepática, el tratamiento se basa principalmente en el uso de antihelmínticos y en ocasiones quirúrgico. Se presenta el caso de un paciente mayor, indígena, quien consultó por melenas y dolor abdominal. En el examen físico se encontró hepatomegalia. Las imágenes diagnósticas plantean diagnóstico diferencial entre quiste hidatídico vs cistoadenoma/cistoadenocarcinoma. El examen histopatológico sugiere compromiso por cisticercosis. Se reporta el caso de una cisticercosis hepática, con histología altamente sugestiva y hallazgos imagenológicos bastante inusuales a los previamente descritos en literatura. MÉD.UIS. 2020;33(2):101-108

Regulation of DNA Methylation on Key Parasitism Genes of Cysticercus Cellulosae Revealed by Integrative Epigenomic-Transcriptomic Analyses

Background: The life cycle of Taenia solium is characterized by different stages of development, requiring various kinds of hosts that can appropriately harbor the eggs (proglottids), the oncospheres, the larvae and the adults. Similar to other metazoan pathogens, T. solium undergoes transcriptional and developmental regulation via epigenetics during its complex lifecycle and host interactions.Result: In the present study, we integrated whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and RNA-seq technologies to characterize the genome-wide DNA methylation and its effect on transcription of Cysticercus cellulosae of T. solium. We confirm that the T. solium genome in the cysticercus stage is epigenetically modified by DNA methylation in a pattern similar to that of other invertebrate genomes, i.e., sparsely or moderately methylated. We also observed an enrichment of non-CpG methylation in defined genetic elements of the T. solium genome. Furthermore, an integrative analysis of both the transcriptome and the DNA methylome indicated a strong correlation between these two datasets, suggesting that gene expression might be tightly regulated by DNA methylation. Importantly, our data suggested that DNA methylation might play an important role in repressing key parasitism-related genes, including genes encoding excretion-secretion proteins, thereby raising the possibility of targeting DNA methylation processes as a useful strategy in therapeutics of cysticercosis.

Cysticercosis

Cysticercosis, infection by larvae of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium, is the most common helminthic infection of the human central nervous system. It accounts for up to 30% of all seizures and epilepsy in endemic countries, and travel and immigration now lead to its more frequent presentation in industrialized countries. Ingestion of raw or undercooked pork can lead to infection with the T. solium cysticercus, formerly known as ‘Cysticercus cellulosae’, which is an encysted immature tapeworm. Once attached to the person’s small intestine, the head, or scolex, evaginates from the cysticercus, anchors in the intestinal mucosa and develops segments (proglottids) to become an adult tapeworm. Only by ingesting T. solium ova can humans develop cysticercosis. The commonest syndromes are late-onset epilepsy or intracranial hypertension. Diagnosis is based on brain imaging studies (CT or MRI) and supported by highly specific serology.

Penentuan Kadar Protein dan Fraksi Protein Crude Antigen Cysticercus cellulosae dari Isolat Lokal

Sistiserkosis merupakan penyakit parasitik yang disebabkan oleh larva cacing pita yang disebut Cysticercus. Cysticercus yang ditemukan pada babi adalah Cysticercus cellulosae yang merupakan larva dari cacing pita Taenia solium. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui kadar dan fraksi protein Crude antigen C. cellulosae. C. cellulosae yang digunakan adalah isolat lokal yang diperoleh dari babi terinfeksi yang berasal dari Karangasem – Bali. Penentuan kadar protein larva dilakukan dengan menggunakan alat Invitrogen Quibit Fluorometer dan penentuan fraksi protein larva dengan teknik elektroforesis menggunakan SDS-PAGE. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa kadar protein C. cellulosae isolat lokal sebesar 867 µg/ml. Sedangkan untuk fraksinasi protein larva diperoleh 6 bands protein dengan berat molekul: bands 1 = 120,5 kDa, bands 2 = 99,8 kDa, bands 3 = 60,8 kDa, bands 4 = 47,7 kDa, bands 5 = 35,6 kDa, dan bands 6 = 23,3 kDa.