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Pinniped respiratory mites of the species Orthohalarachneattenuata have been recorded from various locations around the world but not from continental Argentina. In the present work, we document for the first time the presence of O.attenuata on Arctocephalusaustralis on the Argentine mainland. A total of 23 adult and 381 immature mites were collected from the nose and nasopharyngeal cavity during a necropsy. The mite ambulacrum is described in adults and larvae. This structure consists of a pretarsus, an extensible pulvillum, a pair of claws and paradactyli (pretarsus opercula). The ambulacral structures also have some peculiarities, such as the presence of longitudinal furrows in the claws, straight claws in legs II and III (as opposed to curved in legs I and IV), and the fin-shaped paradactyli. The morphology of the ambulacrum of this mite is interpreted as an adaptation for anchoring to different surfaces of the host, and the protective structures present in the larvae as an adaptation for the dispersal phase in the external environment.
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BACKGROUND: The Gran Chaco ecoregion is a well-known hotspot of several neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) including Chagas disease, soil-transmitted helminthiasis and multiparasitic infections. Interspecific interactions between parasite species can modify host susceptibility, pathogenesis and transmissibility through immunomodulation. Our objective was to test the association between human co-infection with intestinal parasites and host parasitaemia, infectiousness to the vector and immunological profiles in Trypanosoma cruzi-seropositive individuals residing in an endemic region of the Argentine Chaco. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional serological survey for T. cruzi infection along with an intestinal parasite survey in two adjacent rural villages. Each participant was tested for T. cruzi and Strongyloides stercoralis infection by serodiagnosis, and by coprological tests for intestinal parasite detection. Trypanosoma cruzi bloodstream parasite load was determined by quantitative PCR (qPCR), host infectiousness by artificial xenodiagnosis and serum human cytokine levels by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The seroprevalence for T. cruzi was 16.1% and for S. stercoralis 11.5% (n = 87). We found 25.3% of patients with Enterobius vermicularis. The most frequent protozoan parasites were Blastocystis spp. (39.1%), Giardia lamblia (6.9%) and Cryptosporidium spp. (3.4%). Multiparasitism occurred in 36.8% of the examined patients. Co-infection ranged from 6.9% to 8.1% for T. cruzi-seropositive humans simultaneously infected with at least one protozoan or helminth species, respectively. The relative odds of being positive by qPCR or xenodiagnosis (i.e. infectious) of 28 T. cruzi-seropositive patients was eight times higher in people co-infected with at least one helminth species than in patients with no such co-infection. Trypanosoma cruzi parasite load and host infectiousness were positively associated with helminth co-infection in a multiple regression analysis. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) response, measured in relation to interleukin (IL)-4 among humans infected with T. cruzi only, was 1.5-fold higher than for T. cruzi-seropositive patients co-infected with helminths. The median concentration of IL-4 was significantly higher in T. cruzi-seropositive patients with a positive qPCR test than in qPCR-negative patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show a high level of multiparasitism and suggest that co-infection with intestinal helminths increased T. cruzi parasitaemia and upregulated the Th2-type response in the study patients.
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Doença de Chagas , Coinfecção , Helmintíase , Enteropatias Parasitárias , Trypanosoma cruzi , Humanos , Trypanosoma cruzi/imunologia , Trypanosoma cruzi/genética , Trypanosoma cruzi/isolamento & purificação , Coinfecção/parasitologia , Coinfecção/epidemiologia , Coinfecção/imunologia , Doença de Chagas/epidemiologia , Doença de Chagas/complicações , Doença de Chagas/parasitologia , Doença de Chagas/sangue , Doença de Chagas/imunologia , Animais , Adulto , Estudos Transversais , Masculino , Feminino , Enteropatias Parasitárias/epidemiologia , Enteropatias Parasitárias/parasitologia , Enteropatias Parasitárias/complicações , Enteropatias Parasitárias/imunologia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Helmintíase/complicações , Helmintíase/parasitologia , Helmintíase/epidemiologia , Helmintíase/imunologia , Adulto Jovem , Adolescente , Argentina/epidemiologia , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Strongyloides stercoralis/imunologia , Strongyloides stercoralis/isolamento & purificação , Parasitemia/parasitologia , Parasitemia/epidemiologia , Células Th2/imunologia , Criança , Estrongiloidíase/epidemiologia , Estrongiloidíase/parasitologia , Estrongiloidíase/complicações , Estrongiloidíase/imunologia , Estrongiloidíase/sangue , Idoso , Citocinas/sangue , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/sangueRESUMO
PURPOSE: In this study, 143 lutjanid fishes representing four different species from the Northeast coast off Brazil were analyzed for parasites. The aim of the present study is to provide a detailed redescription of R. (I.) vicentei, collected from lutjanid fishes in Brazil, including the first observation of the species using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). METHODS: Nematodes found clarified in a crescent glycerin series, were photographed and measured (in mm), and some specimens destined for SEM. The Illustrations were made using an optical microscope with a drawing tube. RESULTS: Nematodes found were identified as Raphidascaris (Ichthyascaris) vicentei, infecting 6.29% of the examined fish. Detailed morphological analysis revealed the following characteristics observed for the first time in this species: labial papillae, narrow lateral alae and the detailed structure of male spicules. These contributions help filling the gaps in the literature and expand the knowledge of this parasite morphology. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of R. (I.) vicentei in four lutjanid species may indicates low host specificity, highlighting its adaptability to different hosts. Furthermore, new host records are given. This research provides the most comprehensive morphological description of R. (I.) vicentei to date, generating crucial insights for a better understanding of the parasitic biodiversity off the Brazilian Northeastern coast of Brazil, as well as establishing foundation for future investigations on the ecology and impacts of these parasites in fish populations from this region.
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Doenças dos Peixes , Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura , Animais , Brasil , Doenças dos Peixes/parasitologia , Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura/veterinária , Masculino , Feminino , Peixes/parasitologia , Infecções por Ascaridida/veterinária , Infecções por Ascaridida/parasitologia , Infecções por Ascaridida/epidemiologia , Ascaridoidea/isolamento & purificação , Ascaridoidea/classificação , Ascaridoidea/anatomia & histologia , Ascaridoidea/ultraestruturaRESUMO
Protein kinases are enzymes involved in essential biological processes such as signal transduction, transcription, metabolism, and the cell cycle. Human kinases are targets for several drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Therefore, the identification and classification of kinases in other organisms, including pathogenic parasites, is an interesting subject of study. Monogeneans are platyhelminths, mainly ectoparasites, capable of causing health problems in farmed fish. Although some genomes and transcriptomes are available for monogenean species, their full repertoire of kinases is unknown. The aim of this study was to identify and classify the putative kinases in the transcriptomes of two monogeneans, Rhabdosynochus viridisi and Scutogyrus longicornis, and then to predict potential monogenean drug targets (MDTs) and selective inhibitor drugs using computational approaches. Monogenean kinases having orthologs in the lethal phenotype of C. elegans but not in fish or humans were considered MDTs. A total of 160 and 193 kinases were identified in R. viridisi and S. longicornis, respectively. Of these, 22 kinases, belonging mainly to the major groups CAMK, AGC, and TK, were classified as MDTs, five of which were evaluated further. Molecular docking analysis indicated that dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, and lomitapide have the highest affinity for the kinases BRSK and MEKK1. These well-known drugs could be evaluated in future studies for potential repurposing as anti-monogenean agents. The present study contributes valuable data for the development of new antiparasitic candidates for finfish aquaculture.
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The present paper comprises a systematic survey of helminths (trematodes, an acanthocephalan and nematodes) found in nine species of freshwater fishes in Ecuador collected in March 1999 and those (a trematode and acanthocephalans) collected from an amphibian and two species of freshwater fishes in Venezuela in 1992, 1996 and 2001. The following 17 helminth species were recorded: Trematoda: Prosthenhystera ornamentosa sp. n., P. obesa (Diesing, 1850), Crassicutis intermedius (Szidat, 1954), C. cichlasomae Manter, 1936 and Glypthelmins eleutherodactyli sp. n. Acanthocephala: Quadrigyrus torquatus Van Cleave, 1920, Gracilisentis variabilis (Diesing, 1851) and Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) ecuadoris sp. n. Nematoda: Cosmoxynema vianai Travassos, 1949, Travnema travnema Pereira, 1938, Touzeta ecuadoris Petter, 1987, Sprentascaris hypostomi Petter et Cassone, 1984, Sprentascaris sp., Contracaecum sp. Type 1 larvae, Contracaecum sp. Type 2 larvae, Procamallanus (Procamallanus) peraccuratus Pinto, Noronha et Rolas, 1976 and Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) sp. juv. Nearly all of these parasites are reported from Ecuador or Venezuela for the first time and many of these findings represent new host records. The new species P. ornamentosa sp. n. was collected from the gall-bladder of an unidentified anostomid (Anostomidae, Characiformes) in Ecuador, G. eleutherodactyli sp. n. from the digestive tract of the frog Eleutherodactylus sp. (Eleutherodactylidae, Anura) in Venezuela and N. (N.) ecuadoris sp. n. from the intestine of Lebiasina sp. (Lebiasinidae, Characiformes) in Ecuador. Most parasites are briefly described and illustrated and problems concerning their morphology, taxonomy, hosts and geographical distribution are discussed.
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Anfíbios , Doenças dos Peixes , Peixes , Água Doce , Helmintíase Animal , Helmintos , Animais , Venezuela/epidemiologia , Equador/epidemiologia , Peixes/parasitologia , Helmintíase Animal/epidemiologia , Helmintíase Animal/parasitologia , Anfíbios/parasitologia , Helmintos/classificação , Helmintos/isolamento & purificação , Doenças dos Peixes/parasitologia , Doenças dos Peixes/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Entamoeba histolytica is the protozoan causative of human amoebiasis. The EhADH adhesin (687 aa) is a protein involved in tissue invasion, phagocytosis and host-cell lysis. EhADH adheres to the prey and follows its arrival to the multivesicular bodies. It is an accessory protein of the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) machinery. Here, to study the role of different parts of EhADH during virulence events, we produced trophozoites overexpressing the three domains of EhADH, Bro1 (1-400 aa), Linker (246-446 aa) and Adh (444-687 aa) to evaluate their role in virulence. The TrophozBro11-400 slightly increased adherence and phagocytosis, but these trophozoites showed a higher ability to destroy cell monolayers, augment the permeability of cultured epithelial cells and mouse colon, and produce more damage to hamster livers. The TrophozLinker226-446 also increased the virulence properties, but with lower effect than the TrophozBro11-400. In addition, this fragment participates in cholesterol transport and GTPase binding. Interestingly, the TrophozAdh444-687 produced the highest effect on adherence and phagocytosis, but it poorly influenced the monolayers destruction; nevertheless, they augmented the colon and liver damage. To identify the protein partners of each domain, we used recombinant peptides. Pull-down assays and mass spectrometry showed that Bro1 domain interplays with EhADH, Gal/GalNAc lectin, EhCPs, ESCRT machinery components and cytoskeleton proteins. While EhADH, ubiquitin, EhRabB, EhNPC1 and EhHSP70 were associated to the Linker domain, and EhADH, EhHSP70, EhPrx and metabolic enzymes interacted to the Adh domain. The diverse protein association confirms that EhADH is a versatile molecule with multiple functions probably given by its capacity to form distinct molecular complexes.
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Entamoeba histolytica , Proteínas de Protozoários , Entamoeba histolytica/patogenicidade , Entamoeba histolytica/metabolismo , Animais , Camundongos , Proteínas de Protozoários/metabolismo , Proteínas de Protozoários/química , Proteínas de Protozoários/genética , Humanos , Virulência , Fagocitose , Domínios Proteicos , Entamebíase/parasitologia , Entamebíase/metabolismo , Cricetinae , Trofozoítos/metabolismoRESUMO
Parasites are ubiquitous in wildlife populations and have a profound impact on population dynamics. Interest in parasites of wildlife has increased significantly in recent years, particularly in those with relevant conservation status. Patagonia is one of the wildest and remote areas of the world. The Wolffsohn's viscacha lives in a small mountainous area of Patagonia. Until now, little is known about the biology and ecology of this species. The aim of this research was to study the gastrointestinal parasite diversity in this rodent from a coprological survey. A total of 125 fecal samples from 25 colonies were examined. Each sample was rehydrated, homogenized, and analyzed using three parasitological techniques: spontaneous sedimentation, Mini-FLOTAC, and centrifugation-flotation in sucrose-saturated solution, followed by examination under optical microscopy. The samples, eggs, and oocysts of parasites were described, measured, and photographed. All colonies were positive for at least one parasite species. A total of 10 parasitic species were identified: Viscachataenia sp., possibly V. quadrata, Monoecocestus sp., an unidentified anoplocephalid, Heteroxynema sp., possibly H. (Cavioxyura) viscaciae, Helminthoxys sp., possibly H. effilatus, an unidentified strongylid-type egg, Trichuris sp., two morphologies of unidentified coccidians and Eimeria sp. This is the first exhaustive study of gastrointestinal parasites in L. wolffsohni and a large number of eggs and oocysts of parasites were found. Our results highlight the use of noninvasive techniques for the study of parasites of wildlife hosts; as in the case of this rodent with a remote habitat, which makes sampling difficult. The results of our study provide baseline information on gastrointestinal parasite infections in this species.
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Fezes , Animais , Fezes/parasitologia , Argentina , Roedores/parasitologia , Enteropatias Parasitárias/veterinária , Enteropatias Parasitárias/parasitologia , Doenças dos Roedores/parasitologia , Doenças dos Roedores/epidemiologia , Parasitos/isolamento & purificação , Parasitos/classificação , Microscopia , Trato Gastrointestinal/parasitologiaRESUMO
Co-invasion, characterized by the simultaneous introduction of hosts and parasites with the latter establishing themselves in native hosts, is a phenomenon of ecological concern. Rattus rattus, a notorious invasive species, has driven the extinction and displacement of numerous avian and mammalian species and serves as a key vector for diseases affecting both humans and wildlife. Among the parasites hosted by R. rattus are fleas, which exhibit obligate parasitic behaviour, a generalist nature and high prevalence, increasing the likelihood of flea invasion. Simultaneously, invasive species can serve as hosts for native parasites, leading to potential amplification or dilution of parasite populations in the environment. In Chile, R. rattus has been present since the 17th century because of the arrival of the Spanish colonizers through the ports and has spread throughout urban, rural and wild Chilean territories. This study aims to evaluate whether co-invasion of native fleas of invasive rats occurs on native rodents in Chile and to determine whether black rats have acquired flea native to Chile during their invasion. For this, we captured 1132 rodents from 26 localities (20° S-53° S). Rattus rattus was found coexisting with 11 native rodent species and two species of introduced rodents. Among the native rodents, Abrothrix olivacea and Oligoryzomys longicaudatus exhibited more extensive sympatry with R. rattus. We identified 14 flea species associated with R. rattus, of which only three were native to rats: Xenopsylla cheopis, Leptopsylla segnis and Nosopsyllus fasciatus. These three species presented a higher parasite load in black rats compared to native fleas. Leptopsylla segnis and N. fasciatus were also found associated with native rodent species that cohabit with R. rattus. The remaining species associated with R. rattus were fleas of native rodents, although they were less abundant compared to those associated with native rodents, except for Neotyphloceras pardinasi and Sphinctopsylla ares. Although there has been evidence of flea transmission from rats to native species, the prevalence and abundance were relatively low. Therefore, it cannot be definitively concluded that these fleas have established themselves in native rodent populations, and hence, they cannot be classified as invasive fleas. This study underscores R. rattus' adaptability to diverse environmental and geographical conditions in Chile, including its capacity to acquire fleas from native rodents. This aspect has critical implications for public health, potentially facilitating the spread of pathogens across various habitats where these rats are found.
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Herein, we provide a supplemental description of Caballerotrema annulatum (Diesing, 1850) Ostrowski de Núñez and Sattmann, 2002 (Digenea: Caballerotrematidae Tkach, Kudlai, and Kostadinova, 2016) based on specimens collected from the intestine of an electric eel, Electrophorus cf. varii (Gymnotiformes: Gymnotidae) captured in the Amazon River (Colombia). This caballerotrematid can be differentiated from its congeners by the following combination of morphological features: body surface spines forming contiguous transverse rows, concentric (wrapping dorso-ventrally around body), distributing into posterior body half (vs. restricted to anterior body half in Caballerotrema brasiliensePrudhoe, 1960; indeterminate for Caballerotrema aruanenseThatcher, 1980 and Caballerotrema piscicola [Stunkard, 1960] Kostadinova and Gibson, 2001); head collar lacking projections (vs. having them in C. brasiliense, C. aruanense, and C. piscicola), narrow (head collar more narrow than maximum body width vs. the head collar being obviously wider than the body in C. brasiliense, C. aruanense, and C. piscicola); corner spines clustered (vs. corner spines distributing as 2 separated pairs in C. brasiliense, C. aruanense, and C. piscicola); pharynx approximately at level of the corner spines (vs. pharynx far anterior to corner spines in C. brasiliense, C. aruanense, and C. piscicola); and testes ovoid and nonoverlapping (C. aruanense; vs. sinuous and overlapping in C. brasiliense and C. piscicola). Based on our results, we revise the diagnosis of CaballerotremaPrudhoe, 1960 to include features associated with the shape and distribution of body surface spines, orientation and position of head collar spines, cirrus sac, seminal vesicle, oviduct, Laurer's canal, oötype, vitellarium, and transverse vitelline ducts. We performed Bayesian inference analyses using the partial large subunit ribosomal (28S) DNA gene. Our 28S sequence of C. annulatum was recovered sister to that of Caballerotrema sp. (which is the only other caballerotrematid sequence available in GenBank) from an arapaima, Arapaima gigas (Schinz, 1822) (Osteoglossiformes: Arapaimidae) in the Peruvian Amazon. Our sequence of C. annulatum comprises the only caballerotrematid sequenced tethered to a morphological description and a voucher specimen in a lending museum. The present study is a new host record and new locality record for C. annulatum. The phylogeny comprises the most resolved and taxon-rich evolutionary hypothesis for Echinostomatoidea published to date.
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Doenças dos Peixes , Filogenia , Rios , Trematódeos , Infecções por Trematódeos , Animais , Trematódeos/classificação , Trematódeos/anatomia & histologia , Infecções por Trematódeos/parasitologia , Infecções por Trematódeos/veterinária , Infecções por Trematódeos/epidemiologia , Doenças dos Peixes/parasitologia , Colômbia , Gimnotiformes/parasitologia , DNA de Helmintos/química , RNA Ribossômico 28S/genética , Intestinos/parasitologiaRESUMO
A total of 366 individuals of Lutjanus argentiventris (Peters, 1869) were collected over a 5-yr period (October 2018 to June 2022) from Acapulco Bay, Mexico. Parasite communities in Lutjanus argentiventris were quantified and analyzed to determine the main factors that generate changes in species richness and/or species composition over time. The digeneans and copepods were the best-represented parasite groups. The parasite communities were characterized by a high numerical dominance of ectoparasites, mainly isopod larvae. Species richness at the component community level (9-23 species) was similar to the reported richness in other Lutjanus spp. The parasite communities of Lutjanus argentiventris exhibited high variability in species composition, suggesting that each parasite species may respond differently to environmental changes. However, the species richness and diversity were fairly stable over time; therefore, a clear pattern of interannual variation was not observed. Variations in the community structure probably were due to factors such as host traits (e.g., feeding behavior and body size), and possible interannual differences in environmental factors amplified by the occurrence of the anomalous event of La Niña.
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Biodiversidade , Copépodes , Doenças dos Peixes , Perciformes , Animais , México/epidemiologia , Perciformes/parasitologia , Doenças dos Peixes/parasitologia , Doenças dos Peixes/epidemiologia , Copépodes/classificação , Copépodes/fisiologia , Isópodes/classificação , Isópodes/fisiologiaRESUMO
Parasitological studies of long-term inter-annual variations provide more precise and reliable information about the biological structure of fish parasite communities, and constitute a reference data base for future studies. A total of 1103 blue sea catfish Ariopsis guatemalensis from a tropical eutrophic coastal lagoon were examined for parasites over a 22-year period (from May 2000 to October 2022), to test the hypothesis that parasite communities of this host, should exhibit greater variations in their structure and species composition mainly over long-term periods. Three species of monoxenous (single-host life cycle), and nine of heteroxenous (multi-host life cycle) parasites were identified. The results indicated that parasite species composition of this catfish has remained stable over a 22-years period. However, the community structure has registered notable changes over periods of several years, mainly due to the replacement of the numerically dominant species. Temporal variations in the infection dynamics of component parasite species, were possibly caused by a combination of biotic and abiotic factors, influenced by the seasonal dry/rainy cycle, which can affect the availability of intermediate host populations, as well as the feeding and reproductive behavior of the host.
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Peixes-Gato , Doenças dos Peixes , Estações do Ano , Animais , Peixes-Gato/parasitologia , Doenças dos Peixes/parasitologia , Doenças dos Peixes/epidemiologia , Clima TropicalRESUMO
Diphyllobothriosis, a fish-borne zoonosis in South America, is mainly caused by the Pacific broad tapeworm Adenocephalus pacificus Nybelin, 1931, a parasite of considerable concern in fishery resources due to its impact on public health. A new diphyllobothrid, Diphyllobothrium sprakeri Hernández-Orts et al. Parasites Vectors 14:219, 2021, was recently described from sea lions from the Pacific Coast, but marine fish acting as intermediate hosts are unknown. The objective of this study was to confirm the presence of plerocercoid larvae of Diphyllobothriidae Lühe, 1910 (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidea) in nine fish species of commercial importance in Peru. Of a total of 6999 fish (5861 Engraulis ringens, 853 Sciaena deliciosa, 6 Sciaena callaensis, 171 Scomber japonicus, 40 Trachurus murphyi, 40 Ariopsis seemanni, 18 Merluccius peruanus, 5 Sarda chiliensis, and 5 Coryphaena hippurus), 183 were infected with plerocercoid larvae, representing a total prevalence of 2.61% and a mean intensity of 3.2. Based on mtDNA cox1 sequences of 43 plerocercoids, a phylogenetic analysis revealed that 41 belong to A. pacificus and two to D. sprakeri. These findings are first molecular data for D. sprakeri larvae, and the infections of E. ringens and T. murphyi by plerocercoid larvae represent the first records of intermediate/paratenic hosts for this species. Hence, the findings of the current study enhance our understanding of the presence of diphyllobothriid species in commercial fish from the Southeastern Pacific Ocean and their potential impact on seafood safety for local human populations.
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Doenças dos Peixes , Peixes , Larva , Animais , Peru/epidemiologia , Doenças dos Peixes/parasitologia , Doenças dos Peixes/epidemiologia , Peixes/parasitologia , Prevalência , Larva/classificação , Larva/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Larva/genética , Filogenia , Infecções por Cestoides/veterinária , Infecções por Cestoides/parasitologia , Infecções por Cestoides/epidemiologia , Cestoides/genética , Cestoides/classificação , Cestoides/isolamento & purificação , Diphyllobothrium/genética , Diphyllobothrium/classificação , Diphyllobothrium/isolamento & purificação , Difilobotríase/epidemiologia , Difilobotríase/parasitologia , Difilobotríase/veterinária , DNA de Helmintos/genéticaRESUMO
We describe a recent case of lymphatic filariasis in Colombia caused by Wuchereria bancrofti nematodes. Our study combines clinical-epidemiologic findings with phylogenetic data. Resurgence of lymphatic filariasis may be linked to increasing urbanization trends and migration from previously endemic regions. Fieldwork can be a beneficial tool for screening and containing transmission.
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Filariose Linfática , Wuchereria bancrofti , Filariose Linfática/epidemiologia , Colômbia/epidemiologia , Wuchereria bancrofti/genética , Humanos , Animais , Filogenia , Masculino , Adulto , Feminino , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
ABSTRACT In Colombia, ichthyozoonoses caused by helminths are little studied and remain neglected by the public health sector, representing an interaction to be explored regarding biodiversity and health. Caquetia kraussii is a native fish of Colombia and Venezuela that is economically important due to its high consumption by local communities. This research records the fauna of parasitic helminths associated with C. kraussii in a coastal lagoon system in the Colombian Caribbean. Thirty-two specimens of C. kraussii were captured and inspected in February and December 2020, resulting in the collection of 242 helminths at the metacercariae stage and adults. Parasites included metacercaria of the trematodes Clinostomum sp., Austrodiplostomum sp., two forms of Posthodiplostomum and adults of Oligogonotylus andinus, and adults of the acanthocephalan Neoechinorhynchus sp. These results indicate that C. kraussii acts as a definitive host for O. andinus and Neoechinorhynchus sp., and as an intermediate host for Clinostomum sp., Posthodiplostomum spp. and Austrodiplostomum sp. This research reports for the second time a population of O. andinus in Colombia and the occurrence of a morphoespecies of the genus Neoechinorhynchus that could constitute a new record for Colombia. In addition to contributing to the knowledge of the diversity of fish-associated helminths, the results of this research will make it possible to generate recommendations for the management and control of helminthiasis in artificial fish farming systems that are supplied by natural tributaries, and favor the establishment of hosts and parasites.
RESUMEN En Colombia, las ictiozoonosis causadas por helmintos son poco estudiadas y permanecen desatendidas desde el sector de la salud pública, representando una interacción por explorar en términos de biodiversidad y salud. Caquetia kraussii es un pez nativo de Colombia y Venezuela de importancia económica, debido a su alto consumo por parte de comunidades locales. Esta investigación registra la fauna de helmintos parásitos asociados a C. kraussii en un sistema de laguna costera en el Caribe colombiano. En febrero y diciembre de 2020 se examinaron 32 especímenes de C. kraussii, de los que se recolectaron 242 helmintos en los estadíos de metacercaria y adulto. Los parásitos incluyeron metacercarias de los tremátodos Clinostomum sp., Austrodiplostomum sp., dos morfoespecies de Posthodiplostomum spp. y adultos de Oigogonotylus andinus además de adultos del acantocéfalo (Eoacanthocephala) Neoechinorhynchus sp. Estos resultados indican que C. kraussii actúa como hospedador definitivo de O. andinus. y Neoechinorhynchus sp., y como hospedador intermediario de Clinostomum sp., Posthodiplostomum spp. y Austrodiplostomum sp. Se reporta por segunda vez una población de O. andinus en Colombia y la ocurrencia de una morfoespecie del género Neoechinorhynchus que podría ser un reporte nuevo para Colombia. Además del aporte al conocimiento de la diversidad de helmintos asociados a peces, los resultados de esta investigación podrían ser aprovechados para generar recomendaciones para el manejo y control de helmintiasis en sistemas piscícolas artificiales que se surten de afluentes naturales y favorecen el establecimiento de hospederos y parásitos.
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INTRODUCTION: An event of increasing interest during host-pathogen interactions is the polarization of patrolling/naive monocytes (MOs) into macrophage subsets (MФs). Therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating this event are under investigation. METHODS: This review focuses on the mechanisms of induction/development and profile of MФs polarized toward classically proinflammatory (M1) or alternatively anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotypes in response to bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: It highlights nuclear, cytoplasmic, and cell surface receptors (pattern recognition receptors/PPRs), microenvironmental mediators, and immune signaling. MФs polarize into phenotypes: M1 MФs, activated by IFN-γ, pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs, e.g. lipopolysaccharide) and membrane-bound PPRs ligands (TLRs/CLRs ligands); or M2 MФs, induced by interleukins (ILs-4, -10 and -13), antigen-antibody complexes, and helminth PAMPs. Polarization toward M1 and M2 profiles evolve in a pathogen-specific manner, with or without canonicity, and can vary widely. Ultimately, this can result in varying degrees of host protection or more severe disease outcome. On the one hand, the host is driving effective MФs polarization (M1 or M2); but on the other hand, microorganisms may skew the polarization through virulence factors to increase pathogenicity. Cellular/genomic reprogramming also ensures plasticity of M1/M2 phenotypes. Because modulation of polarization can occur at multiple points, new insights and emerging perspectives may have clinical implications during the inflammation-to-resolution transition; translated into practical applications as for therapeutic/vaccine design target to boost microbicidal response (M1, e.g. triggering oxidative burst) with specifics PAMPs/IFN-γ or promote tissue repair (M2, increasing arginase activity) via immunotherapy.
Monocytes are white blood cells (leukocytes) that help fight off various types of aggressive agents, including microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites), and help maintain the healthy balance of the human body. These cells differentiate into specific macrophages in tissues such as the lungs, heart, liver, skin, and brain. The present review focuses on the peculiar cellular properties that macrophages can acquire during the human immune response to infectious diseases. In this regard, it is discussed that macrophages are didactically divided into M1 and M2 subtypes. The first subtype (M1) is responsible for fighting pathogens and causing inflammation. The second subtype (M2) is mainly responsible for healing and repairing damaged tissue. Current knowledge shows that although both subtypes are involved in the same immune response aimed at protecting the human body, these M1 and M2 profiles have different characteristics that have implications for therapeutic measures such as developing specific drugs or vaccines to balance the immune response against a given pathogen and promote a complete cure of the disease. Alongside the therapeutic impacts, this review also looks at the characteristics that allow aggressive microorganisms to counteract the immune response developed by these M1 and M2 cell profiles. It highlights how exactly there can be greater protection or detriment to the human host against a given microorganism when there is a predilection to develop a more abundant immune response from one of the two profiles (M1 or M2).
Assuntos
Interações Hospedeiro-Patógeno , Ativação de Macrófagos , Macrófagos , Transdução de Sinais , Fatores de Virulência , Humanos , Transdução de Sinais/imunologia , Animais , Macrófagos/imunologia , Fatores de Virulência/imunologia , Interações Hospedeiro-Patógeno/imunologia , Ativação de Macrófagos/imunologia , Doenças Transmissíveis/imunologia , Receptores de Reconhecimento de Padrão/metabolismo , Receptores de Reconhecimento de Padrão/imunologiaRESUMO
The present study aimed to report the morphometric and hematological indices and genotoxicity of a free-life population of D'Orbigny's slider turtles (Trachemys dorbigni) living in an urban area in Southern Brazil. For that, 16 specimens were randomly captured in an urban canal that receives irregular releases of wastewater. Biometrics and external visual changes were analyzed, such as turtle shell deformities, and the presence of parasites. Blood samples were collected to evaluate the hematological profile and the presence of micronuclei and other erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities as potential mutagenic and genotoxic effects. Water physicochemical parameters were also measured. Organisms with ectoparasites (31.25%) and small carapace deformations (56.25%) were observed, but maximum carapace length and weight were considered normal for the species according to the literature. The blood profile indicated low hemoglobin and hematocrit and a high number of total leukocytes, particularly eosinophils which characterize parasitic infections. A frequency of 0.12% for the micronucleus was considered basal, but the frequency of other erythrocyte abnormalities was evident, mainly of blebbed nuclei (63.79%), indicating chromosomal damage in the early stage. The results of this study suggest that natural populations of chelonian inhabiting urbanized areas are impacted by anthropogenic activities in the surrounding environment. Furthermore, it provides comprehensive data which can serve as a comparative model for environmental monitoring studies involving turtles.
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Tartarugas , Animais , Brasil , Biomarcadores/sangue , Água Doce , Monitoramento Ambiental , Testes para MicronúcleosRESUMO
Pathogens have traditionally been studied in isolation within host systems; yet in natural settings they frequently coexist. This raises questions about the dynamics of co-infections and how host life-history traits might predict co-infection versus single infection. To address these questions, we investigated the presence of two parasites, a gut parasite (Isospora coccidians) and a blood parasite (Plasmodium spp.), in House Finches (Haemorhous mexicanus), a common passerine bird in North America. We then correlated these parasitic infections with various health and condition metrics, including hematological parameters, plasma carotenoids, lipid-soluble vitamins, blood glucose concentration, body condition, and prior disease history. Our study, based on 48 birds captured in Tempe, Arizona, US, in October 2021, revealed that co-infected birds exhibited elevated circulating lutein levels and a higher heterophil:lymphocyte ratio (H/L ratio) compared to those solely infected with coccidia Isospora spp. This suggests that co-infected birds experience heightened stress and may use lutein to bolster immunity against both pathogens, and that there are potentially toxic effects of lutein in co-infected birds compared to those infected solely with coccidia Isospora sp. Our findings underscore the synergistic impact of coparasitism, emphasizing the need for more co-infection studies to enhance our understanding of disease dynamics in nature, as well as its implications for wildlife health and conservation efforts.
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Doenças das Aves , Coccidiose , Coinfecção , Tentilhões , Isospora , Malária Aviária , Plasmodium , Animais , Tentilhões/parasitologia , Coinfecção/veterinária , Coinfecção/parasitologia , Coinfecção/epidemiologia , Malária Aviária/epidemiologia , Malária Aviária/parasitologia , Malária Aviária/sangue , Doenças das Aves/parasitologia , Doenças das Aves/epidemiologia , Doenças das Aves/sangue , Isospora/isolamento & purificação , Coccidiose/veterinária , Coccidiose/epidemiologia , Coccidiose/parasitologia , Plasmodium/isolamento & purificação , Isosporíase/veterinária , Isosporíase/epidemiologia , Isosporíase/parasitologia , Arizona/epidemiologia , Masculino , FemininoRESUMO
Understanding gastrointestinal parasite distribution is crucial for effective control programs in horses. This study reports the prevalence of helminth infections in horses and selected risk factors (i.e., breed, age, climate, season) by analyzing 19,276 fecal samples from the Laboratory of Veterinary Clinical Parasitology, in Curitiba, Southern Brazil. The analyses were carried out from 2008 to 2019, coming from 153 stud farms located in 60 municipalities of nine Brazilian states. The parasite prevalence was 73.3%, with 72.1% present in the adult population and 80.6% in young horses. Strongyles were present in 100% horse farms. Strongyles had a prevalence of 72.1% with a mean FEC of 453.53 (+/- 717.6). Parascaris spp. had a prevalence of 5.8% and a FEC of 17.11 (+/- 149.2). The tropical wet/monsoon climate (Am) showed the lowest FEC for strongyles and Parascaris spp. when compared to the other climates. In the logistic regression analysis, young horses exhibited 4.6 times higher odds ratio (OR) (3.9-5.5) of Parascaris spp. and 1.2 (1.1-1.4) times higher OR of strongyles egg shedding when compared to adults (P < 0.001). Summer presented a higher risk for Parascaris spp. and Strongyles eggs when compared to the other seasons (P < 0.001). Mangalarga Marchador, Criollo, and Crossbred breeds were identified with higher OR of Parascaris spp. egg shedding than Thoroughbred. The extensive prevalence of strongyles across ages, seasons, breeds, and climates alerts for the risk of clinical manifestations in equines raised on pastures designing optimal health management and parasite control strategies worldwide.
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Gastroenteropatias , Helmintíase Animal , Doenças dos Cavalos , Fatores Etários , Brasil/epidemiologia , Clima , Coinfecção/epidemiologia , Coinfecção/parasitologia , Coinfecção/veterinária , Fezes/parasitologia , Gastroenteropatias/diagnóstico , Gastroenteropatias/epidemiologia , Gastroenteropatias/parasitologia , Gastroenteropatias/veterinária , Helmintíase Animal/diagnóstico , Helmintíase Animal/epidemiologia , Doenças dos Cavalos/diagnóstico , Doenças dos Cavalos/epidemiologia , Doenças dos Cavalos/parasitologia , Contagem de Ovos de Parasitas/veterinária , Prevalência , Estudos Retrospectivos , Fatores de Risco , Estações do Ano , AnimaisRESUMO
Leech specimens of the genus Pontobdella (Hirudinida: Piscicolidae) were found off the coast of the state of Oaxaca (Pacific) as well as in Veracruz and Tabasco (Gulf of Mexico), Mexico. Based on the specimens collected in Oaxaca, a redescription of Pontobdella californiana is provided, with emphasis on the differences in the reproductive organs with the original description of the species. In addition, leech cocoons assigned to P. californiana were found attached to items hauled by gillnets and studied using scanning electron microscopy and molecular approaches. Samples of Pontobdella macrothela were found in both Pacific and Atlantic oceans, representing new geographic records. The phylogenetic position of P. californiana is investigated for the first time, and with the addition of Mexican samples of both species, the phylogenetic relationships within Pontobdella are reinvestigated. Parsimony and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis were based on mitochondrial (cytochrome oxidase subunit I [COI] and 12S rRNA) and nuclear (18S rRNA and 28S rRNA) DNA sequences. Based on our results, we confirm the monophyly of Pontobdella and the pantropical distribution of P. macrothela with a new record in the Tropical Eastern Pacific.