RESUMO
Bovine tritrichomonosis, a sexually transmitted disease caused by the protozoan Tritrichomonas foetus, is characterized by producing reproductive alterations in cattle. Carbohydrates on the surface of the uterine epithelium are involved in the process of adhesion and colonization of the protozoan. The murine model has proved to be an inexpensive, practical and representative alternative to study the lesions produced in the natural host. For this work, during the first stage, 6-8 week old female BALB/c mice were inoculated with 24 different T. foetus isolates in order to classify them according to their pathogenicity. Then, seven isolates were selected and processed with lectin histochemistry to determine if the differences in pathogenicity corresponded to the changes found in the uterine carbohydrate expression pattern. In this work, we demonstrate the differences in the expression of the carbohydrate pattern between infected and uninfected mice. In addition, within the group of infected mice, differences were found in the degree of pathogenicity of the isolates, thus evidencing their biological variability.
Assuntos
Doenças dos Bovinos , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais , Doenças dos Roedores , Tritrichomonas foetus , Bovinos , Animais , Feminino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Útero/patologia , Doenças dos Bovinos/metabolismo , Carboidratos , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/metabolismo , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/patologiaRESUMO
Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the most important aquaculture species in the world, and, when introduced, the ectoparasites of Nile tilapia have followed. Currently, farmers worldwide consider these ectoparasites harmless, but intensities can reach up to 1000 individuals per fish in tropical regions. In this cross-sectional study, we used the condition factor to estimate the potential effects of low (45 ± 31 ectoparasites per fish) and high (295 ± 191) ectoparasitic burdens across 28 tilapia farms and included the analysis of the effects of 44 management and environmental variable from the farms. A stepwise procedure in a multiple linear regression analysis retained the variables that explained the most variance, which was the ectoparasitic burden (57 %). We found significantly higher values of the condition factor in Nile tilapia with low ectoparasitic burden than in those with high ectoparasitic burden. Additionally, Nile tilapia with a high ectoparasitic burden weighed less than half than those with a low burden (102 ± 105 g versus 230 ± 128 g, respectively). We also found a significant non-linear, negative relationship between the ectoparasitic burden and the relative condition factor values per fish, which was most likely due to an increase in gill mucus caused by the ectoparasitic burden that depleted energy in the Nile tilapia. The economic consequence of the ectoparasitic burden translated roughly into a loss up to 12-15 % in profit margin per ton of fish, based on the price of Nile tilapia in the Mexican market.
Assuntos
Ciclídeos/parasitologia , Ectoparasitoses/veterinária , Doenças dos Peixes/parasitologia , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/parasitologia , Animais , Aquicultura , Composição Corporal , Tamanho Corporal , Estudos Transversais , Ectoparasitoses/epidemiologia , Ectoparasitoses/parasitologia , México , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/patologiaRESUMO
The genus Plasmodium (Plasmodiidae) ranks among the most widespread intracellular protozoan parasites affecting a wide range of mammals, birds, and reptiles. Little information is available about lizard malaria parasites in South America, and the pathological features of the resulting parasitoses remain unknown or poorly understood. To partially fill in these gaps, we conducted blood smear analysis, molecular detection, and phylogenetic and pathological investigations in lizards inhabiting an Atlantic Forest fragment in Paraiba, Brazil. From 104 striped forest whiptails (Kentropyx calcarata) screened for the presence of haemosporidian parasites, 67 (64.4%) were positive. Four of five Amazon lava lizards (Strobilurus torquatus) we collected from this same area were also positive. A total of 27 forest whiptails were infected with a new genetic lineage of Plasmodium kentropyxi and other Plasmodium lineages were also detected. Histopathological analysis in infected forest whiptails revealed systemic intraerythrocytic Plasmodium stages, mainly gametocytes, in the liver, lung, and heart. Also, the liver of infected lizards had mild to moderate levels of Kupffer cell and melanomacrophage hypertrophy/hyperplasia with sinusoid leukocytosis. Overall, our findings suggest that an endemic Plasmodium species causes histological alterations that are not related to major pathological processes in striped forest whiptails.
Assuntos
Lagartos/parasitologia , Plasmodium/genética , Plasmodium/patogenicidade , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/parasitologia , Animais , Brasil , Eritrócitos/parasitologia , Florestas , Fígado/parasitologia , Fígado/patologia , Filogenia , Plasmodium/classificação , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/patologiaRESUMO
The pathological and molecular findings associated with Histomonas meleagridis are described in a leucistic Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) from Southern Brazil. The most significant gross findings were multifocal necrotizing hepatitis and diphtheric typhlitis. Histopathologic evaluation of the liver, ceca, kidney, spleen, and small intestine revealed systemic histomoniasis (SH) associated with intralesional and intravascular accumulations of histomonad organisms consistent with H. meleagridis. PCR was used to amplify the DNA of H. meleagridis from the liver, ceca, small intestine, spleen, lungs, and kidneys. Direct sequencing and phylogenetic analyses confirmed that the isolate of the flagellated trichomonad identified from this investigation is more phylogenetically related to H. meleagridis than Tetratrichomonas gallinarum, Tritrichomonas foetus, and Dientamoeba fragilis. These results confirmed the occurrence of SH in this peafowl and add to the diagnosis of this disease in birds from Brazil. This report might represent the first complete identification of spontaneous histomoniasis in a peafowl due to pathological and molecular characteristics and one of the few documented cases of SH in non-commercial birds.
Assuntos
Doenças das Aves/parasitologia , Galliformes , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/parasitologia , Trichomonadida/isolamento & purificação , Animais , Doenças das Aves/patologia , Brasil , DNA Espaçador Ribossômico/genética , Filogenia , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/patologia , RNA Ribossômico 5,8S/genética , Trichomonadida/classificação , Trichomonadida/genética , Trichomonadida/fisiologiaRESUMO
The present study was carried out to identify and describe the pathology of the freshwater angelfish Pterophyllum scalare during chronic mortality in an in-door aquaculture system. Scraping of the integument and gills and the collection of intestinal contents to search for external and internal parasites were performed. Kidneys were collected aseptically for the microbiological analysis and the isolates were subjected to antibiotics to test for susceptibility. Subsequently, necropsy for macroscopic assessment and collection of internal organs for histopathology were performed. The fish exhibited lethargy, lip tumor, hemorrhage and liver granuloma. No ectoparasites were diagnosed. Endoparasites of the genus Spironucleus were found in large numbers in the intestine of the affected fish. In the microbiological analysis, Citrobacter freundii was isolated from the kidney and identified by colony PCR. This bacterium showed susceptibility to three of the eight antibiotics evaluated: ciprofloxacin, cefoxitin and tetracycline. For the pathological analysis, liver and spleen granulomas were present. In the intestinal tissue, a large and unusual amount of mast cells and their free granules were described and discussed in detail. The present study showed that mast cells play an important role during the chronic infection of freshwater angelfish.
Assuntos
Ciclídeos , Citrobacter freundii/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Coinfecção/veterinária , Diplomonadida/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Infecções por Enterobacteriaceae/veterinária , Doenças dos Peixes/patologia , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/complicações , Estruturas Animais/microbiologia , Estruturas Animais/parasitologia , Estruturas Animais/patologia , Animais , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Aquicultura , Citrobacter freundii/efeitos dos fármacos , Citrobacter freundii/isolamento & purificação , Coinfecção/microbiologia , Coinfecção/parasitologia , Coinfecção/patologia , Diplomonadida/isolamento & purificação , Infecções por Enterobacteriaceae/complicações , Infecções por Enterobacteriaceae/patologia , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/patologiaRESUMO
Haemoproteid species have a wide global distribution, and they have been described in falcon species in several parts of the world. However, few studies in South America have focused on these birds. Haemoproteus spp. infections have been reported as the causative agents of serious histopathological changes, which can lead to the death of the host. Thus, this study aimed to molecularly and phylogenetically characterize Haemoproteus spp. in Caracara plancus, to characterize aspects of parasitism through clinical analysis and biochemical parameters, and to describe the histopathology of infection. To examine these aspects, 5 southern caracaras were examined clinically, and blood samples were collected. Blood smears were subsequently utilized in parasitemia calculations, PCR amplification, and serum biochemical investigations. Histological sections of the liver, kidneys, spleen, and heart were examined to check for possible histopathological changes. The birds showed clinical signs such as pallor and prostration that are consistent with Haemoproteus spp. infection. Moreover, the examination of the blood smears revealed 0.07% parasitemia in young gametocytes only. The PCR and sequencing results confirmed that the parasites belonged to Haemoproteus spp. The activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzymes, albumin, total serum proteins, and enzymatic urea were first described in C. plancus and serve as reference for future studies of bird species parasitized by Haemoproteus spp. Histopathology results showed signs of injury that were consistent with haemosporidian infection in the tissues of the analyzed organs. The present study is preliminary, and additional studies of Haemoproteus spp. infections in other bird species are needed to better understand the relationship between parasites and hosts, because despite the low parasitemia recorded, biochemical and histopathological changes in various organs were observed.
Assuntos
Doenças das Aves/parasitologia , Falconiformes/parasitologia , Haemosporida/genética , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/parasitologia , Alanina Transaminase/sangue , Animais , Aspartato Aminotransferases/sangue , Sequência de Bases , Doenças das Aves/metabolismo , Doenças das Aves/patologia , Proteínas Sanguíneas/análise , DNA de Protozoário/sangue , DNA de Protozoário/química , Haemosporida/classificação , Haemosporida/patogenicidade , Rim/patologia , Fígado/patologia , Miocárdio/patologia , Parasitemia/veterinária , Filogenia , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/metabolismo , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/patologia , Alinhamento de Sequência/veterinária , Baço/patologia , Ureia/sangueRESUMO
Rangelia vitalii is a piroplasmid that causes canine rangeliosis, a severe hemorrhagic disease of domestic dogs in South America. We report about R. vitalii infecting a pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus). The fox, which developed a fatal illness, was also infected by Hepatozoon canis and Capillaria hepatica.
Assuntos
Raposas/parasitologia , Piroplasmida/fisiologia , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/parasitologia , Animais , Animais Selvagens/parasitologia , Brasil , Feminino , Coração/parasitologia , Miocárdio/patologia , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/patologiaRESUMO
Canine rangeliosis, caused by the piroplasmid protozoon Rangelia vitalii, is currently recognized as a reemerging disease that affects domestic dogs in Brazil. In the present study, piroplasmid infection was searched in wild canids (20 Cerdocyon thous and 4 Lycalopex gymnocercus) in Brazil. Molecular analysis, based on PCR and DNA sequencing of a portion of the 18S rRNA gene, revealed that 30% (6/20) C. thous were infected by R. vitalii. Blood and bone marrow samples from one of the R. vitalii-infected C. thous were inoculated into a domestic dog, which developed clinical rangeliosis that was confirmed by molecular tests. However, the C. thous donor showed no clinical, hematological or biochemical alterations, even though its R. vitalii infection status was confirmed for at least 80 days. These observations suggest that R. vitalii is not as highly pathogenic for C. thous as it is for domestic dogs. Phylogenetic analysis inferred by the 18S rRNA gene placed R. vitalii embedded in the clade 'Babesia sensu stricto', consisting of a number of species that represent truly the genus Babesia. It is proposed that the species R. vitalii should be transferred to the genus Babesia. The present study expands our knowledge on the natural history of R. vitalii, suggesting that it might have a natural cycle involving the wild canid C. thous. Further studies are needed to confirm that C. thous is a natural reservoir of R. vitalii in Brazil.
Assuntos
Canidae/parasitologia , Piroplasmida/fisiologia , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/parasitologia , Animais , Babesia/classificação , Babesia/genética , Brasil , Doenças do Cão/parasitologia , Cães , Feminino , Filogenia , Piroplasmida/classificação , Piroplasmida/genética , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/patologia , RNA Ribossômico 18S/genéticaRESUMO
Rangeliosis is a hemoparasitosis that affects dogs in Brazil. The disease has similar clinical and pathological characteristics to other hemo-protozoan infections. So, this paper has aimed to report a clinical case of infection by Rangelia vitalii in one dog, focusing on the need for the differential diagnosis to other infectious diseases. The animal showed apathy, anemia, thrombocytopenia, alteration of leucogram, and bleeding. The first difference was the observation of parasites in blood smears, where R. vitalii was visualized within leukocytes and erythrocytes. The confirmation of the clinical diagnosis was made by molecular test to R. vitalii. The dog was debilitated, and died a few hours after treatment at the veterinary hospital. At necropsy, splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and mild jaundice in the abdominal viscera were found. This article draws attention to the need for the parasitological, serological, and molecular to differential diagnosis in order to differentiate from other clinically similar disorders.
Assuntos
Apicomplexa/isolamento & purificação , Doenças do Cão/diagnóstico , Doenças do Cão/parasitologia , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/parasitologia , Anemia/parasitologia , Anemia/patologia , Animais , Apicomplexa/classificação , Apicomplexa/genética , Apicomplexa/patogenicidade , Brasil , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Doenças do Cão/patologia , Cães , Masculino , Técnicas de Diagnóstico Molecular/métodos , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/diagnóstico , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/patologia , Medicina Veterinária/métodosRESUMO
Clinical, gross, and histopathology lesions and molecular characterization of Trichomonas spp. infection were described in two striped owls (Asio (Rhinoptynx) clamator), one American kestrel (Falco sparverius), two green-winged saltators (Saltator similis), and in a toco toucan (Ramphastos toco) from Brazil. These birds presented clinical signs including emaciation, ruffled feathers, abundant salivation and open mouth breathing presumably due to abundant caseous material. Gross lesions were characterized by multifocal yellow friable plaques on the surface of the tongue, pharynx and/or caseous masses partially occluding the laryngeal entrance. In the owls, the caseous material extended into the mandibular muscles and invaded the sinuses of the skull. Histopathologically, marked necrotic and inflammatory lesions were associated with numerous round to oval, pale eosinophilic structures (6-10µm) with basophilic nuclei, consistent with trichomonads. Organisms similar to those described above also were found in the liver of the two green-winged saltators. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of trichomonosis in a striped owl and a toco toucan. Sequence analysis of the Trichomonas spp. internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1) region and partial 5.8S of the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) disclosed significant genetic diversity. Two sequences had 100% identity to Trichomonas gallinae, whereas two sequences had a 99% and 92% identity to a Trichomonas vaginalis-like sequence, respectively. One sequence (green-winged saltator 502-08) had a 100% identity to a newly recognized genus Simplicomonas.
Assuntos
Doenças das Aves/parasitologia , Parabasalídeos/isolamento & purificação , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/parasitologia , Tricomoníase/veterinária , Trichomonas/isolamento & purificação , Animais , Sequência de Bases , Doenças das Aves/patologia , Aves , Brasil , DNA de Protozoário/química , DNA de Protozoário/genética , DNA Espaçador Ribossômico/química , DNA Espaçador Ribossômico/genética , Falconiformes/parasitologia , Feminino , Variação Genética , Genótipo , Masculino , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Parabasalídeos/genética , Passeriformes/parasitologia , Filogenia , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/patologia , RNA Ribossômico/genética , RNA Ribossômico 5,8S/genética , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Estrigiformes/parasitologia , Trichomonas/genética , Tricomoníase/parasitologia , Tricomoníase/patologiaRESUMO
The mangrove oyster Saccostrea palmula coexists with the pleasure oyster Crassostrea corteziensis in coastal lagoons of northwest Mexico. Recent discovery of Perkinsus marinus infecting the pleasure oyster in the region prompted evaluation of S. palmula as an alternative P. marinus host. An analysis to determine the possible presence of P. marinus in natural and cultured populations of S. palmula at four coastal lagoons in Sinaloa, Mexico was carried out during October-November 2010. Tissues from apparently healthy S. palmula were evaluated using Ray's fluid thioglycollate method (RFTM), which revealed a Perkinsus sp. to be present in all four locations at 6.7-20.0% prevalence. Histopathological analysis of these specimens showed tissue alterations and parasite forms consistent with moderate P. marinus infection, which was confirmed by ribosomal non-transcribed spacer (NTS)-based PCR assays on DNA samples from oysters positive by RFTM and histology. DNA sequencing of amplified NTS fragments (307 bp) produced a sequence 98-100% similar to GenBank-deposited sequences of the NTS from P. marinus. Fluorescent in situ hybridization for Perkinsus spp. and P. marinus corroborated the PCR results, showing clear hybridization of P. marinus in host tissues. This is the first record of P. marinus infecting a species from genus Saccostrea and the first record of the parasite from coastal lagoons in Sinaloa, Mexico.
Assuntos
Apicomplexa/isolamento & purificação , Aquicultura , Surtos de Doenças/veterinária , Ostreidae/parasitologia , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/parasitologia , Animais , Apicomplexa/genética , Apicomplexa/patogenicidade , Sequência de Bases , Células Cultivadas , DNA de Protozoário/análise , DNA de Protozoário/genética , DNA Espaçador Ribossômico/análise , DNA Espaçador Ribossômico/genética , Monitoramento Ambiental , Interações Hospedeiro-Parasita , Hibridização in Situ Fluorescente , México , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/patologiaRESUMO
An intense and generalized sporozoan infection was detected in every population of the queen conch, Strombus gigas through the Caribbean. In this contribution we establish the relationship between occurrences of an Apicomplexa: Emeriidae-like organism and reproductive activity at San Andres archipelago, Colombia. Occurrence of the parasites was estimated counting the feeding stage Merozoites and cysts Sporozoites at 40× magnification. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis (NMDS) was made to correlate the parasites stages abundance with frequency of the reproductive stages. Gametogenesis and spawning were always low coinciding with high numbers of Merozoites, a positive correlation was established between parasite abundance with reabsorption and undifferentiated stages, and negative correlation was observed between parasite abundance with maturity and spawning stages. The nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) shows that gametogenesis, maturity and spawning increase as the number of parasites decrease, factor that could be threatening reproduction of S. gigas through the Caribbean.
Assuntos
Apicomplexa/fisiologia , Sistema Digestório/parasitologia , Gastrópodes/parasitologia , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/parasitologia , Animais , Apicomplexa/isolamento & purificação , Sistema Digestório/patologia , Feminino , Gastrópodes/fisiologia , Interações Hospedeiro-Parasita , Masculino , Merozoítos/parasitologia , Merozoítos/patologia , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/patologia , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/fisiopatologia , Reprodução/fisiologia , Estações do AnoRESUMO
The aim of this study was to evaluate lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and activity of enzymes that are indicators of oxidative stress in Rangelia vitalii infection in dogs. Animals were divided into two groups: negative control (n=5) and infected with R. vitalii (n=7). After inoculation, the parasitemia was estimated daily by microscopic examination of smears. Lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP); and delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase (δ-ALA-D), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in blood were evaluated. The samples were collected at days 10 and 20 post-inoculation (PI). TBARS and AOPP levels were higher in the infected group in both analyzed periods (P<0.01). The δ-ALA-D activity was reduced in blood of dogs infected with R. vitalii on days 10 and 20 PI. SOD activity was significantly increased (P<0.01) in the blood of dogs infected with R. vitalii at days 10 and 20 PI, while CAT activity was significantly increased (P<0.01) only at day 20 PI when compared to non-infected animals. A positive correlation was observed between the degree of parasitemia and TBARS and AOPP levels and activity of antioxidant enzymes. The δ-ALA-D activity was negatively correlated with the degree of parasitemia. Based on the increased levels of TBARS, AOPP, SOD and CAT activities, and inhibition δ-ALA-D activity, we concluded that dogs experimentally infected with R. vitalii develop a state of redox unbalance and that these changes might be involved in the pathophysiology of disease.
Assuntos
Apicomplexa/fisiologia , Doenças do Cão/parasitologia , Estresse Oxidativo/fisiologia , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/parasitologia , Produtos da Oxidação Avançada de Proteínas/metabolismo , Animais , Apicomplexa/classificação , Catalase/genética , Catalase/metabolismo , Cães , Feminino , Regulação Enzimológica da Expressão Gênica , Parasitemia , Sintase do Porfobilinogênio/genética , Sintase do Porfobilinogênio/metabolismo , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/patologia , Superóxido Dismutase/genética , Superóxido Dismutase/metabolismo , Substâncias Reativas com Ácido Tiobarbitúrico/metabolismoRESUMO
Recently we conducted the molecular characterization of Rangelia vitalii, a protozoan with high pathogenicity for young dogs in southern Brazil. To date, the descriptions of the disease have been restricted to natural infection cases. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the parasitemia, biological cycles and clinical-pathological findings in dogs experimentally infected with R. vitalii in the acute phase of disease, and also aimed to test a therapeutic protocol based on the diminazene aceturate. For this study, we used 12 young dogs (females), separated into two groups. Group A was composed of healthy dogs, not-infected (n=5), and Group B consisted of animals infected with R. vitalii (n=7). After infection, the animals were monitored by blood smear examinations, which showed intra-erythrocytic forms of the parasite 5 days post-infection (PI). Parasitemia increased progressively in these animals and had the highest peak of circulating parasites between 9 and 11 days PI. Subsequently, the parasitemia reduced and the protozoan was seen inside the leukocytes in days 17, 19 and 21 PI. The most prominent clinical signs observed at the 20 day PI of experiment were lethargy, fever and anorexia. We observed a decrease of hematocrit of infected animals compared with not-infected dogs, featuring a moderate anemia. Pathological evaluation of one dog in Group B at day 21 PI revealed splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and hemorrhages at necropsy. Histological examination showed only follicular hyperplasia in the spleen and lymph nodes, and the etiologic agent in the vascular endothelium. At 21 days PI, it was performed the treatment of dogs in Group B (n=6) with a single dose of diminazene aceturate, which showed a curative efficacy of 100% in cleaning R. vitalii from blood of infected dogs.
Assuntos
Apicomplexa/fisiologia , Doenças do Cão/parasitologia , Parasitemia/veterinária , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/parasitologia , Doença Aguda , Animais , Antiprotozoários/farmacologia , Antiprotozoários/uso terapêutico , Apicomplexa/efeitos dos fármacos , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Diminazena/análogos & derivados , Diminazena/farmacologia , Diminazena/uso terapêutico , Doenças do Cão/tratamento farmacológico , Doenças do Cão/patologia , Cães , Endotélio Vascular/parasitologia , Endotélio Vascular/patologia , Eritrócitos/parasitologia , Feminino , Hematócrito/veterinária , Leucócitos/parasitologia , Masculino , Parasitemia/parasitologia , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/patologiaRESUMO
Tritrichomonas foetus is an extracellular parasite of the reproductive tract in cattle. To investigate the cytopathic effects of T. foetus in deeper parts of the reproductive tract, a bovine primary oviduct epithelial cell system (BOECs) was developed. Reproductive tracts were obtained from cows and the effect of co-incubating T. foetus with BOECs was analyzed by scanning electron, transmission electron and fluorescence microscopy. Viability tests were performed using colorimetric methods, TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling), fluorescein diacetate, propidium iodide, JC-1 and annexin-V. The results demonstrate that: (1) the in vitro oviduct epithelium is useful for interaction experiments with T. foetus; (2) T. foetus adheres to the BOECs as single separate cells, and later on the cells aggregate as large clusters; (3) the posterior region of the cell initiates the process of adhesion and forms filopodia and digitopodia; (4) T. foetus severely damages BOECs leaving imprints in the epithelial cells, wide intercellular spaces, and large lesions in the epithelium; and (5) T. foetus provokes bovine oviduct cell death by apoptosis and secondary necrosis. Our observations indicate the possibility that T. foetus can move through the reproductive tract to the oviduct and that infertility in cows can be mediated by an attack on the oviduct cells by T. foetus.
Assuntos
Doenças dos Bovinos/parasitologia , Oviductos/parasitologia , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/parasitologia , Tritrichomonas foetus/fisiologia , Animais , Apoptose , Bovinos , Doenças dos Bovinos/patologia , Células Cultivadas , Células Epiteliais/citologia , Células Epiteliais/parasitologia , Células Epiteliais/ultraestrutura , Feminino , Marcação In Situ das Extremidades Cortadas , Mitocôndrias/fisiologia , Oviductos/citologia , Oviductos/patologia , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/patologia , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
The stout razor clam Tagelus plebeius (Bivalvia, Psammobiidae) has a wide geographic distribution range, including the Brazilian coasts from the northeast (Alagoas) to the south (Santa Catarina). In March 2008, an episode of mass T. plebeius mortality (70%) occurred in an intertidal bed at The Pontal da Daniela, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. We report here high prevalences (to 100%) of the trematode parasite Parvatrema sp. Cable, 1953 (Digenea, Gymnophallidae) infecting T. plebeius at high intensities. We describe the gymnophalid, echinostomatid and unidentified metacercariae parasites infecting the clam and the host reactions elicited by them. The use of special diagnostic techniques such as Ray's fluid thioglycollate medium (RFTM) and PCR assays to detect Perkinsus sp. pathogens, hemolymph cytology, and histopathological examinations did not show Perkinsus sp. infections, microcell infections, or neoplastic conditions. However, neither infections or pathology caused by trematode parasites; nor any other pathological condition could be uniquely correlated with the mortality event. A coincident flash flood might have contributed to cause the mortality episode. This is the first report of the Parvatrema sp. metacercariae larvae infecting the stout razor clam T. plebeius from Brazil.
Assuntos
Bivalves/parasitologia , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/patologia , Animais , Brasil , DNA de Protozoário , Eucariotos , Interações Hospedeiro-Parasita/fisiologia , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Prevalência , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Culture of the pleasure oyster Crassostrea corteziensis is emerging as an alternative to the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) for oyster producers, who face severe mortalities since 1997 in Northwest México. For determining the health status of this species, we conducted a histopathological analysis of cultured populations from two estuaries in the Pacific coast of México. Macroscopical analysis revealed animals with transparent and retracted mantle. Histopathological analysis of these specimens showed tissue alterations and parasitic forms consistent with Perkinsus sp. infection. Stages of the parasite identified included tomont and trophozoites with an eccentric vacuole characteristic of Perkinsus spp. Pieces of tissues of infected oysters were incubated in Fluid Thioglycollate Medium (FTM) resulting in blue-black hypnospores after incubation. The identity of the parasite was confirmed by species specific PCR-based assay in DNA samples from oysters, tissue fractions from FTM cultures, and deparaffined samples with Perkinsus-like parasite detected by histology. Sequencing of positive amplified fragments (307bp) showed a sequence similar to Perkinsus marinus strain TXsc NTS ribosomal RNA gene (100% coverage and 98% identity, GenBank Accession No. AF497479.1) and to P. marinus, Genomic DNA, (100% coverage and 97% identity, GenBank Accession No. S78416.1). The prevalence of P. marinus varied from 1 to 5% in Boca del Camichín and from 1 to 6% in Pozo Chino. In general, the intensity of infection was moderate. The infection was observed in oysters from 31 to 110mm of shell length. This is the first record of P. marinus in oysters from the North America Pacific coast and the first record in C. corteziensis. The origin of this parasite in the area is unknown, but it may be associated to introductions of Crassostrea virginica from the East coast of United States of America or Gulf of México.
Assuntos
Apicomplexa/fisiologia , Ostreidae/parasitologia , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/patologia , Animais , Apicomplexa/isolamento & purificação , Sequência de Bases , Meios de Cultura , DNA de Protozoário/análise , Monitoramento Ambiental , Interações Hospedeiro-Parasita , México , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase/métodos , Especificidade da Espécie , Tioglicolatos , Trofozoítos/parasitologia , Trofozoítos/patologiaRESUMO
The prevalence of infection and associated pathology induced by two helminth and one protozoan species infecting Brazilian turkeys are reported. The intestinal nematode Heterakis gallinarum appeared with a prevalence of 70% in the infected birds, without gross lesions when not associated to the protozoan Histomonas meleagridis. Histological findings in the ceca were represented by the presence of H. gallinarum worms, intense chronic diffuse inflammatory processes with mononuclear and polymorphonuclear (heterophils) leucocyte infiltrations. The prevalence of the protozoan H. meleagridis associated to H. gallinarum was of 2.5% and microscopic examination revealed a severe inflammatory process in the liver and cecum with the presence of small clear areas with round eosinophilic parasites. Gross lesions were absent in turkeys infected with the renal digenetic trematode Paratanaisia bragai; the parasite was prevalent in 20% of the cases and cross-sections of the kidneys showed a remarkable distension of the collecting ducts with several worms in the lumen. The walls of the ducts presented a discrete heterophilic infiltrate among mononuclear cells.
Assuntos
Infecções por Nematoides/veterinária , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/epidemiologia , Infecções por Trematódeos/veterinária , Perus/parasitologia , Animais , Brasil/epidemiologia , Feminino , Masculino , Infecções por Nematoides/epidemiologia , Infecções por Nematoides/patologia , Prevalência , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/patologia , Infecções por Trematódeos/epidemiologia , Infecções por Trematódeos/patologiaRESUMO
The prevalence of infection and associated pathology induced by two helminth and one protozoan species infecting Brazilian turkeys are reported. The intestinal nematode Heterakis gallinarum appeared with a prevalence of 70 percent in the infected birds, without gross lesions when not associated to the protozoan Histomonas meleagridis. Histological findings in the ceca were represented by the presence of H. gallinarum worms, intense chronic diffuse inflammatory processes with mononuclear and polymorphonuclear (heterophils) leucocyte infiltrations. The prevalence of the protozoan H. meleagridis associated to H. gallinarum was of 2.5 percent and microscopic examination revealed a severe inflammatory process in the liver and cecum with the presence of small clear areas with round eosinophilic parasites. Gross lesions were absent in turkeys infected with the renal digenetic trematode Paratanaisia bragai; the parasite was prevalent in 20 percent of the cases and cross-sections of the kidneys showed a remarkable distension of the collecting ducts with several worms in the lumen. The walls of the ducts presented a discrete heterophilic infiltrate among mononuclear cells.