Experimental parasitology最新文献

{"title":"The molecular and histopathological investigations of TLR2 rs5743708 and TLR4 (rs4986790 and rs4986791) polymorphisms effects on cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions","authors":"Mohammad-Hossein Feiz-Haddad , Mohammad-Ali Moradkhani , Farshid Sefat , S.A. Ali","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108857","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108857","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), a zoonotic and neglected disease, is prevalent in numerous regions, particularly in tropical and sub-tropical countries. In Iran, endemic foci of leishmaniasis exist in specific regions, with zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) caused by <em>Leishmania major</em> being common in most rural areas. Toll-like receptors (<em>TLRs</em>) play a crucial role in both innate and adaptive immunities, and the investigation of <em>TLR2</em> rs5743708 and <em>TLR4</em> (rs4986790 and rs4986791) polymorphisms in parasitic diseases can have significant implications for patient treatment. In the present study, a total of 88 leishmaniasis patients using the patients' lesions from Khuzestan province health-treatment centers, Iran, including 50 cases (56.8%; Central region) and 38 cases (43.2%; Western region) underwent examination between the years 2022 and 2023. Two direct smears from the lesions of each patient were prepared and one of the smears was stained with Giemsa for parasitological examination. Among the 88 patients, the highest frequency was observed in the 21–30 years' age group (35.2%), while the lowest was in the 11–20 years’ age group (10.2%). No statistically significant relationship was found between gender and age (<em>P</em> > 0.05). Following disease confirmation via microscopic examination, <em>TLR2</em> rs5743708 and <em>TLR4</em> (rs4986790 and rs4986791) polymorphisms in the patients were assessed using PCR-RFLP. Fragments of 264, 249, and 406 base pairs were successfully amplified, targeting the <em>TLR2</em> and <em>TLR4</em> genes, respectively. Out of the 88 leishmaniasis patients, 14 cases (15.9%) exhibited polymorphisms. Notably, all individuals in the polymorphism group carried both the <em>TLR2</em> rs5743708 homozygous and the <em>TLR4</em> rs4986791 heterozygous genotype combinations. There were no observations of <em>TLR2</em> rs5743708 heterozygous, <em>TLR4</em> rs4986790 heterozygous and homozygous and <em>TLR4</em> rs4986791 homozygous genotypes within the polymorphism group. Biopsies from lesions for all contributors were prepared for histopathological examination. All patients with polymorphism showed larger lesions than patients without polymorphism (<em>P</em> < 0.05). Histophatological study showed abnormal cases in patients with polymorphism including mild hyperkeratosis, mild acanthosis, focal parakeratosis in the epithelium surface and mild hyperpigmentation of melanocytes in the basal layer. Furthermore, a strong infiltration of immune cells such as PMNs and a small number of lymphocytes was observed in the epidermal region of patients with polymorphisms. There was no statistically significant relationship between age and the quantity of lesions (<em>P</em> > 0.05). Additionally, some regions of the epidermal surface layer displayed pustule formation in patients with polymorphisms. No significant difference was discerned in the dermal layers of patients with polymor","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"267 ","pages":"Article 108857"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142617297","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preparation, characterization, and in vivo activity of Gossypium hirsutum niosomes against cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major in a murine model: Parasite burden, gene expression, and histopathological profiling","authors":"Iraj Sharifi ,&nbsp;Ehsan Salarkia ,&nbsp;Shahriar Dabiri ,&nbsp;Abbas Pardakhty ,&nbsp;Fatemeh Sharifi ,&nbsp;Neda Mohamadi","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108859","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108859","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of conventional drugs is not a satisfactory treatment for the disease. Therefore, there is a crucial need for alternative therapeutic approaches. This study aimed to investigate the potential anti-leishmanial activity of <em>Gossypium hirsutum</em> niosomes against cutaneous leishmaniasis in a murine model and evaluate their effectiveness by assessing parasite burden, immunomodulatory gene expression, and histopathological profile. We prepared <em>G. hirsutum</em> niosomes and characterized their morphology, size, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and encapsulation efficiency. The <em>in vivo</em> anti-leishmanial activity of the niosomes was evaluated by assessing parasite burden, histopathological profile, and gene expression level. The spleen parasite load in BALB/c mice treated with different groups of <em>G. hirsutum</em> niosomes and <em>G. hirsutum</em> extracts (30%), demonstrated a significant decrease compared to Glucantime®. The least number of leishmanial parasites was observed in H and E-stained histological sections (grade+1), followed by <em>G. hirsutum</em> niosomes or <em>G. hirsutum</em> crude extract (grade+3), Glucantime® (grade+4) and the highest number in the untreated control group (grade+6). There was a substantial difference (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001) among various treatment groups. Moreover, <em>G. hirsutum</em> niosomes up-regulated the levels of the gene (particularly IFN-γ, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001) compared to the extract form and Glucantime®. In contrast, IL-4, IL-10, and TNF-β were significantly decreased (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001) in comparison to untreated control. These results suggest that <em>G. hirsutum</em> niosomes have the potential to be considered a promising alternative therapy for leishmaniasis. Further research is warranted to explore their mechanism of action and optimize their formulation for clinical use.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"267 ","pages":"Article 108859"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142587413","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Structural elucidation of andrographolide from Andrographis paniculata and its ovicidal, larvicidal and pupicidal activities against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae)","authors":"Jelin Vilvest ,&nbsp;M.C. John Milton ,&nbsp;Alex Yagoo ,&nbsp;Kedike Balakrishna","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108858","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108858","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Both human beings and animals around the globe are vulnerable to the transmission of infectious diseases carried by mosquitoes. They have the ability to transmit a diverse array of pathogenic agents, such as viruses and parasites, while feeding on blood. The objective of this research is to investigate andrographolide isolation, characterization, and structure elucidation from <em>Andrographis paniculata</em>. Furthermore, it aims to evaluate the activity of andrographolide against the immature stages of <em>Aedes aegypti</em> and <em>Culex quinquefasciatus</em>. The fractions obtained from <em>A. paniculata</em> extracts underwent further purification and analysis to identify the most active ones. To confirm the structure of andrographolide, spectroscopic methods including IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, and GC-MS were used. Biological assays were conducted to assess its ovicidal, larvicidal, and pupicidal activities. Importantly, andrographolide demonstrated moderate ovicidal activity, resulting in mortality rates of 36% and 32% in <em>Ae. aegypti</em> and <em>Cx. quinquefasciatus</em> eggs, respectively, at a concentration of 2 ppm. Additionally, it exhibited strong larvicidal and pupicidal efficacy, with LC₅₀ values of 2.02 ppm and 3.19 ppm against <em>Ae. aegypti</em> larvae and pupae, and 2.14 ppm and 2.73 ppm against <em>Cx. quinquefasciatus</em> larvae and pupae. These findings highlight the potential of andrographolide as a powerful natural compound in mosquito control efforts. Furthermore, this study underscores the importance of natural products as viable alternatives to synthetic insecticides in managing vector-borne diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"267 ","pages":"Article 108858"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142557432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trypanosoma cruzi P21 protein exacerbates Leishmania (L.) amazonensis infection","authors":"Thaise Lara Teixeira ,&nbsp;Samuel Cota Teixeira ,&nbsp;Bruna Cristina Borges ,&nbsp;João Paulo Silva Servato ,&nbsp;Elida Cristina Monteiro de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Teresiama Velikkakam ,&nbsp;Claudio Vieira da Silva","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108856","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108856","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The protozoan parasite <em>Trypanosoma cruzi</em>, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, affects millions of people worldwide. Current treatments rely on drugs effective only in the acute phase, making the search for new therapeutic targets a priority. While a recombinant protein based on <em>T. cruzi</em> P21 (rP21) exhibits immunomodulatory properties and contributes to controlling parasitism and inflammation during <em>T. cruzi</em> infection, its efficacy against other trypanosomatids remains unexplored. This study investigated the impact of rP21 on <em>Leishmania (L.) amazonensis</em> infection in a murine model. Contrary to our expectations, treatment with rP21 did not ameliorate <em>L. (L.) amazonensis</em> infection. Instead, rP21 treatment resulted in increased parasite load in the paws of infected BALB/c mice, evidenced by larger lesion sizes and higher parasite burdens, accompanied by an intensified inflammatory infiltrate in the paw tissue. These findings suggest that despite its promising effects in the context of <em>T. cruzi</em> infection, rP21 may not be a suitable therapeutic candidate for <em>L. amazonensis</em> infection and might even exacerbate disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"267 ","pages":"Article 108856"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142497652","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Development and evaluation of a real-time PCR for genotyping of Cryptosporidium spp. from water monitoring slides” [Experiment. Parasitol. 242 (2022) 108366]","authors":"Elwin K ,&nbsp;Robinson G ,&nbsp;G. Perez-Cordon ,&nbsp;Chalmers Rm","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108849","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108849","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"266 ","pages":"Article 108849"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142461311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preliminary evaluation of the protective effect of rEi-SAG19 on Eimeria intestinalis infection in rabbits","authors":"Jiayan Pu,&nbsp;Ge Hao,&nbsp;Hao Chen,&nbsp;Wei He,&nbsp;Changming Xiong,&nbsp;Jie Xiao,&nbsp;Guangyou Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108845","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108845","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Eimeria intestinalis</em> is one of the most pathogenic coccidia species in rabbits. Anticoccidial treaments are the main measures to control rabbit coccidiosis now, but there are drug resistance and residues concerns. Therefore, vaccine has been used as an alternative strategy. The surface antigens (SAGs) of apicomplexan protozoa play a role in adhesion and invasion of host intestinal cells, and are considered to be potential candidate antigens for vaccines. In this study, transcriptional analysis of 5 <em>Ei</em>-SAGs genes at four developmental stages was conducted, then the <em>Ei-SAG19</em> gene were screened out for prokaryotic expression and the reactogenicity of recombinant SAG19 (r<em>Ei-</em>SAG19) was investigated by immunoblotting. To assessment the protective effects of r<em>Ei-</em>SAG19, rabbits (n = 40) were randomly divided into four groups (Blank control, PBS-infected, Trx-His-S-Quil-A-infected and r<em>Ei</em>-SAG19 immunized groups), the r<em>Ei</em>-SAG19 immunized group was subcutaneously immunized with 100 μg r<em>Ei</em>-SAG19 in the neck with an interval of two weeks, and challenged with 5 × 10⁴ homologous oocysts two weeks after the second immunization. Two weeks after the challenge, all rabbits were sacrificed. After that, the level of serum specific IgG antibody was detected weekly and the level of cytokines in serum before the challenge were determined. At the end of the experiment, the weight gain, oocyst reduction rate, lesion score and anticoccidial index (ACI) were calculated. The results showed that r<em>Ei-</em>SAG19 has a good reactogenicity. The relative weight gain rate, oocyst reduction rate and ACI of the rabbits in r<em>Ei-</em>SAG19 immunized group were 80.51%, 72.6%, and 165.1, respectively, which has a moderate protective effect. The level of serum specific IgG antibody and IL-4 rised significantly (P &lt; 0.05), but the levels of IL-2, IFN-γ and IL-10 had no significant difference (P &gt; 0.05). Our results indicated that r<em>Ei</em>-SAG19 could provides moderate protective effect against <em>E. intestinalis</em> infection in rabbits (ACI = 165.1). Therefore, r<em>Ei</em>-SAG19 could be used as a vaccine candidate antigen for <em>E. intestinalis</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"267 ","pages":"Article 108845"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142461312","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"RAD51 recombinase and its paralogs: Orchestrating homologous recombination and unforeseen functions in protozoan parasites","authors":"Jose Jesús Flores-Vega ,&nbsp;Jonathan Puente-Rivera ,&nbsp;Sharon Itzel Sosa-Mondragón ,&nbsp;Minerva Camacho-Nuez ,&nbsp;María Elizbeth Alvarez-Sánchez","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108847","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108847","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The DNA of protozoan parasites is highly susceptible to damage, either induced by environmental agents or spontaneously generated during cellular metabolism through reactive oxygen species (ROS). Certain phases of the cell cycle, such as meiotic recombination, and external factors like ionizing radiation (IR), ultraviolet light (UV), or chemical genotoxic agents further increase this susceptibility. Among the various types of DNA damage, double-stranded breaks (DSBs) are the most critical, as they are challenging to repair and can result in genetic instability or cell death. DSBs caused by environmental stressors are primarily repaired via one of two major pathways: non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or homologous recombination (HR). In multicellular eukaryotes, NHEJ predominates, but in unicellular eukaryotes such as protozoan parasites, HR seems to be the principal mechanism for DSB repair. The HR pathway is orchestrated by proteins from the RAD52 epistasis group, including RAD51, RAD52, RAD54, RAD55, and the MRN complex. This review focuses on elucidating the diverse roles and significance of RAD51 recombinase and its paralogs in protozoan parasites, such as <em>Acanthamoeba castellanii</em>, <em>Entamoeba histolytica</em> (Amoebozoa), apicomplexan parasites (Chromalveolata), <em>Naegleria fowleri</em>, <em>Giardia</em> spp., <em>Trichomonas vaginalis</em>, and trypanosomatids (Excavata), where they primarily function in HR. Additionally, we analyze the diversity of proteins involved in HR, both upstream and downstream of RAD51, and discuss the implications of these processes in parasitic protozoa.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"267 ","pages":"Article 108847"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142461313","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of environmental factors on host-parasite interaction patterns in backyard-tethered goats of Kerala, India","authors":"Y. Ajith ,&nbsp;Sasi Adithya ,&nbsp;K.S. Athira ,&nbsp;V. Beena ,&nbsp;M. Saifudeen Safeer ,&nbsp;Sabu Mathews Mevin ,&nbsp;P. Preena ,&nbsp;A.R. Nisha ,&nbsp;Mathew Manju ,&nbsp;George Arun ,&nbsp;S. Ajithkumar","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108846","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108846","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The environment is the most important stratum in the epidemiological triad of a parasitic disease and any variations in the environmental factors may decide the dynamic occurrence and existence of different lifecycle stages of these parasites. The present study investigated the correlations between key biometeorological and demographical parameters with the incidence of different gastrointestinal parasites and hemoparasites among goats. Four hundred and thirty-two goats were screened for parasitic infection in a yearlong survey conducted from July 2022 to June 2023 in the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Mannuthy, Kerala, India. The weather parameters (T_max, T_min, RH, THI, and bright sunshine hours), air quality parameters [AQI, PM_2.5, and PM₁₀], and demographic parameters (gender and age) were recorded along with the test positivity of different categories of gastrointestinal parasites and hemoparasites in goats by routine fecal sample examination and blood smear examination, respectively. The infection level was ranked based on the severity of the infection. The mean and daily variations in biometeorological parameters were calculated and the data were statistically analyzed to figure out the pertinent correlations in host-parasite-environment interaction patterns. High levels of parasitic infections with significant month-wise variations and climate-correlated peak infection patterns were noticed. The incidence of parasites was negatively correlated to all parameters except humidity, indicating more severe parasitism during monsoon months. The significant variations in the host-parasite interaction dynamics point towards the need for detailed explorations concerning the lifecycle of each specific parasite with a focus on the possible environment-favourable and resistant lifecycle stages. Future studies may be designed from a biometeorological perspective to develop a crucial understanding of host-parasite-environment interactions in goats ensuring sustainable goat farming.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"266 ","pages":"Article 108846"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142441554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Silver nanoparticles exhibit in vitro anthelmintic and antimicrobial activities against Dactylogyrus minutus (Kulwieć, 1927), and Aeromonas hydrophila in Cyprinus carpio Koi","authors":"Gracienhe Gomes dos Santos ,&nbsp;Liseth Vanessa Perenguez Riofrio ,&nbsp;Maria Clara Miguel Libanori ,&nbsp;Paola Capistrano dos Santos ,&nbsp;Domickson Silva Costa ,&nbsp;Jucimauro de Araújo Pereira Junior ,&nbsp;Alexandre Vaz da Silva ,&nbsp;Emilly Monteiro Lopes ,&nbsp;Ana Paula de Souza ,&nbsp;José Luiz Pedreira Mouriño ,&nbsp;Diego José Nogueira ,&nbsp;Gabriela Tomas Jerônimo ,&nbsp;Maurício Laterça Martins","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108848","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108848","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study aimed to evaluate the <em>in vitro</em> anthelminthic and antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against <em>Dactylogyrus minutus</em> and <em>Aeromonas hydrophila</em>, pathogens of <em>Cyprinus carpio</em> Koi. Gill arches of the fish were removed and placed into six-well plates containing 10 mL of tank water with varying concentrations of AgNPs: 100, 400, 500, 600, and 800 mg/L, along with control groups using tank water and distilled water. Each group was tested in triplicate. Parasites were observed every 10 min for 300 min (5 h) using a stereomicroscope, and mortality rates were recorded. Anthelminthic efficacy was calculated at the end of the tests. For the <em>in vitro</em> antimicrobial test, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of AgNPs was determined by adding 100 μL of Poor Broth (PB) culture medium to all 96 wells of a microplate. The first well was filled with 100 μL of AgNPs, followed by serial dilutions (1:2 ratio). Subsequently, 50 μL of <em>A</em>. <em>hydrophila</em> (1 × 10⁷ CFU/mL) was added to all wells and incubated for 24 h at 28 °C. Results showed that 800 mg/L of AgNPs achieved 87% anthelminthic efficacy within 300 min, while 100 mg/L achieved 47% efficacy. The MIC showed bacterial growth inhibition at 125 mg/mL. Despite the 87% efficacy against parasites within 300 min, AgNPs did not reach 100% efficacy quickly, limiting their potential use in ornamental fish farming. Further studies are needed to assess the toxicity of AgNPs in fish.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"267 ","pages":"Article 108848"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142461314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Therapeutic efficacy of praziquantel loaded-chitosan nanoparticles on juvenile Schistosoma mansoni worms in murine model","authors":"Mai Mahmoud ,&nbsp;Amal Farahat Allam ,&nbsp;Amina Essawy Essawy ,&nbsp;Thanaa Ibrahim Shalaby ,&nbsp;Soheir Salem El-Sherif","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108843","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108843","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Praziquantel (PZQ) is the standard treatment for schistosomiasis; however, it is poorly effective on immature and juvenile worms. The present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of praziquantel loaded-chitosan nanoparticles (PZQ-CSNPs) on the 25 days old juvenile <em>Schistosoma mansoni</em> worms compared to PZQ and chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs). It was conducted on 60 Swiss albino mice, including 20 control and 40 experimental mice. The control groups included healthy uninfected and infected non-treated mice. The experimental groups included mice infected treated on the 25th day with 400 mg/kg PZQ, 30 mg/kg CSNPs, 100 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg PZQ-CSNPs. The results revealed that PZQ-CSNPs (100, 400 mg/kg) gave the best results substantiated by a remarkable decrease in worm burden, egg count, granuloma count and size compared to the other treatments. Moreover, it induced severe deformations of worm morphology regarding oral and ventral suckers, tegument, spines distribution, and male gynaecophoric canal. Liver enzymes and oxidative stress markers were significantly decreased while antioxidant activities were increased compared to control and other treated groups. In conclusion, a single dose of PZQ-CSNPs had significant antischistosomal therapeutic effects during the early maturation phase.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"266 ","pages":"Article 108843"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142380382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}