Parasites & Vectors最新文献

{"title":"Clinical significance of blood cell ratios in healthy and sick Leishmania infantum-seropositive dogs.","authors":"Giulia Donato, Marta Baxarias, Laia Solano-Gallego, Icíar Martínez-Flórez, Cristina Mateu, Maria Grazia Pennisi","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06522-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-024-06522-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The accuracy of blood cell ratios (BCRs) as cost-effective and easily accessible diagnostic and prognostic markers of inflammatory conditions has been investigated in veterinary medicine in recent years.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte (MLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR) ratios were studied in 195 dogs clinically evaluated and tested for anti-Leishmania infantum (Li) antibodies (Li-seronegative (Li^-), n = 10; Li-seropositive clinically healthy (Li⁺_healthy), n = 100; Li-seropositive with clinical and/or clinicopathological abnormalities (Li⁺_sick), n = 85). The Li⁺_sick dogs were classified in LeishVet stages IIa/IIb (Li⁺_IIa/IIb) (n = 66) and III/IV (Li⁺_III/IV) (n = 19). BCR relationships with LeishVet clinical stage, antibody levels, and serum protein electrophoretic fraction concentrations were investigated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Higher NLR values were found in Li⁺, Li⁺_healthy, and Li⁺_IIa/IIb sick dogs compared to Li^- dogs (P < 0.001). Higher NLR and MLR were found in Li⁺_sick (NLR, P < 0.001; MLR, P = 0.034) and Li⁺_III/IV dogs (NLR, P < 0.001; MLR, P = 0.005) compared to Li^- dogs, and in Li⁺_III/IV dogs (NLR, P = 0.002; MLR, P < 0.001) compared to Li⁺_healthy. All three BCRs were higher in Li⁺_sick (NLR, MLR, P < 0.001; PLR, P = 0.023) and Li⁺_IIa/IIb dogs (NLR P < 0.001; MLR P = 0.001; PLR, P = 0.012) compared to Li⁺_healthy dogs. The BCRs failed to distinguish dogs with moderate (Li⁺_IIa/IIb) and severe or very severe disease (Li⁺_III/IV). BCRs demonstrated weak positive correlations with serum globulin fractions and antibody levels, and weak negative correlations with serum albumin level were found. Li⁺_sick dogs presenting hypoalbuminemia showed higher MLR ratios (P = 0.001) than those with normal albumin values.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study shows that BCR measures provide useful information for differentiating antibody-positive healthy and sick dogs at diagnosis. Dogs with hypoalbuminemia showed higher MLR values despite monocytosis being very rare.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"435"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11515770/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142505370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Global warming induced spread of the highest human fascioliasis hyperendemic area.","authors":"Pablo F Cuervo, M Dolores Bargues, Patricio Artigas, Paola Buchon, Rene Angles, Santiago Mas-Coma","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06514-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-024-06514-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Climate change is driving the occurrence of several infectious diseases. Within a One Health action to complement the ongoing preventive chemotherapy initiative against human fascioliasis in the Northern Bolivian Altiplano hyperendemic area, field surveys showed a geographical expansion of its lymnaeid snail vector. To assess whether climate change underlies this spread of the infection risk area, an in-depth analysis of the long-term evolution of climatic factors relevant for Fasciola hepatica development was imperative.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used monthly climatic data covering at least a 30-year period and applied two climatic risk indices, the water-budget-based system and the wet-day index, both of verified usefulness for forecasting fascioliasis transmission in this endemic area. To reveal the long-term trends of the climatic factors and forecast indices, we applied procedures of seasonal-trend decomposition based on locally weighed regression and trend analysis on the basis of linear models. To further demonstrate the changes detected, we depicted selected variables in the form of anomalies.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This study revealed a notorious climatic change affecting most of the hyperendemic area, with a strong impact on crucial aspects of the fascioliasis transmission. Trends in maximum and mean temperatures show significant increases throughout the endemic area, while trends in minimum temperatures are more variable. Precipitation annual trends are negative in most of the localities. Trends in climatic risk indices show negative trends at lower altitudes or when farther from the eastern Andean chain. However, monthly and yearly values of climatic risk indices indicate a permanent transmission feasibility in almost every location.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Warmer temperatures have enabled lymnaeids to colonize formerly unsuitable higher altitudes, outside the endemicity area verified in the 1990s. Further, drier conditions might lead to an overexploitation of permanent water collections where lymnaeids inhabit, favoring fascioliasis transmission. Therefore, the present preventive chemotherapy by annual mass treatments is in need to widen the area of implementation. This study emphasizes the convenience for continuous monitoring of nearby zones for quick reaction and appropriate action modification.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"434"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11492717/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142471915","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Role of cuproptosis in mediating the severity of experimental malaria-associated acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome.","authors":"Xinpeng Hou, Tingting Zhou, Qi Wang, Pinru Chen, Min Zhang, Lirong Wu, Wenbin Liu, Xiaobao Jin, Zhenlong Liu, Hua Li, Bo Huang","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06520-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-024-06520-1","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Malaria-associated acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (MA-ALI/ARDS) is a fatal complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection that is partially triggered by macrophage recruitment and polarization. As reported, copper exposure increases the risk of malaria infection, and copper accumulation-induced cuproptosis triggers M1 macrophage polarization. It is thus hypothesized that cuproptosis could act as a critical mediator in the pathogenesis of MA-ALI/ARDS, but its underlying mechanism remains unclear. The present study aimed to explore the role of cuproptosis in the severity of murine MA-ALI/ARDS.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;We utilized an experimental model of MA-ALI/ARDS using female C57BL/6 mice with P. berghei ANKA infection, and treated these animals with the potent copper ion carrier disulfiram (DSF) or copper ion chelator tetrathiomolybdate (TTM). The RAW 264.7 macrophages, which were stimulated with infected red blood cells (iRBCs) in vitro, were also targeted with DSF-CuCl&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; or TTM-CuCl&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; to further investigate the underlying mechanism.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Our findings showed a dramatic elevation in the amount of copper and the expression of SLC31A1 (a copper influx transporter) and FDX1 (a key positive regulator of cuproptosis) but displayed a notable reduction in the expression of ATP7A (a copper efflux transporter) in the lung tissue of experimental MA-ALI/ARDS mice. Compared to the P. berghei ANKA-infected control group, mice that were administered DSF exhibited a remarkable increase in parasitemia/lung parasite burden, total protein concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), lung wet/dry weight ratio, vascular leakage, and pathological changes in lung tissue. Strikingly, the experimental MA-ALI/ARDS mice with DSF treatment also demonstrated dramatically elevated copper levels, expression of SLC31A1 and FDX1, numbers of CD86&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;, CD68&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;, SLC31A1&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;-CD68&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;, and FDX1&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;-CD68&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; macrophages, and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor [TNF-α] and inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS]) in lung tissue, but showed a remarkable decrease in body weight, survival time, expression of ATP7A, number of CD206&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; macrophages, and mRNA levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (transforming growth factor beta [TGF-β] and interleukin 10 [IL-10]). In contrast, TTM treatment reversed these changes in the infected mice. Similarly, the in vitro experiment showed a notable elevation in the mRNA levels of SLC31A1, FDX1, CD86, TNF-α, and iNOS in iRBC-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells targeted with DSF-CuCl&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;, but triggered a remarkable decline in the mRNA levels of ATP7A, CD206, TGF-β, and IL-10. In contrast, TTM-CuCl&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; treatment also reversed these trends in the iRBC-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;Our data demonst","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"433"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11489997/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142471901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multiple bloodmeals enhance dissemination of arboviruses in three medically relevant mosquito genera.","authors":"Zannatul Ferdous, Constentin Dieme, Hannah Sproch, Laura D Kramer, Alexander T Ciota, Doug E Brackney, Philip M Armstrong","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06531-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-024-06531-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mosquitoes in nature may acquire multiple bloodmeals (BMs) over the course of their lifetime; however, incorporation of frequent feeding behavior in laboratory vector competence studies is rarely done. We have previously shown that acquisition of a second non-infectious BM can enhance early dissemination of Zika virus (ZIKV), dengue virus, and chikungunya virus in Aedes aegypti and ZIKV in Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, yet it is unknown if other taxonomically-diverse virus-vector pairings show a similar trend under a sequential feeding regimen.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To test this, we evaluated the impact of a second noninfectious BM on the vector competence of Aedes aegypti and Anopheles quadrimaculatus for Mayaro virus, Culex quinquefasciatus for West Nile virus, Aedes triseriatus for La Crosse virus, and Aedes aegypti for Oropouche virus (OROV). Female mosquitoes were fed BMs containing these viruses and half of them were given a second noninfectious BM at 3 or 4-days post infection. Mosquitoes were harvested at various time points and assayed for virus infection in bodies and disseminated infection in legs by performing reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found that a second noninfectious BM had no impact on midgut infection rates but increased virus dissemination for all but one of the virus-vector pairings- Ae. aegypti and OROV. Unlike the other arboviruses under consideration, which are strictly mosquito-borne, biting midges (Culicoides spp.) serve as the main vector of OROV and this virus rarely disseminated to the mosquito leg tissue in our study.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Taken together, our findings show that sequential blood feeding enhances virus dissemination across diverse arbovirus-vector pairings, representing three mosquito genera and virus families, but a second BM was insufficient to overcome a strong midgut virus escape barrier in a nonnatural virus-vector pairing.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"432"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11490111/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142471899","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of Loopamp Leishmania detection kit for the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ethiopia.","authors":"Behailu Taye, Roma Melkamu, Fitsumbrhan Tajebe, Ana Victoria Ibarra-Meneses, Desalegn Adane, Saba Atnafu, Mohammed Adem, Gashaw Adane, Mekibib Kassa, Mezgebu Silamsaw Asres, Johan van Griensven, Saskia van Henten, Myrthe Pareyn","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06475-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06475-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Ethiopia and some parts of Kenya is predominantly caused by Leishmania aethiopica. While skin-slit (SS) microscopy is routinely used for CL diagnosis, more sensitive molecular tests are available. The Loopamp™ Leishmania detection kit (Loopamp) is a robust loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay with the potential for implementation in primary healthcare facilities. In this study, we comparatively assessed the diagnostic accuracy of four methods currently used to diagnose CL: Loopamp, kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) PCR, spliced leader RNA (SL-RNA) PCR and SS microscopy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A study on 122 stored tape disc samples of suspected CL patients was conducted in Gondar, northwestern Ethiopia. Routine SS microscopy results were obtained from all patients. Total nucleic acids were extracted from the tapes and subjected to PCR testing targeting kDNA and SL-RNA, and Loopamp. Diagnostic accuracy was calculated with SS microscopy as a reference test. The limit of detection (LoD) of Loopamp and kDNA PCR were determined for cultured L. aethiopica and Leishmania donovani.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 122 patients, 64 (52.5%) were identified as CL cases based on SS microscopy. Although the PCR tests showed a sensitivity of 95.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 91.6-99.1), Loopamp only had 48.4% (95% CI 39.6-57.3) sensitivity and 87.9% (95% CI 82.1-93.7) specificity. The LoD of Loopamp for L. donovani was 100-fold lower (20 fg/µl) than that for L. aethiopica (2 pg/µl).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The Loopamp™ Leishmania detection kit is not suitable for the diagnosis of CL in Ethiopia, presumably due to a primer mismatch with the L. aethiopica 18S rRNA target. Further research is needed to develop a simple and sensitive point-of-care test that allows the decentralization of CL diagnosis in Ethiopia.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"431"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11481786/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142471914","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Why does malaria transmission continue at high levels despite universal vector control? Quantifying persistent malaria transmission by Anopheles funestus in Western Province, Zambia.","authors":"Ruth A Ashton, Benjamin Chanda, Chama Chishya, Rayford Muyabe, Tresford Kaniki, Patricia Mambo, Mwansa Mwenya, Gift Mwaanga, Annie Arnzen, Erica Orange, Kochelani Saili, Handrinah Banda Yikona, John Chulu, Chanda Chitoshi, Irene Kyomuhangi, John Miller, Kafula Silumbe, Busiku Hamainza, Megan Littrell, Joshua Yukich, Immo Kleinschmidt, Javan Chanda, Joseph Wagman, Thomas P Eisele","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06457-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06457-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Some settings continue to experience a high malaria burden despite scale-up of malaria vector control to high levels of coverage. Characterisation of persistent malaria transmission in the presence of standard control measures, also termed residual malaria transmission, to understand where and when individuals are exposed to vector biting is critical to inform refinement of prevention and control strategies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Secondary analysis was performed using data collected during a phase III cluster randomized trial of attractive targeted sugar bait stations in Western Province, Zambia. Two seasonal cohorts of children aged 1-14 years were recruited and monitored monthly during the malaria transmission season, concurrent with entomological surveillance using a combination of human landing catch (HLC) and Centres for Disease Control (CDC) light traps at randomly selected households in study clusters. Behavioural data from cohort participants were combined with measured Anopheles funestus landing rates and sporozoite positivity to estimate the human behaviour-adjusted entomological inoculation rate (EIR).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Behavioural data from 1237 children over 5456 child-visits in 20 entomology surveillance clusters were linked with hourly landing rates from 8131 female An. funestus trapped by HLC. Among all An. funestus tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), 3.3% were sporozoite-positive. Mean EIR directly measured from HLC was 0.07 infectious bites per person per night (ib/p/n). When accounting for child locations over the evening and night, the mean behaviour-adjusted EIR was 0.02 ib/p/n. Children not sleeping under insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) experienced 13.6 infectious bites per person per 6 month season, 8% of which occurred outdoors, while ITN users received 1.3 infectious bites per person per 6 month season, 86% of which were received outdoors. Sleeping under an ITN can prevent approximately 90% of potential An. funestus bites among children.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In this setting ITNs have a high personal protective efficacy owing to peak An. funestus biting occurring indoors while most individuals are asleep. However, despite high household possession of ITNs (>90%) and high individual use (>70%), children in this setting experience more than one infectious bite per person per 6 month transmission season, sufficient to maintain high malaria transmission and burden. New tools and strategies are required to reduce the malaria burden in such settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"429"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11476814/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142471902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of molecular diagnostic protocols for simultaneous identification of common bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) and tropical bed bugs (Cimex hemipterus).","authors":"Jeong Heum Han, Junhyeong Choi, Susie Cho, Si Hyeock Lee, Ju Hyeon Kim","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06447-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06447-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The resurgence of two bed bug species, the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius Linnaeus, 1758) and tropical bed bug (Cimex hemipterus Fabricius, 1803), in the same geographical regions has been frequently reported recently. Consequently, the rapid identification of these species is crucial for implementing targeted capture traps and tailored pyrethroid resistance diagnosis, due to differences in genetic and physiological traits.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To develop molecular diagnostic methods, distinct protocols were established for multiplex PCR and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) using species-specific primers based on species-specific segments of internal transcribed spacer 2 sequences. These methods were optimized for rapid and accurate identification of the two bed bug species.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Both multiplex PCR and LAMP protocols were effective in simultaneously identifying the two bed bug species, even when utilizing DNA released from dead specimens. Notably, the straightforward procedure and minimal time commitment of LAMP suggest its potential for rapid and accurate diagnosis of bed bugs in the field. The diagnostic accuracy of these methods was validated through a blind test.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The multiplex PCR and LAMP protocols lay the foundation for rapid and accurate field identification of bed bug species, enabling the use of appropriate traps and the detection of species-specific pyrethroid resistance mutations. This approach ensures effective management tailored to the unique characteristics of each bed bug species.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"430"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11476074/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142471913","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Organellar genome dynamics of exogenous stages of Eimeria tenella.","authors":"Perryn S Kruth, Taylor Lane, John R Barta","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06498-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06498-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Coccidia are a group of intracellular protozoal parasites within the phylum Apicomplexa. Eimeria tenella, one of the species that cause intestinal coccidiosis in poultry, can cause significant mortality and morbidity. Diploid oocysts of Eimeria species are shed in the feces of an infected host and must sporulate to achieve infectivity. This process results in eight haploid infectious units, called sporozoites, held within a single oocyst. Each Eimeria spp. parasite possesses a single apicoplast and a single mitochondrion, both of which carry multiple copies of their respective organellar genomes. Reports of copy numbers of organellar genomes have varied widely.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We report the application of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), supported by next-generation sequencing, for the quantification of the extranuclear genomes relative to the nuclear genome over the course of sporulation and following its completion.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At 64 elapsed hours, 93.0% of oocysts were fully sporulated; no increase in percent sporulation was observed after this time. Apicoplast relative genome copy number showed several significant shifts up to 72 elapsed hours, after which no significant shifts were observed. Oocysts were shed with approximately 60% the amount of apicoplast DNA present at 72 h, after which point no significant shifts in apicoplast genome relative abundance occurred. Mitogenome relative copy number showed only two significant shifts, from 16 to 24 elapsed hours and from 24 to 32 elapsed hours. Oocysts were shed with approximately 28% the amount of mitochondrial DNA that was present at the time sporulation was deemed morphologically complete, at 64 elapsed hours.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The characterization of the dynamics of genome abundance in exogenous stages sheds new light on the basic biology of Eimeria spp. and supports the use of extranuclear targets for molecular modes of parasite quantification and identification with improved sensitivity and accuracy.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"428"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11476305/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142471900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detection of human strongyloidiasis among patients with a high risk of complications attending selected tertiary care hospitals in Colombo, Sri Lanka using molecular and serological diagnostic tools.","authors":"Chamarika Jayanetti Weerasekera, Nayana Gunathilaka, Chandrani Menike, Philip Anpahalan, Nilanka Perera, Nilanthi Renuka de Silva, Renu Wickremasinghe","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06508-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-024-06508-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Strongyloidiasis a neglected tropical disease is known to cause severe disease among immunosuppressed and has not been studied extensively in Sri Lanka. Parasitological diagnostic approaches based on faecal microscopy and culture often fail to detect low-intensity infections. This study investigates the presence of strongyloidiasis among selected immunocompromised individuals using parasitological, molecular and serological techniques.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Adult patients with immunocompromising conditions admitted to three tertiary care hospitals in Sri Lanka were recruited. A faecal sample and 2 ml of venous blood were collected. The faecal samples were subjected to direct faecal smear and cultures (agar plate, charcoal and Harada-Mori) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using species specific primers designed for Strongyloides stercoralis. The presence of Strongyloides IgG antibodies was tested in the collected serum samples using DRG Strongyloides IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The PCR products of the positive samples were sequenced using Sanger sequencing method.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 260 patients were recruited to this study, out of which 160 provided faecal samples and 122 provided blood samples. Out of the 160 faecal samples, none were positive for strongyloidiasis by direct smear, charcoal and Harada-Mori cultures. Only one sample (0.6%) was positive by agar plate culture. Out of the 123 samples subjected to PCR, 14 (11.4%), including the culture positive patient, were positive for S. stercoralis. Sequencing results of the PCR products indicated 100% similarity to S. stercoralis. Out of the 122 serum samples subjected to ELISA, 20 (16.4%), including the culture positive patient, were positive for Strongyloides IgG antibodies. However, sociodemographic, exposure factors, clinical features were not significantly associated with the presence of strongyloidiasis infection.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Strongyloidiasis is present among the immunocompromised population in Sri Lanka, even in the absence of a significant relationship with associated factors. It is advisable to screen such patients with highly sensitive tests such as PCR for early diagnosis and treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"427"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11470637/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142406680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Protein profile of extracellular vesicles derived from adult Parascaris spp.","authors":"Vishnu Manikantan, Nichol E Ripley, Martin K Nielsen, Sriveny Dangoudoubiyam","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06502-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-024-06502-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Parascaris spp. represent a significant threat to equine health worldwide, particularly in foals. The long-term survival of parasites in the host necessitates persistent modulation of the host immune response. Intercellular communication achieved through the exchange of molecules via extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from the parasite could be a crucial factor in this regard. This study aimed to isolate and characterize EVs released by adult male and female Parascaris worms and conduct a proteomic analysis to identify sex-specific proteins and potential immunomodulatory factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Live adult Parascaris worms were collected, and EVs were isolated from spent culture media using differential ultracentrifugation. Nanoparticle tracking analysis and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the size, concentration, and morphology of the isolated EVs. Proteins within the isolated EVs were analyzed using mass spectrometry-based proteomics (LC-MS/MS).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Proteomic analysis revealed a total of 113 proteins in Parascaris EVs, with several proteins showing homology to known helminth exosome proteins and exhibiting immunomodulatory functions. Sex-specific differences in EV protein composition were observed, with a distinct abundance of C-type lectins in female EVs, suggesting potential sex-specific roles or regulation. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses revealed metabolic pathways shared between male and female Parascaris EVs, as well as differences in signal transduction, and cell growth and death pathways, indicating sex-specific variations.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings imply that Parascaris EVs and their protein cargo are complex. This data potentially opens avenues for discovering innovative approaches to managing and understanding helminth infection.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"426"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11468347/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142400923","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}