Acta Parasitologica最新文献

{"title":"In Silico Discovery of Antigenic-Secreted Proteins to Diagnostic Human Toxocariasis","authors":"María A. Henao,&nbsp;Isabella Cortes,&nbsp;Juan P. Isaza","doi":"10.1007/s11686-024-00966-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-024-00966-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Human toxocariasis is a helminthic zoonosis caused by infection of <i>Toxocara canis</i> or <i>T. cati.</i> Humans can be infected by through ingestion of embryonated eggs from contaminated water, food or soil. Diagnosis is challenging, immunodiagnosis tests are commonly implemented with major pitfalls in the cross-reactivity with other pathogens, particularly in endemic areas.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>With the aim of identify species-specific genes encoding for highly expressed antigenic proteins, a list of parasites that may infect humans and that might present similar clinical symptoms to <i>T. canis</i> infections was built. Only organisms whose genomes were completely sequenced and the proteome predicted were included. First, orthologous proteins were detected and the subcellular localization of <i>T. canis</i> proteins was predicted. In order to identify differentially expressed genes encoding proteins in larvae L3, pair-wise comparisons among transcriptomes from body parts and genders were performed. Finally, all secreted proteins classified as species-specific of <i>T. canis</i>, whose genes were upregulated in larvae L3 were included in an antigenic prediction.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Twenty-eight parasites were included in the analyses, proteins of <i>T. canis</i> were clustered in 11,399 groups, however, 279 were species-specific groups which represent 816 proteins. Three hundred and twenty-two proteins were predicted to be secreted and upregulated in larvae L3, however, after filtering these proteins by their orthology inference, only three proteins met all the features included in this study (species-specific, upregulated, secreted, and antigenic potential). To conclude, our strategy in the study is a rational approach for discovering antigenic proteins to be used in diagnosis.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11686-024-00966-0.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143361686","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of the Anti-Leishmanial Activity of the Hydroalcoholic Extract of Green Algae (Spirogyra): Investigation of Weight Indicators (Lesion Size and Organ Weights) in BALB/c Mice","authors":"Rahmatollah Zarezadeh Mehrizi,&nbsp;Ali Fattahi Bafghi,&nbsp;Vahid Nasiri,&nbsp;Mohammad Reza Sarafraz Ardakani,&nbsp;Mohsen Nabi Meybodi,&nbsp;Hadi Zare-Zardini","doi":"10.1007/s11686-025-00994-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-025-00994-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Leishmaniasis remains a significant global health concern, ranking among the top ten infectious diseases and causing substantial mortality and socioeconomic burden. Effective and accessible treatments are needed. This study investigated the potential of a hydroalcoholic extract from readily available urban green algae as an anti-leishmanial agent, focusing on its impact on key weight-related indicators of Leishmania major infection in BALB/c mice. To evaluate the in vivo anti-leishmanial activity of the hydroalcoholic extract from the common green algae genus Spirogyra against Leishmania major in BALB/c mice, specifically by assessing its effects on weight loss, lesion size, liver weight, and spleen weight—key indicators of disease progression.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Spirogyra algae were collected and identified in Yazd Province, Iran. A hydroalcoholic extract was prepared and administered via intraperitoneal injection into Leishmania major-infected BALB/c mice at doses of 3, 6, and 12 mg/kg/day, starting after lesion development. The control groups included untreated infected mice (negative control), healthy uninfected mice (control), and infected mice treated with Glucantime (positive control). We assessed treatment efficacy by monitoring weight loss, lesion diameter, liver weight, and spleen weight.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Treatment with the highest concentration of Spirogyra extract (12 mg/kg/day) significantly mitigated weight loss in infected mice, demonstrating comparable efficacy to Glucantime. Both the 12 mg/kg/day algae extract and Glucantime significantly controlled lesion growth. Importantly, both treatments significantly reduced liver and spleen weight compared with the negative control group, indicating a reduction in organomegaly. Specifically, the negative control and 3 mg/kg extract groups exhibited the highest liver weights, whereas the negative control group showed significantly higher spleen weights than the other groups. The 12 mg/kg extract and Glucantime groups showed liver and spleen sizes comparable to the healthy control group, demonstrating effective control of organ size changes associated with leishmaniasis.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The hydroalcoholic extract of urban Spirogyra green algae, particularly at a dose of 12 mg/kg/day, exhibited significant in vivo anti-leishmanial activity in BALB/c mice. Evaluated through weight indicators such as reduced weight loss, controlled lesion growth, and normalized liver and spleen weights, the extract showed promise in mitigating the detrimental effects of Leishmania major infection and warrants further investigation as a potential source for novel anti-leishmanial therapeutics.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143361689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis on the Prevalence of Bovine Fascioliasis in Nigeria","authors":"Victor Ibukun Agbajelola,&nbsp;Blessing Seun Agbajelola","doi":"10.1007/s11686-025-00991-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-025-00991-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>Bovine fascioliasis, a parasitic disease caused by <i>Fasciola</i> species, severely affects cattle health and agricultural productivity in tropical regions like Nigeria. It leads to economic losses through liver condemnations, decreased meat and milk production, and increased veterinary expenses. Despite its public health and economic significance, existing data on its prevalence and epidemiological patterns in Nigeria is limited.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>This systematic review and meta-analysis compiled findings from 40 studies conducted between 1980 and 2024 to evaluate the prevalence and distribution of bovine fascioliasis in Nigeria.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The analysis included 5,174,019 cattle and identified 120,678 infections, with a pooled prevalence of 29% (95% CI: 0.21, 0.38) using a random-effects model. A high level of heterogeneity was noted (<i>I</i>² = 100%, tau² = 0.0893). Subgroup analyses showed a higher prevalence in cross-sectional studies (33%, 95% CI: 0.25–0.42) compared to retrospective studies (18%, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.40). Diagnostic methods notably impacted prevalence estimates, with serological tests reporting 72%, versus 33% for microscopy and 22% for post-mortem examinations. Regional disparities were also evident, with the South-South zone exhibiting the highest prevalence in the country, underscoring the influence of environmental factors.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This study reveals the significant burden of bovine fascioliasis in Nigeria and highlights the need for region-specific, evidence-based control strategies. The findings also point to critical gaps in diagnostic standardization and surveillance, underscoring the necessity for improved diagnostic tools and integrated management practices to alleviate the effects of this parasitic disease.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143361685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neospora caninum Inhibits Lewis Cancer and B16f10 Melanoma Lung Metastasis Development by Activating the Immune Response in Murine Models","authors":"Weifeng Qian,&nbsp;Yaqi Chen,&nbsp;Chen Li,&nbsp;Xiaojin Li,&nbsp;Chaochao Lv,&nbsp;Yanyan Jia,&nbsp;Suhui Hu,&nbsp;Min Zhang,&nbsp;Tianqi Wang,&nbsp;Wenchao Yan,&nbsp;Meng Qi","doi":"10.1007/s11686-025-00996-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-025-00996-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Malignant tumors are prevalent with high mortality rates in humans, dogs, and cats. Some microorganisms have been shown to inhibit cancer progression. The objective of this study is to evaluate the inhibitory effects of <i>Neospora caninum</i>, a livestock parasite, on three different tumor models in C57BL/6 mice, including Lewis subcutaneous tumors, Lewis and B16F10 melanoma lung metastasis. The results showed that a sufficient amount of <i>N. caninum</i> tachyzoites can significantly inhibit the development of subcutaneous tumors and lung metastasis (<i>P &lt;</i> 0.001), and induce more than 50% tumor cell death in Lewis subcutaneous tumors. <i>N. caninum</i> treatment can significantly increases the infiltration of macrophages, NK cells, and CD8⁺ T cells (<i>P &lt;</i> 0.0001) in Lewis subcutaneous tumors detected by immunohistochemistry, and the percentage of these immunocytes in the spleen (<i>P &lt;</i> 0.05) of mice bearing B16F10 melanoma metastasis detected by flow cytometry. And with these changes, the mRNA expression levels of IL-12, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-10, TNF-α and PD-L1 in tumor microenvironment and IL-12, IFN-γ, IL-2 in spleen were also significantly increased (<i>P &lt;</i> 0.05). Altogether, our results indicate that a sufficient amount <i>N. caninum</i> tachyzoites not only inhibits the growth of Lewis subcutaneous tumors, but inhibits the development of Lewis and B16F10 melanomas lung metastatic in mice by activating potent immune responses. <i>N. caninum</i> and its anti-tumor properties may be an effective anti-tumor tool.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143361688","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acanthamoeba spp. in Dialysis Water: Assessing the Potential Risk of Transmission to Hemodialysis Patients","authors":"Mona Mohamed Tolba,&nbsp;Heba Elhadad,&nbsp;Shaban Hassan Abu Kabsha,&nbsp;Nesma Seyam El-Kady,&nbsp;Safia Saleh Khalil,&nbsp;Amira Hussein Mohamed,&nbsp;Hend Aly El-Taweel","doi":"10.1007/s11686-025-00992-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-025-00992-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p><i>Acanthamoeba</i> spp. can colonize various freshwater habitats. They are the causative agents of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis and can harbor many microorganisms. We studied the presence of <i>Acanthamoeba</i> spp. in the water system of a hemodialysis unit and assessed the potential for transmission to hemodialysis patients.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Water samples collected from pretreatment and posttreatment water of the treatment station and from input and output water of the dialysis machines were cultured on non-nutrient agar supplemented with <i>Escherichia coli</i>. Blood samples from dialysis patients in the unit and from a control group in the same hospital were tested for anti-<i>Acanthamoeba</i> IgG antibodies.</p><h3>Results</h3><p><i>Acanthamoeba</i> spp. were found in posttreatment water. They were more commonly found in the input water samples (79.2%), than in the output water samples (16.7%) (<i>p</i> = 0.001). Anti-<i>Acanthamoeba</i> IgG antibodies were present in 32.9% of patients and were absent in the control group (<i>p</i> = 0.002). The duration of hemodialysis was significantly longer in seropositive patients than in seronegative patients (<i>p</i> = 0.008).</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The study highlights the presence of <i>Acanthamoeba</i> spp. in the dialysis system. The relatively high prevalence of anti-<i>Acanthamoeba</i> IgG antibodies and the link between dialysis duration and seropositivity emphasize the importance of rigorous water monitoring.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11686-025-00992-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143361796","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phylogeographic Characterization of Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) in Algeria","authors":"Fedwa Betka,&nbsp;Younes Boukert,&nbsp;Tahar Kernif,&nbsp;Naouel Eddaikra,&nbsp;Amina Boutellis,&nbsp;Saïd Chaouki Boubidi","doi":"10.1007/s11686-024-00957-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-024-00957-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p><i>Aedes albopictus</i>, known as the Asian tiger mosquito, is an extensively studied mosquito species recognized for its rapid global expansion and its capacity to transmit a range of viruses such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever viruses. In 2010, <i>Ae. albopictus</i> was observed for the first time in Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria, and since then has colonized all the northern part of the country until the semi-arid areas. The present study was devoted to the molecular characterization of <i>Ae. albopictus</i> in Algeria.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>A total of 20 selected mosquitos,originated from collected eggs in five different districts of northern Algeria weretested by PCR amplification and sequencing of the <i>Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 a (COIa)</i>.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Pairwise alignment of the obtained sequences with representative <i>Ae. albopictus</i> available <i>COIa</i>sequences of the world exhibit 117 different haplotypes. The Algerian sequences are grouped in 1 haplotype shared with Morroco, Madagascar and Mauritius in Africa and 3 other continents (Asia, Europe and America). Asia expresses the highest genetic and nucleotidic diversity (Hd = 0.828;π = 0.0144). In China two new species not described in the literature and confused with <i>Ae. albopictus</i> are detected.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>These results could be used as preliminary data to study and develop targeted control strategies to prevent this vector from spreading in Algeria.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143063072","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Anaplasma marginale in Water Buffaloes in Nile Delta of Egypt","authors":"Hattan S. Gattan,&nbsp;Mohamed Marzok,&nbsp;Omar A. AlJabr,&nbsp;Mohammed H. Alruhaili,&nbsp;Mohamed Salem,&nbsp;Abdelfattah Selim","doi":"10.1007/s11686-024-00945-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-024-00945-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Bovine anaplasmosis is a major tick-borne disease in ruminants, resulting in significant economic loss for the dairy sector. This study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of <i>Anaplasma marginale</i> (<i>A. marginale</i>) in buffaloes in three governorates in Nile Delta of Egypt.</p><h3>Method</h3><p>A total of 400 serum samples from water buffaloes were examined using commercial cELISA kit.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The overall seroprevalence of <i>A. marginale</i> was 12.5% and Kafr ElSheikh governorate has the highest seroprevalence rate (15.28%). The seroprevalence was higher in females (13.33%) than males with non-significant difference. Moreover, adult animals older than 8 years exhibited a significant risk for <i>A. marginale</i> seropositivity (22.92%), particularly during the summer (22.52%) and autumn (13.73%). Significant differences (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05) in seroprevalence rates were observed between tick-infested animals (14.96%) and those not treated with acaricides (17.7%), highlighting the influence of tick infestation and lack of acaricidal intervention on infection rates.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The present study revealed the existence of antibodies against <i>A. marginale</i> in water buffaloes reared in Nile Delta of Egypt. Thus, the proper policies and control program should be adopted to reduce spreading of infection.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143051280","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association Between Plasmodium Infection and Blood Count Values: Implications for Malaria Diagnosis in Resource-Limited Settings","authors":"Laura Seijas-Pereda,&nbsp;Pablo Fernández-González,&nbsp;Isaac Asare,&nbsp;Godlove Osei Asumang,&nbsp;Emmanuel Frimpong,&nbsp;Carlos Rescalvo-Casas,&nbsp;Marcos Hernando-Gozalo,&nbsp;Ramón Pérez-Tanoira","doi":"10.1007/s11686-024-00972-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-024-00972-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Malaria remains a major global health challenge, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), contributing substantially to mortality and morbidity rates. In resource-limited settings, access to specialized diagnostic tests is often restricted, making basic blood analysis a valuable diagnostic tool. This study investigated the correlation between malaria infection and full blood count values in a rural region of Ghana during the 2022 rainy season, aiming to highlight diagnostic insights available from routine blood analyses.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>A retrospective case-control analysis was conducted on 544 confirmed malaria cases, comparing their blood values with those of matched malaria-negative controls.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Parasitaemia levels peaked during the rainy season, with July showing the highest values. Malaria-positive patients exhibited lower levels of haemoglobin, white blood cells, lymphocytes, and platelets, but higher neutrophil counts compared to controls. Middle-aged women had significantly lower haemoglobin levels than men, and younger individuals showed higher parasitaemia levels. A negative correlation was found between <i>Plasmodium</i> density and haemoglobin and platelet counts, while positive correlations were observed with white blood cell and neutrophil counts.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This study highlights the significant burden of malaria in rural Ghana during the rainy season and underscores the impact of infection on blood values. Routine full blood count analysis provides a practical and accessible diagnostic tool in resource-limited settings. The findings emphasise the importance of targeted interventions for high-risk groups, particularly children and women, to improve patient management and reduce malaria-related morbidity.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11774944/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143051276","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morphological and Phylogenetic Analyses of Ceratomyxa tessaloniensis n. sp. In Astyanax mexicanus De Fillipi, 1853 (Characiformes: Characidae) from the Flexal River, Tessalônica Community, Amapá, Amazon, Brazil","authors":"Saturo Cardoso,&nbsp;Abthyllane Amaral de Carvalho,&nbsp;Roger Leomar da Silva Ferreira,&nbsp;Jhonata Eduard Farias de Oliveira,&nbsp;Rafaela Franco de Araújo,&nbsp;Lilia Suzane de Oliveira Nascimento,&nbsp;José Ledamir Sindeaux Neto,&nbsp;Marcela Nunes Videira,&nbsp;Michele Velasco","doi":"10.1007/s11686-024-00958-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-024-00958-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>This work described a new species of <i>Ceratomyxa</i>, based on morphological and phylogenetic analyzes of myxospores collected from the gallbladder of the fish <i>Astyanax mexicanus</i>.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Sixty-two specimens were captured, between December 2022 and February 2024, in the Flexal River, in the community of Tessalônica, state of Amapá. The specimens were transported alive to the Laboratory of Morphophysiology and Animal Health, at the State University of Amapá, where the studies were carried out.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Eleven specimes of <i>A. mexicanus</i> was parasitized with <i>Ceratomyxa tessaloniensis</i> n. sp. Morphological and morphometric analyses revealed strongly arched spores that measured 3.13 ± 0.5 μm in length and 12.18 ± 1.9 μm in thickness with a posterior angle of 74º ± 10.6º and two polar capsules measuring 1.74 ± 0.1 μm long and 1.5 ± 0.16 μm wide. The partial sequence of the 18 S gene from spores of <i>Ceratomyxa tessaloniensis</i> n. sp., comprised 932 base pairs.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Phylogenetic analysis grouped <i>Ceratomyxa tessaloniensis</i> n. sp., with strong nodal support for the exclusive clade of freshwater species, being a new species described for the State of Amapá, the first described in <i>A. mexicanus</i> and the first species with the presence of non-wormlike plasmodia in South America.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143051278","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Analysis of Seroreactivity and Seropositivity in Balb/c Mice Experimentally Infected with Toxocara canis Using Two Recombinant (rTc-CTL-1 and rTES-120) Antigens","authors":"Kaveri Theerthagiri Kavitha,&nbsp;Chirukandoth Sreekumar,&nbsp;Bhaskaran Ravi Latha,&nbsp;A. Mangala Gowri","doi":"10.1007/s11686-024-00940-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-024-00940-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><p>Toxocarosis in human beings is currently diagnosed by serological assay based on the detection of antibodies against <i>Toxocara</i> antigens. <i>Toxocara canis</i> larvae do not reach the adult stage in paratenic hosts like humans and mice. Therefore experimental infection in mice, which mimics the biology of human infection, might be relevant to get a better understanding of human toxocarosis.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Two recombinant antigens viz. rTc-CTL-1 and rTES-120 were developed by expression of respective genes in <i>Escherichia coli.</i> The Balb/c mice were divided into 3 groups; Group I and group II (n = 8 mice each) were infected orally with 100 and 1000 <i>T</i><i>. canis</i> embryonated eggs, respectively and Group III, mice served as uninfected control mice. The serum samples were obtained from all mice at 0, 7, 14, 28, 45, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days post infection (dpi) were tested by indirect ELISA for detecting seroreactivity to <i>Toxocara</i> and at 28 dpi sera of mice was used for confirming seropositivity of toxocarosis in experimentally infected mice.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The rTc-CTL-1 antigen based ELISA showed the antibody response in both the infected groups were increased from 7 dpi, reached maximum at 28 dpi, then gradually declined but it was maintained up to 150 dpi where as the rTES-120 antigen based ELISA detected antibody only at 28 dpi with a maximum at 60 dpi, then moderately declined but it was observed up to 150 dpi. The antibody response of group II mice were significantly higher than the group I mice throughout the observation period when compared to control group (P &lt; 0.01). Statistical analysis showed a highly significant difference in the antibody response between the group I and group II mice from 14 to 150 dpi with rTc-CTL-1 ELISA and from 28 to 150 dpi with rTES-120 based ELISA (P &lt; 0.01). The seropositivity in mice sera samples at 28 dpi using rTc-CTL-1 based ELISA revealed 87.5% in group I and 100% in group II mice were positive. The rTES-120 ELISA revealed 12.5% in group I and 25% in group II mice were positive. Statistically highly significant difference in the seropositivity between the recombinant antigens (P &lt; 0.01) was observed, but, there was no significant difference between the infected group of mice.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>It was concluded that rTc-CTL-1 antigen based ELISA detect antibody in early infections compared to rTES-120 ELISA and also the antibody response was directly proportional to the dosage of infective eggs. The diagnostic efficacy of rTc-CTL-1 antigen based ELISA was better when compared to rTES-120 antigen based ELISA.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143051275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}