Acta Parasitologica最新文献

{"title":"Evolutionary Analysis of Hypoderma Pantholopsum in Tibetan Antelopes on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau","authors":"Fan Zhang,&nbsp;Haining Zhang,&nbsp;Zhi Li,&nbsp;Ru Meng,&nbsp;Peiling Ye,&nbsp;Yong Fu","doi":"10.1007/s11686-024-00954-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-024-00954-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p><i>Hypoderma pantholopsum</i> is a parasite that parasitizes Tibetan antelopes (<i>Pantholops hodgsonii</i>). This study aims was to reveal the genetic diversity within <i>H. pantholopsum</i> and contribute to the protection of Tibetan antelope.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p><i>H. pantholopsum</i> was subjected to mitochondrial genome sequencing, annotation, and phylogenetic analysis. PhyloSuite and BEAST were used to construct phylogenetic tree and divergence time for the parasite.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The complete <i>H. pantholopsum</i> genome was 16,265 bp in length. The complete mitochondrial genomes contained 37 typical genes, which included 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNAs, and 2 rRNAs. Phylogenetic trees constructed based on the 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, and mitochondrial genome sequences showed that <i>H. pantholopsum</i> clustered on the same branch as the <i>Hypoderma</i> species in the GenBank database. According to the divergence time for the COI gene, <i>H. pantholopsum</i> emerged and differentiated approximately 11.59 million years ago (Mya), which indicates that <i>H. pantholopsum</i> appeared much earlier than <i>H. bovis</i> and <i>H. sinense</i> in the genus <i>Hypoderma</i>.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The present study explored that the complete mitochondrial genome of <i>H. pantholopsum</i>, along with the phylogenetic evolution, and divergence time estimation, provide valuable data for future investigations into the phylogeny and differentiation of <i>Hypoderma</i> species on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.</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":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142939134","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":"Evaluating the Immunoprotective and Diagnostic Potential of Schistosoma mansoni Epitopes from Sm050890 and Sm141290 Proteins Identified Through Reverse Vaccinology","authors":"Flávio Martins de Oliveira,&nbsp;Gabriela Francine Martins Lopes,&nbsp;Rosy Iara Maciel Azambuja Ribeiro,&nbsp;José Augusto Ferreira Perez Villar,&nbsp;Cristina Toscano Fonseca,&nbsp;Débora de Oliveira Lopes","doi":"10.1007/s11686-024-00981-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-024-00981-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Schistosomiasis remains a parasitic disease affecting millions of people worldwide, requiring interventions like vaccination. In previous work, our group used reverse vaccinology to identify two epitopes from the <i>Schistosoma mansoni</i> proteins, Sm050890 (44–58) and Sm141290 (225–239). This study evaluated the immune response profile and protection induced by peptides, as a mixture of immunogens, in murine vaccination trials. Additionally, the diagnostic potential of these peptides was assessed on immunoassays.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Mice were immunized with a formulation containing the mixture of the peptides, subsequently infected, and perfused for worm burden recovery and quantification. Liver and blood samples from animals were used to evaluate the effect of immunization on the formation of granulomas and specific anti-peptide antibodies (IgG). Additionally, cytokine measurement was performed in splenocyte cultures from immunized mice, and peripheral blood serum from individuals infected with <i>S. mansoni</i> was used to assess the recognition of the peptides by IgG antibodies.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The vaccine stimulated an increase in the production of IgG and IgG2c antibodies, associated with a significant reduction of 44 − 29% in worm burden. Although the vaccine did not reduce liver pathology, it enhanced the production of IFN-γ while decreasing IL-10 production by splenocytes. Furthermore, the peptides Sm050890 (44–58) and Sm141290 (225–239) were not recognized by IgG antibodies in the serum from infected individuals.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Overall, our data suggest that the peptides Sm050890 (44–58) and Sm141290 (225–239) are promising vaccine candidates against schistosomiasis and can be used to compose a multiepitope/chimeric vaccine in future studies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142939170","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":"Kalubustrongylus arsoensis gen. et sp. n. (Trichostrongylidae: Filarinematinae) and Other Nematodes Belonging to the Suborder Trichostrongylina Parasitic in the Common Spiny Bandicoot, Echymipera kalubu, of Papua Indonesia","authors":"Hideo Hasegawa,&nbsp;Kartika Dewi","doi":"10.1007/s11686-024-00982-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-024-00982-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>The present paper reports the nematodes of the suborder Trichostrongylina collected from the common spiny bandicoot, <i>Echymipera kalubu</i>, in Arso, Papua Indonesia. The description of <i>Kalubustrongylus arsoensis</i> <b>gen.</b> et <b>sp. n</b>. (Trichostrongylidae: Filarinematinae) is given herein.</p><h3>Materials and methods</h3><p>The specimens were collected from three common spiny bandicoots at Arso, Papua Indonesia, captured using traditional snap traps in August 1993. The new taxon is described and illustrated by light and scanning electron microscopy. Type and voucher specimens were deposited in the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense (MZB), Bogor, Indonesia.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The new genus <i>Kalubustrongylus</i> is classified as a member of the subfamily Filarinematinae in the family Trichostrongylidae by having a bilaterally symmetrical synlophe and an uncoiled body, and by lacking a cephalic vesicle. It resembles <i>Peramelistrongylus</i> but is distinguished by having additional ridges in the synlophe, an elliptical bursa, an apically divided dorsal ray and minute extra-dorsal rays. Besides <i>Ka. arsoensis</i>, <i>Mackerrastrongylus biakensis</i>, <i>Peramelistrongylus skedastos</i>, <i>Beveridgiella</i> spp., <i>Dessetostrongylus</i> sp. and Herpetostrongylinae sp. were collected. <i>Dessetostrongylus</i> is recorded for the first time outside of Australia and from non-dasyurid marsupials.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The present findings add a genus to the three genera previously known in the subfamily Filarinematinae in the family Trichostrongylidae.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142939171","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":"New Record of Rhipicephalus fulvus (Neumann, 1913) from Goats and Sheep in Northeastern Algeria After more than a Century","authors":"Loubna Dib,&nbsp;Mehdi Boucheikhchoukh,&nbsp;Noureddine Mechouk,&nbsp;Carla Andrea Culda,&nbsp;Ali Bouattour,&nbsp;Ahmed Benakhla,&nbsp;Hamza Leulmi","doi":"10.1007/s11686-024-00951-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-024-00951-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Tick diversity in Algeria has garnered increasing interest due to its implications for animal health and zoonotic diseases. Recent reports of abnormal ulcerative lesions in goats and sheep in the Cheria region of northeastern Algeria have raised concerns about a potential association with tick infestations. The aim of this study is to hypothesize the potential involvement of ticks in these unusual lesions.</p><h3>Materials and methods</h3><p>A total of 52 tick specimens were collected from the affected animals, comprising 24 adult males, 24 adult females, and four engorged females. A morphological examination was performed to identify the tick species.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The morphological analysis identified the non-engorged ticks as <i>Rhipicephalus fulvus</i>. The observed ulcerative lesions were likely caused by reactions to the tick’s saliva. Notably, this finding marks the first recorded presence of <i>R. fulvus</i> in Algeria since its original description by Neumann in 1913.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Identifying <i>R. fulvus</i> highlights its reemergence in the region and suggests a potential impact on livestock health. This discovery underscores the need for enhanced tick surveillance and further studies to understand the tick’s origin, distribution, and role in animal health.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142938950","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":"Expression Analysis of Thirteen Genes in Response to Nifurtimox and Benznidazole in Mexican Isolates of Trypanosoma cruzi by Digital PCR","authors":"Paulina Ochoa-Martínez,&nbsp;Aracely López-Monteon,&nbsp;Jaime López-Domínguez,&nbsp;Rebeca Georgina Manning-Cela,&nbsp;Angel Ramos-Ligonio","doi":"10.1007/s11686-024-00986-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-024-00986-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Despite being the most relevant and critical option for managing Chagas disease, pharmacological therapy is currently limited by the availability of only two drugs, benznidazole and nifurtimox. Their effectiveness is further restricted in the chronic phase of the infection, as they induce severe side effects and require prolonged treatment. Additionally, the use of these drugs can lead to the emergence of substantial resistance problems, compounded by the potential natural resistance of some parasite isolates. This study analyzes the expression of 13 genes by digital PCR in four Mexican <i>T. cruzi</i> isolates treated with NFX and BZN. Each isolate exhibited a unique combination of enzyme expression in response to the oxidative stress induced by the antichagasic agents. Notably, we observed the overexpression of cruzipain (CZP), L-threonine dehydrogenase (TDH), and detoxification-related enzymes such as Glutathionyl spermidine synthetase (GST) and Superoxide dismutase-A (SOD). These findings highlight the need for further studies to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying this resistance, which pose both unexpected challenges for Chagas disease therapy and a biological barrier to the action of these drugs. These findings highlight the need for further studies to understand how these resistance mechanisms contribute to treatment failure and constitute a biological barrier to drug action.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142939168","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":"qPCR as a Tool for the Diagnosis of Visceral and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis","authors":"José Bryan Rihs,&nbsp;Mariana Teixeira Vilela,&nbsp;Janete Soares Coelho dos Santos,&nbsp;Job Alves de Souza Filho,&nbsp;Sérgio Caldas,&nbsp;Rodrigo Souza Leite,&nbsp;Marcos Paulo Gomes Mol","doi":"10.1007/s11686-024-00942-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-024-00942-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><p>Ensuring accuracy in the diagnosis of leishmaniasis is crucial due to the myriad of potential differential diagnoses. Given the inherent limitations of serological techniques, real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) emerges as a superior alternative. Furthermore, parasitological methods, conventionally regarded as the gold standard owing to their high specificity, encounter challenges concerning sensitivity and invasiveness for patients. In this context, the present study aims to assess, via meta-analysis, the performance of qPCR in diagnosing visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis.</p><h3>Method</h3><p>This meta-analysis encompassed studies published between January 2011 and December 2022, sourced from six databases (PubMed, LILACS, Scopus, Scielo, EMBASE, and Web of Science), utilizing the keywords “qPCR,” “molecular diagnosis,” and “leishmaniasis.” Epidemiological studies focusing on the efficacy of qPCR for leishmaniasis diagnosis were included. Data such as study demographics, geographic locations, sampling techniques, and the number of positive qPCR results were aggregated and analyzed to derive overall positivity rates, sensitivity, and specificity values associated with qPCR. Heterogeneity analysis was conducted on the data to select appropriate models, and the collective efficacy data of qPCR were illustrated in forest plots.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Fifty-four studies met all inclusion criteria. The positivity rates for human visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis were 27.07% (95% CI: 17.81-36.33%) and 60.40% (95% CI: 30.23-90.57%), respectively. In cases of visceral leishmaniasis in dogs, cats, and wild animals, the positivity rates were 26.55% (95% CI: 21.40-31.70%), 0.92% (95% CI: 0.09-1.75%), and 28.98% (95% CI: 21.86-35.10%), respectively. Analysis of the selected studies revealed high overall sensitivity and specificity values achieved with qPCR, at 91.08% (95% CI: 81.77-100.39%) and 98.08% (95% CI: 97.13-99.03%), respectively.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This study indicates that qPCR is a highly sensitive and specific tool, adequately suitable for the diagnosis of human visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis, as well as visceral leishmaniasis in animals.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142938940","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":"Morphology and Phylogenetic Analysis of Henneguya sp. Infecting the Orange-Spotted Snakehead (Channa Aurantimaculata) from Tamil Nadu, India","authors":"Arumugam Uma,&nbsp;Palaniappan Subash,&nbsp;Jayasimhan Praveenraj","doi":"10.1007/s11686-024-00961-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-024-00961-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p><i>Henneguya</i> sp. is a crucial myxosporean parasite known to cause milky flesh or tapioca disease in the freshwater fish population, leading to heavy mortality. Studies to investigate its host range and to monitor their prevalence in wild and aquacultured fish are necessary.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>The infected orange-spotted snakehead (<i>Channa aurantimaculata</i>) fish samples showing clinical signs such as severe ulceration and open wounds on the mouth and operculum were collected from an ornamental fish-rearing unit in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The sample was diagnosed with myxosporean infection by microscopic observation, morphological records and DNA sequencing followed by phylogenetic analysis.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The <i>Henneguya</i> infection was identified in <i>C. aurantimaculata</i> for the first time. Necropsy of the infected fish revealed characteristic multifocal whitish-yellow, oval-shaped cysts measuring 3–5 mm in length on the liver and spleen. The wet mount of cysts showed numerous mature <i>Henneguya</i> spores that were uninucleate, elongated, lenticular and ellipsoidal with the bluntly rounded anterior end gradually tapering off to the posterior with a caudal elongation. The spore body measured 12.1 ± 0.9 μm (10.1–14.7 μm) × 7.1 ± 0.6 μm (5.3–8.5 μm) with two slightly unequal pyriform polar capsules of 6.1 ± 0.5 μm (5.1–7.4 )× 2.5 ± 0.4 μm (1.6–3.9) (large); 6.0 ± 0.4 μm (5.2–6.4) × 2.5 ± 0.3 μm (1.7–3.1) (small) and a caudal elongation of 16.1 ± 1.2 μm in length. The parasite was confirmed to be a <i>Henneguya</i> sp. by PCR amplification of SSrRNA followed by gene sequencing. The sequence generated was submitted in the GenBank under accession number PP852214.1 The maximum likelihood analysis revealed that the obtained sequence is a close relative of <i>H. exilis</i> with pairwise sequence variation of 3.3% and a homology of 99.04%.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The findings highlight the potential impact of <i>Henneguya</i> sp. on ornamental fish health, underscoring the need for vigilant monitoring and management in India.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142939135","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":"Study of the Drug Resistance Function of Ivermectin-Resistance-Related miRNAs in Haemonchus contortus","authors":"HaiFeng Wen,&nbsp;YanMin Zhang,&nbsp;Lin Yang,&nbsp;WenLong Wang,&nbsp;ChunXia Liu","doi":"10.1007/s11686-024-00964-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-024-00964-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><i>Haemonchus contortus</i> has caused significant economic losses in many regions. The emergence of drug resistance has created new difficulties for the prevention and control of parasitic diseases in cattle and sheep. The mechanism of drug resistance to ivermectin in <i>H. contortus</i> is not clear; therefore, it is of great significance to study it. Non-coding RNAs, especially microRNAs (miRNAs), play important roles in drug resistance in some human tumors and insects. However, few studies have investigated whether miRNAs are involved in the regulation of drug resistance to ivermectin. In the early stages of this study, four miRNAs that may be involved in the regulation of ivermectin resistance in <i>H. contortus</i> were identified by high-throughput sequencing analysis of ivermectin-sensitive and -resistant strains of <i>H. contortus</i>. To verify whether these miRNAs are indeed related to ivermectin resistance in <i>H. contortus</i>, RNA interference (RNAi) experiments were performed on these miRNAs. The expression of candidate drug-resistance-related miRNA target genes before and after RNAi was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The resistance of the third-stage larvae (L3s) of <i>H. contortus</i> before and after RNAi was detected using 0.5% dimethyl sulfoxide and 100 µg/mL ivermectin treatment. The locomotion behavior of the L3s of <i>H. contortus</i> before and after RNAi was detected by counting the frequency of head thrashes and body bending. Finally, we confirmed that <i>miR-10,025-y</i>, <i>miR-5960-z</i>, <i>miR-27-y</i>, and <i>miR-276-y</i> were involved in and regulate ivermectin resistance in <i>H. contortus</i>.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142939136","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":"Expression Analysis of Cyst Specific Protein (CSP21) and Cellulose Synthase II (CSII) Genes in Acanthamoeba castellanii Trophozoites Exposed to Silver Nanoparticles Conjugated with Elaeagnus umbellata","authors":"Bülent Kaynak,&nbsp;Zeynep Kolören,&nbsp;Hasan İlhan,&nbsp;Sercan Ergün,&nbsp;Gülizar Aydoğdu","doi":"10.1007/s11686-024-00947-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-024-00947-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p><i>Acanthamoeba</i> species are eucaryotic protozoa found predominantly in soil and water. They cause ulceration and vision loss in the cornea (<i>Acanthamoeba</i> keratitis) and central nervous system (CNS) infection involving the lungs (granulomatous amoebic encephalitis). Antiparasitic drugs currently used in the treatment of infections caused by <i>Acanthamoeba</i> species are not effective at the desired level in some anatomical regions such as the eye and CNS. The existence of an agent effective against both cysts and trophozoites has not yet been proven. Drugs used for treatment of <i>Acanthamoeba</i> infrections are still limited.</p><h3>Method</h3><p>The present study investigates amoebicidal activites of various concentrations of ethanolic fruit extract of <i>E. umbellata</i> (EU) (40, 20, 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25, 0.625 mM/mL), silver nanoparticles (AgNP) that are synthesized from EU and confirmed with characterization tests (20, 10, 5, 1, 0.5 mM/mL), and lauric acid (LA) in EU detected with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) against <i>A. castellanii</i> trophozoites. In addition, DNA-preserving activities of EU, AgNP and LA were studied on pBR322 plasmid DNA, following damage induced with hydroxyl radical (–OH). Cytotoxicity of EU over HeLa cells was examined with 3–(4,5–dimethylthiazol–2–yl)–2,5–diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). Furthermore, the effects over the expression of SOD and CAT genes, which are coding oxidative stress enzymes in trophozoites, and expression of genes responsible for pseudocyst and cyst formation (CSII and CSP21, respectively) were investigated following methanol-induced stress, with reverse-transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).</p><h3>Results</h3><p>At highest concentrations, EU, AgNP and LA showed lethal effects against majority of trophozites at 24 th h and against all trophozoites at 48th hour. EU at 5 mg/mL concentration and LA at 1, 0.8, 0.6, 0.4 mM/mL concentrations prevented DNA damage. A dose-dependent decrease in cell viability was observed, EU was found to be non-cytotoxic for 53.82% of HeLa cells at 72 nd h even at 40 mg/mL concentration. Greatest inhibitory effects were found with EU, AgNP and LA on CSII, EU on CAT, LA on CSP21, and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) on SOD genes.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The findings of this study show that EU, LA and AgNPs can be used in a controlled manner to combat <i>A. castellanii </i>infections by reducing or blocking the activity of the parasite’s antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT), without giving the parasite a chance to initiate the process of pseudocyst or proper cyst formation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142930368","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":"Occurrence and Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in Water Buffaloes (Bubalis bubalis) From Türkiye","authors":"Omer Faruk Sahin,&nbsp;Ufuk Erol,&nbsp;Osman Furkan Urhan,&nbsp;Husnu Furkan Sakar,&nbsp;Kursat Altay","doi":"10.1007/s11686-024-00975-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-024-00975-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p><i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. and <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> are zoonotic protozoan parasites that are widely seen in domestic and wild animals worldwide. While these pathogens, which affect the digestive system of the hosts, cause high economic losses in animal breeding, they are also considered an important public health problem. In recent years, molecular-based studies revealed that 120 genotypes belonging to 44 <i>Cryptosporidium</i> species and eight <i>G</i>. <i>duodenalis</i> assemblages (<i>G</i>. <i>duodenalis</i> A–H) circulate among hosts. The aim of the study was to determine the presence and prevalence of cryptosporidiosis and giardiosis in buffaloes, for which there was only one previous study on the subject in Türkiye.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>In this study, <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. and <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> were researched in water buffaloes using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing. A total of 510 water buffalo stool samples were obtained from Sivas province, an important water buffalo breeding center in Türkiye.</p><h3>Results</h3><p><i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. were detected in 20 samples (3.92%), whereas five samples (0.98%) were found to be infected with <i>G</i>. <i>duodenalis</i>. DNA sequence analyses of <i>18S rRNA</i> and <i>β-giardin</i> genes revealed that five <i>Cryptosporidium</i> species, <i>C</i>. <i>occultus</i> (n = 1), <i>C</i>. <i>andersoni</i> (n = 1), <i>C</i>. <i>ryanae</i> (n = 16), <i>C</i>. <i>parvum</i> (n = 1), and <i>C</i>. <i>bovis</i> (n = 1)<i>,</i> and <i>G</i>. <i>duodenalis</i> assemblages E were circulated in water buffaloes in Türkiye, respectively. In this work, <i>C</i>. <i>ryanae</i> was the most prevalent <i>Cryptosporidium</i> species, and DNA sequence analyses of these samples showed that 100% nucleotide identities were present between them. <i>Cryptosporidium occultus</i> (PP754270), <i>C</i>. <i>andersoni</i> (PP754271), <i>C</i>. <i>ryanae</i> (PP754272–PP754279, PP754281–PP754285, PP754287–PP754289), <i>C</i>. <i>parvum</i> (PP754280), and <i>C</i>. <i>bovis</i> (PP754286) obtained from water buffaloes in this study shared 98.59–100%, 99.88–100%, 99.49–100%, 99.62–100%, and 99.87–100% nucleotide similarity with isolates present in GeneBank, respectively. In addition, <i>G</i>. <i>duodenalis</i> (PP798352–PP798356) isolates had 99.56–100% (<i>β-giardin</i>) nucleotide identities with <i>G</i>. <i>duodenalis</i> isolates.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The existence of cryptosporidiosis (the five species) in water buffaloes was reported for the first time in the country. Moreover, one species (<i>C</i>. <i>occultus</i>) has been reported for the first time in Türkiye.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142939065","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}