Parasitologia

14 pages, 309 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

An Overview of Leishmania In Vitro Cultivation and Implications for Antileishmanial Screenings against Promastigotes

by Virlânio Alves de Oliveira Filho, Marcus Sávio Araujo Garcia, Leticia Bazilio Rosa, Selma Giorgio and Danilo Ciccone Miguel

Parasitologia 2024, 4(4), 305-318; https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia4040027 - 2 Oct 2024

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 10127

Abstract

The quest for new drug candidates targeting neglected parasitic diseases has become increasingly urgent over the past decades. Advancements in formulating and optimizing drug delivery systems begin with basic research, including direct assays to evaluate the activity of molecules against parasitic stages maintained [...] Read more.

The quest for new drug candidates targeting neglected parasitic diseases has become increasingly urgent over the past decades. Advancements in formulating and optimizing drug delivery systems begin with basic research, including direct assays to evaluate the activity of molecules against parasitic stages maintained in laboratories; i.e., promastigotes. In the context of leishmaniasis, an endemic disease worldwide, the cultivation of Leishmania parasites can vary significantly across different laboratories. Factors such as culture media composition, pH, supplementation, and temperature can lead to varied drug responses in in vitro activity assays. This study aims to compile the parameters used in Leishmania spp. promastigotes cultivation protocols described in scientific articles published in indexed journals over the past ten years. The data reveal a lack of uniformity among Leishmania culture protocols, suggesting a potential bottleneck in comparing the leishmanicidal potential of in vitro drug candidates reported by different research groups. This condition is crucial to consider, because viability/inhibition assays should begin with fully-grown, healthy promastigote cultures capable of homogeneous division, thereby producing more reproducible results. Full article

9 pages, 931 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Efficacy of a New Fenbendazole Treatment Protocol against Capillaria spp. in Northern White-Breasted Hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus)

by Francisco Alfaia, Catarina Jota Baptista, João Lozano, Viktória Sós-Koroknai, Márton Hoitsy, Luís M. Madeira de Carvalho and Endre Sós

Parasitologia 2024, 4(3), 270-278; https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia4030023 - 20 Aug 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5188

Abstract

Hedgehogs, Erinaceus spp., are commonly admitted to rescue centres in European countries. However, there are still few studies on parasitological fauna and treatment possibilities, including for E. roumanicus. This study aimed to evaluate parasitism in 34 hedgehogs directly after their admission to [...] Read more.

Hedgehogs, Erinaceus spp., are commonly admitted to rescue centres in European countries. However, there are still few studies on parasitological fauna and treatment possibilities, including for E. roumanicus. This study aimed to evaluate parasitism in 34 hedgehogs directly after their admission to the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden Wildlife Rescue Centre, as well as the efficacy of fenbendazole treatment. The Mini-Flotac method was used to quantitatively evaluate and assess the efficacy of treatment with fenbendazole (100 mg/kg PO. BID for 7 days) in five selected individuals. Faecal samples were analysed at D0 and D14 after the beginning of the treatment. Globally, the prevalence of positive animals was 76%. Capillaria spp. were the most prevalent (68%), while coccidia showed a prevalence of 32%. Considering the range of action of this benzimidazole, the treatment provided an efficacy of 100%, eliminating all forms of Capillaria spp. Considering the high number of hedgehogs admitted to rescue centres and the potential effects of parasitism in morbidity and mortality during recovery, it is essential to improve our knowledge with regard to the parasitological fauna of these species and to attain effective treatment protocols. Full article

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9 pages, 272 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Hedgehogs’ Parasitology: An Updated Review on Diagnostic Methods and Treatment

by Francisco Alfaia, Catarina Jota Baptista, Viktória Sós-Koroknai, Márton Hoitsy, Endre Sós and Luís M. Madeira de Carvalho

Parasitologia 2024, 4(1), 82-90; https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia4010007 - 17 Mar 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 7469

Abstract

The genus Erinaceus is commonly found in rescue centres across the European continent despite the reported decline in some countries. Parasite infections are frequently detected in rescued hedgehogs, leading to increased morbidity and mortality and consequently conditioning their recovery. Some of the most [...] Read more.

The genus Erinaceus is commonly found in rescue centres across the European continent despite the reported decline in some countries. Parasite infections are frequently detected in rescued hedgehogs, leading to increased morbidity and mortality and consequently conditioning their recovery. Some of the most frequent parasites include respiratory nematodes, such as Crenosoma striatum and Capillaria spp., which may lead to important pneumonia. Moreover, some of these agents have zoonotic potential, such as Cryptosporidium spp., Sarcoptes spp., and several species of ticks and fleas, which may transmit different vector-borne pathogens. This review provides a brief guide on hedgehogs’ internal and external parasitology, as well as some suggestions for diagnosis and treatment that are relevant for wildlife veterinarians, biologists and other researchers. Full article

14 pages, 1123 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Field Study Evaluating the Effects of Diclazuril and Oregano Oil for the Prevention of Coccidiosis in Fattening Rabbits

by Florian Lohkamp, Julia Hankel, Andreas Beineke, Josef Kamphues and Christina Strube

Parasitologia 2024, 4(1), 47-60; https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia4010004 - 7 Feb 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4619

Abstract

For years, there has been an increasing interest in natural alternatives to the conventional coccidiostats applied as feed additives, which have been used for decades to prevent coccidiosis in poultry and fattening rabbits. This study aimed to compare the possible anticoccidial effects of [...] Read more.

For years, there has been an increasing interest in natural alternatives to the conventional coccidiostats applied as feed additives, which have been used for decades to prevent coccidiosis in poultry and fattening rabbits. This study aimed to compare the possible anticoccidial effects of oregano oil to the established substance diclazuril in growing rabbits. The control group (CG) received a non-supplemented basal compound feed, to which either diclazuril (1 mg/kg; DG) or oregano oil (75 mg/kg; OG) was added. In each of the three trials, subgroups of 50 rabbits each were assigned to one of the three experimental groups (CG, DG and OG). Natural Eimeria infection was monitored weekly by fecal oocyst counts and Eimeria species identification following sporulation. Additionally, the performance parameters were determined at the middle and the end of the trials, and the deceased rabbits were subjected to necropsy. Neither oocyst excretion nor the performance parameters differed significantly between the three experimental groups. Eimeria media, Eimeria magna, Eimeria perforans and Eimeria exigua were identified as the occurring species. The highest animal losses (16.0%) occurred in the OG, while the losses were 12.7% in the DG and 12.0% in the CG. However, these differences were not statistically significant. Overall, neither diclazuril nor oregano oil was superior to the non-supplemented feed. This underlines the importance of diagnostics, as this study’s results indicate that in the absence of the highly pathogenic Eimeria species, economic rabbit rearing and fattening is achievable without the use of coccidiostats. Full article

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9 pages, 764 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceCommunication

The Richness of Sarcocystis Species in the Common Gull (Larus canus) and Black-Headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) from Lithuania

by Evelina Juozaitytė-Ngugu and Petras Prakas

Parasitologia 2023, 3(2), 172-180; https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia3020018 - 10 May 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2515

Abstract

The common gull (Larus canus) and the black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus) are common waterbird species in Lithuania. Until now, the composition of Sarcocystis species in these birds was unknown. The current study aimed to identify Sarcocystis spp. by the [...] Read more.

The common gull (Larus canus) and the black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus) are common waterbird species in Lithuania. Until now, the composition of Sarcocystis species in these birds was unknown. The current study aimed to identify Sarcocystis spp. by the morphological examination of sarcocysts found in the muscle tissues and by DNA sequence analysis. Between 2011 and 2019, the leg muscles of 42 common gulls and 63 black-headed gulls were tested for Sarcocystis spp. Based on the methylene blue staining of squashed muscle samples, sarcocysts were detected in six common gulls (14.3%) and in six black-headed gulls (9.5%). Under a light microscope, one type of microcyst was observed. Sarcocysts were thread-like (2860–8250 × 40–180 μm) and had a smooth and thin (0.8–1.4 μm) cyst wall, while bradyzoites were banana-shaped and 5.0–9.2 × 1.3–2.4 μm in size. The sequencing of complete ITS1 showed the presence of S. columbae, S. halieti and S. wobeseri in the common gull and S. columbae and S. halieti in the black-headed gull. The highest intraspecific genetic variability was established for S. halieti, which is characterized by a wide host range. This species is considered to be pathogenic, therefore further histopathological examination of the various organs of gulls is needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sarcocystis in Domestic and Wildlife Animals)

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9 pages, 660 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Molecular Identification of Cryptosporidium spp., and Giardia duodenalis in Dromedary Camels (Camelus dromedarius) from the Algerian Sahara

by Sadiya Maxamhud, Nassiba Reghaissia, AbdElkarim Laatamna, Houssem Samari, Nacira Remdani, Eleni Gentekaki and Anastasios D. Tsaousis

Parasitologia 2023, 3(2), 151-159; https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia3020016 - 14 Apr 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4675

Abstract

(1) Intestinal microbial parasites are major contributors to the global burden of gastrointestinal disease. Such infections are mainly caused by Cryptosporidium, Giardia duodenalis, and Entamoeba histolytica. These parasites are transmitted either directly or indirectly through oral–fecal routes. Previous reports suggested [...] Read more.

(1) Intestinal microbial parasites are major contributors to the global burden of gastrointestinal disease. Such infections are mainly caused by Cryptosporidium, Giardia duodenalis, and Entamoeba histolytica. These parasites are transmitted either directly or indirectly through oral–fecal routes. Previous reports suggested that camels could play a role in the zoonotic transmission of various clinically and veterinary important intestinal parasites, however, limited data are available on intestinal infections of camels, particularly on a molecular level. We aimed to explore the occurrence of these three parasites in camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Algeria. (2) A total of 68 samples—63 stool samples from camels and five from the environment—were collected from two desert regions in Algeria and analyzed using PCR and qPCR methods. (3) Overall, 7% of the camels tested positive for zoonotic subtypes of Cryptosporidium spp., while 16% of the camels tested positive for G. duodenalis. Two environmental samples also tested positive for G. duodenalis. None of the samples were positive for Entamoeba histolytica. (4) Our results provide one of the first molecular-based identification of these gut parasites in dromedary camels in Algeria. The presence of G. duodenalis in the host and the environment unveils, in part, the circulation route of this parasite. Our results will spearhead further investigations into the prevalence and epidemiology of gut parasites in hoofed animals and raise questions concerning their role in health and disease in the area. Full article

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13 pages, 1797 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Predicted Secretome of the Monogenean Parasite Rhabdosynochus viridisi: Hypothetical Molecular Mechanisms for Host-Parasite Interactions

by Marian Mirabent-Casals, Víctor Hugo Caña-Bozada, Francisco Neptalí Morales-Serna and Alejandra García-Gasca

Parasitologia 2023, 3(1), 33-45; https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia3010004 - 10 Jan 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4522

Abstract

Helminth parasites secrete several types of biomolecules to ensure their entry and survival in their hosts. The proteins secreted to the extracellular environment participate in the pathogenesis and anthelmintic immune responses. The aim of this work was to identify and functionally annotate the [...] Read more.

Helminth parasites secrete several types of biomolecules to ensure their entry and survival in their hosts. The proteins secreted to the extracellular environment participate in the pathogenesis and anthelmintic immune responses. The aim of this work was to identify and functionally annotate the excretory/secretory (ES) proteins of the monogenean ectoparasite Rhabdosynochus viridisi through bioinformatic approaches. A total of 1655 putative ES proteins were identified, 513 (31%) were annotated in the UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot database, and 269 (16%) were mapped to 212 known protein domains and 710 GO terms. We identified six putative multifunctional proteins. A total of 556 ES proteins were mapped to 179 KEGG pathways and 136 KO. ECPred predicted 223 enzymes (13.5%) and 1315 non-enzyme proteins (79.5%) from the secretome of R. viridisi. A total of 1045 (63%) proteins were predicted as antigen with a threshold 0.5. We also identified six venom allergen-like proteins. Our results suggest that ES proteins from R. viridisi are involved in immune evasion strategies and some may contribute to immunogenicity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Host–Parasite Interactions)

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16 pages, 1485 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli in Acre, Brazilian Amazonia: Coinfection and Notable Genetic Diversity in an Outbreak of Orally Acquired Acute Chagas Disease in a Forest Community, Wild Reservoirs, and Vectors

by José Gabriel Vergara-Meza, Andreia Fernandes Brilhante, Vera da Costa Valente, Evaristo Villalba-Alemán, Paola Andrea Ortiz, Sueli Cosmiro de Oliveira, Maxdelles Rodrigues Cavalcante, Genimar Rebouças Julião, Maria Carmelinda Gonçalves Pinto, Sebastiao Aldo Valente, Erney Plesmann Camargo and Marta Maria Geraldes Teixeira

Parasitologia 2022, 2(4), 350-365; https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia2040029 - 2 Dec 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5019

Abstract

Acute Chagas disease (ACD) caused by Trypanosoma cruzi has emerged as a major food-borne disease in Brazilian Amazonia. For the first time, we characterized an outbreak of orally acquired ACD in Acre, in the forest community of Seringal Miraflores, affecting 13 individuals who [...] Read more.

Acute Chagas disease (ACD) caused by Trypanosoma cruzi has emerged as a major food-borne disease in Brazilian Amazonia. For the first time, we characterized an outbreak of orally acquired ACD in Acre, in the forest community of Seringal Miraflores, affecting 13 individuals who shared the pulp of açai palm berries: 11 adults and two children (one newborn), all diagnosed by thick-drop blood smears. The fluorescent fragment length barcoding method, which simultaneously identifies species/genotypes of trypanosomes in blood samples, uncovered an unprecedented genetic diversity in patients from a single outbreak of ACD: T. cruzi TcI in all patients, mostly concomitantly with the non-pathogenic Trypanosoma rangeli of genotypes TrA or TrB, and TcI, TcIV, and TrB in the child. The patients presented persistent fever, asthenia, myalgia, edema of the face and lower limbs, hepatosplenomegaly and, rarely, cardiac arrhythmia. The clinical symptoms were not correlated to gender, age, or to trypanosome species and genotypes. The inferred SSU rRNA phylogenetic analyses of trypanosomes from humans, triatomines and sylvatic hosts included the first sequences of T. cruzi and T. rangeli from humans in southwestern (Acre and Rondônia) Amazonia, and the first TcI/TcIV sequences from Rhodnius spp. from Acre. The sylvatic transmission cycles of genetically different trypanosomes in landscapes changed by deforestation for human settlements and increasing açai production is a novel scenario favoring trypanosome transmission to humans in Acre. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Parasitology for Public Health and Food Safety)

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24 pages, 986 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Antimalarial Drug Strategies to Target Plasmodium Gametocytes

by Bruce A. Munro and Brendan J. McMorran

Parasitologia 2022, 2(2), 101-124; https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia2020011 - 6 May 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 15681

Abstract

Onward transmission of Plasmodium falciparum from humans to mosquitoes is dependent upon a specialised transmission stage called the gametocyte. Despite its critical role in transmission, key questions regarding gametocyte biology remain to be answered, and there are no widely prescribed therapeutics to eliminate [...] Read more.

Onward transmission of Plasmodium falciparum from humans to mosquitoes is dependent upon a specialised transmission stage called the gametocyte. Despite its critical role in transmission, key questions regarding gametocyte biology remain to be answered, and there are no widely prescribed therapeutics to eliminate them. Advances in our understanding of the biology of the gametocyte in combination with growing information regarding the mechanism of action of anti-plasmodial therapies provide an emerging view as to which of the biological processes of the gametocyte present viable targets for drug intervention and explain the variable activity of existing therapies. A deeper understanding of the gametocyte and transmission stages of P. falciparum is a path to identifying and characterising novel drug targets. This review will examine how a selection of current and potential gametocytocidals mediate their effect. Full article

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12 pages, 8708 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Novel Gonadotropic Microsporidian Parasite (Microsporidium clinchi n. sp.) Infecting a Declining Population of Pheasantshell Mussels (Actinonaias pectorosa) (Unioinidae) from the Clinch River, USA

by Susan Knowles, Eric M. Leis, Jordan C. Richard, Rebecca Cole, Rose E. Agbalog, Joel G. Putnam, Tony L. Goldberg and Diane L. Waller

Parasitologia 2022, 2(1), 1-12; https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia2010001 - 1 Jan 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5706

Abstract

Freshwater mussels of the order Unionida are among the most endangered animal groups globally, but the causes of their population decline are often enigmatic, with little known about the role of disease. In 2018, we collected wild adult pheasantshell (Actinonaias pectorosa) [...] Read more.

Freshwater mussels of the order Unionida are among the most endangered animal groups globally, but the causes of their population decline are often enigmatic, with little known about the role of disease. In 2018, we collected wild adult pheasantshell (Actinonaias pectorosa) and mucket (Actinonaias ligamentina) during an epidemiologic survey investigating an ongoing mussel mass mortality event in the Clinch River, Virginia and Tennessee, USA. Histopathology and transmission electron microscopy showed a novel microsporidian parasite primarily infecting the ovary of pheasantshell. Sequencing of the small subunit rRNA gene produced a 1333 bp sequence with the greatest similarity to Pseudonosema cristatellae (AF484694.1; 86.36%; e-value = 0), a microsporidium infecting the freshwater bryozoan (Cristatella mucedo). Microsporidia were observed in 65% (17/26) of the examined female pheasantshell (A. pectorosa) and in no (0/2) female muckets (A. ligamentina) and occurred at mortality and non-mortality sites. Our findings indicate that a novel parasite, Microsporidium clinchi n. sp., is present in pheasantshell in the Clinch River, and while likely not a cause of mass mortality, could reduce fecundity and recruitment in this declining population and threaten the success of reintroductions. Surveillance of M. clinchi n. sp. and evaluation of broodstock and their progeny for microsporidia would therefore be prudent. Full article

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13 pages, 782 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Molecular Survey of Anaplasmataceae Agents and Coxiellaceae in Non-Hematophagous Bats and Associated Ectoparasites from Brazil

by Priscila Ikeda, Jaire Marinho Torres, Ana Julia Vidal Placa, Victória Valente Califre de Mello, Elizabete Captivo Lourenço, Heitor Miraglia Herrera, Carina Elisei de Oliveira, Claudia Hemsley, Richard W. Titball, Rosangela Zacarias Machado and Marcos Rogério André

Parasitologia 2021, 1(4), 197-209; https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia1040021 - 11 Oct 2021

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 5575

Abstract

The Anaplasmataceae family (order Rickettsiales) encompasses obligately intracellular bacteria of the genera Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Neorickettsia. Together with Coxiella burnetii (Coxiellaceae family, order Legionellales), these bacteria represent important causative agents of diseases in humans and animals. The [...] Read more.

The Anaplasmataceae family (order Rickettsiales) encompasses obligately intracellular bacteria of the genera Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Neorickettsia. Together with Coxiella burnetii (Coxiellaceae family, order Legionellales), these bacteria represent important causative agents of diseases in humans and animals. The scarcity of studies that investigated the occurrence of these agents in bats and their associated ectoparasites, emphasizes the need to achieve a better understanding of the role of these animals in the maintenance of such bacteria. Herein, 418 samples (133 blood, 135 spleen, and 150 ectoparasites) are collected from 135 non-hematophagous bats belonging to 12 species in a periurban area of Campo Grande city, Mato Grosso do Sul state, midwestern Brazil. In the results, 1.65% (7/418), 12.04% (50/418), and 13.63% (57/418) of samples are positive in PCR assays for Anaplasma spp. (16S rRNA gene), Ehrlichia spp. (dsb gene), and Neorickettsia spp. (16S rRNA gene), respectively. Anaplasma spp. and Neorickettsia spp. are detected in one (5.26%) Ornithodoros hasei tick larva. Ehrlichia spp. is detected in 14% of bat flies (represented by Megistopoda aranea, Trichobius costalimai, and Strebla hertigi), 6% of tick larvae (O. hasei), 12% of Spinturnicidae mites (represented by Periglischrus sp., P. torrealbai, and P. acutisternus), and 38% of Macronyssidae mites (Steatonyssuss sp.). The obtained sequences are observed to be similar to Anaplasma phagocytophilum (97.42–97.6% identified), Ehrlichia minasensis (96.73–100% identified), Neorickettsia risticii (96.7–100% identified), and Neorickettsia findlayensis (95.07–100% identified) by BLASTn analyses, and closely related to Ehrlichia ruminantium by phylogenetic analyses based on the gltA gene. No bat samples (blood/spleen) are positive in the qPCR assay for C. burnetii based on the IS1111 gene. The present work shows, for the first time, the occurrence of Anaplasmataceae in bats and associated ectoparasites (ticks, mites, and bat flies) from Brazil. Full article

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8 pages, 1608 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Should Veterinary Practitioners Be Concerned about Acanthamoeba Keratitis?

by Elise Cooper, William Cowmeadow and Hany M. Elsheikha

Parasitologia 2021, 1(1), 12-19; https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia1010002 - 15 Mar 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 13265

Abstract

When presented with an animal exhibiting signs of keratitis (inflammation of the cornea), such as impaired vision, mucoid discharges, redness, swelling, and corneal oedema, most veterinarians would think of bacteria, viruses, or fungi as the potential causative agent(s). However, evidence has arisen in [...] Read more.

When presented with an animal exhibiting signs of keratitis (inflammation of the cornea), such as impaired vision, mucoid discharges, redness, swelling, and corneal oedema, most veterinarians would think of bacteria, viruses, or fungi as the potential causative agent(s). However, evidence has arisen in recent years of a possible connection between the protozoan Acanthamoeba and keratitis in animals. Acanthamoeba infection is underdiagnosed, but potentially common, in animals. In view of the paucity of evidence regarding Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) in animals, this review has been written to increase awareness of veterinary professionals of the potential threat associated with AK and to stimulate more studies into the extent of occurrence and clinical impact of AK in animals. Full article

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