Abstract
The rat tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta is a parasite of the small intestine of rodents (mainly mice and rats), and accidentally humans. It is classified as a non-invasive tapeworm due to the lack of hooks on the tapeworm’s scolex, which could cause mechanical damage to host tissues. However, many studies have shown that metabolites secreted by H. diminuta interfere with the functioning of the host’s gastrointestinal tract, causing an increase in salivary secretion, suppression of gastric acid secretion, and an increase in the trypsin activity in the duodenum chyme. Our work presents the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of a parasite-host interaction, including the influence on ion transport and host intestinal microflora, morphology and biochemical parameters of blood, secretion of antioxidant enzymes, expression of Toll-like receptors, mechanisms of immune response, as well as the expression and activity of cyclooxygenases. We emphasize the interrelations between the parasite and the host at the cellular level resulting from the direct impact of the parasite as well as host defense reactions that lead to changes in the host’s tissues and organs.
Highlights
Over the course of evolution, parasitic organisms and their hosts have developed mutual morphological, physiological, and biological relationships that have led to the formation of parasite-host systems [1]
We show the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of parasite–host interaction based on the recent research on the rat tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta
Research by Goswami et al (2011) showed that Wistar rats infected with H. diminuta showed reduced hemoglobin values (HGB), while other parameters, including the number of red blood cells (RBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hematocrit (Hct), white blood cell count (WBC) and differential leukocyte count (DLC) were not significantly changed [16]
Summary
Over the course of evolution, parasitic organisms and their hosts have developed mutual morphological, physiological, and biological relationships that have led to the formation of parasite-host systems [1]. The interactions between the parasites and their hosts may sometimes lead to changes in the host tissues and organs, resulting both from the direct effect of the parasite and induced defense mechanisms. We show the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of parasite–host interaction based on the recent research on the rat tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta. These include the influence on ion transport, host intestinal microflora composition, blood morphology and biochemical parameters, secretion of antioxidant enzymes, expression of Toll-like receptors, mechanisms of immune response, as well as the expression and activity of cyclooxygenases. After secondary infection by H. diminuta, the number of parasites decreases even faster [40]
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