Effects Of Parasite Infection Research Articles

Effect of parasitic infection on microplastic ingestion in a native leuciscid hybrid species (Alburnus derjugini x Squalius orientalis) from Kürtün Dam Lake, Türkiye

Microplastic (MP) pollution is currently one of the most serious environmental issues. MPs were investigated in the Kürtün Dam Lake in healthy individuals of the native leuciscid hybrid (Alburnus derjugini x Squalius orientalis) species and individuals infected with the Ligula intestinalis parasite. Although MP abundance appeared to be higher in non-infected fish (NIF) than in L. intestinalis (L) and infected fish (IF), the MP abundance in IF was higher, because the parasite theoretically belongs to IF. In addition to the observation of MPs in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of fish, the diffusion of MPs by parasites settled in the body cavity indicates that MPs are not only present in the GIT. Therefore, predation on existing fish by birds causes MP dispersion. In the present study, the most common MP shape was fiber (100% for NIF and IF, 85.7% for L), the MP color was black (57.1% for IF and L) and orange (50% for NIF), and the polymer type was polyamide (57.1% for IF, 50% for NIF) and polyethylene terephthalate (28.5% for L). These MP compositions led us to believe that textile effluents and aquaculture operations in dam lakes could be sources of pollution. Therefore, this study provides insights for future research to elucidate the connection between MP consumption and parasite infection.

Effect of parasite infection and invasion history on feeding, growth, and energy allocation of cane toads

Abstract The energy allocation decisions that organisms make can differ between sexes and populations and can be influenced by factors such as age and parasite infection. We conducted experimental parasite infections on common-garden reared cane toads originating from sites across the species’ invasive range in Australia to assess how sex, parasite infection, and invasion history affected the toad’s food intake, growth rate, and organ weights. Female toads had larger fat stores, larger livers, and larger gonads than did males, reflecting increased investment into gametes. Growth rate did not differ between the sexes. Lungworm infection increased feeding by male but not female toads and increased fat storage in all toads. Fat body, liver, gonad sizes, and feeding rates all differed among toads from different locations within the toad’s invasion transect across Australia, even though our measurements were made under standardized conditions on captive animals. Toads from populations close to the invasion front ate more, had heavier fat bodies, and had larger livers than did toads from long-colonized areas, but they had smaller gonads. This pattern reflects the evolution of a more dispersive phenotype among invasive populations, whereby the rate of dispersal is enhanced by increased energy intake and storage, and delayed reproduction.

Neospora caninum antibodies in bulk tank milk from dairy cattle herds in Italy in relation to reproductive and productive parameters and spatial analysis

Among the available diagnostic techniques, antibody detection in bulk tank milk (BTM) represents a useful tool to estimate and monitor Neospora caninum herd prevalence.To evaluate the prevalence of N. caninum and the effect of parasite infection on herd performances, BTM samples collected from 586 dairy herds located in one of the largest dairy production areas in Italy (Lombardy) were analyzed by an indirect ELISA to detect anti-N. caninum specific antibodies. Generalized linear models (GLMs) were developed. A purely spatial analysis scanning for clusters with high or low rates for N. caninum using the Bernoulli model was performed. A maximum entropy approach was used to estimate the probability of distribution of the parasite based on occurrence records together with environmental variables.Overall, 180 herds resulted positive for N. caninum antibodies on bulk tank milk (P = 30.7 %). A higher risk of seropositivity was evidenced in the provinces of Milano, Cremona, Brescia, and Bergamo (P = 32–40 %); a lower risk was evidenced in Lodi, Pavia, and Mantova (P = 13–24 %). A higher risk of seropositivity was revealed for small-medium farms (101–300 animals) (O.R.=2.8) and for older animals with more than 4 years (O.R.=4.4).Regarding the effect of N. caninum infection on herd performances, the number of inseminations for conception was higher (> 3 inseminations), and the period from calving to conception was longer (> 150 days) for positive farms (O.R.=2.0 and O.R.=2.3, respectively); besides, lower head daily milk production (<20 kg and 21–25 kg) and mature equivalent milk yield (<11,000), and somatic cell counts higher than 300,000 cells/ml were observed for N. caninum positive herds (O.R.=0.4, O.R.=0.4 and O.R.=1.9 respectively).The geographical distribution of N. caninum positive farms with the highest level of probability covers the central sector of the Po Plain where a significant cluster for high risk of parasite infection was shown by spatial scan statistic and Maximum entropy ecological niche modelling. A further significant cluster of low risk occurred in the southern. The climatic and environmental variables with the highest training gain when used in isolation resulted altitude, land use/land cover, and other variables related to temperature and precipitation.Neosporosis is widely distributed in Italian dairy herds and an impact of the parasite on herd performances could be hypothesized. Even if the role of N. caninum in alterations of reproductive and productive parameters should be further explored, veterinarians and farmers should be aware of neosporosis, and control plans should be adopted.

Effect of Parasitic Infection on Nutritional Parameters of Meat Tissue of Gallus gallus domesticus

Effect of Parasitic Infection on Nutritional Parameters of Meat Tissue of Gallus gallus domesticus

Effect of parasite infection on IgE, Anti-TG, Anti-TPO of thyroiditis patients

This study was conducted to investigate parasitic infection's effect on the thyroid gland's functions by hypo- or hyperthyroidism and inflammation by measuring some physiological and immunological indicators. 130 blood and stool samples were collected from both genders, including 80 samples from people with thyroid disorders and 50 samples from healthy people. Anti-TG, anti-TPO and IgE were estimated by using the Cobas e411 device. The general stool examination was carried out to confirm the presence of a parasitic infection and determine the type of parasites. The type of parasites found the most affected were Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Blastocystis hominis, and the last parasite, Cryptosporidium. Anti-TG, anti-TPO, and IgE immunoassays significantly increased hypo and hyperthyroidism cases compared to the control. The increase was higher in parasitic-infected patients than in non-infected patients compared to the control. Results of the infected were as follows: (94.41, 27.96, 361.44) IU/ml and (54.13, 18.48, 308.18) IU/ml, for non-infected (55.46, 18.48, 149.67) IU/ml and (89.56, 20.80, 90.67) IU/ml. Compared to the control (22.3, 7.05, 62.93) IU/ml, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that infection with a parasite affected the performance of the thyroid gland. Keywords: Parasites; Thyroid Disorders; Anti-TG; Anti-TPO; IgE.

Effect of Parasite Infection on the Lipid Profile and Thyroid Hormones in thyroiditis patients

This study investigated parasitic infection's effect on the thyroid gland's functions by hypo- or hyperthyroidism and inflammation by measuring some physiological and immunological indicators. 130 blood and stool samples were collected from both genders, including 80 samples from people with thyroid disorders and 50 samples from healthy people. Hormone levels and Lipid profile were estimated by using the Cobas e411 device. The general stool examination was conducted to confirm the presence of a parasitic infection and determine the type of parasites. As for the type of parasites found, the most affected were Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Blastocystis hominis, and the last parasite, Cryptosporidium. Hormonal tests, and depending on the level of hormones, it was found that 44 out of 80 patients showed a decrease in hormone levels, which were counted as hypothyroidism. In contrast, 36 showed an increase and were counted as hyperthyroidism. The results of cholesterol level, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein for hypothyroidism showed an increase in patients without parasites, higher than those parasitic infected compared to the control. Conclusion: This study showed that infection with a parasite affected the performance of the thyroid gland. Keywords: Parasites; Thyroid Disorders; Thyroid Hormones; Lipid Profile.

Mitochondrial Enzyme Activities and Body Condition of Naturally Infected Sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus).

AbstractParasites can affect host behavior, cognition, locomotion, body condition, and many other physiological traits. Changes to host aerobic metabolism may be responsible for these parasite-induced performance alterations. Whole-organism metabolic rate is underpinned by cellular energy metabolism driven most prominently by mitochondria. However, few studies have explored how mitochondrial enzymatic activity relates to body condition and parasite infection, despite it being a putative site for metabolic disruptions related to health status. We studied correlations among natural parasite infection, host body condition, and activity of key mitochondrial enzymes in target organs from wild-caught pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) to better understand the cellular responses of fish hosts to endoparasite infection. Enzymatic activities in the gills, spleen, and brain of infected fish were not significantly related to parasite infection or host body condition. However, the activity of cytochrome c oxidase, an enzyme involved in oxidative phosphorylation, in fish hearts was higher in individuals with a lower body condition. Activities of citrate synthase, electron transport system (complexes I and III), and carnitine palmitoyltransferase were also significantly different among organ types. These results provide preliminary information regarding the likely mitochondrial pathways affecting host body condition, the maintenance energetic requirements of different organs, and the organs' specific dependency on particular mitochondrial pathways. These results help pave the way for future studies on the effects of parasite infection on mitochondrial metabolism.

Impaired reproductive fitness despite high fecundity in European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) from a Baltic Sea drainage area

The reproductive fitness of female European eels (Anguilla anguilla L.) from the Warnow River, Germany, Baltic Sea region, was evaluated by estimating fecundity and applying a spawning model. Individual fecundity ranged from 1,440,000 to 7,455,000 oocytes and mean relative fecundity equalled 5,956,015 oocytes kg-1 . Modelling suggests that 43% of eels hold insufficient energy storages or are within 10% of complete depletion. The fraction of eels with insufficient energy supply increases from 19% to 35% if the effect of parasitic infection is considered.

Parasitic infections and environmental influences on verbal memory and learning potential of isiZulu speaking pre-school children

This study aimed to explore the effects of parasitic infections, demographic, and contextual factors on verbal memory and learning potential. Applying a cross sectional, experimental, and comparative design, we sampled 112 black pre-school children from a historically poor rural South African region (females = 45%; mean age = 5.9 years, SD = 0.778 years). We gathered data on their schistosomiasis status, the rate of soil-transmitted helminths, and their performance on the Ingwavuma Memory and Learning Test (IMLT). Following independent sample t-tests, results showed the children with mild schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth to have comparative cognitive skills to non-infected peers. The socio-ecological variables of poor diet, under-resourcing of the pre-schools, and lack of experience with verbal memory tasks were important determinants of the children’s memory and learning scores.

Impact of Helminth Infections during Pregnancy on Vaccine Immunogenicity in Gabonese Infants.

Helminth infections are common in sub-Saharan Africa. Besides direct clinical effects, a bias towards a T helper type 2 (Th2) cell immune response is observed. The consequences of parasite infection during pregnancy for the mother and particularly for the fetus and the newborn can be severe and may include impaired immune response during acute infection and vaccination. Here, we present data of immune responses to vaccines given within the expanded program on immunization (EPI) of infants born to helminth infected or non-infected mothers. The study was conducted in Lambaréné and surroundings, Gabon. Maternal helminth infection was diagnosed microscopically using the Kato-Katz method for soil-transmitted helminths (STH), urine filtration for Schistosoma haematobium infections and the saponin-based method for filarial infections. Plasma antibody levels to different vaccine antigens were measured in mothers and their offspring by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at different timepoints. We found 42.3% of the mothers to be infected with at least one helminth species. Significantly lower anti-tetanus toxoid immunoglobulin (Ig) G was detected in the cord blood of infants born to helminth infected mothers. Following vaccination, immune responses of the infants to EPI vaccines were similar between the two groups at nine and 12 months. Even though infection with helminths is still common in pregnant women in Gabon, in our setting, there was no evidence seen for a substantial effect on infants’ immune responses to vaccines given as part of the EPI.

376. Effect of Parasitic Infections on Gut Epithelial Barrier and Immune Activation among Foreign-Born HIV-infected Patients

Background Strongyloides stercoralis often causes an asymptomatic infection despite continuous autoinfection for the lifetime of the host. Both HIV and recurrent enteric parasitic infections cause gut damage and increased microbial translocation, but little is known about the effects of co-infection. We aimed to evaluate changes in immune activation, mucosal damage, and microbial translocation in people with HIV-1 (PWH) and parasite co-infection.MethodsIn this pilot prospective cohort study, we enrolled foreign-born PWH on suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) in an ambulatory clinic in Houston, Texas. We evaluated serum Strongyloides IgG using ELISA with an S. stercoralis-specific recombinant protein. Intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP), soluble CD14 (sCD14), sCD163, IL-6, and sTNFRII were analyzed as markers of enterocyte turnover, inflammation, and immune activation. Non-parametric tests were used for analysis.Results52 participants born in 14 countries were enrolled February–March 2019. Median CD4 count was 464/uL [95% CI 315–598]. Fourteen (27%) were positive for Strongyloides IgG. Strongyloides IgG levels correlated positively with sCD14 levels [r=0.36; P = 0.008]. Strongyloides+ participants had significantly higher sCD14 levels compared with Strongyloides− participants [1.67 vs. 1.48 μg/mL, P = 0.031]. Among the Strongyloides+ participants, Strongyloides IgG levels correlated with sCD163 levels [r=0.65, P = 0.026]. There were no difference in the other biomarkers. Logistical regression analysis showed that predictors of Strongyloides+ include absolute eosinophil count (AEC) (OR 1.45 for every 100 increase of AEC [95% CI: 1.02, 2.15; P = 0.047]). CD4 count, number of years living in the United States, country of origin, and years from HIV diagnosis were not associated with test positivity.Conclusion Strongyloides co-infection is common among foreign-born PWH and may contribute to chronic monocyte/macrophage activation, a predictor of morbidity and mortality in PWH. Future directions include stool PCR confirmation of these infections, continued enrollment, and follow-up assays 6 months after treatment of Strongyloides to determine the impact on inflammation and risk of co-morbidities. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Effects of Parasite Infection and Host Body Size on Habitat Associations of Invasive Aquatic Snails: Implications for Environmental Monitoring.

The Comal River, a spring-fed system in central Texas, was invaded in the 1960s by two Asian aquatic snails (Thiaridae: red-rimmed melania Melanoides tuberculata and quilted melania Tarebia granifera) and subsequently by three of their trematode parasites (the avian eye-fluke Philophthalmus gralli in the 1960s; the gill trematode Centrocestus formosanus in the 1990s; and the intestinal fluke Haplorchis pumilio in the 2000s). Previous snail collections (2001-2002) established that habitat conditions significantly affect the distribution of both snail species. However, the effects of snail size (known to influence infection prevalence) and habitat conditions (known to influence snail size) on trematode infection patterns in this system were not evaluated. In a re-evaluation of this data set, logistic regression analyses with individual snails showed that for both M. tuberculata and T. granifera populations, large snails were more likely to be infected than small snails, and habitat conditions were significantly related to infection in T. granifera. However, only snail size was significant in explaining the probability of infection in M. tuberculata. This result was confirmed by linear regression models, which showed that both infected and noninfected M. tuberculata used similar habitats, as large individuals in both infection categories were found in patches dominated by fine substrates and high levels of aquatic vegetation and detritus. For the large size-class of T. granifera, noninfected individuals were found primarily in habitats with silt/sand substrates and high vegetation and detritus cover, while infected individuals occurred among all available habitats. Using these results, we suggest that targeted sampling of large individuals of M. tuberculata in habitats with high detritus and vegetation and large individuals of T. granifera in any habitat can be used to efficiently ascertain parasite "hot spots" and to evaluate changes in parasite prevalence or detect the invasion of new parasites in these thiarid snails.

Simultaneous reproduction of two killifish congeners in the highly alkaline Lake Salda (Turkey)

The reproductive ecology of Western Palaearctic killifishes is poorly documented and was addressed in this study by investigating, for the first time, two closely related endemic killifish species, namely Aphanius fontinalis and Aphanius saldae. Fish samples were collected monthly from January to October 2017 to test whether the killifishes reproduce simultaneously in the highly alkaline Lake Salda (Turkey). Variation in the mean gonadosomatic index and the frequency of hydrated oocytes indicated that the two species reproduce synchronously from April to September. The timing of reproduction was affected more by day length than by water temperature. Larvae of a parasitic nematode (Eustrongylides sp.) were also observed in the gonadal tissue of some individuals. The effects of parasite infection on basic reproductive parameters were tested in A. fontinalis. Parasite infection had no significant effect on gonad weight, but was associated with significantly decreased fecundity and oocyte diameter. In both species, fecundity was related to fish size; however, the regression model showed non-significant results for the parasite-infected A. fontinalis subsamples. Further research is needed to address the ecological and evolutionary consequences of the coexistence of A. fontinalis and A. saldae and the overlap in breeding seasons.

GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITE INFECTION ON BALI CATTLE RAISED IN SEMI-INTENSIVE FARMING SYSTEM IN DOMPU, SUMBAWA ISLAND: A PRELIMINARY STUDY

To date, there are very few studies have been carried out on the effect of parasite infection on Bali cattle, and more importantly, there is no published data on the epidemiology of worm infections on Bali cattle in the island of Sumbawa, Indonesia. This research aimed to undertake a preliminary study on gastrointestinal (GI) parasitic infection on Bali cattle raised under semi-intensive farming system in five different sites in district of Dompu, Sumbawa island. Fecal samples of 76 Bali cattle, from three farmer groups namely site number 1, 4 and 5, were collected, processed and examined under a microscope, with 100x magnification, for egg fecal counting or oocyst fecal counting using the modified McMaster technique. The number of eggs/oocysts observed was then determined and identified. The results show that the eggs/oocysts ranged from 50-14800. The types of GI parasites identified were Strongyloides sp, Strongyle sp, Toxocara sp, Trichuris sp, and Coccidia. Coccidia oocyst is a type of parasite which was found with the highest percentage of 23.68% followed by Strongyle sp. (18.42%) and Toxocara sp. (10.52%). The overall prevalence of GI parasitic infection in cattle accounted for 43.42%. Young calves (0-3 months old) was more susceptible to GI parasitic infection among other age groups. This preliminary data could be used as a basic data on gastrointestinal parasitic infection in Dompu district. These results may also indicate the need to develop control strategies aiming at lowering the gastrointestinal parasitism.

Prevalence of Parasitic Infections on Hematological Indices of Horses in the Gombe Royal Houses

The prevalence and effects of parasitic infections on hematological indices of horses in royal house of Gombe was studied. A total of 150 male horses were used for the study (January to March, 2017). Blood, feces and skin scrapings were collected from each horse and examined using various standard laboratory procedures. The coprological results showed that Ascaris accounted for 10% (15), flatworms (fasciola) 4% (6) and hookworms 4.6% (7). The skin scrapings, Mange accounted for 4 (2.6%), and ticks 8 (5.3%) while hemoparasitological analysis showed that Babesia accounted for 5 (3.33%). The blood indices showed that horses infected by parasites have significantly (p&lt;0.05) lower RBC PCV, HB, and platelets compared to non infected horses while the WBC values increased significantly (p&lt;0.05) due to immune-cellular response to the parasitic infection. The findings showed that parasitism is a problem in the stables examined and calls for proper stable hygiene, improved management practice, regular and strategic parasite monitoring and deworming programmes in order to achieve improved health and performance.

Effect of Seasonality on Rates of Gregarine Infection in Workers of a Social Wasp Polybia Paulista (Hymenoptera, Vespidae).

Social insects face strong selection from parasites because the conditions of group living often favor the transmission of infection among nestmates. However, there is little detailed information on the effects of parasite infection in the host species. Workers of Polybia species, neotropical swarm-founding wasps, are commonly infected by gregarines, protozoans that are exclusively parasitic on invertebrates. Previous studies showed that high rates of gregarine infection in workers of Polybia occidentalis (Olivier) have negative effects on their colony performance. However, the effect of seasonality on infection rates throughout the year or between wet and dry seasons has not been examined. Host-parasite interactions cannot be understood without consideration of the overall population dynamic. We compared rates of gregarine infection in workers of Polybia paulista (Ihering) between wet and dry seasons and among months. The 35% rate was by far the highest of the four wet seasons sampled, but the rates declined in the mid-wet season and were very low during the dry season. Strong seasonal differences in infection rates were also observed between the dry and wet seasons. Several potential factors affecting the seasonal differences are discussed.

The effect of parasite infection on the recombination rate of the mosquito Aedes aegypti.

Sexual reproduction and meiotic recombination generate new genetic combinations and may thereby help an individual infected by a parasite to protect its offspring from being infected. While this idea is often used to understand the evolutionary forces underlying the maintenance of sex and recombination, it also suggests that infected individuals should increase plastically their rate of recombination. We tested the latter idea with the mosquito Aedes aegypti and asked whether females infected by the microsporidian Vavraia culicis were more likely to have recombinant offspring than uninfected females. To measure the rate of recombination over a chromosome we analysed combinations of microsatellites on chromosome 3 in infected and uninfected females, in the (uninfected) males they copulated with and in their offspring. As predicted, the infected females were more likely to have recombinant offspring than the uninfected ones. These results show the ability of a female to diversify her offspring in response to parasitic infection by plastically increasing her recombination rate.

Parasites and allergy: Observations from Brazil.

Brazil is a middle-income country undergoing the epidemiological transition. Effects of changes in daily life habits and access to clean water, sanitation and urban services on a growing urban population have contributed to a double burden of both infectious and noncommunicable chronic diseases. Studies have indicated that parasite infections may modulate the human immune system and influence the development of allergic conditions such as asthma. However, there is no consensus in the published literature on the effects of parasitic infections on allergy, perhaps as a consequence of factors determining the epidemiology of these infections that vary between populations such as age of first infection, duration and chronicity of infections, parasite burden and species, and host genetic susceptibility. In this review, we discuss the observations from Brazil concerning the relationship between parasite infections and allergy.

Parasitic Isopod Cymothoa eremita (Brünnich 1783) (Isopoda: Cymothoidae) Affects the Growth of Black Pomfret Parastromateus niger (Bloch 1795) in the Southeast Coast of India

The black pomfret Parastromateus niger is often favored host for infestation by the cymothoid, buccal attaching ectoparasite Cymothoa eremita. This investigation aimed to evaluate the health status of black pomfret by means of relative condition factor under the existing parasitic cymothoids. Prevalence of C. eremita on black pomfret fish was high (42%) but large (>300 mm) and small fish (< 250) showed significantly lesser prevalence than intermediate-sized host fish. The harmful effects of parasite infection on their hosts include basihyal damage, a loss in buccal cavity volume as a result of female cymothoid infestation, and a severe impact on host growth. The diet composition examination was a small indication to suggest a change in either feeding habits or diet of fish where parasitized and non-parasitized fish occupied the similar tropic niche. Due to an infestation of C. eremita in P. niger, the relative condition factor in infested was found to be lower than that of the uninfested fish. C. eremita infestation can impair growth and decrease feeding efficiency in hosts, subsequently affecting health condition and survival.

Levels of parasitism of Xenos myrapetrus (Stresiptera, Stylopidae) and its seasonal changes in the swarm-founding wasp, Polybia paulista (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

ABSTRACTSocial insects face strong selection from parasites because the conditions of group living often favor the transmission of infection among nestmates. Yet, we lacked detailed information on the effect of parasite infection in the host species. Workers of Polybia species, Neotropical swarm-founding wasps, are commonly infected by strepsipteron, possibly Xenos myrapetrus (Trois). Previous studies showed in two Polybia species that workers infected by the strepsiptera were smaller than uninfected workers. However, the effect of seasonality on infection rates throughout a year or between wet and dry seasons has not been examined. We compared rates of strepsiptera infection in workers of Polybia paulista between wet and dry seasons or among months. Infection rates by the strepsiptera in workers are generally low throughout a year, but different between the seasons. However, there is no particular tendency on seasonal differences of workers infected by the strepsiptera. Population dynamics of the parasites and temperature variation can have effects on the differences.