Parasitic Helminth Infections Research Articles

The ‘breakpoint’ of soil-transmitted helminths with infected human migration

Building on past research, we here develop an analytic framework for describing the dynamics of the transmission of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) parasitic infections near the transmission breakpoint and equilibria of endemic infection and disease extinction, while allowing for perturbations in the infectious reservoir of the parasite within a defined location. This perturbation provides a model for the effect of infected human movement between villages with differing degrees of parasite control induced by mass drug administration (MDA). Analysing the dynamical behaviour around the unstable equilibrium, known as the transmission ‘breakpoint’, we illustrate how slowly-varying the dynamics are and develop an understanding of how discrete ‘pulses’ in the release of transmission stages (eggs or larvae, depending on the species of STH), due to infected human migration between villages, can lead to perturbations in the deterministic transmission dynamics. Such perturbations are found to have the potential to undermine targets for parasite elimination as a result of MDA and/or improvements in water and sanitation provision. We extend our analysis by developing a simple stochastic model and analytically investigate the uncertainty this induces in the dynamics. Where appropriate, all analytical results are supported by numerical analyses.

Prevalence of Intestinal Helminth Infections in Dogs and Two Species of Wild Animals from Samarkand Region of Uzbekistan.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminth parasitic infections and associated risk factors for the human infection among the people of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Infection status of helminths including Echinococcus granulosus was surveyed in domestic and wild animals from 4 sites in the Samarkand region, Uzbekistan during 2015–2018. Fecal samples of each animal were examined with the formalin-ether sedimentation technique and the recovery of intestinal helminths was performed with naked eyes and a stereomicroscope in total 1,761 animals (1,755 dogs, 1 golden jackal, and 5 Corsac foxes). Total 658 adult worms of E. granulosus were detected in 28 (1.6%) dogs and 1 (100%) golden jackal. More than 6 species of helminths, i.e., Taenia hydatigena, Dipylidium caninum, Diplopylidium nolleri, Mesocestoides lineatus, Toxocara canis, and Trichuris vulpis, were found from 18 (1.0%) dogs. Six (T. hydatigena, Toxascaris leonina, Alaria alata, Uncinaria stenocephala, D. caninum, and M. lineatus) and 2 (D. nolleri and M. lineatus) species of helminths were also detected from 5 Corsac foxes and 1 golden jackal, respectively. Taeniid eggs were found in 2 (20%) out of 10 soil samples. In the present study, it was confirmed that the prevalences of helminths including E. granulosus are not so high in domestic and wild animals. Nevertheless, the awareness on the zoonotic helminth infections should be continuously maintained in Uzbekistan for the prevention of human infection.

Survey on Helminth Parasites Associated With Human Fingernails among Primary School Pupils in Batagarawa Local Government Area, Katsina State, Nigeria

Helminth parasitic infections have become a global public health concern and their burden is much higher among children of school age, especially in tropical and sub-tropical developing countries. In primary schools environments, children have proven to be more susceptible for acquiring helminth parasites through fingernails. This present study investigated intestinal parasites associated with the fingernails of primary school pupils in Batagarawa Local Government, Katsina State, Nigeria. It was conducted from 15 August to 10 December 2017.Subjects(n=146) Swab samples were obtained from 146 subjects and put into a clean sterile container containing normal saline.A drop of the mixture was transferred to the centre of the scrupulously cleaned grease free slide using sterile plastic Pasteur pipettes and carefully covered with a cover slip, avoiding air bubbles and over floatation. Direct microscopic examination of the samples for ova/eggs of helminths and/or cysts of other protozoan parasites was done.Out of the 146 specimens, 68 (45.9%) were positive for one or moreparasites. Theparasitesidentified with single infection were Ascaris lumbricoides, Taenia species,Trichuris trichiura, Hookwormand Enterobious vermicularis. For the mixed infection we have 04 (6.0%)Taenia spp + A. lumbricoides and 02 (3.0%)Hookworm + E. Vermicularis,A. lumbricoides31 (46.3%) was found to be the most prevalent parasite followed by Trichuris trichuria11(14.9%),Taenia species, 10 (14.9%),Hookworm07 (10.4%)and Enterobious vermicularis03 (4.5%). Chi Square analysis showed statistically significance between gender versus infection and age versus infection (P<0.05). There is a need for health education campaignsto create awareness about health and hygiene to the pupils and to the parents.

Mapping Soil-Transmitted Helminth Parasite Infection in Rwanda: Estimating Endemicity and Identifying At-Risk Populations.

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are globally distributed intestinal parasite infections caused by Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus). STH infection constitutes a major public health threat, with heavy burdens observed in many of the world’s tropical and subtropical regions. Mass drug administration and sanitation improvements can drastically reduce STH prevalence and associated morbidity. However, identifying targeted areas in need of treatment is hampered by a lack of knowledge on geographical and population-level risk factors. In this study, we applied Bayesian geostatistical modelling to data from a national school-based STH infection survey in Rwanda to (1) identify ecological and population-level risk factors and (2) provide comprehensive precision maps of infection burdens. Our results indicated that STH infections were heterogeneously distributed across the country and showed signatures of spatial clustering, though the magnitude of clustering varied among parasites. The highest rates of endemic clustering were attributed to A. lumbricoides infection. Concordant infection patterns among the three parasite groups highlighted populations currently most at-risk of morbidity. Population-dense areas in the Western and North-Western regions of Rwanda represent areas that have continued to exhibit high STH burden across two surveys and are likely in need of targeted interventions. Our maps support the need for an updated evaluation of STH endemicity in western Rwanda to evaluate progress in MDA efforts and identify communities that need further local interventions to further reduce morbidity caused by STH infections.

The effect of water sources, nutritional qualities and management systems on the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth infections in ruminants in Benue State, Nigeria

Parasitic helminth infections are a frequent burden to livestock farmers. In this study, some domestic ruminants were examined for gastrointestinal helminth infections at some locations in Benue State Nigeria. Six hundred faecal samples were collected per rectum from cattle, goat and sheep in Makurdi, Guma and Gboko. The faeces were analysed using Concentration Method, and direct microscopic examination of helminth parasites. Data were also obtained on the source of drinking water, feeding, and the management system used to keep the ruminants. The results showed that 43.7% of all animals were infected. The species of helminth parasites identified were Strongyloides spp. 74.8% Haemonchus spp., 11.8% while Monieza spp., Trichuris spp., Taenia spp., Fasciola spp., Ascaris spp., and Toxocara spp., constituted 13.4%. Helminths infection was associated with the type of animal (p = 0.01), the source of drinking water (p < 0.001), food, and the management system (p<0.001), but not the sampled locations (p = 0.98). It was concluded that improved management practices, provision of good quality food and clean drinking water significantly reduced the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths infection in ruminants in Benue State, Nigeria. Keywords: gastrointestinal helminths, parasites, ruminants, livestock

Costs and drivers of helminth parasite infection in wild female baboons.

Helminth parasites can have wide-ranging, detrimental effects on host reproduction and survival. These effects are best documented in humans and domestic animals, while only a few studies in wild mammals have identified both the forces that drive helminth infection risk and their costs to individual fitness. Working in a well-studied population of wild baboons (Papio cynocephalus) in the Amboseli ecosystem in Kenya, we pursued two goals, to (a) examine the costs of helminth infections in terms of female fertility and glucocorticoid hormone levels and (b) test how processes operating at multiple scales-from individual hosts to social groups and the population at large-work together to predict variation in female infection risk. To accomplish these goals, we measured helminth parasite burdens in 745 faecal samples collected over 5years from 122 female baboons. We combine these data with detailed observations of host environments, social behaviours, hormone levels and interbirth intervals (IBIs). We found that helminths are costly to female fertility: females infected with more diverse parasite communities (i.e., higher parasite richness) exhibited longer IBIs than females infected by fewer parasite taxa. We also found that females exhibiting high Trichuris trichiura egg counts also had high glucocorticoid levels. Female infection risk was best predicted by factors at the host, social group and population level: females facing the highest risk were old, socially isolated, living in dry conditions and infected with other helminths. Our results provide an unusually holistic understanding of the factors that contribute to inter-individual differences in parasite infection, and they contribute to just a handful of studies linking helminths to host fitness in wild mammals.

Captive Agamid lizards in Germany: Prevalence, pathogenicity and therapy of gastrointestinal protozoan and helminth infections.

Reptiles are becoming popular pets in many parts of the world. They are also known to harbor numerous gastrointestinal parasites. We used faecal smears to examine 748 stool samples from 14 different agamid lizard species. In addition, we used coproantigen ELISA tests (11 samples) and immunofluorescence assays (IFA) (19 samples) to detect reptile Cryptosporidium infections. In 28 cases, veterinarians requested therapy to treat oxyurid- and/or Isospora amphiboluri-infections and resent fecal samples after proposed therapy and anti-parasitic treatments had been applied. We also performed complete dissections of 24 deceased agamas in order to specify protozoan and helminth parasite infections. Overall, the examined fecal samples contained 6 different taxa. Oxyurids (Pharyngodonidae) were the most prevalent nematodes (41.2%), followed by I. amphiboluri (17.0%), Entamoeba spp. (0.8%), Choleoeimeria spp. (0.5%), Trichomonas spp. (0.3%), Cryptosporidium spp. (0.3%) and Strongyloides-like nematodes (0.1%). I. amphiboluri infections were significantly more prevalent (Chi-square test: χ2 = 21,5, df = 1, P < 0.001) in juvenile agamid lizards (31.9%) than in adults (14.2%). One of 11 (9.1%) coproantigen ELISA-examined samples was positive for Cryptosporidium. In 10.5% of the samples we found oocysts of Cryptosporidium. Thirteen (54.2%) of necropsied agamid lizards were infected with endoparasites and it is likely that three (12.5%) of them died due to severe parasitic infections. 74.0% of the samples that were submitted after therapy had been applied were negative. The high prevalences and pathological findings of several clinical parasitoses observed in these exotic reptiles calls for more detailed investigations on agamid gastrointestinal parasite fauna.

Prevalence of Intestinal Protozoa and Helminthic Parasitic Infections in Adult Population of Puducherry

Prevalence of Intestinal Protozoa and Helminthic Parasitic Infections in Adult Population of Puducherry

Computationally-guided drug repurposing enables the discovery of kinase targets and inhibitors as new schistosomicidal agents.

The development of novel therapeutics is urgently required for diseases where existing treatments are failing due to the emergence of resistance. This is particularly pertinent for parasitic infections of the tropics and sub-tropics, referred to collectively as neglected tropical diseases, where the commercial incentives to develop new drugs are weak. One such disease is schistosomiasis, a highly prevalent acute and chronic condition caused by a parasitic helminth infection, with three species of the genus Schistosoma infecting humans. Currently, a single 40-year old drug, praziquantel, is available to treat all infective species, but its use in mass drug administration is leading to signs of drug-resistance emerging. To meet the challenge of developing new therapeutics against this disease, we developed an innovative computational drug repurposing pipeline supported by phenotypic screening. The approach highlighted several protein kinases as interesting new biological targets for schistosomiasis as they play an essential role in many parasite’s biological processes. Focusing on this target class, we also report the first elucidation of the kinome of Schistosoma japonicum, as well as updated kinomes of S. mansoni and S. haematobium. In comparison with the human kinome, we explored these kinomes to identify potential targets of existing inhibitors which are unique to Schistosoma species, allowing us to identify novel targets and suggest approved drugs that might inhibit them. These include previously suggested schistosomicidal agents such as bosutinib, dasatinib, and imatinib as well as new inhibitors such as vandetanib, saracatinib, tideglusib, alvocidib, dinaciclib, and 22 newly identified targets such as CHK1, CDC2, WEE, PAKA, MEK1. Additionally, the primary and secondary targets in Schistosoma of those approved drugs are also suggested, allowing for the development of novel therapeutics against this important yet neglected disease.

Immunomodulatory effects of Trichinella spiralis excretory-secretory antigens on macrophages

Helminths and their products can suppress the host immune response and other immunopathologies which may benefit parasite survival. Parasitic nematode Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) exert immunomodulatory effect on the host immune response through excretory-secretory (ES) products. However, the immunomodulatory mechanism is not yet completely understood or defined. Macrophages play a key role in modulating the host immune response to helminth parasite infection. Here, we focus on the effect of T. spiralis ES antigens on the immune response by studying the effect of ES antigens on RAW264.7 macrophages in vitro. RAW264.7 macrophages were incubated with ES antigens either alone or in combination with LPS. The cytokine production (TNF-α, IL-10 and IL-12 p70) and the expression of TLR were measured. Moreover, the nuclear translocation of MyD88 and NF-кB was assessed by Western blot analysis. Results indicate that ES products had impacts on reducing the expression of TLRs in LPS-induced macrophages. In addition, ES products inhibited the cytokine production of IL-12 p70 and TNF-α and alone boosted the expression of cytokine IL-10 in RAW264.7 macrophages. In conclusion, our results implied that T. spiralis ES antigens may regulate host immune response at the macrophages level in vitro.

Host–Parasite Interactions Promote Disease Tolerance to Intestinal Helminth Infection

Parasitic helminths are among the most pervasive pathogens of the animal kingdom. To complete their life cycle, these intestinal worms migrate through host tissues causing significant damage in their wake. As a result, infection can lead to malnutrition, anemia and increased susceptibility to co-infection. Despite repeated deworming treatment, individuals living in endemic regions remain highly susceptible to re-infection by helminths, but rarely succumb to excessive tissue damage. The chronicity of infection and inability to resist numerous species of parasitic helminths that have co-evolved with their hosts over millenia suggests that mammals have developed mechanisms to tolerate this infectious disease. Distinct from resistance where the goal is to destroy and eliminate the pathogen, disease tolerance is an active process whereby immune and structural cells restrict tissue damage to maintain host fitness without directly affecting pathogen burden. Although disease tolerance is evolutionary conserved and has been well-described in plant systems, only recently has this mode of host defense, in its strictest sense, begun to be explored in mammals. In this review, we will examine the inter- and intracellular networks that support disease tolerance during enteric stages of parasitic helminth infection and why this alternative host defense strategy may have evolved to endure the presence of non-replicating pathogens and maintain the essential functions of the intestine.

Helminthiasis Epidemiology and Control: Scoring Successes and Meeting the Remaining Challenges.

Parasitic helminth infections remain a significant challenge to global health. These arehighly prevalent diseases, affecting over 1 billion persons worldwide. Their prevalence is closely linked to the presence of severe poverty and its associated sub-standard housing and sanitation. The last decade has seen a remarkable increase in our understanding of the true disease burden of helminth infections, and there has been increasing momentum on the part of national and non-governmental developmental organizations for prevention and control of these diseases. The expansion in mass treatment programmes for their control has yielded some significant successes. However, challenges remain in terms of ecological heterogeneity in transmission, incomplete drug uptake, and the likelihood of emerging drug resistance. The development of new, more-sensitive diagnostics is now broadening our knowledge of infection prevalence and of the risk of reinfection and has enhanced our knowledge of the prevalence of concurrent helminth infections. Adoption of these new diagnostic techniques for large-scale screening and surveillance will require adaptation of current mass treatment guidelines for control as programmes move from initial morbidity control objectives toward coordinated interventions aimed at local elimination.

Worms: Pernicious parasites or allies against allergies?

SummaryType 2 immune responses are most commonly associated with allergy and helminth parasite infections. Since the discovery of Th1 and Th2 immune responses more than 30 years ago, models of both allergic disease and helminth infections have been useful in characterizing the development, effector mechanisms and pathological consequences of type 2 immune responses. The observation that some helminth infections negatively correlate with allergic and inflammatory disease led to a large field of research into parasite immunomodulation. However, it is worth noting that helminth parasites are not always benign infections, and that helminth immunomodulation can have stimulatory as well as suppressive effects on allergic responses. In this review, we will discuss how parasitic infections change host responses, the consequences for bystander immunity and how this interaction influences clinical symptoms of allergy.

Macrophage Activation and Functions during Helminth Infection: Recent Advances from the Laboratory Mouse.

Macrophages are highly plastic innate immune cells that adopt an important diversity of phenotypes in response to environmental cues. Helminth infections induce strong type 2 cell-mediated immune responses, characterized among other things by production of high levels of interleukin- (IL-) 4 and IL-13. Alternative activation of macrophages by IL-4 in vitro was described as an opposite phenotype of classically activated macrophages, but the in vivo reality is much more complex. Their exact activation state as well as the role of these cells and associated molecules in type 2 immune responses remains to be fully understood. We can take advantage of a variety of helminth models available, each of which have their own feature including life cycle, site of infection, or pathological mechanisms influencing macrophage biology. Here, we reviewed the recent advances from the laboratory mouse about macrophage origin, polarization, activation, and effector functions during parasitic helminth infection.

Assessment of oxidative/nitrosative stress biomarkers and DNA damage in Haemonchus contortus, following exposure to zinc oxide nanoparticles.

Drug resistance in helminth parasites has incurred several difficulties to livestock industry and ranked among the top public health concerns. Therefore, seeking for new agents to control parasites is an urgent strategy. In the recent years, metallic nanoparticles have been considerably evaluated for anthelmintic effects. The current research was conducted to assess possible anthelmintic impacts of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on a prevalent gastrointestinal nematode, H. contortus. Moreover, several biomarkers of oxidative/nitrosative stress and DNA damage were measured. Various concentrations of the nanoparticle were prepared and incubated with the worms for 24 hours. The parasite mobility, mortality rate, antioxidant enzymes activities (SOD, Catalase and GSH-Px), lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant status as well as nitric oxide (NO) contents and DNA damage were determined. ZnO-NPs exerted significant wormicidal effects via induction of oxidative/nitrosative stress and DNA damage. Conclusively, ZnO-NPs can be utilized as a novel and potential agent to control and treatment of helminth parasitic infections.

Gastrointestinal Parasites of Sarotherodon melanotheron(Ruppel, 1852) Histopathological Alterations and Organochlorine Pesticides Pollution from Lagos, Lagoon, Nigeria.

This study investigates the prevalence and intensity of intestinal parasites and determines the combined impact of organochlorine pesticides and parasites on the total health of the fish in Lagos lagoon. Twelve congeners of organochloride pesticides (OCPs) were analyzed in water, sediment, fish and parasites using mass chromatograph coupled with an electron detector. The prevalence of intestinal helminth infection in Sarotheron melanotheron was 20.83%. Twenty-five individuals were infected with parasitic cestode Wenyonia sp (20.83%, Chi-Square, X² = 11.2, p<0.05), out of which 18 (15.00%) were males and 7 (5.83%) were females. The intestinal parasites found in S.melanotheron were cestode; Wenyonia sp, protozoa; Myxobolus sp. Coccidian spores, Myxosoma sp, and Hexamita sp. Five congeners were detected in the water, sediment, fish and parasites. Some protozoa parasites of Sarotherodon melanotheron have shown qualities of bioindicators from the study. Myxosoma sp showed positive correlation (r = 0.315, p<0.05) with DDT and heptachlor (r = 0.301, p<0.05) but its correlation coefficient was not significant for endosulfan 1, aldrin and total OCPs. None of the intestinal helminth parasite infection correlates significantly with any of the OCPs congeners in the lagoon. Iddo station had the highest parasite prevalence and concentrations of DDT, Aldrin, Dieldrin, and Heptachlor in the water and sediment and the highest GAI, showing high frequencies of several inflammations, and tissue necrosis as a result of greater multi-stress pressure.

A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 is required for IL-33 induced ILC2 expansion and cytokine production.

Abstract Type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) rapidly respond to the alarmins IL-25 and IL-33, resulting in the initiation of downstream Th2 responses, particularly in parasitic helminth infections. We show that A disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM) 17 is required for IL-33 mediated ILC2 activation. In vivo, mice that lack ADAM17 specifically on ILC2s (ADAM17ILC2−/−) exhibit decreased ILC2 expansion in response to intranasal IL-33 as well as Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nb) infection. In both of these models, the few ILC2s present in ADAM17ILC2−/− produce less IL-13 than WT ILC2s. Loss of ILC2 expansion in an Nb infection resulted in decreased numbers of IL-13 producing T cells as well as increased worm burden. However, ADAM17ILC2−/− mice have normal ILC2 numbers in a naïve state, suggesting this defect in ILC2 function is limited to cell activation. In vitro, IL-33 treatment of purified ILC2s in the presence of ADAM17 inhibitors show increased apoptosis and decreased IL-13 production compared to control (no ADAM17 inhibitor) ILC2s. The defect in cytokine production following ADAM17 inhibition was not observed in response to IL-25 stimulation, suggesting this defect is limited to IL-33 stimulation Mechanistically, ADAM17 inhibition in ILC2s specifically causes a defect in IL-33 mediated ERK activation, potentially explaining the reduced survival and IL-13 production following ADAM17 inhibition in these cells. Overall, these studies provide a targetable protease to target for the treatment of ILC2 mediated diseases.

Epidemiology of soil transmitted Helminth infections in the middle-belt of Ghana, Africa

BackgroundHelminths are among the most widespread infectious agents prevalent in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the developing world defined by inadequate sanitation, poverty and unsafe water sources. This study was carried out to describe the distribution of helminth and malaria parasite infections in the middle-belt of Ghana in sub-Saharan Africa where disease burden, including anaemia is rife and helminths are perceived to be significant contributors of the burden. MethodsA cross-sectional survey involving 1826 residents located in the middle belt of Ghana where no or very little previous community-based helminth work had been carried out. The participants randomly recruited at household level provided biological samples collected over a 12-month period following a rigorous consenting process and these were analysed to describe the different types and seasonal distribution of helminths. FindingsOverall, 19.3% intestinal helminth infection prevalence was documented. Also based on parasites targeted for elimination, 12.1% Hookworm, 4.0% Hymenolepis nana/Hymenolepis dimunita, 1.5% Ascaris lumbricoides, 1.5% Taenia species, 0.9% Strongyloides stercoralis and 0.8% Trichuris trichiura, with about 1.0% polyphelminthiasis were recorded in the survey. About 55.4% and 44.4% of the participants had heavy hookworm and Trichuris infections respectively. Most of the Ascariasis (83.3%) infections were light in intensity. Hookworm infection was identified with significant odds considering decreasing age (OR = 2.09, p = 0.03), inappropriate footwear use (OR = 1.88, p = 0.021), malaria parasite co-infection (OR = 1.62, p = 0.018), not scrubbing nails during hand washing (OR = 0.68, p = 0.048), source of drinking water (OR = 2.51, p = 0.027) and religion (OR = 4.36, p = 0.002). ConclusionsHookworm infection was significantly higher in younger age groups and among those who did not have safe drinking water. Proper sanitation, protective footwear, religion and good personal hygiene practices were found to influence helminth and hookworm prevalence in the area. Malaria parasite coinfection with helminths, especially hookworm infections increased 2-fold.

Cross-sectional prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites in cattle in Lira District, Uganda.

The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasite infections and associated risk factors was studied in traditionally reared East African short-horned zebu cattle in Lira District, Uganda. Fecal samples were collected from 205 cattle and coprologically examined for the presence of helminth parasites using the simple salt flotation method complemented with the sedimentation method. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites (GITPs) in cattle in Adekokwok, Lira District, was 32.2%. Of these, 12 (18.18%) were cases of mixed infections mainly of Amphistomes and other GITPs. Paramphistomum was the most prevalent parasite contributing up to 45.5% of infections, followed by Fasciola, Toxocara, strongyles, Trichuris, and Nematodirus, in descending order of abundance. GITP infections were not influenced by the sex of cattle, while infection with Toxocara was associated with cattle age. The mean body condition score (BCS) for all animals studied was 2.37 ± 0.07. A low BCS was associated with gastrointestinal helminth infections. Nevertheless, other factors such as nutritional stress are likely to augment the effects of parasites in the traditional agro-pastoral system particularly in the dry season and should therefore be considered when using the cattle body condition as an indicator of parasitism.

The NLRP3 Inflammasome Suppresses Protective Immunity to Gastrointestinal Helminth Infection

Inflammasomes promote immunity to microbial pathogens by regulating the function of IL-1-family cytokines such as IL-18 and IL-1β. However, the roles for inflammasomes during parasitic helminth infections remain unclear. We demonstrate that mice and humans infected with gastrointestinal nematodes display increased IL-18 secretion, which in Trichuris-infected or worm antigen-treated mice and in macrophages co-cultured with Trichuris antigens or exosome-like vesicles was dependent on the NLRP3 inflammasome. NLRP3-deficient mice displayed reduced pro-inflammatory type 1 cytokine responses and augmented protective type 2 immunity, which was reversed by IL-18 administration. NLRP3-dependent suppression of immunity partially required CD4+ cells but was apparent even in Rag1-/- mice that lack adaptive immune cells, suggesting that NLRP3 influences both innate and adaptive immunity. These data highlight a role for NLRP3 in limiting protective immunity to helminths, suggesting that targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome may be an approach for limiting the disease burden associated with helminth infections.