Presence Of Tapeworm Research Articles

Identification of hydatidosis-related modules and key regulatory genes.

BackgroundEchinococcosis caused by larval of Echinococcus is prevalent all over the world. Although clinical experience showed that the presence of tapeworms could not be found in liver lesions, the repeated infection and aggravation of lesions still occur in the host. Here, this study constructed a multifactor-driven disease-related dysfunction network to explore the potential molecular pathogenesis mechanism in different hosts after E.multilocularis infection.MethodFirst, iTRAQ sequencing was performed on human liver infected with E.multilocularis. Second, obtained microRNAs(miRNAs) expression profiles of humans and canine infected with Echinococcus from the GEO database. In addition, we also performed differential expression analysis, protein interaction network analysis, enrichment analysis, and crosstalk analysis to obtain genes and modules related to E.multilocularis infection. Pivot analysis is used to calculate the potential regulatory effects of multiple factors on the module and identify related non-coding RNAs(ncRNAs) and transcription factors(TFs). Finally, we screened the target genes of miRNAs of Echinococcus to further explore its infection mechanism.ResultsA total of 267 differentially expressed proteins from humans and 3,635 differentially expressed genes from canine were obtained. They participated in 16 human-related dysfunction modules and five canine-related dysfunction modules, respectively. Both human and canine dysfunction modules are significantly involved in BMP signaling pathway and TGF-beta signaling pathway. In addition, pivot analysis found that 1,129 ncRNAs and 110 TFs significantly regulated human dysfunction modules, 158 ncRNAs and nine TFs significantly regulated canine dysfunction modules. Surprisingly, the Echinococcus miR-184 plays a role in the pathogenicity regulation by targeting nine TFs and one ncRNA in humans. Similarly, miR-184 can also cause physiological dysfunction by regulating two transcription factors in canine.ConclusionThe results show that the miRNA-184 of Echinococcus can regulate the pathogenic process through various biological functions and pathways. The results laid a solid theoretical foundation for biologists to further explore the pathogenic mechanism of Echinococcosis.

How tapeworm infection and consumption of a Cd and Zn hyperaccumulating plant may affect Cu, Fe, and Mn concentrations in an animal-a plant consumer and tapeworm host.

This study evaluated the effects of a hyperaccumulator plant (Arabidopsis halleri), containing surplus of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) and being an admixture to the rat feed, on concentrations of copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn) in the tissues of experimental rats infected/uninfected with the tapeworm (Hymenolepis diminuta). Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups (00, P0, and PT); the P0 and PT animals were fed a standard mixture for rats (ST-1) supplemented with the plant A. halleri at a weekly Zn and Cd dosage of 123 and 1mg, respectively. Moreover, rats from the group PT were infected with the tapeworm. The group 00 served as control animals fed only ST-1 having no tapeworm infection. Rats were euthanized after 6weeks, and Cu, Fe, and Mn levels were determined in rat and tapeworm tissues. The results indicated that both the consumption of hyperaccumulator plant and/or presence of tapeworms did have significant effect on Cu, Fe, and Mn concentrations in the host tissues. Concentrations of all the elements were higher in the rat liver and partially kidneys than in the tapeworms, and the concentrations of Cu, Fe, and Mn were affected by the consumption of Cd/Zn hyperaccumulator plants. Particularly, Fe concentrations in all rat tissues were significantly increased by consumption of A. halleri while decreased by the presence of tapeworms. Overall, the consumption of a Cd/Zn hyperaccumulator plant and tapeworm infection cause an imbalance in Cu, Fe, and Mn concentrations in the tissues of a consumer (experimental rats).

Interactions between multiple helminths and the gut microbiota in wild rodents

The gut microbiota is vital to host health and, as such, it is important to elucidate the mechanisms altering its composition and diversity. Intestinal helminths are host immunomodulators and have evolved both temporally and spatially in close association with the gut microbiota, resulting in potential mechanistic interplay. Host–helminth and host–microbiota interactions are comparatively well-examined, unlike microbiota–helminth relationships, which typically focus on experimental infection with a single helminth species in laboratory animals. Here, in addition to a review of the literature on helminth–microbiota interactions, we examined empirically the association between microbiota diversity and composition and natural infection of multiple helminth species in wild mice (Apodemus flavicollis), using 16S rRNA gene catalogues (metataxonomics). In general, helminth presence is linked with high microbiota diversity, which may confer health benefits to the host. Within our wild rodent system variation in the composition and abundance of gut microbial taxa associated with helminths was specific to each helminth species and occurred both up- and downstream of a given helminth's niche (gut position). The most pronounced helminth–microbiota association was between the presence of tapeworms in the small intestine and increased S24–7 (Bacteroidetes) family in the stomach. Helminths clearly have the potential to alter gut homeostasis. Free-living rodents with a diverse helminth community offer a useful model system that enables both correlative (this study) and manipulative inference to elucidate helminth–microbiota interactions.

Identification ofTaeniasp. in a Natural Human Mummy (Third Century BC) from the Chehrabad Salt Mine in Iran

Tapeworm eggs from the genus Taenia sp. were identified during the study of mummy remains dated to 2,286 ± 28 BP from the Chehrabad salt mine in northwestern Iran. The presence of tapeworm in this salt mine provides paleopathological information. Moreover, it brings new information on ancient diet, indicating the consumption of raw or undercooked meat. Cultural aspects as well as archaeozoological data are discussed in order to try to detail meat consumption. Paleoparasitological data are rare in the Middle East, and this case study presents the first recovery of parasites in ancient Iran. It constitutes the earliest evidence of ancient intestinal parasites in this country and contributes to the knowledge of gastrointestinal pathogens in the Near East.

Reliability of coprological diagnosis of Anoplocephala perfoliata infection

Three coprological methods were tested to establish the reliability of in vivo diagnosis of Anoplocephala perfoliata. A total of 107 faecal samples were analyzed, and the presence of tapeworms were confirmed postmortem in 24 animals with burdens that ranged from 1 to 248 worms; most of them (71%) with less than 100 parasites. Best results were obtained with a combination of two sedimentation/flotation methods, detecting only half the parasitized animals (54% sensitivity). No relationship could be established between tapeworm burden and egg detection, but results indicate that coprological methods have a lower likelihood of diagnosing cestode infection when horses have less than 100 tapeworms.

Relationship of chimpanzee leaf‐swallowing to a tapeworm infection

Leaf-swallowing by chimpanzees Pan troglodytes has been hypothesized to control parasites, but it has not yet been shown to be associated with specific parasitic infections. This report takes advantage of a tapeworm infestation among wild chimpanzees to examine whether leaf-swallowing was associated with the presence of tapeworms. Leaf-swallowing was monitored over 6.5 years in two chimpanzee communities in Kibale National Park (Uganda). In one community, tape-worms ?Bertiella studeri were found only during a seven-month period, when they occurred in every month. During this period, leaf-swallowing occurred at an unusually high rate, and dungs that contained tapeworm fragments tended to contain whole leaves. These data suggest that tape-worm infections increased the rate at which chimpanzees swallowed whole leaves. However, this does not mean that tapeworms were necessarily controlled as a result. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Contact Digestion in Tapeworms

The activity of pancreatic a-amylase is increased in the presence of Hymenolepis diminuta, although the intact worms show no intrinsic amylolytic activity. Enhancement of amylase activity is a function of the number of worms present. Maximum relative enhancement occurs at very low enzyme concentrations, and there is an apparent increase in maximum velocity when substrate concentration is varied. The effect is readily reversible and is inhibited by polycations. Killed worms produce no enhancement of amylase activity. It is concluded that a surface adsorption is involved and the possible structural relationships are briefly discussed. The importance of differentiating intrinsic from adsorbed enzymes is also discussed. Previous studies of the brush border of the mammalian small intestine have shown that there are intrinsic, membrane-bound disaccharidases and phosphohydrolases in the outer cell surface (Crane, 1962; Newey et al., 1963). Similarly, the tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta has been shown to have surface phosphohydrolases (Arme and Read, 1970; Dike and Read, 1971a, b). Further, the tapeworm enzyme seems to be spatially adjacent to the membrane system involved in glucose transport: The glucose product of glucose-6-phosphate hydrolysis has a kinetic advantage for absorption rather than for diffusion into the surrounding medium in vitro (Dike and Read, 1971b). In addition to intrinsic digestive enzymes, adsorbed digestive enzymes have been reported to be associated with the mammalian brush border. These are pancreatic in origin and have been referred to as contact digestive enzymes (Ugolev, 1965; De Laey, 1966a). Such enzymes are thought to be bound to the brush border fuzzy coat by electrostatic charge (De Laey, 1966b). Binding seems to depend on surface area available (De Laey, 1966c, 1967) and is readily reversible (Jesuitova et al., 1964). The kinetic parameters of pancreatic amylase are reported to change with adsorption to the brush border. However, some doubt has been cast on the conclusion that adsorption of pancreatic amylase to the mucosal surface enhances the action of the enzyme. McMichael and Dahlqvist (1968) and Alpers and Solin (1970) have shown that Received for publication 14 September 1971. * This work was supported by a grant from the NIH, U. S. Public Health Service (AI 01384). there are membrane-bound intestinal amylases in man and the rat. These are intrinsic to the mucosal surface and differ from pancreatic amylase in a number of respects. It has been pointed out that failure to recognize the presence of these membrane-bound amylases could lead to an erroneous conclusion that there is an enhanced activity of pancreatic amylase in the presence of mucosal tissue. Taylor and Thomas (1968) reported that the presence of tapeworms (three species) increased the rate of starch hydrolysis by bacterial a-amlyase in vitro and that the degree to which the enzyme was affected was related to worm surface area. The present study is an examination of this phenomenon, using pancreatic a-amylase and the rat tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta. MATERIALS AND METHODS Hymenolepis diminuta was reared in the beetle Tenebrio molitor. Young male rats of the Holtzmann strain (Sprague-Dawley derived), weighing 100 to 120 g, were infected with 30 cysticercoids of H. diminuta. Ten or 11 days after infecting a group of rats, they were killed and worms flushed from the gut with a Ringer saline containing 25 mr tris-maleate buffer at pH 7.2 (KRT of Read et al., 1963). Worms from a group of rats were randomly distributed into samples, usually 15 worms per sample. Amylose hydrolysis was measured colorimetrically at 690 nm, using the iodine reagent described by Taylor and Thomas (1968). At this wavelength, the color obeys Beer's law between 10 and 120 /ug of amylose. A typical curve with varying concentrations of a-amylase is shown in Figure 1. Amylase was also determined by the method of Ujihara et al. (1965). To detect substrate hydrolysis, 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid was added just prior to stopping the reaction by boiling. The absorbance was read at 520 nm. Standard

Methionine flux between a tapeworm (Hymenolepis diminuta) and its environment

In the course of work designed to measure the extent to which methionine absorbed in one region of a tapeworm became distributed throughout the strobila, it was observed that, whereas, in saline,Hymenolepis diminutalost previously absorbed methionine slowly, in the intestine of a rat the methionine was lost very rapidly. The fact that two worms containing initially the same amount of free methionine should, after a short period in different environments, contain utterly different quantities of methionine indicated that the quantity of a free amino acid present at any time is not simply dependent on the amount previously absorbed less the amount metabolized.This observation has a bearing on several aspects of tapeworm physiology. Do tapeworms normally absorb amino acids from the intestine during periods of high concentration and release them when the concentration falls? If they do, the presence of tapeworms in the intestine could be beneficial to the host by extending the period over which an amino acid is available to the host, an important point as a mammal is unable to store amino acids for more than a few hours (Gitler, 1964). A knowledge of the environmental conditions which influence the level of free amino acids in a tapeworm, and thereby its ability to synthesize proteins, is obviously also of critical importance to workers attempting to grow wormsin vitro.