Abnormalities in the WFU strain of Taenia crassiceps (Cyclophyllidea: Taeniidae) following years of propagation in mice.

Asexually proliferating Taenia crassiceps (Zeder, 1800) metacestodes isolated within past decades have been successfully sub-cultured under experimental conditions using Mus musculus Linnaeus, 1758 mice. However, during their development, morphological irregularities of scolex structures have been reported in two of the three strains of this cestode species maintained in mice - ORF and KBS. The main goal of this work is to describe the abnormalities observed in a sample of 118 cysticerci of the third T. crassiceps strain used at present - WFU. Morphological abnormalities were detected in 39.8% of the evaginated scoleces; they consisted of supernumerary suckers (n= 2), duplicated (n= 2) or absent rostellum (n= 1), as well as absent or aberrant (n= 29) hooks, which were significantly shorter when compared to the large and short hook lengths referred to in the literature.

RCB20, an experimental benzimidazole derivative, affects tubulin expression and induces gross anatomical changes in Taenia crassiceps cysticerci.

Helminth ß-tubulins are the targets of benzimidazole (BZM) carbamate compounds. The specificity of the interactions between such compounds and their in vivo targets depends on the presence of specific amino acid residues in the target molecules. To discover new and effective anthelmintic drugs, we used a medicinal chemistry approach to synthesize a series of BZM derivatives that exploited the BZM moiety as a template. We have previously found that one compound, 2-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-benzimidazole (RCB20), has better in vitro and in vivo activity than albendazole sulfoxide (ABZSO). In the present study, the effect of RCB20 and ABZSO treatment on expression of Taenia crassiceps cysticerci cytoskeletal proteins such as actin, myosin II, and tubulin isoforms was examined. The effects of RCB20 and ABZSO after 11 days treatment of the parasites was evaluated by light, confocal, and electron microscopy, and by immunochemistry and immunohistochemistry. The RCB20-induced effects were more rapid than the ABZSO-induced effects on the parasites. In the RCB20-treated parasites, we observed gross-structural damage at the whole parasite level, particularly in the inner tissues and flame cells. Changes in the expression patterns of the cytoskeletal proteins, as assessed by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting, revealed that the most important drug-induced effect on the parasites was a reduction in the expression level of tyrosinated α-tubulins. Our research findings suggest that RCB20 treatment affected posttranslational modification of parasite α-tubulin molecules, which involved removal of the α-tubulin carboxy-terminal tyrosine.

[Morphological and molecular identification of Cysticercus fasciolaris isolated from rodent hosts (Rattus norvegicus) in Buenos Aires province (Argentina)]. / Identificación morfológica y molecular de Cysticercus fasciolaris aislado de un roedor (Rattus norvegicus) de la provincia de Buenos Aires (Argentina).

In a rodent (Rattus norvegicus) survey in Buenos Aires province, metacestodes of tapeworms were found encysted in the liver of the host. The aim of this work was the morphological and molecular identification of this parasite. To achieve the molecular characterization of the parasite, ribosomal (28S) and mitochondrial (COI) DNA were amplified and sequenced. Based on both morphological and molecular data using bioinformatic tools, the metacestode was identified as Cysticercus fasciolaris. The adult form of this tapeworm (Taenia taeniaeformis) commonly infects felid and canid mammalian hosts. This is the first report on the molecular identification of Cysticercus fasciolaris in Buenos Aires province (Argentina).

Antimicrobial peptides (Temporin A and Iseganan IB-367): effect on the cysticerci of Taenia crassiceps.

Taenia solium infections continue being a health problem in undeveloped countries, and few effective control measures against this parasite are being applied. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) belong to the innate immune response and capable of destroying pathogens. We tested the ability of two AMPs, Temporin A (TA) and Iseganan IB-367 (IB-367) to damage T. crassiceps cysticerci in vitro. Doses of 200 and 400 microg/ml of TA and IB-367 caused cysticerci to shrink, lose motility, the formation of macrovesicles in the tegument, as well as decreased evagination properties. These changes were observed as early as 3-6h and became more pronounced over 24h, when the morphological changes of the bladders became evident by both light and electron microscopy. Electron micrographs of cysticerci exposed to peptides showed initial changes as collapsed microvesicles in the tegument, with formation of large vesicles and extrusion of tegumentary tissues into the surrounding media, which led to complete loss of the tegument as well as shrinkage and complete loss of structure of parenchymal tissue after 24h. Peptides administered to cysticercotic mice one month post-infection in a single intraperitoneal dose of 200 or 400 microg, reduced the parasite load by 25% for IB-367, and 50% for TA. The humoral response of infected mice does not appear capable of killing surviving cysticerci. Our studies show that in vitro, AMPs severely damage the tegument and the scolex, and open a new pathway for biological drug design or the development of transgenic animals that over express these peptides capable of killing the cysticerci in vivo.

Massive Taenia hydatigena Cysticercosis in a Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) from Italy.

PURPOSE: Taenia hydatigena cysticercosis, due to Cysticercus tenuicollis, is a parasitic disease infecting domestic and wild animals worldwide causing economic and productive losses. Nonetheless, little attention has been paid to the role of the wild ungulates in the epidemiology of this disease. In the last years, the increasing population of wild boars in Europe has raised the attention of researchers on their role in the spreading of several infections, including those caused by cestodes. Herein, we report the description of a massive infection due to T. hydatigena cysticercosis in a wild boar from southern Italy. METHODS: An adult female boar was examined during the hunting season 2018 within the regional project "Piano Emergenza Cinghiali in Campania". A complete necropsy was performed on the boar carcass and all viscera were examined to determine number and location of the cysts. Morphological and molecular analyses of the cysts were performed to confirm the C. tenuicollis identity. RESULTS: The boar examined has revealed an impressive massive infection with 265 cysts. Measurements of the large and small larval hooks showed a mean of length as 200.3 µm and 136.8 µm, respectively. Molecular analysis of Cox1 and ND1 mitochondrial genes confirmed the C. tenuicollis identity. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that wild boar could be involved in the epidemiology of T. hydatigena, due to the significant amount of boar raw offal available to definitive hosts (i.e., hunting dogs, foxes and wolves), during the hunting seasons.

Distribution of Taenia solium Diagnostic Glycoproteins in the Different Developmental Stages of the Parasite.

Taenia solium is a helminth parasite that causes 2 diseases in humans: cysticercosis and taeniasis. The establishment of T. solium metacestodes in the central nervous system causes neurocysticercosis, while development of the adult tapeworm in the small intestine causes taeniasis. Serological diagnosis of neurocysticercosis is performed by Western blot with an enriched fraction of glycoproteins that has been extensively used for clinical diagnosis and epidemiological surveys. The lectin-bound fraction that is used for this assay contains 7 antigenic glycoproteins. These antigenic proteins are considered to be highly specific for cysticercosis when tested with heterologous parasitic diseases. However, recent studies show that people with taeniasis have cross-reactive antibodies against the neurocysticercosis diagnostic glycoproteins and vice versa. Nevertheless, it is not known if these diagnostic proteins are expressed in the adult stage of the parasite. In this paper, we describe the location of 3 of these glycoproteins in T. solium adults and cysticerci using polyclonal antibodies raised against a synthetic peptide based on the amino acid sequence of TS14, a recombinant protein T24H, and the native GP50. The glycoproteins' distribution was different in invaginated and evaginated cysticerci as well as in adult tapeworms. Specifically, the 3 glycoproteins studied were differentially expressed during embryogenesis. Our findings indicate that expression of the diagnostic glycoproteins is developmentally regulated; this is noteworthy since these glycoproteins are considered specific for the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis but nevertheless are present in different structures throughout the development of T. solium. Here we describe the glycoprotein expression and localization, which can be important in understanding their biological functions. In addition, our results help clarify the cross-reaction observed between people with neurocysticercosis and taeniasis to TS14, T24H, and GP50, which are used as diagnostic antigens for neurocysticercosis.

The alpaca (Vicugna pacos) as a natural intermediate host of Taenia omissa (Cestoda: Taeniidae).

Three metacestodes were collected from the mesentery and the surface of the liver of three adult alpacas (Vicugna pacos) in a slaughterhouse located in Puno, Peru. Various features of the metacestodes were observed for morphological identification. A molecular diagnosis was performed by PCR-based sequencing of mitochondrial genes of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1). All metacestodes were identified as Taenia omissa by morphology and molecular methods The isolates from alpacas showed significant sequence similarity with previously reported isolates of T. omissa (95.7-98.1% in cox1 and 94.6-95.1% in nad1). Our report is the first to detect T. omissa metacestodes in alpacas and to reveal that alpacas are natural intermediate hosts for this parasite.

Potential existence of a sylvatic cycle of Taenia ovis krabbei in Patagonia, Argentina.

Red deer (Cervus elaphus) were introduced in southern Latin America about a century ago and characteristics of the invasion raise concerns over their epidemiological role for various diseases. We report on the possible occurrence of Taenia ovis krabbei established in a sylvatic cycle in Patagonia. Hook characters, size, appearance, and location of a cysticercus from a wild red deer are consistent with Taenia ovis ovis or T. o. krabbei. Although it is not possible to differentiate between T. o. ovis and T. o. krabbei on morphological grounds with certainty, several biological characteristics indicate the cysticercus may belong to T. o. krabbei. Red deer have been reported to be refractory to T. o. ovis infection whereas other potential intermediate hosts like cattle, goats, pigs and sheep have been shown to be refractory to T. o. krabbei. Other native ungulates sympatric with red deer in Patagonia include Lama guanicoe and the endangered huemul deer (Hippocamelus bisulcus). Possible or known definitive hosts include native felids like Puma concolor, Felis colocolo, F. guigna and canids like Dusicyon griseus, D. culpaeus, and domestic dogs.

[Imaging characteristics of different types of cerebral cysticercosis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the imaging characteristics of different types of cerebral cysticercosis. METHODS: The CT and MRI findings of 166 patients with clinical diagnostic cerebral cysticercosis were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Among the 166 cerebral cysticercosis patients, there were 108 cerebral parenchyma type cases, 15 ventricles type cases, 3 meningeal type cases, and 40 mixed type cases according to the cysticerci being in the parts of the brain. The CT and MRI imaging characteristics of various types were as the following. (1) Brain parenchyma type included the cystoid subtype, encephalitis subtype, nodular or multiple ring enhancement subtype, and chronic calcification subtype. The cystoid subtype: CT showed single or multiple cystic shadow (s) with clear boundary, and the sac with a high density of scolex; MRI showed round long T1 and long T2 signals, eccentric punctate shadows inside the sac, cystic wall and scolex signals, but no significant enhancement. The encephalitis subtype: CT showed scattered low density lesions and MRI showed patchy slightly long T1 and long T2 signals, but no enhancement or irregular enhancement in the majority. The nodular or multiple ring enhancement subtype: CT scan showed low density lesions in multiple nodules, or CT enhancement scan showed multiple nodules or ring enhancement. The chronic calcification subtype: CT showed single or multiple dot-like high density single (s), and MRI showed equal or long T I and short T2 signals. (2) Ventricular type: The lesions were often in the third and fourth ventricles complicated with obstructive hydrocephalus. (3) Meningeal type: there were expand and asymmetric cerebrospinal space limitations, communicating hydrocephalus, and the enhanced scan showed leptomeningeal enhancement. (4) Mixed type: The performance was mixed as two or more types above mentioned, and there existed mixed acute and chronic phases. CONCLUSIONS: The imaging findings of the different types of cerebral cysticercosis are differ from one another. The analysis of the imaging characteristics of the different types of cerebral cysticercosis has a significance for the clinical diagnosis, treatment and prognostic judgment of cerebral cysticercosis patients.

Cysticercus of 60-milliliter volume in human brain.

A cerebral cyst 5 cm in diameter and 60 ml in volume was found to be as large as a racemose cysticercus. Because this cyst bore necrotic remnants of a scolex and its hooks, it was presumed to be a cysticercus of Taenia solium. This case demonstrates that in contrast with the unusual presentation of cerebral cysticercosis, cysts of the Taenia solium type can be very large, and when such cyst is encountered, a special search should be made for evidence of a scolex.

Racemose cysticercus in human brain. A case report.

A case of invasion of the brain of a 48-year-old man, a native of Louisiana, by a larval tapeworm is described. Inasmuch as there were no scolices or rostellar hooks present the parasite was identified as a racemose cysticercus which could be either a sterile coenurus of Taenia multiceps (= Multiceps multiceps), Taenia serialis (= Multiceps serialis), or an aberrant cysticercus of Taenia solium or of a different species of Taenia. Most of the parasite was removed surgically with a preoperative diagnosis of brain tumor. After operation the patient improved, and 32 months after onset of his illness he was working and showed no evidence of a recurrence.

Proliferating larval cestode in a man in Paraguay. A case report and review.

Large tumors removed from the lower abdomen and pleural cavity of a 24-year-old male Amerindian in Paraguay consisted mainly of multitudes of minute, proliferating, acephalic cestode larvae embedded in fibrous tissue. The parasite resembled Sparganum proliferum Stiles 1908 but was markedly less differentiated. From a review of the literature and examination of available reference material, it is concluded that in addition to the present one there are eight well documented cases of proliferating acephalic larval cestode infection in man: five in Japan and one in Florida (USA) that were S. proliferum, one in Pennsylvania (USA) that was an undifferentiated cysticercus or cysticercoid, and one in Taiwan that probably was an undifferentiated tetrathyridium. In four other cases the parasites are reclassified as being of doubtful nature in three and a racemose cysticercus in one. Review of the known species of proliferating cestode larvae naturally occurring in animals failed to identify possible sources of the acephalic forms observed in man.

Experimental studies on physiological and morphological aspects of Cysticercus cellulosae in pigs.

Three Small-Ear-Miniature, 3 Landrace-Small-Ear-Miniature, and one Douc-Yorkshire-Landrace pigs were inoculated orally with 100 000 eggs of Zhengzhou strain or 10 000 eggs of Harbin strain of Taenia solium. A total of 3739 cysticerci were recovered from 3 Small-Ear-Miniature and 3 Landrace-Small-Ear-Miniature pigs, giving an infection rate of 85.7% and a cysticercus recovery rate of 1.1%. The predilection sites of Cysticercus cellulosae in descending order were leg muscles, abdominal muscles, thoracic muscles, liver, head muscles, diaphragm, tongue, heart, trachea, and omentum/testes. Except 2 calcified cysticerci in the tongue, 2 in the heart, and 176 in the liver, the remaining cysticerci were all alive. The greatest number of cysticerci per 100 g of muscles or viscera was found in the head muscles, followed by the leg, diaphragm, heart, tongue, thoracic, abdominal, omentum, testes, and trachea. All cysticerci were evaginated in pig's bile after fluid was drawn out from cysticerci, whereas evagination occurred in only 83.2% of those without fluid drawing. In 364 evaginated cysticerci, the mean length and width of scolex, proglottid, and bladder, and diameter of rostellum and sucker were 826 x 747 microm, 5,370 x 1,734 microm, 2,885 x 3,002 microm, 155 microm, and 253 microm, respectively. In the protoscolex, the mean number of segments was 33. Each cysticercus had 2 rows of rostellar hooks on the scolex, and the mean length and width of inner and outer hooks were 151 x 18 microm and 117 x 14 microm, respectively. The number of paired hooks ranged from 10 to 18.

Cysticercosis. A modern day plague.

The authors describe the magnitude of the cysticercosis problem and describe the organism, the clinical features of the disease, the propensity of the organism for development in the central nervous system, pathologic considerations, clinical diagnosis, and treatment.

A case of subcutaneous cysticercosis.

We report the fourth case of subcutaneous cysticercosis infected in Japan since 1975. The patient noticed a subcutaneous nodule on his left shoulder without symptoms for three years. No remarkable changes were found in laboratory findings and physical examination after surgical excision of the subcutaneous nodule. The adult worm of Taenia solium could not be found in the intestine. Histological findings revealed a cystic structure with a fibrous capsule and a protoscolex with suckers, hooks, and calcareous corpuscula. It was identified as a Cysticercus cellulosae hominis based on morphological characteristics. The patient has been living in the Kanto area of Japan and has never been outside Japan since he was born.

[A case of Cysticercus racemosus in man]. / Su un caso umano di Cysticercus racemosus.

The authors refer a new case of Cysticercus racemosus in man. The description of scolex morphology is given and the name C. racemosus, generally accepted for these larval formae, is discussed.

Histochemistry of the racemose form of Cysticercus cellulosae.

The racemose form of brain cysticercosis arises from an intense proliferation of the bladder wall after the scolex part has degenerated. The proliferating zones are 2-3 times thicker than the remaining parts of the bladder and are characterized by a densely folded tegument and thick subtegumental and parenchymal layers. The tegument and subtegumental cells contain a large amount of acid mucosubstances with sulpho groups and hydrophilic lipids, and exhibit a high activity of alkaline and acid phosphatases. The parenchyma contains a large amount of glycogen. With the gradual aging of the bladder wall and with the first signs of autolysis, the enzymatic activity as well as the amounts of glycogen, neutral and acid mucosubstances, and proteins decrease, and the hydrophobic lipids prevail over the hydrophilic ones. The results obtained are important for the differential diagnostics of cestode larval stages in the human brain.

Morphological and histochemical demonstration of hooks in the rostellar region of Cysticercus bovis.

Hooklets and early developmental stages of hooks were discovered in the tegument among the microtriches in the rostellar region of 83- and 108-day-old Cysticercus bovis. The cortical layer of hooks consists of proteins with tyrosine and SS groups. The rostellar sac and bulb are distinctly developed in the parenchyma of the rostellar region.

Pathology of the migration phase of Taenia hydatigena (Pallas, 1766) larvae.

The pathological picture of the migration phase of C. tenuicollis in pigs is characterized by a haemorrhagia within the liver parenchyma and under the liver surface. The haemorrhagia, which represents a migrational canal, is induced by the destruction of liver sinuses by migrating larvae. Approximately on day 10 p.i. a serofibrinous peritonitis occurs and free cysticerci appear in the exudate. On days 14-16 p.i. the exudative peritonitis may increase. The cysticerci are localized under the serosas or on them. On about day 10 p.i. even the pulmonary form of the disease may occur. On day 13 p.i. the cysticerci are present in the lumen of lung arteries or they migrate out of them. The changes in the lungs and on the pleura, as well as their dynamic changes, are identical with the changes in the liver and on the peritoneum. The period on days 21-24 p.i. is characterized by extensive synechiae of serosas and the cysticerci are firmly attached to the serosas. On day 35 p.i. the connective tissue adhesions persist and many of the cysticerci exhibit dystrophic changes or are dead and often already calcified. The wall of the pseudocyst, in which the cysticercus is situated, consists of the fibrocytes and serosa, and its cavity is not lined with endothelium, as it is the case in C. bovis and C. cellulosae.

Morphological determination of the age of Cysticercus bovis in very young calves with cysticercosis.

Characteristics and measurements are given for early developmental stages of Cysticercus bovis. The data emerging from our study indicate that the age of a one to two month-old larva from a spontaneous infection can reliably be determined in histological sections. On these grounds we have been able to determine that the cysticercus infection in the two calves (aged 21 and 27 days respectively) had been acquired prenatally.