Design of a novel EmTSP-3 and EmTIP based multi-epitope vaccine against Echinococcus multilocularis infection.

Background: Current treatments and prevention strategies for echinococcosis are inadequate. Recent advancements in molecular vaccine development show promise against Echinococcus granulosus; however, Echinococcus multilocularis remains a challenge. A Multi-epitope Vaccine could potentially induce specific B and T lymphocyte responses, thereby offering protection against Echinococcus multilocularis infection. Methods: This study aimed to develop a MEV against alveolar echinococcosis. Key epitopes from the Echinococcus multilocularis proteins EmTSP3 and EmTIP were identified using immunoinformatics analyses. These analyses were conducted to assess the MEV feasibility, structural characteristics, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and immune simulations. The immunogenicity and antigenicity of the vaccine were evaluated through in vitro and in vivo experiments, employing ELISA, Western blotting, FCM, challenge infection experiments, and ELISPOT. Results: The effective antigenicity and immunogenicity of MEV were demonstrated through immunoinformatics, as well as in vitro and in vivo experiments. In vitro experiments revealed that MEV increased the secretion of IFN-γ and IL-4 in PBMC and successfully bound to specific antibodies in patient serum. Furthermore, mice immunized with MEV developed a robust immune response, characterized by elevated levels of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells, increased secretion of IFN-γ and IL-4 by specific Th1 and Th2 cells, and heightened serum antibody levels. Importantly, MEV reduced the weight of cysts by conferring resistance against echinococcosis. These findings suggest that MEV is a promising candidate for the prevention of Echinococcus multilocularis infection. Conclusion: A total of 7 CTL, 7 HTL, 5 linear B-cell, and 2 conformational B-cell epitopes were identified. The vaccine has demonstrated effective antigenicity and immunogenicity against AE through molecular docking, immune simulation, molecular dynamics studies, and both in vitro and in vivo experiments. It provides effective protection against Echinococcus multilocularis infection, thereby laying a foundation for further development.

Pericardial hydatid cysts presenting with atrial flutter and mitral regurgitation.

Despite being a rare phenomenon, pericardial hydatid cysts present unique diagnostic challenges and require a multimodality imaging as well as a multidisciplinary approach for a curative management. The authors here present a case of a middle aged man who was referred to them for management of new onset atrial flutter with mitral regurgitation.

Splenic Hydatid Cysts Treated by Partial Splenectomy: Case Series and Literature Review.

PURPOSE: Hydatic cysts (HC) rarely occur primarily in the spleen. Partial splenectomy (PS) is an established procedure for preserving spleen parenchyma, but rarely used in the treatment of HC. We aim to present our experience with PS for HC and to review the literature of splenic HC treated by PS. Material and Methods: The databases of PS performed between 2000 and 2023 in the Department of General Surgery of Fundeni Clinical Institute (Bucharest) for HC have been reviewed retrospectively. Searching the PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar databases for keywords such as "partial splenectomy", "splenic hydatid cyst" etc, we retrieved publications from 2000 to December 2023 in English for a literature review. We excluded studies which were not published in English and studies which did not provide accurate or specific data regarding the treatment of splenic HC by PS. Results: There were 10 PS for HC. Six females and 4 males, ages between 16 and 41 (31Ã+-8.43), 9 with HC in the upper splenic pole (UP) treated by PS with lower pole (LP) preservation and one inferior pole HC treated by LP PS. There were 4 open, 2 laparoscopic and 4 robotic PS. There were no complications or recurrences at follow up (2 years). The literature review consists of 14 full-text articles, presenting 42 PS for HC. CONCLUSION: PS for HC is feasible, achieves complete removal of the cyst, while preserving splenic function. The procedure can be performed laparoscopically or robotically with the advantages of minimally invasive surgery.

Alveolar echinococcosis. / Alveolær ekinokokkose.

Alveolar echinococcosis is a much-feared parasitic zoonosis caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis. Mainland Norway is free from infection, but alveolar echinococcosis is, on rare occasions, imported from endemic regions. Those infected develop slow-growing, multicystic tumours that are clinically and radiologically reminiscent of malignant disease. The disease mainly attacks the liver. Treatment often consists of extensive surgical resection in combination with prolonged use of albendazole. In this clinical review article we summarise the life cycle, clinical findings, diagnosis, treatment and epidemiology of alveolar echinococcosis, and provide examples of the disease course with two patient case reports.

Repurposing of a library for high-content screening of inhibitors against Echinococcus granulosus.

BACKGROUND: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic disease caused by the larval stage of the dog tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (E. granulosus), with a worldwide distribution. The current treatment strategy for CE is insufficient. Limited drug screening models severely hamper the discovery of effective anti-echinococcosis drugs. METHODS: In the present study, using high-content screening technology, we developed a novel high-throughput screening (HTS) assay by counting the ratio of propidium iodide-stained dead protoscoleces (PSCs) to the total number of PSCs. In vitro and ex vivo cyst viability assays were utilized to determine the effect of drugs on cyst viability. RESULTS: Using the newly established HTS assay, we screened approximately 12,000 clinical-stage or The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved small molecules from the Repurposing, Focused Rescue, and Accelerated Medchem (ReFRAME) library, as well as the LOPAC1280 and SelleckChem libraries, as a strategic approach to facilitate the drug discovery process. Initial screening yielded 173 compounds with anti-echinococcal properties, 52 of which demonstrated dose-response efficacy against E. granulosus PSCs in vitro. Notably, two agents, omaveloxolone and niclosamide, showed complete inhibition upon further validation in cyst and microcyst viability assays in vitro after incubation for 3 days, and in an ex vivo cyst viability assay using cysts isolated from the livers of mice infected with E. granulosus, as determined by morphological assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Through the development of a novel HTS assay and by repurposing libraries, we identified omaveloxolone and niclosamide as potent inhibitors against E. granulosus. These compounds show promise as potential anti-echinococcal drugs, and our strategic approach has the potential to promote drug discovery for parasitic infections.

Comparative study of the anthelmintic activity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Atriplex halimus, the anti-echinococcal plant used in Algeria.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) remains a major human public health problem in Algeria. Surgical treatment is the gold standard. However, one of the most critical complications of surgery is a recurrence of the disease, which is attributed to the dissemination of protoscoleces during the operation. This study aimed to compare the scolicidal effect of two ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Atriplex halimus, a plant used by the Algerian population against CE. The comparison involved the assessment of the phytochemical content, making screening using GC-MS/MS, and the evaluation of the antioxidant activity using DPPH and the in vitro scolicidal effect of A. halimus extracts. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of leaves contained 19.601 ± 0.016 and 15.406 ± 0.003 mg of gallic acid equivalent per g of extract (GAE/g extract) of total phenolic. However, the flavonoid content in ethanolic and aqueous extracts was 4.350 ± 0.023 and 1.995 ± 0.026 mg of quercetin equivalent per g (QE/g extract), respectively. Four compounds were identified by GC-MS/MS for the ethanolic extract, while twenty-three compounds were determined for the aqueous extract. The ethanolic and aqueous extracts of A. halimus demonstrated an antioxidant activity with IC50 = 0.850 ± 0.026 mg/ml and IC50 = 0.897 ± 0.060 mg/ml, respectively. The higher in vitro scolicidal effect was 100% after 90 min and 10 min at 100 and 150 mg/ml, respectively for the ethanolic extract and after 120 and 60 min at 100 and 150 mg/ml, respectively for the aqueous extract. Atriplex halimus could be used as a natural source for the production of a potential scolicidal agent for use during CE surgery and/or percutaneous interventions.

Macrophage-mediated mechanisms of lung injury in the sensitization reaction to Echinococcus granulosus.

Objective: In this study, the impact of inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway on lung oxidative damage induced by Echinococcus granulosus cyst fluid was investigated. Methods: Twenty-four mice were randomly assigned to four groups. Three months after inoculation with hydatid cyst segments, mice in group A were treated with intraperitoneal and intratracheal saline injections; mice in group B were administered a caudal vein injection of a PI3K inhibitor, followed by cyst fluid sensitization; mice in group C received an AKT inhibitor via caudal vein, followed by cyst fluid sensitization; and mice in group D were subjected to cyst fluid sensitization without any inhibitor treatment. Cellular changes in lung tissues across all groups were evaluated, including pathological section analysis. Analysis of pulmonary tissue and serum from these mice included the assessment of PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway proteins, inflammatory factors, and related mRNA levels. Results: Mice in groups B and C exhibited a higher proportion of M2-type macrophages and significantly lower levels of PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway proteins, inflammatory factors (interleukin-6 [IL-6]/tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α]), and oxidative markers in lung tissues compared to mice in group D (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our results in this study indicate that activation of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway contributed to an increase in the M1 macrophage phenotype, leading to enhanced secretion of peroxidases and inflammatory factors. This mechanism plays a crucial role in the oxidative and inflammatory lung damage associated with allergic reactions to E. granulosus cyst fluid.

Hydatid cyst of the gluteal muscle: a case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Echinococcosis is a relatively widespread anthropozoonosis in endemic regions, preferentially affecting the liver and lungs. Although rare, it can sometimes be localized in the muscles. The clinical symptoms are insidious and not very indicative, often leading to a delayed diagnosis. We reported a case of a hydatid cyst located in the gluteal muscle. OBSERVATION: This was a 52-year-old female patient admitted for the appearance of a swelling in the left buttock region, progressively increasing in size. The radiological exam, revealed a large simple cyst originating from the gluteal muscle with purely liquid content. A surgical excision was performed, and the parasitological examination of the hydatid fluid confirmed the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Hydatid cysts in soft tissues are rare, slow-developing tumors with local extension. This diagnosis should be considered, especially in individuals from endemic countries. The treatment is primarily surgical, but the best way to combat hydatid disease, regardless of its location, remains prevention.

DEVELOPMENT OF A RAPID SNP PCR ASSAY TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN EUROPEAN AND NORTH AMERICAN HAPLOTYPES OF ECHINOCOCCUS MULTILOCULARIS.

Herein we describe a single nucleotide polymorphism-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to rapidly detect and differentiate variants belonging to the European and North American lineages of Echinococcus multilocularis in clinical samples. This is an extremely relevant and applicable test in North America because the range of E. multilocularis continues to expand across the continent and because of a rise in prevalence in wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. The endemic North American (NA) and introduced European (EU) variants are believed to have different pathogenic potentials, with the EU variants being more infective and pathogenic than the NA variants. The rise of the EU variants of E. multilocularis increases the risk of spillover from wildlife to humans because of its increased potential for infectivity. Current PCR-based diagnostics can detect E. multilocularis deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), but DNA sequencing is required to identify the specific variant. Our assay provides a straightforward conventional PCR method to differentiate the NA and EU variants, and we suggest this same approach could be used for the diagnosis of other parasites or variants that are genetically very similar. As surveillance continues for E. multilocularis across North America, identifying the different genetic variants from different geographic regions will become essential to understanding the current epidemiological shift that the parasite is experiencing, as well as informing public health decisions in affected areas.

Use of the EmsB microsatellite-based next generation sequencing for genotyping of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato in hydatid cyst tissue samples from animals and humans.

Echinococcus granulosus (Batsch, 1786), a cestode of the Teniidae family, causes human cystic echinococcosis (CE) also known as hydatid disease. Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato includes the G1, G3, G4, G5, G6/7 and G8/10 genotypes which are known to cause human CE. This study aimed to differentiate genotypes of E. granulosus s.l. complex by employing EmsB, a tandemly repeated multilocus microsatellite, using next-generation sequencing (MIC-NGS). Human and animal histopathology-confirmed hydatid cyst tissue samples and reference DNA samples of E. granulosus G1, G3, G4, G5, G6/7 and G10 underwent MIC-NGS assay with custom primers amplifying a 151 bp EmsB DNA fragment. NGS data were analysed using online Galaxy analysis pipeline, a phylogenetic tree was constructed by MEGA software, and haplotype networking was performed with PopArt 1.7. All sixty samples (49 from animals and 11 from humans) included were successfully identified and genotyped with a 100 % success rate. The study showed improved discrimination power to distinguish all study samples including closely related E. granulosus s.s. genotypes G1-G3. The maximum likelihood tree reaffirmed the monophyly of E. granulosus s.l. The median-joining haplotype networking revealed 12 distinct haplotypes. In conclusion, MIC-NGS assay was shown to be sensitive, specific and simple to apply to clinical samples offering a powerful discriminatory tool for the genotyping of E. granulosus s.l.

[Overseas imported cystic echinococcosis misdiagnosed as pulmonary and hepatic cysts: a case report].

Cystic echinococcosis, a zoonotic disease that poses a significant threat to human health and animal husbandry development, is prevalent across the world and predominantly occurs in agricultural and pastoral regions. However, cystic echinococcosis cases are rare in non-endemic areas, which is likely to cause misdiagnosis or missing diagnosis, resulting in delay in treatment. This report presents an overseas imported cystic echinococcosis case misdiagnosed as pulmonary and hepatic cysts, so as to provide insights into diagnosis and treatment of cystic echinococcosis in non-endemic areas.

A pilot study of microRNAs expression profile in plasma of patients with hydatid disease: potential immunomodulation of hydatid disease.

Echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease, which seriously endangers human health. The immune game between parasite and host is not fully understood. Exosomes are thought to be one of the ways of information communication between parasite and host. In this study, we attempted to explore the communication between Echinococcus granulosus and its host through the medium of exosomes. We collected plasma from E. granulosus patients (CE-EXO) and healthy donors (HD-EXO) and extracted exosomes from the plasma. The expression profile of miRNA in plasma was determined by second generation sequencing. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were used to annotate the function of target genes of differential miRNAs. Meanwhile, we co-cultured plasma exosomes from healthy donors and plasma exosomes from E. granulosus patients with Jurkat T cells with or without phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation. The expression of CD69 on Jurkat T cells was detected by flow cytometry. The results showed that the miRNA of exosomes between healthy donors and E. granulosus patients was significantly different. GO and KEGG were used to annotate the function of target genes of differential miRNAs. The results indicate that many important pathways are involved in inflammation, metabolism, and immune response after parasite infection, such as p53 signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis. Flow cytometry showed that CE-EXO reduced the expression of CD69 + on Jurkat T cells. Our present results suggest that these differentially expressed miRNAs may be important regulators of parasite-host interactions. Meanwhile, functional prediction of its target genes provides valuable information for understanding the mechanism of host-parasite interactions. These results provide clues for future studies on E. granulosus escape from host immune attack, which could help control E. granulosus infection.

Chemotherapy for the treatment of alveolar echinococcosis: Where are we?

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a severe liver disease due to infection with the Echinococcus multilocularis larval stage, called the metacestode. Management of AE is based on benzimidazole chemotherapy (albendazole or mebendazole), associated with surgery when possible. Benzimidazoles are the only compounds recommended for the treatment of AE; however, these are parasitostatic, which means that the parasite can resume growth when treatment is interrupted. Also, benzimidazoles can cause liver dysfunction which may prevent their use. Numerous drugs have been reported to have in vitro activity against E. multilocularis, but few had satisfactory in vivo activity, and none were clearly more effective than benzimidazoles. These drugs belong to various therapeutic categories including anti-infective agents (e.g. amphotericin B, mefloquine, pentamidine derivatives), anti-neoplastic compounds (e.g. imatinib, nilotinib, bortezomib), plant-extracted compounds (e.g. thymol, crocin, carvacrol) and others (e.g. metformin, verapamil, thiaclopride). These treatments are generally of limited interest due to their toxicity, their unfavorable pharmacokinetics, or the scarcity of studies involving humans. Apart from benzimidazoles, only amphotericin B, mefloquine and nitazoxanide have been reported to be used for human AE treatment, with unsatisfactory results. Few studies have aimed at developing innovative strategies for AE drug therapy, such as vectorization of drugs using nanoparticles. Altogether, this review emphasizes the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies in AE management, for which there is currently no curative chemotherapy.

Title: Chimiothérapie de l'échinococcose alvéolaire : où en sommes-nous ? Abstract: L'échinococcose alvéolaire (EA) est une maladie sévère du foie due à l'infection par la forme larvaire d'Echinococcus multilocularis, appelée métacestode. La prise en charge de l'EA repose sur la chimiothérapie par benzimidazolés (albendazole ou mébendazole), si possible associée à la chirurgie. Les benzimidazolés sont les seules molécules recommandées dans le traitement de l'EA, toutefois, ceux-ci sont parasitostatiques, ce qui signifie que le parasite peut reprendre sa croissance lors d'une interruption du traitement. Également, les benzimidazolés peuvent causer une dysfonction hépatique qui peut empêcher leur utilisation. De nombreux médicaments ont été rapportés comme ayant une activité in vitro contre E. multilocularis, mais peu d'entre eux avaient une activité in vivo satisfaisante et aucun n'était clairement plus efficace que les benzimidazolés. Ces médicaments appartiennent à diverses catégories, notamment les agents anti-infectieux (par exemple l'amphotéricine B, la méfloquine, des dérivés de la pentamidine), les composés antinéoplasiques (par exemple l'imatinib, le nilotinib, le bortézomib), les composés extraits de plantes (par exemple le thymol, la crocine, le carvacrol) et d'autres (par exemple metformine, vérapamil, thiaclopride). Ces traitements présentent généralement un intérêt limité en raison de leur toxicité, de leur pharmacocinétique défavorable ou de la rareté des études menées chez l'homme. Outre les benzimidazolés, seules l'amphotéricine B, la méfloquine et la nitazoxanide ont été utilisées dans le traitement de l'EA humaine, avec des résultats insatisfaisants. Peu d'études se sont intéressées à développer des stratégies médicamenteuses innovantes contre l'EA, comme la vectorisation de médicaments à l'aide de nanoparticules. Cette revue souligne le besoin urgent de nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques dans la prise en charge de l'EA, pour lesquelles il n'existe pas de chimiothérapie curative.

Case report: a rare case of intradural and pleural wall cystic echinococcosis.

BACKGROUND: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is prevalent in livestock farming regions around the world. However, it remains relatively rare compared to other infectious diseases. CE typically affects the liver, lungs, brain, and kidneys. Spinal and pleural wall involvement is exceedingly rare. We report a unique case of intradural and pleural wall CE in a young male, successfully treated with surgery and postoperative medication. CASE PRESENTATION: A 19-year-old Tibetan male from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was diagnosed with intradural and pleural wall CE through imaging, serology, and surgical pathology. According to the Dew/Braithwaite & Lees (BL) classification, his condition was an exceptionally rare form of spinal echinococcosis, compounded by an even rarer pleural wall involvement. Prompt surgical intervention and postoperative medication resulted in significant improvement in spinal cord compression symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This case highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of rare CE locations. MRI proved superior to CT in diagnosing bony cystic echinococcosis. Early surgical intervention combined with medication facilitates spinal cord function recovery, providing valuable insights for managing similar cases.

Zoonotic outbreak risk prediction with long short-term memory models: a case study with schistosomiasis, echinococcosis, and leptospirosis.

BACKGROUND: Zoonotic infections, characterized with huge pathogen diversity, wide affecting area and great society harm, have become a major global public health problem. Early and accurate prediction of their outbreaks is crucial for disease control. The aim of this study was to develop zoonotic diseases risk predictive models based on time-series incidence data and three zoonotic diseases in mainland China were employed as cases. METHODS: The incidence data for schistosomiasis, echinococcosis, and leptospirosis were downloaded from the Scientific Data Centre of the National Ministry of Health of China, and were processed by interpolation, dynamic curve reconstruction and time series decomposition. Data were decomposed into three distinct components: the trend component, the seasonal component, and the residual component. The trend component was used as input to construct the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) prediction model, while the seasonal component was used in the comparison of the periods and amplitudes. Finaly, the accuracy of the hybrid LSTM prediction model was comprehensive evaluated. RESULTS: This study employed trend series of incidence numbers and incidence rates of three zoonotic diseases for modeling. The prediction results of the model showed that the predicted incidence number and incidence rate were very close to the real incidence data. Model evaluation revealed that the prediction error of the hybrid LSTM model was smaller than that of the single LSTM. Thus, these results demonstrate that using trending sequences as input sequences for the model leads to better-fitting predictive models. CONCLUSIONS: Our study successfully developed LSTM hybrid models for disease outbreak risk prediction using three zoonotic diseases as case studies. We demonstrate that the LSTM, when combined with time series decomposition, delivers more accurate results compared to conventional LSTM models using the raw data series. Disease outbreak trends can be predicted more accurately using hybrid models.

HLA class II profile in patients with different stages of cystic echinococcosis according to the WHO ultrasound imaging classification.

The factors involving in the natural history and determinants of different features of human cystic echinococcosis (CE) are not adequately understood. Several host-related factors including the genetic structure of the host and human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) are believed to be involved in the natural history of CE in humans. The present study was conducted to investigate the association between HLA class II genes and active and inactive stages of hepatic cystic echinococcosis. Echinococcus granulosus cyst samples and patient information were collected from the biobank of the Iranian Hydatid Disease Registry from 2019 to 2022. HLA-DRB and HLA-DQB were characterized by PCR method. CE patients were categorized into three active (CE1 and CE2), inactive (CE4 and CE5), and transitional (CE3) stages according to the WHO ultrasound classification of CE. In total, 77 participants including 38 patients (36.8% men and 63.2% women) with different stages of CE as well as 39 healthy individuals (38.5% men and 61.5% women) were included in the study. Findings of the study showed that the frequency of HLA-DRB1*03 was significantly lower in the patients compared to the healthy individuals. The frequencies of HLA-DQB and HLA-DRB alleles were not differed significantly between active, inactive, and transitional stages of E. granulosus cysts. Findings of this study indicate the potential role of this allele in the susceptibility of human to cystic echinococcosis. Further large-scale studies in different endemic countries are required to document the significance of HLA-DQB and HLA-DRB as a host-related factor in the natural history of CE in human.

Thyroid involvement in cystic echinococcosis: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid Hydatid Cyst (THC), a pathological state induced by the larval form of Echinococcus granulosus, represents a multifaceted clinical entity with nonspecific symptoms, making both diagnosis and treatment intricate. The current understanding of THC's attributes is somewhat limited. To gain a broader perspective on the disease's clinical and epidemiological characteristics, we have systematically reviewed the existing literature. METHODS: We performed an extensive review of articles on THC across four key scientific databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Our study encompassed all patients diagnosed with THC through post-surgical pathology or Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) examinations, extracting clinical, epidemiological, and therapeutic data of THC patients from publications up to October 2023. RESULTS: From 770 articles, 57 met our criteria, detailing 75 THC patients. The gender ratio was 2.36 females per one male. The patients averaged 36.1 years old, with common symptoms including neck mass, hoarseness, shortness of breath, and dysphagia. The left lobe was involved in most patients, and only 21.3% had extrathyroidal involvement. Cysts averaged 36.4 mm in diameter, with cystic nodules being the most frequent imaging finding (91.2%). Serological tests were performed for 42.6% of cases, of which 62.5% were positive. Surgery was undertaken in 71 patients (94.6%). CONCLUSION: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) of the thyroid should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis in patients with cervicofacial mass, especially in endemic countries. The present study provides reliable data to improve our understanding of the features of the disease for a better diagnosis and management.

Optimizing sheep B-cell epitopes in Echinococcus granulosus recombinant antigen P29 for vaccine development.

Background: Echinococcus granulosus is a widespread zoonotic parasitic disease, significantly impacting human health and livestock development; however, no vaccine is currently available for humans. Our preliminary studies indicate that recombinant antigen P29 (rEg.P29) is a promising candidate for vaccine. Methods: Sheep were immunized with rEg.P29, and venous blood was collected at various time points. Serum was isolated, and the presence of specific antibodies was detected using ELISA. We designed and synthesized a total of 45 B cell monopeptides covering rEg.P29 using the overlap method. ELISA was employed to assess the serum antibodies of the immunized sheep for recognition of these overlapping peptides, leading to the preliminary identification of B cell epitopes. Utilizing these identified epitopes, new single peptides were designed, synthesized, and used to optimize and confirm B-cell epitopes. Results: rEg.P29 effectively induces a sustained antibody response in sheep, particularly characterized by high and stable levels of IgG. Eight B-cell epitopes of were identified, which were mainly distributed in three regions of rEg.P29. Finally, three B cell epitopes were identified and optimized: rEg.P2971-90, rEg.P29151-175, and rEg.P29211-235. These optimized epitopes were well recognized by antibodies in sheep and mice, and the efficacy of these three epitopes significantly increased when they were linked in tandem. Conclusion: Three B-cell epitopes were identified and optimized, and the efficacy of these epitopes was significantly enhanced by tandem connection, which indicated the feasibility of tandem peptide vaccine research. This laid a solid foundation for the development of epitope peptide vaccine for Echinococcus granulosus.

Prevalence and associated risk factors of hydatidosis in cattle slaughtered at Wolaita Sodo municipality abattoir.

BACKGROUND: Hydatidosis, caused by the larval stage of the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus, affect cattle by forming hydatid cyst in thier lungs, livers and pose great financial loss in animal production and country's economy by both direct and indirect effect. Despite its great economic and health importance, there is an absence of current information on cystic echinococcosis in cattle slaughtered at Wolaita Sodo municipality abattoir in Ethiopia. OBJECTIVES: Current investigation determines the prevalence, organ distribution and fertility of hydatid cysts in cattle slaughtered at the Wolaita Sodo municipality abattoir in Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February, 2023, to October, 2023, at Wolaita Sodo municipality abattoir in southern Ethiopia, through regular meat examinations and cyst characterisation to determine the prevalence, organ distribution and fertility of hydatid cysts. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of hydatidosis recorede in current study was 17.9% (69/384) and has shown a statistically significant association (p < 0.05) with the body condition of cattle. However, there was no statistically significant association (p > 0.05) between the prevalence of hydatidosis and other risk factors such as sex, breed, production system and origin of animals. This study showed that the lungs and liver were the most affected organs in cattle, followed by the spleen and kidneys. On cyst characterisation, the majority of hydatid cysts were found sterile (55.4%) followed by fertile (38.8%) and calcified (8.7%) cysts. Out of 125 fertile hydatid cysts tested for survival, 18.8% (58/321) were viable and 20% (67/321) were nonviable. CONCLUSION: The finding of this study shows that cystic echinococcus was important health threat of the cattle and widespread in the internal organs of affected cattle causing significant economic loss by condemning edible organs that are not suitable for human consumption. Therefore, urgent and integreted preventive action is needed to disrupt the life cycle of cystic echinococcosis to tackle subsequent financial loss and risk of zoonosis to humans in the study area.