Variation and trade-offs in life history traits of the protist parasite Monocystis perplexa (Apicomplexa) in its earthworm host Amynthas agrestis.

The life history of a parasite describes its partitioning of assimilated resources into growth, reproduction, and transmission effort, and its precise timing of developmental events. The life cycle, in contrast, charts the sequence of morphological stages from feeding to the transmission forms. Phenotypic plasticity in life history traits can reveal how parasites confront variable environments within hosts. Within the protist phylum Apicomplexa major clades include the malaria parasites, coccidians, and most diverse, the gregarines (with likely millions of species). Studies on life history variation of gregarines are rare. Therefore, life history traits were examined for the gregarine Monocystis perplexa in its host, the invasive earthworm Amynthas agrestis at three sites in northern Vermont, United States of America. An important value of this system is the short life-span of the hosts, with only seven months from hatching to mass mortality; we were thus able to examine life history variation during the entire life cycle of both host and parasite. Earthworms were collected (N = 968 over 33 sample periods during one host season), then parasites of all life stages were counted, and sexual and transmission stages measured, for each earthworm. All traits varied substantially among individual earthworm hosts and across the sites. Across sites, timing of first appearance of infected earthworms, date when transmission stage (oocysts packed within gametocysts) appeared, date when number of both feeding (trophic) cells and gametocysts were at maximum, and date when 100% of earthworms were infected differed from 2-8 weeks, surprising variation for a short season available for parasite development. The maximal size of mating cells varied among hosts and across sites and this is reflected in the number of oocysts produced by the gametocyst. A negative trade-off was observed for the number of oocysts and their size. Several patterns were striking: (1) Prevalence reached 100% at all sites by mid season, only one to three weeks after parasites first appeared in the earthworms. (2) The number of parasites per host was large, reaching 300 × 103 cells in some hosts, and such high numbers were present even when parasites first appeared in the host. (3) At one site, few infected earthworms produced any oocysts. (4) The transmission rate to reach such high density of parasites in hosts needed to be very high for a microbe, from >0.33% to >34.3% across the three sites. Monocystis was one of the first protist parasites to have its life cycle described (early 19th century), but these results suggest the long-accepted life cycle of Monocystis could be incomplete, such that the parasites may be transmitted vertically (within the earthworm's eggs) as well as horizontally (leading to 100% prevalence) and merogony (asexual replication) could be present, not recognized for Monocystis, leading to high parasitemia even very early in the host's season.

Using augmented reality in molecular case studies to enhance biomolecular structure-function explorations in undergraduate classrooms.

Molecular case studies (MCSs) are open educational resources that use a storytelling approach to engage students in biomolecular structure-function explorations, at the interface of biology and chemistry. Although MCSs are developed for a particular target audience with specific learning goals, they are suitable for implementation in multiple disciplinary course contexts. Detailed teaching notes included in the case study help instructors plan and prepare for their implementation in diverse contexts. A newly developed MCS was simultaneously implemented in a biochemistry and a molecular parasitology course at two different institutions. Instructors participating in this cross-institutional and multidisciplinary implementation collaboratively identified the need for quick and effective ways to bridge the gap between the MCS authors' vision and the implementing instructor's interpretation of the case-related molecular structure-function discussions. Augmented reality (AR) is an interactive and engaging experience that has been used effectively in teaching molecular sciences. Its accessibility and ease-of-use with smart devices (e.g., phones and tablets) make it an attractive option for expediting and improving both instructor preparation and classroom implementation of MCSs. In this work, we report the incorporation of ready-to-use AR objects as checkpoints in the MCS. Interacting with these AR objects facilitated instructor preparation, reduced students' cognitive load, and provided clear expectations for their learning. Based on our classroom observations, we propose that the incorporation of AR in MCSs can facilitate its successful implementation, improve the classroom experience for educators and students, and make MCSs more broadly accessible in diverse curricular settings.

[Thinking on ideological and political education in Medical Parasitology teaching].

With the deepening reform of ideological and political education, Medical Parasitology teaching needs to update the teaching concept, change the teaching ideas, as well as keep trying to combine ideological and political education with the curriculum content closely. In addition to teaching students' basic knowledge and practical skills, teachers are needed to cultivate their moral literacy and political awareness through course teaching, so as to provide the basis for students' subsequent adaptations to social environments and jobs. Currently, the study of ideological and political education in Medical Parasitology teaching is still in the exploratory stage. Therefore, colleges and universities need to carry out effective construction of ideological and political education in Medical Parasitology teaching, in order to achieve good teaching outcomes and provide insights into ideological and political education in teaching.

Intestinal cell diversity and treatment responses in a parasitic nematode at single cell resolution.

BACKGROUND: Parasitic nematodes, significant pathogens for humans, animals, and plants, depend on diverse organ systems for intra-host survival. Understanding the cellular diversity and molecular variations underlying these functions holds promise for developing novel therapeutics, with specific emphasis on the neuromuscular system's functional diversity. The nematode intestine, crucial for anthelmintic therapies, exhibits diverse cellular phenotypes, and unraveling this diversity at the single-cell level is essential for advancing knowledge in anthelmintic research across various organ systems. RESULTS: Here, using novel single-cell transcriptomics datasets, we delineate cellular diversity within the intestine of adult female Ascaris suum, a parasitic nematode species that infects animals and people. Gene transcripts expressed in individual nuclei of untreated intestinal cells resolved three phenotypic clusters, while lower stringency resolved additional subclusters and more potential diversity. Clusters 1 and 3 phenotypes displayed variable congruence with scRNA phenotypes of C. elegans intestinal cells, whereas the A. suum cluster 2 phenotype was markedly unique. Distinct functional pathway enrichment characterized each A. suum intestinal cell cluster. Cluster 2 was distinctly enriched for Clade III-associated genes, suggesting it evolved within clade III nematodes. Clusters also demonstrated differential transcriptional responsiveness to nematode intestinal toxic treatments, with Cluster 2 displaying the least responses to short-term intra-pseudocoelomic nematode intestinal toxin treatments. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation presents advances in knowledge related to biological differences among major cell populations of adult A. suum intestinal cells. For the first time, diverse nematode intestinal cell populations were characterized, and associated biological markers of these cells were identified to support tracking of constituent cells under experimental conditions. These advances will promote better understanding of this and other parasitic nematodes of global importance, and will help to guide future anthelmintic treatments.

Cultivation, cryopreservation, and transcriptomic studies of host-adapted Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis using enteroids.

Cryptosporidium hominis and Cryptosporidium parvum are major causes of severe diarrhea. Comparative studies of them are hampered by the lack of effective cultivation and cryopreservation methods, especially for C. hominis. Here, we describe adapted murine enteroids for the cultivation and complete development of host-adapted C. parvum and C. hominis subtypes, producing oocysts infectious to mice. Using the system, we developed a cryopreservation method for Cryptosporidium isolates. In comparative RNA-seq analyses of C. hominis cultures, the enteroid system generated significantly more host and pathogen responses than the conventional HCT-8 cell system. In particular, the infection was shown to upregulate PI3K-Akt, Ras, TNF, NF-κB, IL-17, MAPK, and innate immunity signaling pathways and downregulate host cell metabolism, and had significantly higher expression of parasite genes involved in oocyst formation. Therefore, the enteroid system provides a valuable tool for comparative studies of the biology of divergent Cryptosporidium species and isolates.

Deciphering the epidemiological dynamics: Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in mainland China's food animals, 2010-2023.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a significant protozoan pathogen among food animals. Despite the threat to public health by T. gondii infections, there's limited understanding of its seroprevalence and trends in food animals across mainland China. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infections among swine, sheep, goats, chickens, and cattle in mainland China from 2010 to 2023. Methods: We searched cross-sectional studies published between 2010 and 2023 that reported the prevalence of T. gondii in food animals from databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China Biology Medicine Disc (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang data, and the China Science and Technology Journal Database (CQVIP). We performed subgroup analyses to explore the impact of different factors on the seroprevalence of T. gondii. Pooled estimates of T. gondii seroprevalence were calculated with a random-effects model. Results: An analysis of 184 studies involving 211985 animals revealed a T. gondii overall seroprevalence of 15.3% (95% CI: 13.1-17.8). Although the seroprevalence of food animals across mainland China was relatively stable from 2010 to 2023, notable variations were observed across different animal types and regions (P < 0.01), along with changes in geographical distribution. Sample type, detection method, animal age, and history of abortion were identified as key risk factors for T. gondii seroprevalence. Conclusion: The study conducted a meta-analysis on the seroprevalence of T. gondii in mainland China's Food Animals from 2010 to 2023, and identified key risk factors. These findings advance our understanding of T. gondii infection dynamics, offering critical insights for developing control strategies and guiding public health policies.

Transforming the CRISPR/dCas9-based gene regulation technique into a forward screening tool in Plasmodium falciparum.

It is a significant challenge to assess the functions of many uncharacterized genes in human malaria parasites. Here, we present a genetic screening tool to assess the contribution of essential genes from Plasmodium falciparum by the conditional CRISPR-/deadCas9-based interference and activation (i/a) systems. We screened both CRISPRi and CRISPRa sets, consisting of nine parasite lines per set targeting nine genes via their respective gRNAs. By conducting amplicon sequencing of gRNA loci, we identified the contribution of each targeted gene to parasite fitness upon drug (artemisinin, chloroquine) and stress (starvation, heat shock) treatment. The screening was highly reproducible, and the screening libraries were easily generated by transfection of mixed plasmids expressing different gRNAs. We demonstrated that this screening is straightforward, robust, and can provide a fast and efficient tool to study essential genes that have long presented a bottleneck in assessing their functions using existing genetic tools.

Laparoscopic Management of Abdominal Echinococcosis: A Technical Report on Surgical Techniques and Outcomes.

This technical report explores the efficacy and methodology of laparoscopic surgery for treating abdominal echinococcosis, a parasitic infection caused by Echinococcus granulosus. We highlight the zoonotic nature of the disease, which predominantly affects the liver and occasionally other organs, noting the challenge of its asymptomatic progression that complicates timely diagnosis and intervention. We detail our surgical technique using a standard laparoscopy kit to address abdominal hydatid cysts, emphasizing the critical importance of preventing cyst rupture and spillage to avoid recurrence and anaphylactic shock. We discuss considerations for opting for laparoscopy over open surgery, such as reduced postoperative morbidity, faster patient recovery, and lower costs, while also acknowledging limitations like restricted instrument movement and the absence of haptic feedback. We advocate hypertonic saline as the preferred scolicidal agent and strategies to minimize spillage and manage the residual cavity. In conclusion, we assert that laparoscopy offers a viable and effective treatment option for abdominal echinococcosis, emphasizing that optimizing outcomes for this benign condition hinges on careful patient selection and a conservative surgical approach.

Parasitic infections: what do paediatricians need to know?

Parasitic infections and the medications used to treat them may be unfamiliar to many paediatricians. Parasitic infections, however, are not uncommonly seen in children in the UK. We summarise infections which are commonly seen, currently recommended treatment and practical guidance on formulations, adverse effects and treatment choice.

Sympatry in a nightingale contact zone has no effect on host-specific blood parasite prevalence and lineage diversity.

Parasites are a key driving force behind many ecological and evolutionary processes. Prevalence and diversity of parasites, as well as their effects on hosts, are not uniform across host species. As such, the potential parasite spillover between species can significantly influence outcomes of interspecific interactions. We screened two species of Luscinia nightingales for haemosporidian blood parasites (Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon and Haemoproteus) along an approximately 3000 km transect in Europe, incorporating areas of host distant allopatry, close allopatry and sympatry. We found significant differences in infection rates between the two host species, with common nightingales having much lower parasite prevalence than thrush nightingales (36.7% versus 83.8%). This disparity was mostly driven by Haemoproteus prevalence, which was significantly higher in thrush nightingales while common nightingales had a small, but significantly higher, Plasmodium prevalence. Furthermore, we found no effect of proximity to the contact zone on infection rate in either host species. Despite having lower infection prevalence, common nightingales were infected with a significantly higher diversity of parasite lineages than thrush nightingales, and lineage assemblages differed considerably between the two species, even in sympatry. This pattern was mostly driven by the large diversity of comparatively rare lineages, while the most abundant lineages were shared between the two host species. This suggests that, despite the close evolutionary relationships between the two nightingales, there are significant differences in parasite prevalence and diversity, regardless of the distance from the contact zone. This suggests that spillover of haemosporidian blood parasites is unlikely to contribute towards interspecific interactions in this system.

Population genomic evidence of structured and connected Plasmodium vivax populations under host selection in Latin America.

Pathogen genomic epidemiology has the potential to provide a deep understanding of population dynamics, facilitating strategic planning of interventions, monitoring their impact, and enabling timely responses, and thereby supporting control and elimination efforts of parasitic tropical diseases. Plasmodium vivax, responsible for most malaria cases outside Africa, shows high genetic diversity at the population level, driven by factors like sub-patent infections, a hidden reservoir of hypnozoites, and early transmission to mosquitoes. While Latin America has made significant progress in controlling Plasmodium falciparum, it faces challenges with residual P. vivax. To characterize genetic diversity and population structure and dynamics, we have analyzed the largest collection of P. vivax genomes to date, including 1474 high-quality genomes from 31 countries across Asia, Africa, Oceania, and America. While P. vivax shows high genetic diversity globally, Latin American isolates form a distinctive population, which is further divided into sub-populations and occasional clonal pockets. Genetic diversity within the continent was associated with the intensity of transmission. Population differentiation exists between Central America and the North Coast of South America, vs. the Amazon Basin, with significant gene flow within the Amazon Basin, but limited connectivity between the Northwest Coast and the Amazon Basin. Shared genomic regions in these parasite populations indicate adaptive evolution, particularly in genes related to DNA replication, RNA processing, invasion, and motility - crucial for the parasite's survival in diverse environments. Understanding these population-level adaptations is crucial for effective control efforts, offering insights into potential mechanisms behind drug resistance, immune evasion, and transmission dynamics.

Analyzing the safety of the parasiticide fungus Mucor circinelloides: first insights on its virulence profile and interactions with the avian gut microbial community.

Parasiticide fungi are considered an accurate, sustainable, and safe solution for the biocontrol of animal gastrointestinal (GI) parasites. This research provides an initial characterization of the virulence of the native parasiticide fungus Mucor circinelloides (FMV-FR1) and an assessment of its impact on birds' gut microbes. The genome of this fungus was sequenced to identify the genes coding for virulence factors. Also, this fungus was checked for the phenotypic expression of proteinase, lecithinase, DNase, gelatinase, hemolysin, and biofilm production. Finally, an in vivo trial was developed based on feeding M. circinelloides spores to laying hens and peacocks three times a week. Bird feces were collected for 3 months, with total genomic DNA being extracted and subjected to long-read 16S and 25S-28S sequencing. Genes coding for an iron permease (FTR1), iron receptors (FOB1 and FOB2), ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs) (ARF2 and ARF6), and a GTPase (CDC42) were identified in this M. circinelloides genome. Also, this fungus was positive only for lecithinase activity. The field trial revealed a fecal microbiome dominated by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria in laying hens, and Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in peacocks, whereas the fecal mycobiome of both bird species was mainly composed of Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes fungi. Bacterial and fungal alpha-diversities did not differ between sampling time points after M. circinelloides administrations (P = 0.62 and P = 0.15, respectively). Although findings from this research suggest the lack of virulence of this M. circinelloides parasiticide isolate, more complementary in vitro and in vivo research is needed to conclude about the safety of its administration to birds, aiming at controlling their GI parasites.IMPORTANCEA previous study revealed that the native Mucor circinelloides isolate (FMV-FR1) can develop parasiticide activity toward coccidia oocysts, one of the most pathogenic GI parasites in birds. However, ensuring its safety for birds is of utmost importance, namely by studying its virulence profile and potential effect on commensal gut microbes. This initial study revealed that although this M. circinelloides isolate had genes coding for four types of virulence factors-iron permease, iron receptors, ADP-ribosylation factors, and GTPase-and only expressed phenotypically the enzyme lecithinase, the administration of its spores to laying hens and peacocks did not interfere with the abundances and diversities of their gut commensal bacteria and fungi. Although overall results suggest the lack of virulence of this M. circinelloides isolate, more complementary research is needed to conclude about the safety of its administration to birds in the scope of parasite biocontrol programs.

Energy input, habitat heterogeneity and host specificity drive avian haemosporidian diversity at continental scales.

The correct identification of variables affecting parasite diversity and assemblage composition at different spatial scales is crucial for understanding how pathogen distribution responds to anthropogenic disturbance and climate change. Here, we used a database of avian haemosporidian parasites to test how the taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity and phylogenetic structure of the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon from three zoogeographic regions are related to surrogate variables of Earth's energy input, habitat heterogeneity (climatic diversity, landscape heterogeneity, host richness and human disturbance) and ecological interactions (resource use), which was measured by a novel assemblage-level metric related to parasite niche overlap (degree of generalism). We found that different components of energy input explained variation in richness for each genus. We found that human disturbance influences the phylogenetic structure of Haemoproteus while the degree of generalism explained richness and phylogenetic structure of Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon genera. Furthermore, landscape attributes related to human disturbance (human footprint) can filter Haemoproteus assemblages by their phylogenetic relatedness. Finally, assembly processes related to resource use within parasite assemblages modify species richness and phylogenetic structure of Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon assemblages. Overall, our study highlighted the genus-specific patterns with the different components of Earth's energy budget, human disturbances and degree of generalism.

Mass drug administration for neglected tropical disease control and elimination: a systematic review of ethical reasons.

BACKGROUND: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of debilitating diseases and conditions afflicting more than one billion people in impoverished communities. Control of these diseases is crucial to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3 and the pledge to 'leave no one behind'. Relying on large-scale delivery of wide-spectrum drugs to individuals in at-risk communities irrespective of their health status, mass drug administration is a core strategy for tackling half of the NTDs targeted by the latest WHO roadmap (2021-2030). However, ethical challenges surround its implementation and long-term impact. This systematic review aims to give a comprehensive picture of the variety of ethical reasons for and against mass drug administration for NTD control and elimination, facilitating further debate in ethics and policy. METHODS: PubMed and Web of Science Core Collection were searched for all relevant publications. Of the 486 retrieved records, 60 met the inclusion criteria for qualitative analysis. Ethical reasons discussing the topic at hand were extracted from full texts and synthesised through the Kuckartz method of qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Data extraction revealed 61 ethical reasons, of which 20 (32.7%) had positive, 13 (21.3%) had ambivalent and 28 (45.9%) had negative implications regarding mass drug administration for NTDs. The health benefits and cost-effectiveness of the measure were extensively highlighted. However, equity, autonomy and sustainability emerged as the domains with the most pressing ethical concerns. Many issues related to implementation are yet to be adequately addressed in policy documents. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first systematic review of ethical reasons pertaining to mass drug administration for NTD control and elimination. Due to the diversity of included studies, no general recommendations can be made. Instead, context-specific strategies seem necessary. Alternative approaches tackling socioecological determinants of ill health are needed for long-term sustainability. Future research could benefit from contributions of non-Western philosophies and perspectives by local researchers.

From Microscale Interactions to Macroscale Patterns in Copepod-Crinoid Symbiosis.

Crinoids (Echinodermata) exhibit unique morphological and behavioral characteristics that facilitate a wide range of symbiotic relationships with diverse organisms. Our comprehension of their interactions with microscopic copepod crustaceans is, however, still in a nascent and fragmented state. Here, we review and discuss the 166 literature records to date in which a total of 39 copepod species in 6 families have been reported in association with 33 species of the crinoid order Comatulida. Many of these associations have been reported just once. The respective localities cover 5 of the World Ocean's 12 ecoregions, with a notable concentration of both host and symbiont diversity in the Central and Western Indo-Pacific. In contrast, the documentation of copepod-crinoid associations in the Atlantic appears markedly limited. Copepods have been found predominantly in ectosymbiotic relationships with crinoids, with a lower incidence of endosymbiosis. Copepods of the genera Collocheres Canu, 1893 and Pseudanthessius Claus, 1889 are particularly prominent in the list, and the comatulid family Comatulidae displays the most diverse assortment of copepod associations. The current scope of knowledge encompasses a mere 5% of the potential crinoid host diversity, underscoring the need for more extensive research in this area.

Next-generation sequencing metabarcoding assays reveal diverse bacterial vector-borne pathogens of Mongolian dogs.

Bacterial vector-borne pathogens (BVBPs) negatively impact canine health worldwide, with several also being zoonotic, posing an additional disease risk to humans. To date, BVBPs have been reported in humans and various sylvatic and domestic animal hosts across multiple Mongolian aimags (provinces); however, there has been no published data on these pathogens within Mongolia's canine populations. Collection of such data is important given Mongolia's size, diverse number of climatic regions, and large population of dogs, most of which closely share their environment with humans and livestock. Therefore, a bacteria-targeting next-generation sequencing metabarcoding (mNGS) assay was used to test the feasibility of mNGS as a proof-of-concept study to ascertain the detection of BVBP in 100 Mongolian dogs. The majority of dogs (n = 74) were infected with at least one of six BVBPs identified; including three species of haemoplasmas (also known as haemotropic mycoplasmas, n = 71), Bartonella rochalimae (n = 3), Ehrlichia spp. (n = 2) and Anaplasma platys (n = 1). Univariable analysis found sex, housing, and role of the dog to be associated with BVBP infection. Male dogs had 4.33 (95% CI: 1.61-11.62, P = 0.003) times the odds of infection with BVBPs compared to females. The majority of dogs included in this study were kept outdoors and had regular direct contact with both livestock and humans, indicating that dogs may contribute to the transmission and dissemination of BVBPs in Mongolia and could act as epidemiological sentinels. This study underscores the importance of pathogen surveillance studies in under-researched regions, reinforces the efficacy of mNGS as an explorative diagnostic tool, and emphasises the need for further larger-scale seroprevalence studies of Mongolian dogs.

Primary Retroperitoneal Hydatid Cyst: A Diagnostic and Treatment Conundrum.

Hydatid cysts are caused by accidental egg ingestion of the Echinococcus granulosus parasite. A 24-year-old female was admitted to our hospital for chronic left lumbar pain. Computed tomography (CT) and abdominal ultrasonography identified an 8/12 cm retroperitoneal cyst. The CT results coupled with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests (positive IgG for Echinococcus granulosus) confirmed that the tumor was a hydatid cyst. Treatment consisted of preoperative chemotherapy with albendazole, intraoperative parasite inactivation, laparoscopic partial cystectomy, and drainage. The drain was removed after three days. Chemotherapy was maintained for two years after surgery. No relapse was observed at the six-month reevaluation. In this article, the diagnostic and therapeutic options and resources are discussed and compared with the published literature.

Hepatobiliary Ascariasis in a Piglet.

PURPOSE: Ascariasis caused by the helminth Ascaris suum is the most common parasitosis of swine worldwide and it may involve all age categories of pigs. The present study reports an unusual localization of A. suum worms in the biliary system of a piglet slaughtered for human consumption. METHODS: The liver was subjected to ultrasound scan and pathological examination. The isolated worms were morphologically examined and the DNA was extracted for the molecular identification of the species involved. RESULTS: A total of 43 preadult nematodes were found within the gallbladder and the bile ducts. Parasites were morphologically identified as belonging to the genus Ascaris and molecularly as A. suum. At gross examination, the liver was moderately enlarged, with the bile ducts severely dilated. A chronic inflammatory infiltrate was noted, often centered around ectatic bile ducts (up to 5 mm in diameter), lined by hyperplastic epithelium and filled with sections of nematodes. The worm sections showed smooth cuticle, coelomyarian musculature, and an intestinal tract lined by columnar, uninucleated cells within a pseudocoelom. The ex vivo ultrasonographic examination of the liver allowed the visualization of several nematodes in the bile duct lumen and could be suggested for in vivo diagnosis. Unfortunately, the absence of the intestine did not allow to define the pathogenesis of the infection. CONCLUSION: Although, given the unusual nature of this finding, it is difficult to identify predisposing factors for this A. suum localization, it suggests that ascariasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pigs with hepatobiliary disease.