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Microorganisms
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Zoonotic Parasites: Toxoplasma gondii, Trichinella spp., and Toxocara spp.
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Zoonotic Parasites: Toxoplasma gondii, Trichinella spp., and Toxocara spp.

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Parasitology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 21292

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ali Rostami

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol 47, Iran
Interests: Infectious diseases, zoonotic diseases, eoidemiology, meta-analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Zoonotic parasites, including Toxoplasma gondii, Trichinella spp., and Toxocara spp., are of global public health importance. These parasites are distributed worldwide in both developed and developing countries and transmitted to humans usually through close contacts with pets (dogs or cats); ingestion of infective oocysts/eggs from contaminated water, vegetables, or soil; and also, eating of raw or semi-cooked meats from domestic or wild food animals. T. gondii is clinically important to pregnant women, immunosuppressed patients, and patients with ocular, neurological, and psychiatric disorders. Infection with Trichinella spp. can result in diarrhea and abdominal pain in the intestinal phase and fever, myalgia, myocarditis, and allergic reactions, in particular, facial oedemas, and encephalitis in the muscular phase. Toxocara infection is related to visceral larva migrans (VLM), ocular larva migrans (OLM), neurotoxocariasis (NT), and covert/common toxocariasis (CT), and can associate with allergic, neurological, and/or visual disorders, or cognitive and intellectual deficits in children.

There is a clear need for more knowledge on molecular epidemiology, seroepidemiology, ecology, prevention strategy, vaccine, treatment, and host–parasite interaction of these parasites in both humans and animals. Therefore, in this Special Issue of Microorganisms we aimed to collect the latest research related to all aspects of these zoonotic parasites. We call for different types of articles (original research manuscripts, short communications, and review papers, including systematic reviews and meta-analyses). Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) epidemiology, ecology, evolution, host-parasite interaction, transmission/natural cycles, pathogenesis and immunity, relationship with non-communicable diseases (e.g., neurological, psychiatric, allergic, etc.), vaccination, treatment, and clinical parasitology of medical and veterinarian relevance.

Dr. Ali Rostami
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • zoonotic
  • parasites
  • Toxoplasma gondii
  • Trichinella
  • Toxocara

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 384 KiB  
Article
Therapy and Prevention for Human Toxocariasis
by Jean-François Magnaval, Emilie Bouhsira and Judith Fillaux
Microorganisms 2022, 10(2), 241; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10020241 - 22 Jan 2022
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4998
Abstract
For the last four decades, knowledge about human toxocariasis with regard to its epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical spectrum, and imaging or laboratory diagnosis has substantially progressed. Knowledge about specific therapy with anthelmintics has lagged behind. To date, only four drugs are registered for human [...] Read more.
For the last four decades, knowledge about human toxocariasis with regard to its epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical spectrum, and imaging or laboratory diagnosis has substantially progressed. Knowledge about specific therapy with anthelmintics has lagged behind. To date, only four drugs are registered for human use, and their efficacy has rarely been assessed in prospective controlled trials. It is likely that the repurposing of potent anthelmintics from veterinary medicine will improve this situation. Due to its wide availability and a lack of major side effects during short regimens, albendazole has become the drug of choice. However, its efficacy should be more precisely assessed. The role of anthelmintics in the treatment of neurological or ocular toxocariasis remains to be clarified. Prophylactic measures in humans or companion animals are efficient and represent first-line treatments for the control of this zoonosis. Unfortunately, their implementation in areas or countries where toxocariasis epidemiology is driven by poverty is quite difficult or unrealistic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoonotic Parasites: Toxoplasma gondii, Trichinella spp., and Toxocara spp.)
17 pages, 13805 KiB  
Article
Toxocara canis- and Toxocara cati-Induced Neurotoxocarosis Is Associated with Comprehensive Brain Transcriptomic Alterations
by Patrick Waindok, Elisabeth Janecek-Erfurth, Dimitri L. Lindenwald, Esther Wilk, Klaus Schughart, Robert Geffers and Christina Strube
Microorganisms 2022, 10(1), 177; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10010177 - 14 Jan 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4459
Abstract
Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati are globally occurring zoonotic roundworms of dogs and cats. Migration and persistence of Toxocara larvae in the central nervous system of paratenic hosts including humans may cause clinical signs of neurotoxocarosis (NT). As pathomechanisms of NT and host [...] Read more.
Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati are globally occurring zoonotic roundworms of dogs and cats. Migration and persistence of Toxocara larvae in the central nervous system of paratenic hosts including humans may cause clinical signs of neurotoxocarosis (NT). As pathomechanisms of NT and host responses against Toxocara larvae are mostly unknown, whole-genome microarray transcription analysis was performed in cerebra and cerebella of experimentally infected C57Bl/6J mice as paratenic host model at days 14, 28, 70, 98, and 120 post-infection. Neuroinvasion of T. cati evoked 220 cerebral and 215 cerebellar differentially transcribed genes (DTGs), but no particular PANTHER (Protein ANalysis THrough Evolutionary Relationships) pathway was affected. In T. canis-infected mice, 1039 cerebral and 2073 cerebellar DTGs were identified. Statistically significant dysregulations occurred in various pathways, including cholesterol biosynthesis, apoptosis signaling, and the Slit/Robo mediated axon guidance as well as different pathways associated with the immune and defense response. Observed dysregulations of the cholesterol biosynthesis, as well as the Alzheimer disease-amyloid secretase pathway in conjunction with previous histopathological neurodegenerative findings, may promote the discussion of T. canis as a causative agent for dementia and/or Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, results contribute to a deeper understanding of the largely unknown pathogenesis and host-parasite interactions during NT, and may provide the basis for prospective investigations evaluating pathogenic mechanisms or designing novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoonotic Parasites: Toxoplasma gondii, Trichinella spp., and Toxocara spp.)
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19 pages, 4721 KiB  
Article
Transcriptomic Analysis of the Effects of Chemokine Receptor CXCR3 Deficiency on Immune Responses in the Mouse Brain during Toxoplasma gondii Infection
by Kousuke Umeda, Youta Goto, Kenichi Watanabe, Nanako Ushio, Ragab M. Fereig, Fumiaki Ihara, Sachi Tanaka, Yutaka Suzuki and Yoshifumi Nishikawa
Microorganisms 2021, 9(11), 2340; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9112340 - 12 Nov 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2267
Abstract
The obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii infects warm-blooded animals, including humans. We previously revealed through a whole-brain transcriptome analysis that infection with T. gondii in mice causes immune response-associated genes to be upregulated, for instance, chemokines and chemokine receptors such as CXC chemokine [...] Read more.
The obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii infects warm-blooded animals, including humans. We previously revealed through a whole-brain transcriptome analysis that infection with T. gondii in mice causes immune response-associated genes to be upregulated, for instance, chemokines and chemokine receptors such as CXC chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) and its ligand CXC chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10). Here, we describe the effect of CXCR3 on responses against T. gondii infection in the mouse brain. In vivo assays using CXCR3-deficient mice showed that the absence of CXCR3 delayed the normal recovery of body weight and increased the brain parasite burden, suggesting that CXCR3 plays a role in the control of pathology in the brain, the site where chronic infection occurs. Therefore, to further analyze the function of CXCR3 in the brain, we profiled the gene expression patterns of primary astrocytes and microglia by RNA sequencing and subsequent analyses. CXCR3 deficiency impaired the normal upregulation of immune-related genes during T. gondii infection, in astrocytes and microglia alike. Collectively, our results suggest that the immune-related genes upregulated by CXCR3 perform a particular role in controlling pathology when the host is chronically infected with T. gondii in the brain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoonotic Parasites: Toxoplasma gondii, Trichinella spp., and Toxocara spp.)
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9 pages, 276 KiB  
Article
Case-Control Study to Assess the Association between Epilepsy and Toxocara Infection/Exposure
by Ali Alizadeh Khatir, Mahdi Sepidarkish, Mohammad Reza Rajabalizadeh, Solmaz Alizadeh Moghaddam, Saeed Aghapour, Saeed Mehravar, Peter J. Hotez, Robin B. Gasser and Ali Rostami
Microorganisms 2021, 9(10), 2091; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9102091 - 3 Oct 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1943
Abstract
Although causes and etiology of epilepsy are mostly obscure, some zoonotic parasites, such as Toxocara species, have been proposed as a risk factor for this disease. Here, we conducted an age-matched case-control study to evaluate whether there is an association between epilepsy and [...] Read more.
Although causes and etiology of epilepsy are mostly obscure, some zoonotic parasites, such as Toxocara species, have been proposed as a risk factor for this disease. Here, we conducted an age-matched case-control study to evaluate whether there is an association between epilepsy and the presence of serum antibodies to Toxocara in incident cases. We included 94 idiopathic epileptic patients as cases, and—from the same geographical region—88 people with no own history of epilepsy or neurological disease as control subjects. Epilepsy was confirmed by a physician using the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) definition. All participants were screened for the anti-Toxocara IgG serum antibody by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Univariate and mutltivariate statistical analyses were applied to calculate the crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Anti-Toxocara serum antibody was detected in 37 epileptic patients and in 23 control subjects, giving respective seroprevalences of 39.3% (95% CI, 29.4–49.9%) and 26.1% (95% CI, 17.3–36.5%), respectively. Adjusted multivariate logistic regression analysis estimated an OR of 2.38 (95% CI, 1.25–4.63), indicating a significant association between epilepsy and Toxocara seropositivity. There was also a significant association between seropositivity to Toxocara and partial (OR, 2.60; 95% CI, 1.14–6.04) or generalized (OR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.09–4.40%) seizures. Findings from the present study of incident epileptic cases support previous studies proposing that Toxocara infection/exposure is a risk factor for epilepsy. However, further well-designed population-based surveys and mechanistic/experimental studies in animal models are required to better understand the reason(s) for this association. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoonotic Parasites: Toxoplasma gondii, Trichinella spp., and Toxocara spp.)
8 pages, 271 KiB  
Article
Toxocara Seroprevalence and Risk Factor Analysis in Four Communities of the Wiwa, an Indigenous Tribe in Colombia
by Patrick Waindok, Simone Kann, Andrés Aristizabal, Juan Carlos Dib and Christina Strube
Microorganisms 2021, 9(8), 1768; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9081768 - 19 Aug 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2355
Abstract
The life of the indigenous Wiwa tribe in northeast Colombia is characterized by lacking access to clean drinking water and sanitary installations. Furthermore, free-roaming domestic animals and use of yucca and/or manioc as a primary food source favor the transmission of soil-transmitted helminths, [...] Read more.
The life of the indigenous Wiwa tribe in northeast Colombia is characterized by lacking access to clean drinking water and sanitary installations. Furthermore, free-roaming domestic animals and use of yucca and/or manioc as a primary food source favor the transmission of soil-transmitted helminths, e.g., Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, the roundworms of dogs and cats. Infection may result in the clinical picture of toxocarosis, one of the most common zoonotic helminthoses worldwide. To estimate the Toxocara seroprevalence in four different villages of the Wiwa community, serum samples from 483 inhabitants were analyzed for anti-Toxocara-antibodies. Overall, 79.3% (383/483) of analyzed samples were seropositive. Statistically significant differences were observed between the four villages, as well as age groups (adults > adolescents > children), while sex had no effect. The high seropositivity rate demonstrates the risk of zoonotic roundworm infections and potential clinical disease in vulnerable indigenous inhabitants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoonotic Parasites: Toxoplasma gondii, Trichinella spp., and Toxocara spp.)
12 pages, 2515 KiB  
Article
RAA-Cas12a-Tg: A Nucleic Acid Detection System for Toxoplasma gondii Based on CRISPR-Cas12a Combined with Recombinase-Aided Amplification (RAA)
by Qiao-Ni Ma, Meng Wang, Lai-Bao Zheng, Zi-Qin Lin, Muhammad Ehsan, Xing-Xing Xiao and Xing-Quan Zhu
Microorganisms 2021, 9(8), 1644; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9081644 - 31 Jul 2021
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 3618
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, caused by the intracellular protozoon Toxoplasma gondii, is a significant parasitic zoonosis with a world-wide distribution. As a main transmission route, human infection can be acquired by the ingestion of T. gondii oocysts from the environment (e.g., soil, water, fruits and [...] Read more.
Toxoplasmosis, caused by the intracellular protozoon Toxoplasma gondii, is a significant parasitic zoonosis with a world-wide distribution. As a main transmission route, human infection can be acquired by the ingestion of T. gondii oocysts from the environment (e.g., soil, water, fruits and vegetables). Regarding the detection of T. gondii oocysts in environmental samples, the development of a time-saving, cost-effective and highly sensitive technique is crucial for the surveillance, prevention and control of toxoplasmosis. In this study, we developed a new method by combining recombinase-aided amplification (RAA) with CRISPR-Cas12a, designated as the RAA-Cas12a-Tg system. Here, we compared this system targeting the 529 bp repeat element (529 bp-RE) with the routine PCR targeting both 529 bp-RE and ITS-1 gene, respectively, to assess its ability to detect T. gondii oocysts in soil samples. Our results indicated that the 529 bp RE-based RAA-Cas12a-Tg system was able to detect T. gondii successfully in nearly an hour at body temperature and was more sensitive than the routine PCR assay. The sensitivity of this system reached as low as 1 fM with high specificity. Thus, RAA-Cas12a-Tg system provided a rapid, sensitive and easily operable method for point-of-care detection of T. gondii oocysts in soil, which will facilitate the control of T. gondii infection in humans and animals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoonotic Parasites: Toxoplasma gondii, Trichinella spp., and Toxocara spp.)
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