Wild lagomorphs including rabbits and hares can act as natural carriers or reservoirs of bacterial and parasitic zoonotic diseases. However, little is known on the epidemiology and potential public ...health significance of intestinal eukaryotes in wild leporids. We examined faecal samples from European wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus, n = 438) and Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis, n = 111) collected in the Autonomous Region of Andalusia in southern Spain during 2012–2021. We searched for the presence of DNA from the main intestinal protist and microsporidial pathogens of veterinary and public health concerns using molecular methods (PCR followed by Sanger and next‐generation sequencing). Giardia duodenalis was the most prevalent species found (27.8%, 153/550; 95% CI: 24.1–31.8), followed by Cryptosporidium spp. (1.3%, 7/550; 95% CI: 0.5–2.6), Blastocystis sp. (1.1%, 6/550; 95% CI: 0.4–2.4) and Encephalitozoon intestinalis (0.2%, 1/550; 95% CI: 0.0–10.1). All samples tested negative for Enterocytozoon bieneusi. Sequence analyses revealed the presence of sub‐assemblage BIV (n = 1) within G. duodenalis, and Cryptosporidium cuniculus (n = 6) and Cryptosporidium andersoni (n = 1) within Cryptosporidium. The presence of ruminant‐adapted C. andersoni is indicative of a potential cross‐species transmission event, although a spurious infection (mechanical carriage) cannot be ruled out. Samples assigned to C. cuniculus belonged to the gp60 subtype families Va (n = 3) and Vb (n = 2). The six Blastocystis‐positive samples were identified as ST2 (n = 3) and ST1 + ST2 (n = 3). Our molecular results suggest that wild rabbits and hares were primarily infected by leporid‐adapted species of eukaryotic pathogens. However, the occasional findings of zoonotic G. duodenalis sub‐assemblage BIV, Blastocystis sp. ST1 and ST2, and Encephalitozoon intestinalis could be of public health relevance.
SUMMARY
Micromammals have historically been recognized as highly contentious species in terms of the maintenance and transmission of zoonotic pathogens to humans. Limited information is currently ...available on the epidemiology and potential public health significance of intestinal eukaryotes in wild micromammals. We examined 490 faecal samples, grouped into 155 pools, obtained from 11 micromammal species captured in 11 Spanish provinces for the presence of DNA from Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Blastocystis sp. The presence of Leishmania spp. was investigated in individual spleen samples. All micromammal species investigated harboured infections by at least one eukaryotic parasite, except Apodemus flavicollis, Myodes glareolus, Sorex coronatus and Sciurus vulgaris, but the sample size for these host species was very low. Cryptosporidium spp. was the most prevalent species found (3.7%, 95% confidence interval CI: 2.2–5.7), followed by G. duodenalis (2.8%, 95% CI: 1.6–4.6) and E. bieneusi (2.6%, 95% CI: 1.4–4.3). All pooled faecal samples tested negative for Blastocystis sp. Leishmania infantum was identified in 0.41% (95% CI: 0.05–1.46) of the 490 individual spleen samples analysed. Sequence analyses allowed the identification of Cryptosporidium andersoni (5.9%), C. ditrichi (11.7%), C. muris (5.9%), C. parvum (5.9%), C. tyzzeri (5.9%), rat genotypes CR97 (5.9%) and W19 (5.9%), vole genotypes V (11.7%) and VII (5.9%) and Cryptosproridium spp. (35.3%) within Cryptosporidium (n = 17). Known genotypes C (66.7%) and Peru11 (25.0%) and a novel genotype (named MouseSpEb1, 8.3%) were detected within E. bieneusi (n = 12). None of the G. duodenalis‐positive samples could be genotyped at the assemblage level. Molecular data indicate that wild micromammals were primarily infected by rodent‐adapted species/genotypes of eukaryotic pathogens and thereby have a limited role as a source of human infections. The presence of ruminant‐adapted species C. andersoni along with finding C. parvum is indicative of an overlap between domestic/peri‐domestic and sylvatic transmission cycles of these agents.
Abstract
Background
Pet dogs and cats exert an unquestionable beneficial effect in the well‐being of their owners, but can also act as a source of zoonotic infections if improperly cared.
Objectives
...We investigated the occurrence, risk factors, genetic variability and zoonotic potential of intestinal parasites in dogs and cats attended in a clinical veterinary setting in Spain.
Methods
Canine (
n
= 252) and feline (
n
= 35) faecal samples were collected during 2017–2019 and analysed by coproparasitological methods. A rapid lateral immunochromatographic test (ICT) was used for detecting
Giardia duodenalis
and
Cryptosporidium
sp. Samples positive at microscopy examination and/or ICT were reassessed by molecular methods.
Results
Overall, 48.8% (123/252) of dogs and 48.6% (17/35) of cats were infected by enteric parasites. In dogs,
G. duodenalis
was the most prevalent species (40.9%), followed by
Cystoisospora
sp. (7.1%), and
Toxocara canis
(5.2%). In cats,
Joyeuxiella
sp. and
Toxocara cati
were the dominant species (20.0% each), followed by
G. duodenalis
(14.3%),
D. caninum
(5.7%) and
Cystoisospora felis
and
Toxascaris leonina
(2.9% each). Pups and kittens were more likely to harbour intestinal parasites and develop clinical signs. Sequence analyses of dog isolates revealed the presence of assemblages A (
n
= 1), C (
n
= 4), D (
n
= 4) and C+D (
n
= 1) within
G. duodenalis
;
C. parvum
(
n
= 1) and
C. canis
(
n
= 4) within
Cryptosporidium
and PtEb IX (
n
= 1) in
Enterocytozoon bieneusi
. A novel
C. canis
subtype family, named XXi, is reported.
Conclusions
Our results highlight that (i) well‐cared dogs carry zoonotic enteric protozoan parasites of public health relevance, (ii) proper hygiene practices and routine veterinary treatment are essential to prevent zoonotic infections, (iii) vulnerable populations should avoid contact with pups/kittens with diarrhoea and (iv) infected dogs might be major contributors to the environmental contamination with soil‐transmitted helminths (STHs) eggs.
Hyperinflammation present in individuals with severe COVID-19 has been associated with an exacerbated cytokine production and hyperactivated immune cells. Endoplasmic reticulum stress leading to the ...unfolded protein response has been recently reported as an active player in inducing inflammatory responses. Once unfolded protein response is activated, GRP78, an endoplasmic reticulum-resident chaperone, is translocated to the cell surface (sGRP78), where it is considered a cell stress marker; however, its presence has not been evaluated in immune cells during disease. Here we assessed the presence of sGRP78 on different cell subsets in blood samples from severe or convalescent COVID-19 patients. The frequency of CD45+sGRP78+ cells was higher in patients with the disease compared to convalescent patients. The latter showed similar frequencies to healthy controls. In patients with COVID-19, the lymphoid compartment showed the highest presence of sGRP78+ cells versus the myeloid compartment. CCL2, TNF-α, C-reactive protein, and international normalized ratio measurements showed a positive correlation with the frequency of CD45+sGRP78+ cells. Finally, gene expression microarray data showed that activated T and B cells increased the expression of GRP78, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors acquired sGRP78 upon activation with ionomycin and PMA. Thus, our data highlight the association of sGRP78 on immune cells in patients with severe COVID-19.
The role of non-HLA antibody is gaining special attention in solid-organ transplantation and in highly sensitized (HS) patients because of its potential involvement in graft loss (GL) and/or ...antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR). The identification of non-HLA antibodies while listed may provide deeper information about the increased immunologic risk prior to transplant. We aimed to identify non-HLA antibodies pretransplant that could involve GL in HS patients.
Nineteen pretransplant samples from HS patients who underwent transplant at the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital were studied for both HLA antibodies and a panel of 39 non-HLA antigens analyzed based on Luminex platform.
Eleven patient (57.9%) maintained the graft (KT group), whereas 8 (42.1%) had a GL within a median of 30 days. The median fluorescent intensity (MFI) of the 39 non-HLA antigens were compared within the groups, obtaining a statistically significant differences in protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type N (P < .04) with a MFI mean of 1408 vs 4931 for KT and GL groups, respectively. However, no significant differences were observed in non-HLA MFI between ABMR and non-ABMR KT recipients.
The presence of non-HLA antibodies in HS is high. The levels of anti–protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type N before transplant could indicate a potential risk of GL, although longitudinal studies with large number of cases are needed to define anti–non-HLA profiles of risk of ABMR.
Among primates, the Neotropical Callitrichid monkeys (tamarins and marmosets) exhibit a particular ability to adapt to disturbed and urbanized environments. However, little is known about ...physiological and health status in contrasting ecological contexts. An example of adaptation to urban environments is the white-footed tamarin (Saguinus leucopus), an endangered species endemic to the central Andes in North West Colombia. This species was used as a model to contrast physical condition, physiological parameters and the parasite community of wild populations in rural and urban settings. Overall, the tamarins seemed to be in good body condition in both environments; however, urban tamarins exhibited overweight, elevated body mass, and higher cholesterol levels, while rural tamarins showed larger diversity and prevalence of parasites. Variation in several hematological parameters associated with altitude was also observed. Our data provide preliminary evidence of differential physiological responses to urban and rural environments in tamarins. These results may be attributed to nutritional factors, physical activity, and specific parasite-host ecological interactions in these two environments. Also, abundance and diversity of the parasite community in urban environments may be potentially constrained by habitat fragmentation and relatively fewer reservoirs. Finally, significant physiological and ecological disparities between white-footed tamarins occurring in urban and rural habitats as well as physiological response to hypoxia at higher altitudes were evidenced here. This study provides important preliminary information that will be useful to determine the ability of New World primate populations to cope with urban development and rapidly changing environments.
Different immune-mediated diseases have been described after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) being one of the possible side ...effects. In this study, a total of 35 patients presented ANCA for the first time during 2021, with the number during 2019 being 15. Twenty-seven out of thirty-five patients developed ANCA after vaccination. Two of them developed these antibodies after receiving the first dose (7.4%), and 25 patients developed ANCA after the second dose of the vaccine (92.6%), with BNT162b2 being the main vaccine received by these patients. In 97.1% of the patients who developed ANCA during 2021, the positivity of ANCA was accompanied by systemic involvement, with renal and respiratory tracts being the main organs affected. Therefore, an increase in the development of AAV has been observed during 2021 in comparison with 2019, which could be due to the administration of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.
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•The development of ANCA and AAV could be one of the side effects caused by vaccination•Incidence of new ANCA positive patients in 2021 has increased in comparison with 2019•An increase in the frequency of anti-PR3 antibodies during 2021 has been observed•A predominance of respiratory manifestations has been observed in AAV during 2021
Health sciences; Clinical finding; Disease
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. New therapeutic strategies are aimed to modulate the athero-inflammatory process that partially orchestrates underlying vascular ...damage. Peripheral blood circulating cells include different immune cells with a central role in the development of the atherogenic inflammatory response. The anti-aging protein α-Klotho has been related to protective effects against CVD. KL is expressed in monocytes, macrophages, and lymphocytes where it exerts anti-inflammatory effects. In this work, we analyse the relationships of the levels of inflammatory markers with the expression of the KL gene in PBCCs and with the serum levels of soluble KL in atherosclerotic vascular disease. For this, we conducted a cross-sectional single-center case-control study including a study group of 76 CVD patients and a control group of 16 cadaveric organ donors without medical antecedent or study indicating CVD. Vascular artery fragments and whole blood and serum samples were obtained during elective or organ retrieval surgery. Serum levels of sKL, TNFα and IL10, and gene expression levels of KL, TNF, IL10, NFKB1, DNMT1, and DNMT3A in PBCCs were measured. In these cells, we also determined KL promoter methylation percentage. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses were employed to visualize atherosclerotic lesions and to measure IL10 and TNFα levels in vascular fragments. Patients with CVD presented higher values of proinflammatory markers both at systemic and in the vasculature and in the PBCCs, compared to the control group. In PBCCs, CVD patients also presented lower gene expression levels of KL gene (56.4% difference, P < 0.001), higher gene expression levels of DNMT1 and DNMT3A (P < 0.0001, for both) and a higher methylation status of in the promoter region of KL (34.1 ± 4.1% vs. 14.6 ± 3.4%, P < 0.01). In PBCCs and vasculature, KL gene expression correlated inversely with pro-inflammatory markers and directly with anti-inflammatory markers. sKL serum levels presented similar associations with the expression levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory markers in PBCCs. The differences in KL expression levels in PBCCs and in serum sKL levels with respect to control group was even greater in those CVD patients with macroscopically observable atheromatous plaques. We conclude that promoter methylation-mediated downregulation of KL gene expression in PBCCs is associated with the pro-inflammatory status in atherosclerotic vascular disease.
Background This study aims to establish the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) intestinal infections, nutritional status, and anemia in school children aged 7 to 10 years old in the ...biogeographic provinces of Colombia in 2012-2013. STH prevalence in the country has not been described within the last 30 years and it is needed in order to establish policies its control in the country. Methodology National Survey of STH in school-aged children with a multistage stratified probability sampling was conducted. The overall prevalence and intensity of STH infection, as well as for each parasite, (A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura and hookworms) were calculated for the country and for each of the nine biogeographic provinces. Principal findings Stool samples were collected from 6045 children in eight out of nine biogeographic provinces. The combined prevalence of STH in the country was 29.6%. T. trichiura was the most prevalent helminth (18.4%), followed by A. lumbricoides (11.3%), and hookworms (6.4%). For A. lumbricoides and hookworms, the highest prevalence values were found in the Amazon#237;a province (58.0% and 35.7%, respectively). Regarding STH intensity, most cases showed moderate intensity (41.3%) for A. lumbricoides, and light intensity, for T. trichiura and hookworms. The national prevalence of anemia in school-aged children was 14.2%, lowest in the Nor-Andina province (3.5%), and highest in the Territorios Insulares oce#225;nicos del Caribe province (45.1%). Significance Colombia has a moderate risk of STH infection in school-aged populations, with considerable variation in the prevalence values among the biogeographic provinces. Like any public health issue, this problem should be handled with a comprehensive approach that involves deworming programs and strategies for STH control according to the specific epidemiological and socioeconomic conditions and sanitation service coverage in each biogeographic province. The program should be further supported by intersectoral action to improve living conditions, particularly the excreta disposal, promoted at municipality levels.
Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) levels are often elevated in chronic kidney disease (CKD). FGF23 and inflammation are common characteristics in CKD, and both are associated with worse disease ...progression and the occurrence of complications. The existence of an interaction between FGF23 and inflammation has been suggested, each of which influences the expression and activity of the other, leading to a vicious feedback loop with adverse outcomes, including cardiovascular disease and mortality. In this work, we determined circulating FGF23 levels in a group of patients with CKD stages 3 and 4 subjected to elective femoral endarterectomy due to established peripheral artery disease (PAD), a condition resulting from an athero-inflammatory process, and we studied its associations with different inflammatory markers and mediators. We evaluated its association with serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α, interleukin (IL) 6, and IL10, as well as with the gene expression levels of these parameters and A disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein (ADAM) 17 in femoral vascular tissue and peripheral blood circulating cells (PBCCs). We also analyzed its association with serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), the systemic immune inflammation index (SII), and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Finally, we determined the vascular immunoreactivity of protein TNFα in a subgroup of patients. FGF23 concentrations were independently associated with circulating and PBCC mRNA levels of TNFα. Worst kidney function and diabetes were also found to be contributing to FGF23 levels. Patients with higher levels of FGF23 also had greater vascular immunoreactivity for TNFα.
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