Wild Rabbit Host and Some Parasites Show Trophic-Level Relationships for δ13C and δ15N: A First Report

Abstract

We report the first isotopic study of an animal host-parasite system. Parasitic, intestinal nematodes, Graphidium strigosum and Passalurus ambiguus, were ¹⁵N-enriched relative to their host, the European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus, while parasitic cestodes, Cittataenia denticulata and Mosgovoyia pectinata, were ¹⁵N-depleted, suggesting different trophic relationships. Host embryos were more similar in their δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values to maternal muscle than were any of the parasites. Coprophagy, the direct recycling of food by the rabbit eating its own faeces, did not lead to isotopic differences between stomach contents and faeces, suggesting that the major point for isotopic discrimination in lagomorph nitrogen metabolism is in the animal rather than in the gut. We conclude that bulk δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N can reveal valuable new information about host-parasite relationships, and these could be explored further at the biochemical level using compound-specific isotopic analyses.     

胃瘤线虫与宿主黄鳝组织的酯酶同工酶分析

采用不连续凝胶垂直板电泳分析胃瘤线虫、线虫包囊以及黄鳝的各组织,比较样品酯酶电泳结果的异同,分析其相互之间的关系.酯酶在黄鳝的各个组织、胃瘤线虫与线虫包囊中均有表达,并且呈现出一定的特异性.电泳结果表明黄鳝心脏和肌肉的酯酶只有一条弱酶带,其它组织都有三条染色明显的条带,说明黄鳝心脏和肌肉的酯酶发挥的水解功能要低于其它组织;胃瘤线虫包囊具有与黄鳝的肠道相似的酶带,但其活性较弱,因此,推测其已经丧失了肠道组织的水解吸收营养物质的大部分功能;胃瘤线虫有4条酶带,其中2ab和2b是胃瘤线虫特有的酶带,而1a和2a是胃瘤线虫与其包囊、黄鳝的肠道、性腺、肾脏、肝脏共有的酶带,由此推测线虫与黄鳝之间也可能存在着协同进化的关系.     

Sequence‐related amplified polymorphism,an effective molecular approach for studying genetic variation in Fasciola spp. of human and animal health significance

In the present study, a recently described molecular approach, namely sequence‐related amplified polymorphism (SRAP), which preferentially amplifies ORFs, was evaluated for the studies of genetic variation among Fasciola hepatica, Fasciola gigantica and the “intermediate” Fasciola from different host species and geographical locations in mainland China. Five SRAP primer combinations were used to amplify 120 Fasciola samples after ten SRAP primer combinations were evaluated. The number of fragments amplified from Fasciola samples using each primer combination ranged from 12 to 20, with an average of 15 polymorphic bands per primer pair. Fifty‐nine main polymorphic bands were observed, ranging in size from 100 to 2000 bp, and SRAP bands specific to F. hepatica or F. gigantica were observed. SRAP fragments common to F. hepatica and the “intermediate” Fasciola, or common to F. gigantica and the “intermediate” Fasciola were identified, excised and confirmed by PCR amplification of genomic DNA using primers designed based on sequences of these SRAP fragments. Based on SRAP profiles, unweighted pair‐group method with arithmetic averages clustering algorithm categorized all of the examined representative Fasciola samples into three groups, representing the F. hepatica, the “intermediate” Fasciola, or the F. gigantica. These results demonstrated the usefulness of the SRAP technique for revealing genetic variability between F. hepatica, F. gigantica and the “intermediate” Fasciola, and also provided genomic evidence for the existence of the “intermediate” Fasciola between F. hepatica and F. gigantica. This technique provides an alternative and a useful tool for the genetic characterization and studies of genetic variability in parasites.     

Trace metal concentrations in single specimens of the intestinal broad flatworm (Diphyllobothrium latum), compared to their fish host (Oncorhynchus mykiss) measured by total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

The aim of this study was to investigate (1) whether intestine endoparasites (Diphyllobothrium latum) accumulate trace elements related to its body size and (2) whether parasites bioconcentrate more trace elements than their host. Freshwater fish (rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss) were sampled in the deep, oligotrophic and uncontaminated Lake Riñihue in Southern Chile. The element concentration of different organs (intestine, muscle, liver) and of the intestine endoparasites were analyzed using total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The results showed that the mass fraction for Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Pb decreased significantly with the body size (dry weight) of the endoparasite. Only Zn did not reveal such a relationship. Small parasites accumulated up to 80 times more Fe, Ni, Mn, Pb, and Cu than large parasites. Compared to the fish organs, small parasites accumulated in maximum 35 to 307 times more Mn, 5 to 255 times more Fe, 98 to 220 times more Ni, 3 to 175 times more Cu, and 0.4 to 12 times more Zn than the fish. Lead was only found in the endoparasite, but not in the fish organs. We conclude that (1) D. latum is a good indicator for trace element accumulation in fishes and that (2) small endoparasites are more sensitive as bioindicators because they showed higher bioconcentrations of trace metals than larger parasites.     

抗肝片吸虫病药物化合物的合成及解偶联活性研究

肝片吸虫是传播极为广泛的家畜体内寄生虫。文献报道N(2,4,5三氯)苯基2羟基3,5,6三氯苯磺酰胺(简称为HBSA)及其卤化衍生物是比较好的治疗肝片吸虫病药物,部分化合物已获美国专利[1]。经我们近几年对苯磺酰苯胺类化合物药物作用机理的研究初步证实:该类化合物是线粒体氧化...     

钱塘江鲴鱼类寄生单殖吸虫生态研究

本文报道了在两种新的池塘养殖鱼类细鳞斜颌鲴和黄尾密鲴呼吸器官中寄生的13种单殖吸虫的感染率和强度的季节变化;发现广温性种类8种,适宜生长的水温至少在4℃—32℃范围内,喜温性种类5种,它们不能忍受低于11.6℃的水温条件,所有种类的寄生高峰期均在春夏两季;研究了其中危害较重的6种优势指环虫的感染强度逐月变化的特点;探讨了非专一性寄生的Dactylogyrus tendiculus A·Gussev,1955的感染强度、产卵率与鱼类寄主的关系。     

Direct identification of trypanosomatids by matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (DIT MALDI‐TOF MS)

Accurate and rapid determination of trypanosomatids is essential in epidemiological surveillance and therapeutic studies. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization/time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS) has been shown to be a useful and powerful technique to identify bacteria, fungi, metazoa and human intact cells with applications in clinical settings. Here, we developed and optimized a MALDI‐TOF MS method to profile trypanosomatids. trypanosomatid cells were deposited on a MALDI target plate followed by addition of matrix solution. The plate was then subjected to MALDI‐TOF MS measurement to create reference mass spectra library and unknown samples were identified by pattern matching using the BioTyper software tool. Several m/z peaks reproducibly and uniquely identified trypanosomatids species showing the potentials of direct identification of trypanosomatids by MALDI‐TOF MS. Moreover, this method discriminated different life stages of Trypanosoma cruzi, epimastigote and bloodstream trypomastigote and Trypanosoma brucei, procyclic and bloodstream. T. cruzi Discrete Typing Units (DTUs) were also discriminated in three clades. However, it was not possible to achieve enough resolution and software‐assisted identification at the strain level. Overall, this study shows the importance of MALDI‐TOF MS for the direct identification of trypanosomatids and opens new avenues for mass spectrometry‐based detection of parasites in biofluids. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gamma ionization of Phagicola longa (Trematoda:Heterophyidae) in Mugilidae (pisces) in São Paulo, Brazil

The mullet (Mugilidae) is a fish caught in large quantities in brackish and marine waters of the southern Brazilian coast, which in consequence of its raw consumption as “sashimi”, a typical Japanese dish, has led to ten cases of human infection by Phagicola longa in São Paulo, Brazil. The mullet acts as a second intermediate host for the parasite, as in human heterophysiasis in the Near and Far East. In order to control these infections under commercial storage conditions and in raw consumption, the radiolysis of P. longa was studied in three mullet species-the silver mullet (Mugil curema), the grey mullet (M. platanus) and the “paratipema” (Mugil sp.) - subjected to ionization ranging from 1.0 to 10.0 kGy (2.21 kGy/h). It was observed that 1.0 and 2.0 kGy caused a motility decrease in silver mullet parasites from 100% to 15% and 17%, and that doses of 4.0 and 10.0 kGy caused metacercaria inviability. The parasite motility decreased in the grey mullet treated with doses of 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 kGy, from 56% to 31%, 9%, 18% and 5%, respectively, 4.0 kGy tending to be the control dose for P. longa. This dose also controls other metacercaria found in the “parati-pema”, without changing the odor, color or appearance of the treated mullet.