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PubMed1999

Parasite communities of the Salzhaff (Northwest Mecklenburg, Baltic Sea). I. Structure and dynamics of communities of littoral fish, especially small-sized fish.

The parasites of ten fish species, including four Gobiidae, three Gasterosteidae, two Syngnathidae, and one Zoarcidae from the Salzhaff region, Northwest Mecklenburg, Baltic Sea, were investigated in 1995 and 1996. As many as 36 parasite species, represented by diverse groups of helminths and protozoans as well as annelids and copepods, are found during 4 seasons in these hosts. By far the most abundant group is represented by digeneans, comprising 15 species, followed by 7 cestodans and 6 nematodes. With regard to component communities, 8 host-parasite combinations are core and secondary species with more than 40% prevalence in which generalists such as the digeneans Podocotyle atomon and Cryptocotyle concavum (in 3 hosts). C. lingua, Diplostomum spathaceum, and Acanthostomum balthicum, and the nematode Hysterothylacium are involved. Also, specialists such as Aphalloides timmi in Pomatoschistus microps as well as Magnibursatus caudofilamentosa and Thersitina gasterostei in Gasterosteus aculeatus attain high levels of prevalence. A comparison of different investigations reveals greater prevalence of allogenic and autogenic parasite species with 3 host cycles in the Rerik-Riff (free Baltic) and higher levels of prevalence of autogenic parasite species with 1 or 2 host cycles in the entire Salzhaff. The component communities of gobies from Dahmeshöved, Lübeck Bight, attain generally lower degrees of prevalence than those of the Salzhaff region. The infracommunities consist mostly of 1-3 parasite species per host specimen; this value is surpassed on occasion in P. microps (maximum 7 species) and in G. aculeatus (maximum 9 species, which may compete for 5 microhabitats in a host specimen). In this context the theory of empty niches propagated by some parasitologists is critically discussed and substituted by the assumption of variable niche widths. The seasonality of the more abundant parasites is either unclear--as in the case of C. concavum--or evident--as in the case of P. atomon, which prevail in early spring and summer, or A. timmi, which dominate in late summer, as do M. caudofilamentosa, which is absent in spring. The main causes of the infestation of fish hosts may be their ages and the availability of parasites due to the presence of intermediate hosts.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Determinants of host-specificity in parasites of freshwater fishes.

Factors responsible for interspecific variability in host-specificity were investigated within 15 genera (including 176 species) of metazoan parasites found in Canadian freshwater fish. For each species in a genus, the parasite's number of known hosts was determined from published host-parasite records. The effects of the total number and mean size of potential hosts (i.e. all fish species belonging to the family or families that include a parasite's known hosts) on number of hosts of congeneric species were evaluated using multiple regressions. Since parasite species that have been recorded often tend to have greater numbers of known hosts than do seldom-recorded parasites, it was necessary to control for the confounding effect of study intensity. In all parasite genera, whether from highly specific taxa such as monogeneans or from less host-specific ones, there was a positive relationship between the number of potential hosts and the number of known hosts. However, no consistent relationships were observed between the mean size of potential hosts and number of known hosts. These results suggest that the availability of suitable host species may have been a key factor limiting the colonization of new hosts by fish parasites.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

The disparity between observed and uniform distributions: a new look at parasite aggregation.

A simple new measure of parasite aggregation is described, the index of discrepancy (D). It quantifies the difference between the observed parasite distribution, and the hypothetical distribution that corresponds to the ideal case where all hosts harbour the same number of parasites. This index, computed for parasite distributions obtained from the literature, is compared to 2 other measures of aggregation, the variance to mean ratio and the parameter k of the negative binomial distribution. Both k and D indicate that aggregation decreases when the prevalence of infection and the mean number of parasites per host increase, while the variance to mean ratio suggests the opposite. Since an increase in prevalence means that parasites exploit a greater proportion of the available hosts and are thus not concentrating in only a few, aggregation should be inversely proportional to prevalence. Unlike k and D, the variance to mean ratio is a host-centered measure that is not very sensitive to the distribution of parasites. The index of discrepancy, on the other hand, is not only much easier to compute than k, but focuses on the difference between an ideal, uniform distribution and the one actually displayed by parasites. Since what it measures is what parasitologists mean by aggregation, the new index appears to be a more adequate measure of aggregation than other measures currently used.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Immunology and genetics of zoonotic infections involving parasites.

Zoonoses involving parasites are both common and important, some causing serious diseases. The abilities of such parasites to pass between humans and a variety of vertebrates facilitates their use as experimental model systems. Much can be learned about the host-parasite relationships of zoonotic infections from laboratory-based studies, particularly where it is possible to make use of defined parasite isolates in a variety of host species or in genetically defined strains of a given host. This review focuses on our current understanding of the immunological influences upon host-parasite interactions involving zoonotic parasites and on how such influences are modified by the genetic variability found n populations of both hosts and parasites. Particular emphasis is given to data arising from work with the intestinal parasitic nematode Trichinella spiralis and other isolates of the genus Trichinella.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Multi-host parasite species in cophylogenetic studies.

Cophylogenetic studies examine the relationship between host and parasite evolution. One aspect of cophylogenetic studies that has had little modern discussion is parasites with multiple definitive hosts. Parasite species with multiple host species are anomalous as, under a codivergence paradigm, speciation by the hosts should cause speciation of their parasites. We discuss situations such as cryptic parasite species, recent host switching or failure to speciate that may generate multi-host parasites. We suggest methods to identify which of the mechanisms have led to multi-host parasitism. Applying the suggested methods may allow multi-host parasites to be integrated more fully into cophylogenetic studies.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Non-linear phenomena in host-parasite interactions.

The paper examines non-linear dynamical phenomena in host-parasite interactions by reference to a series of different problems ranging from the impact on transmission of control measures based on vaccination and chemotherapy, to the effects of immunological responses targeted at different stages in a parasite's life-cycle. Throughout, simple mathematical models are employed to aid in interpretation. Analyses reveal that the influence of a defined control measure on the prevalence or intensity of infection, whether vaccination or drug treatment, is non-linearly related to the magnitude of control effort (as defined by the proportion of individuals vaccinated or treated with a drug). Consideration of the relative merits of gametocyte and sporozoite vaccines against malarial parasites suggests that very high leves of cohort immunization will be required to block transmission in endemic areas, with the former type of vaccine being more effective in reducing transmission for a defined level of coverage and the latter being better with respect to a reduction in morbidity. The inclusion of genetic elements in analyses of the transmission of helminth parasites reveals complex non-linear patterns of change in the abundance of different parasite genotypes under selection pressures imposed by either the host immunological defences or the application of chemotherapeutic agents. When resistance genes are present in parasite populations, the degree to which abundance can be suppressed by chemotherapy depends critically on the frequency and intensity of application, with intermediate values of the former being optimal. A more detailed consideration of the impact of immunological defences on parasite population growth within an individual host, by reference to the erythrocytic cycle of malaria, suggests that the effectiveness of a given immunological response is inversely related to the life-expectancy of the target stage in the parasite's developmental cycle.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Physiological bases for parasite-induced alterations of host behaviour.

Parasitism is defined in various ways as an intimate relationship in which one partner, the parasite, lives on or in another, the host, generally at the expense of the latter. Parasitism commonly results in a unique array of host physiological responses and adaptations. Most studies of the physiological effects of parasitism have focused on the pathological consequence of infection and disease. While many physiological changes contribute to pathogenesis, it is now recognized that parasitic infections at sub-clinical levels also produce physiological effects that either ameliorate or may not contribute to the disease process. Moreover, these physiological changes are often manifested by altered host behaviour. Behavioural studies have enabled an ecological- and evolutionary-oriented evaluation of host responses. In this fashion, physiological effects may be assessed as to whether they affect fitness and confer benefit or harm to one or both of the symbionts involved. We briefly examine how these physiological responses, specifically neural, endocrine, neuromodulatory, and immunomodulatory components, may interact to modify host behaviors. We consider the adaptiveness of these responses and how the behavioural patterns elicited may simultaneously appear adaptive for the parasite as well as the host. In addition, we address how parasite-host physiological and behavioural interactions may be altered during the course of parasitism.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2005

Intestinal distribution and fecundity of two species of Diplostomum parasites in definitive hosts.

This paper investigated the intestinal distribution and fecundity of 2 species of Diplostomum parasites, D. spathaceum and D. pseudospathaceum, in 2 species of definitive hosts, herring gull (Larus argentatus) and common gull (L. canus), using both empirical field data and experimental infections. At the level of individual hosts, the parasite species occupied different parts within the intestine, but the fecundity of the worms, measured as the number of eggs in the uterus, did not differ between the parasite species except in wild common gulls. Interestingly, egg numbers in individual hosts were positively correlated between the parasite species suggesting that some birds provided better resources for the parasite species. At the host population level, fecundity of the worms did not differ between the host species or between adult birds and chicks. Both parasite species were also aggregated to the same host individuals and it is likely that aggregation is transferred to gulls from fish intermediate hosts. Individual differences in suitability and parasite numbers between hosts provide important grounds and implications for epidemiological model-based parasite prevention strategies.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Interactions between frequency-dependent and vertical transmission in host-parasite systems.

We investigate host-pathogen dynamics and conditions for coexistence in two models incorporating frequency-dependent horizontal transmission in conjunction with vertical transmission. The first model combines frequency-dependent and uniparental vertical transmission, while the second addresses parasites transmitted vertically via both parents. For the first model, we ask how the addition of vertical transmission changes the coexistence criteria for parasites transmitted by a frequency-dependent horizontal route, and show that vertical transmission significantly broadens the conditions for parasite invasion. Host-parasite coexistence is further affected by the form of density-dependent host regulation. Numerical analyses demonstrate that within a host population, a parasite strain with horizontal frequency-dependent transmission can be driven to extinction by a parasite strain that is additionally transmitted vertically for a wide range of parameters. Although models of asexual host populations predict that vertical transmission alone cannot maintain a parasite over time, analysis of our second model shows that vertical transmission via both male and female parents can maintain a parasite at a stable equilibrium. These results correspond with the frequent co-occurrence of vertical with sexual transmission in nature and suggest that these transmission modes can lead to host-pathogen coexistence for a wide range of systems involving hosts with high reproductive rates.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Diversity of the parasite fauna of cyprinid (Cyprinidae) and percid (Percidae) fishes in the Vistula Lagoon, Poland.

A total of 2398 fish specimens (1091 Percidae and 1307 Cyprinidae) belonging to 16 species (3 Percidae and 13 Cyprinidae), caught in the Polish part of the Vistula Lagoon were examined within December 1994-March 1997. The parasites found were identified as belonging to 63 taxa (61 species as well as Diplostomum spp. flukes and glochidia Unionidae gen. sp. which could not be identified to species) of the Microsporea (1), Protozoa (1), Myxozoa (2), Monogenea (10), Digenea (15), Cestoda (11), Nematoda (11), Acanthocephala (5), Hirudinea (1), Mollusca (1), Copepoda (4), and Branchiura (1). The percids and cyprinids were found to support 37 and 40 parasitic taxa, respectively, the taxon-richest parasite fauna occurring in zander, Sander lucioperca (26 taxa), followed by carp bream, Abramis brama (24), European perch, Perca fluviatilis (24), roach, Rutilus rutilus (19), ruffe, Gymnocephalus cernuus (15), and Prussian carp, Carassius gibelio (11). The remaining fish species hosted less than 10 parasitic species each. Metacercariae of the genus Diplostomumn, found in about 37% of the fish examined, and Tylodelphys clavata, recorded in about 24% of the fish, proved the commonest parasites. The study showed the Vistula Lagoon cyprinid and percid parasite fauna to be dominated by freshwater species, frequencies of their occurrence in the brackishwater lagoon being lower than those in freshwater reservoirs. Frequencies of the 6 marine parasitic species found in the lagoon were, too, lower than those in the sea. It is suggested that some of the parasites (Ancyrocephalus paradoxus, Diplozoon paradoxum of the Monogenea, Diplostomum spp., Tylodelphys clavata of the Digenea, and Achtheres percarum of the Copepoda) prefer brackishwater habitats.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Plasmodium falciparum: recrudescence of parasites in culture.

The basis of recrudescence, the reappearance of malaria parasites after chemotherapy or after failure of immune suppressions of the parasites, was studied in cultures of Plasmodium falciparum. When the cultured parasites were exposed eight times over a 4-day period to 5% D-sorbitol, which destroyed infected RBCs containing trophozoites or schizonts, they showed recrudescence several days after cessation of treatment. Pyrimethamine-sensitive parasites were cleared by 10(-6) M pyrimethamine; pyrimethamine-resistant parasites also were cleared by 10(-4) M pyrimethamine. Both groups of parasites underwent recrudescence in the same manner as those exposed to 5% D-sorbitol. These recrudescent parasites were found to be as susceptible to these treatments as were the parasites before treatment. Therefore, our results strongly suggest that a subpopulation of the parasites escapes the effect of drugs by a mechanism other than drug resistance.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Effects of the protozoan parasite ophryocystis elektroscirrha on the fitness of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus)

We evaluated the effects of the protozoan parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha on the survival and reproduction of monarch butterflies. Because larvae in natural populations are likely to experience a wide range of natural parasite population densities, we examined the effects of increasing spore density (0, 10, 100, or 1000 spores per larva) on host fitness. Parasites had little effect on monarch survival or reproduction, except at the highest dose. Monarchs inoculated with 1000 spores per larva had decreased survival to eclosion, and this effect was more severe when larvae were inoculated at an earlier stage (first versus third instar). Monarchs inoculated with higher spore densities also emerged with smaller wingspans and lower body mass than noninoculated adults. Infection with the highest dose of O. elektroscirrha led to decreased male lifespan and reproductive success, but females infected with O. elektroscirrha did not experience a significant decline in lifetime fecundity. However, heavily infected females in outdoor enclosures were less active than uninfected females and gained weight during their adult lifespan. Among samples of adult monarchs captured in natural populations, parasite loads were associated with butterfly condition and activity. Heavily infected adults captured breeding in western North America and southern Florida were smaller than uninfected monarchs. Among overwintering adults in Mexico and California, mating activity was positively associated with higher parasite loads. In addition, the proportion of adults with low and intermediate spore loads (as opposed to no spores) was higher among adults with greater wing tatter and scale loss. Our findings of minor effects of O. elektroscirrha on the survival and reproduction of monarch butterflies are consistent with the expectation that maternally transmitted parasites should have little or no effect on host fitness compared with horizontally transmitted parasites. However, because our laboratory studies demonstrated that monarchs exposed to the highest parasite density experienced decreased larval survival, smaller adult size, and shorter adult lifespans, additional transmission routes are likely to be important for parasite maintenance in natural populations. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1987

A method for monitoring the viability of malaria parasites (Plasmodium yoelii) freed from the host erythrocytes.

The viability of erythrocyte-free malaria parasites (Plasmodium yoelii) was assessed with the cationic fluorescent dye, rhodamine 123 (R123). Parasites were freed from infected mouse erythrocytes either by saponin lysis or by Tris-ammonium chloride lysis and incubated with R123 at 37 degrees C. The parasite-associated dye was extracted with iso-butanol and measured with a fluorescent spectrophotometer. R123 accumulated intensely in free parasites prepared by saponin lysis but only weakly in those prepared by Tris-NH4Cl. Very little dye accumulated in free parasites fixed with 2% glutaraldehyde or with 3.7% formaldehyde, or in those heated at 50 degrees C for 15 min. Similar results were obtained by observations with an epifluorescent microscope. Free parasites incubated in hypotonic solutions did not accumulate the dye. Only parasites intensely accumulating R123 incorporated [3H] hypoxanthine. These results indicate that only living parasites are stained with R123, which can therefore be used to monitor the viability of erythrocyte-free malaria parasites.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effects of multiplication and synchronicity on the vascular distribution of parasites in falciparum malaria.

The sequestration of erythrocytes containing mature forms of Plasmodium falciparum in the microvasculature of vital organs may cause large discrepancies between the peripheral blood parasite count and the total body parasite burden in falciparum malaria. Despite this, parasitaemia is widely used as an indicator of prognosis and response to treatment. A simple mathematical model describing the changes in circulating and sequestered parasite numbers during acute falciparum malaria is presented. The model uses two parameters only; the standard deviation (SD) of parasite age since merogony (schizogony) as as a measure of synchronicity, and a multiplication factor each 48 h asexual life cycle. The model predicts that during the rising phase of the infection the ratio of circulating to sequestered parasites is dependent largely on the synchronicity of infection rather than multiplication rate, and that in synchronous infections parasitaemias will show considerable fluctuation when the mean stage of parasite development is in the second half of the asexual life cycle. The model fitted well to serial parasite counts from 4 patients with acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria whose infections failed to respond to ciprofloxacin. All four infections were synchronous (SD < or = 4 h), and showed large fluctuations in parasitaemia over short periods related to synchronous sequestration and subsequent reinvasion following merogony. The parasite multiplication rate was determined mainly by the efficiency of merogony or merozoite invasion rather than clearance of circulating parasitized erythrocytes. This suggests that the spleen is relatively inactive during the rising phase of the infection. Quinine treatment did not prevent sequestration but did stop subsequent multiplication.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

Isolation and characterization of RNA from the intracellular parasite Theileria parva.

Using a rapid procedure to isolate schizonts of the intracellular parasite Theileria parva from infected bovine lymphocytes, we have prepared parasite RNA that is more than 90% pure. Characterization of this schizont RNA has revealed the presence of two ribosomal RNA species of 3.3 kb and 1.8 kb and a third non-adenylated abundant RNA species of 1.9 kb. In vitro translation of the isolated schizont mRNA has identified about 200 parasite specific polypeptides, only a few of which could be detected by translation of mRNA from infected host cells. By analysing the kinetics of liquid hybridization of schizont mRNA with its homologous complementary DNA the nucleotide sequence complexity of the abundant class of the parasite mRNA has been estimated to be 1.7 x 10(3) kb. Assuming a number average size of 2 kb per mRNA molecule this would represent 4000 transcripts for all abundance classes of the schizont mRNA. Using the same technique we estimate that approximately 10% of the mRNA isolated from infected lymphocytes were transcripts from the parasite genome. We conclude that the low number of parasite specific translation products in the mRNA from infected lymphocytes and the low number of parasite proteins detected in isolated schizonts reported previously is due to the low abundance of the parasite transcripts rather than a low number of expressed parasite genes.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Distinct lipid compositions of parasite and host cell plasma membranes from Plasmodium chabaudi-infected erythrocytes.

Mouse erythrocytes infected with early or late trophozoites of the malaria parasite Plasmodium chabaudi were fractionated into free parasites and host cell plasma membranes, and both fractions were analyzed for cholesterol content and the composition of phospholipids and total fatty acids. The major results are: (i) parasites contain only a very low level of cholesterol which is about one-tenth of that of host cell plasma membranes. (ii) Parasites also contain less sphingomyelin and phosphatidylserine as well as more phosphatidylcholine than host cell plasma membranes. (iii) Parasites contain less 18:0 and 18:1 and more 18:2 and 20:4 fatty acids than host cell plasma membranes. (iv) During intraerythrocytic growth of parasites from early to late trophozoites, the relative proportions of cholesterol and phospholipids remain largely unchanged in both parasites and host cell plasma membranes. However, significant changes occur in the fatty composition of both compartments. There is an increase in the 20:4 and a decrease in the 18:0 and 18:1 fatty acids. (v) Plasma membranes of infected and non-infected erythrocytes exhibit about the same cholesterol content and phospholipid composition, but differ in the total fatty acid composition. Our data suggest the existence of distinct mechanisms controlling the different lipid compositions of parasites and host cell plasma membranes in whole Plasmodium chabaudi-infected erythrocytes during intraerythrocytic development of parasites, though both compartments are known to depend on the supply of various lipids from the host.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Hexose-monophosphate shunt activity in intact Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes and in free parasites.

The hexose monophosphate shunt (HMS) produces NADPH for reductive antioxidant protection and for metabolic regulation, as well as ribose-5-phosphate needed for the synthesis of nucleic acids. Since malaria-infected red blood cells (RBC) are under endogenous oxidant stress, it was interesting to determine HMS activity in intact infected cells, as well as in free parasites. HMS activity was determined by measuring the evolution of 14CO2 from D-[1-14C]glucose in normal RBC, in intact Plasmodium falciparum-infected RBC (IRBC) and in free parasites. The HMS activity of IRBC was found to be 78 times higher than that of normal RBC. This activity increased with parasite maturation from the ring stage toward the trophozoite stage, and declined at the schizont stage. The HMS activity of the parasite contributes 82% of the total observed in the intact IRBC, and that of the host cell is increased some 24-fold. The increased reducing capacity of IRBC and free parasites were also evidenced by the larger ability for reductive accumulation of methylene blue. Since the endogenous oxidative stress is produced by the parasite digestion of the host cell's hemoglobin, inhibition of this process with protease inhibitors, by alkalinization of the parasite's food vacuole, or by the application of antimalarial drugs, resulted in 20-44% inhibition of IRBC HMS activity. A similar inhibition was observed in the presence of scavengers of oxidative radicals, uric and benzoic acids. These inhibitors had only a minor effect on the HMS activity of free parasites. D-[1-14C]glucose and D-[6-14C]glucose contributed equally to newly synthesized nucleic acids, suggesting that ribose-5-phosphate needed for this synthesis is contributed by the non-oxidative activity of HMS. These results imply that a major portion of parasite HMS activity and the activated HMS of the host cell are devoted to counteract the endogenously generated oxidative stress.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

A biotin derivative blocks parasite induced novel permeation pathways in Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes.

The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum infects human erythrocytes, and it induces an increased rate of uptake into the infected cell of a range of solutes, including essential nutrients required for parasite development. Several models have been proposed for the mechanism(s) underlying parasite-induced solute uptake, each differing with respect to the site of entry into infected cells. We show that a biotin derivative that is excluded from non-infected erythrocytes gains access to infected erythrocytes via a pathway that is inhibited by compounds shown previously to block the pathways responsible for the increased uptake of solutes. The derivative was found to bind erythrocyte cytoskeletal proteins and to hemoglobin, providing evidence that the novel pathways are in the erythrocyte membrane and allow direct access of solutes to the erythrocyte cytosol. The derivative inhibited its own uptake and blocked the parasite-induced transport of other solutes. In whole-cell patch-clamp analyses, biotinylation of infected erythrocytes caused significant decrease in a parasite-induced outward rectifying conductance. In vitro, biotinylation of trophozoite-stage parasitized erythrocytes delayed parasite development. Treatment of infected cells in the final developmental stage abrogated the parasite's ability to complete development. The data are consistent with the novel pathways playing an important role in parasite growth.

Animals↗