Intestinal cDC1s provide cues required for CD4+ T cell-mediated resistance to Cryptosporidium.

Cryptosporidium is an enteric pathogen and a prominent cause of diarrheal disease worldwide. Control of Cryptosporidium requires CD4+ T cells, but how protective CD4+ T cell responses are generated is poorly understood. Here, Cryptosporidium parasites that express MHCII-restricted model antigens were generated to understand the basis for CD4+ T cell priming and effector function. These studies revealed that parasite-specific CD4+ T cells are primed in the draining mesenteric lymph node but differentiate into Th1 cells in the gut to provide local parasite control. Although type 1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1s) were dispensable for CD4+ T cell priming, they were required for CD4+ T cell gut homing and were a source of IL-12 at the site of infection that promoted local production of IFN-γ. Thus, cDC1s have distinct roles in shaping CD4+ T cell responses to an enteric infection: first, to promote gut homing from the mesLN, and second, to drive effector responses in the intestine.

Characterization of intestinal mononuclear phagocyte subsets in young ruminants at homeostasis and during Cryptosporidium parvum infection.

Introduction: Cryptosporidiosis is a poorly controlled zoonosis caused by an intestinal parasite, Cryptosporidium parvum, with a high prevalence in livestock (cattle, sheep, and goats). Young animals are particularly susceptible to this infection due to the immaturity of their intestinal immune system. In a neonatal mouse model, we previously demonstrated the importance of the innate immunity and particularly of type 1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1) among mononuclear phagocytes (MPs) in controlling the acute phase of C. parvum infection. These immune populations are well described in mice and humans, but their fine characterization in the intestine of young ruminants remained to be further explored. Methods: Immune cells of the small intestinal Peyer's patches and of the distal jejunum were isolated from naive lambs and calves at different ages. This was followed by their fine characterization by flow cytometry and transcriptomic analyses (q-RT-PCR and single cell RNAseq (lamb cells)). Newborn animals were infected with C. parvum, clinical signs and parasite burden were quantified, and isolated MP cells were characterized by flow cytometry in comparison with age matched control animals. Results: Here, we identified one population of macrophages and three subsets of cDC (cDC1, cDC2, and a minor cDC subset with migratory properties) in the intestine of lamb and calf by phenotypic and targeted gene expression analyses. Unsupervised single-cell transcriptomic analysis confirmed the identification of these four intestinal MP subpopulations in lamb, while highlighting a deeper diversity of cell subsets among monocytic and dendritic cells. We demonstrated a weak proportion of cDC1 in the intestine of highly susceptible newborn lambs together with an increase of these cells within the first days of life and in response to the infection. Discussion: Considering cDC1 importance for efficient parasite control in the mouse model, one may speculate that the cDC1/cDC2 ratio plays also a key role for the efficient control of C. parvum in young ruminants. In this study, we established the first fine characterization of intestinal MP subsets in young lambs and calves providing new insights for comparative immunology of the intestinal MP system across species and for future investigations on host-Cryptosporidium interactions in target species.

The nematode (Ascaris suum) intestine is a location of synergistic anthelmintic effects of Cry5B and levamisole.

A novel group of biocidal compounds are the Crystal 3D (Cry) and Cytolytic (Cyt) proteins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Some Bt Cry proteins have a selective nematocidal activity, with Cry5B being the most studied. Cry5B kills nematode parasites by binding selectively to membrane glycosphingolipids, then forming pores in the cell membranes of the intestine leading to damage. Cry5B selectively targets multiple species of nematodes from different clades and has no effect against mammalian hosts. Levamisole is a cholinergic anthelmintic that acts by selectively opening L-subtype nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ion-channels (L-AChRs) that have been found on muscles of nematodes. A synergistic nematocidal interaction between levamisole and Cry5B at the whole-worm level has been described previously, but the location, mechanism and time-course of this synergism is not known. In this study we follow the timeline of the effects of levamisole and Cry5B on the Ca2+ levels in enterocyte cells in the intestine of Ascaris suum using fluorescence imaging. The peak Ca2+ responses to levamisole were observed after approximately 10 minutes while the peak responses to activated Cry5B were observed after approximately 80 minutes. When levamisole and Cry5B were applied simultaneously, we observed that the responses to Cry5B were bigger and occurred sooner than when it was applied by itself. It is proposed that the synergism is due to the cytoplasmic Ca2+ overload that is induced by the combination of levamisole opening Ca2+ permeable L-subtype nAChRs and the Ca2+ permeable Cry5B toxin pores produced in the enterocyte plasma membranes. The effect of levamisole potentiates and speeds the actions of Cry5B that gives rise to bigger Ca2+ overloads that accelerates cell-death of the enterocytes.

Immunology and pathology of echinostomes and other intestinal trematodes.

Intestinal trematodes constitute a major group of helminths that parasitize humans and animals with relevant morbidity and mortality. Despite the importance of the intestinal trematodes in medical and veterinary sciences, immunology and pathology of these helminth infections have been neglected for years. Apart from the work focused on the members of the family Echnistomatidae, there are only very isolated and sporadic studies on the representatives of other families of digeneans, which makes a compilation of all these studies necessary. In the present review, the most salient literature on the immunology and pathology of intestinal trematodes in their definitive hosts in examined. Emphasis will be placed on members of the echinostomatidae family, since it is the group in which the most work has been carried out. However, we also review the information on selected species of the families Brachylaimidae, Diplostomidae, Gymnophallidae, and Heterophyidae. For most of these families, coverage is considered under the following headings: (i) Background; (ii) Pathology of the infection; (iii) Immunology of the infection; and (iv) Human infections.

Morphological and molecular data on Pseudozoogonoides ugui Shimazu, 1974 (Digenea: Microphalloidea: Zoogonidae) ex Pseudaspius hakonensis (Günther, 1877) and taxonomic problems in Zoogoninae genera.

New morphological and molecular data were generated for trematodes recovered from the intestines of the fish Pseudaspius hakonensis from two locations in the south of the Russian Far East. Morphologically, these trematodes are identical to Pseudozoogonoides ugui (Microphalloidea: Zoogonidae) from Japan. According to results of phylogenetic analysis based on 28S rDNA sequence data, P. ugui was closely related to Zoogonoides viviparus, and P. subaequiporus appears as a sister taxon to these two species. Genetic distance values, calculated based on both 28S rDNA and ITS2 rDNA, between P. ugui and Z. viviparus represents an interspecific differentiation level. Our results have an ambiguous explanation, indicating that the implication of the presence of one or two compact vitellarial aggregations for the differentiation of Zoogonoides and Pseudozoogonoides should be reconsidered or that our results open up the question of the taxonomical status of trematodes previously denoted as Z. viviparus and P. subaequiporus.

Paracapillaria (Ophidiocapillaria) siamensis sp. nov. (Nematoda: Trichuroidea): a new nematode in Naja kaouthia from Thailand.

A comprehensive investigation, incorporating both morphological and molecular analyses, has unveiled the existence of a hitherto unknown nematode species, Paracapillaria (Ophidiocapillaria) siamensis sp. nov., residing in the intestine of the monocled cobra, Naja kaouthia, in the central region of Thailand. This study integrates morphological characteristics, morphometric examination, scanning electron microscopy and molecular phylogenetic analysis (COI, 18S rRNA and ITS1 genes). The findings place the newly described species within the subgenus Ophidiocapillaria, elucidating its distinctive characteristics, including a frame-like proximal spicule shape, approximate lengths of 19 000 and 22 500 µm with approximate widths of 90 and 130 µm for males and females, 39‒45 stichocytes, elevated lips without protrusion, a dorsal bacillary band stripe with an irregular pattern of bacillary cells and evidence of intestinal infection. These features serve to differentiate it from other species within the same subgenus, notably Paracapillaria (Ophidiocapillaria) najae De, , a species coexisting P. siamensis sp. nov. in the monocled cobra from the same locality. This study addresses the co-infection of the novel species and P. najae within the same snake host, marking the second documented instance of a paracapillariid species in the monocled cobra within the family Elapidae. The genetic characterization supports the formal recognition of P. siamensis sp. nov. as a distinct species, thereby underscoring its taxonomic differentiation within the Capillariidae family. This research identifies and characterizes the new nematode species, contributing valuable insights into the taxonomy of this nematode.

Effects of dietary water-soluble extract of rosemary supplementation on growth performance and intestinal health of broilers infected with Eimeria tenella.

This study was conducted to explore the effect of dietary supplementation of water-soluble extract of rosemary (WER) on growth performance and intestinal health of broilers infected with Eimeria tenella (E. tenella), and evaluate the anticoccidial activity of WER. 360 1-d-old Chinese indigenous male yellow-feathered broiler chickens were randomly allocated to six groups: blank control (BC) group and infected control (IC) group received a basal diet; positive control (PC) group, received a basal diet supplemented with 200 mg/kg diclazuril; WER100, WER200, and WER300 groups received a basal diet containing 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg WER, respectively. On day 21, all birds in the infected groups (IC, PC, WER100, WER200, and WER300) were orally gavaged with 1 mL phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) of 8 × 104 sporulated oocysts of E. tenella, and birds in the BC group were administrated an aliquot of PBS dilution. The results showed that dietary supplementation of 200 mg/kg WER increased the average daily gain of broilers compared to the IC group from days 22 to 29 (P < 0.001). The anticoccidial index values of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg WER were 137.49, 157.41, and 144.22, respectively, which indicated that WER exhibited moderate anticoccidial activity. Compared to the IC group, the groups supplemented with WER (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg) significantly lowered fecal oocyst output (P < 0.001) and cecal coccidia oocysts, alleviated intestinal damage and maintained the integrity of intestinal epithelium. Dietary supplementation with WER significantly improved antioxidant capacity, elevated the levels of secretory immunoglobulin A, and diminished inflammation within the cecum, particularly at a dosage of 200 mg/kg. The results of this study indicated that dietary supplementation with 200 mg/kg WER could improve broiler growth performance and alleviate intestinal damage caused by coccidiosis.

Avian coccidiosis, a prevalent parasitic disease caused by Eimeria protozoa, leads to significant economic losses in the global poultry industry. Currently, the control of coccidiosis in chickens primarily relies on chemical and ionophore anticoccidials. However, the long-term use of these compounds has resulted in the development of drug-resistant strains, presenting a critical challenge. Additionally, the toxic and side effects of ionophore anticoccidials have become increasingly apparent. Thus, there is an urgent need to find economical and environmentally friendly measures to control coccidiosis in chickens. In this study, we established a model of Eimeria tenella infection in broilers to explore whether the water-soluble extract of rosemary (WER) could serve as an alternative method for controlling avian coccidiosis. Our results showed that dietary supplementation with WER (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg) had a beneficial anticoccidial effect, alleviating intestinal damage caused by coccidiosis by enhancing the intestinal antioxidant defense and activating the immune function of the infected broilers. Specifically, dietary supplementation with 200 mg/kg WER emerged as a promising strategy for controlling avian coccidiosis in the poultry industry.

Effects of different levels of pistachio (Pistachia vera) green hull aqueous extract on performance, intestinal morphology and antioxidant capacity in Eimeria challenged broilers.

A total of 576-day-old Ross 308 broilers chicks (male) were used to evaluate the effect of various levels of pistachio green hull aqueous extract (PHE) and Eimeria challenge on the growth performance, intestinal health and antioxidant capacity. During infection period (25-42 d), treatments included: 1) control + unchallenged (negative control, NC), 2) 200 ppm PHE + unchallenged, 3) 300 ppm PHE + unchallenged, 4) 400 ppm PHE + unchallenged, 5) control + challenged (positive control, PC), 6) 200 ppm PHE + challenged, 7) 300 ppm PHE + challenged and 8) 400 ppm PHE + challenged (with 6 replications for each treatment). The outcomes revealed that in the challenged birds, average body weight gain (ABW), daily weight gain (DWG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) linearly improved with increasing the PHE levels (P < 0.05). Infected broilers had lower daily feed intake (DFI) compared to unchallenged birds (P < 0.05). Villus height (VH), villus height to crypt depth (VH: CD) ratio and villus surface area (VSA) reduced linearly (P < 0.05), while muscle layer thickness (MT) increased linearly in challenged birds (P < 0.05). The consumption of the PHE significantly reduced the excreta oocytes and duodenum and jejunum lesion scores in Eimeria-challenged broilers (P < 0.05). By increasing the PHE levels, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels increased (P < 0.05), while the Eimeria challenge reduced TAC, SOD, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels (P <0.05). In general, the use of PHE in the broilers diet improved the antioxidant capacity, birds performance, but diminished the excreta oocytes and lesion scores with no negative effect on the intestinal morphology.

Morphology, genetic characterization and phylogeny of Moniliformis tupaia n. sp. (Acanthocephala: Moniliformidae) from the northern tree shrew Tupaia belangeri chinensis Anderson (Mammalia: Scandentia).

A new species of Moniliformis, M. tupaia n. sp. is described using integrated morphological methods (light and scanning electron microscopy) and molecular techniques (sequencing and analysing the nuclear 18S, ITS, 28S regions and mitochondrial cox1 and cox2 genes), based on specimens collected from the intestine of the northern tree shrew Tupaia belangeri chinensis Anderson (Scandentia: Tupaiidae) in China. Phylogenetic analyses show that M. tupaia n. sp. is a sister to M. moniliformis in the genus Moniliformis, and also challenge the systematic status of Nephridiacanthus major. Moniliformis tupaia n. sp. represents the third Moniliformis species reported from China.

First Report of Intestinal Cestode Infection in a Berylline Hummingbird (Saucerottia beryllina) in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Up to now, five cestode species have been reported infecting five hummingbird species. To date, there have been no reports of cestode infections in hummingbirds in Mexico. METHODS: A Berylline hummingbird (Saucerottia beryllina) was found dead in a backyard at Toluca City, Mexico, and a window collision was assumed as the cause of death. The bird was preserved in 10% neutral buffered formalin for routine histological examination. RESULTS: At the histological study, liver parenchymal disruption was observed. This lesion could be the result of the assume collision. No lesions were observed in other tissues examined. Conspicuous cestode structures were observed in the lumen of the small intestine. Structure of cestodes, as revealed from histological sections, suggests their position in the genus Anonchotaenia Cohn, 1900 (family Paruterinidae). CONCLUSION: This is the first report of intestinal cestodosis in a Berylline hummingbird (S. beryllina) in Mexico.

n-3 enriched Fish oil diet enhanced intestinal barrier integrity in broilers after Eimeria infection.

Coccidiosis caused by Eimeria spp. results in substantial economic losses in the poultry industry. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids-enriched fish oil on growth performance, intestinal barrier integrity, and intestinal immune response of broilers challenged with Eimeria spp. A total of 576 fourteen-day-old broilers were randomly assigned in a completely randomized design with a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement, comprising 2 diets supplemented with either 5% fish oil or 5% soybean oil, and 3 Eimeria spp. infection levels: a nonchallenge control, a low dose of Eimeria challenge, and a high challenge dose. The results of the study revealed significant interactions between diet and Eimeria challenge to parameters of gut barrier integrity and feed intake. A significant interaction was observed in feed intake between 5 and 8 d postinfection (DPI), where the fish oil groups exhibited a higher amount of feed intake compared to the soybean oil diet groups after coccidiosis infection. The effects of the fish oil diet resulted in enhanced gut barrier integrity, as evidenced by a trend of decreased gastrointestinal leakage and a lower mean of small intestine lesion scores after Eimeria challenge. Additionally, significant interactions were noted between Eimeria spp. challenge and diet regarding jejunal crypt depth. The positive impact of the fish oil diet was particularly noticeable with the high Eimeria challenge dose. Overall, these findings underscore the relationship between the fish oil diet and Eimeria challenge on broiler chicken intestinal health. Dietary supplementation of fish oil has the potential to maintain small intestine barrier integrity with severe Eimeria infection conditions.

Identification and characterization of the receptors of a microneme adhesive repeat domain of Eimeria maxima microneme protein 3 in chicken intestine epithelial cells.

Eimeria maxima microneme protein 3 (EmMIC3) is pivotal in the initial recognition and attachment of E. maxima sporozoites to host cells. EmMIC3 comprises 5 tandem Type I microneme adhesive repeat (MAR) domains, among which MAR2 of EmMIC3 (EmMAR2) has been identified as the primary determinant of EmMIC3-mediated tissue tropism. Nonetheless, the mechanisms through which EmMAR2 guides the parasite to its invasion site through interactions with host receptors remained largely uncharted. In this study, we employed yeast two-hybrid (YTH) screening assays and shotgun LC-MS/MS analysis to identify EmMAR2 receptors in chicken intestine epithelial cells. ATPase H+ transporting V1 subunit G1 (ATP6V1G1), receptor accessory protein 5 (REEP5), transmembrane p24 trafficking protein (TMED2), and delta 4-desaturase sphingolipid 1 (DEGS1) were characterized as the 4 receptors of EmMAR2 by both assays. By blocking the interaction of EmMAR2 with each receptor using specific antibodies, we observed varying levels of inhibition on the invasion of E. maxima sporozoites, and the combined usage of all 4 antibodies resulted in the most pronounced inhibitory effect. Additionally, the spatio-temporal expression profiles of ATP6V1G1, REEP5, TMED2, and DEGS1 were assessed. The tissue-specific expression patterns of EmMAR2 receptors throughout E. maxima infection suggested that ATP6V1G1 and DEGS1 might play a role in early-stage invasion, whereas TMED2 could be involved in middle and late-stage invasion and REEP5 and DEGS1 may participate primarily in late-stage invasion. Consequently, E. maxima may employ a multitude of ligand-receptor interactions to drive invasion during different stages of infection. This study marks the first report of EmMAR2 receptors at the interface between E. maxima and the host, providing insights into the invasion mechanisms of E. maxima and the pathogenesis of coccidiosis.

Epidemiological Survey on Post Mortem Coccidiosis in Broiler Chicken in Bejaia Province, Northern Algeria.

AIM: The epidemiological survey was carried out to determine the prevalence of eimeriosis in broiler chickens slaughtered depending the season, to determine the different Eimeria species causing the coccidiosis in poultry farms; and to assess the impact of Eimeria parasite on histomorphological structure and oxidative stress parameters of the intestine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted from December 2018 to December 2019 in the province of Bejaia, Algeria. The intestines chickens (n = 366) were obtained immediately after slaughter, each cut into different segments (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and caecum). Microscopic and parasitological examinations were performed according to standard procedures. Histomorphometric measurements of intestine were obtained using Image J software. Oxidative stress parameters were carried out from intestine tissue. RESULTS: Eimeria spp. were detected in 73.77% (95% CI 71.20-76.34) of broiler gut samples. The prevalence varied significantly according to the season, with the lowest rates in winter (42.81%, 95% CI 40.35-45.27) and the highest in autumn (97.92%, 95% CI 97.6-99.4). All seven Eimeria species were identified, most commonly E. necatrix (27.70%), E. brunetti (26.47%), and E. tenella (20.96%). The mean lesion score ranged from 1.51 ± 0.05 to 1.79 ± 0.04. Significant differences in VH/CD ratio of intestinal epithelium (P < 0.001) were observed in different intestinal portions of infested broiler chickens compared to non-infested. The mean MDA concentration of intestinal segments was significantly higher in Eimeria species infested broilers compared to non-infested (P < 0.05). The results show at least one difference in CAT, SOD, and ABTS-+ concentrations (P < 0.05) in both chicken's groups. CONCLUSION: Our results revealed that coccidiosis is extremely prevalent in slaughtered broilers, with an abundance of pathogenic Eimeria species. Also, it was concluded that infestation induces tissue structure alterations which coincides with the oxidative damage.

Novel cytoskeletal traits in the intestinal parasites (Squirmida, Platyproteum vivax) of Pacific peanut worms (Sipuncula, Phascolosoma agassizii).

The cytoskeletal organization of a squirmid, namely Platyproteum vivax, was investigated with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) to refine inferences about convergent evolution among intestinal parasites of marine invertebrates. Platyproteum inhabits Pacific peanut worms (Phascolosoma agassizii) and has traits that are similar to other lineages of myzozoan parasites, namely gregarine apicomplexans within Selenidium, such as conspicuous feeding stages, called "trophozoites," capable of dynamic undulations. SEM and CLSM of P. vivax revealed an inconspicuous flagellar apparatus and a uniform array of longitudinal microtubules organized in bundles (LMBs). Extreme flattening of the trophozoites and a consistently oblique morphology of the anterior end provided a reliable way to distinguish dorsal and ventral surfaces. CLSM revealed a novel system of microtubules oriented in the flattened dorsoventral plane. Most of these dorsoventral microtubule bundles (DVMBs) had a punctate distribution and were evenly spaced along a curved line spanning the longitudinal axis of the trophozoites. This configuration of microtubules is inferred to function in maintaining the flattened shape of the trophozoites and facilitate dynamic undulations. The novel traits in Platyproteum are consistent with phylogenomic data showing that this lineage is only distantly related to Selenidium and other marine gregarine apicomplexans with dynamic intestinal trophozoites.

In vitro culture and morphology of Neoechinorhynchus buttnerae (Eoacanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) collected from the intestine of tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) farmed in the Brazilian Amazon.

The tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) is a species of great economic importance for fish farming in the Brazilian Amazon, and acanthocephaliasis caused by Neoechinorhynchus buttnerae (Golvan 1956) represents an obstacle to its production due to it causing severe morphological damage to the intestinal mucosa, thus impairing the absorption of nutrients and causing weight loss in the fish. Therefore, the establishment of in vitro protocols for evaluation of anthelmintic drugs is the first step to development of effective measures for in vivo control of this endoparasite. The present study evaluated the in vitro survival of N. buttnerae maintained in Eagle's minimum essential medium under different culture conditions. Three assays were carried out to evaluate whether temperature, supplementation with the antibiotics penicillin and streptomycin, and culture medium replacement or no replacement would influence the motility and morphology of the acanthocephalans. The results of the Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that the use of culture in minimum essential medium together with penicillin and streptomycin prolonged the parasite's survival when kept at temperatures of 24 °C or 28 °C. We describe herein for first time an alternative protocol that is ideal for the in vitro culture of N. buttnerae. As such, this protocol ensures greater reliability in further in vitro studies with N. buttnerae.

A planetary health innovation for disease, food and water challenges in Africa.

Many communities in low- and middle-income countries globally lack sustainable, cost-effective and mutually beneficial solutions for infectious disease, food, water and poverty challenges, despite their inherent interdependence1-7. Here we provide support for the hypothesis that agricultural development and fertilizer use in West Africa increase the burden of the parasitic disease schistosomiasis by fuelling the growth of submerged aquatic vegetation that chokes out water access points and serves as habitat for freshwater snails that transmit Schistosoma parasites to more than 200 million people globally8-10. In a cluster randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03187366) in which we removed invasive submerged vegetation from water points at 8 of 16 villages (that is, clusters), control sites had 1.46 times higher intestinal Schistosoma infection rates in schoolchildren and lower open water access than removal sites. Vegetation removal did not have any detectable long-term adverse effects on local water quality or freshwater biodiversity. In feeding trials, the removed vegetation was as effective as traditional livestock feed but 41 to 179 times cheaper and converting the vegetation to compost provided private crop production and total (public health plus crop production benefits) benefit-to-cost ratios as high as 4.0 and 8.8, respectively. Thus, the approach yielded an economic incentive-with important public health co-benefits-to maintain cleared waterways and return nutrients captured in aquatic plants back to agriculture with promise of breaking poverty-disease traps. To facilitate targeting and scaling of the intervention, we lay the foundation for using remote sensing technology to detect snail habitats. By offering a rare, profitable, win-win approach to addressing food and water access, poverty alleviation, infectious disease control and environmental sustainability, we hope to inspire the interdisciplinary search for planetary health solutions11 to the many and formidable, co-dependent global grand challenges of the twenty-first century.

Dangerous liaisons: how helminths manipulate the intestinal epithelium.

Intestinal helminths remain highly pervasive throughout the animal kingdom by modulating multiple aspects of the host immune response. The intestinal epithelium functions as a physical barrier as well as a sentinel innate immune tissue with the ability to sense and respond to infectious agents. Although helminths form intimate interactions with the epithelium, comprehensive knowledge about host-helminth interactions at this dynamic interface is lacking. In addition, little is known about the ability of helminths to directly shape the fate of this barrier tissue. Here, we review the diverse pathways by which helminths regulate the epithelium and highlight the emerging field of direct helminth regulation of intestinal stem cell (ISC) fate and function.

Temporal changes of genes associated with intestinal homeostasis in broiler chickens following a single infection with Eimeria acervulina.

Infection with the protozoan parasite Eimeria can cause the economically devastating disease coccidiosis, which is characterized by gross tissue damage and inflammation resulting in blunted villi and altered intestinal homeostasis. Male broiler chickens at 21 d of age were given a single challenge with Eimeria acervulina. Temporal changes in intestinal morphology and gene expression were investigated at 0, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14 d postinfection (dpi). There were increased crypt depths for chickens infected with E. acervulina starting at 3 dpi and continuing to 14 dpi. At 5 and 7 dpi, infected chickens had decreased Mucin2 (Muc2), and Avian beta defensin (AvBD) 6 mRNA at 5 and 7 dpi and decreased AvBD10 mRNA at 7 dpi compared to uninfected chickens. Liver-enriched antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP2) mRNA was decreased at 3, 5, 7, and 14 dpi compared to uninfected chickens. After 7 dpi, there was increased Collagen 3a1 and Notch 1 mRNA compared to uninfected chickens. Marker of proliferation Ki67 mRNA was increased in infected chickens from 3 to 10 dpi. In addition, the presence of E. acervulina was visualized by in situ hybridization (ISH) with an E. acervulina sporozoite surface antigen (Ea-SAG) probe. In E. acervulina infected chickens, Ea-SAG mRNA was only detectable on 5 and 7 dpi by both ISH and qPCR. To further investigate the site of E. acervulina infection, Ea-SAG and Muc2 probes were examined on serial sections. The Muc2 ISH signal was decreased in regions where the Ea-SAG ISH signal was present, suggesting that the decrease in Muc2 by qPCR may be caused by the loss of Muc2 in the localized regions where the E. acervulina had invaded the tissue. Eimeria acervulina appears to manipulate host cells by decreasing their defensive capabilities and thereby allows the infection to propagate freely. Following infection, the intestinal cells upregulate genes that may support regeneration of damaged intestinal tissue.

Inusual hallazgo en paciente cirrótico con anemia crónica e hipereosinofilia usando cápsula endoscópica: a propósito de un caso (video) / Unusual finding in cirrhotic patient with chronic anemia and hypereosinophilia using an endoscopic capsule: a case report (video)

We report a clinical case from a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis who had chronic anemia and carried out several endoscopic studies without evidence of active bleeding, a complementary study with endoscopic capsule was requested to search for a source of bleeding. In the analysis of laboratory data, the presence of hypereosinophilia stands out in parallel. The images obtained in the video capsule study show geoparasites helminth-type. After parasite treatment, anemia improves and the absolute eosinophil count is normalized.

Reportamos el caso de un paciente cirrótico por alcohol con anemia crónica quien se realizó varios estudios endoscópicos sin evidencia de sangrado activo, por tal motivo se solicitó estudio complementario con cápsula endoscópica para búsqueda de fuente de sangrado. En el análisis de los datos de laboratorio paralelamente destaca la presencia de hipereosinofilia. Las imágenes obtenidas en el estudio de la video cápsula muestran varios geoparásitos de tipo helmintos. Posterior al tratamiento antiparasitario mejora la anemia y se normaliza el recuento absoluto de eosinófilos.