Fatal disseminated Toxoplasma gondii infection in a captive harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

A 7-year-old female harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), born and held in captivity, suffered from reduced consciousness, imprecise and circling swimming movements and long phases of immobility over a period of 3 weeks. The animal died during treatment in a Danish open sea facility. Pathological examination revealed multifocal pyogranulomatous to necrotizing meningoencephalomyelitis, ganglioneuritis, plexus chorioiditis, myocarditis, hepatitis and adrenalitis with few intralesional protozoal tachyzoites and bradyzoites within cysts. Immunohistochemistry was positive for Toxoplasma gondii antigen within the lesions. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the presence of T. gondii-specific genome fragments was confirmed. A multilocus PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using nine unlinked marker regions (nSAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1 and Apico) resulted in the identification of T. gondii type II (variant Apico Type I), which is the T. gondii genotype dominating in Germany. This is the first description of disseminated fatal toxoplasmosis in a captive harbour porpoise that lived in an open sea basin. Surface water contaminated with toxoplasma oocysts is regarded as the most likely source of infection

IL-5 expressed by CD4+ lymphocytes from Echinococcus multilocularis-infected patients

IL-5 is a major factor inducing differentiation of B lymphocytes into immunoglobulin-producing cells as well as a main regulator of eosinophils. Recently, we have shown that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with alveolar echinococcosis (AE) express IL-5 mRNA after stimulation with crude Echinococcus multilocularis (E.m.) antigen. To characterize the observed response in lymphocyte subpopulations, we cultured patients' PBMC in the presence of E.m. crude antigen for 18 h. PBMC were separated from seven patients by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (EPICSorter) into CD4+ and CD8+ subpopulations and from an additional seven patients by magnetic cell sorting (MACS) into CD4+, CD8+ and the CD4+/CD8+ depleted fractions. mRNA was detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the cytokines IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, as well as for β-actin as control. IL-4 and IFN-γ expression was positive in all of the patients in the stimulated CD4+ subgroup. IL-5 mRNA expression was detected in eight out of 14 CD4+ samples (58%) and not observed in the other subpopulations, or the unstimulated and healthy controls. Co-expression of other Th2 cytokines in the eight patients expressing IL-5 mRNA was found in five patients for IL-3 and in seven for IL-10. Expression of IL-5 and both Th2 cytokines (IL-3 and IL-10) was only observed in patients judged as critically ill. Out of the six patients who were regarded as cured after radical operation or as stabilized with or without chemotherapy, only two expressed IL-5. Out of those eight patients considered as critically ill, six expressed IL-5 mRNA and five of these co-expressed IL-3 and IL-10. Thus, we conclude that specific antigenic challenge of PBMC from patients with active or previous AE induces an IL-5 response of CD4+ lymphocytes. The expression of Th2-type interleukin mRNA is significantly more frequent in patients clinically judged as progressive. Furthermore, IgE was elevated only in patients regarded as critically ill (six out of eight). In none of the patients were eosinophils elevated. These data support a Th2-type immune response in patients with chronic E. multilocularis infection

EmTIP, a T-Cell Immunomodulatory Protein Secreted by the Tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis Is Important

Background Alveolar echinococcosis (AE), caused by the metacestode of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, is a lethal zoonosis associated with host immunomodulation. T helper cells are instrumental to control the disease in the host. Whereas Th1 cells can restrict parasite proliferation, Th2 immune responses are associated with parasite proliferation. Although the early phase of host colonization by E. multilocularis is dominated by a potentially parasitocidal Th1 immune response, the molecular basis of this response is unknown. Principal Findings We describe EmTIP, an E. multilocularis homologue of the human T-cell immunomodulatory protein, TIP. By immunohistochemistry we show EmTIP localization to the intercellular space within parasite larvae. Immunoprecipitation and Western blot experiments revealed the presence of EmTIP in the excretory/secretory (E/S) products of parasite primary cell cultures, representing the early developing metacestode, but not in those of mature metacestode vesicles. Using an in vitro T-cell stimulation assay, we found that primary cell E/S products promoted interferon (IFN)-γ release by murine CD4+ T-cells, whereas metacestode E/S products did not. IFN-γ release by T-cells exposed to parasite products was abrogated by an anti-EmTIP antibody. When recombinantly expressed, EmTIP promoted IFN-γ release by CD4+ T-cells in vitro. After incubation with anti-EmTIP antibody, primary cells showed an impaired ability to proliferate and to form metacestode vesicles in vitro. Conclusions We provide for the first time a possible explanation for the early Th1 response observed during E. multilocularis infections. Our data indicate that parasite primary cells release a T-cell immunomodulatory protein, EmTIP, capable of promoting IFN-γ release by CD4+ T-cells, which is probably driving or supporting the onset of the early Th1 response during AE. The impairment of primary cell proliferation and the inhibition of metacestode vesicle formation by anti-EmTIP antibodies suggest that this factor fulfills an important role in early E. multilocularis development within the intermediate host