Prevalence of Giardia Assemblages Among Equines in Jordan

A cross-sectional study was carried out on 400 equine holding (326 horses and 74 donkeys) samples to determine the prevalence of Giardia assemblages A, B, and E in Jordan. Identifying the Giardia assemblages was carried out using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a screening test and PCR-RFLP targeting β-giardin loci. In addition, polymerase chain reaction targeting triose phosphate isomerase gene specific for assemblages A and B were used as confirmatory. Thirty-four samples tested positive by ELISA for Giardia with an apparent prevalence of 8.5%. The PCR-RFLP test confirmed Giardia assemblages in 30 of the 34 ELISA-positive samples giving a true prevalence of 7.7% (95% confidence interval: 4.8–10.1). Of the 30 positive animals/holdings, 18, 4, and 8 had assemblages A, B, and E. Assemblage A was significantly (P < .05) more prevalent when compared to assemblages B and E. The total infection rates of Giardia, assemblages B and E were significantly (P < .05, chi-square) higher in donkeys 14.8%, 2.7%, and 5.5% compared to horses 5.8%, 0.6%, and 1.2%, respectively. Analysis of risk factors revealed that only season was significantly associated with the different Giardia assemblages. Autumn (odds ratio [OR] = 0.09) was associated with Giardia infection regardless of the assemblage type as reducing factor. The odds of infection of assemblages A and E increased in winter (OR = 6.8) and spring (OR = 4.5), respectively. Giardia assemblages A, B, and E infect both horses and donkeys in Jordan with potential impact on human and animal health, and the odds of infections is significantly associated with season

Expression plasticity of Phlebotomus papatasi salivary gland genes in distinct ecotopes through the sand fly season

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sand fly saliva can drive the outcome of <it>Leishmania </it>infection in animal models, and salivary components have been postulated as vaccine candidates against leishmaniasis. In the sand fly <it>Phlebotomus papatasi</it>, natural sugar-sources modulate the activity of proteins involved in meal digestion, and possibly influence vectorial capacity. However, only a handful of studies have assessed the variability of salivary components in sand flies, focusing on the effects of environmental factors in natural habitats. In order to better understand such interactions, we compared the expression profiles of nine <it>P. papatasi </it>salivary gland genes of specimens inhabiting different ecological habitats in Egypt and Jordan and throughout the sand fly season in each habitat.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The majority of investigated genes were up-regulated in specimens from Swaymeh late in the season, when the availability of sugar sources is reduced due to water deprivation. On the other hand, these genes were not up-regulated in specimens collected from Aswan, an irrigated area less susceptible to drought effects.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Expression plasticity of genes involved with vectorial capacity in disease vectors may play an important epidemiological role in the establishment of diseases in natural habitats.</p

Profiling of human acquired immunity against the salivary proteins of Phlebotomus papatasi reveals clusters of differential immunoreactivity

Citation: Geraci, Nicholas S., Rami M. Mukbel, Michael T. Kemp, Mariha N. Wadsworth, Emil Lesho, Gwen M. Stayback, Matthew M. Champion, et al. 2014. “Profiling of Human Acquired Immunity Against the Salivary Proteins of Phlebotomus Papatasi Reveals Clusters of Differential Immunoreactivity.” The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 90 (5): 923–38. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.13-0130.Phlebotomus papatasi sand flies are among the primary vectors of Leishmania major parasites from Morocco to the Indian subcontinent and from southern Europe to central and eastern Africa. Antibody-based immunity to sand fly salivary gland proteins in human populations remains a complex contextual problem that is not yet fully understood. We profiled the immunoreactivities of plasma antibodies to sand fly salivary gland sonicates (SGSs) from 229 human blood donors residing in different regions of sand fly endemicity throughout Jordan and Egypt as well as 69 US military personnel, who were differentially exposed to P. papatasi bites and L. major infections in Iraq. Compared with plasma from control region donors, antibodies were significantly immunoreactive to five salivary proteins (12, 26, 30, 38, and 44 kDa) among Jordanian and Egyptian donors, with immunoglobulin G4 being the dominant anti-SGS isotype. US personnel were significantly immunoreactive to only two salivary proteins (38 and 14 kDa). Using k-means clustering, donors were segregated into four clusters distinguished by unique immunoreactivity profiles to varying combinations of the significantly immunogenic salivary proteins. SGS-induced cellular proliferation was diminished among donors residing in sand fly-endemic regions. These data provide a clearer picture of human immune responses to sand fly vector salivary constituents

Leishmania amazonensis and macrophage interactions: immune factors necessary to kill the parasite

The in vivo differential killing of L. amazonensis and L. major in C3H mice were reflected in vitro using BMM under identical activation conditions. We have shown that this delayed intracellular L. amazonensis killing when compared to L. major, occurred under conditions of similar levels of NO and iNOS. Only when superoxide was induced in the presence of NO, was L. amazonensis killed in vitro to a similar level as L. major. This results indicates not only the host immune response to the two species of Leishmania is different, but also the requirements for their intracellular killing are different. Intracellular killing of L. amazonensis amastigotes inside macrophages was induced by the addition of DLN cells from L. major infected mice. This L. major antigen-specific DLN cell activation of BMM was induced by a combination of CD4+ T cells and B cells, by which the intracellular L. amazonensis killing in this system was dependent on secreted factors including antibody and superoxide production. The antibody dependent killing of L. amazonensis was not reproducible using immune serum alone or with either IFN-gamma or CD4+ T cells from L. major cells infected mice. These results indicate that other factors are needed in addition to antibody to induce intracellular parasite killing. The factors needed may be required to induce effective macrophages antibody receptor (FcR) expression and promote macrophage activation and superoxide secretion. Leishmania infection of macrophages influenced FcR expression of these receptors by downregulating the mRNA expression of the activator FcgammaI receptor (CD64) and upregulating the mRNA expression of the inhibitory receptor FcgammaRII (CD32). DLN cells from L. major secrete factor(s) to downregulate CD32 mRNA expression and at the same time induces the mRNA expression of CD64 in a balance to allow macrophage activation by antibodies and induction of superoxide to kill intracellular L. amazonensis amastigotes. These studies emphasis the necessity to have superoxide as a key factor, in the presence of nitric oxide, to kill L. amazonensis and it is seems that one of the major resistance strategies for L. amazonensis survival inside the macrophages is to prevent superoxide production.</p

Enzootski nazalni adenokarcinom u malih preživača u Jordanu

Enzootic nasal adenocarcinoma (ENA) is a viral-associated tumor of the secretory epithelium of the nasal passages of small ruminants. The tumor is locally invasive but not metastatic. Although disease prevalence (up to 15%) and geographic distribution have been reported in the literature throughout most of the world (except Australia and New Zealand), the disease has until now remained unreported in Jordan. In this report, we describe the occurrence, clinical signs, radiographic signs and pathological features of the disease in a series of cases in Awassi sheep (3 cases) and Damascus breed goats (2 cases) for the first time in Jordan. Overall, the affected animals were adults (3-5 years of age), all females, with variable degrees of facial and nasal deformities resulting in difficulty in respiration. Radiographic examination of the skull revealed soft tissue density mass originating in the nasal turbinate and invading the surrounding nasal structures. Cytological examination of fine needle aspirate indicated low-grade carcinoma. All animals were humanely euthanized and the nasal passages were explored. Variable size masses were removed and histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of enzootic nasal adenocarcinoma.Enzootski nazalni adenokarcinom (ENA) je tumor sekrecijskog epitela nazalnih putova etiološki povezan s virusom u malih preživača. Tumor je lokalno invazivan, ali ne metastazira. Premda postoje izviješća o njegovoj pojavnosti (do 15 %) i geografskoj rasprostranjenosti gotovo u cijelom svijetu (osim Australije i Novog Zelanda), u Jordanu je ostao nezamjećen. U ovom radu opisana je pojavnost, klinički znaci, rendgenološki nalazi i patološke promjene tog tumora u nizu slučajeva u Awassi pamine ovaca (3 slučaja) i pasmine koza damask (2 slučaja) prvi puta u Jordanu. Općenito, životinje s tumorom bile su odrasle (u dobi od 3-5 godina), sve su bile ženke s različitim stupnjevima deformacija lica i nosa, koje su rezultirale otežanim disanjem. Rendgenološkim pregledom lubanje otkrivena je masa mekane gustoće tkiva koja je potjecala iz nazalne školjke, a koja invadira okolne nazalne strukture. Citološkom pretragom aspirata tkiva pomoću tanke igle, otkrivena je niska invazija karcinomom. Sve su životinje eutanazirane sukladno s etičkim normama, a nosni putovi su pregledani. Mase tkiva različite veličine bile su uklonjene, a histopatološka pretraga je potvrdila dijagnozu enzootskog nazalnog adenokarcinoma

Complement Receptor 3 Deficiency Influences Lesion Progression during Leishmania major Infection in BALB/c Mice▿

Leishmania major is an obligately intracellular protozoan parasite that causes cutaneous leishmaniasis. Like numerous intracellular pathogens, Leishmania exploits cell surface receptors as a means of entry into host cells. Complement receptor 3 (CR3; also called CD11b/CD18), a β2 integrin on phagocytic cells, is one such receptor. Ligation of CR3 has been shown to inhibit the production of interleukin-12, the cytokine that is pivotal in establishing the cell-mediated response necessary to combat intracellular infection. Here we investigate the role that CR3 plays in the establishment and progression of cutaneous leishmaniaisis in vivo. Dermal lesions of wild-type BALB/c mice are characteristically progressive and lead to extensive tissue necrosis coupled with elevated parasite burdens; CD11b-deficient BALB/c mice, however, demonstrate an intermediate phenotype characterized by chronic lesions and a reduced incidence of tissue damage. Infection followed by a reinfection challenge indicates that both susceptible (BALB/c) and resistant (C57BL/6) mice, regardless of CD11b status, develop resistance to L. major. In addition, CD11b does not bias the T helper cytokine response to L. major infection. Our results further indicate that CD11b is not necessary for disease resolution in resistant mice; rather, this protein appears to play a minor role in susceptibility