Efferocytosis-Driven M2 Macrophage Impairs Fibrotic Encapsulation and Promotes Echinococcus multilocularis Growth in Cotton Rats (Sigmodon hispidus).

Alveolar echinococcosis, caused by Echinococcus multilocularis, exhibits significant species-dependent susceptibility. This study compared the early hepatic tissue responses to E. multilocularis in highly susceptible cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) and laboratory mice (DBA/2 and AKR/N).

First record of Brachylaima asakawai (Trematoda: Brachylaimidae) in a carnivore host, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes schrencki).

Accumulating information on the relationship between hosts and parasites is important to understand their life cycle. Nine Brachylaima spp. species exist in Japan, but their life cycles are not fully understood, partly because of their low prevalence in their definitive hosts.

Synergistic Effects of Anti-echinococcosis Drug Candidates Combined With Atovaquone in Culture Assays and Mice With Primary Infections of Echinococcus multilocularis.

Background Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a fatal zoonotic disease distributed mainly in the Northern Hemisphere. At present, its curative treatment relies on surgery, and the development of effective drugs is needed. We previously demonstrated the anti-echinococcal effect of atovaquone (ATV) as a mitochondrial complex III inhibitor in both in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Narrowing the region of candidate genes that control the development of protoscoleces of Echinococcus multilocularis in the mouse liver.

Alveolar echinococcosis is a zoonosis caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis. In previous studies, QTL analysis using C57BL/6 N (B6) and DBA/2 (D2) which differ in susceptibility suggested the presence of genes on chromosome 1 that control protoscolex development. In this study, we constructed several congenic mice with different chromosome 1 regions substituted to confirm the presence of responsible genes and to narrow down the regions where the responsible genes exist.

Case report: infection in a dog showing gastrointestinal signs in Hokkaido, Japan.

is a cestode that causes human alveolar echinococcosis, a lethal zoonotic disease distributed in the northern hemisphere. The life cycle of this parasite is maintained in nature by voles as intermediate hosts and foxes as definitive hosts in Hokkaido, Japan. Although dogs are also susceptible to the parasite, the infection has been considered typically asymptomatic.

The first record of Brachylaima ezohelicis (Trematoda: Brachylaimidae) in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes schrencki).

Brachylaima spp. are trematodes that have a unique life cycle as they exclusively use land snails as the intermediate host. Although their intermediate host has been well studied, very little information is available about their definitive host, partly as isolation of its adult stage from wild animals is rare.

Mitogenomic exploration supports the historical hypothesis of anthropogenic diffusion of a zoonotic parasite .

Animal movement across regions owing to human activity can lead to the introduction of pathogens, resulting in disease epidemics with medical and socioeconomic significance. Here, we validated the hypothesis that human activity, such as the transportation of infected animals, has played a significant role in introducing the zoonotic parasite into Hokkaido, Japan, by synthesizing and evaluating parasite genetic data in light of historical records. Our analysis indicates that a major genetic group in Hokkaido originated from St.

Killing Two Birds with One Stone: Discovery of Dual Inhibitors of Oxygen and Fumarate Respiration in Zoonotic Parasite, Echinococcus multilocularis.

Ascofuranone (AF), a meroterpenoid isolated from various filamentous fungi, including , has been reported as a potential lead candidate for drug development against parasites and cancer. In this study, we demonstrated that AF and its derivatives are potent anthelminthic agents, particularly against Echinococcus multilocularis, which is the causative agent of alveolar echinococcosis. We measured the inhibitory activities of AF and its derivatives on the mitochondrial aerobic and anaerobic respiratory systems of E.

Anthelmintic Baiting of Foxes against Echinococcus multilocularis in Small Public Area, Japan.

We distributed anthelmintic baits on a university campus in Japan inhabited by foxes infected with Echinococcus multilocularis to design an effective baiting protocol for small public areas. High-density baiting can reduce the risk for human exposure to the parasite to near zero. However, monthly baiting is recommended to maintain this effect.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for rapid and easy identification of .

is a major toxic mushroom in Japan. When food poisoning caused by occurs, quick and accurate identification using a method that does not rely on morphological discrimination is required. Because the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method meets these requirements, we developed a LAMP method for detecting .

Sensitivity comparison between Mini-FLOTAC and conventional techniques for the detection of Echinococcus multilocularis eggs.

Canines serve as the definitive host of Echinococcus multilocularis. This study evaluated the sensitivity of the Mini-FLOTAC technique (MF) for the detection of E. multilocularis eggs in definitive hosts.

Early-phase migration dynamics of Echinococcus multilocularis in two mouse strains showing different infection susceptibilities.

The early-phase migration dynamics of Echinococcus multilocularis in the intermediate hosts remain largely unknown. We compared the parasite burden in the intestine, liver and faeces of DBA/2 and C57BL/6 mouse strains using parasite-specific quantitative PCR. Our results indicated that the parasites invaded mainly from the middle segments of the small intestine and completed migration to the liver within 24 h p.

In vivo efficacy of combination therapy with albendazole and atovaquone against primary hydatid cysts in mice.

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis. Chemotherapy for AE involves albendazole (ABZ), which has shown insufficient efficacy. More effective chemotherapy for AE is needed.

Effect of the anti-parasitic compounds pyrvinium pamoate and artemisinin in enzymatic and culture assays: Data on the search for new anti-echinococcal drugs.

The dataset presented herein is related to a previous research article titled "Mitochondrial Complex III in Larval Stage of as a Potential Chemotherapeutic Target and Efficacy of Atovaquone Against Primary Hydatid Cysts" [1]. In this report, data were collected by screening drugs for echinococcosis. We investigated the inhibitory activities of artemisinin and pyrvinium pamoate against the mitochondrial respiratory enzymes in protoscoleces.

Characterization of microRNAs expressed in the cystic legion of the liver of Mus musculus perorally infected with Echinococcus multilocularis Nemuro strain.

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a zoonosis caused by the metacestode of Echinococcus multilocularis. The published genome of E. multilocularis showed that approximately 86% of its genome is non-coding.

Adult worm exclusion and histological data of dogs repeatedly infected with the cestode .

The data presented in this article are related to a previously published research article titled "The timing of worm exclusion in dogs repeatedly infected with the cestode " (2016) [1]. This data describe a comparison of worm exclusion in the early stage of infection (1 day and 6 days post-infection) between dogs infected for the first time (control group) and dogs repeatedly infected with the parasite 4 times (repeated infection groups). We observed that 6 days post reinfection, the number of adult worms in repeated-infection groups decreased by 88.

Mitochondrial complex III in larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis as a potential chemotherapeutic target and in vivo efficacy of atovaquone against primary hydatid cysts.

Echinococcus multilocularis employs aerobic and anaerobic respiration pathways for its survival in the specialized environment of the host. Under anaerobic conditions, fumarate respiration has been identified as a promising target for drug development against E. multilocularis larvae, although the relevance of oxidative phosphorylation in its survival remains unclear.

Cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) develops metabolic disorders associated with visceral adipose inflammation and fatty pancreas without obesity.

Obesity induces metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases and has become a global health concern. Recent studies imply that fat accumulation in nonadipose tissue correlates with metabolic disorders. However, there are no suitable animal models to evaluate this phenomenon.

Molecular and functional characterization of glucose transporter genes of the fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis.

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a zoonotic parasitosis caused by larvae of the fox tapeworm, Echinococcus multilocularis. E. multilocularis is distributed widely in the Northern hemisphere, causing serious health problems in various animals and humans.

Analysis for genetic loci controlling protoscolex development in the Echinococcus multilocularis infection using congenic mice.

The resistance/susceptibility to Echinococcus multilocularis infection in mice is genetically controlled. However, genetic factors responsible for these differences remain unknown. Our previous study in genetic linkage analysis has revealed that there is a significant quantitative trait locus (QTL) for the establishment of cyst (Emcys1), and a highly significant QTL for the development of protoscolex of E.

Gene expression profiles of the small intestinal mucosa of dogs repeatedly infected with the cestode .

he data set presented in this article is related to a previous research article entitled " The timing of worm exclusion in dogs repeatedly infected with the cestode " (Kouguchi et al., 2016) [1]. This article describes the genes >2-fold up- or down-regulated in the first- and repeated-infection groups compared to the healthy controls group.

Close pathological correlations between chronic kidney disease and reproductive organ-associated abnormalities in female cotton rats.

Cotton rat ( Sigmodon hispidus) is a useful experimental rodent for the study of human infectious diseases. We previously clarified that cotton rats, particularly females, developed chronic kidney disease characterized by cystic lesions, inflammation, and fibrosis. The present study investigated female-associated factors for chronic kidney disease development in cotton rats.

Cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) possess pharyngeal pouch remnants originating from different primordia.

Pharyngeal pouches in mammals develop into specific derivatives. If the differentiation of the pharyngeal pouches is anomalous, their remnants can result in cysts, sinuses, and fistulae in the differentiated organs or around the neck. In the present study, we found several pharyngeal pouch remnants, such as cystic structures in thymus and parathyroid gland and fossulae extended from the piriform fossa, in the inbred cotton rats maintained at Hokkaido Institute of Public Health (HIS/Hiph) and University of Miyazaki (HIS/Mz).

Diagnosis of canine Echinococcus multilocularis infections by copro-DNA tests: comparison of DNA extraction techniques and evaluation of diagnostic deworming.

The use of copro-DNA detection methods for the diagnosis of canine Echinococcus multilocularis infection was evaluated with a focus on DNA extraction techniques: two commercial kits and a modified alkaline-sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) technique. Dog feces (0.2 g) mixed with a protoscolex or with 1 or 10 eggs of E.