Causative agent of canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) detected in wild lemurs.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Zohdy S
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6487360 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Causative agent of canine heartworm (<i>Dirofilaria immitis</i>) detected in wild lemurs.
Zohdy Sarah S Valenta Kim K Rabaoarivola Bernadette B Karanewsky Caitlin J CJ Zaky Weam W Pilotte Nils N Williams Steven A SA Chapman Colin A CA Farris Zach J ZJ
International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife 20190414
The lemurs of Madagascar are threatened by human activities. We present the first molecular detection of canine heartworm (<i>Dirofilaria immitis</i>) in a wild non-human primate, the mouse lemur (<i>Microcebus rufus</i>). Zoonotic <i>D. immitis</i> infection has been associated with clinical pathology that includes serious and often fatal cardiac and pulmonary reactions. With human encroachment and associated increases in free-roaming dog populations in Madagascar, we examined lemurs for zoonot ...[more]
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Project description:BACKGROUND: The characterization of proteins released from filariae is an important step in addressing many of the needs in the diagnosis and treatment of these clinically important parasites, as well as contributing to a clearer understanding of their biology. This report describes findings on the proteins released during in vitro cultivation of adult Dirofilaria immitis , the causative agent of canine and feline heartworm disease. Differences in protein secretion among nematodes in vivo may relate to the ecological niche of each parasite and the pathological changes that they induce. METHODS: The proteins in the secretions of cultured adult worms were run on Tris-Glycine gels, bands separated and peptides from each band analysed by ultra mass spectrometry and compared with a FastA dataset of predicted tryptic peptides derived from a genome sequence of D. immitis. RESULTS: This study identified 110 proteins. Of these proteins, 52 were unique to D. immitis. A total of 23 (44%) were recognized as proteins likely to be secreted. Although these proteins were unique, the motifs were conserved compared with proteins secreted by other nematodes. CONCLUSION: The present data indicate that D. immitis secretes proteins that are unique to this species, when compared with Brugia malayi. The two major functional groups of molecules represented were those representing cellular and of metabolic processes. Unique proteins might be important for maintaining an infection in the host environment, intimately involved in the pathogenesis of disease and may also provide new tools for the diagnosis of heartworm infection.
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| S-EPMC6662024 | biostudies-literature