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Microorganisms
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Protozoan Parasites in Animals: Updates in Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Control
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Protozoan Parasites in Animals: Updates in Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Control

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Parasitology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2023) | Viewed by 6664

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Adriana Gyӧrke

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Mănăștur Str. 3-5, 400372 Cluj, Romania
Interests: parasitology; toxoplasma; eimeria; giardia; neospora
Dr. Ibrahim Abbas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Parasitology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
Interests: molecular parasitology; parasite epidemiology; comparative parasitology; diagnostic parasitology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Protozoan infections have a great impact on animal health and well-being. On the other hand, they cause important economic losses in farm animals, and some protozoan parasites are transmitted to humans.

Climatic changes and human activities as well as movement have the potential to modify the areal distribution of diseases, including protozoan parasites, causing their emergence and re-emergence. Considering these aspects, and that diagnostic techniques have improved in their sensitivity, continuous epidemiological studies are required to update the geographical distribution of protozoan parasites in animals.

In the case of economically important protozoan parasites (but not only them), new and efficient therapies are urgently needed as the available ones decrease in their efficacy as a consequence of drug resistance, or no efficient therapies are accessible.

For this Special Issue we invite you to submit contributions on any aspects of protozoan parasites in animals: epidemiological studies using improved diagnostic tools, the impact of intestinal protozoan parasites on digestive microbiota, improved or new diagnostic methods, improved or new therapies, and prophylactic strategies.

Dr. Adriana Gyӧrke
Dr. Ibrahim Abbas
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Giardia
  • Histomonas
  • Tritrichomonas
  • Eimeria
  • Cryptosporidium
  • Neospora
  • Toxoplasma
  • Sarcocystis
  • Babesia
  • Encephalitozoon

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1182 KiB  
Article
First Detection of Anti-Besnoitia spp. Antibodies in Equids in Israel and the Palestinian Authority
by Noa Berman, Sharon Tirosh-Levy, Amir Steinman, Avital Minderigiu, Elena Blinder and Monica Leszkowicz Mazuz
Microorganisms 2023, 11(4), 929; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11040929 - 03 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1221
Abstract
Besnoitia is a tissue cyst forming coccidia, which affects multiple host species worldwide. Equine besnoitiosis is characterized mainly by generalized skin lesions and cysts in the scleral conjunctiva. Recent reports revealed exposure to Besnoitia in equines in Europe and the United States. However, [...] Read more.
Besnoitia is a tissue cyst forming coccidia, which affects multiple host species worldwide. Equine besnoitiosis is characterized mainly by generalized skin lesions and cysts in the scleral conjunctiva. Recent reports revealed exposure to Besnoitia in equines in Europe and the United States. However, the exposure to Besnoitia spp. in the Israeli equine population was never investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence and associated risk factors for besnoitiosis in equids in Israel. A cross-sectional serosurvey was performed using serum samples of apparently healthy horses (n = 347), donkeys (n = 98), and mules (n = 6), and exposure to Besnoitia spp. was determined by an immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Anti-Besnoitia spp. antibodies were detected in 17.7% equids, 6.9% horses, 33.3% mules, and 55.1% donkeys. The seroprevalence in donkeys was significantly higher than in horses (p < 0.001). A significant association between the geographic location and seropositivity was found both in horses and donkeys, which was significantly higher (p = 0.004) in horses sampled in southern Israel, and donkeys sampled in Israel versus the Palestinian Authority (p < 0.001). This is the first serosurvey of Besnoitia infection in equines in Israel, and the results are consistent with reports from Europe. The clinical significance of equine besnoitiosis should be further investigated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protozoan Parasites in Animals: Updates in Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Control)
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12 pages, 299 KiB  
Article
Efficacy of Artemisia annua against Coccidiosis in Broiler Chickens: A Field Trial
by Mircea Coroian, Loredana Maria Pop, Virgilia Popa, Zsuzsa Friss, Ovidiu Oprea, Zsuzsa Kalmár, Adela Pintea, Silvia-Diana Borșan, Viorica Mircean, Iustina Lobonțiu, Dumitru Militaru, Rodica Vârban and Adriana Györke
Microorganisms 2022, 10(11), 2277; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10112277 - 16 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1828
Abstract
(1) Background: Various studies on artemisinin and its derivatives have shown that Artemisia annua may be of therapeutic interest for different diseases, including chicken coccidiosis. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Artemisia annua on farm-reared broiler chickens by analyzing both the [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Various studies on artemisinin and its derivatives have shown that Artemisia annua may be of therapeutic interest for different diseases, including chicken coccidiosis. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Artemisia annua on farm-reared broiler chickens by analyzing both the anticoccidial efficacy and its effect on the intestinal microbiota of poultry. (2) Methods: The experiment was performed within three houses on a broiler chicken farm located in Romania. House 1 was the experimental group and received a diet with an addition of A. annua. Houses 2 and 4 were the control groups and received anticoccidials. The prophylactic efficacy of A. annua against coccidiosis was evaluated by recording the weight gain, feed conversion rate, number of oocysts per gram of feces, lesion score, and mortality rate. (3) Results: The chickens fed with A. annua showed a decreasing trend in the number of oocysts per gram of faeces, and their lesion score was 80% lower than in the control group. The weight gains of the chickens treated with A. annua was lower, whilst the feed conversion rate was better than in controls. (4) Conclusions: Artemisia annua showed promising results in the prophylaxis of coccidiosis. Overall, the broiler chickens that received A. annua presented promising zootechnical performances and medical data related to coccidiosis and gut microbiota. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protozoan Parasites in Animals: Updates in Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Control)
12 pages, 1500 KiB  
Article
In Vitro Antiparasitic Activity of Propyl-Propane-Thiosulfinate (PTS) and Propyl-Propane-Thiosulfonate (PTSO) from Allium cepa against Eimeria acervulina Sporozoites
by María Arántzazu Aguinaga-Casañas, Nuria Mut-Salud, Ana Falcón-Piñeiro, Ángela Alcaraz-Martínez, Enrique Guillamón and Alberto Baños
Microorganisms 2022, 10(10), 2040; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10102040 - 15 Oct 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1277
Abstract
Among the alternatives to control avian coccidiosis, alliaceous extracts stand out due to their functional properties. Despite this, most of the references are focused just on garlic. In this study, we analyze the in vitro effects of propyl-propane thiosulfinate (PTS) and propyl-propane thiosulfonate [...] Read more.
Among the alternatives to control avian coccidiosis, alliaceous extracts stand out due to their functional properties. Despite this, most of the references are focused just on garlic. In this study, we analyze the in vitro effects of propyl-propane thiosulfinate (PTS) and propyl-propane thiosulfonate (PTSO), two organosulfur compounds from onion, on MDBK cells infected with sporozoites of Eimeria acervulina. To this aim, two different experiments were performed. In the first experiment, sporozoites were previously incubated for 1 h at 1, 5 and 10 µg/mL of PTS or PTSO and added to MDBK cells. In the second experiment, MDBK cells were first incubated for 24 h at different concentrations of PTS or PTSO and then infected with E. acervulina sporozoites. Then, 24 h after inoculation, the presence of E. acervulina was quantified by qPCR. MDBK viability was measured at 72 h post-infection. Sporozoites incubated at 10 µg/mL of PTS and PTSO inhibited the capability to penetrate the cells up to 75.2% ± 6.44 and 71.7% ± 6.03, respectively. The incubation of MDBK with each compound resulted in a preventive effect against sporozoite invasion at 1 µg/mL of PTS and 1 and 10 µg/mL of PTSO. Cells incubated with PTSO obtained similar viability percentages to uninfected cells. These results suggest that the use of PTS and PTSO is a promising alternative to coccidiosis treatment, although further in vivo studies need to be performed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protozoan Parasites in Animals: Updates in Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Control)
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10 pages, 1864 KiB  
Article
Detection of Acanthamoeba from Acanthamoeba Keratitis Mouse Model Using Acanthamoeba-Specific Antibodies
by Min-Jeong Kim, A-Jeong Ham, A-Young Park, Hae-Jin Sohn, Ho-Joon Shin, Fu-Shi Quan, Hyun-Hee Kong and Eun-Kyung Moon
Microorganisms 2022, 10(9), 1711; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10091711 - 25 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1506
Abstract
Although the prevalence of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is rare, its incidence in contact lens wearers has increased. Acanthamoeba infections can lead to the loss of vision if the diagnosis and treatment are delayed. In this study, we investigated the diagnostic potential of two [...] Read more.
Although the prevalence of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is rare, its incidence in contact lens wearers has increased. Acanthamoeba infections can lead to the loss of vision if the diagnosis and treatment are delayed. In this study, we investigated the diagnostic potential of two antibodies raised against the adenylyl cyclase-associated protein (ACAP) and periplasmic binding protein (PBP) of A. castellanii in the AK mouse model. The specificity of ACAP and PBP antibodies to Acanthamoeba was confirmed by immunocytochemistry. AK mouse models were produced by corneal infections with A. castellanii trophozoites for 7 days and 21 days. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results revealed that both ACAP and PBP antibodies successfully detected Acanthamoeba antigens in the tears and eyeball lysates of the AK mouse model. The detection levels of Acanthamoeba antigens were similar at both infection time points. Anti-Acanthamoeba IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies were evaluated from the sera of the AK mouse model. Notably, IgM and IgA antibody responses were highest and lowest at both time points, respectively. Our findings revealed that both ACAP and PBP antibodies could detect Acanthamoeba antigens in the tears and eyeball lysates of the AK mouse model. These results provide important information for understanding Acanthamoeba infections and developing a new diagnostic tool for AK. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protozoan Parasites in Animals: Updates in Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Control)
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