Ethanol Extract of Spondias pinnata Leaves Reduce Parasite Number and Increase Macrophage Phagocytosis Capacity of Mice Infected by Plasmodium berghei

BACKGROUND: Currently, there is no vaccine against malaria in humans, the development of resistance to anti-malarial drugs, causing the need to find new alternatives to overcome malaria infections. This study aimed to determine effect of Spondias pinnata in increasing cellular immunity, especially phagocytosis activity of peritoneal macrophages against Plasmodium berghei infection.METHODS: This was an experimental study with two stages of research, each stage requires 36 Balb/c mice, aged 2 months and weight 20-25 grams. After one week of acclimatization, the mice were put into 6 different groups, each group consisted of 6 mice. The negative control was a group of mice given distilled water for 14 days then infected by P. berghei in the 15th day. Meanwhile, T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 groups were given S. pinnata leaves ethanol extract with dose of 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight (BW)/day, respectively, and then infected by P. berghei in the 15th day.RESULTS: The results showed that the lowest parasitemia and the highest capacity of macrophage to phagocytose latex was found in treatment group T3 that received 50 mg/kg BW of S. pinnata leaves ethanol extract. Based on analysis of the Pearson correlation test, there was a significant correlation between percent phagocytosis and parasitemia (p<0.05).CONCLUSION: Ethanol extract of S. pinnata leaves lower the parasite number of P. berghei in Balb/c mice and increase the capacity of macrophage to phagocytose latex. However, the mechanisms of how S. pinnata leaves extract in activating phagocytosis capacity and reducing parasitemia still need further investigation.KEYWORDS: phagocytosis, Plasmodium berghei, parasite number, Spondias pinnata

Infestation of mistletoe Dendrophthoe pentandra (L.)Miq on various canopy shading and plants diversity in Purwodadi Botanic Garden: A study on medicinal plant Cassia fistula L.

Mistletoe Dendrophthoe pentandra (L.)Miq is a parasitic plant commonly found parasitizing and infesting medicinal plants such as Cassia fistula L. This research aimed to investigate the infestation of D. pentandra on C. fistula on various trees canopy shading, infested host number and plant diversity. Study was conducted in Purwodadi Botanic Garden which located in Purwodadi, Pasuruan, East-Java during January-March 2020. Data Collection was conducted by explorative and descriptive methods in each block locations in the garden. Sampling plots were determined by purposive sampling method using 20x20 m per plot in each block where the tree of C. fistula found. The canopy shading was categorized as : open (4) = light interception more than 90%, rather open (3) = light interception = 60-90%, rather shady (2) = light interception 30-60%, shady (1) (light interception less than 30%). The result showed that the infestation of D. pentandra was affected significanly by the plant canopy shading and the infested host number in the blocks. The highest infestation of misletoe D. pentandra on C. fistula was found in the open canopy and the highest infested host plants in the block III.D with the parasite number 13 per plant. The tree plant diversity in the blocks tend to have negative correlation to the infestation of D. pentandra on C. fistula with r = -0.18.

Some Haematological Parameters among Urinary Schistosomiasis-Malaria Coinfected Children in Suburb of Malentouen Health District, West Region Cameroon

Background: Schistosomiasis and Malaria are among the most prevalent afflictions of humans who live in areas of poverty in the developing world. The present study was aimed at determining the socio demographic characteristics and prevalence of schistosomiasis and malaria in children living in Suburb of Malentouen Health District and analyzing the effect of co-infection on haemoglobin level, mean corpuscular volume and platelet count. Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to parents or guardians of children attending public primary school in the area. A total of 429 pupils aged 6-15 years old were screened for urinary schistosomiasis and 228 out of the 429 were tested for. Prevalences of the two parasites were calculated; Haemoglobin level, Mean Corpuscular Volume and platelets count of the 228 participants were recorded. Results: The prevalence of malaria was 26.75%, where as that of schistosomiasis was 43.82%. 31(13.60%) of the participants were co-infected with the two parasites. Mean haemoglobin level obtained was 11.01± 1.19 G/dL, that of MCV was 84.50±5.31/fl and the mean platelet count was 255.13±96.99/µl. In malaria single infected and co-infected participants, low haemoglobin level (c2 = 50.315, p = .000), low MCV (c2 = 27.448, p = .000) and low platelets count (c2 = 37.253, p = .000) were observed with significant variations. Conclusions: The three haematological parameters analysed in this study (Hb, MCV, Platelets count), showed low level or amount in malaria and malaria-schistosomiasis infected participants. Moreover, thrombocytopenia in children in this endemic area may be useful as supportive diagnostic criteria for malaria in case with low level of parasite number.

Gender differences in the severity and features of lesions among Cutaneous Leishmaniasis patients

Objective: To determine if there is any differences in the severity and features of lesions among patients complaining of cutaneous leishmaniasis in an endemic region . Methods: A cross-sectional, observational, descriptive study was performed ( January 2014 to June 2019 ) in the dermatology clinics of : Rizgary Hospital , Hawler teaching center for Skin Diseases, Shadi Health Center, Hawler Institute of Health Prevention. All the patients were referred from both rural districts of Makhmur and Kalack. The provisional diagnosis was dependent mainly on clinical examination in addition to Giemsa stain. Parasite (amastigote) grading and distribution of number, site, type and size of lesions according to the gender of patients were studied . Results: A total of 1264 cutaneous leishmaniasis cases were diagnosed during the study period . According to stain results, 70.6% of the cases were positive to Giemsa stain. Parasite grading and parasite number /field were higher significantly in males . Features of case severity according to the characters of the lesions (number, size, site, type) were more noted in males than females. Conclusions: Male patients are more prone to more severe infections than females.

Immunity, Sex and Parasites: Does Sex of Sand-Field Cricket (Gryllus firmus) Affect Immune Response to Eugregarine Parasites?

There is controversy about the effects gut-dwelling eugregarine parasites have on their invertebrate hosts. If crickets (Gryllus firmus) apportion resources to reproduction differently in males vs. females, then resources used to mount immune responses to parasites may also differ – especially if the parasites are pathogenic. I investigated the possible differences in immune response between male and female crickets and attempted to determine whether these differences are related to intensity of parasitic infection. To do this, pieces of nylon filament were implanted into the hemocoel of crickets which tested the immune response where hemocytes surround the filament (encapsulation). These responses were compared to intensity of parasitic infection. No statistically significant relationship between sex and melanisation, or sex and parasite load were found. I found that the duration of melanization was negatively correlated to parasite abundance and that there was a positive correlation between body size and parasite number. This result suggests the existence of a relationship between the parasite and host that could be conflicting with sexual selection theory, such as host manipulation by the parasite.

Are rodlet cells reliable biomarkers in Fundulus heteroclitus (L.)?

Two populations of killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus (L.) were studied, one from a high environmentally impacted site (Saw Mill Creek) exposed to pollutants, heavy metals and infected with parasites, the other from a habitat that was far less affected (Lemon Creek), on Staten Island, New York. The rodlet cell counts in the gills of each population were compared and correlated with the number of gill parasites. A comparison of rodlet cell numbers was also made between mature males and females within each population. Although the parasite infestation was significantly higher in the Saw Mill Creek population, the rodlet cell counts did not differ between the two groups. There was no statistical correlation between the parasite number and number of rodlet cells or between standard length and rodlet cells in each population. Also, the number of rodlet cells did not differ between males and females in either group. Furthermore, EM observations showed no difference in the activity of these cells. Our findings suggest that in F. heteroclitus, rodlet cells are not dependable biomarkers for evaluating the fish's response to parasites and environmental stressors. In addition, the sexual status of the fish does not appear to affect the number of rodlet cells.

Determinants of life-history traits in a fish ectoparasite: a hierarchical analysis

SUMMARYObjective. Unravelling the determinants of parasite life-history traits in natural settings is complex. Here, we deciphered the relationships between biotic, abiotic factors and the variation in 4 life-history traits (body size, egg presence, egg number and egg size) in the fish ectoparasite Tracheliastes polycolpus. We then determined the factors affecting the strength of the trade-off between egg number and egg size. Methods. To do so, we used 4-level (parasite, microhabitat, host and environment) hierarchical models coupled to a field database. Results. Variation in life-history traits was mostly due to individual characteristics measured at the parasite level. At the microhabitat level (fins of fish hosts), parasite number was positively related to body size, egg presence and egg number. Higher parasite number on fins was positively associated with individual parasite fitness. At the host level, host body size was positively related to the individual fitness of the parasite; parasites were bigger and more fecund on bigger hosts. In contrast, factors measured at the environmental level had a weak influence on life-history traits. Finally, a site-dependent trade-off between egg number and egg size existed in this population. Conclusion. Our study illustrates the importance of considering parasite life-history traits in a hierarchical framework to decipher complex links between biotic, abiotic factors and parasite life-history traits.

Evaluation of the schistosomicidal efficacy of liposome - Entrapped Oxamniquine

Oxamniquine (OXA) was sucessfully encapsulated in small unilamellar vesicles using a pH gradient method. This procedure led to a high drug encapsulation efficiency (> 85%) at a drug to lipid molar ratio of 1/10. Moreover, these liposomes were found to retain encapsulated OXA efficciently under dialysis conditions at 37º C. Liposome-entrapped OXA (LOXA), OXA, and empty liposomes were tested against Schistosoma mansoni in a murine model. LOXA produced a significant reduction of the worm burden compared to the other preparations, when inoculated by subcutaneous route (s.c.) with 10 mg OXA/kg animal one day before the infection, and 3, 7, and 14 days after. However, LOXA was not effective when given 7 days before, or 35 days after infections. OXA, in the free form, was effective in relation to the untreated group, only when administered 3 days after the infection. Maximum effect of LOXA, with 97% reduction of the parasite number, was observed when the preparation was given s.c.one day before the infection. On the other hand, LOXA inoculated intraperitoneally one day before the infection didn’t show any reduction of the parasite count. It can be concluded that LOXA is more effective than OXA for the treatment of experimental schistosomiasis, particularly when administered subcutaneously at a time close to the infection