Parasitology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, 12211, Egypt.
Department of Aquatic Animal Medicine and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
Sci Rep. 2024 Oct 25;14(1):25307. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-74846-y.
Fish-borne zoonotic trematodes (FBZTs) pose significant health risks and economic challenges worldwide. This study investigated the prevalence of encysted metacercariae (EMCs) in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from two Egyptian governorates and evaluated the antiparasitic efficacy of chitosan, silver, and selenium nanoparticles against these parasites. A cross-sectional analysis of 453 O. niloticus specimens revealed an overall EMC prevalence of 40.8%, with infection rates of 34.11% in Giza and 49.5% in Dakahlia. Clinostomid and Prohemistomid metacercariae were the most common, with mixed infections observed. Transmission electron microscopy characterized the synthesized nanoparticles, showing average diameters of 9.6-18.7 nm for chitosan, 13.2-19.8 nm for selenium, and 11.7-15.1 nm for silver nanoparticles. In vitro antiparasitic assays demonstrated varying efficacies among the nanoparticles. Against Clinostomum spp. metacercariae, chitosan nanoparticles showed the highest potency, achieving LC50 at 66 μg/ml after 30 min and LC90 at 100 μg/ml after 120 min. For Prohemistomum vivax EMCs, chitosan nanoparticles exhibited superior efficacy, achieving LC50 at 8 μg/ml after 1 h and LC90 at 16 μg/ml after 2 h. Silver and selenium nanoparticles showed lower efficacy for both parasite species. Scanning electron microscopy revealed significant ultrastructural damage to the parasite tegument following nanoparticle exposure, including disappearance of transverse ridges, integument shrinkage, and formation of blebs. This study provided valuable insights into the prevalence of FBZTs in Egyptian Nile tilapia and demonstrated the potential of nanoparticles, particularly chitosan, as effective antiparasitic agents. These findings pave the way for developing novel, targeted strategies to control fish-borne zoonotic trematodes, potentially reducing their impact on public health and aquaculture economies.
鱼类源性人畜共患吸虫（FBZTs）在全球范围内构成重大健康风险和经济挑战。本研究调查了来自埃及两个省的尼罗罗非鱼（Oreochromis niloticus）中囊蚴（EMCs）的流行情况，并评估了壳聚糖、银和硒纳米粒子对这些寄生虫的抗寄生虫功效。对 453 个 O. niloticus 标本的横断面分析显示，总体 EMC 流行率为 40.8%，其中吉萨省的感染率为 34.11%，达卡利亚省的感染率为 49.5%。临床胸科和 Prohemistomid 幼虫是最常见的，观察到混合感染。透射电子显微镜对合成的纳米粒子进行了特征描述，显示壳聚糖的平均直径为 9.6-18.7nm，硒的平均直径为 13.2-19.8nm，银纳米粒子的平均直径为 11.7-15.1nm。体外抗寄生虫试验表明，纳米粒子之间的功效存在差异。针对 Clinostomum spp. 幼虫，壳聚糖纳米粒子表现出最高的效力，在 30 分钟后达到 LC50 为 66μg/ml，在 120 分钟后达到 LC90 为 100μg/ml。对于 Prohemistomum vivax EMCs，壳聚糖纳米粒子表现出卓越的功效，在 1 小时后达到 LC50 为 8μg/ml，在 2 小时后达到 LC90 为 16μg/ml。银和硒纳米粒子对这两种寄生虫的功效较低。扫描电子显微镜显示，在纳米颗粒暴露后，寄生虫表皮出现了明显的超微结构损伤，包括横向脊的消失、表皮收缩和泡的形成。本研究提供了有关埃及尼罗罗非鱼中 FBZTs 流行情况的宝贵见解，并证明了纳米粒子，特别是壳聚糖，作为有效抗寄生虫剂的潜力。这些发现为开发控制鱼类源性人畜共患吸虫的新的靶向策略铺平了道路，可能会降低它们对公共卫生和水产养殖经济的影响。
