Interactions between multiple helminths and the gut microbiota in wild rodents

Abstract

The gut microbiota is vital to host health and, as such, it is important to elucidate the mechanisms altering its composition and diversity. Intestinal helminths are host immunomodulators and have evolved both temporally and spatially in close association with the gut microbiota, resulting in potential mechanistic interplay. Host–helminth and host–microbiota interactions are comparatively well-examined, unlike microbiota–helminth relationships, which typically focus on experimental infection with a single helminth species in laboratory animals. Here, in addition to a review of the literature on helminth–microbiota interactions, we examined empirically the association between microbiota diversity and composition and natural infection of multiple helminth species in wild mice (Apodemus flavicollis), using 16S rRNA gene catalogues (metataxonomics). In general, helminth presence is linked with high microbiota diversity, which may confer health benefits to the host. Within our wild rodent system variation in the composition and abundance of gut microbial taxa associated with helminths was specific to each helminth species and occurred both up- and downstream of a given helminth's niche (gut position). The most pronounced helminth–microbiota association was between the presence of tapeworms in the small intestine and increased S24–7 (Bacteroidetes) family in the stomach. Helminths clearly have the potential to alter gut homeostasis. Free-living rodents with a diverse helminth community offer a useful model system that enables both correlative (this study) and manipulative inference to elucidate helminth–microbiota interactions.

Effect of Dietary Oxalate on the Gut Microbiota of the Mammalian Herbivore Neotoma albigula

“…This family is commonly found in rats, mice, goats, and humans and has also been correlated with a highfat diet, immunoglobin A, tapeworms, etc. Thus, the S24-7 family may generally be sensitive to dietary shifts (50)(51)(52)(53)(54). Given the widespread distribution of this family and correlation with a number of dietary components, S24-7 represents a significant gap in our understanding of the gut microbiota form and function.…”

Intestinal parasite communities of six sympatric lemur species at Kirindy Forest, Madagascar

“…Specifically, intestinal helminths and protozoa may cause reduced energy uptake, pathological damage and decrease their hosts' reproductive success (Hudson et al, 1992(Hudson et al, , 1998Delahay et al, 1995;Hillegass et al, 2010). In addition, they impact the host's immune system and alter gut microbial communities (Kreisinger et al, 2015;Reynolds et al, 2015), potentially increasing host susceptibility to bacteria or viruses (Cox, 2001;Ezenwa and Jolles, 2015).…”

Helminth Infections and Gut Microbiota: The Futuristic Study of Pathogen Virulence and Gut Ecosystem

“…This increases the bacterial density in the gut with helminths, as food is retained for a longer time allowing the bacteria to act on it [8]. Kreisinger et al [9] also gave valuable inputs in this field by demonstrating alteration of the host gut microbiota depending on the species of helminth present in the gut. The study also revealed that the helminths could regulate the microbial communities both upstream and downstream of their location using H. polygyrus, Syphacia spp.…”

“…and Hymenolepis spp in their experiments [9]. The results throw light to the potentiality of the helminths to alter the gut homeostasis [9]. The ability of the helmnith to regulate the gut microbial population, not necessarily directly on their location and/or depending on the species of helminth in question is very interesting since different species of helminths (alone or in combination) may be used to study such microbial regulation from the therapeutic viewpoint both for the humans and the veterinary animals.…”

“…The study also revealed that the helminths could regulate the microbial communities both upstream and downstream of their location using H. polygyrus, Syphacia spp. and Hymenolepis spp in their experiments [9]. The results throw light to the potentiality of the helminths to alter the gut homeostasis [9].…”