Prevalence and Epitope Recognition of Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi Antibodies in Two Procyonid Species: Implications for Host Resistance

Abstract

More than 180 mammalian species have been found naturally infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Many of them play an important role in the maintenance of this parasite. In particular, new studies have appeared which indicate that some species of Procyonidae family may play a role as T. cruzi hosts, however, more data are needed to evaluate their long-term physiological response to parasite infection, especially for specific antibodies. In this study, antibodies to T. cruzi were detected and prevalence and epitope recognition were assessed by ELISA (using discrete typing unit (DTU) I as antigen) and WB (using DTU I and DTU II as antigens) and sera from two procyonid species obtained through five-year follow-up of two semicaptive populations living in the same habitat. Marked heterogeneity in antigens recognition between species and differences in seroprevalence (p = 0.0002) between white-nosed coatis (Nasua narica), 51.8% (115/222), and common raccoons (Procyon lotor), 28.3% (23/81), were found. Antigens with high molecular weight when DTU-I was used were the most recognized, while a greater antigen diversity recognition was observed with DTU-II; for white-nosed coatis, low-molecular-weight antigens were mainly recognized, while for common raccoons proteins with molecular weights greater than 80 kDa were recognized most. These divergent humoral immune responses could be related to an alleged pattern of recognition receptors and major histocompatibility complex molecules difference in the procyonids species.

Search for antibodies against Trichinella in two synanthropic Procyonidae species from southeast Mexico: white-nosed coatis (Nasua narica) and raccoons (Procyon lotor)

“…Antibodies decay against certain microorganisms has been observed in procyonids (Villalobos et al 2020 ; Rendón-Franco et al 2023 ), as well as in both wild (Davidson et al 2009 ) and domestic animals against Trichinella (Hill et al 2007 ). An explanation is based in the survival of Trichinella within the host.…”

Review of American Trypanosomiasis in Southern Mexico Highlights Opportunity for Surveillance Research to Advance Control Through the One Health Approach

“…Several domestic animals and wildlife species are hosts of known triatomine vectors in Mexico (57)(58)(59). Wild mammals maintain T. cruzi in nature and facilitate its dispersion (60)(61)(62). However, information on the involvement of domestic animals and wildlife as triatomine hosts and T. cruzi reservoirs in the context of ecological and genetic variables is scant for the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca (63,64).…”

IgG Isotypes Targeting a Recombinant Chimeric Protein of Trypanosoma cruzi in Different Clinical Presentations of Chronic Chagas Disease

“…The immune response to T. cruzi infection is intricate, and involves both innate and adaptive immunity. 9 The pathogen has developed multiple mechanisms to evade the host immune response. 10 – 12 One such mechanism is the induction of diverse Ig isotypes, which can either contribute to host resistance against infection or promote tissue damage by enhancing inflammatory responses.…”