Biomedical subjects

Ute Mackenstedt

Publications and source records attributed to Ute Mackenstedt.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

New data on Echinococcus spp. in Southern Brazil.

40 Echinococcus isolates from sheep and cattle in Southern Brazil were genetically analysed in order to obtain further data on the presence of different taxa of the Echinococcus granulosus complex. Differentiation was done using a PCR technique and sequencing of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1). Most samples (38) could be allocated to the sheep strain (G1) of E. granulosus, while two samples belonged to E. ortleppi, previously known as cattle strain (G5) of E. granulosus. Due to the shorter prepatent period in dogs of the latter taxon, this records have important implications for the design of control measures in this endemic region.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

The present situation of echinococcosis in Europe.

The taxonomy of Echinococcus is presently undergoing major changes, the paraphyletic Echinococcus granulosus being split into several distinct species. In this review, an attempt is made to assess the present epidemiological situation in Europe separately for each species (Echinococcus multilocularis, Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto, Echinococcus equinus, Echinococcus ortleppi, and Echinococcus sp.). For E. multilocularis, an increasing density of infected host animals is apparent in central Europe, and, possibly, a range increase has occurred. Prevalence rates in foxes have risen in many agriculturally dominated landscapes of France, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Poland, but the lifecycle is now also established in many urban areas, where red foxes occur with high population densities. E. granulosus s. s. (the former 'sheep strain') is still frequent and a public health problem in many parts of the Mediterranean region and re-emergence after failed control campaigns is observed or suspected in Bulgaria and Wales. No recent data on the cattle-transmitted E. ortleppi and the horse-transmitted E. equinus are available, but their relevance for human health seems to be minor. The same may apply to the 'pig strain' and the newly described 'European cervid strain', which both belong to a cluster of genotypes whose taxonomy is not yet resolved (Echinococcus sp.).

Animals↗

PubMed2004

A PCR system for detection of species and genotypes of the Echinococcus granulosus-complex, with reference to the epidemiological situation in eastern Africa.

We describe the development of a specific and sensitive PCR/semi-nested PCR system for the rapid diagnosis of Echinococcus granulosus genotype G1, E. granulosus genotype G6/7, and Echinococcus ortleppi (G5). Diagnosis of G1 and the group G5/6/7 is performed by a simple PCR, while discrimination between E. ortleppi (G5) and G6/7 involves a subsequent semi-nested PCR step. The target sequence for amplification is part of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene. Specificity of the PCRs was 100% when evaluated with isolates of 16 species of cestodes, including Echinococcus multilocularis, Echinococcus equinus, E. ortleppi and three strains of E. granulosus (G1, G6 and G7). Sensitivity threshold was 0.25pg of DNA. This new approach was compared with published protocols of restriction fragment length polymorphism-PCR and sequencing of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and NADH dehydrogenase 1 genes using Echinococcus isolates of human, sheep, goat, camel, cattle and pig origin from Kenya and Sudan. Additionally, two internal DNA probes were developed, one hybridising only with G1, the other with G5, G6 and G7 amplification products. Preliminary epidemiological results obtained with this PCR approach include the detection of a camel strain (G6) infection for the first time in a human patient from eastern Africa, and the first reports of E. ortleppi (G5) in livestock from Kenya and the Sudan.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Molecular cloning of a vaccine antigen against infection with the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis.

Alveolar and cystic hydatidosis are caused by infection with the larval stages of Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus, respectively. A host-protective antigen has been identified in E. granulosus. Here we identify the presence of a closely related protein in E. multilocularis, characterize and express a cDNA encoding the antigen (designated EM95), determine the structure of the em95 gene, and demonstrate that the EM95 recombinant protein can be used to induce significant levels of protection against challenge infection with E. multilocularis eggs in mice.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗