Trypanosoma lewisi: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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In 1643, captain William Mynors sailed past a small island close to [[Malaysia]]; they called it “The [[Christmas Island]].” Many of the plants and animals found on that island were unique to it. These species included two endemic populations of rats. Unfortunately, these two species of rats have gone extinct. In the 1900s, a parasitologist had noticed ''Rattus macleari'' species were getting sick, so he suspected they were getting sick because of a species of trypanosomes. There was no proof that this was actually correct until science and scientists came along. Some scientists from the American Museum of Natural History took some rats that had been collected from Christmas Island and deposited as specimen into museums. |
In 1643, captain William Mynors sailed past a small island close to [[Malaysia]]; they called it “The [[Christmas Island]].” Many of the plants and animals found on that island were unique to it. These species included two endemic populations of rats. Unfortunately, these two species of rats have gone extinct. In the 1900s, a parasitologist had noticed ''Rattus macleari'' species were getting sick, so he suspected they were getting sick because of a species of trypanosomes. There was no proof that this was actually correct until science and scientists came along. Some scientists from the American Museum of Natural History took some rats that had been collected from Christmas Island and deposited as specimen into museums. Scientists argue that ''Trypanosoma lewisi'' is partially or wholly responsible for the extinction of ''Rattus macleari''. They were transmitted from fleas infesting the then recently introduced black rats (''Rattus rattus'').<ref>{{cite journal|last=Wyatt|first=Kelly B.|coauthors=Campos, Paula F., Gilbert, M. Thomas P., Kolokotronis, Sergios-Orestis, Hynes, Wayne H., DeSalle, Rob, Daszak, Peter, MacPhee, Ross D. E., Greenwood, Alex D., Ahmed, Niyaz|title=Historical Mammal Extinction on Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) Correlates with Introduced Infectious Disease|journal=PLoS ONE|date=NaN undefined NaN|volume=3|issue=11|pages=e3602|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0003602|accessdate=6 December 2011}}</ref> |
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==Research== |
==Research== |
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Revision as of 01:12, 6 December 2011
| Trypanosoma lewisi | |
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| Trypanosoma lewisi | |
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| Species: | T. lewisi
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| Trypanosoma lewisi | |
'Trypanosome lewisi' is a parasite of Rattus spp. It also infects other rodents such as: mice and kangoaroo rates in America. These species included two endemic species of rats, Rattus macleari and Rattus nativitatis. It is not very clear whether or not the same lewisi parasite infects both species. However, both parasites are very similar. T. lewisi is transported via the northern rate flea, Nosopsyllus fasciatus, where parasites develop in the midgut of the insect. Epimastigotes are the stage that is present in the insect, while trypomastigote is the stage that is present in the main host. Metacyclic trypomastigote appear in the rectum of the insect, which is how it infects the host. The rat will eat the flea or their feces, and that’s how it will get the disease.
History
In 1643, captain William Mynors sailed past a small island close to Malaysia; they called it “The Christmas Island.” Many of the plants and animals found on that island were unique to it. These species included two endemic populations of rats. Unfortunately, these two species of rats have gone extinct. In the 1900s, a parasitologist had noticed Rattus macleari species were getting sick, so he suspected they were getting sick because of a species of trypanosomes. There was no proof that this was actually correct until science and scientists came along. Some scientists from the American Museum of Natural History took some rats that had been collected from Christmas Island and deposited as specimen into museums. Scientists argue that Trypanosoma lewisi is partially or wholly responsible for the extinction of Rattus macleari. They were transmitted from fleas infesting the then recently introduced black rats (Rattus rattus).[1]
Research
Many researches have been done on this parasite because it was easy to grow it in rats in the laboratory, which made it easier for the researchers to maintain it and get the results. Ablastin, an antibody that arises during an infection in the host’s body, was a fascinating subject for the researchers. A research paper was also consistent with some other data. The paper suggested that the introduction of a Trypanosome lewisi to immunologically naïve murine hosts on the island around 1900 matches the data that is now known of reports that have caused complete extinction within the range of 1–9 years. This gives some more information of the first pathogen introduction to a species that have caused species extinction.
Pathology
The parasite's metacyclic trypomastigote infects a rat after eating its host flea or the rat's feces. Once inside the rat's body, the parasite will then begin reproducing epimastigotes in the blood capillaries of the host. After about five days, trypanosomes will begin appearing in the peripheral blood of the host as if they were thick worms. These parasites are usually attacked by the trypanocidal antibodies produced by their host's immune system. After a few weeks, the rat will produce stronger trypanocidal antibodies which kills the remaining trypanosomes.
References
- ^ Wyatt, Kelly B. (NaN undefined NaN). "Historical Mammal Extinction on Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) Correlates with Introduced Infectious Disease". PLoS ONE. 3 (11): e3602. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0003602.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
External Links
- December 25 - trypanosoma lewisi . (2010, December 25). Retrieved from http://dailyparasite.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-25-trypanosoma-lewisi.html
- Roberts, L., Janovy, J., & Schmidt, G. (2009). Foundations of parasitology. (8th ed., pp. 76–77). New York : McGraw-Hill.
- Dept. of Zoology, University of Manitoba. (2000). Trypanosoma lewisi. Retrieved from http://umanitoba.ca/science/zoology/faculty/dick/z346/tryphome.html)