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Rodent Gut Bacteria Coexisting with an Insect Gut Virus in Tapeworm Parasitic Cysts: Metagenomic Evidence of

Amro Ammar1,2, Vaidhvi Singh1,2, Sanja Ilic3

  • 1Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.

Microorganisms
|June 27, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Parasitic cysts are not sterile, harboring bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This finding suggests antibiotics may benefit cystic diseases and chronic inflammatory conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Parasitology
  • Wildlife Ecology

Background:

  • Parasitic cysts, like brain cysticerci, are traditionally considered sterile and treated with antiparasitic drugs.
  • Antibiotics are not typically used, despite their potential to prevent abscesses and inflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the microbial composition of parasitic cysts in wild rodents.
  • To determine if parasitic cysts are sterile.
  • To understand microbial translocation and adaptation in wildlife.

Main Methods:

  • Multi-kingdom metagenomics was employed to analyze DNA from parasitic cysts and host samples (feces, liver, peritoneal fluid).
  • Samples were obtained from voles infected with the tapeworm Hydatigera (Taenia) taeniaeformis.

Main Results:

  • Bacteria, including gut commensals like Parabacteroides distasonis and E. coli, were found in cysts and peritoneal fluid.
  • Viral metagenomics detected murine viruses and an insect virus (Mythimna unipuncta granulovirus A) in cysts and other samples.
  • Fungal detection was significantly lower in cysts compared to peritoneal fluid/feces, with Malassezia and Pseudophaeomoniella oleicola identified in cysts.

Conclusions:

  • Metagenomics confirms that parasitic cysts harbor a complex microbiome of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
  • These findings support the potential therapeutic use of antibiotics in treating cystic diseases.
  • The results may also inform treatments for chronic inflammatory conditions with similar microbial profiles.
Keywords:
BacteroidetesCavFTHydatigera taeniaeformisKlebsiellaMythimna unipuncta granulovirus AP. cavitamuralisParabacteroides distasoniscavernous fistulous tractscysticercosismetacestode

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