Effects of Lucilia sericata Larval Secretion on Echinococcus granulosus

Echinococcus granulosus causes echinococcosis when its larvae settle in various organs, especially the liver and lung, of humans and herbivorous animals such as sheep and cattle. Echinococcosis are endemic in Mediterranean countries including Türkiye, the Middle East and South Africa. Echinococcosis treatments are generally surgical excision or benzimidazoles. Maggot debridement therapy is a wound treatment with Lucilia sericata larvae. While the larvae consume the old-damaged tissues and bacteria in the wound site, the maggots secrete an antimicrobial fluid. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of Lucilia sericata larval secretions on Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces in vitro.

Various DNA damage markers were used to analyze the therapeutic potential of the larval secretions. For this purpose, protoscoleces were cultured and treated with different concentrations of larval secretions. Comet test was performed to determine DNA damage. Expression of EgATM, EgRad9 and EgTopo2a genes was analyzed by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction.

The viability of the control group was 94% and the viability of the protoscoleces treated with larval secretions was 73%. Comet test showed that larval secretions caused DNA damage in protoscoleces. According to quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction results; 1:1 larval secretions increased ATM and Rad9 gene expression 3.2-fold and Topo2a gene expression 2.2-fold compared to control groups (p<0.05).

These data showed that in vitro larval secretion induced DNA damage in Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces and increased the expression of EgATM, EgRad9 and EgTopo2a genes. However, further in vitro and in vivo studies are needed.