Inhibitory Effect of Ionizing Radiation on Echinococcus granulosus Hydatid Cyst

Abstract

Background: Heavy ion radiation has more advantages than traditional radiation therapy in the treatment of cancer, mainly because of its superior biological effects. However, there is currently no reliable evidence that heavy ion radiation can induce cell death in hydatid cysts at the cellular and molecular level. In addition, we believe heavy ion therapy could be a potential alternative approach for the treatment of hydatid cysts. Methodology/Principal Finding: The hydatid cysts and protoscolices were obtained from an experimentally infected KunMing mice. LD50 was used to evaluate the death of the protoscolex. The cellular and ultrastructure of the parasites were observed under light and electron microscopes, the damage and copy numbers of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were decided by QPCR. The apoptosis was evaluated by the expression and activity of caspase3. Dose-dependent ionizing radiation induced damage to the initial mtDNA. Echinococcosis cyst after ionizing radiation showed sparse cytoplasm, disorganized and clumped organelles, huge vacuoles, and villus deletions. The kinetic of DNA repair activity after X-ray irradiation was faster than those after carbon-ion irradiation. High doses of carbon ion radiation caused irreversible attenuation of mitochondrial DNA. Cysts showed obvious reduction in size after radiation. Carbon ion radiation was more effective than X-ray radiation in inhibiting hydatid cysts. Conclusions: These studies provide evidence that heavy-ion radiation can cause the extinction of hydatid cysts in vitro. The carbon-ion radiation is more advantageous than X-ray radiation in suppress hydatid cyst.

Radiotherapy for the treatment of pulmonary hydatidosis in sheep

“…Recently, few studies have been available to focus on utilizing irradiation for treating such disease. In an earlier study, Zhao et al indicated that heavy-ion radiation could induce the extinction of hydatid cysts in vitro [ 23 ]. However, rarely studies have been focused on the roles of radiation in hydatid disease under in vivo conditions [ 24 ].…”

Treatment of protoscoleces with gamma radiation: Potential immunoprotective effect against experimental murine echinococcosis

“…23,24 These protoscoleces have been widely used as an in vitro and in vivo study model to investigate the scolicidal effect and immunomodulatory properties of many chemical and/or natural molecules. [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] They have been also used to investigate the effect of radiation for therapeutic use or preventing echinococcosis recurrence after surgical removal of hydatid cysts [36][37][38][39][40][41] and to assess the potential of many molecules as novel vaccine for preventing infection. 9,16,17 Our study was conducted to investigate the immunoprotective effect against experimental murine echinococcosis by using gamma rays irradiated protoscoleces.…”

“…These protoscoleces have been widely used as an in vitro and in vivo study model to investigate the scolicidal effect and immunomodulatory properties of many chemical and/or natural molecules 25–35 . They have been also used to investigate the effect of radiation for therapeutic use or preventing echinococcosis recurrence after surgical removal of hydatid cysts 36–41 and to assess the potential of many molecules as novel vaccine for preventing infection 9,16,17 …”

Toxicity and Antiparasitic Efficacy of Essential Oils: Analyses of the Biochemical Compositions and Potencies

“…So far, various mechanical methods and chemical agents have been tested in order to prevent the formation of secondary hydatidosis. The antiparasitic ef-fects of direct electric current [1], magnetic field [2], xray [3], UV light [4], gamma irradiation [5], ultrasound [6,7], nanoparticles [8], hypotonic saline [9], silver nitrate [10], vinegar [11] and various herbal extracts or essential oils have been evaluated on protoscoleces to certain extents [12][13][14].…”