Liver Proteome Alterations in Red Deer (<i>Cervus elaphus</i>) Infected by the Giant Liver Fluke <i>Fascioloides magna</i>

Abstract

Liver fluke infections are recognised as diseases with worldwide distribution and considerable veterinary and public health importance. The giant liver fluke, Fascioloides magna, is an important non-native parasite which has been introduced to Europe, posing a threat to the survival of local wildlife populations such as red deer (Cervus elaphus). The aim of the study was to analyse differences in liver proteomes between F. magna-infected and control red deer groups using a label-based high-throughput quantitative proteomics approach. The proteomics analysis identified 234 proteins with differential abundance between the control and infected groups. Our findings showed that F. magna infection in this definitive host is associated with changes in the metabolism of proteins and fatty acids, oxidative stress, fibrosis, and signaling pathways. The identified proteins and associated biological pathways represent a valuable contribution to the understanding of host–parasite interactions and the pathogenesis of liver fluke infection.

Keywords

• wildlife
• liver fluke
• host-pathogen interaction
• proteomics
• tandem mass tag