Cytokine Profiles and Lesion Immunopathology in Sheep with Cystic Echinococcosis

Abstract

Background:Cystic echinococcosis ( CE), a parasitic disease caused by Echinococcus
granulosus remains one of the most important neglected zoonotic diseases in sheep producing
regions, where infected animals act as major intermediate hosts and sustain transmission to dogs
and humans. In sheep, the disease is not only a parasitic cystic condition bu t also a complex
immunopathological process shaped by parasite viability, cyst fertility, organ tropism, cytokine
polarization, and chronic tissue remodeling.
Aims: This narrative review discusses the assessment of cytokine related gene expression
together with histopathological changes in sheep infected with CE . A ttention has been paid to the
local balance between T helper (T h ) cells such as Th 1, Th2, Th17, and regulatory immune
pathways including interferons (IFN), tumor necrosis (TNF), interleukins (IL) IL), and transforming
growth factor (TGF) (e.g., IFN γ, TNF α, IL 1β, IL 4, IL 6, IL 10, IL 17A, TGF β )), and related
innate signaling mediators.
Results: Furthermore, t he review has connec ted molecular expression patterns with classical
liver and lung lesions (e.g., granulomatous inflammation, fibrosis, adventitial layer formation,
necrosis, vascular congestion, eosinophilic infiltration, macrophage activation, and cyst wall
remodeling
Conclusions: T he current review discussed the r ecent studies on hydatid fluid, extracellular
vesicles, parasite microRNAs, protoscolex transcriptomes, and genotype associated pathology
which were integrated to propose a modern tissue based model of ovine disease.