Characterization of the host-parasite relationship of Polymorphidae (Acanthocephala) in Nannopterum brasilianus (Aves, Phalacrocoracidae) in the Soure Marine Extraction Reserve, Pará.

We herein describe a case of acanthocephalan infection in a 20-month old Saudi child who presented with a 3-month history of recurrent passage of long worms and poor appetite. The worm was misdiagnosed as Ascaris at another institution. Careful egg and worm examination confirmed the diagnosis of the acanthocephalan Moniliformis moniliformis. The child completely recovered with two courses of mebendazole, 3 days each, administered one week apart. Repeated stool analysis for 2-months post therapy confirmed complete eradication of this worm. We believe this is the first case of human acanthocephalan infection reported in Saudi Arabia.

The first record of Brachylaima ezohelicis (Trematoda: Brachylaimidae) in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes schrencki)

© 2018 Timo Thunken. Background: Parasites with complex life cycles depend on the ingestion of their intermediate host by the final host. To complete their life cycle successfully, parasites frequently manipulate the behaviour and appearance of the intermediate host. Within host–parasite systems, there is considerable variation in the intermediate host’s behavioural response to infection. Aim: Identify sources of parasite-induced variation in intermediate hosts’ traits by focusing on intra- and inter-individual variation in behavioural responses to parasitic manipulation, taking infection intensity – and thus parasitic competition – into account. Organism: The acanthocephalan parasite Polymorphus minutus, which alters the phototactic behaviour and activity of its intermediate host, Gammarus pulex, thereby increasing the probability of being eaten by the final host. Methods: We repeatedly examined the behaviour of individual G. pulex varying in intensity of infection with P. minutus from uninfected to multiple-infected. We analysed phototactic responses and activity. Results and conclusions: Individual gammarids differed in phototactic behaviour and in activity patterns, with repeatability ranging from 20% to 50%. Infected gammarids showed greater between-individual variation in phototaxis but not activity than uninfected gammarids. All uninfected gammarids were photophobic, whereas the phototactic behaviour of infected gammarids ranged from photophobia to photophilia. On average, multiple-infected gammarids were similarly photophobic as uninfected ones. Single-infected gammarids were less photophobic than uninfected and multiple-infected conspecifics. This suggests that intra-specific parasitic competition affects the manipulative abilities of parasites. Both groups of infected gammarids were on average less active than uninfected ones, and this effect was mainly driven by some infected individuals. In conclusion, behavioural variation of gammarids was caused both by individual differences in responses to manipulation/infection, and by the reduced manipulative capacities of parasites facing intra-specific competition.

Polymorphidae is a monophyletic group of acanthocephalans distributed worldwide. Within this family, Hexaglandula corynosoma is a specialist species that uses a single bird species as a definitive host. Southwellina hispida is a generalist species that uses a broad spectrum of definitive hosts to complete its life cycle. In the current research, sequences of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) from mitochondrial DNA were generated from 44 specimens of H. corynosoma and 76 of S. hispida distributed sympatrically in 6 biogeographic provinces of Mexico with the objective of characterizing and comparing the population genetic structure of 2 acanthocephalan species with opposing life strategies. The phylogeographic studies indicated that the populations of both species lacked a phylogeographic structure and exhibited high haplotype diversity, low nucleotide diversity and low Fst values among the biogeographic provinces; in combination with negative values on the neutrality test, this suggests that the populations of acanthocephalans are expanding. Paratenic hosts are key for the transmission from intermediate to definitive hosts in the generalist species. However, the inclusion of paratenic hosts does not play a principal role in the population genetic structure of S. hispida within its distribution along the coasts of Mexico.

The parasitic nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a major cause of eosinophilic meningitis in humans, and has been documented in other incidental hosts such as birds, horses, dogs and non-human primates. It is endemic in Hawaii, and there have been sporadic reports in the southern continental United States. This parasite uses rats as definitive hosts and snails as intermediate hosts. In this study, we collected potential definitive and intermediate hosts throughout Florida to ascertain the geographic distribution in the state: Rats, environmental rat fecal samples, and snails were collected from 18 counties throughout the state. Classical diagnostics and morphological identification, along with molecular techniques were used to identify nematode species and confirm the presence of A. cantonensis.Of the 171 Rattus rattus collected, 39 (22.8%) were positive for A. cantonensis, and 6 of the 37 (16.2%) environmental rat fecal samples collected in three of the surveyed counties were also positive for this parasite by real time PCR. We examined 1,437 gastropods, which represented 32 species; 27 (1.9%) were positive for A. cantonensis from multiple sites across Florida. Three non-native gastropod species, Bradybaena similaris, Zachrysia provisoria, and Paropeas achatinaceum, and three native gastropod species, Succinea floridana, Ventridens demissus, and Zonitoides arboreus, which are newly recorded intermediate hosts for the parasite, were positive for A. cantonensis. This study indicates that A. cantonensis is established in Florida through the finding of adult and larval stages in definitive and intermediate hosts, respectively, throughout the state. The ability for this historically subtropical nematode to thrive in a more temperate climate is alarming, however as the climate changes and average temperatures rise, gastropod distributions will probably expand, leading to the spread of this parasite in more temperate areas. Through greater awareness of host species and prevalence of A. cantonensis in the United States, potential accidental infections may be avoided.

PHYLOGENETIC INFLUENCES There is widespread acceptance that the phylum Acanthocephala can be divided into three major classes (Amin, 1985a), and some authorities also recognise a fourth, very small, class. The characterisation of these taxa is based on a number of structural features such as body size, number of cement glands and trunk spination and also on a number of biological features including habitat and identity of intermediate and definitive hosts. The most important of these biological features in relation to the three main classes are summarised in Table 3.1. The Archiacanthocephala are truly terrestrial: they use terrestrial insects and myriapods as intermediate hosts and predatory birds and mammals as definitive hosts, and many, though not all, species also have the ability to use paratenic hosts (Schmidt, 1985), particularly reptiles and amphibians. By contrast the Palaeacanthocephala are mostly aquatic and use aquatic arthropods as intermediate hosts. They show the greatest diversity of all three classes in their use of definitive hosts. Many species use teleost fish, but others use amphibians, birds and mammals. These birds and mammals generally show strong aquatic links and species such as ducks, seals and whales serve as hosts. The use of paratenic hosts is not very common, but when they are employed it is often to bridge levels in food chains, for example in the use of fish to bridge the levels of crustacean intermediate hosts and piscivorous seals as definitive hosts.

For the first time the inventory of the taxonomic composition of the spiny-headed worms has been carried out in the basin of the Sea of Okhotsk. It has revealed their high biodiversity. We have registered 100 species and forms of 28 genera of 17 families of 8 orders of 3 classes in composition of the phylum Acanthocephales. Spiny-headed worms of hydrotopic species, both sea and freshwater, totally dominate in the basin of the Sea of Okhotsk. Parasitic systems of the background species of the sea spiny-headed worms are basically composed by the dominant species of intertidal and near-shore sea amphipods, and besides of decapods as intermediate hosts. Structure and biotopic belonging of parasitic systems of the freshwater spiny-headed worms species in the region are determined by the freshwater crustaceans belonging to ostracods of genera Cypria and Candona, amphipods of the genus Gammarus and isopods, namely water slaters of the genus Asellus. Broad transmission of the spiny-headed worms within certain ecosystems and over the basin of the Sea of Okhotsk is realized by their definite and parathenic hosts. Short- and long-distance migrant fishes, birds and mammals are most important among them.

First report of Taenia arctos (Cestoda: Taeniidae) from grizzly (Ursus arctos horribilis) and black bears (Ursus americanus) in North America

Genetic and morphological studies were carried out on acanthocephalans belonging to Corynosoma Lühe, 1904 and referable to the species C. cetaceum Johnston & Best, 1942 and C. australe Johnston, 1937, which were recovered from both definitive and intermediate hosts in Argentinian waters. The aims were to estimate the level of genetic differentiation between the two taxa at any stage of their life-cycle, to provide genetic (allozyme) markers for their recognition and to analyse the systematic status of both taxa. Acanthocephalans were collected from the stomach and intestine of Arctocephalus australis (Zimmerman), the intestine of Mirounga leonina (Linnaeus) and the stomach of Pontoporia blainvillei Gervais & D'Orbigny (definitive hosts) in Argentinian waters. Alternative alleles at all the 13 enzymatic loci studied were observed for C. australe and C. cetaceum. The specimens from the stomach of both P. blainvillei and A. australis were identified, on the basis of the great number of diagnostic loci found, as C. cetaceum; those from intestine of both A. australis and M. leonina as C. australe. A high level of genetic differentiation (D(Nei)=infinity: I(Nei)=0.00) between the two taxa was found, suggesting a generic distinction between the two species. Cystacanths of the two species from the body-cavity of the fish Cynoscion guatucupa (Cuvier) collected from the same geographical area were identified genetically. Morphological patterns, such as the number of hooks and hook rows on the proboscis, the distribution of somatic and genital armature, and other morphometric and meristic differences, in addition to ecological data, enabled the identification of these two species at cystacanth, juvenile and adult stages. However, a number of morphological and morphometric features of the Argentinian material were different to those of C. australe and C. cetaceum described from other regions of the world.

Bony fishes (Teleostei) play an important role in the completion of life cycles of helminth parasites in the Antarctica. These fishes may be definitive, second intermediate or paratenic hosts of the helminths. The most species-rich taxon is Digenea. Virtually all of these digeneans use teleosts as definitive hosts. Only one species, Otodistomum cestoides, occurs as the adult stage in skates (Chondrichthyes), with teleosts as its second intermediate host. Among 14 cestode species maturing in fishes only one, Parabothriocephalus johnstoni, occurs in a bony fish, Macrourus whitsoni, whereas the others are parasites of Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fishes). Antarctic Chondrichthyes are not infected with nematode and acanthocephalan species. Specificity to the intermediate and/or paratenic hosts of the majority of Antarctic helminths is wide, whereas that for definitive hosts is often narrower, restricted to one order or sometimes even to one or two host species. Almost all of 73 helminth species maturing in Antarctic fishes are endemics. Only 4 digenean and one nematode species are cosmopolitan or bipolar.

A survey of published descriptions of bucephalid trematodes provides bits of information on definitive and intermediate hosts, life histories, developmental stages and systematic relations. Adults live in the digestive tracts of marine and freshwater fishes; miracidial larvae emerge from the eggs and enter bivalve mollusks, where they give rise to branched sporocysts in which fork‐tailed larvae are produced. These larvae, described by von Baer (1827), invade small fishes, where they encyst; when ingested by definitive hosts, they become sexually mature, completing the cycle. Although outlines of the life history are clear, correlation between larval and adult stages is known for only two marine and four freshwater species. Lack of information on successive stages of particular species has led to confusion in systematic and taxonomic determinations. The relative significance of different morphological and developmental features, especially of the excretory system, is controversial. A new genus, Rudolphinus, is erected to contain Prosorhynchus crucibulum (Rudolphi, 1819) Odhner, 1905, since the species is not congeneric with Prosorhynchus squamatus Odhner, 1905, type of the genus.

Simple SummaryWe reviewed the database of a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center in Costa Rica and described the main causes of admission, the admission factors that influenced release and mortality, and the predictive factors of survival and mortality of wildlife to determine general patterns and relevant factors currently affecting wildlife in Costa Rica. The results of the study demonstrate the value of maintaining, improving, and studying databases from wildlife rehabilitation centers to lead to a better understanding of threats to wildlife and subsequent implementation of conservation actions.The evaluation of data regarding rehabilitation practices provides reference values for comparison purposes among different rehabilitation centers to critically review protocols and efficiently improve each center. The aim of the present work was to present the main causes of admission to Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center for each taxonomic group, to determine the admission factors that influenced the release and mortality, and to determine the predictive factors of release and mortality of wildlife. To this end, a retrospective study was carried out based on 5785 admissions registered in the database of Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center in Costa Rica in 2020 and 2021. Statistical analysis consisted of sample characterization via the analysis of several categorical variables: species, order, class, age group, cause of admission, outcome, clinical classification and days in the hospital, and respective association with the mortality or release rate. Most of the rescue animals were birds (59.3%), then mammals (20.7%), reptiles (17.4%), and finally ‘others’ (2.6%). The main causes of admission were ‘captivity’ (34.9%), ‘found’ (23.3%), and ‘trauma’ (19.3%). Animals rescued due to ‘captivity’ and the classes ‘birds’ and ‘reptiles’ had the highest release rates. The causes of admission ‘trauma’ and ‘orphanhood’ and the class ‘birds’ had the highest mortality rates. In general, a greater number of days spent in the hospital and membership in the classes ‘reptiles’, ‘juveniles’, in need of ‘basic care’, or ‘clinically healthy’ were predictors of survival. In contrast, the age groups ‘infant’ and ‘nestling’ were predictors of mortality. These results demonstrate the value of maintaining, improving, and studying databases from wildlife rehabilitation centers, as they can provide useful information that can be used to enhance the allocation of economic resources, treatment methods, disease surveillance, public education, and regulatory decision-making, leading to a better understanding of threats to wildlife and subsequent implementation of conservation actions.

The first data on the parasite fauna of fish from the mountain lakes Bolshoy and Maly Darpir at the southern spurs of the Chersky Ridge (Momsky District, Yakutia) are presented. 7 species of fish have been studied, in which 34 species of parasites have been found: 33 species of helminths and 1 species of parasitic copepods, belonging to 22 genera, 16 families, 12 orders, 7 classes of 4 types of the animal kingdom. Trematodes completely dominate by the number of species among helminths (16 species); cestodes are half as many (8 species); these are followed by nematodes and spiny-headed worms (5 and 4 species, respectively). The greatest variety of parasites was found in the East Siberian grayling (22 species) and the Arctic char (19 species). Next to the latter in terms of the number of parasite species, there went the Kolyma sculpin (13 species), round whitefish (10 species each), sucker (9 species), eelpout, and common minnow (7 species each). Only one parasite species, the Neoechinorhynchus salmonis Ching, 1984 spiny-headed worm, is common for all studied fish. The second species of spiny-headed worms, Pseudoechinorhynchus borealis (Linstow, 1901), not found only in the round whitefish, was first recorded in fish of the Okhotsk-Kolyma area and in the sucker as a new definitive host.

Wildlife Rehabilitation Centres emerged with the purpose of recovering individuals, as a tool for environmental education and monitoring the balance of ecosystems. The White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) is one of the many species that are admitted to rehabilitation centres all around the world, due to traumatic amputations. This work presents the development of 3D-printed orthopedic prostheses aimed at partially restoring biomechanical function and enabling the reintegration of amputated birds into their natural habitat. Conducted at the Green Balkans Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Center in Bulgaria, three prosthetic prototypes were created using epoxy resin, polylactic acid (PLA), and polyamide, based on detailed anatomical measurements. The process involved 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD), biomechanical analysis, and performance evaluation, focusing on locomotion, feeding, and flight. Results showed improved prosthetic efficacy, with birds adapting within 1-5 days, resuming normal behaviours, and regaining flight. Of the 12 birds analyzed, 3 were released into the wild, with 1 tracked via GPS, marking the first documented case of an amputated bird with a prosthesis monitored post-release, covering over 470 km in 15 days. This study highlights the potential of 3D printing in conservation medicine, offering alternatives to euthanasia and open new perspectives in the global context of biodiversity preservation.

Nine species of acanthocephalans have previously been reported from the raccoon, Procyon lotor, from North America: Centrorhynchus conspectus, Centrorhynchus sp., Echinorhynchus gadi, Moniliformis sp., Neoechinorhynchus cylindratus, Oligacanthorhynchus tortuosa, Plagiorhynchus cylindraceus, Profilicollis botulus, and Macracanthorhynchus ingens. Herein is reported for the first time the collection of Arythmorhynchus frassoni, Centrorhynchus spinonsus, and Southwellina hispida, each from single raccoons on Ossabaw Island, Georgia. The specimen previously identified as O. tortuosa was redetermined as M. ingens. Thus, this brings the total number of acanthocephalan species reported from the raccoon to 11. Infections of raccoons with all but M. ingens were of immature worms acquired by ingestion of intermediate or paratenic hosts or worms apparently ingested with infected definitive hosts. The many extensive surveys conducted of raccoons suggest that M. ingens is the only acanthocephalan that utilizes Procyon lotor as definitive host. A faunal review of M. ingens is provided, revealing that this acanthocephalan exhibits a broad distribution across much of the eastern United States. Macracanthorhynchus ingens is reported for the first time from Mississippi, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. Also, M. ingens is reported for the first time from a raccoon (P. lotor) in Nicaragua and a kinkajou (Potos flavus) in Colombia. Additionally, cystacanths are reported from a bess beetle, Odontotaenius disjunctus, from Louisiana, representing a new intermediate host record and the first report of the natural occurrence of M. ingens from a coleopteran.