Capillarid Eggs Research Articles

Health Assessment of Adult Male Eastern Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) from Western Kentucky, USA.

Wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) are an important game species throughout the geographic range. Populations throughout multiple regions of the US have been declining, including in Kentucky, US, raising concerns among managers and resource users. To better understand the overall population health, we performed postmortem examinations and targeted pathogen, mineral, and toxicant testing on 36 adult male, apparently healthy, wild turkeys that were hunter harvested in western Kentucky during April 2018. We found that birds were in fair to good nutritional condition with no significant gross or microscopic lesions. Ticks (Amblyomma spp.) and lice (three species) were present on 94 and 31% of birds, respectively. We commonly detected intestinal nematodes and cestodes and found coccidian oocysts in 39% and capillarid eggs in 6% of birds. The prevalences of lymphoproliferative disease virus and reticuloendotheliosis virus were 39 and 11%, respectively. Spleen samples tested with PCR were positive for Borrelia burgdorferi, Haemoproteus sp., and Leucocytozoon sp. in 11, 83, and 3%, respectively. Based on a subjective histologic assessment of testis tissues, most birds had widespread and abundant sperm present. Mineral analysis and broad toxicant screening on liver samples from 32 turkeys were unremarkable. Further work is needed to assess potential population risk factors and to determine individual- and population-level impacts of pathogens on adults and poults.

First Documented Cases of Pearsonema Plica (syn. Capillaria Plica) Infections in Dogs from Western Slovakia.

SummaryThree clinical cases of dogs with Pearsonema plica infection were detected in the western part of Slovakia. All cases were detected within five months. Infections were confirmed after positive findings of capillarid eggs in the urine sediment in following breeds. The eight years old Jack Russell Terrier, one year old Italian Greyhound, and eleven years old Yorkshire terrier were examined and treated. In one case, the infection was found accidentally in clinically healthy dog. Two other patients had nonspecific clinical signs such as apathy, inappetence, vomiting, polydipsia and frequent urination. This paper describes three individual cases, including the case history, clinical signs, examinations, and therapies. All data were obtained by attending veterinarian as well as by dog owners.

Prevalence of endoparasites in northern Mississippi shelter cats.

Parasitism of domestic cats impacts feline health and public health, when zoonotic parasites are present. Our objective was to evaluate endoparasite prevalence in cats from northern Mississippi animal shelters. Feline cadavers (n = 56) were collected from seven shelters from August 2017 to January 2018. Data included shelter, sex, reproductive status, intake date, originating source, and treatment records. Cadavers were processed to isolate stomach, and small and large intestines. Contents were strained and examined using stereomicroscopes for helminth collection and identification. Centrifugal flotation using Sheather's solution was performed on feces; urine sediments were also examined. Descriptive statistics in SAS was performed using the Frequency procedure. Kappa agreement statistics were obtained to determine agreement between fecal flotation and necropsy results. Separate logistic regression models were developed to test effects of risk factors on the probability for cats to test positive for outcomes of interest. Helminths were recovered in 82% of cats (46/56); specifically, Ancylostoma spp. (52%), Toxocara cati (43%), Taenia taeniaeformis (36%), Dipylidium caninum (29%), and Spirometra spp. (4%) were identified. Thirty-seven of 56 cats (66%) had parasite eggs or oocysts on fecal examination, including T. cati (39%), Ancylostoma spp. (34%), Cystoisospora spp. (23%), Spirometra spp. (9%), T. taeniaeformis (9%), and capillarid-type eggs (5%). Feline originating source was associated with presence of T. cati eggs in feces and presence of D. caninum in the gastrointestinal tract. Feral cats were more likely to have T. cati eggs in feces than owner surrender cats (OR 28; 95% CI: 1.9, 423), or stray cats (OR 8, 95% CI: 1.1, 57.0). Owner surrender cats were more likely to have D. caninum helminths in the gastrointestinal tract than stray cats (OR = 19.5; 95% CI: 2.0, 190). Toxocara cati exhibited strong agreement (κ = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.52, 0.89), Ancylostoma spp. exhibited moderate agreement (κ = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.65), and cestodes exhibited poor agreement (κ = 0.02, 95% CI: -0.12, 0.15) between presence of eggs and gross helminths. Capillarid eggs (Pearsonema feliscati) were recovered in urine sediment of 6% (3/48) of cats. Overall, our study demonstrates a high level of parasitism in cats that entered Mississippi animal shelters. Parasites with zoonotic potential, such as Alaria spp., Ancylostoma spp., D. caninum, Physaloptera spp., T. taeniaeformis, T. cati, and Spirometra spp. were identified. Our results support the need for effective antiparasitic treatment of cats entering animal shelters in order to improve feline health and prevent environmental contamination with zoonotic parasites.

Prevalence of helminth and coccidian parasites in Swedish outdoor cats and the first report of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in Sweden: a coprological investigation

BackgroundThis study was performed in order to gather recent epidemiological data on feline endoparasites in Swedish cats. Faecal samples from 205 outdoor cats were collected by their owners and submitted to the National Veterinary Institute for analysis. The study population was comprised of cats with access to an outdoor environment and with no history of anthelmintic treatment within the last 3 months. Intestinal parasites were detected with a centrifugal flotation technique and Baermann larval sedimentation was performed to detect metastrongylid lungworms. Eggs, larvae and oocysts were identified morphologically by microscopic examination. The following information was collected from cat owners: breed, sex, age, anthelminthic medication last used, observation of cestode proglottids and residential address.ResultsEndoparasites were detected in 25% of samples. Eggs of Toxocara cati were found in 21% of samples, followed by taeniid eggs (4%), oocysts of Cystoisospora felis/C. rivolta and capillarid eggs (both 1%). One cat tested positive for Toxoplasma gondii-like oocysts. Larvae of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus were detected in one cat, which is the first published observation of this parasite in Sweden.ConclusionsThe occurrence of intestinal parasites is rather high in outdoor cats in Sweden, which could indicate the need for more intensive deworming routines in the population. Clinical practitioners should be aware of the possible occurence of A. abstrusus in Swedish cats when considering potential causes of respiratory problems in cats in the future.

Efficacy of a novel topical combination of fipronil, (S)-methoprene, eprinomectin and praziquantel against feline urinary bladder worm (Capillaria plica) infection

Infection with urinary capillarid bladder worms has been observed in cats worldwide. Although considered as generally causing no or little harm, infection with urinary capillarids may be associated with clinical disease which requires an appropriate treatment including the use of anthelmintics. Therefore, the efficacy of a novel topical combination formulation of fipronil 8.3% (w/v), (S)-methoprene 10% (w/v), eprinomectin 0.4% (w/v), and praziquantel 8.3% (w/v) (BROADLINE®, Merial) was evaluated against urinary capillarids in naturally infected cats. Sixteen European Short Hair cats (5 male, 11 female) with capillarid eggs in their urine pre-treatment were included in the study. At the time of treatment, the cats were approximately ten months to eight years old and weighed 1.6–3.6kg. Cats were ranked based on decreasing bodyweight and then randomly allocated within replicates of two animals to one of the treatment groups. Each cat in the treated group received one topical application of the combination product at the minimum therapeutic dose of 0.12mL/kg body weight delivering 10mg fipronil+12mg (S)-methoprene+0.5mg eprinomectin+10mg praziquantel per kilogram of body weight while the cats allocated to the control group remained untreated. For parasite recovery, identification and count, cats were euthanized humanely 14 days after treatment. All untreated cats harboured Capillaria plica in their urinary bladders (range 4–12), while no capillarids were recovered from the eight treated cats. Thus, the efficacy of the novel topical combination against C. plica was 100%. All cats accepted the treatment well based on post-treatment observations and daily observations thereafter. No adverse events or other health problems were observed during the study.

Treatment of E. boehmi Infection in a Mixed-Breed Dog Using Milbemycin Oxime

Numerous bipolar plugged capillarid eggs were detected on a routine centrifugal fecal flotation examination of a 2 yr old castrated male boxer-Chinese shar pei mixed-breed. The eggs were identified as Eucoleus boehmi (E. boehmi), the nasal capillarid, based on size and shell wall surface morphology. The dog had a history of chronic sneezing (> 5 times/day) and intermittent postexercise nasal discharge. Currently, there are no anthelmintics approved for use in dogs for the treatment of E. boehmi. Treatment of the dog with 0.5-1 mg/kg milbemycin oxime was ineffective, but treatment with 2 mg/kg milbemycin oxime resulted in negative fecal examinations 7-28 days and 5 mo posttreatment. The dog's postexertion nasal discharge greatly lessened, and the sneezing behavior improved (it was only noted 2-3 times/wk), but neither the discharge nor sneezing completely resolved following the anthelmintic treatments. Use of milbemycin oxime at an increased dose (2 mg/kg) appeared to be an effective treatment against E. boehmi infection in this dog based on clinical response and the cessation of fecal egg shedding.

Avoiding bias in parasite excretion estimates: the effect of sampling time and type of faeces

The study of host-parasite relationships usually requires reliable estimates of parasite intensity, which is often estimated from parasite propagule concentration in faeces. However, parasite excretion in faeces may be subject to variation due to endogenous or exogenous factors that must be identified to obtain reliable results. We analysed the effect of the hour of sample collection on propagule counts of 2 intestinal parasites infecting the red-legged partridge: the capillarid nematode Aonchoteca caudinflata and coccidia of the genus Eimeria (Protozoa). Also, we test whether there are differences in propagule counts between caecal and intestinal faeces. Individual faecal samples from infected birds were collected daily at 4 different hours during several days. The hour of the day exerted a very strong effect on propagule counts, excretion of both types of parasites showing a clear and constant increase from dawn to dusk. Also, capillarid eggs were more abundant in intestinal than in caecal faeces, whereas the inverse pattern was found for coccidian oocysts. Standardization of the hour of sample collection or statistical control of this variable is recommendable to prevent bias. Similarly, in bird species with long caeca, consistent collection of one type of faeces may avoid significant errors in parasite burden estimates.

Occurrence of Capillarid Eggs in Turkeys and Guinea Fowls in India

Singh, H., Mishra, A.K. and Rao, J.R. 2006. Occurrence of capaillarid eggs in turkeys and guinea fowls in India. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 29: 7–8. To know the prevalence of capillariosis in turkeys and guinea fowls at an organised farm in India, pooled faecal samples from 102 turkeys and 150 guinea fowls were subjected to floatation techniques for detection of eggs. Representative faecal samples revealed 5% turkeys and 46% guinea fowls positive for Capillaria sp. The capillarid eggs from turkeys were in the range of 42 x 25 μm while those from guinea fowls ranged 37 x 20 μm. This appears to be the first report on occurrence of Capillaria sp. in turkeys and guinea fowls in India.

The occurrence of black spots in the tongue sole, Cynoglossus browni Chabanaud, due to nematode eggs (Capillaria spinosa) previously described in the shark Carcharhinus mttberti Müller & Henle

The occurrence of black spots in fillets of the tongue sole, Cynoglossus browni, due to the occurrence of nematode eggs is reported. The eggs were found to be identical with Capillaria spinosa egg type previously described from the shark, Carcharhinus milberti. The presence of the capillarid eggs in the tongue sole is discussed as a new observation in relation to gaps in knowledge of the adult nematode and the biology of the shark.