Cestode Parasite Research Articles

Immunology of a unique biological structure: the Echinococcus laminated layer.

The larval stages of the cestode parasites belonging to the genus Echinococcus grow within internal organs of humans and a range of animal species. The resulting diseases, collectively termed echinococcoses, include major neglected tropical diseases of humans and livestock. Echinococcus larvae are outwardly protected by the laminated layer (LL), an acellular structure that is unique to this genus. The LL is based on a fibrillar meshwork made up of mucins, which are decorated by galactose-rich O-glycans. In addition, in the species cluster termed E. granulosus sensu lato, the LL features nano-deposits of the calcium salt of myo-inositol hexakisphosphate (Insp6). The main purpose of our article is to update the immunobiology of the LL. Major recent advances in this area are (i) the demonstration of LL "debris" at the infection site and draining lymph nodes, (ii) the characterization of the decoy activity of calcium Insp6 with respect to complement, (iii) the evidence that the LL mucin carbohydrates interact specifically with a lectin receptor expressed in Kupffer cells (Clec4F), and (iv) the characterization of what appear to be receptor-independent effects of LL particles on dendritic cells and macrophages. Much information is missing on the immunology of this intriguing structure: we discuss gaps in knowledge and propose possible avenues for research.

No strong associations between temperature and the host–parasite interaction in wild stickleback

As climate change progresses, thermal stress is expected to alter the way that host organisms respond to infections by pathogens and parasites, with consequences for the fitness and therefore population processes of both host and parasite. The authors used a correlational natural experiment to examine how temperature differences shape the impact of the cestode parasite Schistocephalus solidus on its host, the three‐spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). Previous laboratory work has found that high temperatures benefit S. solidus while being detrimental to the stickleback. The present study sought to emulate this design in the wild, repeatedly sampling naturally infected and uninfected fish at matched warmer and cooler locations in the Baltic Sea.In this wild study, the authors found little evidence that temperature was associated with the host–parasite interaction. Although infection reduced host condition and reproductive status overall, these effects did not vary with temperature. Host fitness indicators correlated to some extent with temperature, with cooler capture sites associated with larger size but warmer sites with improved reproductive potential. Parasite fitness (prevalence or size) was not correlated with temperature at the capture site.These mismatches between laboratory and field outcomes illustrate how findings from well‐controlled laboratory experiments may not fully reflect processes in more variable natural settings. Nonetheless, the findings of this study indicate that temperature can influence host fitness regardless of infection, with potential consequences for both host demography and parasite transmission dynamics in this complex system.

Primary Renal Hydatid in Children

Isolated renal hydatid disease, caused by the larvae of the parasitic tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus is a rare phenomenon and accounts for only 2% of all reported cases. The authors report a case of a 12-year-old female who presented with right flank pain. Initial abdominal ultrasound revealed a complex cystic mass in the upper pole of the right kidney. A contrasted CT scan better defined it as a well-circumscribed cyst with multiple thin septations. Laboratory investigations showed eosinophilia and a positive IgG Echinococcus serology. Considering these radiological and laboratory findings, a tentative diagnosis of primary renal hydatid was made. With perioperative antihelmintic therapy, the authors used a combination of an open puncture-aspiration-injection-reaspiration technique pericystectomy to manage the isolated renal hydatid. Renal hydatid can easily be misinterpreted pre-operatively for more sinister renal cystic pathology, including cystic renal cell carcinoma. An accurate pre-operative diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion, especially in endemic regions. Surgical therapy, with perioperative antihelmintic therapy, offers the best chance of cure.

Primary Renal Hydatid in Children

Isolated renal hydatid disease, caused by the larvae of the parasitic tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus is a rare phenomenon and accounts for only 2% of all reported cases. The authors report a case of a 12-year-old female who presented with right flank pain. Initial abdominal ultrasound revealed a complex cystic mass in the upper pole of the right kidney. A contrasted CT scan better defined it as a well-circumscribed cyst with multiple thin septations. Laboratory investigations showed eosinophilia and a positive IgG Echinococcus serology. Considering these radiological and laboratory findings, a tentative diagnosis of primary renal hydatid was made. With perioperative antihelmintic therapy, the authors used a combination of an open puncture-aspiration-injection-reaspiration technique pericystectomy to manage the isolated renal hydatid. Renal hydatid can easily be misinterpreted pre-operatively for more sinister renal cystic pathology, including cystic renal cell carcinoma. An accurate pre-operative diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion, especially in endemic regions. Surgical therapy, with perioperative antihelmintic therapy, offers the best chance of cure.

Heteroplasmic mitochondrial genomes of a Raillietina tapeworm in wild Pangolin

BackgroundRaillietina species belong to the family Davaineidae, which parasitizes in a wide variety of mammals and birds, causing stunted growth, lethargy, emaciation, and digestive tract obstruction. However, only a limited number of Raillietina species have been identified in wild animals.MethodsWe analyzed and annotated the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of a worm from the intestine of a wild pangolin using Illumina sequencing of whole genomic DNA.ResultsThese findings showed the presence of two mtDNA sequences in Raillietina sp., designated as mt1 and mt2, with the lengths of 14,331 bp and 14,341 bp, respectively. Both the mts genomes of Raillietina sp. comprised 36 genes, containing 12 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNAs, and 22 transfer RNAs. Gene arrangements of both mt genomes of Raillietina sp. were similar to those of most flatworms, except for taeniids, which shift positions between tRNAL1 and tRNAS2 genes. Twenty of 22 tRNA secondary structures of Raillietina sp. had a typical cloverleaf structure similar to Raillietina tetragona. Sequence differences between the mt1 and mt2 genomes were 4.4%, and this difference arises from the mtDNA heteroplasmic mutations. Moreover, heteroplasmic mtDNA mutations were detected in PCGs, tRNAs, rRNAs, NCRs, and intergenes, but the highest proportion of heteroplasmy of 79.0% was detected in PCGs, indicating the occurrence of mtDNA heteroplasmy in Raillietina sp. To our knowledge, this is the first report of mtDNA heteroplasmy in tapeworm parasites. Phylogenetic analyses of 18S rRNA, ITS2, and 12 PCG sequences demonstrated that the worm was clustered with other Raillietina species in the Davaneidae family.ConclusionsWe found a novel Raillietina species in wild pangolin with the existence of mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy. Thus, these findings provide insights into the heterogeneity of the mt genome in parasitic cestodes, and mt genome data contributes to the understanding of pangolin-parasitic cestodes in terms of their molecular biology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and taxonomy.Graphical

​Molecular Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of the Genotype of Larval Cestode Cysticercus cellulosae of Pigs and Taenia solium of Man

Background: Porcine cysticercosis, caused by Cysticercus cellulosae a larval stage of adult Taenia solium, is a zoonotic parasitic disease where pigs harbour intermediate stage and human being acts as a definite host. The people of north eastern region of India are mostly non-vegetarian and consumption of pork is very much preferred by the people of this region. Hence,it is essential to detect C. cellulosae infections in pork. But traditional method of detection of C. cellulosae by post mortem examination of pork has disadvantages like need of expert and may be over lookedin case of light infections. Molecular diagnosis have been reported to be highly specific and sensitive for its diagnosis. Keeping in view of the above, the present study on molecular detection of larval cestode C. cellulosae of pigs was undertaken. A study on phylogenetic relation of C. cellulosae of pigs or human Taenae solium of this region was done to know its relation with other parts of the world, as not yet done so far. Methods: A total of 654 pig carcasses in 17 market places of three prime districts of state Arunachal Pradesh, India were examined to detect Cysticercus cellulosae of pigs. The cysticerci samples were obtained manually from the infected muscles and organs of the infected pigs that were preserved in phosphate buffer saline until DNA extraction. Stool samples of human patients who attended out-patient department (OPD) of Community Health Centers, Nursing homes and District etc. of study area of Aunachal Pradesh, India were collected randomly and examined by salt flotation technique for the presence of T. solium eggs. The segments of tapeworm voided by patientswere then identified for species identification and T. solium segments were collected in normal saline solutions (NSS) after clearing the debris and faecal materials. Genomic DNA extraction from 3-4 numbers of cysticerci and T. solium segments collected from affected human being were extractedusing a spin column kit (D Neasy tissue kit: QUIGEN).The technique polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with published primers were used for molecular detection of C. cellulosae and to get molecular (PCR) products of T. solium for further study. The mitochondrial gene cytochrome b oxidase subunit was amplified by PCR. The PCR products were purified, sequenced and phylogenetic tree was constructed using the neighbor-joining method. Result: The present study recorded a PCR amplification of cytochrome b oxidase genes with a definite product size of 1068 bp from DNA extracted from C. cellulosae and T. solium. The product size obtained from C. cellulosae will be helpful for meat inspection by molecular detection of C. cellulosae infections in pork. The present finding signifies that the same genomic isolate of both the larval cestode and adult parasite of T. solium is prevailing in the study areas. The neighbors-joining phylogenic tree shows close similarity of the present isolates with that prevailing in other South East Asian countries and thus it can be assumed from the present finding that the same genotypic isolate of T. solium parasite is prevalent in the whole of South East Asian region.

Expanding the family of Mu-class glutathione transferases in the cestode parasite Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato

Glutathione transferases (GSTs) perform catalytic and non-catalytic activities, mostly involved in stress-response and cell detoxification. Helminth parasites express several GSTs of multiple classes that are involved in the neutralization of potentially harmful oxidants, and in the inactivation or removal of xenobiotics. Additionally, GSTs participate in immunomodulatory processes that facilitate the parasite establishment and survival within its host. In Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) -the cestode parasite responsible for cystic echinococcosis- only one Mu-class GST has been reported. In the present work, by using bioinformatic and proteomic approaches we searched for novel Mu-class GSTs potentially involved in the parasite oxidative-stress metabolism. In the genome of E. granulosus s.l., 6 GST-related sequences were found to constitute a strongly conserved phylogenetical clade with Mu-class members. Among them, 5 displayed conserved gene structure (exon/intron), as well as specific residues and motifs characteristic of Mu-class enzymes. By proteomic analysis, 3 Mu-GSTs were identified to be expressed in the protoscolex parasite stage, 2 of them being firstly described as Mu-class GSTs here. The existence of more than one productive Mu-GST gene expands the parasite xenobiotic phase II metabolism, which might have beneficial roles on E. granulosus s.l. ability to successfully infect its host.

Studies on the prevalence and seasonal variation of cestode parasites from freshwater fish, Cclarias batrachus (Linneaus)

The present study deals with prevalence and seasonal variations of cestode parasite, Lytocestus vyasaei (Pawar, 2011) found to infect the fresh water fish, Clarias batrachus from Marathwada region of Maharashtra, during Dec. 2003 to Nov. 2005. The seasonal changes on the basis of incidence (prevalence) of infection in both the cycle prevalence was totally nil in rainy season, during the winter season incidence of infection was high as compared to summer season

A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW IN SEASONAL VARIATION AND META-ANALYSIS OF CESTODE PARASITES IN Capra hircus AND Ovis bhrel FROM PUNE DISTRICT

The cestode parasites are endoparasites grow anaerobically in the intestine of vertebrate host. These parasites absorb digested food material from the hosts intestine .They get attached with their scolex hooks to intestinal wall. Many times the multiple worms in the intestine absorbs more food of host and host suffer from malnutrition and therefore causing various disorders and diseases to the host. Moneizia and Stilesia are the two common genera of cestodes infecting grazing mammals. There is very limited information is available about their study pertaining to population biology. This performed study is adding some survey based statistical information in cestode population biology.

High-performance triplex PCR detection of three tapeworm species belonging to the genus Raillietina in infected poultry

Chickens and ducks are important sources of essential proteins and nutrition for global consumption, especially their eggs and meat. Tapeworm infections in chickens and ducks are the cause of serious poultry health and economic problems in the processing of livestock and food production systems. Raillietina are cosmopolitan in distribution and are possibly the most common tapeworm parasites. There are three important species regarding avian infection, with different pathogenicity, including Raillietina echinobothrida, R. tetragona, and R. cesticillus. Co-infection diagnosis of these tapeworms using morphological analysis can be performed, but this is time-consuming and complicated. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a triplex PCR for the detection and discrimination of three Raillietina species. The triplex PCR assay specifically amplified target DNAs with no inter-specific interference and produced a specific band for each species. According to the specificity test, there was no cross-amplification with the DNA template of related parasites and their hosts. The lowest detectable DNA concentrations were evaluated and provided sensitivities of 0.5 pg/μL for R. echinobothrida, 5 pg/μL for R. tetragona, 50 fg/μL for R. cesticillus, and 5 pg/μL for the combination of DNA from all three species. Simultaneous detection limits of egg capsules and gravid proglottids was also performed, with and without feces. The interference of feces in the reaction was related to a decrease in sensitivity, but simultaneous detection of three Raillietina species in amounts lower than one gravid proglottid and ten egg capsules was still successful. Thus, this study is the first triplex PCR assay for Raillietina detection and can be utilized as an alternative diagnostic tool for the detection and discrimination of R. echinobothrida, R. tetragona, and R. cesticillus infection in poultry through the verification of fecal specimens. In addition, it could improve the performance of specific treatments and promote veterinary healthcare.

The Genomes of Two Strains of Taenia crassiceps the Animal Model for the Study of Human Cysticercosis.

Human cysticercosis by Taenia solium is the major cause of neurological illness in countries of Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Americas. Publication of four cestode genomes (T. solium, Echinococcus multilocularis, E. granulosus and Hymenolepis microstoma) in the last decade, marked the advent of novel approaches on the study of the host-parasite molecular crosstalk for cestode parasites of importance for human and animal health. Taenia crassiceps is another cestode parasite, closely related to T. solium, which has been used in numerous studies as an animal model for human cysticercosis. Therefore, characterization of the T. crassiceps genome will also contribute to the understanding of the human infection. Here, we report the genome of T. crassiceps WFU strain, reconstructed to a noncontiguous finished resolution and performed a genomic and differential expression comparison analysis against ORF strain. Both strain genomes were sequenced using Oxford Nanopore (MinION) and Illumina technologies, achieving high quality assemblies of about 107 Mb for both strains. Dotplot comparison between WFU and ORF demonstrated that both genomes were extremely similar. Additionally, karyotyping results for both strains failed to demonstrate a difference in chromosome composition. Therefore, our results strongly support the concept that the absence of scolex in the ORF strain of T. crassiceps was not the result of a chromosomal loss as proposed elsewhere. Instead, it appears to be the result of subtle and extensive differences in the regulation of gene expression. Analysis of variants between the two strains identified 2,487 sites with changes distributed in 31 of 65 scaffolds. The differential expression analysis revealed that genes related to development and morphogenesis in the ORF strain might be involved in the lack of scolex formation.

A young parasite in an old fish host: A new genus for proteocephalid tapeworms (Cestoda) of bowfin (Amia calva) (Holostei: Amiiformes), and a revised list of its cestodes.

A new genus, Laruella n. gen., is proposed for the proteocephalid cestode L. perplexa (La Rue, 1911) n. comb. (syn. Proteocephalus perplexus La Rue, 1911), a parasite of a ‘living fossil’, the bowfin (Amia calva), in North America. The new genus is differentiated from other proteocephalid genera by having a massive four-lobed scolex without an apical organ and bearing suckers possessing tear-shaped sphincters on their inner rim, vitelline follicles forming L-shaped lateral fields, with the vitellarium turned inwards (medially) ventrally alongside the posterior margin of the ovary, a ring-like vaginal sphincter situated at a considerable distance from the genital atrium, and ellipsoid eggs resembling those of bothriocephalid and diphyllobothriid tapeworms, except for the absence of an operculum. Phylogenetic relationships of the new genus are not resolved, but it belongs to the so-called Neotropical clade of the Proteocephalidae, which is composed mainly of Neotropical tapeworms of siluriforms and other teleosts, but also Nearctic and Palaearctic species of Ophiotaenia La Rue, 1911 from snakes and amphibians. A morphologically similar species, Proteocephalus ambloplitis (Leidy, 1887) from bass (Micropterus spp.) in North America, is provisionally retained in Proteocephalus Weinland, 1858 because its relationships to L. perplexa are not yet clear. The former species differs from L. perplexa by the presence of a large apical organ, large, elongate vaginal sphincter situated near the genital atrium, vitelline follicles limited to lateral longitudinal fields, strongly coiled vas deferens within the cirrus sac, and a convoluted vaginal canal anterior to the ovarian isthmus. Laruella perplexa reportedly has a s broad spectrum of hosts but most are likely postcyclic or accidental hosts. A list of cestode parasites reported from bowfin is provided; it includes eight species and three taxa not identified to the species level. However, only three adult cestodes, L. perplexa and two species of Haplobothrium Cooper, 1914, are typical tapeworm parasites of bowfin, but previous molecular studies indicate possible existence of a putative new species in bowfin.

Risk Factors and Prevalence of Taeniasis among Displaced peoples in Ombadda Omdurman State-Sudan

Background: Taeniasis is infection of human with intestinal cestode tape wormparasites belonged to the genus Taenia species saginata and solium. Objective: The study aimed to determine the risk factors and prevalence of taeniasis among displaced peoples district in Ombadda Omdurman state- Sudan. Material and Methods: This is a cross sectional study was conducted in Ombadda and Basheer hospitals in Omdurman-Sudan from the period September to November2021.A total of 150 stools samples were collected and examined using direct microscopy, formal ether concentration technique and Ziehl-Neelsen staining method fordetecting TaeniaSpp. Results: A total of 150stools samples collected and examined, 10 (6.3%) out of 150 faecal samples were positive and 140 (93.7%) were negative sample. Out of 10 positive samples 6 (60%) were males and 4 (40%) were females their age groups range from 20 – 60 Years old, The Eggs stage of Taenia saginata and Taenia solium was identified by using direct microscopy and formal ether concentration t techniques and differentiated by the Ziehl-Neelson staining method.

Molecular detection and genotyping of Taenia hydatigena between intermediate (sheep and goats) and final hosts (stray dogs) in Baghdad city

Taenia hydatigena cestode parasite found in the intestine of dogs and larval stage Cysticercus tenuicollis located in visceral organs of intermediate hosts (sheep and goats). In this study, investigate the genetic variation among the recovered isolates from sheep, goats, and stray dogs in Baghdad city, based on the mitochondrial cox1 gene. After DNA extraction, the PCR that was used indicated the specificity at the band (450bp) on the agarose gel. Sequencing and phylogenetic results were divided into three groups depending on the closed relationship between them and to NCBI-Blast T. hydatigena.

Simultaneous determination of praziquantel and its main metabolites in the tissues of black goats and their residue depletion

Praziquantel (PZQ) is a pyrazino-isoquinoline compound with broad spectrum of activity against parasitic trematodes and cestodes, and a key veterinary drug in the parasitic disease control field. However, PZQ residues caused by non-conforming or excessive use in food-producing animals may pose a serious threat to human health. Herein, a simple, sensitive and reproducible LC-MS/MS method was developed for the simultaneous determination of praziquantel and trans- and cis-4-hydroxypraziquantel in black goat tissues to guide the reasonable use of PZQ. The mean recoveries for three target analytes were 71.2 ∼ 117.6%, and the limits of quantification were 1.0 μg/kg. Twenty-five healthy black goats were administered a single dose of praziquantel tablets at a dose of 35 mg/kg of body weight for residue elimination study, The results revealed that praziquantel and 4-hydroxypraziquantel were rapidly depleted in goat tissues and the elimination half-lives did not exceed 1 day in all tissues except for muscle and lung. It provides guidance for the establishment of maximum residue limit of praziquantel in goat.

BIOCHEMICAL ESTIMATION OF THE CESTODE PARASITE, MONIEZIA SP. FROM CAPRA HIRCUS (L.) IN MARATHWADA REGION (M.S.) INDIA

The Moniezia sp. of the cestode parasite isolate from the small intestine of the Capra hircus (L.) which is collected from the Marathwada region. The parasitic biochemistry of the Moniezia sp. done with the help of different methods such as the estimation of protein content in the Cestode parasites were carried out by Lowry's method (1951), the glycogen estimation were carried out by Kemp et al., (1954) method and lipid estimation by Folch et al., (1957) methods are used. It shows that the protein content of worm Moniezia, Sp. obtained 0.23± 0.011 mg/100 mg dry wt. of tissue per ml solution. Such as infected as well as non-infected intestine of Capra hircus (L.) obtained 0.32± 0.028 mg/100 mg dry wt. of tissue per ml solution and 0.36± 0.012 mg/100 mg dry wt. of tissue per ml solution respectively and the glycogen content of Moniezia, Sp. obtained 0. 14 ± 0.008 mg/100 mg dry wt. of tissue per ml solution. Such as infected as well as non-infected intestine of Capra hircus (L) obtained 0.11± 0.004 mg/100 mg dry wt. of tissue per ml solution and 0.15 ±0.009 mg/100 mg dry wt. of tissue per ml solution respectively while the lipid content of Moniezia, Sp obtained 0.058±0.013 mg/100mg dry wt. of tissue per ml solution. Such as infected as well as non-infected intestine of Capra hircus (L) obtained 0.75± 0.050 mg/100mg dry wt. of tissue per ml solution and 0.84± 0.048 mg/100mg dry wt. of tissue per ml solutionrespectively. It is concluded that the percentage of lipid is high parasites as compaired to protein and glycogen of the parasite. ABSTRACT KEYWORDS : Biochemistry, Capra hircus (L.), Cestod

Host phenotype and microbiome vary with infection status, parasite genotype, and parasite microbiome composition.

A growing literature demonstrates the impact of helminths on their host gut microbiome. We investigated whether the stickleback host microbiome depends on ecoevolutionary variables by testing the impact of exposure to the cestode parasite Schistocephalus solidus with respect to infection success, host genotype, parasite genotype, and parasite microbiome composition. We observed constitutive differences in the microbiome of sticklebacks of different origin, and those differences increased when sticklebacks exposed to the parasite resisted infection. In contrast, the microbiome of successfully infected sticklebacks varied with parasite genotype. More specifically, we revealed that the association between microbiome and immune gene expression increased in infected individuals and varied with parasite genotype. In addition, we showed that S. solidus hosts a complex endomicrobiome and that bacterial abundance in the parasite correlates with expression of host immune genes. Within this comprehensive analysis we demonstrated that (i) parasites contribute to modulating the host microbiome through both successful and unsuccessful infection, (ii) when infection is successful, the host microbiome varies with parasite genotype due to genotype-dependent variation in parasite immunomodulation, and (iii) the parasite-associated microbiome is distinct from its host and impacts the host immune response to infection.

CHARACTERIZATION OF PREVALENT ECHINOCOCCUS GRANULOSUS GENOTYPES THROUGH MODIFIED PCR-RFLP TECHNIQUE

Background:
 Cystic echinococcosis is a zoonotic, neglected tropical disease caused by various genotypes of cestode parasite Echinococcus granulosus. Although, echinococcosis causes enormous financial and health impacts, no gold standard diagnostic technique is available. Genetic characterization of these prevalent cestode at species level is essential for disease management and appropriate control measures.
 Objective:
 We aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of echinococcus granulosus using a modified Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) based assay in infected population.
 Methodology:
 A total of 18 human hydatid cyst samples were collected from various hospitals of Southern Punjab and Islamabad Capital Territory region of Pakistan. Extracted DNA was used for PCR amplification of mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (Nad1) gene followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis using Molecular evolutionary Genetic Analysis (MEGA) Software. The entire sequences were fed into NEBcutter V2.0 to select a single restriction enzyme followed by invitro confirmation through PCR-RFLP.
 Results:
 Amplification on the Nad1 gene was observed in 100% of the samples processed. The Basic Local Alignment Tool (BLAST) and phylogenetic tree analysis revealed 83.3% E. granulosus (G1-G3 genotypes), 11.1% E. multilocularis and 5.6% E. Canadensis (G6 genotype). The use of the BfaI enzyme in PCR-RFLP analysis revealed that all of the 18 samples were assigned consecutive genotypes as observed in the sequencing.
 Conclusion:
 The current study concluded that the BfaI enzyme could be used for the genotypic analysis of echinococcosis in developing and frequently affected countries. It will be a cost-effective and easy technique compared to sequencing, which will aid in developing novel therapeutic and control strategies for the parasite.

The Use of Intramuscular Praziquantel in South-African Ruminants against Cestode Parasites. A First Pilot Study

The objective of this small pilot study was to test the efficacy and potential development for the use of Praziquantel IM Cestodicide in South African goats. Two farms were identified as infected with the Cestode Moniezia spp, and a test herd as well as a control herd was set aside on each of these farms. Fecal float coprological analyses were performed before and after treatment of the test herds, while no treatment was administered to the animals in the control herds of each farm. Praziquantel treatment proofed to be effective in reducing Cestode numbers based on egg counts using the Mac-Master method.

Larval cestodes infecting commercial fish of Alexandria coast along the Mediterranean Sea: morphology and phylogeny.

Members of the order Trypanorhyncha are cestode parasites that are frequently found infecting the muscles of several marine fish species, affecting fish health and resulting in consumers' rejection. Seventy-five specimens of marine fish were freshly caught from boat landing sites at the Alexandria coast along the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt, including two Carangids, the greater amberjack Seriola dumerili and the gulley jack Pseudocarans dentex; two Serranids, the Haifa grouper Epinephelus haifensis and the mottled grouper Mycteroperca rubra. Forty-five fish were infected; the infection was recorded as blastocysts embedded in fish flesh. Blastocysts were isolated and ruptured; the generated plerocerci were described morphologically, where, four different species were recovered; Callitetrarhynchus gracilis, Callitetrarhynchus speciosus, Protogrillotia zerbiae, and Grillotia brayi. The taxonomic position of these parasites was justified by multiple-sequence alignment and a phylogenetic tree was constructed following maximum likelihood analysis of the 18s rRNA sequences of the recovered worms. The accession numbers MN625168, MN625169, MN611431and MN611432 were respectively assigned to the recovered parasites. The results obtained from the molecular analyses confirmed the morphological records of the recovered parasites. Since metacestodes are found in the musculature of infected fish specimens, it is necessary to remove these areas in the commercialization of fish.