Ascaris Eggs Research Articles

Paleoparasitological studies of the woolly mammoth (<i>Mammutus primigenus</i> (Blumenbach, 1799))

Mammoth fauna found in the permafrost in Yakutia are usually well-preserved, with up to 90% of unique discoveries, including those with soft tissues and fossil animals with intact biological fluids. Despite the exceptional preservationconditions in the deep permafrost, the remains of woolly mammoth have not been used in paleoparasitological research. This article introduces the initial findings of a paleoparasitological investigation conducted on thawed samples obtained from a woolly mammoth. The research material consisted of the gastrointestinal contents of a woolly mammoth found in the Bulunsky district on the Bykovsky Peninsula in 2022. The mammoth’s remains were discovered in permafrost and were consistently frozen until sampling, maintaining their shape well. Traditional helminthological methods, such as native smear and the Fulleborn method, were used. For the first time, eggs and larvae of helminths from the Nematoda class, including the Ascaris eggs from the Ascaridata suborder, family Ascarididae Baird, 1853 were identified in frozen-thawed samples of the woolly mammoth. A total of 13 eggs were found, showcasing excellent preservation that allowed for visualization of eggs at various developmental stages and measurement of eggshell size and thickness. The diameter of the Ascaris eggs from the woolly mammoth (Mammutus primigenus (Blumenbach, 1799)) was 73.25 ± 1.47 microns, with a shell thickness of 4.10 ± 0.20 microns. Additionally, four varieties of whole larvae and larvae fragments of the Nemathelminthes type within the Nematoda class were identified for the first time. These discoveries contribute to our knowledge of ancient fossil animals parasites and require further exploration.

Investigation of Anthelmintic Property of Cow Urine Distillate on Ascaris and Trichuris eggs Isolated from Soil

Background: Helminth infection occurs due to contact with contaminated soils and poor hygiene practices. Even though there is immense progression in human medicine, infections that occur due to bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites persist as a crucial threat to public health. Over the years, many studies indicated cow urine has antimicrobial activity. Hence, this study looks into anthelminthic property of cow urine in Ascaris spp., and Trichuris spp., eggs. Methods: The soil sample was collected at the riverside, near the toilet area and at the pond area at an aborigine village in Malaysia. Next, floatation technique was used to isolate the helminth eggs and it was identified using a light microscope. The cow urine was prepared as raw cow urine (RCU), evaporated raw cow urine diluted with distilled water (ERCUD), evaporation raw cow urine diluted with saline (ERCUS) and evaporated filtered cow urine diluted with saline (EFCUS).Results: From the soil samples, mainly two types of helminths were found which were Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura. Evaporated cow urine diluted with saline showed the most prominent result in the destruction of helminth eggs.Conclusion: Evaporated cow urine possesses biochemical agents that can be used in the future as anthelmintic agents whereby further studies can be made to explore more possibilities to use cow urine as a potential anthelmintic agent.Keywords: Cow urine; Helminth eggs; Anthelmintic

Synergistic effects of using sodium hypochlorite (bleach) and desiccation in surface inactivation for Toxocara spp

Toxocara cati and T. canis are parasitic nematodes found in the intestines of cats and dogs respectively, with a cosmopolitan distribution, and the potential for anthropozoonotic transmission, resulting in human toxocariasis. Spread of Toxocara spp. is primarily through the ingestion of embryonated eggs contaminating surfaces or uncooked food, or through the ingestion of a paratenic host containing a third-stage larva. The Toxocara spp. eggshell is composed of a lipid layer providing a permeability barrier, a chitinous layer providing structural strength, and thin vitelline and uterine layers, which combined create a biologically resistant structure, making the Toxocara spp. egg very hardy, and capable of surviving for years in the natural environment. The use of sodium hypochlorite, household bleach, as a disinfectant for Toxocara spp. eggs has been reported, with results varying from ineffective to limited effectiveness depending on parameters including contact time, concentration, and temperature. Desiccation or humidity levels have also been reported to have an impact on larval development and/or survival of Toxocara spp. eggs. However, to date, after a thorough search of the literature, no relevant publications have been found that evaluated the use of sodium hypochlorite and desiccation in combination. These experiments aim to assess the effects of using a combination of desiccation and 10% bleach solution (0.6% sodium hypochlorite) on fertilized or embryonated eggs of T. cati, T. canis, and T. vitulorum. Results of these experiments highlight the synergistic effects of desiccation and bleach, and demonstrate a relatively simple method for surface inactivation, resulting in a decrease in viability or destruction of T. cati, T. canis and T. vitulorum eggs. Implications for these findings may apply to larger scale elimination of ascarid eggs from both research, veterinary, and farming facilities to mitigate transmission.

A survey of gastrointestinal helminth infestation in smallholder backyard pigs and the first molecular identification of the two zoonotic helminths Ascaris suum and Trichuris suis in Myanmar

BackgroundParasitic infestations have a substantial economic impact on pig production. This study aimed to investigate the gastrointestinal (GI) helminths in pigs and to molecularly characterise two important nematodes, Ascaris and Trichuris species.Materials and methodsA total of 500 pig faecal samples were collected from small holder backyard pig farms in five townships within Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. Microscopic examination was conducted to estimate the prevalence of GI helminth infestation in the pigs. DNA extraction and PCR were performed on faecal samples that were morphologically positive for Ascaris and Trichuris eggs. Molecular analysis was then conducted to characterise A. suum and T. suis, the most common and zoonotic helminths.ResultsAccording to microscopic examination, 69.2% (346/500) were positive for GI helminth eggs. The GI helminth species observed were A. suum, Strongyle, Strongyloides spp., T. suis, Metastrongylus spp., Hyostrongylus spp., Fasciolopsis spp., Paragonimus spp., and Schistosoma spp., with occurrences of 34.8%, 29.6%, 21.4%, 20.0%, 4.0%, 1.6%, 1.0%, 1.0%, and 0.4%, respectively. Mixed infections of GI helminths were noted in 31.0% of the samples. Overall, sampled pigs excreted mostly low levels (< 100 EPG) or moderate levels (> 100–500 EPG) of GI helminth eggs. The highest mean EPG for each parasite species was noted in A. suum. The presence of A. suum and T. suis was confirmed molecularly. The sequences of the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) region of A. suum showed high similarity with previously reported sequences. Likewise, the sequences of T. suis exhibited high similarity with the sequences reported from humans and pigs. Age was noted as an associated factor (P < 0.05) for GI helminth infection status.ConclusionsIn this report, A. suum and T. suis were molecularly identified for the first time in Myanmar. It is important to extend the information among the farmers to be aware of the necessity of preventing zoonotic parasites by practicing regular deworming, proper use of anthelmintics and maintaining hygienic conditions in their pig farms.

Enteric parasites in free-living Mediterranean pond turtle (Mauremys leprosa leprosa) in contrasted areas (natural vs polluted) from central-western of Morocco.

The objective of this study is to assess the occurrence of intestinal parasites in Mediterranean pond turtle Mauremys leprosa leprosa collected from three contrasting environments in Morocco. Stool samples from 92 turtles were examined for parasite detection and enumeration. The identified intestinal parasites belong to helminths (oxyurids and ascarid) and protozoa (Entamoebidae). A total of 25 turtles (27.17%) were found to be infected by helminths and/or protozoan parasites. No adult form of these parasites was detected. Eggs of oxyurid and ascarid were detected in individuals of populations studied from Oued Ksob (23.07% and 30.76% of n = 13 turtles) and Oued Zat (34.14% and 24.39% of n = 41 turtles), respectively. For protozoa, Entamoeba cysts were present in turtles in Oued Ksob (15.38% of n = 13turtles), Oued Zat (12.19% of n = 41turtles), and Oued Tensift (5.26% of n = 38turtles) localities. Oxyurid eggs showed the highest intensity at Oued Zat reaching 29.30 ± 59.59 eggs per gram (EPG), versus 12 ± 0.38 EPG for ascaris eggs in Oued Ksob. Entamoeba cysts were detected in lower levels with a maximum of 1.66 ± 1.50 cysts per gram (CPG), in Oued Zat. The prevalence of turtles eliminating eggs was statistically significant between localities for different parasite groups. This study reports for the first time a parasitological characterization of gastrointestinal parasites in wild populations of M. leprosa leprosa from contrasting environments, suggesting a relationship between turtles' infestation and the quality of their habitat.

Relative egg extraction efficiencies of manual and automated fecal egg count methods in equines.

The World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology recently released new recommendations for the design of fecal egg count (FEC) reduction tests for livestock. These provide suggestions as to the number of animals to be sampled and the minimum number of eggs that must be counted to produce statistically meaningful results. One of the considerations for study design is the multiplication factor of the FEC method to be used; methods with lower multiplication factors require fewer animals to be sampled because they are presumed to count more eggs per test. However, multiplication factor is not the sole determinant of the number of eggs counted by any given method, since different techniques use very different sample extraction methodologies that could affect the number of eggs detected beyond just the amount of feces examined. In this light, we compared three commonly used manual FEC methods (mini-FLOTAC, McMaster and Wisconsin) and two automated methods (Imagyst and Parasight All-in-One) with respect to how many equine strongylid and ascarid eggs they counted in the same samples. McMaster and mini-FLOTAC (multiplication factors of 25x and 5x, respectively) produced the most accurate results of the methods tested but mini-FLOTAC counted approximately 5-times more eggs than McMaster. However, Wisconsin and Parasight (multiplication factor = 1x) counted 3-times more ova than mini-FLOTAC, which was less than the 5-fold difference in their multiplication factors. As a result, these tests perform with multiplication factors more akin to 1.6x relative to mini-FLOTAC. Imagyst, due to its unique sample preparation methodology, does not have a traditional multiplication factor but performed similarly to McMaster with respect to egg recovery.

Host gastric corpus microenvironment facilitates Ascaris suum larval hatching and infection in a murine model.

Ascariasis (roundworm) is the most common parasitic helminth infection globally and can lead to significant morbidity in children including chronic lung disease. Children become infected with Ascaris spp. via oral ingestion of eggs. It has long been assumed that Ascaris egg hatching and larval translocation across the gastrointestinal mucosa to initiate infection occurs in the small intestine. Here, we show that A. suum larvae hatched in the host stomach in a murine model. Larvae utilize acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase; acid chitinase; Chia) from chief cells and acid pumped by parietal cells to emerge from eggs on the surface of gastric epithelium. Furthermore, antagonizing AMCase and gastric acid in the stomach decreases parasitic burden in the liver and lungs and attenuates lung disease. Given Ascaris eggs are chitin-coated, the gastric corpus would logically be the most likely organ for egg hatching, though this is the first study directly evincing the essential role of the host gastric corpus microenvironment. These findings point towards potential novel mechanisms for therapeutic targets to prevent ascariasis and identify a new biomedical significance of AMCase in mammals.

Распространенные гельминтозы в практике педиатра

Enterobiasis and ascariasis are the most prevalent helminthic diseases encountered in pediatric practice within the Russian Federation. Both diseases are caused by roundworms, namely pinworms and ascarids, respectively. Pinworm parasites in the intestines of a child. Female pin-worms emerge from the anus and deposit eggs in the perianal folds, which is accompanied by severe pruritus, the primary symptom of this disease. Reinfection may result from scratching the perianal region and subsequent ingestion of eggs. The treatment of enterobiasis commences with the implementation of a patient hygiene regimen to prevent reinfection. Pharmacological treatment entails the administration of albendazole, mebendazole, and pyrantel. Ascaridosis is a geohelminth disease. In the absence of adherence to established hygiene protocols, ascarid eggs may gain access to the body from the external environment. Ascarid larvae from the intestines may gain access to the lungs via the bloodstream, resulting in the development of respiratory symptoms. Adult worms reside in the intestines and cause abdominal discomfort. Albendazole is an efficacious and safe medication for the treatment of ascaridosis in children. It is of the utmost importance to diagnose helminth infections at an early stage and to implement preventative measures. The most effective method of prevention is adherence to personal hygiene practices. These factors are of the utmost importance in further reducing the incidence of helminth infections. KEYWORDS: enterobiasis, pinworms, ascaridosis, ascarids, symptoms, diagnostics, treatment, prevention, albendazole. FOR CITATION: Belmer S.V. Common helminthiases in pediatric practice. Russian Journal of Woman and Child Health. 2024;7(3):281–285 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2618-8430-2024-7-3-13.

Performance evaluation of protocols for Taenia saginata and Ascaris suum egg recovery from the house fly’s gastrointestinal tract and exoskeleton

BackgroundThe synanthropic house fly (Musca domestica) can potentially contribute to the mechanical spread of eggs of Taenia and Ascaris spp. in the environment and between hosts. However, the absence of validated protocols to recover eggs hampers an in-depth analysis of the house fly's role in parasite egg transmission.MethodsThe gastrointestinal tract and exoskeleton of euthanized house flies were spiked with Taenia saginata eggs. The performance of several recovery protocols, in terms of both the recovery rate and ease-of-use, was (microscopically) evaluated and compared. These protocols employed steps such as washing, maceration, filtration, flotation and both passive and centrifugal sedimentation. The final validated protocols were subsequently evaluated for the recovery of Ascaris suum eggs.ResultsThe final protocol validated for the recovery of T. saginata eggs from the house fly’s gastrointestinal tract involved homogenization in phosphate-buffered saline and centrifugation at 2000 g for 2 min, yielding a recovery rate of 79.7%. This protocol required 6.5 min to perform (which included 1.5 min of hands-on time) and removed large debris particles that could hinder the differentiation of eggs from debris. Similarly, the final protocol validated for the recovery of T. saginata eggs from the fly’s exoskeleton involved washing by vortexing for 2 min in Tween 80 (0.05%), 15 min of passive sedimentation and centrifugation at 2000 g for 2 min, yielding a recovery rate of 77.4%. This protocol required 20.5 min to perform (which included 3.5 min of hands-on time) and successfully removed debris. The same protocols yielded recovery rates of 74.2% and 91.5% for the recovery of A. suum eggs from the fly’s gastrointestinal tract and exoskeleton, respectively.ConclusionsEffective, simple and easy-to-use protocols were developed and validated for the recovery of T. saginata and A. suum eggs from the house fly’s gastrointestinal tract and exoskeleton. These protocols can be applied to investigate the importance of flies as parasite egg transmitters in laboratory and field settings.Graphical

Parasit Gastrointestinal pada Kadal Naga Berjanggut (Pogona vitticeps) di Cijeruk, Bogor

Bearded dragons are reptiles that are quite popular as pets. There are many factors of disease that can infect bearded dragons. The environment and feed affect the level of disease threat, such as parasitic infection in the gastrointestinal tract. Data information related to parasitic gastrointestinal infections in bearded dragons in Indonesia is still limited, so supporting examinations are necessary to help diagnose. A total of 38 fecal samples were collected from the bearded dragon in Cijeruk Bogor. Samples were examined by simple flotation method, Ziehl Neelsen staining, and counting the number of parasitic eggs. All samples were positive for gastrointestinal parasite infections such as Choleoeimeria sp., Isospora amphiboluri, Cryptosporidium spp., ascarid egg, and oxyurid egg. The average number of Choleoeimeria sp. and Isospora amphiboluri oocysts were 8730 and 51.281 oocysts per gram of feces. The average number of helminth eggs per gram was 290 and 2325 for ascarid and oxyurid, respectively. Most of the infected bearded dragons do not show significant clinical symptoms. The number of oocysts and worm eggs per gram of feces showed mild and high results.

Zoonotic Parasites in Artiodactyls with Emphasis on the Feral Boar in the Atlantic Forest, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify the species of artiodactyl host related to the fecal matter collected in a forest area in Rio de Janeiro state and carry out a parasitological investigation. Methods: Artiodactyl feces were collected between 2020 and 2021. The fecal samples were examined to identify the host through macroscopic and molecular analysis. The remaining samples were subjected to a fecal parasite analysis using microscopic techniques, and feces containing cysts of the phylum Ciliophora underwent a molecular analysis. Results: Of the 101 samples collected, 71.3% were found in Pavão Valley, the most anthropized area of the park. In the molecular analysis, 79 samples were identified as belonging to Sus scrofa and 2 as Mazama gouazoubira. The most frequently detected forms were cysts of the phylum Ciliophora (39.6%), followed by eggs of Ascaris spp. (11.8%) and Metastrongylus spp. (5.9%). Nucleotide sequences of Balantioides coli were characterized in 26 samples, and in 13 samples variants of type B0 and in 11 type A0 were identified. Conclusions: It should be noted that this is the first study in the Americas that has identified B. coli in free-living S. scrofa feces, citing this bioinvader as one of the reservoirs of this parasite.

The Efficiency of Ascaris Spp. Eggs Inactivation in Sewage Sludge by Lime Dosage, Ammonia Concentration, and Temperature Variation

Introduction: Ascaris spp. eggs threaten sludge reuse because they are usually more environmentally resistant than other microorganisms. Consequently, the WHO recommended an acceptable limit of &lt;1 helminth egg per gram of total solid as a health-based target for treated feces and fecal sludge and aimed to ascertain the effectiveness and reduction rate of Ascaris spp. eggs in sludge at various lime doses, ammonia concentrations, and temperature values. Methods: Eggs were detected and enumerated using the flotation and sedimentation principle. The reduction process was performed in batches with quick lime doses of 30% and 50% w/w, ammonia concentrations of 1,000 and 5,000 mg/L, and temperatures of 30°C and 50°C. Results and Discussion: The number of eggs of Ascaris spp. fertile in the ponds was 1.38 ± 1.38 eggs/gram to 42.98 ± 13.09 eggs/gram, and the infertile amount was 0.46 ± 0.80 eggs/gram to 17.82 ± 6.55 eggs/gram. Using a temperature of 40°C, 50% CaO, and 5,000 ppm ammonia resulted in the highest percentage of reduction, 97.98 - 98.09% but 1.12 eggs/gram was remaining. Conclusion: Higher pH and ammonia levels primarily affect egg decrease in Ascaris spp. To reduce 99% of Ascaris spp. eggs until it reaches &lt;1 egg/g, a dose of 50% CaO is required, with 5,000 ppm ammonia at a temperature of 40°C for 2.7 hours.

Ascaris lumbricoides, an uncommon cause of appendicitis

Appendicitis is the first cause of acute abdomen. There are many causes of appendicitis, one of them is parasites, and, Ascaris is the most common helminth infection in tropical countries (Asia, Africa, South America). Ascaris, once it is ingested, lives at the digestive tract and it can end up in the appendix lumen and lead to appendicitis by luminal obstruction, in fact this presentation is rare and is still debatable in the literature. Diagnostic most of times is made retrospectively by the demonstrations of ascaris eggs on the pathological examination of the appendix. We present the case of 7 years old male that arrives to emergency room presenting clinically acute appendicitis with 24 hours from beginning with fever 38ºC, intense mesogastrium abdominal pain with migration to right lower quadrant, anorexy, without nausea or vomiting, normal vital signs at physical examination intense abdominal pain, rebound, positive McBurney and psoas sign, leukocytosis with sift left. He underwent to emergency operation because suspect of appendicitis, we found a cecal appendix with Ascaris lumbricoides parasite in its lumen.

First molecular data on the human roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides species complex from the Bronze and Iron Age in Hallstatt, Austria

Palaeoparasitological studies can provide valuable information on the emergence, distribution, and elimination of parasites during a particular time in the past. In the prehistoric salt mines of Hallstatt, located in the Austrian Alps, human faeces have been conserved in salt. The aim of this study was to recover ancient DNA of intestinal parasites from these coprolites. Altogether, 35 coprolites from the Hallstatt salt mines, dating back to the Bronze Age mining phase (1158–1063 BCE) and the Iron Age mining phase (750–662 BCE), respectively, were analysed by microscopy and molecular methods. In 91% of the coprolite samples, eggs of soil-transmitted helminths (STH), namely of Trichuris and/or Ascaris were detected by light microscopy. The Ascaris eggs were exceptionally well preserved. For further analysis, DNA was extracted from the palaeofaecal samples and species-specific primers targeting different genes were designed. While amplification of Trichuris DNA remained unsuccessful, sequence data of A. lumbricoides species complex were successfully obtained from 16 coprolites from three different genes, the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1), the mitochondrial cytochrome B gene (cytB) and the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 gene (nadh1). Importantly, these included two Ascaris sequences from a coprolite from the Bronze Age, which to the best of our knowledge are the first molecular data of this genus from this period.

Sanitary and parasitological condition of environmental objects of the Astrakhan Region

The article presents the sanitary-parasitological state of environmental objects of the Astrakhan region for 2022. In 2022, 6246 samples taken from various environmental objects were examined, the number of samples that did not meet sanitary-parasitological indicators was 0.7 % (41 samples): toxocar eggs — 17 samples, strongylid larvae (mobile and immobile) — 19 samples, ascarid eggs (fertilized) — 5 samples. The largest number of samples accounted for flushing from solid household surfaces — 76.7 % (4790 samples), of which only 0.02 % (1 sample) revealed ascaris eggs (fertilized). The second place in the number of samples studied belongs to samples of water bodies — 8.1 % (505 samples), of which 2.2 % (11 samples) did not meet sanitary and parasitological indicators: strongylid larvae (mobile and immobile) were detected — 8 samples, toxocar eggs — 2 samples and ascaris — 1 sample. Samples of food products and food raw materials made up almost the same number of samples — 8.1 % (503 samples), of which 3.2 % (16 samples) were samples that did not meet parasitological indicators. As a result of the work done, the results were obtained: the parasitic contamination of environmental objects in 2023 remains very unfavorable. Contamination of water of surface reservoirs, soil and sand with helminthiasis pathogens may indicate that these objects were contaminated with feces of infected animals and humans, or about the fact of accidents on the sewer network and the likely ingress of helminthiasis pathogens from outside. The presence of parasites in food samples may indicate contamination of the water used for irrigation or contamination of the soil with the feces of infected animals and humans.

Worm or wool That is the question

With an increase in migration and travel, physicians should have an index of suspicion for parasitic infection. Parasitic worms that can affect the lung include trematodes, protozoa and nematodes [1]. Diagnostic investigations such as serology are prone to cross-reactions [2]. Blood eosinophilia may be absent in immunocompromised patients with Strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome [3]. In addition, Ascaris eggs are only passed in the stool following pulmonary symptom resolution, and many non-infectious causes of pulmonary eosinophilia have been described [1]. Therefore, direct microscopy is a valuable option to identify the parasite when larvae migrate to the lungs, which is common for many parasitic infections.

Kejadian Infeksi Cacing Saluran Pencernaan pada Ular Sanca Batik (Phyton Reticulatus)

The purpose of this study was to identify intestinal worm infections in reticulated pythons (Phyton reticulatus) in captivity. This study used faecal samples of 2 reticulated pythons at the Taru Jurug Animal Park, Solo. Anamnesis of the two pythons found the presence of adult nematode worms in their feces. Examination of adult worms and faeces was carried out macroscopically and microscopically. Microscopic examination of feces using native methods. The results of the examination showed that the adult worms found were Ascaridia galli worms, with characteristics of having a length of 72 mm, yellowish white color, large size, semi-transparent and including nematode worms. Stool examination found ascarid eggs with oval-shaped characteristics with thick albumin. Findings of ascarid worm eggs correlated with findings of adult Ascaridia galli worms. The factor that reticulated pythons in captivity are infected with Ascaridia galli worms is caused by the feed given, namely wild ducks. The Ascaridia galli worm generally infects poultry, such as wild ducks. Ascarid worm eggs that are excreted along with the faeces of the geese can contaminate the cage, feed and drink.

Investigating the Occurrence of Soil-Transmitted Parasites Contaminating Soil, Vegetables, and Green Fodder in the East of Nile Delta, Egypt.

Food-borne parasites are major sources of human and animal illness, posing severe health risks in places with contaminated soil, poor water quality, cleanliness, and poor sanitation. The usage of untreated organic fertilizers arising from the excreta of the parasites' definitive hosts either man or animal pollutes the agricultural soil and is reflected in its products of vegetables and green fodders causing serious health problems. Therefore, to the best of our knowledge, this will be the first study that investigated the combination of parasitic contamination of the agricultural soil and its products of raw eaten vegetables and green fodder in East Nile Delta, Egypt. The purpose of this study was to investigate the type and degree of contamination caused by parasites in regularly used raw vegetables, green fodder, and soil samples collected from open fields in Egypt's East Nile Delta. Study Procedures. A cross-sectional study comprised a simple random collection of 400 soil samples, 180 green fodder samples, and as well as 400 vegetable samples, including lettuce, radish, coriander, parsley, dill, watercress, tomatoes, green pepper, cucumber, and carrot, that were gathered throughout one year period from January to December 2021 to represent all seasons (winter, spring, summer, and autumn). The research locations were chosen from various open green fields and farming regions in Egypt's East Nile Delta producing ready-to-eat vegetables for human consumptions and planting green fodder for animal feeding. Concentrations, including sedimentation, and flotation, and staining techniques were used to recover the greatest number of parasitic life forms. The parasitic structures discovered were identified using biometric and imaging data and compared with known parasite morphology. Statistical analysis was performed with the SPSS software version 22 (IBM, Chicago, IL, USA). Data were presented in numbers and percentages. P-values equal to or less than 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. The difference in parasitic contamination among the different categories was compared using the chi-square test. In this investigation, 243 out of 400 soil samples (60.7%) confirmed positive for parasitic contamination (P < 0.05). Various parasitic life forms were significantly found in 249 out of 400 (62.25%) of the vegetable samples, with (65.1%) of them harboring one parasite species, whereas 9.2% significantly contained up to three parasites. Ascaris eggs, Trichuris eggs, and Giardia cysts were the most prevalent parasites, which were predominantly isolated from vegetables with uneven surfaces. 109 of 180 (60.0%) green fodder samples confirmed insignificantly positive for parasitic pollution. The proportion of parasite contamination in vegetable samples was insignificant although the highest was in spring (29.3%), followed by summer (27.7%), whereas it is significant in autumn (24.5%). The prevalence rate was the lowest in winter (20.1%). Conclusion and Recommendations. Our findings demonstrated a significant load of parasites notably the soil-transmitted parasitic infection in raw vegetables and green fodder cultivated in open fields as well as in their mother soil in the east of the Nile Delta, Egypt. These results confirm the urgent need to deploy strict control measures to the soil, especially during the pre-harvest period of raw eaten vegetables and green fodder, a critical step in reducing food-borne transmission of soil-transmitted parasites to man and animals.

Mesophilic anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge in an intermittent mixing reactor: Effect of hydraulic retention time and organic loading rate

An anaerobic digester was operated at mesophilic temperature and with intermittent mixing conditions to treat waste activated sludge. The organic loading rate (OLR) was increased by decreasing the hydraulic retention time (HRT), and the effect on process performance, digestate characteristics and inactivation of pathogens was investigated. The removal efficiency of total volatile solids (TVS) was also measured by biogas formation. The HRT varied from 50 to 7 days, corresponding to OLR from 0.38 to 2.31 kgTVS.m−3.d−1. The acidity/alkalinity ratio remained within stable limits (lower than 0.6) at 50-, 25- and 17-day HRT; due to an imbalance between the production and consumption of volatile fatty acids, the ratio increased to 0.7 ± 0.2 at HRT of 9 days and 7 days. The highest TVS removal efficiencies were 16, 12 and 9%, which were obtained at 50-, 25- and 17 day-HRT, respectively. Intermittent mixing provided solids sedimentation greater than 30% for almost all HRT tested. The highest methane yields (0.10–0.05 m3.kgTVSfed−1.d−1) were obtained when the reactor was operated at a higher HRT (50-17 days). At lower HRT, methanogenic reactions were likely limited. Zinc and copper were the main heavy metals found in the digestate, while the most probable number (MPN) of coliform bacteria remained below 106 MPN.g TVS−1. Neither Salmonella nor viable Ascaris eggs were found in the digestate. In general, increasing the OLR by decreasing the HRT to 17 days under intermittent mixing conditions provided an attractive alternative to treat sewage sludge despite some limitations due to biogas and methane yields.

Hydrothermal treatment enhances energy recovery from pig manure digestate and improves the properties of residues

Energy recovery from biowaste is of high significance for a sustainable society. Herein, hydrothermal treatment (HT) was applied to valorize pig manure digestate. The effects of hydrothermal operational parameters, including temperature (130-250 °C), residence time (15-90 min), and total solid (TS) concentration (10%-20%), on reducing sugar yield were investigated in this study. Among them, hydrothermal temperature was identified as the most important factor influencing reducing sugar yield, followed by the TS concentration and time. The optimal hydrothermal conditions for the pig manure digestate were 175.6 °C, 35.4 min and a TS concentration of 10% with a reduced sugar yield of 9.81 mg gTS−1. The addition of hydrolysate could enhance methane production by 21.6-50.4% from the anaerobic digestion of pig manure than that without the hydrolysate addition. After HT, the hygienic quality, including fecal coliform number and ascaris egg mortality, was improved in the residual digestate. Antibiotics such as sulfamonomethoxine, oxytetracycline, doxycycline and sulfaclodazine in the pig manure digestate were decomposed during HT and decreased environmental risk. These findings indicated that the hydrothermal process might be an effective technique to recover energy from the digestate of livestock and poultry manure and to improve the residual digestate for subsequent utilization.