Eggs Of Intestinal Parasites Research Articles

Palynological Data from The Iron Age Cemeteries at Sâncrai-Darvas (Alba County)

This study discusses some aspects of environmental reconstruction through the palynological analysis of soil samples recovered from archaeological contexts belonging to the Iron Age at Sâncrai-Darvas. The microscopic fossils included in this study are pollen, fungal spores, microscopic charcoal and eggs of intestinal parasites. Pollen taxa were divided into categories of different types of land cover and land-use, while fungal spores were classified between coprophilous (fungi that grow on animal dung) and plant pathogens (parasitic/smut fungi). Intestinal parasites include two species infecting both humans and animals: roundworm and tapeworm. The abundance of microcharcoal particles suggests both regional biomasses burning in association with climate conditions, as well as in situ fires depending on the archaeological context (e.g. cremation). The overall palynological aspects suggest mixed agro-pastoral practices throughout the different archaeological horizons.

Intestinal Parasites in Populations of the Endemic Abyssinian Wattled Ibis (Bostrychia carunculata).

The wattled ibis (Bostrychia carunculata) is a little-known endemic Abyssinian species living in the Ethiopian and Eritrean Highlands. This bird species lives in close contact with humans in several parts of its range. Nothing is known about parasites infecting the wattled ibis and its distribution across populations, with the exception of some lice species. Here, we report the presence of eggs of several intestinal parasites (Trichostrongylus, Capillaria, and Ascaridia spp.) from feces of wild wattled ibises from three different locations: Addis Ababa, the Cheleklaka wetland surroundings, and Bale Goba, all in Ethiopia. These parasites might be transmitted from or to poultry, potentially reducing the production and survival of affected birds.

An Efficient and Effective Framework for Intestinal Parasite Egg Detection Using YOLOv5.

Intestinal parasitic infections pose a grave threat to human health, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. The traditional manual microscopy system of intestinal parasite detection remains the gold standard procedure for diagnosing parasite cysts or eggs. This approach is costly, time-consuming (30 min per sample), highly tedious, and requires a specialist. However, computer vision, based on deep learning, has made great strides in recent years. Despite the significant advances in deep convolutional neural network-based architectures, little research has been conducted to explore these techniques' potential in parasitology, specifically for intestinal parasites. This research presents a novel proposal for state-of-the-art transfer learning architecture for the detection and classification of intestinal parasite eggs from images. The ultimate goal is to ensure prompt treatment for patients while also alleviating the burden on experts. Our approach comprised two main stages: image pre-processing and augmentation in the first stage, and YOLOv5 algorithms for detection and classification in the second stage, followed by performance comparison based on different parameters. Remarkably, our algorithms achieved a mean average precision of approximately 97% and a detection time of only 8.5 ms per sample for a dataset of 5393 intestinal parasite images. This innovative approach holds tremendous potential to form a solid theoretical basis for real-time detection and classification in routine clinical examinations, addressing the increasing demand and accelerating the diagnostic process. Our research contributes to the development of cutting-edge technologies for the efficient and accurate detection of intestinal parasite eggs, advancing the field of medical imaging and diagnosis.

Intestinal parasite infection in the Augustinian friars and general population of medieval Cambridge, UK

ObjectiveTo investigate how lifestyle may have impacted the risk of contracting intestinal parasites in medieval England . Regular clergy (such as those living in monasteries) and the lay population form interesting groups for comparison as diet and lifestyle varied significantly. Monasteries were built with latrine blocks and hand washing facilities, unlike houses of the poor. MaterialsSediment samples from the pelvis, along with control samples from feet and skull, of 19 burials of Augustinian Friars (13th-16th century), and 25 burials from All Saints by the Castle parish cemetery (10th-14th century), Cambridge. MethodsWe analysed the sediment using micro-sieving and digital light microscopy to identify the eggs of intestinal parasites. ResultsParasite prevalence (roundworm and whipworm) in the Augustinian friars was 58%, and in the All Saints by the Castle parishioners just 32% (Barnards Test score statistic 1.7176, p-value 0.092). ConclusionsIt is interesting that the friars had nearly double the infection rate of parasites spread by poor hygiene, compared with the general population. We consider options that might explain this difference, and discuss descriptions and treatment of intestinal worms in medical texts circulating in Cambridge during the medieval period. SignificanceThis is the first study to compare prevalence of parasite infection between groups with different socioeconomic status from the same location. LimitationsQuality of egg preservation was suboptimal, so our data may under-represent the true prevalence. Suggestions for further researchLarger studies with greater statistical power, covering different time periods and regions.

Intestinal parasites in the Neolithic population who built Stonehenge (Durrington Walls, 2500 BCE).

Durrington Walls was a large Neolithic settlement in Britain dating around 2500 BCE, located very close to Stonehenge and likely to be the campsite where its builders lived during its main stage of construction. Nineteen coprolites recovered from a midden and associated pits at Durrington Walls were analysed for intestinal parasite eggs using digital light microscopy. Five (26%) contained helminth eggs, 1 with those of fish tapeworm (likely Dibothriocephalus dendriticus) and 4 with those of capillariid nematodes. Analyses of bile acid and sterol from these 5 coprolites show 1 to be of likely human origin and the other 4 to likely derive from dogs. The presence of fish tapeworm reveals that the Neolithic people who gathered to feast at Durrington Walls were at risk of infection from eating raw or undercooked freshwater fish. When the eggs of capillariids are found in the feces of humans or dogs it normally indicates that the internal organs (liver, lung or intestines) of animals with capillariasis have been eaten, and eggs passed through the gut without causing disease. Their presence in multiple coprolites provides new evidence that internal organs of animals were consumed. These novel findings improve our understanding of both parasitic infection and dietary habits associated with this key Neolithic ceremonial site.

Using parasite analysis to identify ancient chamber pots: An example of the fifth century CE from Gerace, Sicily, Italy

Chamber pots are perhaps one of the more challenging ceramic forms to identify with certainty in Roman pottery studies, despite the availability of detailed ceramic typologies. Here, we describe the analysis of mineralized concretions taken from a Sicilian ceramic vessel of the fifth-century CE, and propose paleoparasitology, the identification of intestinal parasites, as a helpful method for contributing to the detection of chamber pots. Microscope analysis of the mineralized concretions revealed the presence of eggs of the intestinal nematode Trichuris trichiura (whipworm), confirming that the vessel originally contained faeces. This is the first time that parasite eggs have been identified from concretions inside a Roman ceramic vessel. Systematic parasitological investigation of calcified deposits from ceramic vessels may therefore help to establish function. In addition, the identification of intestinal parasite eggs has the potential to advance our understanding of the sanitation, diet, and intestinal health of populations who used these chamber pots.

Parasitic threat in commercial organic fertilizers

The use of fertilizers based on sewage sludge is common practice. Due to the possible presence of pathogens and eggs of intestinal parasites like Ascaris sp., Toxocara sp., and Trichuris sp. in these products, it is necessary to control them. The aim of the study was to determine the presence of parasite eggs in commercial organic fertilizers available on the market. Selected commercial products were tested using the Quinn flotation method and a method dedicated to the study of dewatered sewage sludge. Assessment of the viability of helminth eggs was carried out on the basis of staining with calcein and propidium iodide. In 57% of the tested samples, the presence of live eggs of the abovementioned parasites was detected, and in 21% of samples, the eggs with live larvae were detected. Eggs of Trichuris sp. (50%) and Ascaris sp. (36%) were the most common. The obtained results clearly indicate that the process of hygienization of the sewage sludge before the production of fertilizers was not effective enough and it is necessary to standardize the prophylaxis against the spread of parasitic nematodes in commercially available products.

Результаты археопаразитологического и палинологического анализов содержимого канализационного стока Чоргунской башни (Юго-Западный Крым)

The article presents the results of an archaeoparasitological and palynological study of a sample taken from the sewage drain of the Chorgun Tower. This is a fortification on the territory of the village of Chernorechie (South-Western Crimea). According to archaeological research, the construction of the keep dates back to the third quarter of the 15th century. Four types of eggs of intestinal parasites infecting humans and synanthropic animals were identified in the sample. Regarding parasitic and infectious gastrointestinal diseases, human whipworm and roundworm eggs found in the sample are indicative of relatively unfavorable sanitary conditions of the fortification. Based on the features of the archaeoparasitological spectrum, it can be concluded that anthelminthic agents were used or food with antiparasitic effects against roundworms was consumed. The difficult sanitary and epidemiological situation was also complicated by synanthropic rodents, such as rats and domestic mice, which could be a constant source of dangerous infections in the Chorgun Keep. A palynological study of the contents of the sewage runoff made it possible to obtain additional information on the nutrition of people who used the latrine facilities in the Chorgun Keep. What is equally important is that the study demonstrates the possibilities of methods for the study of canalization as a source of bioarchaeological information.

New contribution of archaeoparasitology in the Far North of Eastern Siberia: First data about the parasitological spectrum of Stadukhinsky Fort in the 17th-18th centuries

Archeoparasitological studies of the territory of northeastern Siberia are very rare. Stadukhinsky (Nizhnekolymsky) Fort ranks high in the history of the development of northeastern Siberia. We report data on the incidence and range of intestinal parasites discovered in samples taken from the occupation layer of Stadukhinsky Fort and human and animal coprolites dated to the 17th-18th centuries.Three types of intestinal parasite eggs were discovered during the research of samples, which most likely belong to Diphyllobothrium sp., Taenia sp. and parasites of Opisthorchiidae family. Abundance of eggs of “fish” parasites suggests in various samples shows that settlers, indigenous populace and dogs consumed insufficiently thermally processed and/or raw fish and also can be evident of the unsatisfactory sanitary condition of the settlement. Consumption of poorly cooked and/or raw fish is most likely typical not only for the population of northeastern Siberia and, probably, for the entire Arctic and Subarctic territory of Eurasia.Taenia sp. eggs in the archeoparasitological spectrum bring the indigenous population of the Northern territories and the Russian settlers together. Nevertheless, the sources of infection may differ.Eggs belonging to the Opisthorchiidae family were, for the first time, found in area so remote from endemic foci of parasitosis. The fact that the eggs of trematodes of this family were found in fecal samples of people living in the Fort suggests two possible places where they could have been infected. One focus is the Ob-Irtysh River basin, another is the Amur River basin.Therefore, this study demonstrated the variety of parasitosis in the population of Stadukhinsky Fort from historical and archaeological points of view. This is important for understanding of the processes of adaptation of the population to the conditions of the Far North of Eurasia.

Canine intestinal parasites as a potential source of soil contamination in the public areas of Kruševac, Serbia.

Environmental contamination by infected canine faeces presents an indirect source of contamination in people. In this research the presence of parasitic elements in canine faeces found in the public areas of Kruševac was examined. During May and October 2018, 282 samples were collected from different public areas (ten kindergartens, six public squares and four parks). The examination of faeces was performed by means of direct smear and flotation. For statistical testing of the difference between the frequencies of attributes χ2 test was applied. Out of 282 samples, 221 (78.4%) were positive, of which 17/20 (85.0%) from kindergartens, 125/160 (78.1%) from parks and 79/102 (77.5%) from public squares. The presence of Ancylostomatidae spp. was discovered in 113 (40.1%) samples, Toxocara canis in 82 (29.1%), Dipylidium caninum in 76 (27.0%), Giardia intestinalis in 45 (16.0%), Taenia spp. in 44 (15.6%), Amoeba spp. in 32 (11.3%), Trichuris vulpis in 19 (6.7%), Toxascaris leonina in 18 (6.4%), Strongyloides stercoralis in 17 (6.0%), Isospora spp. in 7 (2.5%) and Cryptosporidium spp. in 3 (1.1%). In May there were 115/141 (81.6%) positive samples, whereas in October there were 106/141 (72.5%) positive ones. No positive sample with three or four parasites was found in October. This study shows that canine faeces from public areas in Kruševac can be the cause of a significant environmental contamination by eggs of canine intestinal parasites as well as of human infections.

ASSESSMENT OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF AGRICULTURAL USE OF SEWAGE SLUDGE FROM SMALL, MEDIUM AND LARGE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS

The management of sewage sludge, generated at various stages of wastewater treatment, is still a significant problem. One of the possibilities of using sewage sludge, which is a valuable source of nutrients (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus), is its use for agricultural purposes. Sludge can be used for fertilising when it meets the requirements with regard to the content of heavy metals, the number of eggs of intestinal parasites and Salmonella bacteria, and when the amount of organic substances and fertilising components is sufficient. That is why it is so important to know exactly the characteristics of sewage sludge. This allows determination of whether it can be used as fertiliser in agriculture. The study assesses the agricultural use of sewage sludge from three mechanical and biological wastewater treatment plants of different PE, produced in 2016-2018. The analysis was carried out on the basis of the physicochemical parameters of the sludge. Particular attention was paid to the fertilisation and sanitary properties, as well as the presence of heavy metals, which were largely influenced by such factors as: the size of the wastewater treatment plant, the method of sewage sludge treatment and sludge management, and the nature of the catchment area. The concentrations of particular substances in sludge from wastewater treatment plants differed from one another, and sometimes these were very large differences. The conducted analysis showed that sewage sludge, from both small and large wastewater treatment plants, has a significant potential as agricultural fertiliser due to the presence of minerals such as nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium.

Effect of Green Oxidizing Agent on Inhibition of Escherichia coli Present in Livestock Wastes

The optimisation tests of sodium percarbonate (biocide) with the formula 2Na2CO3·3H2O2, as a green oxidizing agent for biological deactivation of chicken manure, were carried out. The microbiological analysis of fresh manure which consisted of the enumeration of bacteria, fungi and eggs of intestinal parasites showed that the number of bacteria Enterobacteriaceae, i.e. 8.3 log10CFU/g, and the bacteria E. coli, i.e. 6.96 log10CFU/g, exceeded the required level in organic fertilizers. The Response Surface Methodology for three input parameters (biocide concentration, temperature and time) on the value of E. coli bacteria was applied. The obtained values of the coefficient of the multiple correlation R2 and the adjusted coefficient Radj2 were 0.90 and 0.75, respectively, which indicate a good fit of the data obtained with the model and the experimental data. It was concluded that a decrease in the count of the analysed microorganisms followed an increase in the sodium percarbonate concentration, an increase in the temperature and a longer time of contact of the manure sample with the biocide. The content of bioavailable macronutrients (P, N, Ca, Mg, K) in water extracts of fresh chicken manure before and after its biological deactivation was determined with the ICP-OES method. The concentration of phosphorous in fresh manure extract was 310 mg/l and decreased after addition of one of the following agents: 7.5 wt.% of sodium percarbonate to 66.9 mg/l or 3.0 wt.% of traditional hygienizing agent, i.e. calcium hydroxide to 5.7 mg/l.. The results of the concentration of N in chicken manure with sodium percarbonate was also higher than in sample with calcium hydroxide, i.e. 1040.0 mg/l and 860.0 mg/l, respectively. While the addition of 2Na2CO3·3H2O2 decreased the content of Ca, Mg and K in fresh chicken manure.

Soil and Sand Contamination with Canine Intestinal Parasite Eggs as a Risk Factor for Human Health in Public Parks in Niš (Serbia).

SummaryRegarding geographical distribution and clinical relevance, the most common canine geohelminths are Toxocara canis, ancylostomatids, and Trichuris vulpis. Canine intestinal parasites from the soil and sand present an important potential serious human health hazard, especially for the children preschool and school – age. This paper aimed to establish the degree of contamination of soil and sand with zoonotic parasites from the canine feces and the degree of risk they could pose for human health in public places and playgrounds in the city of Niš. Our parasitological study involved 200 soil samples and 50 sand samples from the public parks in the city of Niš in southeastern Serbia (43°19′15″N, 21°53′45″ E). From several locations, about 100 g of soil and sand was collected based on the bioclimatic indices. Parasitological diagnosis was performed using conventional qualitative and quantitative coprological methods, abiding by the recommendations about the diagnosis of parasitic diseases. In 38 – 46 % of soil samples and 40 % of sand samples seven species of endoparasites were diagnosed. In the samples of soil, a medium and high degree of contamination with the ascarid T. canis (14 – 22 %) was detected, as well as a low and medium degree of contamination with ancylostomatids (4 – 12 %), and in the samples of sand, a variable degree of contamination with the helminths T. canis (26 %) and A. alata (16 %) was found. A statistically significant difference was found in the contamination with A. alata eggs between the samples of sand and samples of soil. The studied public surfaces represent the reservoir of zoonotic parasites, which is a public health problem requiring a synergistic action of several factors to be successfully resolved, i.e. the implementation of prevention, surveillance, and control measures.

DIETARY STRATEGIES OF NORTHERN SELKUPS IN THE 18th–19th CENTURIES

The article considers the dietary habits of a small Selkup group that lived in the north of Western Siberia along the upper reaches of the Taz River in the18th–19th centuries. To this end, we carried out paleopathological and archaeoparasitological studies of the anthropological material from a burial ground located next to the once-existing settlement of Karakonskaya, as well as performed an isotopic analysis of organic samples. Another ob-jective was to study archival documents containing information on the inhabitants of the Upper Taz area. The isotope analysis included 17 anthropological and zooarchaeological samples, represented by the bones, hair and nails of 10 people, bones of a herbivore (reindeer), an omnivore (squirrel) (2) and fish (3). Soil samples taken from the surface of the sacra of 22 people served as the material for the archaeoparasitological study. Paleopa-thological studies included the bone remains of 23 people. We examined the originals of 19th-century documents stored at the State Archives of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. In order to differentiate the sources of land- and river-based diet, we analysed the stable-isotope ratio of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) in anthropological and zooarchaeological samples. The comparison of collagen and keratin isotopic values in one individual allowed seasonal variations in the diet to be established. For the purpose of identifying gender differences in the diet, an isotopic comparison between men and women was performed. In order to characterise the ways of food con-sumption and preparation, soil samples taken from burials were studied to detect eggs of intestinal parasites, as well as to establish their species. Other aspects of the group’s diet were studied by analysing the manifestations of porotic hyperostosis on the skull and dental diseases. When working on the archival materials, we employed cross-validation of information and analysed some documents covering large time intervals. It was established that the everyday diet the local Selkup group included bottom-dwelling and predatory fish, whereas the consump-tion of land mammals was minimal. Moreover, when preparing fish dishes for all members of the group, including children, fish was not heated or it was not heated enough. Seasonal fluctuations in the diet associated with hunt-ing certain animals were recorded. The consumption of sugar and flour-based food by the Northern Selkups until the beginning of the 20th century was insignificant. Regular periods of hunger occurred given that the population had no tradition to make long-term food reserves. The consumption of certain food (dishes) resulted in the da-mage to the teeth and soft tissues of the mouth. For the men of this group, hunted food was somewhat more ac-cessible than for women. The dietary system of the Northern Selkups had more in common with their closest neighbours — the Khanty of the Vakh River — rather than with the ethnically close Southern Selkups.

Discovery of Eurytrema Eggs in Sediment from a Colonial Period Latrine in Taiwan.

In this study we take a closer look at the diseases that afflicted Japanese police officers who were stationed in a remote mountainous region of Taiwan from 1921 to 1944. Samples were taken from the latrine at the Huabanuo police outpost, and analyzed for the eggs of intestinal parasites, using microscopy and ELISA. The eggs of Eurytrema sp., (possibly E. pancreaticum), whipworm and roundworm were shown to be present. True infection with Eurytrema would indicate that the policemen ate uncooked grasshoppers and crickets infected with the parasite. However, false parasitism might also occur if the policemen ate the uncooked intestines of infected cattle, and the Eurytrema eggs passed through the human intestines. These findings provide an insight into the diet and health of the Japanese colonists in Taiwan nearly a century ago.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of sterilization materials added to drinking water in the elimination of the Larval stages of parasites in Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf Governorate

The study was conducted to investigate the cysts and eggs of intestinal parasites in drinking water in four models of drinking water for water purification projects in Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf Governorate for the period from 1/10/2017 to 1/10/2018. The results of the examination of river water in four districts in Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf governorate showed the presence of five species of parasites are cysts of Entamoeba histolytica by 39%, and the eggs of the Ascaris worm by 12%, worm Ancylostoma duodenale by 4%, Giardia lamblia cysts 40%, and the eggs of Enterobius vermicularis by 18%. The results of the tap water examination showed that there were five types of intestinal parasites, but at a lower rate than in river water, Entamoeba histolytica cysts by 16%, eggs of Ascaris by 7%, Ancylostoma duodenale eggs by 2%, Giardia lamblia cysts by 29%, and Enterobius vermicularis by 5% overall.

Parasitological contamination with eggs Ascaris spp., Trichuris spp. and Toxocara spp. of dehydrated municipal sewage sludge in Poland

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the contamination of sewage sludge produced by municipal waste treatment plants in Poland by viable eggs of intestinal parasites of the genera Ascaris, Toxocara and Trichuris (ATT). Ninety-two municipal, mechanical-biological sewage treatment plants located within Poland were selected. These plants belonged to types of agglomerations: group 0 (large), group 1 (medium), group 2 (smaller) and group 3 (small). Samples were collected at the final stage of sewage treatment after the addition of flocculent to sludge, followed by dehydration. The samples were examined by a method adjusted to examine sewage sludge dehydrated using polyelectrolytes. The viability of the isolated eggs was evaluated based on incubation in a moist chamber. Live eggs of intestinal nematodes were found in 99% of samples. Most samples were contaminated by the eggs of Ascaris spp. (95%) and Toxocara spp. (96%). However, Trichuris spp. eggs were detected in 60% of samples. The mean number of eggs in 1 kg of dry mass (eggs/kg d.m.) was 5600 for Ascaris, 3700 for Toxocara and 1100 for Trichuris. The highest number of ATT eggs was detected in samples from sewage treatment plants located in south-eastern and central Poland. The highest number of ATT eggs was found in sewage sludge produced in large sewage treatment plants (agglomeration Groups 0 and 1), with mean values of 15,000 and 8900 eggs/kg d.m. The present study is the first parasitological investigation conducted on a large number of samples (92 samples) taken from various types of municipal sewage treatment plants located throughout Poland (16 regions) after the common introduction of polyelectrolytes during sewage sludge dehydration. The results of this study indicate that sludge produced in municipal sewage treatment plants is highly contaminated with parasite eggs.

Negative effect of flocculant (cationic acrylamide) on detectability of the nematode eggs in sewage sludge

The use of sewage sludge in agriculture brings the risk of microbiological and parasitological contamination of soil, ground and surface water, as well as cultivated plants. Therefore prior the application to the soil, sewage sludge must be examined, among others, for the presence of live eggs of intestinal parasites. However, the efficiency of commonly used for this purpose parasitological methods is not satisfactory. This is probably due to the presence of flocculants in the sediments used in the dehydration process. The objective of the study was analysis of the effect of flocculant (cationic acrylamide) on the possibilities of isolation of parasite eggs from dehydrated sewage sludge. For this purpose 10 samples of sewage sludge were prepared: 5 containing flocculant and 5 without flocculant. Samples were tested by flotation method according to Quinn. From sewage sludge free of flocculant, 67.8 eggs were isolated, on average, whereas from sludge containing flocculant – only 2.8 eggs. The experiments confirmed that the isolation of eggs from sewage sludge containing flocculant (cationic acrylamide) is much more difficult than from sludge free from this substance and therefore the simple parasitological methods should not be used to examine the dehydrated sewage sludge.

Stray Dog Population in a City of Southern Mexico and Its Impact on the Contamination of Public Areas.

To assess the risk of zoonotic pathogen transmission as function of stray dog presence and health status, a cross-sectional study was carried out in a large city of southern Mexico that lacks comprehensive strategies for the control of stray canine populations. The photographic capture-recapture method was used to estimate the density of dogs/km2. In the same way, dog feces from 14 public parks of the city were collected to determine the prevalence and intensity of infection with gastrointestinal parasites. The canine population was estimated between 65 and 80 thousand dogs, with a population density of 1,081 dogs/km2, mostly males (71.4%). A high proportion of dogs (72.3%) were found to be in good body condition score (BCS 3). The person:dog ratio was 2.3. The likelihood of being in the BCS 2 category was lower in areas with a higher density of dogs. All feces collected from the parks contained eggs of intestinal parasites, most of them with a medium (42.9%) to high (35.7%) infection intensity, notably Ancylostoma caninum. It was recorded that cases with a low-intensity of GI infection showed polyparasitism (35.7%) associated with A. caninum. There is a large population of stray dogs that roam freely in the streets of Campeche city with access to sources of food, which is reflected by their good BCS, and dogs do not have access to preventive medicine programs (de-worming) and thus contaminate public parks with feces with significant parasitic egg loads of zoonotic importance.

Burden of exposure to infectious bursal disease virus, infectious bronchitis virus, Newcastle disease virus, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, and intestinal parasites in introduced broiler chickens on the Galapagos.

Diseases in introduced broilers can possibly spill over to wild birds on the Galapagos. Knowledge about the current burden of exposure to pathogens in broilers on the Galapagos is very limited. The objective of the study reported here was to measure the burden of exposure to infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), Newcastle disease virus (NDV), Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG), and intestinal parasites in a sample of broiler chickens on 13 farms on Santa Cruz Island and San Cristobal Island in July 2017. Blood serum samples were tested for detection of antibodies to IBDV, IBV, NDV, and MG by using an IDEXX Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay. In addition, fecal samples and pen bedding environmental samples were processed and analyzed for diagnosis of intestinal parasite eggs under a compound light microscope. The frequency of seropositive broilers to IBDV was 74/130 or 56% (95% CI = 48, 65%), to IBV was 27/130 or 20% (14, 28%), and to NDV was 1/130 or 0.7% (0.1, 4%). All broilers tested negative to MG antibodies. Eimeria spp. infection was common in study broilers. Finally, we observed interaction between broiler chickens and wild birds (finches) inside broiler pens, as well as the presence of backyard chickens inside property limits of study farms. This study produced evidence that exposure to IBDV, IBV, and intestinal parasites in broilers on Santa Cruz Island and San Cristobal Island is important. Study results are relevant because (i) they provide new baseline data on the burden of exposure to avian pathogens in broiler farms, (ii) justify the need to verify standard operating procedures in hatcheries that supply (non-vaccinated) day-old chicks to the Galapagos and (iii) to implement enhanced biosecurity standards on broiler chicken farms to mitigate risk of disease transmission between broilers, backyard poultry, and wild birds on the Galapagos.