Numerous Larvae Research Articles

Jejunal strongyloidiasis mimicking crohn's colitis: A diagnostic dilemma!

We report an unusual case of jejunal strongyloidiasis presenting as chronic malabsorption and intractable small bowel diarrhea in an immunocompetent adolescent boy who posed a diagnostic challenge for pathologists, radiologists, and gastroenterologists. Histopathology revealed chronic active colitis and was consistent with the clinicoradiological diagnosis of Crohn's colitis but nonresponse to immunomodulators warranted full-thickness jejunal biopsy through laparotomy which showed numerous larvae and eggs of Strongyloides. There is a need to increase the awareness of Strongyloides colitis given its high rate of misdiagnosis and mortality as the correct diagnosis can avoid a fatal outcome of this curable disease.

The zooplankton community of Baltic Sea ports: diversity and seasonal dynamics

In this study, we investigated zooplankton composition and seasonal dynamics, as well as the influence of selected environmental factors on the zooplankton community in three ports on the Polish Baltic coast: Władysławowo, Gdynia and Gdańsk. Our aim was to determine whether harbours’ heavy traffic, chemical pollution and physical disturbances affect the zooplankton community, and whether new nonindigenous planktonic species occur in these habitats. Forty three zooplankton taxa were found in all three ports; however, it is important to note that no new nonindigenous species were observed in the port basins. The most influential environmental factors affecting the zooplankton community were: seawater temperature (17% of explained zooplankton variability) and transparency (4%), which were related to seasonal changes. Acartia spp. (although of different development stages) was the dominant taxon during the study, and the examined ports/seasons differed in the presence and proportions of less abundant taxa: the autumn and winter assemblages were dominated by Acartia spp. nauplii, the spring assemblage by numerous Polychaeta larvae, while Cirripedia nauplii and early development stages of Eurytemora affinis were particularly abundant in summer. In addition, changes in salinity (2% explained variability) had a particular impact on the zooplankton community and especially on the assemblage of Gdańsk Port, which was influenced by freshwater inflow from the Motława and Dead Vistula rivers. Our study has clearly shown that, despite severe physical and chemical disturbances in all studied ports, the composition and seasonal dynamics of the zooplankton community were similar to those of the Gulf of Gdańsk outside the ports.

Pathogenecity testing of indigenous Bacillus thuringiensis isolates against chickpea pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Ethiopia

Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) is the most significant insect pest of chickpea in Ethiopia. Sole reliance on insecticide causes both human and environmental health problems. A common soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis used as a bioinsecticide to control numerous Lepidopteran larvae. Therefore, indigenous isolates were collected, screened, tested for pathogenicity against H. armigera with a reference Bacillus. var. thuringiensis. From 121 soil samples collected, 23 Bacillus species were isolated and purified. Bt index ranged from 0.33 to 1.00 and the mean was 0.73 average Bt index. Absorbance values ranged from 0.46 to 0.98. Screening biotoxicity assay was conducted at the rate of 1 mL against 3rd instar larvae of H. armigera. Experiments were replicated three times; ten larvae were used per replicate and reputed thrice. Ten indigenous Bt isolates were screened based on larval mortality which ranged between 27.78% and 75.83% and LT50 values of 45.71–143.9 h. The highest mortality of 75.83% and LT50 of 45.71 h was recorded from reference Bt followed by indigenous Bt isolate KDL with mortality percentage of 69.16% and LT50 of 48.49 h. Statistically no significant difference was observed among the tested bacterial isolates. Biotoxicity assay was conducted at five concentrations ranging from 0.25 to 2 mL. The LD50 and LD 90 values were 0.84–1.24 mL and 1.54–1.98 mL, respectively. The lowest LD50, 90 of 0.84 mL and 1.54 mL were recorded from KDL Bt isolate compared to reference Bt whose LD50 and LD90 were 0.84 mL and 1.66 mL. Results of Bt growth under varied values of temperature ranged from 15oC to 40 °C. All the Bt isolates showed growth at all the values of the tested temperatures with steady growth from 15 °C to 20 °C and uniform growth observed from 20 °C to 30 °C. After 35 °C, the growth of all the Bt isolates declined indicating that 30 °C–35 °C is the optimum growth temperature range. Protein content ranged from 0.43 to 0.97 (mg/mL). However, protein content and larval mortality was not linearly correlated. It was concluded that all the tested indigenous Bacillus isolates were virulent enough and identified as a promising candidate bioinsecticide against H. armigera. Hence, recommended for further intensive evaluations under greenhouse and field trails.

Resemblances in the early development of two sea urchins: Toxopneustes roseus (Euechinoidea: Echinacea) and Rhyncholampas pacificus (Euechinoidea: Irregularia) from different habitats in the southern Mexican Pacific

Sea urchins play a key role in the marine environment, contributing to maintain a balance in benthic ecosystems. Toxopneustes roseus acts as a regulator of rhodolith beds and is a key species as a bioturbation promoter, while Rhyncholampas pacificus moderates the detritus content of sediment through various mechanisms and contributes to accelerating the circulation of organic matter. However, nothing is known about their early development, so the objective of this research is to characterize the embryonic and larval development of specimens of the two species from the southern Mexican Pacific and identify the causes that produce their differences. The embryonic development of T. roseus lasted approximately 20 ​h; the echinopluteus larva appeared at 23 ​h and culminated in around 12 days with an eight-armed larva. Metamorphosis was reached at 18 days. The embryonic development of R. pacificus lasted about 15 ​h; the larva emerged at 20 ​h and culminated in about two days with an eight-armed larva. The metamorphosis was completed in 9 days. The reproductive output of both species determines their development time and the structure of their larvae; therefore, the energy of R. pacificus is invested in reaching metamorphosis earlier to ensure that its larvae, which are not very abundant, settle and recruit to the population. Regarding T. roseus, the longest permanence in the plankton is efficiently maintained by its numerous larvae through the presence of mobile arms and the shift of the swimming function to the epauletes. This is the first work that characterizes the early development of a species of the genus Toxopneustes and of the only living species of the genus Ryncholampas. The information generated in this work is essential to gaining knowledge about these groups of echinoids, especially the effect of the environment on their early development.

Case Report: Neglected case of duodenal strongyloidiasis in an immunocompromised patient

Strongyloides stercoralis, one of the common opportunistic parasitic infections, affects a large population in many parts of tropical and subtropical regions and is often a neglected tropical disease. The parasite completes its life cycle inside the human host with a unique feature of autoinfection, persisting in the host indefinitely in dormant form and having the notorious ability to cause fetal complications in an immunocompromised individual. Many factors like corticosteroid therapy, immunosuppressive therapy for autoimmune diseases, human T lymphotropic virus, malignancy, malnutrition etc. can transform asymptomatic strongyloidiasis to fatal outcomes, from hyperinfection syndrome to parasite dissemination leading to increased risk of high mortality rates. It has been neglected in screening unless and until some clinical suspicion appeared during the course of treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment can mitigate the rapid disease activation and evolution in an immunocompromised patient. A mandatory but reliable parasite screening method should always be carried out before administering immunosuppressants, even though simple stool tests and serology are only used when suspicion arises. Our case involved a 50-year-old female on cyclophosphane for systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) who experienced repeated bouts of vomiting and loose stools. Even several days after admission, there was no satisfactory outcome with medical management; a duodenal biopsy was carried out, which revealed numerous larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis.

Strongyloidiasis infection in a borderline lepromatous leprosy patient with adrenocorticoid insufficiency undergoing corticosteroid treatment: a case report

Strongyloidiasis is a soil-transmitted helminthiasis mainly caused by Strongyloides stercoralis. It is endemic to the tropics and subtropics. Sri Lanka has a 0-1.6% prevalence rate. S. stercoralis infection was identified in a 33-year-old Sri Lankan male patient treated with corticosteroids for borderline lepromatous leprosy with adrenocortical dysfunction. In March 2020, a 33-year-old Sri Lankan (Sinhalese) male patient presented with watery diarrhea, lower abdominal pain, and post-prandial abdominal fullness. Previously, he was diagnosed with borderline lepromatous leprosy and was treated with rifampicin, clofazimine, and prednisolone 60mg daily since July 2019. After developing gastrointestinal symptoms, he had defaulted leprosy treatment including the prednisolone for 3months. Duodenal biopsy revealed numerous intraepithelial nematodes within the lumina of glands in the duodenum whose appearance favored Strongyloides. Fecal wet smear revealed numerous Strongyloidisstercoralis L1 rhabditiform larvae. Larval tracks were seen in the agar plate culture. L3 filariform larvae of Strongyloidis stercoralis were seen in the Harada-Mori culture. In addition, the short synacthen test revealed adrenocortical insufficiency, and oral hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone were started with albendazole treatment against strongyloidiasis. Fecal wet smear and culture repeated after treatment with albendazole were negative for Strongyloidisstercoralis. The patient was discharged in July 2020 on oral hydrocortisone. Onemonth later his condition was reviewed and the repeated fecal wet smear and agar plate culture was normal. He is being followed up every 3months. This is the first case of strongyloidiasis diagnosed in a patient with borderline lepromatous leprosy from Sri Lanka. The patient manifested symptoms of strongyloidiasis while on high-dose steroid therapy for his lepromatous reaction. Subsequently, the patient not only discontinued his steroid therapy, but also developed adrenocortical insufficiency as a complication of leprosy. Therefore, although diagnosis of strongyloidiasis was delayed, his subsequent low steroid levels probably protected him from disseminated disease. This is an interesting case where symptomatic strongyloidiasis was diagnosed in a patient who was initially treated with high-dose steroids but subsequently developed adrenocortical insufficiency. We emphasize the need to screen all patients prior to the commencement of immunosuppressive therapy.

DISSEMINATED STRONGYLOIDIASIS IN A PATIENT WITH ACUTE LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA

DISSEMINATED STRONGYLOIDIASIS IN A PATIENT WITH ACUTE LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA

Influence of Honey bee Nutritive Jelly Type and Dilution on its Bactericidal Effect on Melissococcus plutonius, the Etiological Agent of European Foulbrood

To defend themselves against pathogenic microorganisms, honey bees resort to social immunity mechanisms, such as the secretion of antibiotic compounds in the jelly they feed to their larvae. Whereas the bactericidal activity of jelly fed to queen larvae is well studied, little is known about the bioactivity of compositionally different jelly fed to worker larvae. However, the numerous worker larvae are likely to drive the spread of the microorganism and influence its virulence and pathogenesis. Diluted jelly or extracts are mostly used for jelly bioactivity tests, which may bias the evaluation of the pathogen’s resistance and virulence. Here, we compared the bactericidal effect of pure and diluted jellies destined for queen and worker larvae on Melissococcus plutonius, the etiological agent of the European foulbrood (EFB) disease of honey bees, and on a secondary invader bacteria, Enterococcus faecalis. We tested three strains of M. plutonius with varying virulence to investigate the association between resistance to antibacterial compounds and virulence. The resistance of the bacteria varied but was not strictly correlated with their virulence and was lower in pure than in diluted jelly. Resistance differed according to whether the jelly was destined for queen or worker larvae, with some strains being more resistant to queen jelly and others to worker jelly. Our results provide a biologically realistic assessment of host defenses via nutritive jelly and contribute to a better understanding of the ecology of M. plutonius and of secondary invaders bacteria in the honey bee colony environment, thus shedding light on the selective forces affecting their virulence and on their role in EFB pathogenesis.

Novel Descriptions of Immature Stages of the Forestry Insect Pest, Yponomeuta meguronis (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae), with New Records of Its Natural Enemies

The genus Yponomeuta is widely known as a forestry insect pest group; however, it is extremely difficult to identify it at the species level because of its small size and morphological complexity. Thus far, only a few major species and host plants, as well as natural enemy information, are known through European research within the limited eastern Palearctic region. In this study, Yponomeuta meguronis Matsumura is revealed to be a severe forestry insect pest for Euonymus japonicus Thunb. (Celastraceae) in Korea, which constitutes part of the western Palearctic region. We observed that numerous tiny larvae caused serious damage to its leaves and partially or entirely covered the tree by making communal silk webs. To rapidly and accurately identify this insect pest in the future, new descriptions of immature stages, including larva and pupa, were provided, along with their adult forms, based on ecological photographs and morphological illustrations. Two natural enemies of Y. meguronis were also recognized for the first time in this study: Herpestomus brunnicornis (Gravenhorst) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) was revealed as a parasitoid, and Xanthandrus comtus (Harris) (Diptera: Syrphidae) was presented as a predator.

Forensically important fly larvae on floating corpses in Malaysia: three case reports

BackgroundUnderstanding how environmental conditions can influence the insect distribution on corpses is essential to determine the postmortem interval. However, literatures related to forensically important flies in an aquatic environment were scarce. We report herewith a case series comprising three forensic cases related to floating corpses infested with fly larvae in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Case presentationCase 1 involved the corpse of a 43-year old male found in the waterside of an abandoned mine. Case 2 was a 40-year-old male floating on a river stream, while case 3 was an 11-year-old boy who was found trapped in a monsoon drain after heavy rain. Numerous larvae of various stages, identified as Chrysomya megacephala (Calliphoridae) species, were collected in all cases even though the number of larvae was relatively lower compared to those usually collected on corpses found on terrestrial areas. Besides, the larvae of Eristalis spp. (Syrphidae), which are known to be exclusively associated with water bodies, were found in two of the cases. The blowfly Ch. rufifacies (Calliphoridae) larvae were collected only in case 3.ConclusionsThese findings show that both Ch. megacephala and Ch. rufifacies can be found in the ecologically varied death scene habitats including aquatic areas. Meanwhile, the presence of Eristalis spp. can be used as an indicator of death location associated with an aquatic environment. The challenges and limitations of analyzing entomological evidence on bodies discovered in aquatic environments were also discussed.

“Strongyloides stercoralis infestation in a severely malnourished (SAM) celiac disease child:” A rare case report from Western Rajasthan

A case of Strongyloides stercoralis infection in severe protein energy malnutrition child with associated celiac disease (CD) is herein reported. The case was a 4-year-old, severely malnourished female admitted to the tertiary level hospital of Western Rajasthan, due to watery diarrhea, pain abdomen, and vomiting, not responding to treatment. The patient was HIV negative, nondiabetic, had no evidence of tuberculosis, Liver Function Test, Renal Function Test were normal was within normal limits. She had microcytic hypochromic anemia, hypoalbuminemia, and serum Antitissue transglutaminase (anti tTG IgA)was 301.35 U/ML which confirmed the diagnosis of CD. Stool parasitological examination revealed numerous rhabditiform larvae of threadworm “S. stercoralis.” After treatment with gluten free diet and Albendazole and Ivermectin, the patient recovered without evidence of S. stercoralis in follow-up stool samples.

First Evidence of Western Bean Cutworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Overwintering in the Province of Québec (Canada).

The western bean cutworm, Striacosta albicosta (Smith), is considered a major corn pest in North America. In 2009, it started invading the province of Québec (northeastern Canada). To our knowledge, there has been no evidence that this pest could overwinter in this province. In the falls of 2017 and 2018, storage totes containing mature western bean cutworm larvae were placed in the soil in three agricultural regions, in Québec, where western bean cutworm invasions are frequent and crop damage is often significant. The goal was to evaluate if western bean cutworm could resist the province's winter conditions. The storage totes were removed from the soil at different dates to estimate winter survival. Emergence cages were installed over the totes in the spring of the following year to determine whether western bean cutworm could complete its life cycle. In the spring of 2019, car shelters were also installed at two different sites to evaluate natural moth emergences in fields in which numerous mature western bean cutworm larvae and damage were reported in 2018. Western bean cutworm moth emergences occurred in both cases. These experiments constitute the first documented evidence that western bean cutworm can overwinter and complete its life cycle in Québec's cold climate. It also represents the northernmost overwintering survival for this species ever documented in North America. The western bean cutworm's ability to overwinter in Québec will have important implications for corn producers. Pest monitoring and management programs in the province of Québec will need to be adapted accordingly.

Sparganosis due to Spirometra sp. (cestoda; Diphyllobothriidae) in captive meerkats (Suricata suricatta).

We report three cases of sparganosis due to plerocercoids of the tapeworm Spirometra sp. in captive meerkats (Suricata suricatta) from a zoo exhibit in the southeastern United States. Two meerkats were euthanized, one due to an uncontrollable seizure and the other due to trauma, and at necropsy cysts containing cestode larvae were observed. A third meerkat had a subcutaneous nodule surgically removed, which contained similar larvae. The third animal died years later, and had numerous cestode larvae in the pleural and peritoneal cavities. The larvae were morphologically identified as plerocercoids of diphyllobothriidean cestodes. On necropsy, multiple nodules, ranging in size from 2.5 to 3.0 cm, were observed in the subcutaneous tissue and muscles. Multifocally, separating skeletal muscle fibers were longitudinal and transversal sections of cestode larva. Histologically, parasitic cysts contained large numbers of neutrophils and macrophages, admixed with proteinaceous material. Molecular and phylogenetic analyses confirmed that specimens from one of the meerkats belonged to the genus Spirometra and was closely related to Spirometra plerocercoids isolated from a snake from the United States and wild felids from South America. Meerkats likely became infected by ingesting infected second intermediate hosts, such as amphibians and reptiles that may have entered the exhibit. Management practices that minimize access of meerkats and other susceptible hosts to intermediate hosts should be implemented.

Pathogistological changes in the lungs of Felis silvestris catus when infected with Aelurostrongylus abstrusus

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is a parasite that belongs to Nematoda type, Metastrongyloidea superfamily, Angiostrongylidae family, Aelurostrongylus genus and is known as feline helminth, whose intermediate hosts are slugs and snails and reservoir hosts are mice and birds. In cats, Aelurostrongylus abstrusus parasitizes in bronchioles and alveoli, causing specific inflammatory changes in the lower respiratory tract and enables the development of such clinical signs as cough, shortness of breath as well as mucous-purulent discharge from the nasal cavity, when complicated by bacterial infections. Females of parasite lay eggs, which the larvae of L1 hatch from. Subsequently, these larvae cough with bronchial mucus and are swallowed by an animal. They pass through the digestive channel without changes and together with the faeces are released into the environment. The first stage larvae actively penetrate into the body of the slugs, fade twice and are becoming invasive. Duration of larvae development from the stage L1 to L3 depends on the biological cycle of intermediate hosts – slugs and snails. Cats are becoming infected by eating slugs or snails with invasive larvae of the third stage (L3), which are transmitted from the digestive channel of the definitive host (cat) with blood flow to the lungs. Usually, the pathogen has low pathogenicity and invasions are primarily detected after animal’s death, during pathoanatomical dissection. Acute clinical signs of the disease have not been described much up to date. The article presents the results of pathomorphological examination of the cat's lungs infected by Aelurostrongylus abstrusus. The severity of pathomorphological changes of the cat’s pulmonary tissue depends on the intensity of the invasion. When dissected, the lungs appear unevenly coloured, dark red with light and slightly denser areas, where focal parasitic nodules are clearly distinct, surrounded by pink halo and different in size but mostly round, dense consistency. Main morphological characteristic of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus infection is the presence of numerous eggs and L1 larvae in the alveoli but also in the bronchi. Helminth eggs accumulated in the alveolar lumps, surrounded by a thin shell; a severe cellular reaction from lymphocytes, macrophages and histiocytes occurred around this shell. An inflammatory reaction resulted in the thickening of the interstitial tissue with a strong vascular response, characterized by fraying and edema of the vessel walls. The results of pathomorphological researches have shown that the main changes were localized in the lungs and bronchial tubes with diffuse damage of the pulmonary tissue parenchyma and development of croupous pneumonia.

Retreat but no surrender: net-spinning caddisfly (Hydropsychidae) silk has enduring effects on stream channel hydraulics

Animals and plants engineer their physical environment by building structures that create or modify habitat. Biotic effects on physical habitats can influence community composition, trophic dynamics, and ecosystem processes; however, the scales and mechanisms regulating the importance of biotic engineering effects are not well documented. We used a laboratory experiment with common and abundant silk net-spinning caddisflies (Trichoptera:Hydropsychidae) to investigate how biotic structures built in riverbeds influence fluid dynamics at micro spatial scales (1 cm) over 2 months. We made velocity measurements with acoustic doppler velocimetry around caddisfly silk structures to test how they influence flow velocity and whether these effects are maintained after the structure is abandoned. We found that caddisfly retreats reduced flow downstream by 85% and upstream by 17% compared to gravels without caddisfly retreats. We also found that experimentally abandoned caddisfly retreats could persist for at least 60 days, suggesting legacy effects of the structures. Although aquatic insects are rarely accounted for in hydrological models, our study suggests that small, but numerous caddisfly larvae could have substantial hydraulic effects. Future work could address variation in the magnitude and duration of biotic engineering among different silk-producing species, densities through space or time, and hydrologic regimes.

Methane Seeps on the US Atlantic Margin and Their Potential Importance to Populations of the Commercially Valuable Deep-Sea Red Crab, Chaceon quinquedens

Methane seeps provide a variety of ecosystem services, including the provision of complex habitat structures and high levels of primary production, which can act as trophic support to non-seep-endemic species in an otherwise food-limited environment. The discovery of hundreds of seeps on the US Atlantic margin, ranging in depth from ~50 to 1700m, provides the opportunity to assess depth-related differences in seep-associated communities. Here, we use photo transects to characterize the megafaunal communities at six seeps along the US Atlantic margin, comparing taxonomic richness and community structure (taxon-abundance patterns) at shallow (~400m) and deep (~1500m) seeps. We use molecular analysis to identify the mussel species present and stable isotope analysis to explore the trophic ecology of bathymodiolin mussels and red crabs (Chaceon quinquedens). Our results suggest a faunal boundary exists between shallow and deep seeps; depth, and the co-varying factor temperature, explained 72% of the variation observed in taxon-abundance patterns. All mussel samples were identified as Bathymodiolus childressi, extending the known dominance of B. childressi at seeps near Baltimore Canyon to seeps off New England. Stable isotope analyses suggest B. childressi relies predominantly, if not entirely, on methane-derived nutrition at both shallow and deep seeps. For red crab, the proportion of methane-derived carbon within muscle tissue is highly variable, contributing ~0% of nutrition for crabs sampled at Shallop East and West but ~30% and ~50% of nutrition for two individuals sampled at Chincoteague East. In addition to red crabs using seeps as a food resource, invertebrate larvae samples and observational data suggests Chincoteague East may act as a reproductive hotspot for red crabs. Fifteen mating pairs, three ovigerous females, and numerous zoea larvae (identified as belonging to C. quinquedens) were observed at or above Chincoteague East, providing what we believe is the first evidence that some seeps may act as a reproductive hotspot for a commercially valuable species. This study highlights two ways that seeps may support fishery productivity (i.e. providing trophic support and increasing reproductive success) and encourages future research exploring the connection between deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems and commercially valuable species.

Parasites in fishery products - Laboratorial and educational strategies to control

The presence of parasites, including Anisakis spp. larvae in fishery products jeopardizes their safety and quality, which is a matter of concern and a challenge for official authorities, as well as for food businesses operators, and a potential health risk to consumers. In the last ten years, a total of 2367 samples from different seafood products, whole fish (n = 1022), fish steaks (n = 417), fish fillets (n = 46), roes (n = 11), canned fish fillets (n = 35), fish fingers (n = 705), and ready-made Japanese dishes (n = 131) were analysed at the Laboratory of Pathology of Aquatic Animals of IPMA. From the fishery products analysed, a total of 4643 visible Anisakis larvae were collected from eighteen different species of whole fish and there were two cases with numerous larvae, although live larvae were only found in fresh fish. Anisakis larvae (n = 523) were collected from fish steaks, (n = 20) from frozen fish fillets, (n = 7) from five different brands of fish fingers, (n = 2) from two cans of cod fillets and numerous viable larvae were collected from the serosae of European hake fresh roes. The great majority of the larvae were identified as L3 Anisakis larvae. Plerocercoids of Gymnorhynchus gigas and Hepatoxylon trichiuri and the myxosporean, Kudoa spp. were also observed and led to the withdrawal of the fish from the supply chain. No Anisakis larvae were collected from the farmed fish as well as from the ready-made Japanese dishes. However, Kudoa hexapunctata spores were observed in the tuna muscle from one sashimi meal. The data shows that fresh fish with live Anisakis larvae have been marketed. Educational strategies concerning parasites were implemented with workshops, “Parasites in Fishery Products” to train and instruct professionals within the fish supply chain and training activities for target groups, including children, were promoted, to raise awareness of this issue. One of the most relevant outcomes obtained was the improvement of implementation of parasite identification techniques in the industry, including private labs, and consequently: (1) decrease in the parasitological analysis number of common parasites and (2) reduction in the analysis of anatomical structures confused with parasites requested to IPMA's Laboratory of Pathology. In addition, the practice of freezing trash fish used to feed farmed fish, and the placement of nets at the water entry points of the earth ponds, in order to avoid wild fish introduction, were simple and important measures that were implemented to prevent Anisakis and other parasites entering fish farms. The two complementary parts of this work, laboratorial activities used to support the fish supply chain, and the educational strategies concerning parasites, have made an essential contribution towards the availability of data for assessing and minimizing the level of risk associated with fish consumption, and have particularly increased and improved awareness, regarding foodborne parasites.

Donor-derived Strongyloides stercoralis infection in a simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplant recipient diagnosed on a bronchoalveolar lavage specimen

Donor-derived Strongyloides stercoralis infection occurs rarely after transplantation and can lead to potentially fatal hyperinfection syndrome.1,2 We present a case of a 29-year-old man who was in a critical state due to Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection after receiving simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplant. The diagnosis was established following cytologic examination of a bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimen showing numerous typical larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis. This illustrates the importance of a thorough examination of BAL and careful search for Strongyloides stercoralis in immunocompromised patients, particularly when the donor has lived in an endemic area.

Chronicle of migrant hyperinfective Strongyloides stercolaris larvae and associated bacteremia in a patient suffering from Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Background: Strongyloidiasis is a neglected nematode infestation and can lead to hyperinfection syndrome. The onset of strongyloides hyper-infection syndrome is associated with a myriad of seemingly unrelated symptoms including diarrhoea, abdominal pain, urticaria, anaemia, sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Case report: A 65-year-old female patient presenting with chief complaints of nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, fever and cough and was admitted to a teaching hospital on 2nd May 2019. The patient was a diagnosed case of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura on Azathioprine (50mg, BD) and oral corticosteroid therapy (Prednisolone 60mg, OD) and was on treatment from the same hospital. The patient developed these symptoms after 23 days of immunosuppressive therapy. Patient was continued with previous medication along with supportive management after admission. Blood and urine sample was received in the department of Microbiology on 3rd May 2019 for culture and sensitivity testing. Urine sample was sterile after 24 hours of aerobic incubation. Escherichia coli grew in blood culture and the isolate was susceptible to gentamicin, amikacin and colistin. Stool sample was received on 6th of May 2019 for routine microscopy. With wet mount preparation of stool specimen, numerous larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis were seen. Modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining was performed and oocysts of Cryptosporidium species were also seen. Wet mount preparation of sputum sample was also performed in which few larvae of S. stercoralis were seen. Conclusion: As corticosteroid is the mainstay of treatment in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura an early diagnosis and prompt specific anti-parasitic therapy is required to eradicate these infections

Fatal Peritoneal Migration of Strongylus edentatus in a Foal

A 7-month-old female mixed breed foal with a 2-day history of recumbency and inability to open its mouth convulsed acutely and died and was submitted for necropsy examination. The foal was thin and large patches of haemorrhage were present throughout the peritoneal wall, the diaphragmatic surfaces and the retroperitoneum. Numerous nematode larvae were visible on the serosal surfaces and penetrated and embedded into the subserosa associated with the haemorrhages. The dorsal portion of the abdominal diaphragm had a partial tear and large numbers of nematodes were within the muscle fibres. Histologically, the larvae had a smooth cuticle, polymyarian/coelomyarian musculature and multinucleated intestinal cells, and were typically surrounded by haemorrhage, neutrophils, dense fibrovascular connective tissue and rare multinucleated giant cells. Parasitological examination identified the larvae as Strongylus edentatus based on the morphology of the buccal capsule. Additionally, there was severe muscle necrosis of the tongue and liver tissue analysis detected selenium deficiency. S. edentatus infections are uncommon in California, USA, and are typically non-lethal. In this case, the selenium deficiency may have led to immunosuppression, resulting in the hyperinfection with S. edentatus, and to the muscle damage and tear of the diaphragm. Although ivermectin treatment was indicated in the history, inadequate deworming or anthelmintic resistance may have played a role in the severity of infection.