Parasite Research Articles

Time pattern and causes of lamb mortality on commercial sheep farms in Southern Germany operating conservation grazing and non-seasonal production systems – a field study

Benchmarking is becoming increasingly important in sheep farming and little published data has so far been available for German sheep flocks. This field study was conducted to gather detailed information on lamb mortality on 17 large commercial sheep farms operating non-seasonal production systems in Southern Germany thus providing benchmarking data for this management system for the first time. During a twelve-month-period detailed lambing and mortality records were kept and suspected causes of death were noted by the farmers. Farm management data were obtained by questionnaire and statistical analyses were performed to identify potential influences on lamb mortality. A total of 14,918 lambs were born at term during the study period (13,751 alive and 1,167 stillborn). Abortion events were also noted, but insufficient records were kept on the number of aborted fetuses – these figures therefore only refer to lambs born at term. The mean stillbirth rate was 7.7% (range: 2.7–16.3%, median 7.2%, SD 3.6) while the average mortality of live-born lambs was 13.4% (range: 0.8–40.1%, median 11%, SD 9.8), leading to average total lamb losses of 20.1% (range 6.5–44.9%, median 17.7%, SD: 10.1). Perinatal deaths (stillbirth and lambs that died on their first day of life) accounted for an average of 52% of these total lamb losses (range: 33−89%, median 46%, SD: 16). Stillbirth was the predominant cause of lamb loss accounting for an average of 45% of deaths (range: 15−84%, median: 37%, SD: 18). Other suspected causes of death included infectious diseases (13%), maternal factors (8%), weakness (7%), accidents/external circumstances (4%), Schmallenberg Virus−related malformations (2%), parasites (2%), nutritional causes (2%) and other individual (1%) or unknown causes (16%). For our study population, farmer education was identified as a statistically significant factor related to a lower stillbirth rate. Fixed lambing times as opposed to year-round lambing showed a tendency to be associated with increased lamb survival, as did vaccination of the ewes against clostridial diseases and pasteurellosis. Multiples showed significantly higher peri- and neonatal mortality, while mortality of single lambs was significantly higher later in the rearing period. No statistically significant differences in lamb mortality could be shown for indoor versus outdoor lambing or other management factors. This study generated benchmarking data for flocks used in conservation grazing and non-seasonal production. The analysis of lambing data also proved very helpful on each individual farm to develop tailor-made flock health programmes and to identify farm-specific problems, particularly on farms with high mortality rates.

Like Organism in Northeast China

Babesia are intraerythocytic parasites that are most commonly transmitted by ticks. Although more than 100 species of Babesia have been identified, few

The parasitism of Persian jird by immature stages of Hyalomma asiaticum (Acari: Ixodidae) and its identification using molecular approaches in Iran

In the present study, occurrence of Hyalomma asiaticum on wild rodents was explored. Rodents were trapped using Sherman traps. The tick specimens were collected by forceps from the rodents. Overall, one larva and 59 nymphs of immature ticks were collected on 23 Meriones persicus from three different locations in western Iran. A 408 bp length fragment of nuclear 5.8S /internal transcribed spacer 2 ( ITS2 ) genes was amplified in 60 examined tick specimens using PCR, of which one sample was sequenced, successfully. The BLAST results showed 99% similarity between a new haplotype from this study and two sequences of H. asiaticum from GenBank and. Therefore, we conclude that immature stages of H. asiaticum live on M. persicus and/ or their burrows. This finding helps us to better understand tick's ecology and control tick borne diseases.

A mixed colony of Tetramorium immigrans SANTSCHI, 1927 and the putative social parasite Tetramorium aspina sp.n. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Mixed ant colonies have long fascinated biologists since they are often examples of social parasitism. From the genus Tetramorium Mayr , 1855 two types of social parasitism are well known: dulosis and inquilinism. We present a nest record from Turkey comprising workers of T. immigrans Santschi , 1927, workers and a single gyne of a new species, and brood in commonly used nest chambers. We interpret the new species as a social parasite and describe it as T. aspina sp.n. Three characteristics indicate a morphological degeneration of the worker caste: workers of T. aspina have strongly reduced propodeal spines, larger intranest morphological variability than workers of the T. caespitum complex sensu Wagner & al. (2017: Myrmecological News 25: 95-129), and a larger proportion of these workers have an aberrant propodeum (“propodeal syndrome”) compared with workers of the T. caespitum complex. The discovery of T. aspina raises interesting questions concerning the characterization of its socially parasitic life history and its evolutionary origin. Open access, licensed under CC BY 4.0. © 2018 The Author(s) DOI: https://doi.org/10.25849/myrmecol.news_028:025 Zoobank LSID: http://zoobank.org:8080/References/0FFDEA17-75EA-419B-A732-3E17D4C316CA Pages: 25-33 Volume: 28 Year: 2018 Journal: Myrmecol. News

Monarchs that ‘drop out’ of the migration game pick up more parasites

Monarchs that ‘drop out’ of the migration game pick up more parasites

On Time Domain Analysis of Malaria Morbidity in Nigeria

That malaria contributes substantially to the poor health situation in Africa is an understatement. To help government in the continuous provision of necessary measures needful to curb increasing spread of the parasites, there is a need to build an appropriate time domain model which can be used to forecast the future rate of spread. As a result of this, ARIMA model was built for analyzing the secondary data collected on the incidence of malaria. It was discovered that the data was not stationary and stationarity was achieved through 2nd order differencing. The ACF and PACF of the differenced data suggested possible models for selection. AIC and MSE were used to select the models that really provided a best fit for the time series. From various ARIMA models generated, ARIMA model was found to best fit the malaria data. Ljung-Box test and Shapiro-Wilk test met all necessary conditions for independence and normality. The model was used for forecast and it was observed that there is going to be a steady increase in malaria prevalence.

Rare Case of Chronic Diarrhoea in an Immunocompetent Host

Chronic diarrhoea is one of the common presenting symptoms of patients attending gastroenterology clinics. Cyclosporacayetanensis is a protozoan parasite causing intestinal infections. Most of these infections are self-limiting in immunocompetent individuals. However prolonged course of infection is often observed in immunocompromised individuals and rarely in normal individuals. In our case report, 50-year-old patient from west Bengal, India presented with chronic small bowel type of diarrhoea with significant weight loss. Serology for HIV was negative. Endoscopic biopsy from duodenum showed villous atrophy and crypt hyperplasia mimicking sprue with presence of oval round structures within parasitophorous vacuoles located in the supra nuclear cytoplasm of enterocytes, consistent with cyclospora infestation. Same biopsy also showed CMV inclusion bodies in the background. He was managed with oral Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole for cyclospora and valganciclovir for CMV. Conclusion: Mixed infection of cyclospora and cytomegalovirus presenting as chronic diarrhoea was rarely reported in an immunocompetent individual. Duodenal biopsy may help in differentiating parasitic infections from tropical sprue by demonstrating various forms of pathogens in histology.

Correction: The Behavioral Response of Larval Amphibians (Ranidae) to Threats from Predators and Parasites.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049592.].

NGHIÊN CỨU ẢNH HƯỞNG NHÓM THẾ ĐẾN NĂNG LƯỢNG LIÊN KẾT NH VÀ ÁI LỰC PROTON CỦA DẪN XUẤT DIPHENYLAMIN BẰNG PHƯƠNG PHÁP PHIẾM HÀM MẬT ĐỘ B3P86

In this article, the N−H bond dissociation enthalpies (BDE) of a series of di-substituted diarylamines (YAr)2NH (Y = H, NH2, NO2, CF3, N(CH3)2, Cl, F, OCH3, CH3, CN) were determined using the DFT-based method of B3P86/6-311G with the deviation from the experimental data (about 0.2 kcal/mol). It was found that the effects of the substitu-ents on the BDE(N−H) change slightly for the meta substituted position, and a clear effect trend was found when the substituent was at the para position. The BDE(N−H)s decrease remarkably at the para site with strong electron donating groups (EDGs) like OCH3, NH2, N(CH3)2 with the amount of 4.3, 7.9 và 7.9 kcal/mol, respectively, and a good correlation was observed between the Hammett constants and the BDE(N−H) values. Electron withdrawing groups (EWGs) increase the BDE(N−H)s up to 4.5 kcal/mol. In addition, the insight into the effects of the substituents and the theoretical mechanism of antioxidant activity of these compounds were clarified via the potential energy surfaces (PES), proton affinity (PA), and bond length (C1−N).

Nanotechnology and Biological Application

Nanotechnology is a very modern technology, which is used by other technologies, which use nanomaterial in sizes ranging from 1-100 nm. Shown positive effects in broad areas of science such as medicine, engineering, agriculture and food. Nanoparticles have unique properties, which are incorporated into antimicrobial agents, electronic components, medical devices, pharmaceuticals and other fields. Also, the small size of nanoparticles improved their chemical properties. Nanotechnology technology plays an important role in increasing production and improving the quality of food produced by farmers. Many believe that this new technology will serve to secure the world's growing food needs. Nanotechnology has proven its place in agricultural sciences and related industries as a multidisciplinary and problem-solving technique. Nanotechnology is a promising method in the control of various plant diseases. The nanomaterial is have been used as biomarkers to detect pathogens, fungus, bacteria and parasites, as well as to benefit from nanotechnology in improving the properties and properties of many biocontrol agents such as fungal and bacterial preparations and their secondary insect pathogens As well as preparations used to combat various plant pathogens.

Therapeutic effect of phenyl vinyl sulfone and nitazoxanide on experimentally infected mice with cryptosporidiosis

Objective Evaluation of the therapeutic effect of phenyl vinyl sulfone (PVS) as cysteine protease inhibitors, nitazoxanide (NTZ), and combined therapy on Cryptosporidium parvum infection regarding the parasitological and histopathological parameters. Background Cryptosporidium spp. had been identified as the second most important diarrheal pathogen after rotavirus in young children. The immune status of the host plays a critical role. There is no reliable treatment for cryptosporidiosis, as the only approved drug NTZ provides no benefit for immunocompromised patients. Materials and methods A total of 180 female laboratory-bred Swiss albino mice were divided into two major divisions, immunocompetent and immunosuppressed, with the following groups for each one, respectively: negative control (I and VI), infected control (II and VII), infected treated with PVS (III and VIII), infected treated with NTZ (IV and IX), and infected treated combined (V and X). Stool examination for oocyst shedding was done at different days postinfection, and mice were killed at 18 and 30 days postinfection (groups A and B, respectively). Histopathological assessment of the ileum was done, and the endogenous developmental stages of the parasite were counted. Results Combined therapy in groups V and X resulted in the highest reduction in Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts shedding (P = 0.044 and Conclusion Combined therapy is more effective than either NTZ or PVS used alone. NTZ is still a better treatment option than PVS.

Diet and helminth parasites of freshwater turtles Mesoclemmys tuberculata , Phrynops geoffroanus (Pleurodira: Chelidae) and Kinosternon scorpioides (Criptodyra: Kinosternidae) in a semiarid region, Northeast of Brazil

In this study, the Kinosternon scorpioides , Mesoclemmys tuberculata and Phrynops geoffroanus freshwater turtles collected in the Carius River, State of Ceara, were analysed as to their diet composition and presence of helminths. Among the 63 examined turtles 55 (87.3%) were parasitized. We found three Nematoda species ( Physaloptera retusa , Serpinema monospiculatus and Spiroxys figueiredoi ) and one Trematoda species ( Gorgoderina sp.). Phrynops geoffroanus had the highest indexes of prevalence (97.56%) and mean intensity of infection (33.5), followed by M. tuberculata (70% and 12.64, respectively) and K. scorpioides (50% and three, respectively). Host body size was positively related to helminths abundance in both male and female Chelidae species. A significant difference in helminths abundance between the sexes was found only in P. geoffroanus , where females had more parasites than males. Regarding diet, the main food items ingested by M. tuberculata were Odonata nymphs (Aeshnidae and Libellulidae), whilst P. geoffroanus feeds mainly on Diptera larvae (Chironomidae), Odonata nymph (Aeshnidae) and Notonectidae, and only seeds were found in the stomach contents of K. scorpioides . Here, we present the first record of S. monospiculatus parasitizing K. scorpioides , Gorgoderina sp. and P. retusa were reported for the first time in P. geoffroanus , and M. tuberculata represents a new host to P. retusa and S. figueiredoi .

Meat quality analysis of Djallonke lambs co-infected with Teladorsagia circumcincta and Trichostrongylus colubrifromis (Trichostrongyloidae) and treated with two medicinal plants

Gastrointestinal nematode infection adversely affects small ruminant productivity all over the world, especially in tropical countries. A study was carried out to evaluate the extent to which concurrent infection with these nematodes may influence lamb meat quality, and how phytotherapy might improve these parameters. During the trial, 24 male Djallonke lambs (Age: 3 to 5 months) were experimentally infected with Teladorsagia circumcincta (4000 infective larvae) and Trichostromgylus colubriformis (10000 infective larvae) and treated from day 26 post infection with methanol extracts of Harungana madagascariensis and Momordica foetida twice daily. Lambs were divided into 8 groups: An untreated (Group 1), Albendazole 7.5 mg/kg (Group 2), H. madagascariensis extract at 125 mg/kg (Group 3), H. madagascariensis extract at 250 mg/kg (Group 4), H. madagascariensis at 500 mg/kg (Group 5), M. foetida extract at 125 mg/kg (Group 6), M. foetida 250 mg/kg (Group 7), and M. foetida at 500 mg/kg (Group 8). Meat quality attributes of lambs from different treatment groups were evaluated. Treatment with different doses of plant extracts led to differences in the level of parasitic load at necropsy. This effect was accompanied by an elevated pH24 in meat from the most severely infected lambs and a concomitant decrease in their chemical composition. This high pH24 equally had significant influence on meat flavour, overall acceptability and water retention of lamb meat. The present study suggested that nematode infection may influence pH of resulting carcass, nutritional composition and some sensory parameters of meat while treatment using M. foetida at 500 mg/kg maybe important in reducing parasite burden while enhancing quality of subsequent lamb carcass. Key words: Phytotherapy, meat quality, Teladorsagia circumcincta, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Harungana madagascareinsis, Momordica foetida, Djallonke lambs.

Calendar for the Prevalence of Honey Bee Diseases, with Studying the Role of Some Materials to Control Nosema

Nosema spp. (NS) causes severe problems to honey bee colonies including the death of the highly infected ones. Searching for effective materials to control this parasite is very important. The objectives of this study were to identify the calendar for the prevalence of NS and other bee diseases, and to test the efficacy of three materials: diluted honey mixed with lemon juice (M1), chamomile extract mixed with sugar syrup (M2) and sutrivet mixed with sugar syrup (M3) against Nosema. To realize these objectives, diseases of brood and adult honey bees were surveyed over one year. Also, the efficacy of M1, M2 and M3 against Nosema was evaluated under field and laboratory conditions. The results showed that few diseases for immature and mature stages of honey bees were recorded. NS was detected during winter and spring in link with low temperature and high relative humidity. Under field conditions, M2 reduced the infection by 36.66% while M3 by 23.33% and finally M1 by 13.33%. In the laboratory, the highest efficacy was to M2 followed by M1 and finally M3. The three materials impacted the percentage of survived bees significantly higher than infected bees without any treatments over the experimental period. The study suggests the potential role of chamomile as a natural material to control NS.

Helminths of the lizard Colobosauroides cearensis (Squamata, Gymnophthalmidae) in an area of Caatinga, Northeastern Brazil

Lizards are hosts to a variety of parasites, but in South America only 15% of lizard species have been studied for helminths. In the present study, the component community of helminths associated with the gymnophthalmid Colobosauroides cearensis in an area of Caatinga (7°22’46.08” S, 38°38’47.87”W) is reported. We examined 91 specimens from the Brazilian state of Ceara, and five taxa of helminths were recovered: four Nematoda ( Parapharyngodon largitor, Spauligodon sp., Physaloptera sp . and Oswaldocruzia sp.) and one Cestoda ( Oochoristica sp.). Parapharyngodon largitor was the most prevalent species (61%), and presented the highest mean abundance of infection (1.60 ± 0.18). Lizard body size influenced the richness and abundance of helminths, while infection parameters were not related to lizard sex.

Parasite fauna of Chub, Squalius turcicus De Filippi, 1865 (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from some rivers of the Southern Caspian Sea basin in Iran

This study was carried out to investigate the parasite fauna of Chub, S qualius turcicus De Filippi, 1865 from the Siah, Neka and Haraz rivers of the Southern Caspian Sea basin in Iran, during 2015. Individuals of S. turcicus were caught by nets during the spring to winter of 2015. Fish were transferred to specific laboratory alive and then were used for parasitological investigations. Total percentage of parasites infection of Chub in the Haraz, Siah and Neka rivers were 48.7, 71.8 and 57.4%, respectively. Different parasite species including monogenean ( Gyrodactylus mutabilitas, Dactylogyrus vistulae and Paradiplozoon ), protozoa ( Ichthyophthirius multifiliis and Trichodina sp.) and myxozoa ( Myxobolus muelleri ) were identified in the fish gill, intestine and skin. Significant differences were observed in the parasites’ prevalence among the rivers and seasons. Such differences may be due to impact of environmental conditions, especially water quality, on fish parasite fauna. This is the first report of M. muelleri in the intestine of S. turcicus in Iran.

Parasitismo intestinal en escolares de la Unidad Educativa del Milenio. Cantón Penipe, Ecuador

La población infantil tiene mayor probabilidad de ser afectada por enteroparasitosis, debido a la inmadurez inmunológica y que sus hábitos higiénicos aún se encuentran en desarrollo. Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo, con enfoque mixto; cuya población objeto de investigación estuvo constituida por 382 escolares de la Unidad Educativa del Milenium. Cantón Penipe, Ecuador, cuyas edades oscilaron entre 5 y 11 años. Se realizó un muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia, a partir del cual se seleccionaron 133 alumnos matriculados desde el primero a séptimo año de educación básica, durante el periodo octubre 2017 – febrero 2018, los cuales se habían realizado exámenes de heces fecales en los últimos seis meses, y cuyos tutores legales emitieron el consentimiento informado. Entre los individuos estudiados prevaleció el género femenino. La mayoría de los pacientes no presentaban parasitismo intestinal (53,38%). La incidencia parasitaria es más frecuente en niños con edades comprendidas entre los 8 y 10 años, para un 54,13%. Entre los informes con positividad, se observó un predominio del reporte de Entamoeba coli (48%) y Entamoeba histolytica con un 42%. La mayoría de los casos positivos mostraron poliparasitosis.

Pure Organic Persistent Room-Temperature Phosphorescence at both Crystalline and Amorphous States.

Persistent room-temperature phosphorescence (p-RTP) of pure organic materials is attracting increasing attention. The design of efficient phosphors and understanding the origin of p-RTP, however, remain challenging. Herein, to gain further insights into pure organic p-RTP, we prepared a group of carbazole (CZ) and methyl benzoate (MBA) conjugates with a methyl ester unit at the para (4-MBACZ), meta (3-MBACZ), and ortho (2-MBACZ) sites. These isomers merely produce prompt fluorescence in solutions, but generate blue prompt/delayed fluorescence (DF) and orange p-RTP with lifetimes up to 865.2 ms in the crystalline state. Lifetimes of p-RTP are in the order of 2-MBACZ>3-MBACZ>4-MBACZ, which might be mainly ascribed to the combined effect of packing density, intermolecular interactions and steric hindrance. Meanwhile, upon mechanical grinding, while the emission color and profile of the luminogens do not significantly change, no (4-MBACZ) or shortened (3-MBACZ, 2-MBACZ) p-RTP is observed, accompanying the change from crystalline to amorphous states. Such p-RTP at amorphous states without external hosts is rarely reported, which demonstrates important implications for the molecular design and mechanism understanding towards p-RTP. Furthermore, their p-RTP attribute and different emission colors before and after ceasing the UV irradiation endow them promising applications in encryption and anticounterfeiting fields.

Agarna malayi Tiwari 1952 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cymothoidae) Parasitising the Marine Fish, Tenualosa toli (Clupeidae) from India: Re-description/description of Parasite Life Cycle and Patterns of Occurrence.

Panakkool Thamban Aneesh, Kappalli Sudha, Ameri Kottarathil Helna, and Gopinathan Anilkumar (2018) This paper re-describes the female stage of Agarna malayi Tiwari 1952, a protandrically hermaphroditic parasitic cymothoid, and describes the remaining life cycle stages for the first time. The re-description (female phase) of A. malayi was made based on the type specimens deposited by Tiwari (1952) in the National Zoological Collections of the Zoological Survey of India (NZC-ZSI) and data obtained from several live specimens collected from Ayyikkara Fish Landing Centre (11°51'N, 75°22'E, of Malabar Coast, India) and Marina Beach (13.0500°N, 80.2824°E, Bay of Bengal, India). General morphology, mouthparts and appendages of the species' life cycle stages such as larvae, juveniles, male and transitional stages are also reported for the first time. We closely observed 80 marine fish species belonging to 35 different families to identify the potential host of A. malayi, and only recovered the parasite from one fish, Tenualosa toli, signifying A. malayi's oligoxenous host specificity; the prevalence and intensity of parasitisation is 17.3 and 1.86%, respectively. The present paper also discusses sequential life cycle stages of the species.

Sarcoptic mange – Case report

Among the parasitic dermatitis that affect domestic animals, Sarcoptes scabiei is a common occurrence in dogs, it is a highly transmissible zoonosis. Non-seasonal disease, does not have predilection for race, sexual predisposition or age. Parasite obligatory and completes its entire life cycle around 3 weeks, in the host. Transmission occurs mainly by direct contact with an infected animal, indirect infection through hairs or fomites has also been described. Pruritus is the main clinical sign. The diagnosis of this disease is based on anamnesis, relating to compatible lesions. After treatment, the improvement in the animal can be observed in up to two weeks. The individual responsible for the treatment of the animal should make use of protective equipment and the environment in which the animal remains should be adequately sanitized.