Parasite Infection Rates Research Articles

Study on Helminth Parasites in Tilapia nilotica from Lake Zeway, Ethiopia

A cross sectional study was conducted in Lake Zeway on helminth parasites in Tilapia nilotica to determine the infection rate of helminth parasites. Gillnets were set in the evenings and retrieved in the mornings and fish were randomly sampled in fish production and marketing industry that were brought from different angles of the lake. The mesentery and the gastrointestinal tract were carefully separated and examined. Out of 400 specimens, 277 were examined 277(69.25%) infected with Clinostomum species. Metacercariae were found in the mesentery, and gastrointestinal tract, the brachial cavity, between the pharyngeal teeth and ventral side of cranium, and muscle. Immature and adult cestodes of the genus Bothriocephalus were found in the lumen of intestines with the proportion of (43)10.75% and (6)1.5% respectively of the diagnosed samples of fish 49(12.25%). Comprehensive information on existing fish parasites in Ethiopia and their epidemiological aspects is scanty. However, to decrease the infestation rate and break the life cycle of the parasite, proper waste disposal system and sanitation measures must be implemented. Key w ords : Bothriocephalus, Clinostomum, Helminth Parasites, Lake Zeway and Tilapia nilotica.

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasite Infections among Children in the Day Care Centers of Gonbad-e Kavus County, North-Eastern Iran

Background: Intestinal parasite infection is one of the major health problems in the world especially in the developing countries. Objectives: This study was an attempt to examine the prevalence of intestinal parasite infection in the day care centers in Gonbad-e Kavus. Methods: In this cross sectional study, 932 children were recruited from 45 day care centers in Gonbad-e Kavus in Iran, through a survey and their stool samples were examined using direct wet mount, formalin-ether concentration and Trichrome staining techniques. Also, scotch tape slides were microscopically analyzed. Data were analyzed using percentage, frequency and Chi-square test using SPSS ver.16. Odds Ratio was used show the effect size of socio-demographic variables on the rate of intestinal parasite infection. Results: The prevalence of intestinal parasite infections among the children was 26.6%. This study found a significant relationship between the children age, parent education and the place of residency with the rate of intestinal parasite infection (P < 0.05). The children in rural areas were 1.55 times more likely than the children in urban areas to be infected with intestinal parasites (OR = 1.55). Moreover, the results of this study showed that an increase in parent’s education for one level decreased the risk of infection in their children by 6% (OR = 0.94). Also, with a rise in the age of participants for a year, the risk of infection increased by 44% (OR = 1.44). Conclusions: Due to the high rate of intestinal parasite infections among children, parents and child care workers need to learn about the various means by which parasites can be transmitted in day care centers.

Platyhelminthes Parasites of Fish of Economic Importance from Diamond Harbour, West Bengal

The present study deals with the comprehensive account of the Platyhelminthes parasites of fish of economic importance from Diamond Harbour coast of West Bengal. 38 species belonging to 28 genera under 17 families of trematode parasites and 5 species belonging to 4 genera of 3 families of Acanthocephalan parasites from fish hosts have also been reported. This study shows that the rate of platyhelminthes parasitic infection in the fish is less in winter than in comparison to other seasons.

Prevalence and Health Effects of Intestinal Parasitic Infection in School Children in Satun Province, Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: Intestinal parasitic infection is a major health problem in the southern region of Thailand. Despite an established annual deworming program, many school age children still suffer from parasitic infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and health effects of intestinal parasitic infection in school children in Satun Province, Thailand. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in children aged of 3 to 15 years during the period December 2014 to January 2015. Body mass index and hematocrit measurements were performed. Stool samples were collected for parasite detection by direct examination and concentration technique. Results: The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was 18.42%. B.hominis (29%), Giardia lamblia (13.3%), Trichuris trichiura (13.3%), and hookworm (13.3%) were the most commonly isolated parasites. School KY had the highest rate of intestinal parasitic infection, followed by schools RC, YT, and SD. Rate of soil-transmitted helminthic (STH) infection was highest at school RC, while the highest rate of protozoa infection was found at school KY. Only STH infection was significantly associated with anemia. No significant association was observed between weight status and parasitic infection. Conclusion: Intestinal parasitic infection continues to be a problem in school children in Satun Province, Thailand. STH infection was found to be significantly associated with anemia. The majority of parasite types detected at each school varied substantially, which may indicate distinctly different sanitation-related problems at each school. Therefore, improvement in personal sanitation and health education should be emphasized at every school in the area to prevent parasitic infection.

Gene expression stasis and plasticity following migration into a foreign environment.

Selection against migrants is key to maintaining genetic differences between populations linked by dispersal. However, migrants may mitigate fitness costs by proactively choosing among available habitats, or by phenotypic plasticity. We previously reported that a reciprocal transplant of lake and stream stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) found little support for divergent selection. Here, we revisit that experiment to test whether phenotypic plasticity in gene expression may have helped migrants adjust to unfamiliar habitats. We measured gene expression profiles in stickleback via TagSeq and tested whether migrants between lake and stream habitats exhibited a plastic response to their new environment that allowed them to converge on the expression profile of adapted natives. We report extensive gene expression differences between genetically divergent lake and stream stickleback, despite gene flow. But for many genes, expression was highly plastic. Fish transplanted into the adjoining habitat partially converged on the expression profile typical of natives from their new habitat. This suggests that expression plasticity may soften the impact of migration. Nonetheless, lake and stream fish differed in survival rates and parasite infection rates in our study, implying that expression plasticity is not fast or extensive enough to fully homogenize fish performance.

Concentration of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes in whole blood samples by magnetic cell sorting enhances parasite infection rates in mosquito feeding assays

BackgroundMosquito-feeding assays are important tools to guide the development and support the evaluation of transmission-blocking interventions. These functional bioassays measure the sporogonic development of gametocytes in blood-fed mosquitoes. Measuring the infectivity of low gametocyte densities has become increasingly important in malaria elimination scenarios. This will pose challenges to the sensitivity and throughput of existing mosquito-feeding assay protocols. Here, different gametocyte concentration methods of blood samples were explored to optimize conditions for detection of positive mosquito infections.MethodsMature gametocytes of Plasmodium falciparum were diluted into whole blood samples of malaria-naïve volunteers. Standard centrifugation, Percoll gradient, magnetic cell sorting (MACS) enrichment were compared using starting blood volumes larger than the control (direct) feed.ResultsMACS gametocyte enrichment resulted in the highest infection intensity with statistically significant increases in mean oocyst density in 2 of 3 experiments (p = 0.0003; p ≤ 0.0001; p = 0.2348). The Percoll gradient and standard centrifugation procedures resulted in variable infectivity. A significant increase in the proportion of infected mosquitoes and oocyst density was found when larger volumes of gametocyte-infected blood were used with the MACS procedure.ConclusionsThe current study demonstrates that concentration methods of P. falciparum gametocyte-infected whole blood samples can enhance transmission in mosquito-feeding assays. Gametocyte purification by MACS was the most efficient method, allowing the assessment of gametocyte infectivity in low-density gametocyte infections, as can be expected in natural or experimental conditions.

STUDY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARASITIC INFECTION AND KNOWLEDGE, HYGIENIC PRACTICAL MEASURES OF PARASITIC INFECTIOUS PREVENTION IN VINH THAI COMMUNITY

Introduction: Intestinal parasite infections werecommonintropical country such as Vietnam. Having good knowledge of parasitic infectious prevention and changing risk behaviors can decrease the infection rate. Objective: To evaluate the parasitic infectious rate in Vinh Thai community before and after being health education and the changing of knowledge of parasitic infectious prevention and risk behaviors. Materials and methods: 60 households in Vinh Thai commune were interviewed their knowledge of parasitic infectious prevention and examined intestinal parasite infection by Kato technique and then trained the knowledge of parasitic infectious prevention. The interview and examination parasite infectiousrate were carried out after 6 months to evaluating their knowledge. Result: Before health education, the rate of intestinal parasite infection was 17.4% with the prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, whipworm, pinworm, small fluke worm and co-infection with A. lumbricoides - whipworm, hookworm-whipworm were 0.1%; 8.0%; 5.8%; 0.6%; 0.3%; 1.2% and 3.0% respectively. Six months later the rate of intestinal parasite infection was decreased in 12.6% even though not statistical significantly. However, there were no case of small fluke worm and co-infection with hookworm-whipworm. Receiving health education, their knowledge of parasitic infectious prevention was higher significantly but their risk behaviors were not changed so much. Conclusion: Health education can change the rate of parasite infection with higher knowledge of parasitic infectious prevention but it was necessary continuous study to change the risk behaviors. Key words: intestinal parasite, health education

Survey and analysis of epidemic status of principal human parasitosis in ecological region of Huaiyang hills of Henan Province in 2015

To understand the epidemic status of principal human parasitosis in the ecological region of Huaiyang hills of Henan Province. According to the scheme of The 3rd National Survey of Principal Human Parasites made by National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, the survey was performed based on the ecological regions. The stratified cluster sampling was made combined with the economic and geographical conditions. The infections of intestinal helminths and protozoans in permanent residents were respectively detected by Kato-Kats technique and iodine solution. Trichuris trichiura infection was detected by the cellophane swab method in children aged 3 to 6 years. Totally 6 710 residents in 26 survey spots from 9 counties were detected, in which 528 children aged 3 to 6 years were detected for T. trichiura infection. Eleven kinds of parasites were found in this survey, including 5 species of helminthes and 6 species of protozoans. The infection rates of overall parasites, helminthes and protozoans were respectively 1.65%, 1.07% and 0.61%. The infection rate of T. trichiura in the children aged 3 to 6 years was 3.79%. Only 0.10 percent of the infections were co-infection, and all were infected by 2 kinds of parasites. The principal parasites in this district were Ascaris lumbricoides (0.31%), Blastocystis hominis (0.28%) and hookworm (0.27%). The T. trichiura infection rate among children was 3.79% by the cellophane swab method. The infections of protozoans were found in all age groups. In the group aged 9 years and below, the maximum kinds of parasites were found. The infection rates of principal human parasites in Huaiyang hilly ecological region of Henan have decreased sharply, but more efforts still should be paid on the prevention and control of parasitosis in children.

Infectious complications in indigenous renal transplant recipients in Western Australia.

Infectious complications remain a significant risk following renal transplantation. To examine the burden and pattern of infection following renal transplantation in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) compared to non-ATSI. A retrospective cohort study of 141 consecutive adult renal transplant recipients in Western Australia between 2005 and 2011 was conducted. We determined baseline serological status for relevant organisms, the number of patients with specific infections, infectious admission in the first year post-transplantation and the rate of infectious death during follow up. There were 57 ATSI and 84 non-ATSI renal transplant recipients. ATSI compared to non-ATSI had a high rate of cytomegalovirus (CMV) seropositivity (98.2% vs 73.2%, P < 0.001), HBcAb positivity (100% vs 13.3%, P < 0.001) and strongyloides seropositivity (ATSI 3/12 tested). In the first year post-transplant, ATSI compared to non-ASTI had a higher rate of pneumonia (17.9% vs 3.6% of patients, P = 0.006), and non-significant trend to higher rates of gastrointestinal parasitic infection (7.0% vs 1.2% of patients, P = 0.158), invasive fungal infection (10.5% vs 4.8% of patients, P = 0.316), and hospitalisation because of infection (10.0 vs 5.5 days, P = 0.071). Overall 5-year cumulative survival was lower for ATSI versus non-ATSI (0.64 vs 0.86, P = 0.022) with two-thirds of ATSI deaths attributed to infection. ATSI are at high risk of infectious complications after renal transplantation associated with a burden of hospitalisation and death. Augmented screening and prophylaxis for infectious diseases should be considered. Further study needs to identify contributing environmental and immunity factors.

Dogs' Gastrointestinal Parasites and their Association with Public Health in Iran.

IntroductionDogs harbour zoonotic parasites that cause serious infections in humans, such as visceral larva migrans, ocular larva migrans, cystic echinococcosis, and alveolar echinococcosis. Studies on dogs’ gastrointestinal parasites in different geographical locations are required to increase knowledge of the risk of canine zoonoses in human populations.Material and MethodsThe presence of parasites was examined in 450 faecal samples collected from eight zones of Zanjan province, northwest Iran from June to November 2015. The samples were examined using the sedimentation concentration method and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining.ResultsGastrointestinal parasites were found in 86 (19.1%) faecal samples. Sarcocystis spp. (7.3%), Taenia/Echinococcus spp. (5.6%), Toxocara spp. (1.8%), and Cystoisospora spp. (1.6%) were the most common parasites observed. The other detected parasites consisted of Dicrocoelium dendriticum (0.7%), Eimeria spp. (0.7%), Cryptosporidium spp. (0.4%), Physaloptera spp. (0.4%), Giardia spp. (1.3%), and Spirocerca lupi (1.3%). The lowest parasite infection rates belonged to Trichuris vulpis and Acanthocephalans (0.2% each).ConclusionThis study provides current information on the infection rates in dog populations in Zanjan Province. Furthermore, the study shows a high prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic infections, including zoonotic ones and particularly Taenia/Echinococcus spp., potentially transmissible to humans and thus relevant to public health.

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and associated risk factors among students at Dona Berber primary school, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

BackgroundIntestinal parasitic infections are still one of the major health concerns in developing countries. Monitoring of intestinal parasitic infection and associated risk factors are essential for intervention strategies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection and associated risk factors among students at Dona Berber primary school, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.MethodsSchool based cross-sectional study was conducted among students at Dona Berber primary school from October 2015 to June 2016. Three hundred fifty nine students were involved in the study by providing stool specimens and detailed personal information. Students were selected by stratified and systematic random sampling method. Fresh stool samples were collected from each student and processed by formal-ether fecal concentration technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 statistical software and p value <0.05 were used as statistically significant.ResultsAmong the 359 students participated in the study, 235 (65.5%) were infected by one or more intestinal parasites. The rates of single and double parasitic infections among students were 49.6% and 16.2%, respectively. The most prevalent parasite detected in the study was E. histolytica/dispar (24.5%) followed by hookworm (22.8%). Among the different variables assessed in the study, family size of 6 (AOR = 4.90; 95% CI, 2.03–11.83), irregularly shoe wearing habit (AOR = 2.85; 95% CI, 1.53–5.32) and unclean finger nail (AOR = 3.68; 95% CI, 1.87–7.26) were independently predict intestinal parasitic infections. Student drinking well water (AOR = 2.51; 95% CI, 2.30–4.86) and unclean finger nail (AOR = 4.42; 95% CI, 2.55–7.65) were strongly associated with E. histolytica/dispar infection. Likewise, irregular shoe wearing habit (AOR = 14.13; 95% CI, 7.06–28.29) was strongly associated with hookworm infections.ConclusionHigh prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among the study participants demands improvement of health education, environmental sanitation and quality of water sources.

PREVALENCE OF GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES INFECTING FISH (CLARIAS GARIEPINUS) IN QENA GOVERNORATE

Parasites of fish are of concern since they often produce a weakening of the host`s immune system thereby increasing their susceptibility to the secondary infections, resulting in the nutritive devaluation of fish ,compete for food, depriving fish of essential nutrients, inhibiting growth leading to morbidity and mortality and subsequent economic losses. Few data has been reported to identify major parasite of fish in Qena Governorate, Egypt. Accordingly,the study aimed to estimate the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite infecting fish. Afield study was conducted during the period from the beginning of January 2015 to the end of December 2016.A total of 144 Clarias gariepinus (Carmoot) fish samples were collected either alive from fishermen or fresh as possible from fish markets at Qena Governorate for parasitological studies. Parasite collected and prepared then identified under the microscope. Out of 144 examined fish 84 (58.3%) samples were infected with different gastrointestinal parasites. The obtained results found that the most frequent parasitic infection among examined fish was cstodes with an infection rate of (35.4%) ,followed by trematodes infection (27%), while the lowest infection rate, were recorded in nematodes infection(16.7%),Regarding to the seasonal prevalence of the recovered parasites, we concluded that the highest rate of parasite infection was observed during Spring season (83.3%), followed by Winter (66.7%), Summer recorded (50%) and Autumn season which represented the lowest rate of infection (33.3%). The most common species of cestodes were Monobothrium sp which recorded the highest infection rate (27.8%) and Polyonchobothrium clarias (5.6%), followed by trematode species Orientocreadium batrachoides (24.3%) and nematode species Paracamallanus cyathopharynx (10.4%) and Procamallanus laevionchus (5.6%).

Epidemiological study of Intestinal Parasitosis in rural area of Nepal.

Intestinal parasitosis is one of the major public health and socio-economic problems in Nepal. It is ranked among the top10 morbidities in Nepal. Fecal samples were collected from the patients attending to different hospitals and privatelaboratories throughout the Myagdi district. A total of 985 participants were included in the study. The age ranged from 1to 86 years. Commonly affected age group was of below 15 years. Male to female ratio was 1.3:1. The general prevalence of infection with different types of intestinal parasites was 14.7% (145). The fecal examination revealed different types of helminths (7.2%) and protozoan (7.5%). Giardia lamblia was the most common parasite (5.5%), followed by Entamoeba histolytica 2.0%, Ascaris lumbricoides 4.0%, Hookworm 1.8%, Trichuris trichiura 0.8%, Hymenolepis nana 0.4% and Taenia spp 0.2%. Multiple parasites were observed in 11 samples. Higher prevalence rates of parasitic infections were seen among children.

An experimental approach to the immuno-modulatory basis of host-parasite local adaptation in tapeworm-infected sticklebacks

The evolutionary arms race of hosts and parasites often results in adaptations, which may differ between populations. Investigation of such local adaptation becomes increasingly important to understand dynamics of host-parasite interactions and co-evolution. To this end we performed an infection experiment involving pairs of three-spined sticklebacks and their tapeworm parasite Schistocephalus solidus from three geographically separated origins (Germany, Spain and Iceland) in a fully-crossed design for sympatric and allopatric host/parasite combinations. We hypothesized that local adaptation of the hosts results in differences in parasite resistance with variation in parasite infection rates and leukocyte activation, whereas parasites from different origins might differ in virulence reflected in host exploitation rates (parasite indices) and S. solidus excretory-secretory products (SsESP) involved in immune manipulation.In our experimental infections, sticklebacks from Iceland were more resistant to S. solidus infection compared to Spanish and German sticklebacks. Higher resistance of Icelandic sticklebacks seemed to depend on adaptive immunity, whereas sticklebacks of German origin, which were more heavily afflicted by S. solidus, showed elevated activity of innate immune traits. German S. solidus were less successful in infecting and exploiting allopatric hosts compared to their Icelandic and Spanish conspecifics. Nevertheless, exclusively SsESP from German S. solidus triggered significant in vitro responses of leukocytes from naïve sticklebacks. Interestingly, parasite indices were almost identical across the sympatric combinations.Differences in host resistance and parasite virulence between the origins were most evident in allopatric combinations and were consistent within origin; i.e. Icelandic sticklebacks were more resistant and their S. solidus were more virulent in all allopatric combinations, whereas German sticklebacks were less resistant and their parasites less virulent. Despite such differences between origins, the degree of host exploitation was almost identical in the sympatric host-parasite combinations, suggesting that the local evolutionary arms race of hosts and parasites resulted in an optimal virulence, maximising parasite fitness while avoiding host overexploitation.

Interactions between gastrointestinal parasitism and pneumonia in Nigerian goats.

This study was carried out to determine the burden and interactions between parasitism and pneumonia in Nigerian goats. A total of 430 goats were examined for gastrointestinal (GIT) parasites by faecal analysis using sedimentation by gravity, Modified Winconsin sugar floatation method, McMaster egg counting techniques and for lung consolidation, pathology and morphometry of pneumonia were evaluated by standard techniques. The results from the faecal examination revealed the presence of nine (9) gastrointestinal parasites namely Eimeria, Trichuris, Oesophagostomum, Strongyloides, Moniezia, Haemonchus, Bunostomum, Trichostrongylus, and Nematodirus species and at an overall high prevalence of 74%. Eimeria species was found to have the highest prevalence of 26% for single infection, while co-infection of Eimeria and Trichuris species 21% was highest amongst other parasites, and of the breeds of goats examined for GIT parasites, the Red Sokoto (RS) breed had the highest infection rate 37%. The results from the lungs analysis showed 59% prevalence with the highest consolidation in RS (48.2%), followed by WAD (34.2%). The age of the goats was key in the infection rate of both parasites and pneumonia, which was seen to be highest in younger goats, with a significant (2.10±0.4×103) GI parasite burden in >1-2years group. The prevalence of GIT infection with lung consolidation in the goats, was observed to influence their Body condition scores (BCS) (p<0.05). This study showed that body condition score, age and breed of goats may be predisposing factors to gastrointestinal parasites and pneumonia in Nigerian goats. There was a strong correlation (+0.243, p=0.00) of occurrence of gastrointestinal parasitism and pneumonia in this study. Possibility of combined prophylactic measures should be considered in the nearest future.

Infection rates and prevalence of metazoan parasites of the non-native round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in the Baltic Sea

Studies in the Baltic Sea have identified over 30 parasite taxa infecting the invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1814). In this study, we aimed at comparing parasite assemblages and infection rates (prevalence and intensity) in different populations across the invasive range in the Baltic Sea (Denmark, Lithuania, Estonia and Finland). Infection rates were 56–60% across all locations except Lithuania (28%). However, the parasite assemblages in the sampled populations were dissimilar, each location having unique parasites. In addition, many of the parasites were generalists commonly infecting native fish species. Based on the results of this study and those previously conducted in the Baltic Sea, the round goby has not retained parasites from its area of origin, but instead has been successively colonized by native generalist parasites. Although variable, overall parasite richness is still quite low around the Baltic compared to the native areas (34 vs 71 taxa, respectively). Also, prevalence and mean infection intensities in the Baltic Sea are significantly lower than in the native areas. Therefore, the invasion success of the round goby in the Baltic Sea can at least partly be attributed to enemy release, in this case shedding a significant proportion of their native parasite load.

High rates of infection by blood parasites during the nestling phase in UK Columbids with notes on ecological associations.

Studies of blood parasite infection in nestling birds rarely find a high prevalence of infection. This is likely due to a combination of short nestling periods (limiting the age at which nestlings can be sampled) and long parasite prepatent periods before gametocytes can be detected in peripheral blood. Here we examine rates of blood parasite infection in nestlings from three Columbid species in the UK. We use this system to address two key hypotheses in the epidemiology of avian haemoparasites: first, that nestlings in open nests have a higher prevalence of infection; and second, that nestlings sampled at 14 days old have a higher apparent infection rate than those sampled at 7 days old. Open-nesting individuals had a 54% infection rate compared with 25% for box-nesters, probably due to an increased exposure of open-nesting species to dipteran vectors. Nestlings sampled at 14 days had a 68% infection rate compared with 32% in nestlings sampled at 7 days, suggesting that rates of infection in the nest are high. Further work should examine nestlings post-fledging to identify rates of successful parasite infection (as opposed to abortive development within a dead-end host) as well as impacts on host post-fledging survival and behaviour.

Effect of Mass Stool Examination and Mass Treatment For Decreasing Intestinal Helminth and Protozoan Infection Rates in Bolivian Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Bolivia is one of the countries with a high intestinal helminth and protozoan infection rate. Despite the high prevalence of the parasitic infection, nationwide preventive measures for Bolivian children have not yet been implemented. We evaluated the effect of mass stool examination and treatment as a strategy for decreasing the infection rate. This study was conducted between 2013 and 2015 in children aged 2–18 years. A total of 2,033 stool samples (575 in 2013, 815 in 2014 and 642 in 2015) were collected and examined using the formalin-ether medical sedimentation method. As an anthelminthic medicine, nitazoxanide was given to all infected children within 2 months post-examination, each year. The effect of mass stool examination and treatment was evaluated based on the changes in the overall or individual parasitic infection rates during the study period. The overall parasitic infection rate decreased significantly from 65.2% in 2013 to 43.0% in 2015; a 22.2 percentage point decrease (P<0.001). Protozoan infection accounted for a large portion of the parasitic infections, in the following rates: 62.4% in 2013, 49.3% in 2014, and 41.0% in 2015. The rate of the most common helminth infection, Hymenolepis nana, decreased significantly from 9.0% in 2013 to 6.4% in 2014 to 3.4% in 2015 (P<0.001). Prevalence of the most common pathogenic protozoan infection, Entamoeba histolytica, decreased significantly from 19.0% in 2013 to 3.0% in 2015 (P<0.001). Conversely, the rate of Giardia intestinalis increased significantly from 16.5% in 2013 to 21.2% in 2015 (P<0.01). Mass stool examination and treatment for intestinal helminth and protozoan infections was effective for decreasing the overall parasitic infection rate in the study population, excluding Giardia intestinalis. Further studies on the long-term effect of mass stool examination and treatment for decreasing all intestinal parasitic infection rates in Bolivian children are needed.

Prevalence of Zoonotic and Other Intestinal Protozoan Parasites in Stray Cats (Felis domesticus) of Kerman, South-East of Iran

Intestinal protozoan parasites constitute a major source of diseases for stray cats and have been recognized as important public health problems in several parts of the world. Considering the potential risk of stray cats for public health, present cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the type and frequency of protozoan parasites by faecal examination. A total of 100 stray cats were examined in Kerman city, Iran, Overall 67 cats ( 67 %) were infected with at least one protozoan parasite. The following parasites, with their respective prevalence, were found; Isospora felis 38%, Isospora rivolta 25% , Toxoplasma gondii 16%, Sarcocystis spp. 8%, Cryptosporidium spp. 7%, and Giardia sp. 5%. Based on our data, the sex of stray cats was not significantly associated with the prevalence of gastrointestinal protozoan parasites. The high infection rate of zoonotic intestinal protozoan parasites in stray cats is considered to be critical from the viewpoint of public health importance.

Prevalence and intensity of parasitic infection in domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchas) in Gilan Province, Northern Iran

This study was carried out to assess the levels of parasitic infection in domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchas) in Gilan Province, Northern Iran. During the summer of 2015, samples were collected randomly from local markets at different villages in Gilan Province. Blood samples were collected in EDTA-treated tubes, blood smear slides created, stained with giemsa and examined for the presence of blood protozoa. Ectoparasites samples were collected and identified according to Wall and Shearer (2001). To assess endoparasitic infection, the ducks’ gastrointestinal tracts were removed and the various parts identified and opened. Parasites were collected, fixed in methanol, cleared with lactophenol and stained with borax carmine. Collected parasites were identified according to the descriptions given by Soulsby (1982) and Yamaguti (1958a, b). 56.6 % of ducks were infected with protozoan parasites, with the most prevalent of which being Tricomonas gallinae (prevalence 23.3 %, intensity 18 ± 2.5) followed by Cryptosporidium bailey (prevalence 16.6 %, intensity 15.44 ± 16.5) and Eimeria oocyst (prevalence 16.6 %, intensity 17.56 ± 12.5). Also found on the feathers and body surface were two species of lice (Menocanthus stranineus and Liperus squalidus), one species of tick (Argas persicus) and one of flea (Ctenocephalides canis). Prevalence and intensity of the parasite infestation varied from species to species: M . stranineus (prevalence 100 %, intensity 43.33 ± 17.5), L. squalidus (prevalence 100 %, intensity 39.20 ± 12.42), A. persicus (prevalence 75 %, intensity 35.24 ± 12.7) and C. canis (prevalence 60 %, intensity 30.16 ± 15.5). Helminthes parasite infection rate was 50 % in collected samples which consisted of Railletina tetragona (prevalence 26.6 %, intensity 19.34 ± 16.5), Heterakis gallinarum (prevalence 13.33 %, intensity 14.65 ± 12.5) and Capillaria (prevalence 10 %, intensity 12.56 ± 16.5). This study shows the prevalence of parasitic infection in domesticated ducks in Gilan Province, Iran. Findings indicate that applying protocols of management and applying preventative methods and treatment of infected cases are necessary to restrict parasitic infections in domestic ducks and other birds in this region.