Parasite Larvae Research Articles

3062 Strongyloides stercoralis: A Rare Etiology of Infectious Colitis

INTRODUCTION: Strongyloides colitis is a rare parasitic infection caused by the nematode (roundworm) Strongyloides Sterocalis. This infection is endemic to tropical and subtropical regions with poor sanitation, but it is also prevalent in rural regions of the United States. Here, we present a rare case of strongyloides colitis in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus. CASE DESCRIPTION/METHODS: The patient is a 40-year-old male with no significant past medical history who presented to the emergency department (ED) with progressive diffuse abdominal pain. The pain previously occurred with meals, but then became constant. Notable laboratory workup included a hemoglobin of 8.7 gm/dL and increased eosinophil count of 0.86 103/uL (ref range 0.04-0.54). The patient also tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen showed a thickened colon from the level of the splenic flexure to the rectum indicating colitis as a possible diagnosis. Colonoscopy was then performed and showed diffuse severely ulcerated mucosa that oozed. In addition, there were prominent edematous folds with superimposed inflamed mucosa without the presence of discernible mass lesions. Intravenous antibiotics were started and there was symptomatic improvement leading to the patient's discharge. Three days post-discharge, the colonic biopsies returned showing parasitic larvae in the lamina propria of the colonic mucosa suggestive of Strongyloides species. The patient was contacted and stated he would return for follow-up to his doctor for treatment. DISCUSSION: Strongyloides colitis is an easily treated infection, however if untreated can have a high mortality rate. This is especially true for immunocompromised patients and those given immunosuppressive agents, such as those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Considering this infection can present clinically and morphologically similar to IBD, it is important to differentiate the two before steroids and other immunosuppressive agents are administered. The feared complication of this infection is dissemination via autoinfection. Autoinfection is characterized by penetration of the intestinal mucosa by the larvae where they can then travel to the lungs causing pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The larvae can also travel to various other organs causing multi-organ failure and death. This, however, can be avoided with proper diagnosis and successful treatment with Ivermectin or Albendazole.

1823 Esophagitis in Immunocompromised Patient From Strongyloides Reactivation

INTRODUCTION: Strongyloides Stercoralis infection affects as many as 30 million people in 70 countries worldwide. It also can undergo cycles of autoinfection leading to chronic disease. This infection is usually asymptomatic and may remain undetected for decades. However, in patients who are immunocompromised, such as patient’s undergoing chemotherapy, receiving long-term corticosteroids, transplant patient, or patient with HIV; severe infection can occur and result in mortality rates as high as 87%. Strongyloidiasis is difficult to diagnose as the parasite load is low and the larval output is irregular. CASE DESCRIPTION/METHODS: 79-year-old Chinese migrant man with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma who was recently started on Erlotinib, presented with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, generalized weakness, and epigastric pain. He had White Blood Cell count of 7.6 with 6.6% Eosinophils. X-ray and Computed Tomography imaging did not show any changes from prior studies. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed afterwards which showed esophagitis, gastritis, duodenal ulcer and duodenitis. Subsequently, biopsies of the duodenal and esophageal mucosa revealed parasitic larvae consistent with Strongyloides Stercoralis (Figure 1). The patient was started on Ivermectin and had resolution of his symptoms on follow up. Erlotinib was resumed after discharge. DISCUSSION: Although differential diagnosis for esophagitis in immunocompromised patients is broad, our patient was interestingly diagnosed with Strongyloides induced esophagitis via biopsy. The larvae of Strongyloides have potential ability to invade and survive for extended periods in human tissue. They have obligatory tissue phase in which the larvae follows from the portal of entry and eventually to trachea and lung. Depressed cell-mediated immunity secondary to malignant tumor, combined with protein-calorie malnutrition, led to lack of granulomatous immune response to larvae in our patient. Several immunodiagnostic assays have been found ineffective in detecting disseminated infection. Although it is important to detect latent S. Stercoralis infections before administering chemotherapy or before the onset of immunosuppression in patients at risk, a specific and sensitive diagnostic test is lacking. When acute esophagitis does present, it may be severe and disabling, and could result in hospitalization, placement of a feeding tube in the stomach or parenteral nutrition, and steady supportive care. Biopsy, cytology, and culture are recommended for suspected cases.

Efficacy of Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Reducing Diatraea tabernella (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) Injury in Sugar Cane

Sugar cane stem borers, Diatraea spp. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), are the most important pests affecting sugar cane in Colombia. To date, the use of egg parasitoids such as Trichogramma exiguum Pinto & Platner (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), and larval parasitoids such as Billaea claripalpis Wulp and Lydella minense Townsend (Diptera: Tachinidae) have been the principal biological control approaches for pest management. However, a pest outbreak of Diatraea tabernella Dyar in the northern Cauca River Valley demonstrated that conventional control measures are insufficient, and that new pest control methods must be sought. Field evaluations were made using 2 sources of Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): a commercial colony maintained in the laboratory, and a colony recovered from previous field releases (field-refreshed). Three releases of the parasitoid were made, each release consisting of 4 g of C. flavipes cocoons (about 4,000 wasps) per ha. The results from both sources of C. flavipes were compared with check plots where no releases were made. Larvae of D. tabernella were collected 2 different times (45 d and 75 d after the first release) and observed in laboratory. The proportion of larval parasitism ranged between 0.32 and 0.55, with no significant differences between sources of C. flavipes. Parasitism differed significantly from the check plots, where the proportion of larval parasitism was less than 0.1. Our results indicate that wasps from the check plots experienced an increase in the number of cocoons and wasps per parasitized larva between the first and the second larval collection. The high levels of parasitism in fields where C. flavipes was released resulted in a reduction of up to 65% in the percentage of bored internodes, demonstrating the potential of this natural enemy to effectively control D. tabernella. Changes in the number of progeny per parasitized larvae (cocoons and wasps) in the check plots can be explained as the increase of parasitoids in an area under the influence of nearby releases, and the subsequent effects of multiple parasitism. In addition, comparisons between the 2 parasitoid sources indicate higher biological efficiency in the field-refreshed plots expressed in an increase in adult longevity between the first and second collection times.

Geohelminth contamination of raw vegetables as sold in some selected markets in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria

Vegetables are a very essential part of the human diet providing dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals. A study was carried out to determine the geohelminth contamination of raw vegetables sold in some selected markets within the Kaduna Metropolis. A total of three hundred (300) vegetable samples were bought across the markets and the presence of geohelminth parasites in the vegetables were determined using floatation, sedimentation and microscopy methods. The results revealed out of the five different vegetables examined, lettuce (Lactuva sativa) had 80% contamination and 9(47.4%) multi parasitic eggs or larva. Barkin Ruwa Market sourced vegetable were contaminated with 7(28.0%) multi parasitic eggs or larva, while Mando Market samples vegetables had 2(8.0%) multi parasitic eggs or larva. The eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, Strongyloids and Trichuris trichiura were detected in the vegetables. The most prevalent eggs were A. lumbricoides eggs and Trichuris trichiura had the least. The study revealed that raw vegetables as sold in markets could be potential sources of transmission for intestinal parasites in this study and consumers of raw vegetables could be at risk of infection. There is a need to thoroughly wash raw vegetables bought from the markets to prevent incidence of parasitic zoonoses. Keywords: Vegetables; parasites; eggs; contamination.

Frequency of Toxocara canis antibodies in Mexican paediatric patients with epilepsy.

The relationship between epilepsy and the presence of visceral larva migrans caused by Toxocara canis in Mexican children remains uncertain; however, this relationship needs to be elucidated because these parasite larvae can invade the human central nervous system. Accordingly, this study aimed to determine the frequency and specificity of anti-T. canis antibodies in the sera of children with epilepsy to determine the relationship between this parasite and epilepsy. The sera samples of 214 children were examined: 111 children diagnosed with epilepsy and 103 clinically healthy children without neurological disorders. In the sera of each group, the presence and specificity of anti-T. canis and anti-Ascaris lumbricoides antibodies, as well as the cross-reactivity between them, were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting analysis. Among the children with epilepsy, 25.2% exhibited seropositivity to T. canis. Cross-reactivity against the A. lumbricoides antigen was present in 46.8% of the children with epilepsy, whereas 11.7% of the children with epilepsy and anti-T. canis antibodies did not exhibit cross-reactivity against this antigen. The Western blotting analysis of the sera from the children with epilepsy demonstrated the presence of T. canis proteins, with molecular weights of 24, 35, 55, 70, 120 and 210 kDa, and A lumbricoides proteins with molecular weights of 70, 80 and 110 kDa. Our results revealed the presence of anti-T. canis antibodies in the children with epilepsy; furthermore, cross-reactivity tests with A. lumbricoides showed the importance of the presence of anti-T. canis antibodies in revealing the relationship between this parasite and epilepsy in children.

Development of Conventional Multiplex PCR: A Rapid Technique for Simultaneous Detection of Soil-Transmitted Helminths.

Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are the most common intestinal parasites infecting humans worldwide. STH infections are a major cause of morbidity and disability. Accurate diagnostic tools are pivotal for assessing the exact prevalence of parasitic infections. Microscopic examination and culture techniques have been used to observe the presence of eggs or larvae of parasites in stool samples, but they are time-consuming and have low sensitivity. Therefore, accurate, simple, and inexpensive diagnostic techniques are still required for simultaneous detection of STH infections. Although molecular-based techniques, such as real-time PCR and multiplex real-time PCR, have been developed, they are not suitable for routine diagnosis due to the requirement for expensive reagents and instruments. In this study, we established a conventional multiplex PCR for simultaneous rapid detection of Ascaris lumbricoides, Necator americanus, and Strongyloides stercoralis in stool samples. Our results show that the multiplex PCR could detect the DNA of STHs at a very low target gene concentrations (lower than 1 pg) with no cross-amplification. Multiplex PCR had five times higher sensitivity than the formalin–ethyl acetate concentration technique (FECT) in the detection of multiple infections, and two times higher for detection of S. stercoralis. However, multiplex PCR was comparable to FECT in the detection of A. lumbricoides and N. americanus. In conclusion, this method could be used as an alternative method for the detection of STHs, especially for S. stercoralis.

Brachylaima lignieuhadrae n. sp. (Trematoda: Brachylaimidae) from land snails of the genus Euhadra in Japan

Land snails of the genus Euhadra (Gastropoda: Bradybaenidae) are indigenous to the Japanese Archipelago. The larvae of an unknown species, tentatively named as Brachylaima sp. B (Trematoda: Brachylaimidae), have been found from Euhadra brandtii sapporo in Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. In this study, a large-scale snail survey covering a wide area of Japan was conducted to confirm the larval parasite from members of Euhadra and related genera. Sporocysts with cercariae were found only from Eu. brandtii sapporo in Hokkaido and Euhadra callizona in central Honshu at low prevalence (1.0–9.6%). The metacercariae were detected widely from 6 species of Euhadra and the related genera at high prevalence (7.1–100%). A molecular identification by DNA barcoding demonstrated almost all of the larvae to be Brachylaima sp. B. Adult worms experimentally raised from the metacercariae were morphologically most similar to Brachylaima ezohelicis in Hokkaido, but could be differentiated by the microstructure of the tegumental surface. We propose Brachylaima lignieuhadrae n. sp. for the unknown species, based on the morphology, DNA profile, host specificity, and geographic distribution. Phylogeography of the new species suggests a possibility that migratory birds serve as the definitive hosts.

Potential use of beaver Castor fiber L., 1758 dams by the thick-shelled river mussel Unio crassus Philipsson, 1788

ABSTRACTThe objective of this paper is to draw attention to a previously unrecognised habitat for Unio crassus Philipsson, 1788 (Bivalvia: Unionidae), namely beaver dam-and-pond complexes. The construction of beaver ponds will allow the colonisation of high energy streams by providing flow refuges during periods of high near-bed shear stress. The absence of freshwater mussels (Unionidae) in mountain streams may result from steep slopes, shear stress during floods, lack of food suspended in the water column (seston), and unfavourable conditions for the settlement and growth of juvenile mussels. Transportation of parasitic larvae on host fish is the main dispersal mechanism for the mussels. A possible constraint on the colonisation of beaver complexes by freshwater mussels is that beaver dams may hinder the upstream movement of their minnow hosts. In the surveyed beaver ponds, the first specimens of U. crassus were found in 2008. Single mussels were also found in subsequent years. It is uncertain whether the occurrence of U. crassus depends on the periodic support of the population from the main river, but the presence of beaver ponds is certain to have given it the opportunity of colonising new areas.

Crystal structure and chemical inhibition of essential schistosome host-interactive virulence factor carbonic anhydrase SmCA

The intravascular parasitic worm Schistosoma mansoni is a causative agent of schistosomiasis, a disease of great global public health significance. Here we identify an α-carbonic anhydrase (SmCA) that is expressed at the schistosome surface as determined by activity assays and immunofluorescence/immunogold localization. Suppressing SmCA expression by RNAi significantly impairs the ability of larval parasites to infect mice, validating SmCA as a rational drug target. Purified, recombinant SmCA possesses extremely rapid CO2 hydration kinetics (kcat: 1.2 × 106 s-1; kcat/Km: 1.3 × 108 M-1s-1). The enzyme’s crystal structure was determined at 1.75 Å resolution and a collection of sulfonamides and anions were tested for their ability to impede rSmCA action. Several compounds (phenylarsonic acid, phenylbaronic acid, sulfamide) exhibited favorable Kis for SmCA versus two human isoforms. Such selective rSmCA inhibitors could form the basis of urgently needed new drugs that block essential schistosome metabolism, blunt parasite virulence and debilitate these important global pathogens.

Evaluation of Trombidioid (Acari: Parasitengona) Larval Exuviae And Its Importance In Diagnosis

Konak üzerinde parazit olan trombidioid larvası, yeteri kadar beslendikten sonra konaktan ayrılır ve protonimf (hareketsiz) safhasına, sonrasında larva derisini atarak deutonimf safhasına geçer. Bu çalışmada, konak üzerinden toplanan parazit larvalar ile konak üzerindeki diğer larvalardan elde edilen deutonimflerin aynı tür olduğu tespit edildi. Bu tespit, larvalar ile deutonimfe geçerken atılan larva derilerinin (exuviae) karşılaştırılmasıyla sağlandı. Bu yöntemle, bir otbiçen (Opilionida) ve iki sinek (Diptera) türü (Rhagio sp., Musca domestica) üzerinden toplanan parazit akarlardan, Allothrombium sp., Trichotrombidium muscarum (Riley, 1878) ve Trombidium holosericeum (Linnaeus, 1758) olmak üzere üç akar türü teşhis edildi. Aynı zamanda daha önceki çalışmalarda gözlenen ancak bugüne kadar üzerinde durulmayan larva derilerinin, larvalar ile aynı karakteristik özellikleri gösterdiği ve morfolojik teşhiste kullanılabileceği belirlendi

Single or multiple spawning? Comparison of breeding strategies of freshwater Unionidae mussels under stochastic environmental conditions

The life cycle of unionids is characterized by a obligatory period of larval parasitism on a fish host, any disturbance of which might cause a large-scale decline in the mussel population. Because the probability of fish infestation is so important, we modelled what would happen to a population (in terms of population growth and probability of extinction), if the same number of glochidia were released in one or more separate spawning events, by a hypothetical mussel population living in conditions differing in the probability of fish infestation (a “neutral” scenario, a “good” one and three variants of a “bad” one). The single brood strategy was the best in the “good” scenario. However, when the frequency of unfavourable stochastic events increased (“bad” scenarios), all strategies led to population decline, the single brood strategy being the worst. In “good” and moderately “bad” conditions the double brood strategy performed better than the other multiple brood strategies, but as infestation conditions deteriorated, a greater number of spawning events ensured a slower population decline and longer persistence. Our model can facilitate a better understanding of this problem and set up a framework for further tests in other unionid species and their environmental conditions.

CYSTICERCOSIS OF BREAST: A RARE PRESENTATION

Cysticercosis is a parasitic infection caused by Cysticercus cellulosae, the larval stage of Taenia Solium. It is present world-wide, but more prevalent in developing regions like South America, Africa, South-East Asia and Eastern Europe due to poor environmental sanitation. The common sites are skeletal muscle, subcutaneous tissue, brain and eye. Breast is an uncommon site and diagnosis is usually incidental. Only a few cases have been reported, so far. Several diagnostic tools such as radiologic imaging, serology and immunologic detection are being used but the gold standard remains the demonstration of the parasitic larva by FNAC or histopathology.
 Here , we report an unusual case of cysticercosis in breast that was diagnosed o by Fine needle aspiration cytology.
 KEY WORDS: Cysticercosis, FNAC, Breast

Occurrence of Hymenoptera on pig carcasses in a tropical rainforest in Central Amazonia, Brazil

Hymenotpera species may act as necrophagous, consuming decomposing tissues, as predators, when they feed on other immature and adult insects, and parasites of larvae and pupae of dipterans and coleopterans that colonize the carcasses. In this way, the fauna of four Hymenoptera families (Vespidae, Apidae, Icheneumonidae and Formicidae) associated to different decomposition stages of Sus scrofa carcass partially submerged in igarapé of the “terra-firme” Amazonian forest are presented. Formicidae were the most abundant insects with 957 individuals collected all directly in the carcass, followed by Vespidae (143), Apidae (88) and Ichneumonidae with nine individuals collected in the suspended trap. Due to the aspect of the injuries caused by some Hymenoptera to the carcass, they may be mistaken as skin ulcers, burns or abrasions, which may mislead a forensic investigation.

Variable performance of metamorphosis success indicators in an in vitro culture of freshwater mussel glochidia

The in vitro cultivation of parasitic larvae (glochidia) is becoming an important constituent of culture methods of freshwater mussels (order Unionida) worldwide. Despite rapid methodological progress, published methods for the vast majority of freshwater mussel species do not exist. In the present study, we tested the performance of current approaches to evaluate in vitro culture success quantification. A full factorial design was used to culture Anodonta anatina glochidia in vitro in separate media (M199 and DMEM), antibiotic concentrations and postincubation treatments (dilution methods). The glochidia metamorphosis success (the proportion of successfully transformed glochidia) in each treatment was quantified at two different time points, and the postlarval growth (8 days) of the juveniles was also estimated. The results showed a significant effect of medium type on metamorphosis success at the first time point (day 13) (M199 = 60.98 ± 20.20%, DMEM = 36.10 ± 23.61%; generalized mixed effect models, GLMMs, p < .001) but not at the second (day 21). Similarly, the dilution approach showed a significant variation in metamorphosis success only at the first quantification time point (water and medium = 33.97 ± 24.16%, water only = 63.11 ± 16.03%; GLMM p < .001). In contrast, the postlarval growth quantification showed an increased growth increment in the juveniles in the M199 medium (M199: 65.90 ± 24.20 μm, DMEM = 52.90 ± 19.84 μm; linear mixed effect model p < .001). The study shows that with current methods, the metamorphosis success assessment of in vitro culture protocols can be influenced by the effects of assessment time and dilution approach, two aspects that are not well standardized in the current methodology. Greater emphasis should be placed on the optimization of indicators with direct links to the final criteria, such as postlarval growth or physiology-based parameters. The optimization of metamorphosis success and viability indicators can be an important step towards the increased efficacy of current juvenile production by in vitro techniques and the development of new protocols.

Helminthiasis among School-Age Children and Hygiene Conditions of Selected Schools in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

The burden of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) infections in Nigeria is enormous with serious public health significance. This study, therefore, assessed helminthiasis among school-age children and the hygiene conditions of schools in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria between December 2015 and April 2016 from four randomly selected primary schools. Stool samples were collected from 200 primary school pupils including 80 males (40%) and 120 females (60%) between five and 16 years, using clean sample bottles and a standard parasitology examination technique at the central laboratory at the Federal University, Lafia. An overall prevalence of 33.5% (67/200) helminths infections was recorded. A checklist of Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, Trichuris trichiura, and Strongyloides stercoralis was generated from the pooled data of the four studied schools in which A. lumbricoides occurred highest with 13% (26/200) while S. stercoralis was the least prevalent at 2.50% (5/200). Among the schools sampled, St. James Pilot Science Primary School’s children were the most infected at 44% (22/50). Multiple infections were observed in three of the four schools sampled. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in prevalence rates of different STHs infections in relation to age group and gender across schools. Our findings showed that the hygiene conditions in the studied schools were poor without water, hand washing materials, refuse bins, as well as poor sanitary conditions. This study also identified ova and larvae of STHs parasites in the analyzed soil samples from the studied schools. Most school-age children had knowledge about contamination but few among them washed their hands with water and soap. The obtained result indicated a negative association between the prevalence of STHs and the proportion of pupils that cleaned up with water after defection. We, therefore, advise that hygiene conditions in schools be improved and that the government should prioritize enrolling all primary schools in Nasarawa state for the school health program so as to reduce the burden of STHs among school-age children in the state.

An unexpected host for the endangered giant freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera auricularia (Spengler, 1793) as a conservation tool

Abstract The giant freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera auricularia (GFPM) is one of the most endangered bivalve species in the world. Originally occurring in many European rivers, the GFPM is a relict now restricted to a few ageing populations in France and Spain in which natural reproduction is almost absent. Like most unionoid mussels, the GFPM needs host fish for the development of their parasitic larvae (glochidia). The European sturgeon (Acipenser sturio), the only known native host fish of the GFPM in France, is essentially extinct. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify other hosts that could be responsible for the few cases of recent recruitment. Natural infestation of wild fishes in three French rivers was assessed to identify potential hosts of M. auricularia, while artificial infestation experiments were conducted on the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) and the wels catfish (Silurus glanis) to determine their compatibility as hosts. Among the 29 fish species assessed for natural infestation, only the three‐spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) and the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) carried M. auricularia glochidia. In the artificial infestation experiments, living juvenile mussels were collected from both P. marinus and S. glanis. The number of juveniles collected from a single P. marinus specimen (13,827) suggests that this species is a highly efficient host. As with previously known hosts, newly identified ones also appear to have a relationship with marine environments. The present findings suggest that P. marinus has played a key role in preventing the total extinction of M. auricularia in France, and indicate the potential use of P. marinus in conservation strategies aimed at reintroducing or stabilizing populations of this rare mollusc.

Efficacy of Origanum syriacum Essential Oil against the Mosquito Vector Culex quinquefasciatus and the Gastrointestinal Parasite Anisakis simplex, with Insights on Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition.

Developing effective and eco-friendly antiparasitic drugs and insecticides is an issue of high importance nowadays. In this study, we evaluated the anthelminthic and insecticidal potential of the leaf essential oil obtained from Origanum syriacum against the L3 larvae of the parasitic nematode Anisakis simplex and larvae and adults of the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus. Tests on A. simplex were performed by standard larvicidal and penetration assays, while mosquito toxicity was assessed relying on larvicidal, tarsal contact, and fumigation tests. To shed light on the possible mode of action, we analyzed the oil impact as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor. This oil was particularly active on L3 larvae of A. simplex, showing a LC50 of 0.087 and 0.067 mg mL−1 after 24 and 48 h treatment, respectively. O. syriacum essential oil was highly effective on both larvae and adults of C. quinquefasciatus, showing LC50 values of 32.4 mg L−1 and 28.1 µg cm−2, respectively. Its main constituent, carvacrol, achieved larvicidal LC50(90) of 29.5 and 39.2 mg L−1, while contact toxicity assays on adults had an LC50(90) of 25.5 and 35.8 µg cm−2, respectively. In fumigation assays, the LC50 was 12.1 µL L−1 after 1 h and decreased to 1.3 µL L−1 in 24 h of exposure. Similarly, the fumigation LC50 of carvacrol was 8.2 µL L−1 after 1 h of exposure, strongly decreasing to 0.8 µL L−1 after 24 h of exposure. These results support the folk usage of Lebanese oregano as an antiparasitic agent, providing new insights about its utilization for developing new effective and eco-friendly nematocidal and insecticidal products.

Association and predatory capacity of fungi Pochonia chlamydosporia and Arthrobotrys cladodes in the biological control of parasitic helminths of bovines.

Nematophagous fungi are used in the biological control of the parasitic helminths of animals and plants. The association of ovicidal and predator nematophagous fungi may present a complementary and increased action on the biological control of helminths. Joint growth compatibility and predation tests were carried out on infective larvae of nematode parasites of bovines with the nematophagous fungus ovicide Pochonia chlamydosporia and the nematophagous fungus predator Arthrobotrys cladodes. The tests of antagonism in direct confrontation, antibiosis and the effect of volatile metabolites between the isolates of P. chlamydosporia and A. cladodes indicated the viability of joint growth of these fungi. The association of the fungi P. chlamydosporia and A. cladodes presented a higher predatory capacity of infective larvae of the parasitic nematodes of bovines when compared to the predation of the fungi used alone. Therefore, under laboratory conditions, the fungi studied presented growth compatibility and the association of these increased the nematicidal activity against parasitic helminths of cattle.

Drivers of parasite community structure in fishes of the continental shelf of the Western Mediterranean: the importance of host phylogeny and autecological traits

We explored the relationships between features of host species and their environment, and the diversity, composition and structure of parasite faunas and communities using a large taxonomically consistent dataset of host-parasite associations and host-prey associations, and original environmental and host trait data (diet, trophic level, population density and habitat depth vagility) for the most abundant demersal fish species off the Catalonian coast of the Western Mediterranean. Altogether 98 species/taxa belonging to seven major parasite groups were recovered in 683 fish belonging to 10 species from seven families and four orders. Our analyses revealed that (i) the parasite fauna of the region is rich and dominated by digeneans; (ii) the host parasite faunas and communities exhibited wide variations in richness, abundance and similarity due to a strong phylogenetic component; (iii) the levels of host sharing were low and involved host generalists and larval parasites; (iv) the multivariate similarity pattern of prey samples showed significant associations with hosts and host trophic guilds; (v) prey compositional similarity was not associated with the similarity of trophically transmitted parasite assemblages; and (vi) phylogeny and fish autecological traits were the best predictors of parasite community metrics in the host-parasite system studied.

Prvi nalaz parazitoda (Platygaster robiniae) na bagremovoj muhi šiškarici u Bosni i Hercegovini

Acacia is an allochthonous tree species that has been introduced into our region 400 years ago. Although the invasive species of Obolodiplosis robiniae in this region was first determined in 2007, significant damages have not been recorded on the acacia trees. Average number of galls on black locust leaflet were from 1,04 to 1,48. Average number of larvae in galls were from 0,42 to 0,77. In June of 2018, the first record of a parasitoid of black locust gall midge (Platygaster robiniae) was determined, although it is likely that was occured earlier, but this is the first record and represents a new species in the entomological complex in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Parasitism of larvae of Obolodiplosis robiniae were from 6,66 to 14,28% on different localities.