Sedimentation Technique Research Articles

Prevalence of Fasciola species from Cattle Slaughtered at Birnin Kebbi Modern Abattoir

Diagnostic tools to detect and differentiate Fasciola species have improved, but the understanding of the distribution and population structure of this parasite is location dependent. This study was aimed to phenotypically identify Fasciola species from cattle brought for slaughter at Birnin Kebbi Modern Abattoir. Ante-mortem faecal samples were collected from the sampled cattle for worm egg detection and post-mortem inspection of liver samples were performed. Two methods of Parasitological (Flukefinder Kit and formalin-ether sedimentation) methods were performed on the faecal samples. Results have yielded a high prevalence (31.2%) of fluke eggs with the Flukefinder Kit than with formalin-ether sedimentation technique (8.5%). Prevalence was higher (34%) in the males than in female (26.2%) cattle. Younger cattle (34.3%) were also more infected than their older (30.7%) counterpart. Sokoto Gudali had the highest prevalence of 44.0% followed by Red Bororo with 34.0%, and the least prevalence was observed in Bunaji breed with 18.0%. Statistical analyses results had revealed no significant relation between prevalence of fasciolosis and the co-variables (sex, age) as p > 0.05 but there was a significant association between prevalence and breed of cattle (p = 0.018). There was no significant agreement between the methods of faecal analyses used. Prevalence of 15.8% was observed from the post-mortem examination. This have increased the knowledge about the existence of the parasite in the study area. It is recommended that the Flukefinder® Kit should be used in diagnosis of Fasciola species due to its high sensitivity compared to the conventional sedimentation method.

Assessment of bovine fasciolosis and the analytical test evaluation at Yirgalem municipal abattoir, Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2021 to April 2022 to estimate the prevalence of bovine fasciolosis, assess the risk factors, and estimate the direct financial loss due to liver condemnation in cattle slaughtered at Yirgalem municipal abattoir. Furthermore, the comparison of the diagnostic efficiency of fecal and postmortem examination was evaluated. The study was based on both postmortem inspection of the liver for liver fluke infection and coprological examination using the sedimentation technique. Thus, a total of 400 cattle were sampled using systemic random sampling techniques and the prevalence was 27.0% (108/400) and 20.8% (83/400), by postmortem and coprological examination, respectively. The prevalence of F. hepatica, F. gigantica, mixed infections, and unidentified species were 56.5%, 19.4%, 16.7%, and 7.4%, respectively. The difference between age groups was statically significant (p<0.05). Coprological examination revealed the highest prevalence was recorded in the age group of > 7 years old (34%, adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=4.2) followed by 4-6 years old adults (26.8%, AOR=4.2) and in young cattle of <3 years old (6.7%). Prevalence by postmortem examination was 43.0% (AOR=4 0), 27.8% (AOR= 2.4), and 8.3%, for age groups > 7 years old, 4-6 years old adults and in young cattle of <3 years old, respectively. The body condition score result revealed a significant difference (p<0.05) as a greater magnitude of infections were detected in poor body condition animals (AOR=7.7) than in medium and good body condition (p<0.05). Considering the liver examination as a gold standard for diagnosis of fasciolosis, the sensitivity of the sedimentation technique was 76.8%, and the specificity of 100% with a very good agreement (kappa = 0.94) between the two methods. The total financial loss per annum due to the condemnation of infected liver was 945, 999 ETB (18,192.288 USD). Therefore, strategic control and prevention of the snail intermediate host should be implemented. Furthermore, upon diagnosis of fasciolosis, epidemiological information about the disease with suggestive clinical examination should be considered even in the absence of Fasciola eggs during coprological examinations and also other parasitological techniques such as the FLOTAC and FLUKE FINDER methods with high sensitivity and specificity should be employed.

Seasonal Occurrence of Cattle Fascioliasis in Kelantan, Malaysia.

A longitudinal study was conducted in five randomly selected farms in Kelantan, Malaysia to determine the seasonal occurrence of cattle fascioliasis and its association with climatic factors. A total of 480 faecal samples were collected by a random purposive sampling method from July 2018 to June 2019. The faecal samples were examined for the presence of Fasciola eggs using a formalin ether sedimentation technique. Meteorological data including temperature, humidity, rainfall, and pan evaporation were obtained from a local meteorological station. The overall prevalence of cattle fascioliasis in Kelantan was 45.8%. The prevalence was observed to be slightly higher during the wet season from August to December (50-58%) than during the dry season from January to June (30-45%). Meanwhile, the mean eggs per gram (EPG) were highest in June (191.1 ± 0.48) and lowest in October (77.62 ± 95.5). However, there were no significant differences in the mean of EPG between the monthly prevalence, tested using one-way ANOVA (p = 0.1828). A statistically significant association (p = 0.014) was observed between the disease and cattle breeds, with Charolais and Brahman showing lower odds of having the disease. There were significant moderate-to-strong positive correlations between cattle fascioliasis and rainfall (r = 0.666; p = 0.018) and humidity (r = 0.808; p = 0.001), as well as strong negative correlations with evaporation (r = -0.829; p = 0.001). The results indicated that the higher prevalence of cattle fascioliasis in Kelantan was correlated with the climatic factors, which include higher rainfall and humidity and lower evaporation.

Incidence of urinary schistosomiasis and the contributory risk factors among primary school children in Lafia Metropolis, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Urinary schistosomiasis though not very prevalent is still found in some parts of Nigeria especially among primary school children who do not know effective sanitary measures of protecting themselves from the infection. This research therefore aimed at evaluating the incidence of urinary schistosomiasis and factors that promote the infection among primary school children in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State so as to provide information relating to this area of study. One hundred (100) urine samples were collected randomly from three basic primary schools of Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, namely; St. James Primary School, L.G.E.A Primary School Mararraba-Akunza, Ta’al Model School and Lafia East Local Government Schools. Urine samples collected from the various primary schools were examined in the laboratory using the sedimentation technique. The infection was highest in L.G.E.A Primary School Mararraba-Akunza, behind federal housing estate extension lafia, 4(8%) out of 50 pupils in that school were infected, in the St. James Primary School and Ta’al Model School 2 cases (5.7%) were recorded, in Lafia East Local Government School lafia the infection was 13.3 % (2), the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.70). Majority of the participants were aged between 5 years and 10 years, (84%), and they were the most infected 7(8.3%) the difference was statistically insignificant when compared P = 0.79. Sex; was found to be statistically associated with prevalence of the infection P=0.00, majority of the participants were males 66(66%) and 6(9.1%) of them were infected, females were 34(34%) and 2(5.8%) of them were infected. Children are to be protected from risk factors that endanger them especially the type of water they were exposed to.

ANTHELMINTIC DRUGS EFFICACY AGAINST BOVINE FASCIOLIASIS

Parasitic diseases in cattle are widespread in the territory of the Russian Federation. At the farms of Udmurtia various kinds of ruminants parasitic fauna are represented and therefore the vast use of antiparasitic drugs entails a range of problems: their toxic side effects on animals’ organism, restrictions for livestock products consumption (milk, meat). Based on the aforementioned, the aim of the work was to determine the therapeutic efficacy of anthelmintic drugs against bovine fascioliasis under the Udmurt Republic conditions. The coprological examinations were made in the conventional sedimentation technique; in total 50 head of cows aged 3–5 years were examined. To determine the extensive and intensive efficacy of the drugs based on the analogy principle five groups per 10 animals were formed, four - experimental ones and the fifth served as a control one. Four drugs were used in the experiment: «Rolenol», «Santel 10 %», «Albendozole 10 %» (suspension for oral administration) and «Santomectin». When evaluating the efficacy of anthelmintic drugs against trematode infestations in cattle it was found that all of the used drugs showed high efficacy on the 40th day after dehelmintization, but due to the fact that the causative agent Fasciola hepatica belongs to biohelminthic diseases with chronic course the period of therapeutic efficacy was evaluated for up to 60 days. The maximum extensive efficacy – 90 % and intensive efficacy from 63.54 % to 83.33 % respectively were found in the groups of animals dehelmintized with: «Albendozole 10 %» in the form of suspension for oral administration and the injectable «Santomectin»; these antiparasitic drugs have a similar mechanism of action on helminths. The use of the latter is more cost-effective for agricultural enterprises, which must be taken into consideration when planning the combat measures against trematode infestations in cattle.

Parasites Associated with Open Markets Vegetables: Implication for Public Health Interventions in Ethiope East, Southern Nigeria

Objectives: Vegetables have been reported to be a mechanical means of transmission of human intestinal parasites. This study is aimed to ascertain the association between parasites and vegetables sold in Ethiope East, Delta State, Nigeria.
 Methods: Two hundred and seventy (270) vegetables were subjected to sedimentation and zinc sulphate floatation techniques for parasitic investigations.
 Results: Of the 270 vegetables examined, 184(68.15%) were infected. Talinium occidentalis had the highest prevalence (9.26%), closely followed by Brassica oleracea and Daucus carota with a value of 8.89% and 8.15% respectively. The highest parasite prevalence was observed in Abraka (78.89%), followed by Eku (72.22%) and Okpara water-side (53.33%). Abraka had its highest prevalence in D. carota and Cucumis sativum with a prevalence of 11.11 and 10.00% respectively. Statistically, there was no significant difference in the contaminated vegetable (p > 0.05) but a considerable significant difference was noted in the market locations (p < 0.05). The highest percentage occurrence of parasites was Ascaris lumbricoides with a percentage occurrence of 23.49. The most prevalent parasites in Abraka were A. lumbricoides (45.56%) and Entamoeba histolytica (30.00%). There was significant effect (p < 0.05) in the prevalence of parasites (p = 0.0003; df = 6; F = 11.07) and markets locations (p = 0.0019; df = 2; F = 11.01). The Principal Component Analysis showed that the study locations positively influence the occurrence of parasites with Abraka location accounting for 95.99% of the total variance. The analysis further showed that A. lumbricoides, Trichuris trichura, and hookworm prevalence were strongly correlated to Abraka and Okpara water-side locations.
 Conclusion: Given the public health importance of the parasites isolated, there is a need for improved environmental sanitation, personal hygiene and surveillance systems in vegetable transportation, storage and means of displays in Ethiope East and Delta State at large.

Prevalence of Bovine Fasciolosis in and Around Anchar Woreda, West Hararghe, Eastern Ethiopia

The present study was conducted from April 2015 up to the end of November 2015 in the west Hararghe Zone, Oromia region, Eastern part of Ethiopia in and around Anchar district with the aim to determine or to know the prevalence of bovine fasciolosis in and around Anchar and to recommend the controlling method of fasciolosis in study area. The method employed in the study area was sedimentation technique. A total of 385 were selected randomly from the study populations and from the total examined 79 (20.5%) cattle were positives for fasciolosis. The recorded fasciolosis prevalence was varying from 18.9% to 25.5% in the different sites of the study area and the overall prevalence rate of 20.8. The prevalence of disease in age (young) 2.45% and Adult 28, 89% Sex (Male) 1.63% and female 37.81% and body condition (poor) 22.1% and 19.46% was recorded. Infection rate different age, sex, site and body condition of animal showed not statistically significant different. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that fasciolosis is the prevalent diseases in the study area, and the disease need due consideration both from the livestock owner and the veterinarian, in the light of present study. Finally, a few points of recommendation were forwarded to alleviate the problems of fasciolosis in this area.

First Molecular Identification of Fasciola gigantica in Slaughtered Cattle in Cape Verde: Prevalence, Gross Pathological Lesions, Genetic Identification and Coprological Analysis.

A study on fasciolosis prevalence, gross pathological lesions, fluke genetic identification and coprological analysis was carried out in slaughtered cattle from one abattoir in Cape Verde. Of the 131 cattle inspected over two months, 12 (9.0%) presented fasciolosis-compatible lesions (FCL) that resulted in liver condemnation. The genetic characterization of the flukes collected, through restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of PCR-amplified fragments (PCR-RFLP), confirmed the presence of Fasciola gigantica; therefore, being the first identification of this species in cattle from Cape Verde. Animals that released Fasciola spp. eggs and, thus, responsible for environment contamination (positive shedders), were identified through coprological analysis (natural sedimentation technique). Of the 12 animals with FCL, samples from 11 were submitted to coprological analysis and 7 (63.6%) were found to be positive shedders. Furthermore, of the 82 animals with non-FCL, randomly selected for coprological analysis, 4 (4.9%) were also found to be positive shedders for Fasciola spp. The results of this study, regarding species identification and coprological analysis, are epidemiologically important to update the information regarding fasciolosis in Cape Verde. The new data could help implement effective strategies for disease control and mitigation, consequently reducing economic loss and the level of animal and human infection from the One Health perspective.

Glucocorticoid concentration and parasitic load in a wild striped hyaena (Hyaena hyaena) population in Southern India

Glucocorticoid levels (GCs) are an important parameter that infers the pathological condition of an organism. GCs can vary with life history stages like gender, age, and reproductive stage and signify the degree of allostatic load experienced. Deleterious increases in GCs can severely affect the wildlife population by suppressing the reproductive viability of individuals and may cause immunosuppressive, making the population more susceptible to parasitic load. We have studied the stress physiology and parasitic load across the life history stages in the striped hyaena population confined to the Moyar Valley of Mudumalai and Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserves. The fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations were measured using cortisol enzyme immunoassay from 30 scats. Collected scats were categorized into adults, sub-adults, and juvenile age groups based on the size and colour of droppings. Sex of the scat samples was identified post-DNA extraction from their epithelial lining cells. Parasitic load from scats was quantified as the number of different parasites recorded through sucrose floatation and sedimentation techniques. We found no significant difference in GCs concentration and parasitic load across the life history stages, but juveniles were recorded to have the least parasitic load. The highest GCs concentration and parasitic load were recorded from adults and female individuals, while both parameters were found least among juvenile individuals. Though we did not observe any significant differences across life-history stages, this study provides the first baseline information on stress physiology and parasitic load in striped hyaenas, which could help further studies assess the impact of external perturbations on stress physiology.

Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths of small ruminants in and around Kulubi town, Meta Woreda of East Haraghe Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was conducted in sheep and goats that were kept under an extensive management system in Kulubi town, Meta Woreda of East Haraghe Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, from November 2018 to May 2019 to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of gastrointestinal helminths (GIT). A total of 384 randomly sampled sheep and goats (198 sheep and 186 goats) were subjected to coprological examination using simple floatation and sedimentation techniques. Based on this, the overall prevalence of GIT helminths in sheep and goats was 58.9% (226/384). Out of the total sampled animals, the prevalence of 59.09% (117/198) and 58.6% (109/186) were recorded in sheep and goats, respectively. Based on a coprological examination, in the study area, the prevalence of 20.2%, 10.6%, 10.6%, 8.08%, 6.58%, and 3.03% accounted for Strongyle, Trichostrongylus, mixed-type, Trichuris, Strongyloides, and Fasciola eggs detected in sheep and 18.8%, 8.6%, 8.06%, 8.06%, 6.45%, 5.4%, and 3.23% accounted for Strongyle, Trichostrongylus, Fasciola, Paramphistomum, Trichuris, Nematodirus, and Strongyloides eggs were detected in goats. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the prevalence of the parasites between different species and the sex of the animals. However, the age and body condition score of the animals has shown a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). In general, some amount of high prevalence of helminth parasites was observed in the study area, which implies helminths are the major constraints for the productivity of small ruminants. Therefore, economically feasible, effective management, and strategic de-worming of animals should be implemented for the prevention and control of the disease.

Prevalence of bovine fasciolosis in and around anchar woreda, West Hararghe, Eastern Ethiopia

The present study was conducted from April 2015 up to the end of November 2015 in the west Hararghe Zone Oromia Region, Eastern part of Ethiopia in and around Anchar district with the aim to know or to determine the prevalence, of bovine fasciolosis in and around Anchar and to recommend the controlling method of fasciolosis in study area. The method employed in the study area was sedimentation technique. A total of 385 were selected randomly from the study populations and from the total examined 79(20.5%) cattle were positives for fasciolosis. The recorded fasciolosis prevalence was varying from 18.9% to 25.5% in the different sites of the study area and the overall rate of prevalence 20.8. The prevalence of disease in age (young) 2.45% and Adult 28, 89% Sex (Male) 1.63% and female 37.81% and body condition (poor) 22.1% and 19.46% was recorded. Infection rate different age, sex, site and body condition of animal showed no statistically significant different. Finally, a few points of recommendation were forwarded to alleviate the problems of fasciolosis in this area.

Poliparasitismo em macacos (Sapajus/Cebus nigritus) mantidos em cativeiro na grande Porto Alegre – RS

Monkeys of the Sapajus and Cebus genera are distributed in South America and are often illegally traded and, when apprehended, are taken to zoos. The objective of this work was to verify the occurrence of helminth eggs in the feces of Capuchin monkeys (Sapajus/Cebus nigritus) in captivity, in a zoo in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre - RS. Fecal samples of 25 animals were collected non-invasively and processed through flotation and sedimentation techniques. In the study, eggs of gastrointestinal helminths were observed in 68% (17/25) of the animals, belonging to the superfamilies Strongyloidea (88,23%); Rhabditoidea (5,88%) and Oxyuroidea (5,88%). New research should be carried out focusing on strategic plans to control parasites in captive animals.

Ocorrência de parasitos gastrointestinais em cães de Cuiabá, Mato Grosso

Gastrointestinal parasitism by helminths and protozoa poses risks to animal and human health owing to clinical changes and transmission of potentially zoonotic agents. Thus, the present study aimed to verify the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in dogs from the municipality of Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil, using coproparasitological tests. From June 2021 to April 2022, faecal samples were collected from domestic dogs at the Veterinary Hospital and Animal Protection Shelters in the Cuiabá municipality. A semi-structured questionnaire was applied to the owners and those responsible for the shelters to analyse the factors associated with gastrointestinal parasitism. A total of 353 faecal samples were collected and subjected to parasitological flotation and sedimentation techniques. Data were analysed using the chi-squared test and exploratory factorial analysis. The occurrence of gastrointestinal parasitism was 22.66% and the parasites found alone or in mixed infections were Ancylostoma spp., Trichuris vulpis, Toxocara spp., Dipylidium caninum, Cystoisospora spp., Giardia duodenalis, and coccidia. It was concluded that the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in dogs is frequent, and the variables associated with these infections were source origin, breed, age, coexistence with other animals, and dull fur.

Occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in dogs in a rural area of Santa Catarina, Brazil.

We investigated the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in dogs in rural areas of the municipality of Painel, Santa Catarina, Brazil. For this, 91 canine feces samples were collected from 82 farms between August, 2017 and January, 2018. These fecal materials were processed using the techniques of spontaneous sedimentation, centrifugation-floatation in zinc sulfate and Ziehl-Neelsen staining. A questionnaire in the form of an interview was administered to the dogs' owner and information about the farm and the main care provided for the dogs was obtained. Among 91 sampled dogs, 27 (29.7%) were positive for at least one parasite species. Ancylostoma was the most prevalent genus (16.5%), followed by Giardia duodenalis (14.3%), Trichuris vulpis (6.6%), Toxocara canis (5.5%), Entamoeba spp. (4.8%), Cryptosporidium spp. (3.3%) and Taeniidae (1.1%). Most dogs do not receive veterinarian care and rarely received antiparasitic treatment. They were free to roam and had free access to animal remains and garbage, which was reflected in the significant associations with the occurrence of parasites that were found. We conclude that rural dogs harbor gastrointestinal parasites, but that their owners are unaware of the risks that these parasites can bring to human health.

Prevalence of Zoonotic Gastrointestinal Helminth Parasite among Dogs in Suryabinayak, Nepal.

Dogs are popular pets around the world and have always had a very close relationship with humans. Zoonotic gastrointestinal helminth parasites are a great threat to both stray and pet dogs. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of zoonotic gastrointestinal helminths in dogs. 400 samples were collected, including 200 from pet dogs and 200 from stray dogs. The samples from pet dogs were collected from the ground immediately after voiding with the help of the owner, whereas stray dogs were caught by using a dog catcher, and the samples were collected directly from the rectum by using a gloved index finger. All collected samples were examined under a microscope using sedimentation and flotation techniques. The overall prevalence of infection was found to be 59.50%, with a significantly higher prevalence in stray dogs (70%) than that in pet dogs (49%). Ancylostoma spp., Toxocara spp., Trichuris spp., Capillaria spp., Dipylidium caninum, and Taenia/Echinococcus spp. were six different species found in the current study. The study showed the highest prevalence of Ancylostoma spp. (49.16%) and the least prevalence of Capillaria spp. (0.84%). In the age-wise study, puppies had a significantly high infection rate (86.96%). Similarly, we recorded a significantly higher prevalence of intestinal helminths among nondewormed pet dogs (78.65%) than among dewormed pet dogs (25.23%). This study highlights the severe environmental contamination shed by dogs, causing a higher risk of zoonotic transmission. It indicates the urgent need to manage these parasites in dogs and educate the public on how to care for their pets and the parasites they shed.

Diagnóstico parasitológico de amostras fecais de cães domésticos provenientes do município de Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

ABSTRACT From 2015 to 2021 the prevalence of parasites was evaluated in fecal samples of dogs from the municipality of Niterói, RJ. The samples were examined at the Laboratory of Diagnostic Support in Parasitic Diseases (LADDP) of the Veterinary School at the Federal Fluminense University (UFF), using centrifugal flotation, sedimentation and mini-FLOTAC techniques. Of the 1,037 samples examined, 30.6% (318/1,037) showed positive results for some parasitic infections, of which 80.5% (256/318) were positive for only one species of parasite and 19.5% (62/318) for multiple infections. Parasitism by Ancylostoma caninum was the most prevalent, with 39% (124/318), followed by Giardia sp., 16% (51/318); Toxocara canis, 14.5% (46/318); Trichuris vulpis, 8.5% (27/318); Cystoisospora canis, 8.5% (27/318); Dipylidium caninum, 7.9% (25/318); and Cryptosporidium sp., 5.6% (18/318). The parasitological diagnosis of dogs in urban areas is the best choice to evaluate the efficacy of control measures adopted for parasitic infections, including those with zoonotic importance.

Fungal identification in the air and water of a hemodialysis unit in Brazil.

The presence of fungi in healthcare settings, including hemodialysis units, represents a significant risk for immunocompromised patients. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of fungi in the air and water of a hemodialysis unit located in a tertiary public hospital in Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil. Over a period of three consecutive months, monthly air samples were collected and analyzed using the spontaneous sedimentation technique on Petri dishes containing Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA). Simultaneously, water samples (100 mL) were collected from four specific water distribution points and subjected plating on SDA. Fungi were phenotypically identified based on their macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. In total, 498 colony-forming units (CFUs) of fungi were isolated, with 86 CFUs originating from the air and 412 CFUs from the water. Regarding the water samples, a higher concentration of fungal CFUs was observed in the potable water from the supply network (229 CFUs). Unexpectedly, 23 CFUs were identified in the reverse osmosis samples and 11 CFUs in the storage tank, which are post-treatment points where the presence of microorganisms is not desired. The fungus Cladosporium spp. was the most prevalent in both air and water samples, followed by Penicillium spp. in the air and Rhodotorula spp. in the water. These findings underscore the need to implement effective control and monitoring measures for fungi in the hemodialysis unit to ensure patient safety.

Gastrointestinal parasite assemblages from the wild rodent capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) inhabiting a natural protected area from Argentina

Abstract Knowledge about parasitic diseases of wildlife will help us to understand the dynamics of parasites and their effects on host populations. The capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is the largest living rodent in the world, and its distribution is associated with the presence of tropical and subtropical wetlands in South America. The Los Padres Lake Integral Reserve (LPLIR) is an important conservation zone in the pampean region of Argentina. One of the emblematic species found within the reserve is the capybara. The objective of this study was to determine the gastrointestinal parasites present in wild capybaras of the LPLIR and to compare different coprological methodologies. Free-ranging capybara fresh feces from 57 individuals were randomly collected from the area of LPLIR in the summer of 2022. Three different techniques were applied: spontaneous sedimentation technique (SS), INTA modified McMaster technique (MM), and Mini-FLOTAC (MF) technique. Fifty-six samples from all samples analysed (56/57, 98%) were found to be positive for gastrointestinal parasites. Two species of Strongylida, Protozoophaga obesa, Echinocoleus hydrochaeris, one unidentified nematode, one unidentified spirurid, and at least two morphotypes of Eimeria spp. oocysts were recorded. There were found significant differences in the proportion of positive samples and in richness by technique, but no significant differences were found in parasite counting. In conclusion, the choice of methodology depends on the specific objectives of the study. This is the first parasitological study of capybaras from the LPLIR and represents an exploration of parasite communities present in these wild rodents at their southernmost distribution.

Seroprevalence and coprological prevalence of liver fluke Fasciola hepatica in cattle and sheep from Santander department, Colombia.

Fasciola hepatica is a parasite with a worldwide distribution that affects several mammals, including humans, and is considered a public health problem. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Fasciola hepatica in humans, cattle and sheep, as well as to evaluate factors associated with the prevalence. A total of 185 serum samples from sheep, 290 from cattle, and 114 from humans were collected and processed using an in-house developed ELISA to detect IgG antibodies against F. hepatica. Additionally, 185 stool samples from sheep and 290 from cattle were examined using a Dennis sedimentation technique. Risk factors were analyzed using epidemiological surveys. The overall seroprevalence was 46.5% (86/185) in sheep, 32.5% (94/289) in cattle, and no humans tested positive for the infection. The coprological prevalence was 47.7% (86/180) in sheep and 33.7% (98/290) in cattle. Female gender and cattle living with alternate grazing management showed 2.5 and 6.5 times higher probability of infection, respectively. Bovines coexisting with sheep exhibited a higher risk of infection (odds ratio [OR]=4.3) compared to those without sheep. We concluded that F. hepatica in cattle and sheep has an endemic behavior, and therefore represents a problem of public health for rural communities.

Intestinal Parasitic Infections among School Going Children in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Objectives: In order to assess the Intestinal Parasitic infections from the School Going Children of Kathmandu Valley, this study analyzed the proportion of parasitic infection from the stool samples. Methods: Stool samples were collected from two schools of Kathmandu and analyzed for the assessment of intestinal parasites from May to June, 2018. The assessment of intestinal parasites was performed by Direct Microscopy and Formol ether Sedimentation technique and Modified Ziehl-Neelsen Staining was performed for the confirmation of Coccidian parasites. Results: The result is that out of 165 stool samples, intestinal parasites were detected in 28 (16.9%) samples and among them, 13 (46.4%) were protozoa and 15 (53.6%) were helminthes. A total of nine different parasites were recorded in the study. Among them, Taenia spp 5 (17.85%) for helminthes and G. lamblia 5 (17.85%) for protozoans was dominant and the least dominant organism for helminthes was H. diminuta (3.58%), for protozoans C. parvum (3.58%). Among the participants, more females were infected with intestinal parasite than male with majority from age group 13-15 years (23.1%). The distribution of parasites was higher among the students who drank water without treatment. Out of 28 intestinal parasites, 14/69 (20.3%) students showed the positive cases i.e. who drank water without treating followed by 13/70 (17.1%) students who filtered before drinking. The students who drank water after boiling 1/26 (3.8%) showed less distribution of parasites. The distribution of parasites was higher in the students who washed hands only with water on the basis of hand washing habits before eating i.e. 15/80 (18.7%). The distribution of parasites was higher among the students who bite their nail sometimes i.e. 15/76 (19.7%) as compared to the student who never bite their nail 13/89 (14.6%). Conclusion: Intestinal parasite is still a major health problem among the school going children in Nepal. Therefore, the infection preventive measures and school health awareness activities should continue.