Cestode Species Research Articles

S2565 An Incidental Liver Mass Waiting to Explore: Hydatid Cyst in a Pregnant Female

INTRODUCTION: Human echinococcosis is a disease process caused by several species of tapeworms in the Echinococcus genus. These tapeworms utilize a variety of hosts that include rodents, herbivores and carnivores; humans are considered accidental hosts. This disease is very uncommon in the United States, and manifests most commonly with cystic liver lesions; but can spread to other organs as well. The liver cysts are slow growing and asymptomatic until they exceed 10 cm in size. Diagnosis is made with imaging and serologies. Here we present a case of a hydatid cyst in a pregnant female, with limited treatment options. CASE DESCRIPTION/METHODS: A 40 year old healthy Lebanese female, G3P2 at 11 weeks, presented with left lower extremity edema, dizziness and leg pain. Lower extremity ultrasound (US) revealed extensive thrombus, with subsequent CTPA revealing bilateral pulmonary emboli. Incidentally, a 7.1 cm hepatic mass was noted on the CTPA. Labs revealed a normocytic anemia with a hematocrit at 30.9% but were otherwise normal including liver function studies. Anticoagulation with enoxaparin was started, and she was transferred to a tertiary medical center for evaluation of the liver mass. There, she underwent a dedicated ultrasound of her abdomen which demonstrated a 7 cm mother cyst with multiple daughter cysts consistent with a hydatid cyst (Figure 1). Serological markers were sent and revealed a positive echinococcus antibody. Due to patient remaining asymptomatic and her gravid status; active surveillance was pursued. She underwent hepatic US every 3 months until delivery of a healthy girl. Over the course of her pregnancy, the cyst marginally increased in size, but her liver function tests remained normal and she remained asymptomatic. Post-partum, she underwent a modified puncture-aspiration-injection-reaspiration (PAIR) procedure. DISCUSSION: Hydatid cysts can result in pain, pancreatitis, rupture with further seeding, hemorrhage, fistula formation and systemic infection. These cysts can cause mass effect with compression of the biliary tree and portal vessels. The differential includes abscess, hemangioma, hamartoma and malignancy. Surgical treatment with adjunctive antiparasitic therapy can be utilized, but percutaneous therapy tends to have shorter hospital stays. Given the rarity of this disease in the United States and limitation of treatment during pregnancy; hydatid cysts should be considered in the differential of hepatic mass and actively monitored during pregnancy.Figure 1.: Abdominal Ultrasound.

Intrigue surrounding the life-cycles of species of Clistobothrium (Cestoda: Phyllobothriidea) parasitising large pelagic sharks

This study aimed to locate the adults, and thus also the definitive hosts, of three species of marine mammal-parasitising larval cestodes that have molecular affinities with Clistobothrium. New collections led to the discovery of adults of two new species of Clistobothrium, one from the longfin mako shark and one from the salmon shark. New material of Clistobothrium tumidum was collected from the great white shark and new material of a previously reported undescribed species of Clistobothrium was collected from the porbeagle shark. Larvae of Clistobothrium were opportunistically collected from sockeye salmon and four species of small squaliform sharks. Sequence data for the D1–D3 region of the 28S rDNA gene were generated for all but one of these taxa. The tree resulting from maximum likelihood analysis of those data, in combination with comparable data from GenBank, indicates that squaliform sharks can serve as intermediate hosts for the species from the porbeagle shark. The larvae from salmon exhibit a unique molecular signature and, based on diet data, may be conspecific with adults from the salmon shark. Informed by sequence data for new material of Monorygma and existing data for Phyllobothrium, the larvae provisionally identified as Monorygma grimaldii and Phyllobothrium delphini were formally transferred to Clistobothrium. Especially puzzling was that the molecular signatures of none of the eight species of Clistobothrium match those of the three marine mammal-parasitising larval forms. We are at a loss as to where else to look for the three corresponding adult forms. The great white shark remains the most likely candidate given it consumes marine mammals with some regularity, but seems unlikely to host five species of Clistobothrium. Alternatively, we are left wondering if the large marine mammal predator Carcharocles megalodon may not be extinct after all.

Gastrointestinal helminths of little blue penguins, Eudyptula novaehollandiae (Stephens), from Otago, New Zealand.

Data regarding helminth communities can provide insights into health, feeding interactions, behaviour and evolution of their host organisms. Penguins (Spheniscidae) are important components of marine food webs and tracking their helminth communities can be indicative of ecosystem health. New Zealand is home to 5 of the world's 19 penguin species and little is known about their gastrointestinal helminths. Here, we provide the first study on the gastrointestinal helminths of little blue penguins from south-eastern South Island, New Zealand. The helminth community consisted of two species of tapeworm; Tetrabothrius lutzi and Tetrabothrius sp.; three nematode species, Contracaecum eudyptulae, Capillaria sp. and Stegophorus macronectes; two acanthocephalans, Andracantha sigma and Bolbosoma balaenae; and one trematode, Galactosomum otepotiense. The most prevalent parasites were T. lutzi, A. sigma, and C. eudyptulae. This work includes three new host records and five new geographic records. This is the first report of B. balaenae occurring in a host other than a marine mammal. This study adds to our knowledge about the helminth community of New Zealand little blue penguins, and includes new genetic data on helminth species, providing a baseline against which future studies may be compared.

Hymenolepiasis in Rats (Rattus Norvegicus) With Its Zoonotic Potential in Mymensingh District of Bangladesh

Hymenolepis nana and Hymenolepis diminuta are globally widespread zoonotic cestodes and rats act as main reservoir host of these cestodes. Wild brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) are the most common rats usually live in human’s dwellings, especially in areas of low socioeconomic status and low levels of hygiene practices. Since there is scarcity of information of the hymenolepiasis in rats in Bangladesh, therefore the aim of this study was to determine the incidence of H. nana and H. diminuta in wild and laboratory rats. A total of 60 rats were collected from the residential areas of rural villages of Mymensingh sadar and the Bangladesh Agricultural University campus and 10 were from the laboratory of the Department of Parasitology, BAU, Mymensingh. The rats were killed by cardiac puncture and tapeworms were collected and subsequently were subjected for morphological study under the stereomicroscope. Two species of cestodes, namely H. nana and H. diminuta were detected showing the overall prevalence of 23.3 % and 35 % respectively. The high prevalence of H. nana (30%) was determined in rats captured from the rural village areas whereas H. diminuta was found more prevalent (60%) in the laboratory rats. The result of the current study suggests that H. nana infection in rural village areas may act as a risk factor for the zoonotic transmission of hymenolepiasis to human in Bangladesh.
 Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.7(2): 255-259, August 2020

Dynamics of protein synthesis in the initial steps of strobilation in the model cestode parasite Mesocestoides corti (syn. vogae)

Mesocestoides corti (syn. vogae) is a useful model for developmental studies of platyhelminth parasites of the Cestoda class, such as Taenia spp. or Echinococcus spp. It has been used in studies to characterize cestode strobilation, i.e. the development of larvae into adult worms. So far, little is known about the initial molecular events involved in cestode strobilation and, therefore, we carried out a study to characterize newly synthesized (NS) proteins upon strobilation induction. An approach based on bioorthogonal noncanonical amino acid tagging and mass spectrometry was used to label, isolate, identify, and quantify NS proteins in the initial steps of M. corti strobilation. Overall, 121 NS proteins were detected exclusively after induction of strobilation, including proteins related to development pathways, such as insulin and notch signaling. Metabolic changes that take place in the transition from the larval stage to adult worm were noted in special NS protein subsets related to developmental processes, such as focal adhesion, cell leading edge, and maintenance of location. The data shed light on mechanisms underlying early steps of cestode strobilation and enabled identification of possible developmental markers. We also consider the use of developmental responsive proteins as potential drug targets for developing novel anthelmintics. Biological significanceLarval cestodiases are life-threatening parasitic diseases that affect both man and domestic animals worldwide. Cestode parasites present complex life cycles, in which they undergo major morphological and physiological changes in the transition from one life-stage to the next. One of these transitions occurs during cestode strobilation, when the mostly undifferentiated and non-segmented larval or pre-adult form develops into a fully segmented and sexually differentiated (strobilated) adult worm. Although the proteomes of bona fide larvae and strobialted adults have been previously characterized for a few cestode species, little is still known about the dynamic of protein synthesis during the early steps of cestode strobilation. Now, the assessment of newly synthesized (NS) proteins within the first 48 h of strobilation the model cestode M. corti allowed to shed light on molecular mechanisms that are triggered by strobilation induction. The functional analyses of this repertoire of over a hundred NS proteins pointed out to changes in metabolism and activation of classical developmental signaling pathways in early strobilation. Many of the identified NS proteins may become valuable cestode developmental markers and their involvement in vital processes make them also good candidate targets for novel anthelmintic drugs.

THE FIRST STUDY OF THE ENDOPARASITIC FAUNA OF MUTE SWANS (CYGNUS OLOR) IN THE NORTHERN PART OF SERBIA

In the Northern part of Serbia, which is part of Pannonian Basin, mute swan (Cygnus olor) population has notably increased over the last few decades. Like other birds from Anatidae family, mute swans are a host of numerous endoparasite species. The aim of this study was to acquire the data on identification and prevalence of endoparasites in mute swans in the Republic of Serbia, as that information is lacking. Individual faecal samples of sixty-eight adult mute swans were examined for the presence of endoparasites. Coprological examination was performed using flotation and sedimentation technique with saturated ZnSO4 solution. The samples were collected from December 2016 to March 2017, during epizootic of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 in the Republic of Serbia. Dead mute swans were collected from twelve different locations in the Northern part of Serbia. Altogether, 39.7% of the examined fecal samples contained different parasites. The endoparasitic fauna was divers and included 3 species of nematodes, 2 cestodes species, one trematode and one protozoan species. Nematodes were the most prevalent helminthes and among these the most frequent nematode species found was Heterakis dispar (17.6%), followed by Echinuria uncinata (5,8%) and Ascaridia spp. (4,4%). Four mixed infections were found, where double infection was the most prevalent. No endoparasites were found in faecal samples of mute swans collected from the locations Sombor and Titel. As this study covers a small population of mute swans, more detailed studies need to be carried out on a larger population in order to gain an insight into the diversity and prevalence of endoparasites in the Republic of Serbia.

Bertiella studeri Infection in Children, Sri Lanka.

We provide a detailed molecular and phylogenetic description of Bertiella studeri tapeworms infecting children in Sri Lanka. Our findings can be used to identify multiple species of Bertiella tapeworms that can infect human hosts in the Old World.

Cestode species Khawia sinensis as indicator of epizootic state of rivers of Dagestan and test of microelement composition in fish meat

Caviosis in the waters of the south of the Russian Federation is a poorly studied problem. Indicators of the extent of invasion were in the range of slightly moderate registration with extent of invasion (9.00-15.00%) with an abundance index of cestodes Khawia sinensis (1.40-2.18 ind./piece) in fish of different species (bighead carp, grass carp, black carp (black Chinese roach), spirlin, Sabanejewia caucasica, Krinitsky char, Tersk nase, Tersk barbel, silver Prussian carp, rutilus, Tersky gudgeon) in the basin of the Terek river, and a high level of detection of cestodes in the intestine of fish of 6 species (common carp, European carp, Tersk barbel, crucian carp, rutilus, Tersky gudgeon) was registered with extent of invasion criteria (21.00-37.00%) and an epizootic degree of abundance index of the cestode species Khawia sinensis (4.16-6.13 ind./piece). As a result of biochemical studies of 20-30 fish muscle samples within the boundaries of Dagestan authors found that the intensity of infection of fish of 14 species in Terek river basin with intestinal cestodes Khawia sinensis reduces the content of iodine, cobalt and iron in the muscles, that affect the nutritional value of fish. The content of biogenic microelements in the muscles of fish infected with cestodes Khawia sinensis was 2-5.9 times less than in fish free from helminths, which confirms the fact that the biological qualities of fish decrease with intensive cestode invasion. The most intensive infection with intestinal cestodes Khawia sinensis in comparison with fish populations free from helminths caused the marked reduction in the content of biogenic micronutrients in the muscles of trout, common carp, European carp, grass carp, black Chinese roach.

Unsolved Mystery of Synchronous Metastatic Adenocarcinoma and Echinococcus Cystic Infection, a Major Break Through in Clinical Oncology: A Case Report

Echinococcus cystic infection is a zoonotic infection caused by the larval stage of cestode species belonging to the genus Echinococcus. Through the modulation of the immune system by this parasite, there is an established link of this infection with the metastasis and progression of a tumor. We present a case of a patient with synchronous findings of metastatic adenocarcinoma with unknown primary along with the previous history of echinococcal infection, which highlights the need for prompt management of such infections with a regular follow up of such patients.

Review of helminths from rare aquatic birds in Ukraine

Helminth fauna of aquatic bird has well studied on the territory of Ukraine. The data on the helminths of rare waterfowl are contained in numerous faunistic works. But there are no publications in which only helminths of rare aquatic birds are considered. We aim to generalize all existing data about this subject in the survey. Due to achieving this purpose, the data from the Scientific fund collections of Institute of zoology NAS Ukraine and literature are used. There are 37 species of aquatic birds in Ukraine that are suggested as rare. Data on helminths of 32 aquatic bird species are available. In total, 295 species of helminths are registered in the rare aquatic bird on the territory of Ukraine. It is found 116 cestode species, 112 trematode species, 53 nematode species, and 14 acanthocephalan species. High species diversity is in Charadriiformes and Anseriformes due to relatively big samples of these orders. Low species diversity of helminths of Falconiformes and Ciconiiformes connect with a small amount of surveyed birds. Majority species of helminths are low host-specific. And only 10 species of helminths can mature in the single species of bird. Helminths with a wide range of definitive hosts have a higher level of prevalence than ones with the single definitive host. The intermediate hosts of these helminths are widespread species of invertebrate and fishes. Keywords: bird, helminth, endangered species

Cestode strobilation: prediction\xa0of developmental genes and pathways

BackgroundCestoda is a class of endoparasitic worms in the flatworm phylum (Platyhelminthes). During the course of their evolution cestodes have evolved some interesting aspects, such as their increased reproductive capacity. In this sense, they have serial repetition of their reproductive organs in the adult stage, which is often associated with external segmentation in a developmental process called strobilation. However, the molecular basis of strobilation is poorly understood. To assess this issue, an evolutionary comparative study among strobilated and non-strobilated flatworm species was conducted to identify genes and proteins related to the strobilation process.ResultsWe compared the genomic content of 10 parasitic platyhelminth species; five from cestode species, representing strobilated parasitic platyhelminths, and five from trematode species, representing non-strobilated parasitic platyhelminths. This dataset was used to identify 1813 genes with orthologues that are present in all cestode (strobilated) species, but absent from at least one trematode (non-strobilated) species. Development-related genes, along with genes of unknown function (UF), were then selected based on their transcriptional profiles, resulting in a total of 34 genes that were differentially expressed between the larval (pre-strobilation) and adult (strobilated) stages in at least one cestode species. These 34 genes were then assumed to be strobilation related; they included 12 encoding proteins of known function, with 6 related to the Wnt, TGF-β/BMP, or G-protein coupled receptor signaling pathways; and 22 encoding UF proteins. In order to assign function to at least some of the UF genes/proteins, a global gene co-expression analysis was performed for the cestode species Echinococcus multilocularis. This resulted in eight UF genes/proteins being predicted as related to developmental, reproductive, vesicle transport, or signaling processes.ConclusionsOverall, the described in silico data provided evidence of the involvement of 34 genes/proteins and at least 3 developmental pathways in the cestode strobilation process. These results highlight on the molecular mechanisms and evolution of the cestode strobilation process, and point to several interesting proteins as potential developmental markers and/or targets for the development of novel antihelminthic drugs.

Taeniid cestodes in Tibetan foxes (Vulpes Ferrilata) detected by copro-PCR: Applications and challenges

Tibetan foxes (Vulpes ferrilata) have been confirmed as the main wild definitive hosts in echinococcosis transmission in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. However, little information is available about the epidemiology in wildlife from the perspective of the Taeniidae family, which is essential knowledge in understanding the epidemiology and phylogeography of cestode species in the Tibetan plateau. Therefore, in this study, we used copro-PCR techniques, by amplifying nad1 and cox1 gene fragments, to detect the taeniid species from Tibetan fox feces collected in Shiqu County, (Sichuan Province, China), eastern Tibetan Plateau. Phylogenetic relationships between amplified sequences and existed Taenia species genotypes were evaluated. Then, the maximum prevalence (positive PCR results from at least one primer pair) and the conservative prevalence (positive PCR results from at least two primer pairs) were calculated. Thirty-six Tibetan fox feces were analyzed. Echinococcus multilocularis (conservative prevalence ± 95% CI: 22.2% ± 13.6%; maximum prevalence ± 95% CI: 33.3% ± 15.4%) and E. shiquicus (2.8 ± 5.4%; 8.3 ± 9.0%) was detected. Meanwhile, DNA fragments of T. polyacantha were detected with high similarity to NCBI sequences (cox1, 94.0%) and to the larva sample DNA sequenced in this study (93.4%), and were supported by phylogenetic analysis. Thus, T. polyacantha might infect Tibetan foxes (5.6% ± 7.5%, 11.1% ± 10.3%). Our limited findings in the epidemiology of parasitic Taenia species suggest that sylvatic transmission cycles for a more species-rich Taeniid community must be established between wild canids and small mammals than just for the two Echinococcus species. Besides, discrepancies in different primer pairs in detecting the taeniid species were evaluated. The sensitivity of some widely used universal primer pairs was poor in detecting Taenia species from canid copro-DNA samples. It is still challenging to the development of effective taeniid species-specific molecular markers especially for non-zoonotic species.

Gastrointestinal helminth parasites of the red kangaroo, Osphranter rufus (Desmarest) (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) and their regional distribution

ABSTRACT Gastrointestinal parasites of 106 red kangaroos, Osphranter rufus (Desmarest), are reported from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Previous studies have been restricted to New South Wales and Queensland. The current study increases the geographical range of studies of the parasites of O. rufus and presents evidence for regional differences in the parasite fauna. Two species of cestodes and 27 species of nematodes were encountered, with four species Cloacina hestia Beveridge, 1998, C. ixion Beveridge, 1998, Papillostrongylus barbatus Chilton, Huby-Chilton, Gasser and Beveridge, 2002 and Popovastrongylus pearsoni (Johnston & Mawson, 1940) being reported for the first time. Several species, Hypodontus macropi Mönnig, 1929, Progamotaenia festiva (Rudolphi, 1819), Labiosimplex longispicularis (Wood, 1929) , Pa. barbatus, Cloacina hydriformis Johnston & Mawson, 1938 and C. liebigi Johnston & Mawson, 1939 were widespread while others exhibited more regional distributions. Helminth communities in Queensland and New South Wales exhibited considerable similarity (89%) followed by South Australia (74%) and the south of Western Australia (71%) while the community in the north of Western Australia was the most distinctive (56% similarity).

The brain structure of selected trypanorhynch tapeworms.

The brain architecture in four species of tapeworms from the order Trypanorhyncha has been studied. In all species, the brain consists of paired anterior and lateral lobes, and an unpaired central lobe. The anterior lobes connect by dorsal and ventral semicircular commissures; the central and lateral lobes connect by a median and an X-shaped crisscross commissure. In the center of the brain, five well-developed compact neuropils are present. The brain occupies a medial position in the scolex pars bothrialis. The ventral excretory vessels are situated outside the lateral lobes of the brain; the dorsal excretory vessels are located inside the brain and dorsal to the median commissure. The brain gives rize four anterior proboscis nerves and four posterior bulbar nerves with myelinated giant axons (GAs). The cell bodies of the GAs are located within the X-commissure and in the bulbar nerves. Highly developed serotonergic neuropils are present in the anterior and lateral lobes; numerous 5-HT neurons are found in the brain lobes including the central unpaired lobe. The X-cross commissure consists of the α-tub-immunoreactive and 5-HT-IR neurites. Eight ultrastructural types of neurons were found in the brain of the three species investigated. In addition, different types of synapses were present in the neuropils. Glial cells ensheath the brain lobes, the neuropils, the GAs, and the bulbar nerves. Glia cell processes form complex branching patterns of thin cytoplasmic sheets sandwiched between adjacent neural processes and filling the space between neurons. Multilayer myelin-like envelopes and a mesaxon-like structure have been found in Trypanorhyncha nervous system. We compared the brain architecture of Trypanorhyncha with that of an early basal cestode taxon, that is, Diphyllobothriidea, and present a hypothesis about the homology of the anterior brain lobes in order Trypanorhyncha; and the lateral lobes and median commissure are homologous brain structures within Eucestoda.

English

A total of 30 specimens of house sparrow Passer domesticus biblicus Hartert, 1904 (15 females and 15 males) were collected from gardens of some houses in Baghdad city; all birds were dissected to identify the parasites in vesicle, gizzard, intestine, gall bladder and caecum. One species of trematodes Brachydistomum microscelis (Yamaguti, 1933) was found in the gall bladder and two species of cestodes Anonchotaenia globata (von Linstow, 1879) and Raillietina tetragona (Molin, 1858) were found in the small intestine of house sparrow. Morphologic and morphometric measurements were considered. The genus Brachydistomum Travassos, 1944 is being recorded for the first time in Iraq in the gall bladder of house sparrow, as it was not previously recorded from birds in Iraq.

THERAPEUTIC AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES IN BASIC INTESTINAL NEMATODOSIS OF EUROPEAN BISONS

The European bison (Bison b. bonasus) inhabits various regions of the Russian Federation, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, and 328 other countries. Currently, the genetic core for breeding bison in the territory of the Russian Federation is the Prioksko-Terrasny State Reserve. The study of bison endoparasotifauna was carried out in the FSBI Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve, the Moscow Region, "Bison Nursery" of the SB RAS in the Altai Republic and in Bryansky Les Reserve, Bryansk Region, and the Department of Parasitology and Veterinary-Sanitary Inspection of the FSBEI HE MGAVMiB – MBA named after K.I. Scryabin. A total of 192 samples were selected and examined, 159 from the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve, 15 from the Bison Nursery of the SB RAS, and 18 from the Bryansky Les Reserve. The endoparasitofauna of bisons from the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve is represented by one species of trematodes, one species of cestodes, three genera of nematodes and one genus of protozoa: Fasciola hepatica, Moniezia benedeni, Trichostrongylus sp., in the study of 15 samples from the "Bison Nursery" of the SB RAS, Altai Republic, only one sample revealed single eggs of helminths from the genus Trichostrongylus sp., the prevalence is 6.6%, and the study of 18 bison fecal samples from the Bryansky Les Reserve identified nematodes from the genus Trichostrongylus sp., the prevalence is 27.7%, and the genus Nematodirus sp., the prevalence is 5.5%. When determining the effectiveness of Anthelminthics of various formulations, one of which is in the form of a powder for oral use containing fenbendazole as the active substance, and the other-injectable with the active substance closantel, it was found that the EE and IE of the latter is 100%.

HELMINTS OF FOXES OF KARAKALPAKSTAN

The species composition of the helminths of the common fox (Vulpes vulpes, Linnaeus, 1758) on the territory of Karakalpakstan was studied. The material for this work was the collection of helminths from 27 foxes (13♂ and 14♀), procured on the territory of Muinak, Kanlykul, Kegeyli and Beruny districts of Karakalpakstan, as well as the Karakalpak part of Kyzylkum in different seasons of 2017–2019 years. The research results show that a fox in the territory of Karakalpakstan registered 35 species of helminths, including 9 species of cestodes, 4 species of trematodes, 3 species of acantocephalus and 19 species of nematodes belonging to 29 genera, 21 families, 14 suborders, 4 classes and 3 types fauna. Helminths are localized in the digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems. Most cases of invasion have been reported in associative form. Some helminths cause serious illness in humans and live-stock animals. 35 species of helminths were found in a fox in Karakalpakstan. The total extent of foxes is 100% helminthic. The basis of this community was cestodes (25.7%) and nematodes (54.3%), of which Dirofilaria immitis, Toxascaris leonina and Toxocara canis dominated in all quantitative indicators. The proportion of trematodes and acantocephalus is – 20.0%.

CANIDAE CESTODES IN THE NATURAL TERRITORIES OF THE CENTRAL BLACK SOIL

Predators (Carnivora) have a large and diverse fauna of helminths, including higher cestodes (Cyclophyllidea). Among predators, the most representative group are canids (Canidae), which are of great importance in the circulation of these cestodes. Under the natural conditions of the Central Black Soil Region (Voronezh Reserve and adjacent territories), studies have been carried out to study the fauna and ecology of canine cestodes. According to the results of these studies, 10 species of higher cestodes were recorded in wild and domestic carnivores: Taenia hydatigena, T. pisiformis, T. crassiceps, T. krabbei, Hydatigera taeniaformis, Tetratirotaenia polyacantha, Mesocestoides lineatus, Dypilidium caninum, Echinococcus granulosus, E. multilocularis. The maximum number of cestode species was found in the fox – 9 species. Significantly less in other species of predators: in the wolf – 3 species, in the raccoon dog – 2 species, domestic dog – 2 species. The fox plays a leading role in the formation of the fauna of canine cestodes. Taenia (T. hydatigena and T. crassiceps) dominate in the composition of the cestodes fauna, they have the prevalence of infection and index of abundance, as well as M. lineatus. The fox has an actual zoonotic species E. multilocularis.

A Guide to Helminth Parasites Reported from Shorebirds (Charadriidae) from the Americas

The shorebird family Charadriidae in the Americas consists of 21 native and 7 vagrant species. Members of the family occupy a diversity of open habitats, ranging from Arctic tundra during nesting, coastal sands, and mudflats to inland prairies, savannas, and wetlands. Some native plovers migrate from nesting grounds in North America to wintering grounds in South America (Hayman et al., 1986; Paulson, 2005; Winkler et al., 2020). Our search of the literature revealed the following: 17 of 28 host species infected with helminth parasites, 153 helminth species, and 199 infections involving 13 geographic areas. The purpose of this guide is to provide easy access to this data and information relevant to helminth infections in charadriids from the Americas. Information is summarized in Tables I–VI. Table I lists in sequence host, parasite, geographic location, and attenuated citation. Common names are given for each host. Host names are listed alphabetically, and older scientific names used in the literature search are in parentheses. Host geographic distribution is abbreviated as follows: NA = North America, M = Mexico, CA = Central America, SA = South America, A = Americas (NA + M + CA + SA). If present, parasite species are listed in the following order: trematode, cestode, nematode, and acanthocephala. The helminth species names are listed as they were given in the cited literature. Tables II–V are parasite-host lists for trematode, cestode, nematode, and acanthocephalan species and host of the species associated with the parasite. Table VI is a summary of information extracted from the tables and literature cited section.

Helminths and the stomach contentment of Bathyraja sp. (Rajiformes: Arhynchobatidae) in the Simushir Island area (Pacific Ocean)

The offspring of skate Bathyraja sp., caught in the environs of the Simushir Island (Greater Kuril Chain), were studied for infections and stomach contentment. Three species of cestodes: Onchobothrium sp., Pseudanthobothrium purtoni, and Phyllobothrium georgiense were found. Eight taxa of invertebrates were found in the stomach: seven amphipods Acanthostepheia behringiensis, Ampelisca eschrichtii, Eusirus cuspidatus, Gammaridea fam. gen. sp., Lysianassidae gen. sp., Oedicerotidae gen. sp., Stenothoidae gen. sp., and one isopod Arcturus crenulatus. The explosive increase in the number of cestodes infecting Bathyraja sp., has been caused by a change in the food spectrum, characterized by the appearance of bony fish. It is the first time that these three species of cestodes have been recorded in the Bathyraja (inhabiting the Northwestern Pacific). The obtained data expands knowledge on the feeding of skates, the fauna of cestodes of the North Pacific Ocean, and their final hosts, as well as coastal communities of the middle Kuril Islands that are poorly studied.