Species Of Gastrointestinal Helminths Research Articles

Association of helminth infestation with childhood asthma: a nested case-control study

ObjectivesThe association between helminthiasis and asthma remains inconclusive but can only be investigated in counties where helminthiasis is transitioning from a high to low burden. We investigated this association using data from a childhood respiratory cohort in Sri Lanka. MethodsA case-control study was nested within a population-based cohort of children aged 6-14 years in Sri Lanka. The stool samples of 190 children with asthma and 190 children without asthma were analyzed to assess the burden of helminth infestation. Logistic regression models were fitted to investigate the association of gastrointestinal helminth species with asthma. ResultsHelminthiasis in children with and without asthma was 23.3% (n = 44) and 15.3% (n = 23), respectively. Those with asthma were more likely to have helminthiasis (odds ratio 3.7; 95% confidence interval 1.7, 7.7; P = 0.001), particularly with Trichiuris trichura (odds ratio 4.5; 95% confidence interval 1.6, 12.3; P = 0.004). Helminth eggs per gram of feces were not associated with asthma (P >0.05). ConclusionOur findings demonstrate a positive association between T. trichura infestation and asthma and point to the need to fully characterize this association to understand the likely immunological mechanism that drives it. This association highlights an important public health intervention in countries where these infestations are still prevalent, affecting 24% of the population worldwide.

Gastrointestinal helminths increase Bordetella bronchiseptica shedding and host variation in supershedding.

Co-infected hosts, individuals that carry more than one infectious agent at any one time, have been suggested to facilitate pathogen transmission, including the emergence of supershedding events. However, how the host immune response mediates the interactions between co-infecting pathogens and how these affect the dynamics of shedding remains largely unclear. We used laboratory experiments and a modeling approach to examine temporal changes in the shedding of the respiratory bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica in rabbits with one or two gastrointestinal helminth species. Experimental data showed that rabbits co-infected with one or both helminths shed significantly more B. bronchiseptica, by direct contact with an agar petri dish, than rabbits with bacteria alone. Co-infected hosts generated supershedding events of higher intensity and more frequently than hosts with no helminths. To explain this variation in shedding an infection-immune model was developed and fitted to rabbits of each group. Simulations suggested that differences in the magnitude and duration of shedding could be explained by the effect of the two helminths on the relative contribution of neutrophils and specific IgA and IgG to B. bronchiseptica neutralization in the respiratory tract. However, the interactions between infection and immune response at the scale of analysis that we used could not capture the rapid variation in the intensity of shedding of every rabbit. We suggest that fast and local changes at the level of respiratory tissue probably played a more important role. This study indicates that co-infected hosts are important source of variation in shedding, and provides a quantitative explanation into the role of helminths to the dynamics of respiratory bacterial infections.

Occurrence of gastrointestinal helminths and the first molecular detection of Ancylostoma ceylanicum, Trichuris trichiura, and Trichuris vulpis in dogs in Myanmar.

Dogs may serve as hosts for a variety of zoonotic or potentially zoonotic helminths, including Ancylostoma ceylanicum and Trichuris species. Cross-sectional study design was used to collect 210 faecal samples of dogs from Nay Pyi Taw area, Myanmar. According to microscopic examination, 180 samples (85.7%) were positive for eight species of gastrointestinal helminths. Among them, positive rates of Ancylostoma species and Trichuris species eggs were observed as 79.0% (166/210) and 11.9% (15/210), respectively. Molecular identification of A. ceylanicum and Trichuris species was confirmed by COX1 gene- and SSU rRNA gene-targeted PCR. Partial sequences of COX1 and SSU rRNA showed 100% identity with A. ceylanicum, Trichuris trichiura, and Trichuris vulpis deposited in GenBank.

An Abattoir-based survey on the prevalence of some Gastrointestinal helminths of camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Aswan Province, Egypt

Gastrointestinal parasitic infection is a prime cause of failures in camel production. This study was conducted to ascertain the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths of camels in Aswan district, Egypt. Besides, the prevalence of helminthiasis in camel was also evaluated considering age, gender, and rearing system. For such reason, a total of 110 dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius) in the Draw abattoir, Aswan province were screened for the presence of gastrointestinal helminths by postmortem examinations between December 2018 to November 2019. Twenty-four animals (21.82 %) were found to be infected with one or more species of gastrointestinal helminths. Moniezia expansa, and Stilesia globipunctata, emerged as the most prevalent species (29.2%), with Avitellina centripunctata also being common (20.83%). Whereas, Moniezia benedeni, was present at low infection rates (12.5 %). Furthermore, the only recorded trematode worm was Paramphistomes spp. (8.33%). Gender variations revealed significant (P≤0.05) differences among examined camels. Oppositely, age and seasonal dynamics had no significant differences with the highest peak in the winter season (33.3%). The current prevalence indicates the necessity of using an anthelmintic drug for increasing the health and productivity of camels.

HELMINTOS GASTRINTESTINAIS DE Chelonia mydas (TARTARUGAS-VERDES) RESGATADAS NO LITORAL SUL DE SÃO PAULO, BRASIL

Objetivou-se realizar o levantamento de helmintos gastrintestinais de Chelonia mydas (tartarugas-verdes) resgatadas no litoral sul de São Paulo, Brasil. Para isso, foram analisados 118 laudos de exames coproparasitológicos e anatomopatológicos realizados pelo Instituto Biopesca entre 2018 e 2019, oriundos do Sistema de Informação de Monitoramento da Biota Aquática, obtendo-se o número de animais parasitados, espécies de helmintos gastrintestinais encontrados, o órgão parasitado e a presença de mono ou poliparasitismo. Os índices ecológicos parasitários de prevalência, intensidade média e abundância média foram calculados. Os resultados revelaram 102 animais albergavam endoparasitos, com prevalência de 86,44% de C. mydas parasitadas. Os órgãos mais acometidos foram intestino delgado (63,06%) e estômago (63,06%). Foram identificadas 13 espécies da Classe Trematoda e as maiores prevalências foram observadas para os helmintos Cricocephalus albus (75,49%), Metacetabulum invaginatum (42,15%) e Pronocephalus obliquus (28,43%). O helminto mais abundante foi C. albus (11,86), seguido por M. invaginatum (11,61) e P. obliquus (4,50). A maior intensidade média encontrada foi da espécie M. invaginatum (31,88), e depois para P. obliquus (18,34) e para C. albus (18,18). Entre as tartarugas parasitadas, 42,37% apresentavam monoparasitismo e 51,69% apresentavam poliparasitismo, com associação entre duas até oito espécies de parasitos. Os helmintos gastrintestinais de Chelonia mydas resgatadas no litoral sul de São Paulo é constituída predominantemente de trematódeos, com uma elevada prevalência, intensidade e abundância média quando comparados à literatura existente.

Prevalence, Intensity and Risks Involved in Helminth Infections in Domestic Mountain Pony and Balkan Donkey in Nature Park Stara Planina, Serbia.

Background:This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, intensity and risk factors (age and gender) promoting the intestinal helminthic infections of the Domestic mountain ponies and Balkan donkeys in Serbia.Methods:Prevalence, intensity and risk factors influencing helminth infection in horses (n=39) and donkeys (n=18) at the site of Nature Park Stara Planina, were studied from May to Sep 2015. The presence of one or several gastrointestinal helminth species was confirmed by faecal flotation in 97.43% of horses and 88.88% of donkeys included in the monitoring. The identified helminth species were Trichostrongylus axei, Strongylus edentatus, S. vulgaris, Parascaris equorum, Dictyocaulus arnfieldi and Anoplocephala magna in 84.61%, 46.15%, 5.13%, 58.97%, 94.87% and 38.46% of horses, respectively. The significant association of infection with P. equorum and sex of horses was established. (χ2=13.33, P<0.01).Results:The prevalence of parasitic helminths identified in donkeys was the following: D. arnfieldi, T. axei, Pa. equorum, S. vulgaris, A. margna and Strongyloides westeri in 55.55%, 38.89%, 27.78%, 22.22% and 22.22% of donkeys, respectively. Moreover, the mean faecal egg count was higher in donkeys (369.9 EPG - egg per gram) than in horses (250.2 EPG). The association between the age and the mean EPG was significant (P<0.05) in both equine species.Conclusion:The results of the investigation provided basic information that can be helpful for planning strategic control of nematode infection in equine population in Nature Reserves in Serbia.

Gastrointestinal Helminthic Parasites of Stray Cats (Felis catus) in Northwest Iran.

Background:Stray cats are considered an important source of various human and animal diseases, particularly diseases of parasitic helminths. We aimed to investigate the distribution of zoonotic species of gastrointestinal helminths in stray cats in Meshkin-Shahr district in Ardabil Province in the northwest of Iran.Methods:The gastrointestinal tract of 104 stray cats from villages of Meshkin-Shahr district were provided during 2014–2015. Each gastrointestinal tract was cut into distinct sections, including esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine, and each section was examined separately for detection of helminths. Helminths were collected and then identified at the species level after clearing and staining.Results:Overall, 88 out of 104 cats (84.6%) were found to be infected with at least one gastrointestinal helminth. The rate of infection for each species was as follows: Toxocara mystax (syn. cati) (49%), Taenia taeniaeformis (44.2%), Joyexiella pasqualei (32.7%), Dipylidium caninum (23.1%), Rictularia cahirensis (4.8%), and Physaloptera praeputialis (4.8%). Among these parasites, only Ph. praeputialis was collected from the stomach, all other helminths were collected from the small intestine.Conclusion:The results demonstrate a high infection rate of stray cats with zoonotic helminths. The presence of zoonotic species in stray cats, particularly T. mystax, has public health importance.

Gastrointestinal helminths of waterfowl (Anatidae: Anatinae) in the Lerma marshes of central Mexico: Some pathological aspects.

Gastrointestinal helminths of migratory waterfowl can cause several lesions that may affect the health and even the survival of their hosts. As part of an ongoing project that aims to inventory the helminth species that infect this group of birds, as well as the histopathologic lesion they cause, a total of 200 digestive tracts of nine species of anatid birds (Spatula discors, S. cyanoptera, S. clypeata, Mareca strepera, M. americana, Anas crecca, A. acuta, A. platyrhynchos diazi, and Oxyura jamaicensis) were collected in the Atarasquillo marsh of Lerma, in the State of Mexico. The present work had a twofold goal: to determine the taxonomic identity of the helminth species present in waterfowl as well as their infection levels and to describe the lesions caused by gastrointestinal parasites in migratory and resident anatids in Atarasquillo marsh, State of Mexico. The specimens were examined using routine helminthological and histopathological techniques. A total of 23 helminths were identified: six trematodes (Zygocotyle lunata, Notocotylus triserialis, Notocotylus seineti, Psilochasmus oxyurus, Australapatemon burti and Cotylurus magniacetabulus), four cestodes (Cloacotaenia megalops, Fimbriaria fasciolaris, Gatrotaenia cygni and Diorchis sp.), eleven nematodes (Echinuria uncinata, Tetrameres sp., Tetrameres fissispina, Hystrichis sp., Streptocara sp., Amidostomum sp., Epomidiostomum uncinatum, Capillaria sp., Capillaria contorta, Ascaridia sp. and Heterakis sp.) and two acanthocephalans (Pseudocorynosoma constrictum and Filicollis sp.). At the proventriculus level, Echinuria uncinata caused the most severe lesions; in the gizzard, Amidostomum sp. and E. uncinatum produced hemorrhages and necrosis. Finally, the main lesions found in the intestine (necrosis, heterophilic granulomas and the formation of lumps on the serosa) were caused by the implantation of the acanthocephalans’ proboscis. Eleven species of gastrointestinal helminths found are new records for the Lerma marshes, as well as the first record in Mexico of the nematode Capillaria contorta and the acanthocephalan Filicollis sp.

Zoonotic Gastrointestinal Helminths in Rodent Communities in Southern Guatemala.

Rodents are reservoirs and hosts of several pathogens around the world, including zoonotic parasite species. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of zoonotic gastrointestinal helminths in rodents captured inside households in a rural community from southern Guatemala. Sixty-nine rodents were captured in 33% (49/148) of the surveyed households, including Rattus rattus, Rattus norvegicus, Mus musculus, and Sigmodon hispidus. Thirty-six percent (25/69) of these rodents (3 Rattus and 22 Mus musculus), from 45% (22/49) of the households, were parasitized with at least 1 gastrointestinal helminth species. Helminths from 6 species were identified: Hymenolepis diminuta, Moniliformis moniliformis, Heterakis spumosa, Nippostrongylus sp., Strongyloides sp., and Syphacia sp. Two zoonotic species were found in Rattus, H. diminuta in R. rattus (1/6), and M. moniliformis in R. norvegicus (1/1). Coinfection with other non-zoonotic helminth parasites, such as He. spumosa and Strongyloides sp., also was observed in the Rattus genus. Mus musculus had only non-zoonotic helminths: He. spumosa, Nippostrongylus sp., and Syphacia sp. being the most common, and He. spumosa (96%) followed by Nippostrongylus sp. (48%), with a higher presence in males than females, with a similar proportion in adult and young individuals. This is the first report of zoonotic and non-zoonotic helminths parasites in rodents from Guatemala.

Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of dogs and community awareness about zoonotic diseases in Chagni town, northwestern Ethiopia

This cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth species found in stray dogs and to assess the awareness of the community about dog parasitic zoonoses in Chagni town, northwest Ethiopia. Standard fecal and postmortem examination and questionnaire survey methods were used to collect data. A total of 202 fecal samples were collected and examined using the Kato-Katz methodology to indicate intestinal helminthes in dogs of the study area. Postmortem examination was done on 9 stray dogs to detect the presence of adult worms. Necropsy of the 9 stray dogs revealed that all of them (100%) were positive for at least one intestinal helminth parasite. The following cestodes were identified: Echinococcus granulosus, Taenia pisiformis, T. hydatigena, T. ovis, Dipylidium caninum and Mesocestoides. Other intestinal worms in dogs were Toxocaracanis, Tirchurisvulpis and Ancylostoma caninum. Most helminths were recovered from the large intestine. Of the interviewed community members, 68.3% reported that tapeworms locally called “kosso” were zoonotic agents, followed by roundworms, locally called “wosefat”. Majority of the respondents reported they feed their own dogs raw condemned offal’s and human. The findings showed that there is significant infestation of intestinal helminthes among the dogs of the study area coupled with the high levels of illiteracy among community members about canine parasites and transmission. This shows that immediate action needs to be taken to decrease infection rates in dogs and to raise education levels of the community about zoonotic diseases. Keywords: Chagni; Dog; Helminthes; Intestinal parasites; Prevalence; Zoonoses

Gastrointestinal Parasites of Vervet Monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) in a High Latitude, Semi-Arid Region of South Africa

Given a changing climate and large-scale human migration, understanding infectious diseases in wildlife and the factors that drive the spread of these diseases is becoming increasingly important. Owing to the close phylogenetic relationship between nonhuman primates and humans, primate parasites are of particular interest due to the potential for zoonotic disease transmission and for the study of social transmission within gregarious social groups. There is a wide range of social and environmental factors that influence the prevalence and transmission of pathogens, and identifying these, and their effects, is crucial to understanding the population-level consequences of climate change for animals that live in obligate social groups. Here we investigated gastrointestinal parasite species richness and used fecal egg counts to estimate worm intensities in 3 vervet monkey troops (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) in a high latitude, semi-arid region of South Africa. This region is characterized by unpredictable rainfall and temperature extremes in summer and winter. We identified the gastrointestinal parasites in the population and explored potential demographic predictors, namely sex and troop membership, of parasite species richness and estimated intensity. Additionally, we assessed whether there was short-term intra-individual, inter-sample consistency in egg counts. Six species of gastrointestinal helminths were identified from 3 study troops, with egg counts ranging from 0 eggs/g to 1,100 eggs/g. Neither age nor sex predicted species richness or estimated intensity. This population had the highest prevalence of parasites with an insect vector compared with all other vervet populations studied, and distinctively high prevalences of Trichostrongylus sp. (71%) and Ternidens sp. (27%). Additionally, we found intra-individual egg count consistency in the short term (mean: 32 days).

Gastrointestinal helminths of local chickens slaughtered in live bird markets in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria

The local chicken constitutes a major part of our poultry population providing eggs and meat for domestic and commercial purposes. They however get very little or no medical attention making them vulnerable to parasitic infection. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) helminths of local chickens slaughtered in four Live Bird Markets (LBMs) in Makurdi between September and December, 2016. A total of 200 gastrointestinal samples were collected from male and female chickens and were examined for GI helminths using the flotation method. A total of 110 chickens were infected with an overall prevalence of 55.0% with 69(34.5%) having single infection, 32(16.0%) double infection, 8(4.0%) triple infection and 1(0.50%) had quadruple infection. Ten species of GI helminths were encountered, three cestodes and seven nematodes. Rallietina species with 73(36.5%) was the most prevalent followed by Ascaridia galli 36(18.0%), Amidostomum anseris 1(0.5%) and Davainea proglottina 1(0.5%) as the least prevalent. There was no statistical significant difference between the four different LBMs (p = 0.058) but there was statistical significant difference in the infection rate based on sex (P= 0.041) and site of preference by the parasite (p = 0.00). Based on location of parasites in the GIT 60.5% of the species were restricted to the small intestine, with the large intestine having 19.5%. This study confirms the presence of GI parasites in the local chickens slaughtered in Makurdi. There is need to institute proper measures in the control of GI helminthes which will further improve the productivity of our local chicken.Keywords: Local chickens; gastrointestinal helminthes; live bird markets; Makurdi

IDENTIFICATION OF GASTROINTESTINAL HELMINTHS INFECTION FROM GOATS ISOLATED IN A FARM IN KUANTAN, PAHANG, MALAYSIA

Livestock is a group of domesticated animal that is reared in an agricultural setting. It usually served as a source of income for most peoples in Malaysia. However, the productions of this livestock especially goats have been decreasing due to the occurrence of gastrointestinal helminths infection. The aim of this study was to identify the presence and species of gastrointestinal helminths from 120 fecal samples collected directly from the rectum of goats from a farm located in Kuantan, Pahang. Firstly, the physical observation was evaluated on all goats. Then, their fecal sample was examined within 96 hours using Formal-ether Sedimentation method for the morphological characteristics identification of gastrointestinal helminthic species under the microscope. This study has identified the majority of goats with a good physical condition, that they have no sign of blood loss and have appropriate body frame. However, the microscopic identification has revealed 89 from the total samples positive with gastrointestinal helminths species while 76 of the positive showed presence of mixed species. The species found were Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus spp., Trichuris ovis, Oesophagostomum spp., Ostertagia spp., and Strongyloides papillosus. This high infection of gastrointestinal helminths observed in goats is related to an impaired immune system, poor farm management, and uncontrolled anthelmintic treatment. The presence of various species of gastrointestinal helminths within a goat is an important cause of morbidity and loss of production. Therefore, this study suggested the need for an effective system of management, diagnosis and appropriate treatment that can reduce the risk of infection and increase the productivity of the animals. Â Â

Gastrointestinal and ectoparasites of plumbeous rail, Pardirallus sanguinolentus (Aves: Rallidae) in Central Chile.

With the aim to identify the parasite fauna of plumbeous rail, Pardirallus sanguinolentus (Aves: Rallidae) in Chile, 26 carcasses were parasitologically necropsied. The present study revealed the presence of 14 species of parasites (inverse Simpson index = 4.64; evenness = 0.332), including ectoparasites: feather mites: Analloptes megnini , Grallobia sp., Grallolichus sp., Megniniella sp., and Metanalges sp.; the feather lice Pseudomenopon meinertzhageni, Rallicola andinus, and Fulicoffula sp.; and six species of gastrointestinal helminths: Heterakis psophiae, Porrocaecum ardeae, Tetrameres sp., Capillaria sp., Diorchis sp., and Plagiorhynchus sp. The relatively high parasite richness that was found could be attributed to the highly favorable conditions of wetlands for parasite development. All parasites found, except feather lice, are new records for plumbeous rail. A checklist of parasites for plumbeous rail is presented.

Disentangling complex parasite interactions: Protection against cerebral malaria by one helminth species is jeopardized by co-infection with another.

Multi-species interactions can often have non-intuitive consequences. However, the study of parasite interactions has rarely gone beyond the effects of pairwise combinations of species, and the outcomes of multi-parasite interactions are poorly understood. We investigated the effects of co-infection by four gastrointestinal helminth species on the development of cerebral malaria among Plasmodium falciparum-infected patients. We characterized associations among the helminth parasite infra-community, and then tested for independent (direct) and co-infection dependent (indirect) effects of helminths on cerebral malaria risk. We found that infection by Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura were both associated with direct reductions in cerebral malaria risk. However, the benefit of T. trichiura infection was halved in the presence of hookworm, revealing a strong indirect effect. Our study suggests that the outcome of interactions between two parasite species can be significantly modified by a third, emphasizing the critical role that parasite community interactions play in shaping infection outcomes.

Parasites of the Southern silvery grebe Podiceps occipitalis (Aves, Podicipedidae) in Chile.

A total of 97 southern silvery grebes (Podiceps occipitalis), which died as the result of an oil spill on the coast of central Chile, were examined for ecto- and endoparasites. Two lice species including Aquanirmus rollandii (Philopteridae) and Pseudomenopon dolium (Menoponidae) were found from 6.2% (6/97) of birds. In 91.7% (89/97) of cases, grebes were infected with some kind of helminths. Three species of gastrointestinal helminths were detected: Eucoleus contortus (Nematoda), Profilicollis bullocki (Acanthocephala), and Confluaria sp. (Cestoda). In addition, Pelecitus fulicaeatrae (Nematoda) was removed from the tibiotarsal-tarsometatarsal articulation in 13.4% (13/97) of the specimens examined. To our knowledge, these are the first records of A. rollandii, E. contortus, and Confluaria sp. as parasites of P. occipitalis. In addition, these findings expand the distributional range of A. rollandii, E. contortus, P. fulicaeatrae, and Confluaria sp. to Chile.

Intestinal helminths of the white stork (Ciconia ciconia Linnaeus 1758) from an inter-route site in Turkey.

In Turkey, a study was conducted during the years 2009-2015 to detect the gastrointestinal helminth species of 18 white storks (Ciconia ciconia Linnaeus, 1758 (Aves: Ciconiiformes) sampled from aquatic or swamp areas of Bursa Province, one of the inter-route sites where storks intensely stay. The results of postmortem examination revealed that 17 (94.44%) white storks harboured one or more helminth species. Eight species of helminths were detected at the following prevalence rates: Dictymetra discoidea (38.88%), Chaunocephalus ferox (37.50%), Schistocephalus solidus (27.77%), Stephanoprora (Monilifer) spinulosa (18.75%), Echinoparyphium sp. (12.50%), Tylodelphys excavata (6.25%), T. clavata (6.25%), and Syncuaria ciconiae (6.25%). This study is the first report on the presence of all the above species except T. excavata from white storks in Turkey. Stephanoprora (M.) spinulosa was found in Ciconiiform birds for the first time in this study.

Prevalence and Intensity of Gastro-Intestinal Helminthiasis Among School Age Children in Nkondjock, Littoral-Cameroon

Gastro-intestinal helminthiasis is an infection which affects at least one person in two in the world and mainly school age children. Our study was conducted with the objective of determining the prevalence and intensity of these infections among pupils in Nkondjock Sub-Division. So, 417 faecal specimens randomly collected from 185 (44.3%) boys and 232 (55.6%) girls were examined, following physical flotation method (Willis’s technique) for qualitative analysis and the numeration method (Stoll’s method) for quantitative analysis. An overall prevalence of 24.5% was observed in the entire population. Three species of gastro-intestinal helminths were identified, principally geohelminths (STH) such as Ascaris lumbricoides (12.0% and 975.00 ± 643.35 epg) which was the most common, followed by Hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale or Necator americanus) (9.4% and 970.59 ± 578.81 epg) and lastly Trichuris trichiura (4.1% and 833.33 ± 452.82 epg). Multiple helminthic infection were recorded with Ascaris lumbricoides + Trichuris trichiura (0.50%) having the highest prevalence among the children. Gastro-Intestinal helminths were most predominant among children aged 16-20 years (44.2%) than those within age group 11-15 years (17.1%). Boys were more infected (27.0%) than girls (24.2%) without a difference statistically significant. This study shows that the prevalence of infection may not be influenced by age and sex and, education of the population on hygienic habits and periodic deworming programme should be done routinely as this would reduce prevalence and intensity of intestinal worm infection among school children.

Epidemiology of bovine gastrointestinal helminthiasis

The gastrointestinal helminths are etiologic agents which have a great important in the decreasing of bovine’s livestock productivity. Among the factors that affect the development of the cattle raising, the gastrointestinal and pulmonary helminthosis are really important as long as they cause economical waste related to the low rates of herd’s productivity, delay on animal’s growing, increased mortality rates of young cattle and excessive spending with management and medicaments. The gastrointestinal parasitism of bovines are often associated to the high numbers of animals in the farm and also to the intensive systems of handling, principally at the dairy cattle. However, talking about ruminants, the nutritional standards and particularly availability of minerals and proteins is an important factor in the optimization of animal’s productivity, interposing in the pathogeny and in the immune response of harborers to the gastrointestinal infections caused by nematodes. The effects of this parasitism in animal production can be reduced by changes in pasture control and application of anti-helmintics. For the success of this procedure, it is necessary to know the biology of the parasites of the region that is going to be studied. One stage of this parasite’s cycle occurs in the environment and many factors are involved in the development and survival of larvas in the pasture and in the maintenance of infection at the animals, such as: climatic and genetical factors and pasturage peculiarities. This revision aims to make an epidemiologic weighing of the main species of gastrointestinal helminths that attack bovines in tropical climate, availing helminthosis prevalence in animal population according to the age-group and to the interaction of this parasites with the economical wastes in bovine pecuary.

Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Helminths in Exotic and Indigenous Goats Slaughtered in Selected Abattoirs in Port Harcourt, South-South, Nigeria

A total of 213 faecal samples were collected from four abattoirs and households to determine the prevalence of helminthes infections in exotic and indigenous goats in Port Harcourt, South-South, Nigeria. The study revealed that out of 153 exotic goats (Red Sokoto) Capra hircus, 112 were infected with various species of gastrointestinal helminths; out of 60 indigenous goats (West African dwarf) Capra hircus, 49 were also infected with various types of gastrointestinal helminths. The formol-ether concentration method was used to analyse the specimens. The study revealed that an overall prevalence of (75.5%) was recorded, out of which 57 (76.0%), 55 (70.5%), and 49 (81.6%) were recorded for exotic goat in the months of May–September, 2010, exotic goat in the months October 2010–February, 2011 and for indigenous goats, respectively. The overall prevalence amongst the infected animals was not statistically significant (P&gt;0.05). Species of helminthes revealed from the study were, Haemonchus, Strongyloides, Chabertia, Trichuris, Ostertagia, Bunostomum, Trichostrongyloida, Ascaris, Tenia, Avitelina, Fasciola, Eurytrema, Gastrothylax, Schistosoma, and Dicrocoelium.