Treatment Of Infected Animals Research Articles

Ameliorative effects of propolis and wheat germ oil on acute toxoplasmosis in experimentally infected mice are associated with reduction in parasite burden and restoration of histopathological changes in the brain, uterus, and kidney.

Toxoplasmosis continues to be a prevalent parasitic zoonosis with a global distribution. This disease is caused by an intracellular parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii, and the development of effective novel drug targets to combat it is imperative. There is limited information available on the potential advantages of wheat germ oil (WGO) and propolis, both individually and in combination, against the acute phase of toxoplasmosis. In this study, acute toxoplasmosis was induced in Swiss albino mice, followed by the treatment of infected animals with WGO and propolis, either separately or in combination. After 10 days of experimental infection and treatment, mice from all groups were sacrificed, and their brains, uteri, and kidneys were excised for histopathological assessment. Additionally, the average parasite load in the brain was determined through parasitological assessment, and quantification of the parasite was performed using Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction targeting gene amplification. Remarkably, the study found that treating infected animals with wheat germ oil and propolis significantly reduced the parasite load compared to the control group that was infected but not treated. Moreover, the group treated with a combination of wheat germ oil and propolis exhibited a markedly greater reduction in parasitic load compared to the other groups. Similarly, the combination treatment effectively restored the histopathological changes observed in the brain, uterus, and kidney, and the scoring of these reported lesions confirmed these findings. In summary, the present results reveal intriguing insights into the potential therapeutic benefits of wheat germ oil and propolis in the treatment of acute toxoplasmosis.

Optimal control and cost-effectiveness analysis of anthrax epidemic model

Anthrax is an acute infectious zoonotic disease caused by the spore-forming Bacillus anthracis, a sporulating, nonmotile, gram-positive rod-shaped bacterium. The disease primarily affects domestic and wild herbivores and continues to threaten human health globally. Aside from causing severe and lethal infections in human and animal populations, an outbreak of anthrax may lead to large economic losses to livestock owners. In this research article, we proposed a nonlinear differential equation model for studying the transmission dynamics of anthrax in animals and humans with optimal control analysis taking into account a vaccination programme aimed at reducing the susceptibility of the animal population. The model system exhibits two distinctive equilibrium points, these are the anthrax-free equilibrium point and anthrax endemic equilibrium point. The anthrax-free equilibrium point is proved to be locally and globally asymptotically stable whenever the basic reproduction number is less than one (R0<1) and the endemic equilibrium point is locally asymptotically stable whenever the basic reproduction number is greater than unity (R0>1). The sensitivity analysis revealed that the factors that have higher influence on the spread of anthrax are the recruitment rate of animals Λa, pathogen shedding rate ξa, infection rate of susceptible animals βa, vaccination rate ρa, practicing of proper environmental hygiene θ and recovery rate in animals ϕa. The numerical simulation results reveal that managing the disease without optimal control is costly. It further demonstrates that the combined effect of vaccination, treatment of infected animals and practicing of proper environmental hygiene, comparatively has the ability to reduce the number of infected animals and humans as well as pathogens in the environment within a short period of time. The cost-effectiveness analysis also suggests that the combination of vaccination of animals, treatment of infected animals, and practicing of environmental hygiene is the most cost-effective strategy for combating anthrax epidemic.

Dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton Mentagrophytes in an 8-month-old Friesian-Bunaji cross-breed Calf in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Dermatophytosis is a contagious, zoonotic skin disease affecting a variety of domestic and wild animals including man. It is caused by a group of morphologically and physiologically related fungi in the Genera Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton-Trichophyton mentagrophytes was responsible for dermatophytosis on an 8-month-old Friesian-Bunaji cross bred calf in Jos, Nigeria. The diagnosis was based on clinical signs, direct microscopy and isolation of aetiologic agent on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar supplemented with chloramphenicol and cycloheximide. The lesions involving the face, muzzle and jaw were circular, alopecic, thickly crusted, and grayish-white raised above the skin. Direct microscopic examination of skin scrapings and hair pullouts in 10%KOH revealed chains of arthroconidia on the surface of infected hairs. Colonies were flat, white, and granular to fluffy with yellow reverse side. The isolate was urease test positive when inoculated on to Christensen’s urea agar. Microscopically, many spherical microconidia arranged in dense grape-like clusters with few multiseptate, thin and smooth walled macroconidia, typical of Trichophyton mentagrophytes were observed. Bovine dermatophytosis is economically important both in the livestock and leather industries as well as in public health. The need for prompt diagnosis and treatment of infected animals as preventive and control measures was emphasized.

Microscopic and serological survey of Trypanosoma evansi infection in Tunisian dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius).

Camels are the most adapted species to the harsh ecosystems of the African continent where they represent 80% of world's population. However, they can be susceptible to many pathogens such as Trypanosoma evansi. This parasite is widely distributed in Africa and represents a real threat to animal health and production. In Tunisia, despite its importance, this disease is underestimated and only a few data are available. The present study aims to investigate the prevalence of the disease by combining microscopic and serological tests. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 307 dromedary camels randomly selected from Southern Tunisia. Collected blood samples were microscopically examined and tested with Card Agglutination Trypanosomiasis Test to detect anti-T. evansi antibodies. The microscopic and serological prevalence were estimated at 2.93 and 62.54%, respectively. Microscopic examination showed morphological features of T. evansi. All positives samples were collected from aged males (>5years old). Seroprevalence was similar for both sexes but it was higher in dry season and in the southwest of Tunisia. The present study revealed high prevalence of T. evansi infection among dromedary camels. This highlights the need for adequate control measures based on the detection and treatment of infected animals and vector control. We recommend investigating the prevalence of infection in other domestic animals living in the same environment.

A REVIEW ON OVINE FASCIOLOLSIS

Fascioliasis is a common disease of sheep and other ruminants caused by F. hepatica and F. gigantica. The disease is worldwide in distribution and is liable for causing extensive economic losses to the livestock industry encompassing reductions in weight gain, wool production and fertility. It is caused by two members of genus Fasciola; Fasciola (F.) gigantica and F. hepatica. Fasciolosis is also known as, fasciolasis, distomatosis and liver rot. It occasionally affects humans, hence considered as a zoonotic disease. The life cycle of these trematodes involves snail as an intermediate host (IH). The epidemiology of fascioliasis is strictly linked to the geographical and environmental characteristics of the area where transmission occurs. The disease mostly diagnosed by prior knowledge of the epidemiology of the disease in a given environment; observation of clinical signs, information on grazing history, seasonal occurrence and standard examination of feces in the laboratory. The affected sheep should be effectively treated with oral administration of a narrow spectrum anthelmintic such as Triclabendazole in addition to reducing the population of the intermediate host to control the disease. Now a days, fasciolosis is recognized as emerging human disease over the world even if only few case reports of human fascioliasis are available in Ethiopia, as the disease mostly affects animals in the country. It causes several economic losses. The losses may be direct or indirect. Treatment of infected animals will largely depend on the correct use of appropriate and registered anthelmintics. Ovine fasciolosis may be controlled by reducing the populations of the intermediate snail hosts and by appropriate anthelmintic treatment. Key words: Anthelmintic, Ethiopia, Fasciola, Ovine

Leishmaniosis caused by Leishmania infantum in ferrets: Update review

Leishmaniosis in domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) is a disease caused by Leishmania infantum, a parasite transmitted through the bite of an infected female phlebotomine sand fly. Among vertebrates, the dog is the primary domestic reservoir of the parasite; however, other domestic animals can be implicated such as cats. The first description of a clinical case of leishmaniosis in domestic ferrets was reported recently. As a result, new knowledge has been published including empirically based treatment protocols, confirmatory techniques to detect the presence of the parasite infection and seasonal variation in the antibodies against Leishmania in apparently healthy domestic ferrets. The most common clinical signs observed are enlargement of peripheral lymph nodes and skin lesions such as papular and/or ulcerative dermatitis. Additionally, the most frequent laboratory alterations seen are hyperproteinaemia with hyperglobulinaemia and biochemical analytes alterations depending on the affected tissue. Two different therapeutic protocols have been described to treat domestic ferrets with leishmaniosis: meglumine antimoniate plus allopurinol protocol or miltefosine plus allopurinol protocol. These treatment protocols seemed to be able to control the Leishmania infection, although the presence of xanthinuria could be detected. The susceptibility of domestic ferrets to Leishmania infantum, the clinical picture, treatment of infected animals and prevention are poorly understood, due to the scarcity of recent description in the literature. Different proposed diagnostic algorithms have been included for domestic ferrets with suspected leishmaniosis, clinically healthy domestic ferrets and animals as blood donors. In this sense, the present review provides updated data on scientific knowledge of leishmaniosis in ferrets.

The combined treatment of Molnupiravir and Favipiravir results in a potentiation of antiviral efficacy in a SARS-CoV-2 hamster infection model.

BackgroundFavipiravir and Molnupiravir, orally available antivirals, have been reported to exert antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. First efficacy data have been recently reported in COVID-19 patients.MethodsWe here report on the combined antiviral effect of both drugs in a SARS-CoV-2 Syrian hamster infection model. The infected hamsters were treated twice daily with the vehicle (the control group) or a suboptimal dose of each compound or a combination of both compounds.FindingsWhen animals were treated with a combination of suboptimal doses of Molnupiravir and Favipiravir at the time of infection, a marked combined potency at endpoint is observed. Infectious virus titers in the lungs of animals treated with the combination are reduced by ∼5 log10 and infectious virus are no longer detected in the lungs of >60% of treated animals. When start of treatment was delayed with one day a reduction of titers in the lungs of 2.4 log10 was achieved. Moreover, treatment of infected animals nearly completely prevented transmission to co-housed untreated sentinels. Both drugs result in an increased mutation frequency of the remaining viral RNA recovered from the lungs of treated animals. In the combo-treated hamsters, an increased frequency of C-to-T mutations in the viral RNA is observed as compared to the single treatment groups which may explain the pronounced antiviral potency of the combination. Interpretation: Our findings may lay the basis for the design of clinical studies to test the efficacy of the combination of Molnupiravir/Favipiravir in the treatment of COVID-19. Funding: stated in the acknowledgment.

Modelling the Dynamics of Campylobacteriosis Using Nonstandard Finite Difference Approach with Optimal Control

Campylobacter genus is the bacteria responsible for campylobacteriosis infections, and it is the commonest cause of gastroenteritis in adults and infants. The disease is hyperendemic in children in most parts of developing countries. It is a zoonotic disease that can be contracted via direct contact, food, and water. In this paper, we formulated a deterministic model for Campylobacteriosis as a zoonotic disease with optimal control and to determine the best control measure. The nonstandard finite difference scheme was used for the model analysis. The disease-free equilibrium of the scheme in its explicit form was determined, and it was shown to be both locally and globally asymptotically stable. The campylobacteriosis model was extended to optimal control using prevention of susceptible humans contracting the disease and treatment of infected humans and animals. The objective function was optimised, and it was established that combining prevention of susceptible humans and treatment of infected animals was the effective control measure in combating campylobacteriosis infections. An analysis of the effects of contact between susceptible and infected animals as well susceptible and infected humans was conducted. It showed an increase in infected animals and humans whenever the contact rate increases and decreases otherwise. Biologically, it implies that campylobacteriosis infections can be controlled by ensuring that interactions among susceptible humans, infected animals, and infected humans is reduced to the barest minimum.

The small molecule AZD6244 inhibits dengue virus replication in vitro and protects against lethal challenge in a mouse model.

Dengue virus (DENV) is the most common mosquito-borne viral disease. The World Health Organization estimates that 400 million new cases of dengue fever occur every year. Approximately 500,000 individuals develop severe and life-threatening complications from dengue fever, such as dengue shock syndrome (DSS) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), which cause 22,000 deaths yearly. Currently, there are no specific licensed therapeutics to treat DENV illness. We have previously shown that the MEK/ERK inhibitor U0126 inhibits the replication of the flavivirus yellow fever virus. In this study, we demonstrate that the MEK/ERK inhibitor AZD6244 has potent antiviral efficacy in vitro against DENV-2, DENV-3, and Saint Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV). We also show that it is able to protect AG129 mice from a lethal challenge with DENV-2 (D2S20). The molecule is currently undergoing phase III clinical trials for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer. The effect of AZD6244 on the DENV life cycle was attributed to a blockade of morphogenesis. Treatment of AG129 mice twice daily with oral doses of AZD6244 (100mg/kg/day) prevented the animals from contracting dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF)-like lethal disease upon intravenous infection with 1 × 105 PFU of D2S20. The effectiveness of AZD6244 was observed even when the treatment of infected animals was initiated 1-2days postinfection. This was also followed by a reduction in viral copy number in both the serum and the spleen. There was also an increase in IL-1β and TNF-α levels in mice that were infected with D2S20 and treated with AZD6244 in comparison to infected mice that were treated with the vehicle only. These data demonstrate the potential of AZD6244 as a new therapeutic agent to treat DENV infection and possibly other flavivirus diseases.

Analysis of Listeriosis Transmission Dynamics with Optimal Control

Listeriosis is an illness caused by the germ Listeria monocytogenes. Generally, humans are infected with listeriosis after eating contaminated food. Listeriosis mostly affects people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and newborns. In this paper, a model describing the dynamics of Listeriosis is developed and analysed using ordinary differential equations. The model was analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively for its local and global stability, basic reproductive number and parameter contributions to the basic reproductive number to understand the impact of each parameter on the disease spread. The Listeriosis model has been extended to include time dependent control variables such as treatment of both humans and animals, vaccination and education of humans. Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle was introduced to obtain the best optimal control strategies required for curbing Listeriosis infections. Numerical simulation was performed and the results displayed graphically and discussed. Cost effectiveness analysis was conducted using the intervention averted ratio (IAR) concepts and it was revealed that the most effective intervention strategy is the treatment of infected humans and animals.

The Impact of Actotoxumab Treatment of Gnotobiotic Piglets Infected With Different Clostridium difficile Isogenic Mutants.

Nosocomial infections with Clostridium difficile are on the rise in the Unites States, attributed to emergence of antibiotic-resistant and hypervirulent strains associated with greater likelihood of recurrent infections. In addition to antibiotics, treatment with Merck anti-toxin B (TcdB) antibody bezlotoxumab is reported to reduce recurrent infections. However, treatment with anti-toxin A (TcdA) antibody actotoxumab was associated with dramatically increased disease severity and mortality rates in humans and gnotobiotic piglets. Using isogenic mutants of C. difficile strain NAPI/BI/027 deficient in TcdA (A-B+) or TcdB (A+B-), and the wild type, we investigated how and why treatment of infected animals with anti-TcdA dramatically increased disease severity. Contrary to the hypothesis, among piglets treated with anti-TcdA, those with A+B- infection were disease free, in contrast to the disease enhancement seen in those with wild-type or A-B+ infection. It seems that the lack of TcdA, through either deletion or neutralization with anti-TcdA, reduces a competitive pressure, allowing TcdB to freely exert its profound effect, leading to increased mucosal injury and disease severity.

Lupeol induces immunity and protective efficacy in a murine model against visceral leishmaniasis.

The available chemotherapeutics for the cure of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) are linked with many detrimental effects. Moreover, VL is associated with the suppression of protective Th1 immune response of the host and induction of disease exaggerating Th2 immune response. Therefore, there is an urgent requirement of therapeutics which can augment the immune status of the host to cure this disease. In the current investigation, the antileishmanial potential of lupeol was monitored in vitro and in vivo in inbred BALB/c mice against Leishmania donovani. Lupeol showed potent antipromastigote activity via arresting parasites at sub G0/G1 phase in vitro. Lupeol significantly decreased the splenic parasite burden by inducing strong delayed-type hypersensitivity responses in contrary to untreated infected animals. The therapeutic efficacy of lupeol was observed to be similar to the reference drug, AmB. Treatment of infected animals with lupeol depicted enhanced levels of T cells and Th1 cytokines in contrast to only infected controls. Further lupeol treatment upregulated the levels of nuclear factor κ B and nitric oxide synthase genes and elevated the production of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide. Unlike AmB, lupeol-treated infected animals did not show any toxicity. These findings are promising and indicate that lupeol can serve as a prototype drug for the cure of VL.

Shedding of feline lungworm larvae and their infectivity to snail intermediate hosts after anthelmintic treatment

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and Troglostrongylus brevior are snail-transmitted helminths causing respiratory diseases in infected cats. The shedding of feline lungworm L1s and their infectivity to the snail intermediate host, after administration of anthelminthic products to cats, are poorly documented. To assess the efficacy of 8.3% fipronil, 10% (S)-methoprene, 0.4% eprinomectin and 8.3% praziquantel (i.e. eprinomectin formulation) and 10% imidacloprid/1% moxidectin (i.e. moxidectin formulation) against these nematodes and to determine the number of days post-treatment until viable L1s are released in the faeces, 384 animals were screened by faecal examination. Of the 54 positive animals (i.e., 14.1%; 7.3% A. abstrusus, 6.2% T. brevior and 0.5% coinfected), 36 were randomly allocated to four groups. Groups A and B were composed of cats positive for T. brevior and treated with the eprinomectin and with the moxidectin formulations, respectively, whereas cats in groups C and D were positive to A. abstrusus and treated with the eprinomectin and the moxidectin formulations, respectively. Prior to and every day after treatment, faecal samples were analysed by the Baermann technique and the number of larvae per gram of faeces determined, and again four weeks after treatment, to assess the efficacy of a single administration of the products. In addition, to evaluate the pre- and post-treatment infectivity of L1s to snail intermediate hosts, one/two snails per cat were infected with 100 L1s collected from the faeces of enrolled animals and then digested 28 days p.i. Based on L1s faecal counts, the efficacy of the eprinomectin and the moxidectin formulations at 28 days was 100% for both A. abstrusus and T. brevior, with a mean number of days of 7.9 ± 1.2 in group A, 7.8 ± 1.9 in B, 6.9 ± 1.6 in C and 8.9 ± 2.0 in D to become negative. Following the artificial digestion, active L3s of T. brevior and A. abstrusus were found in 160 (87.4%) experimentally infected snails. The results of this study demonstrate that a single administration of the two formulations is effective in the treatment of A. abstrusus and T. brevior infections and that during the post-treatment period live L1s are shed for up to 8.9 ± 2.0 days. L1s of both lungworm species released in the faeces after drug administration are still able to reach the infective larval stage in the infected snails. Hence, preventative measures after the treatment of infected animals should include keeping cats indoors and disposal of their faeces for approximately 10 days to avoid environmental contamination and infection of gastropod intermediate hosts.

Erythrocytes morphology and hemorheology in severe bacterial infection.

BACKGROUND Severe bacterial infections initiate inadequate inflammation that leads to disseminated intravascular coagulation and death.OBJECTIVES To evaluate the influence of bacterial infection on blood viscosity and red blood cells (RBCs) morphology, and the ability of Calotropis procera proteins (CpLP) to prevent the patho-hemorheology in infected animals.METHODS Rheology of blood, atomic force microscopy measurements on specific blood elements and blood count were performed to examine changes in blood viscosity, RBCs morphology, platelets activation, and RBCs indices.FINDINGS Infected mice hold their blood rheological behaviour as compared to that of the control group. However, they presented hyperactivated platelets, RBCs at different stages of eryptosis, and variation on RBCs indices. CpLP administration in healthy animals altered blood behaviour from pseudoplastic to Bingham-like fluid. Such effect disappeared over time and by inhibiting its proteases. No alterations were observed in RBCs morphology or platelets. Treatment of infected animals with CpLP prevented the changes in RBCs indices and morphology.MAIN CONCLUSIONS The inflammatory process triggered by bacterial infection induced pathological changes in RBCs and platelets activation. Treatment of infected animals with CpLP prevented the emergence of RBCs abnormal morphology and this may have implications in the protective effect of CpLP, avoiding animal death.

Characterization of p57, a Stage-Specific Antigen of Pneumocystis murina.

Pneumocystis has a large multicopy gene family encoding proteins related to the major surface glycoprotein (Msg), whose functions are largely unknown. We expressed one such protein of Pneumocystis murina, p57, which is encoded by 3 highly conserved genes, and demonstrated by immunoblot that immunocompetent mice that were immunized with crude Pneumocystis antigens or that had cleared Pneumocystis infection developed antibodies to p57. Using hyperimmune anti-p57 serum combined with immunolabeling, we found that p57 was expressed by small trophic forms and intracystic bodies, whereas it was not expressed on larger trophic forms or externally by cysts. Expression of p57 and Msg by trophic forms was largely mutually exclusive. Treatment of infected animals with caspofungin inhibited cyst formation and markedly decreased p57 expression. While p57 expression was seen in immunocompetent mice infected with Pneumocystis, immunization with recombinant p57 did not result in altered cytokine expression by lymphocytes or in diminished infection in such mice. Thus, p57 appears to be a stage-specific antigen of Pneumocystis that is expressed on intracystic bodies and young trophic forms and may represent a mechanism to conserve resources in organisms during periods of limited exposure to host immune responses.

Efficacy of Novel Antistaphylococcal Ectolysin P128 in a Rat Model of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia.

Staphylococcus aureus causes systemic infections with high morbidity and mortality, and the emergence of drug-resistant strains is a rapidly growing clinical concern. Novel therapeutic agents are required to tackle S. aureus infections. P128 is a bacteriophage-derived chimeric ectolysin with potent and rapid bactericidal activity against S. aureus In the present study, the efficacy of P128 was evaluated in a newly developed rat model of S. aureus bacteremia. Prior to in vivo testing, P128 was shown to be stable in whole blood by incubation in rat blood for up to 6 h and testing its bactericidal activity against the methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolate USA300. Rats succumbed to intravenous challenge with 109 CFU of S. aureus USA300, resulting in 80 to 100% mortality by day 14. Evaluation of the bacterial load in various organs at 96 h postinfection revealed high bacterial counts in the kidney, and this correlated with the presence of renal abscesses. Treatment of infected animals with P128 either by intravenous bolus administration via tail vein or by 1-h infusion via the jugular vein at 2 h postinfection resulted in the dose-dependent survival of rats. P128 treatment also resulted in very few or no abscesses in the kidneys. These data show that P128 is stable in the physiological milieu and that intravenous treatment with P128 is highly effective in rescuing rats from S. aureus bacteremia. P128 can be a novel therapeutic option for treatment of S. aureus systemic infections.

Leukotriene B4 is essential for lung host defence and alpha-defensin-1 production during Achromobacter xylosoxidans infection

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is essential for host immune defence. It increases neutrophil recruitment, phagocytosis and pathogen clearance, and decreases oedema and inflammasome activation. The host response and the role of LTB4 during Achromobacter xylosoxidans infection remain unexplored. Wild-type (129sv) and LTB4 deficient (Alox5−/−) mice were intratracheally infected with A. xylosoxidans. Wild-type 129sv infected mice survived beyond the 8th day post-infection, exhibited increased levels of LTB4 in the lung on the 1st day, while levels of PGE2 increased on the 7th day post-infection. Infected Alox5−/− mice showed impaired bacterial clearance, increased lung inflammation, and succumbed to the infection by the 7th day. We found that exogenous LTB4 does not affect the phagocytosis of A. xylosoxidans by alveolar macrophages in vitro. However, treatment of infected animals with LTB4 protected from mortality, by reducing the bacterial load and inflammation via BLT1 signalling, the high affinity receptor for LTB4. Of importance, we uncovered that LTB4 induces gene and protein expression of α-defensin-1 during the infection. This molecule is essential for bacterial clearance and exhibits potent antimicrobial activity by disrupting A. xylosoxidans cell wall. Taken together, our data demonstrate a major role for LTB4 on the control of A. xylosoxidans infection.

Ocular dirofilariasis: case reports

The article deals with the problem of ditofilariasis - the only facultative for the human in Russian Federation zoonotic parasitic helminth. Over the last years, there is a pronounced tendency to increased number of animals and humans dirofilariasis cases in the temperate climate area. The spread of the disease (which until quite recently was considered as endemic for tropical climate countries and southern regions of our country) is related to a wide causative agent circulation in the environment and to the spread of the great number of stray dogs and lack of adequate measures aimed on detection and treatment of infected animals. Moreover, there is a year-round risk of infection caused by «basement» Culex mosquitoes and in an urban setting. Herewith, the problem of dirofilariasis caused by Dirofilaria repens and Dirofilaria immitis nematodes is poorly known and there are no sufficient data on its true prevalence in our country. In the article, clinical cases of ocular dirofilariasis caused by Dirofilaria repens are presented, diagnosed in Ural and North-Western Regions of the Russian Federation. Upon larvoscopic examination, Dirofilaria repens immature female was identified in all four cases. The article contains short literature review of dirofilariasis problem in Russia and morbidity prognosis. The need for thorough epidemiological anamnesis and use of ultrasound, laboratory and larvoscopic examination for clinical diagnosis of ocular dirofilariasis is reviewed. The main aspects of conservative and surgical treatment of parasitic infection are presented. The late diagnosis of dirofilariasis caused by absence of pathognomonic symptoms at early stages of the disease requires wider awareness and clinical suspicion of this pathology.

Rev iew on Ovine Fasciolosis in Ethiopia

Fasciolosis is one of the major constraint factors for ovine production development in Ethiopia by inflecting direct and indirect loss at different parts of the country. Ovine fasciolosis is an economically important parasitic disease of sheep caused by tr ematodes species of the genus Fasciola , which migrate in the hepatic parenchyma and establish and develops in the bile ducts. In Ethiopia, both species co - exist at different altitudes. The snails of the genus lymnae are mainly involved as an intermediate host in the life cycle of fasciolosis. Ovine fascioliasis in Ethiopia were losses annually estimated at 48.4 million Ethiopian birr due to mortality, productivity (weight loss and reproductive wastage), and liver condemnation at slaughter. This fasciola di sease has three phases of clinical sign acute, sub - acute and chronic forms. Acute fasciolosis occurs as disease outbreak following a massive, but relatively short - term, intake of metacercariae. Death usually results from blood loss due to hemorrhage and ti ssue destruction caused by the migratory juvenile flukes in the live resulting in traumatic hepatitis. Diagnosis of Fasciolosis is based on clinical sign, grazing history, and seasonal occurrence, examination of feces by laboratory tests and post mortem ex amination. Treatment of infected animals will largely depend on the correct use of appropriate and registered anthelmintic. Triclabendazole is the most effective anthelmintic drug which can be destroys or kills all stage of fasciola. Fasciolosis may be con trolled by reducing the populations of the intermediate snail host, or by appropriate anthelminthic treatment and the population of snail should be destroyed by applying Molluscicide and destroying the environment that suit for snail’s reproduction.

In Vivo Evaluation of Leishmanicidal Activity of Benzophenone Derivatives by qPCR

In many tropical areas, infections by Leishmania species are endemic and include visceral leishmaniasis (VL), which is often fatal if untreated. Outside India, VL treatment and control are based on long-term administration of highly toxic pentavalent antimonials. Previously, we described the synthesis and in vitro leishmanicidal activity of a series of nine benzophenone derivatives with low toxicity towards murine macrophages. Here in, we report the in vivo evaluation of the most promising active compounds of that series in an experimental model of established VL by L. (L). infantum chagasi in hamsters. Importantly, parasite DNA (amastigote form) quantification in infected tissues was performed by real time PCR, for improved detection accuracy and speed. Compounds 2-Hydroxy-4- O-(3,3-dimethyl)-allylbenzophenone (LFQM-117 (1)), 4-O-(3,3-Dimethyl)-allylbenzophenone (LFQM-120 (2)) and 4,4′-Di-methoxybenzophenone (LFQM-121 (3)) were administered as oral suspensions (50 mg/kg/day) for 10 days, after 50 days of parasite inoculation, and their efficacy was compared to pentavalent antimonial Glucantime (GLU). Compound 1 significantly reduced the number of parasites in the spleen (1.64 × 102 amastigotes/g, vs. 1.16 × 106 amastigotes/g in the untreated control), while compound 2 significantly reduced (p<0.05) the number of parasites in the liver (1.28 × 104 amastigotes/g, vs. 1.76 × 105 amastigotes/g in the untreated control) of infected animals. Glucantime was the most effective in the treatment of infected animals (1.15 × 101 and 3.20 × 102 amastigotes/g in the spleen and liver, respectively), but with higher toxicity then the most active compounds LFQM-117 (1) and LFQM-120 (2).