Published by De Gruyter

Volume 63 Issue 4

Issue of Acta Parasitologica

Contents
Journal Overview

October 18, 2018

Demodex melesinus (Acariformes: Demodecidae) – the forgotten European badger parasite, rediscovered after 100 years

Joanna N. Izdebska, Karolina Cierocka, Leszek Rolbiecki, Paulina Kozina, Marta Kołodziej-Sobocińska

Page range: 665-668

Abstract

Among 15 demodecid mite species (Acariformes: Demodecidae) recorded from carnivorans Carnivora, 3 species were described from mustelids Mustelidae. They are known only from single records, for which Demodex erminae has been described from the stoat Mustela erminea from Great Britain and New Zealand, D. melesinus from the European badger Meles meles known solely from Great Britain and D. lutrae discovered in the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra from Poland. The current record confirms the existence of D. melesinus , in badger from Poland, after close to one hundred years from its original description, as well as the first detection of the male for this species.

October 18, 2018

New Species of Falcaustra (Nematoda: Kathlaniidae) in Batagur trivittata (Testudines: Geoemydidae) from Myanmar

Charles R. Bursey, Steven G. Platt

Page range: 669-677

Abstract

Falcaustra tintlwini sp. nov. (Ascaridida, Kathlaniidae) from the large intestine of Batagur trivittata (Testudines, Geoemydidae) is described and illustrated. Falcaustra tintlwini represents the 20 th Oriental species assigned to the genus and is distinguished from other Oriental species by the distribution pattern of the caudal papillae (6 precloacal, 12 postcloacal, and 1 median), length of spicules (0.43-0.50 mm) and absence of a pseudosucker.

October 18, 2018

Description of Haemaphysalis (Alloceraea) Kolonini sp. nov., a new species in subgenus Alloceraea Schulze (Ixodidae: Haemaphysalis) in China

Chun-Hong Du, Yi Sun, Rong-Man Xu, ZongTi Shao

Page range: 678-691

Abstract

Southeastern Asia has been postulated as probably the original sites of genus Haemaphysalis , where numerous structurally advanced haemaphysalids now occur. Because of its phylogenetic and biological interest, we report the discovery of a structurally primitive new species Haemaphysalis ( A .) kolonini belonging to subgenus Alloceraea from Baoshan and Weixi cities, Yunnan province, southwestern China. Both the morphological and phylogenic characteristics of the species support congruently to erect Hae . ( A .) kolonini as a new species. The male and female adults of Haemaphysalis ( A .) kolonini are respectively described and illustrated. Taxonomic discussion and keys to Alloceraea species in China are also provided to be able to distinguish species that are close morphologically.

October 18, 2018

A new species of bomolochid Orbitacolax brevispinus n. sp. and redescription of taeniacanthid Cirracanthus inimici (Yamaguti et Yamasu, 1959) (Crustacea: Copepoda: Cyclopoida) parasitic on marine fishes of Korea

Seong Yong Moon, Jung-Hwa Choi, B.A. Venmathi Maran

Page range: 692-703

Abstract

Two species of cyclopoid copepods are recorded in this study. (1) A new species of bomolochid, Orbitacolax brevispinus n. sp. (Crustacea) is described based on adult females collected from the gill filaments and inner surface of the opercula of red barracuda, Sphyraena pinguis Günther (Perciformes: Sphyraenidae), captured in Korean waters. The new species differs from its congeners by the possession of two pairs of spines on the dorsal surface of the cephalothorax located just posterior to the rostrum and a different setal formula on the distal exopodal segments of legs 2–4. (2) A taeniacanthid Cirracanthus inimici (Yamaguti et Yamasu, 1959) (Crustacea) is redescribed based on the specimens collected from the gill filaments and inner surface of the opercula of devil stinger, Inimicus japonicus (Cuvier) (Scorpaeniformes: Synancellidae). This finding is the first record in Korean waters and the first description of male. A checklist of parasitic copepods of the families Bomolochidae Sumpf, 1871 and Taeniacanthidae Wilson, 1911of Korea is also provided.

October 18, 2018

Niglarobia vanelli, a new species of syringophilid quill mite associated with lapwings (Charadriiformes: Charadriidae)

Mateusz Zmudzinski, Maciej Skoracki, Martin Hromada, Markus Unsoeld

Page range: 704-708

Abstract

A new species of quill mite of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata), Niglarobia vanelli sp. nov . collected from eight species of the lapwing genus Vanellus (Charadriiformes: Charadriidae), is described: V. vanellus (Linnaeus, 1758) (type host) from Germany, V. gregarius (Pallas, 1771) from Russia, V. senegallus (Linnaeus, 1766), V. albiceps Gould, 1834, V. spinosus (Linnaeus, 1758), V. crassirostris (Hartlaub, 1855), V. lugubris (Lesson, 1826), and V. coronatus (Boddaert, 1783) all from Tanzania. This new species resembles N. cursoriae Skoracki et al ., 2006 and differs by having the following features: in females of N. vanelli sp. nov ., each medial branch of the peritremes has 3–4 chambers ( vs 2 chambers in N. cursoriae ); the hysteronotal shield is not fused to the pygidial shield ( vs fused); lengths of setae d2 and e2 are 55–65 and 95–120, respectively ( vs 115– 140 and 130–160); and setae p’ and p” of legs III and IV have 4–6 tines ( vs 7 tines).

October 18, 2018

First molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of Neospora caninum DNA from naturally infected goats in Northwest Tunisia

Yosra Amdouni, Safa Amairia, Yousra Said, Sofia Awadi, Mohamed Gharbi

Page range: 709-714

Abstract

Neospora caninum is an intracellular protozoan parasite from the phylum Apicomplexa, mainly associated with abortions and causing enormous economic losses. We aimed, by the present study, to estimate the molecular prevalence and phylogenetic analyses of natural infection with N. caninum in Tunisian goats. A total number of 121 meat samples were collected from slaughtered goats in the regional slaughterhouse of Béja (Northwest Tunisia) and tested from N. caninum ITS1 gene using PCR followed by sequencing of PCR products. Phylogenetic analyses were used to identify this parasite infecting goats in Nortwest Tunisia. The overall molecular prevalence was 19% (23/121). The highest molecular prevalence of N. caninum was observed in goats aged between 2 and 4 years (31.9 ± 13.27%) ( P = 0.004). There was no difference in the overall molecular prevalence of N. caninum according to both localities and animal breeds. Comparison of the partial sequences of the ITS1 gene revealed 99–100% similarity with GenBank sequences. A high similarity with all the blasted genotypes was reported for N. caninum sequences. This is the first molecular study and genetic characterisation of N. caninum in North African goats.

October 18, 2018

Cosmocerca bengalensis sp. nov. (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) in Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Daudin, 1803) (Amphibia, Anura, Dicroglossidae) from West Bengal, India

Sujan K. Sou, Kanchan K. Sow, Anadi P. Nandi

Page range: 715-720

Abstract

Cosmocerca bengalensis sp. nov. (Ascaridida, Cosmocercidae) recovered from the rectum of an Indian bullfrog, Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Daudin, 1803), collected from Hetampur town in Birbhum district of West Bengal, India, is described and illustrated. This species is similar to C. acanthurum , C. banyulensis , C. cruzi , C. japonica , C. kalesari , C. microhylae , C. novaeguineae , C. ornata , C. paraguayensis , C. parva , C. podicipinus and C. travassosi in having 5 pairs of plectanes supporting preanal papillae but differs from these species by general morphometry, absence of somatic papillae in females, absence of gubernaculum and having only one pair of adanal papillae in males and one pair postanal papillae in females except C. microhylae . Present parasites differ from C. microhylae by absence of gubernaculum and general morphometry. Cosmocerca bengalensis sp. nov. represents the thirtheith species assigned to the genus, seventh from Oriental region and fifth species from India.

October 18, 2018

Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of Taenia multiceps from China

L. Tan, A.B. Wang, S.Q. Zheng, X.L. Zhang, C.J. Huang, W. Liu

Page range: 721-727

Abstract

Taenia multiceps , one of the most widely distributed zoonotic tapeworm parasites, is able to parasitize the small intestine of canids. The metacestode of T.multiceps is fatal to ruminants and causes important economic losses in livestock. However, molecular characteristics of T.multiceps and coenurus in China are still unclear. In this study, 36 goat isolates of the coenurus stage and 18 dog isolates of the adult stage of T.multiceps were obtained from three geographical areas in China and the isolated parasite above were analyzed by amplifying the partial of cytochrome coxidase subunit 1(pcox1), 12S ribosomal RNA (12S rRNA) from mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) regions and an internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of ribosomal DNA (rDNA). These DNA sequences obtained from T.multiceps and coenurus were employed to evaluate the nucleotide diversity and confirm the relationship between T.multiceps and coenurus. Sequences variation were 0–1.4%, 0–1.5%, 0–4.2% for pcox1, 12S rRNA and ITS, respectively, among T.multiceps and coenurus isolates obtained in this study. In Sichuan province, sequence variations for Coenurus cerebralis isolated from Yaan city were 0–1.4% for pcox1, 0–1.0% for 12S rRNA and 0–2.1% for ITS. In Hunan province, variations were 0–1.0%, 0–1.5% and 0–3.3% for corresponding genes for non-coenurus cerebralis isolated from Changsha city, while variations of T.multiceps isolates from Xiangxi autonomous prefecture were 0–1.0%, 0–1.1% and 0–3.4% for pcox1, 12S rRNA and ITS, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on pcox1 sequences indicated that all cerebral and noncerebral metacestodes belong to T.multiceps . These results provide reference values for future molecular epidemiological and biological study on T.multiceps in dogs and intermediate hosts.

October 18, 2018

Detection of two Microsporidia pathogens of the European honey bee Apis Mellifera (Insecta: Apidae) in Western Siberia

Yuri S. Tokarev, Zimfira Y. Zinatullina, Anastasiya N. Ignatieva, Oksana N. Zhigileva, Julia M. Malysh, Yulia Y. Sokolova

Page range: 728-732

Abstract

Two species of microsporidia, Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae , occur regularly and cause significant losses in apiculture throughout the world. N. ceranae is thought to be an emerging pathogen of the European honey bee which is replacing N. apis . Microscopic analysis of honey bees collected in Tyumen region, South-Western Siberia, suggested presence of two microsporidial pathogens slightly differing in spore size and shape. PCR detection using species-specific primer sets 312APIS and 218MITOC followed by PCR product sequencing confirmed the diagnosis of N. apis and N. ceranae , respectively. Microsporidia were present in private apiaries through 2008-2010, and among 21 colonies from 7 localities, two colonies were infected with both pathogens, while infections with N. apis only were detected in 8, and with N. ceranae only in 13 colonies. These data suggest that N. ceranae is widely spread in South-Western Siberia alongside with N. apis and is able to persist in the regions with average January temperatures below –18°C.

October 18, 2018

Evaluation and correlation of oxidative stress and haemato-biochemical observations in horses with natural patent and latent trypanosomosis in Punjab state of India

Rahul Parashar, Lachhman Das Singla, Mayank Gupta, Suresh Kumar Sharma

Page range: 733-743

Abstract

The haemato-biochemical indices and oxidative stress markers in horses naturally infected with Trypanosoma evansi were evaluated by analyzing the level of these parameters between T. evansi infected (microscopically positive patent group and PCR positive latent group) and infection free horses. To compare the hemato-biochemical indices and oxidative stress indicators, horses were divided into three categories based on diagnostic test employed and positive results obtained. These included Romanowsky stained slide positive group (Group I; n = 6), PCR positive group (group II; n = 28) and negative control group (group III, n = 30), revealing parasitologically positive patent, molecular positive latent and disease free status of horses. A significant reductions in total erythrocytes count (TEC, P = 0.01), haemoglobin (Hb, P = 0.01) and packed cell volume (PCV, P = 0.04) was noticed both in group I and group II while significant neutrophilia and lymphocytopenia was observed in group I when compared to negative control group. Substantial increase in creatinine (CRTN, P = 0.032) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT, P = 0.012) in group I while significant decrease in glucose (GLU, P = 0.04) and iron (Fe, P = 0.01) were noticed in both group I and group II in comparison to group III. A significant difference in lipid peroxides (LPO, P = 0.01) with highest level in patent group I (15.33 ± 0.53) followed by PCR positive latent group (14.09 ± 1.66) indicates higher lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes and oxidative stress in decreasing order when compared with infection free control horses (9.83 ± 0.97). Catalase (CAT, P = 0.01) was significantly lower in parasitological (0.82 ± 0.14) and molecular positive cases (1.27 ± 0.35) in comparison to control group (3.43 ± 0.96). The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD, P = 0.01), reduced glutathione (GSH, P = 0.01) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP, P = 0.01) were significantly lower in parasito-molecular positive cases as compared to infection free control horses. An inverse correlation of RBC count with LPO and GSH and a direct correlation with catalase, SOD and FRAP was revealed. Overall, the observed substantial decreases in the oxidative parameters like catalase CAT, SOD, GSH and FRAP activities with remarkably elevated levels of LPO indicate high exposure of erythrocytes to oxidative damage in T.evansi infected horses.

October 18, 2018

Peristerophila falcophila sp. nov., a new species and first record of quill mites (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) parasitizing birds of the order Falconiformes

Maciej Skoracki, Martin Hromada, Katarzyna Kaszewska, Markus Unsoeld

Page range: 744-749

Abstract

A new species, Peristerophila falcophila Skoracki and Hromada sp. nov. is described from three avian hosts of the genus Falco : F. peregrinus Tunstall, 1771 from Kenya, Germany and Nepal, F. cherrug Gray, 1834 from Romania, and F. sparverius Linnaeus, 1758 from Colombia. This new species differs from closely related Peristerophila accipitridicus Skoracki et al . 2010 as follow: the propodonotal shield is reduced in the posterior part, but not divided into three separate shield ( vs . divided into three punctate and saber-like sclerites in P. accipitridicus ); the length ratio of setae ve : si is 1:1.6–1.8 ( vs . 1:2–2.8); fan-like setae p’ and p” of legs III and IV are with 10 tines ( vs . 19–20); and the length of setae e2 is 145–155 ( vs . 185–215). Additionally, the key to all species of the genus Peristerophila is constructed and the host-parasite relationships are briefly discussed.

October 18, 2018

Description of a new species of Rhabdias Stiles and Hassall, 1905 (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) from Western Himalayan foothills (Uttarakhand), India

Pallab Maity, Anjum N. Rizvi, Charles R. Bursey, Parthiba Basu

Page range: 750-758

Abstract

Rhabdias garhwalensis sp. nov. from the lungs of Duttaphrynus himalayanus (Günther, 1864) collected in Kimoi Tehsil, district Tehri Garhwal (Uttarakhand), India is described and illustrated. Rhabdias garhwalensis sp. nov. represents the 15th species described from the Oriental zoogeographical zone and the 9th species from India. The new species is differentiated from the closely related Oriental species in having 6 lips, cup–shaped buccal cavity with muscular striations in the posterior region and smaller esophagus to body length ratio. In addition to the new species, a second species, Cosmocercoides bufonis Karve, 1944, was found in the large intestine of D. himalayanus .

October 18, 2018

Development of multiplex PCR assay for concurrent detection of tick borne haemoparasitic infections in bovines

V.R. Kundave, Hira Ram, Partha S. Banerjee, Rajat Garg, K. Mahendran, G.V.P.P.S. Ravikumar, Ashok K. Tiwari

Page range: 759-765

Abstract

This study describes development and evaluation of a multiplex PCR assay for simultaneous detection of Theileria annulata , Babesia bigemina and Anaplasma marginale infections in bovines. The assay was developed using parasites specific genomic DNA and three sets of PCR primers targeting the Tams1, 18S rRNA and 16S rRNA genes of T. annulata , B. bigemina and A. marginale , respectively. Blood samples collected from a total of 461 bovines, suspected for haemoparasitic infections, were examined microscopically to record the status of infection and simultaneously, genomic DNA extracted from these blood samples were utilized for the optimization and validation of multiplex PCR assay. Microscopic examination of blood samples revealed presence of single and multiple species of haemoparasites in 25.8% and 2.4% samples, respectively. Results of multiplex PCR revealed the presence of single haemoparasitic species infection in 159 cases (34.5%), whereas mixed infection was recorded in 82 (17.8%) samples. Occurrence of individual species infection detected by mPCR in the study was 26.03% (120/461) for T. annulata , 3.25% (15/461) for B. bigemina and 5.20% (24/461) for A. marginale . The detection limit of multiplex PCR assay was at the template dilutions of 10 −6 , 10 −6 and 10 −4 , which corresponded to 0.1 pg, 0.1 pg and 10.0 pg of DNA for T. annulata , A. marginale , and B. bigemina , respectively. Based on the high diagnostic sensitivity and throughput, multiplex PCR assay developed in the present study could be exploited as a tool to conduct large-scale epidemiological survey for tick-borne haemoparasitic infection of bovines.

October 18, 2018

Philometra barbata n. sp. (Nematoda: Philometridae) from the red mullet Mullus barbatus (Perciformes, Mullidae) off Tunisia

Nessrine Ghanmi, David González-Solís, Lamia Gargouri

Page range: 766-771

Abstract

Helminthological examinations of the red mullet Mullus barbatus (Linnaeus) (Mullidae) from the Gulf of Hammamet, off Tunisia, revealed the presence of one undescribed gonad-infecting nematode species, Philometra barbata n. sp. (Philometridae). The new species as other congeneric species is mainly characterized by the shape of the caudal mound, the distribution of the caudal papillae and the shape of the gubernaculum with the presence of a dorsal protuberance consisting of two dorsolateral lamellar parts separated from each other by a smooth median field in the male. The new species differs from its gonadinfecting congeners in the body length of male, the length of spicules and gubernaculum. This is the second nominal species of Philometra reported from fishes of the family Mullidae and the 14th from the Mediterranean Sea.

October 18, 2018

A new species of Aphanoblastella Kritsky, Mendoza-Franco and Scholz, 2000 (Monogenea, Dactylogyridae) parasitic on heptapterid catfish (Siluriformes) in the Neotropical region

Fabio H. Yamada, Aline A. Acosta, Priscilla de O. F. Yamada, Tomáš Scholz, Reinaldo J. da Silva

Page range: 772-780

Abstract

Aphanoblastella magna n. sp. is described from the gills of the heptapterid catfish Pimelodella avanhandavae Eigenmann, 1917 in southeastern Brazil (Paraná River Basin). This new species most closely resembles Aphanoblastella chagresii Mendoza-Franco, Aguirre-Macedo and Vidal-Martínez, 2007 described from a congeneric fish host in Panama, but can be distinguished by the shape of the accessory piece and shape and size of the ventral and dorsal bars. From the other species of the genus, A. magna n. sp. differs mainly in the shape of the male copulatory organ (MCO), which is sinuous, versus spirally coiled in other species of the genus, except for A . travassosi (Price, 1938), and by the accessory piece which resembles a ‘shoehorn’. Aphanoblastella magna n. sp. is the seventh species of the genus and the first dactylogyrid described from P . avanhandavae . A partial 28S rDNA gene sequence of the new species is also provided; it forms a monophyletic clade with two congeners for which molecular data are available.

October 18, 2018

First report of molecular characterization and sequence phylogenetic analysis of Linguatula serrata from India

Vikrant Sudan, Daya Shanker, Amit Kumar Jaiswal

Page range: 781-783

Abstract

Linguatula serrata is a pentastomid which is worldwide in distribution. However, a very few references are reported from India. In the present study, the cox I gene of L. serrata nymphs, originally isolated from mesenteric lymph nodes of buffaloes, was amplified and custom sequenced. Based on sequence analysis, two haplotypes were noticed and were subsequently submitted in NCBI database. The sequences were also compared with the other sequences available in the pubmed and phylogenetic analysis coupled with nucleotide homologies were commutated. The studied Indian isolates were found closer to Bangladesh and Iran isolates. This is the first report of molecular characterization of L. serrata from India.

October 18, 2018

Pathological and molecular identification of porcine cysticercosis in Maharashtra, India

Kaushik Satyaprakash, Waqar A. Khan, Sandeep P. Chaudhari, Shilpshree V. Shinde, Nitin V. Kurkure, Sunil W. Kolte

Page range: 784-790

Abstract

Porcine cysticercosis, caused by metacestodes of Taenia solium is an important emerging zoonotic disease with public health and economic significance. Pigs acquire the disease through consumption of Taenia solium eggs excreted by human tapeworm carriers. The present study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of porcine cysticercosis in Nagpur and Mumbai region of Maharashtra, India by P/M examination of carcasses followed by histopathology of affected organs in infected animals and molecular identification of cysts for confirmation. Out of 1000 pigs examined during slaughter, three pigs were found to be heavily affected with T. solium cysts giving a prevalence of 0.3%. Histological section of brain in infected animals revealed marked vascular congestion of meninges, mild neuronal degeneration, perivascular cuffing and gliosis while the liver showed the infiltration of mononuclear cell, predominantly eosinophils throughout the parenchyma. Some degree of calcification was observed in the cysts lodged in liver while calcification was not evident in case of cysts lodged in brain, tongue, diaphragm and skeletal muscle. Molecular identification by PCR using two sets of oligonucleotide primers against LSU rRNA gene and Mt-Cox1 gene of T. solium confirms the cysts to be that of T. solium . The molecular diagnostics methods have been considered for validation in conjunction with P/M inspections, parasitological and histopathological examinations. The study confirms the presence of porcine cysticercosis in the two regions and demands proper sanitary measures to minimize the risk of infection from zoonoses and food safety point of view.

October 18, 2018

A new quill mite Torotrogla emberizae sp. nov. (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) from the Chestnut-eared Bunting (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) in Japan (morphology and DNA barcode data)

Eliza Glowska, Izabella Laniecka, Kamila Romanowska, Miroslawa Dabert

Page range: 791-794

Abstract

A new quill mite Torotrogla emberizae sp. nov . (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) parasitizing the Chestnut-eared Bunting Emberiza fucata Pallas, 1776 (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) in Japan is described based on the external morphology and DNA barcode data (mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences, COI). Females of T. emberizae sp. nov . differ from T. volgini Skoracki and Mironov, 2013 by having the short, wide and blunt-ended hypostomal protuberances ( vs long, thin and sharp-ended), setae h1 ca . twice shorter than f1 ( vs h1 longer than f1 ), the fan-like setae p’ and p” of legs III–IV provided with ca . 10 tines ( vs 7–8 tines) and lengths of setae vi 70–105 ( vs 55–65), ve 105–135 ( vs 85–90) and h1 55–60 ( vs 95–120).

October 18, 2018

Low rates of Plasmodium falciparum Pfcrt K76T mutation in three sentinel sites of malaria monitoring in Côte d’Ivoire

Abibatou Konaté, Paterne Akpa Gnagne, Valérie Akoua Bédia-Tanoh, Mireille Amiah-Droh, Dominique Konan Tano, Hervé Ignace Eby Menan, William Yavo

Page range: 795-801

Abstract

Despite efforts to eliminate it, malaria remains a major public health concern, particularly in Côte d’Ivoire. Chloroquine (CQ) was one of the first drugs used for its treatment, but was officially withdrawn from the market in 2007 following reports of high levels of chloroquine resistance. The present study was carried out after the withdrawal of CQ and provides an update on the rates of CQ resistance in Côte d’Ivoire. Samples were collected between September 2013 and March 2014 in Abidjan and from January to May 2016 in Abengourou and San Pedro through cross-sectional studies. Parasitemia was assessed by microscopy, and single nucleotide polymorphism in the Pfcrt (codon 76) gene was analyzed by nested PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism. A total of 343 samples were analyzed: 119, 106 and 118 were from Abidjan, Abengourou, and San Pedro, respectively. The sex ratio of patients was 0.92. The mean age of patients enrolled was 9.6 years (SD = 10.8). The geometric mean of parasite density was 21,337 parasites/μL (SD = 49,508; range, 2,000–200,000). Molecular analysis revealed 57 K76T mutants (16.6%): 33, 9, and 15 in Abidjan, Abengourou and in San Pedro, respectively. Most of these were found in patients aged ≤15 years (42/57) who had parasitemia greater than 10,000 parasites/μL (40/57). This is the first study conducted in Côte d’Ivoire reporting a decline in Pfcrt K76T mutation rate. Thus, our results indicate the importance of following up on the observed trend also at a national level.

October 18, 2018

Redescription of Dichelyne (Cucullanellus) jialaris (Nematoda: Cucullanidae), a parasite of seabreams (Perciformes: Sparidae) in East Asia

František Moravec, Kazuya Nagasawa, Ione Madinabeitia

Page range: 802-807

Abstract

An insufficiently known nematode species Dichelyne ( Cucullanellus ) jialaris Luo, Guo, Fang et Huang, 2004 (Cucullanidae), originally described from the red seabream Pagrus major (Temminck et Schlegel) (Sparidae) in the Taiwan Strait, off China, is redescribed based on light and scanning electron microscopical (SEM) examinations of specimens collected from the intestine of three species of sparid fishes, Acanthopagrus schlegelii (Bleeker), Evynnis tumifrons (Temminck et Schlegel) and P . major , in Hiroshima Bay, Japan. The present redescription provides exact data on the cephalic structure, character of cephalic papillae and amphids, location of the excretory pore, deirids and phasmids, and the number and distribution of caudal papillae in the male; the presence of the dorsal postdeirid in this species is reported for the first time. The SEM study revealed that the anterior cloacal lip has a median lobe-like elevation bearing two minute papillae, whereas the posterior cloacal lip is somewhat depressed, with a median longitudinal rod-like elevation probably serving to direct the movement of spicules. The size of eggs is reported for the first time. Dichelyne ( C .) jialaris differs from the morphologically similar D . ( C .) pleuronectidis (Yamaguti, 1935) mainly in the shape of the oesophagus. The present finding of D . ( C .) jialaris represents the first record of this nematode from fishes in Japanese waters and A . schlegelii and E . tumifrons are its new host records.

October 18, 2018

Evaluating of Wistar rat and BALB/c mouse as animal models for congenital, cerebral and ocular toxoplasmosis

Mehdi Sharif, Roghiyeh Faridnia, Shahabeddin Sarvi, Shirzad Gholami, Hamed Kalani, Ahmad Daryani

Page range: 808-813

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of cyst production by Toxoplasma ( T .) gondii , RH strain, in Wistar rat and BALB/c mouse and the purpose of this study was to introduce an animal model suitable for congenital, cerebral, and ocular toxoplasmosis. The mice and rats, considered as cerebral and ocular toxoplasmosis models, were intraperitoneally infected by different number of the parasite and their eyes and brain were evaluated for the presence of T . gondii cyst using the microscopic examination and the bioassay method. Moreover, the pregnant mice and rats, considered as congenital toxoplasmosis models, were intraperitoneally infected by different number of the parasite and their infants were examined by the method mentioned above. The best result for the cerebral toxoplasmosis model was observed in the rats infected with the 10 7 parasites, so that all infants (100%) were infected with the parasite when examined using the bioassay method. Furthermore, the best result was observed for the congenital cerebral toxoplasmosis model with 100% infection rate in the infants born to mothers infected with the 10 7 parasites. Overall, just few the ocular samples were positive using bioassay method. The best result in the current study was for the congenital cerebral toxoplasmosis model where the pregnant rats were infected with the 10 7 parasites and all infants were infected (100%). Therefore, these infants can be used as a congenital cerebral toxoplasmosis model when they are in the fetal stage, and can be used as a cerebral toxoplasmosis model one month after birth.

October 18, 2018

A new species of Orientatractis (Nematoda: Atractidae) from the tortoise Indotestudo elongata (Blyth) in China

Baochen Liu, Zuozhen Li, Luping Zhang

Page range: 814-818

Abstract

A new species of nematode, Orientatractis longicaudata n. sp. is described from the intestine of Indotestudo elongata (Blyth) (Testudinidae) from Zoo of Tianjin, Tianjin, China. The new species can be easily distinguished from its congers by having longer tail, by the length of gubernaculum and left spicule, and by the numbers of caudal papillae. This is first species of Orientatractis Petter, 1966 reported in China. A key to the species of Orientatractis is provided.

October 18, 2018

Prevalence of non-pathogenic types of gastrointestinal protozoa in population in Slovakia and their potential importance in the aspect of public health

Adriána Dudlová, Pavol Jarčuška, Silvia Jurišová, Zuzana Vasilková, Vladimír Krčméry, Peter Juriš

Page range: 819-825

Abstract

The aim of the research was to determine the prevalence of non-pathogenic protozoa circulating in the human population of Slovakia. We particularly focused on the socially deprived areas with poor sanitation conditions, as they are one of the factors affecting the transmission of these infections. Within this study, 2760 people were coprologically screened for the presence of protozoan cysts. The analyzed group comprised 1173 men and 1587 women from different regions of Slovakia. The total prevalence (2.03%) of non-pathogenic protozoa species was determined. The prevalence of Entamoeba coli was 0.80%, the prevalence of Endolimax nana 0.58%, and the prevalence of Blastocystis hominis was 0.65%. The presence of non-pathogenic protozoa was more frequent in women than that in men, in all age groups. The highest incidence of Entamoeba coli was found in children aged one month – seven years (0.79%), the lowest in the age group of 19–88 years (0.66%). Endolimax nana was most frequent in 8–18 year-olds (0.95%), where the statistical significance was found (p<0.05). The prevalence of Blastocystis hominis by the age group ranged from 0.39 to 0.95%. We did not find any statistical significance (p>0.05) for Entamoeba coli , and similarly for Blastocystis hominis associated with the sex and age. Although the circulation of non-pathogenic protozoa in the human population is far from being limited to the developing countries, their occurrence is also frequent in the population of developed countries. Despite their controversial pathogenicity, they should not be neglected, particularly in the patients with gastrointestinal symptoms.

October 18, 2018

Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of Acanthamoeba isolates in tap water of Beni-Suef, Egypt

Wegdan M. Abd El Wahab, Ayman A. El-Badry, Doaa A. Hamdy

Page range: 826-834

Abstract

The genus Acanthamoeba is a free-living amoeba widely distributed in various aquatic environments. It is an etiologic cause of amoebic encephalitis and keratitis particularly for immunocompromised individuals. The purpose of the present study was to investigate Acanthamoeba species prevalence in household and hospital potable water in Beni-Suef governorate, Egypt, and to employ sequencing methods to identify positive Acanthamoeba species isolates and their potential health risks. Sixty tap water samples (30 household and 30 governmental and private hospital settings) collected from Beni-Suef governorate, Egypt were filtered, cultured on non-nutrient agar, identified by morphotyping keys after staining with Giemsa stain and then confirmed by PCR using Acanthamoeba specific primers. Twenty positive samples were successfully genetically characterized and phylogenetically analyzed to identify Acanthamoeba species. The total detection rate for Acanthamoeba was 48/60 (80%); Acanthamoeba contamination in water collected from domestic houses was higher than in hospitals; 27/30 (90%) versus 21/30 (70%) with statistical significant value ( P value = 0.05). Sequencing of 20 positive isolates revealed Acanthamoeba T4 in 65% and T2 in 35%. To our knowledge, this is the first research that documents the occurrence and phylogeny of Acanthamoeba species in Beni-Suef, Egypt. The presence of a higher percentage of Acanthamoeba species in tap water, in particular T4, highlights the potential health hazards for immunocompromised individuals and emphasizes the urgent need for the implementation of effective filtration and disinfection measures.

Research Note

October 18, 2018

First finding of Ityogonimus lorum and I. ocreatus co-infection in the Iberian mole, Talpa occidentalis

Roser Adalid, Jordi Torres, Marcos Miñarro, Màrius Vicent Fuentes, Jordi Miquel

Page range: 835-838

Abstract

The Ityogonimus lorum-I. ocreatus co-infection is reported for the first time in the Iberian mole Talpa occidentalis in Asturias (NW Spain). Both Ityogonimus species are stenoxenous helminths of insectivores of the genus Talpa and they have often been found parasitizing the Iberian mole and also the European mole T. europaea , but a mixed infection had not been previously reported. The present study also highlights the main differential morphometric characteristics between I. lorum and I. ocreatus such as the body length, the ventral sucker diameter, the ratio between suckers and the distance between suckers.

October 18, 2018

Helminth and respiratory mite lesions in Pinnipeds from Punta San Juan, Peru

Mauricio Seguel, Karla Calderón, Kathleen Colegrove, Michael Adkesson, Susana Cárdenas-Alayza, Enrique Paredes

Page range: 839-844

Abstract

The tissues and parasites collected from Peruvian fur seals ( Arctocephalus australis ) and South American sea lions ( Otaria byronia ) found dead at Punta San Juan, Peru were examined. The respiratory mite, Orthohalarachne attenuata infected 3 out of 32 examined fur seals and 3 out of 8 examined sea lions, however caused moderate to severe lymphohistiocytic pharyngitis only in fur seals. Hookworms, Uncinaria sp , infected 6 of the 32 examined fur seals causing variable degrees of hemorrhagic and eosinophilic enteritis. This parasite caused the death of 2 of these pups. In fur seals and sea lions, Corynosoma australe and Contracaecum osculatum were not associated with significant tissue alterations in the intestine and stomach respectively. Respiratory mites and hookworms have the potential to cause disease and mortality among fur seals, while parasitic infections do not impact significatively the health of sea lions at Punta San Juan, Peru.

Case Report

October 18, 2018

Meglumine antimoniate-induced DRESS: original case with a positive skin test

Amel Chaabane, Haifa Ben Romdhane, Hajer Ben Brahim, Nadia Ben Fredj, Zohra Chadli, Naceur A Boughattas, Mohamed Chakroun, Karim Aouam

Page range: 845-847

Abstract

We report a case of a 64-year-old woman treated with meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime®). On day 20, she developed fever, a pruriginous skin rash and myalgia. The blood tests showed eosinophilia and hepatic cytolysis. The clinico-biological picture improved gradually and the symptoms disappeared 4 weeks after the drug withdrawal. Six weeks later, intradermal tests to Glucantime® were performed and were positive at 48 hour-reading. This clinical picture suggests DRESS induced by meglumine antimoniate. To the best of our knowledge, only one case of meglumine antimoniate-induced DRESS has been reported in the literature and we are the first to report a case confirmed by skin tests.

About this journal

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