HELMINTHOLOGIA, 39, 1:3-7, 2002

V. Revajova, M. Levkut, A. M. Aldawek, E. Dvoroznakova¹, K. Reiterova¹, I. Krupicer¹

Department of Pathological Academy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Košice, Slovak Republic; ¹Parasitological Institute of Slovak Academy of Slovakia, Košice, Slovak Republic

Summary

To estimate the effect of lambs’ immunoreactivity to the administration of 10 000 T. canis eggs subpopulations of lymphocytes, proliferation activity of lymphocytes, and determination of IgG were performed. Significant proliferative responses of T and B lymphocytes were found on 7 and 14 d after infection. Production of IgG to T. canis was significantly determined on 21 and 28 d., the number of leukocytes and neutrophils significantly decreased on 14 and 21 days in the experimental group. On the contrary, eosinophils were significantly increased on 14 and 21 days in infected lambs. The level of CD4+T cells and IgM+ bearing cells significantly increased on 7 day of the experiment in infected animals. On the other hand, the number of CD8+ T cells significantly decreased in experimental animals on day 14 and 21, and CD2+ T cells on day 21. A significant change of neutrophils and eosinophils appears the connection with phagocytic activity and killing of parasite. Significant modulation of CD4, and CD8 T cells, and IgM bearing cells seems to be associated with antibody production and destruction of parasite.

HELMINTHOLOGIA, 39, 1:9-16, 2002

Haematological measurements and immune response in natural trichostrongylid infection of Polish Wrzosówka sheep selected for consistently low or high egg output

B. MOSKWA , W. CABAJ, M. DOLIGALSKA ¹

Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warszawa, e-mail:moskwa@twarda.pan.pl; ¹ Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warszawa, Poland

The study was carried out on two groups of naturally infected Polish Wrzosówka young ewes with consistently low or high faecal egg counts over one grazing season. The aim of the study was to estimate the associations between faecal egg count (FEC), total white blood cell count (TWBC), blood eosinophilia, lymphocyte proliferative response, serum interleukin-5 (IL-5) and serum immunoglobulin G (IgG). There were significant differences in FEC, blood eosinophil counts, lymphocyte blastogenic activity to Con A or LPS and IgG immune response between two selected groups. The results revealed that TWBC and IL-5 concentration were not usefulness markers reflected low or high faecal egg output. Although TWBCs decreased, the level of IgG specific to nematode antigens increased in the end of grazing season. In autumn, Haemonchus contortus from mixed population of nematodes adapted in spring was replaced by Chabertia ovina/Oesophagostomum spp. and Cooperia spp., and the highest proliferative response of cells was observed. Response to Con A was higher than to LPS, but the proliferative response of cells stimulated with LPS was higher in group selected for low FEC.

K. Boczon, E. Wandurska-Nowak, M. Szulc

Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences, Fredry 10, 61-701 Poznań, Poland, E-mail: kboczon@eucalyptus.usoms.poznan.pl

Summary

The production of NO by inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was measured in muscle tissue and intestine homogenates and in serum of mice infected with: lower (300 larvae/mouse) and high (700-800 larvae/mouse) dose of Trichinella spiralis larvae. The strongest induction of iNOS was observed in high-dose infections in late muscular phase of experimental trichinellosis and the efflux of iNOS from tissues to serum took place about 1-2 weeks later than its maximum in muscular tissues was observed. This observation speaks in favour of iNOS-derived NO participation in pathogenesis of muscular phase of trichinellosis and its timing and dose dependence. Evident, about 3 and 4 fold stimulation of iNOS-derived production both in muscles and serum, respectively in infected mice after administration per os of a single dose of albendazole and almost no influence after treatment per os using levamisole was observed. Albendazole may potentiate its action in trichinellosis, besides the inhibitory influence on parasite’s tubulin, stimulating a nitrogen free radical-based defense mechanism of the host.

Concentration of heavy metals in perch and its endoparasites in the polluted water reservoir in Eastern Slovakia

L. Turcekova , V. Hanzelova , M. Spakulova

Parasitological Institute Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovak Republic, E-mail: turcela@saske.sk

Summary

Concentrations of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in fish organs and tissues of parasites were analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and subsequently compared with bottom sediments from the water reservoir Ružín (Eastern Slovakia). Relatively high contents of all elements were observed in perch (Perca fluviatilis L.), with the liver containing considerably higher amounts of heavy metals than the muscle tissue. Incorporation of heavy metals into the tapeworm Proteocephalus percae and acanthocephalan worm Acanthocephalus lucii, the two dominant endoparasites of perch, was 6-280 times higher than that measured in livers or muscles of fish. The amount of heavy metals was generally higher in tapeworms than acanthocephalans and lower in the liver of perch infected with tapeworms than that in the fish infected with acanthocephalans and uninfected fish. Significant positive correlation was also found between the quantity of heavy metals in bottom sediments and their contents in the tissues of both parasites. Acanthocephalans were more suitable to reflect the content of particular heavy metals in bottom sediments and thus provided more reliable information about the actual pollution of the reservoir. A negative effect of heavy metal pollution on the genome of fish endoparasites and the occurrence of morphological malformations are also discussed.

Length and weight of Ligula intestinalis plerocercoids (Cestoda) parasitizing adult cyprinid fishes (Cyprinidae): a comparative analysis

V. BARUS, M. PROKES

Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic, E-mail: prokes@brno.cas.cz

Summary

Assessed comparatively were the parameters of length and weight of Ligula intestinalis plerocercoids parasitizing as single and multiple infections in three adult (3+ and more) fish species (roach, silver bream, bream). The hypothesis that the body size of an endoparasitic species can be related to the host body size and longevity, and for tapeworm larval stage (plerocercoid) and intermediate host (fish) was confirmed. At single parasite infection intensity, the niche spatial volume (fish body cavity) is not occupied fully, and therefore conditions for growth and parasite reinfection are maintained. At multiple infections, intraspecies competition for the niche space on different levels are observed. These conclusions are documented by significant differences in length and weight of plerocercoids and parasite index values. The presence and intraspecies competition level were tested effectively from plerocercoid condition, expressed by the parasite length-weight relationship.

Parasitic nematodes of the Florida pompano, Trachinotus carolinus, from the Peninsula of Yucatán, Mexico

D. Gonzalez-Solis¹, F. Moravec¹, V. M. Vidal-Martinez, S. E. Zarateperez

Laboratory of Parasitology, Centre for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Piolytechnic Institute, Mérida Unit, Carretera Antiqua a Progreso Km. 6, “Cordemex”, A. P. 73, C. P. 97310. Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, E-mail: dgs@mds.cinvestav.mx; ¹Institute of Parasitology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic

Summary

A helminthological examination of 51 specimens of the Florida pompano, Trachinotus carolinus (Linnaeus), from three localities (Campeche, Progreso and Celestún) off the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, revealed the presence of the following species of paraistic nematodes: Cucullanus trachinoti, Capillaria (Capillaria) gracilis, Ascarophis sp., Echinocephalus sp. larvae and Hysterothylacium sp. Type MD of Norris and Overstreet, 1976 larvae. Cucullanus trachinoti and C. gracilis were the most frequently recorded species. All findings represent new host and geographical records.

A. Saraiva, A. Pereira, C. Cruz

Departamento de Zoologia e Antropologia, Faculdade de Ciencias, Universidade do Porto, Praça Gomes Teixeira, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal, E-mail: amsaraiv@fc.up.frt

Summary

Data on the seasonal occurrence and maturation of Rhabdochona anguillae Spaul, 1927 in its definitive host, the European eel, Anguilla anguilla, from the Sousa River, northern of Portugal, are presented. Monthly samples were taken from November 1998 to October 1999. A total of 326 fish specimens were examined. R. anguillae occurred all the year round (overall prevalence and mean intensity 54 % and 3, respectively), not showing pronounced seasonal cycles of occurrence or intensity. The main period of maturation of the nematodes was spring and early autumn, but gravid females with mature eggs in the uteri were present throughout the year. Although occurring during all the year, new infections in eels were most common in the end of spring. Unidentified Rhabdochona larvae were recorded from the caddis fly larvae, Hydropsyche spp. (prevalence and intensity of 29 % and 1 to 34, respectively).

HELMINTHOLOGIA, 39, 1:45-50, 2002

Co-existence of Dactylogyrus anchoratus Dujardin, 1845 and D. extensus Mueller & Van Cleave, 1932 (Monogenea), parasites of common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

A. Ozer

Ondokuzmayis Üniversitesi, Su Ürünleri Fakültesi, 57000 Sinop, Turkey, E-mail: ahmetozer100@hotmail.com

Summary

Co-existence between potentially competing species, Dactylogyrus anchoratus and D. extensus parasitising common carp (Cyprinus carpio L) from the two localities in northern Turkey has been studied. The distribution of these two dactylogyrids on mirror and scaled varieties of common carp according to season and the sex of the host at two environmentally different sampling stations is presented. Dactylogyrus anchoratus was recorded with an infestation prevalence of 21.79% at Çobanlar (farm) and 34.04% at Bektaşaga (lake), whilst D. extensus, the dominant species, was recorded with infestation prevalences of 98.71% at Çobanlar (farm) and 85.1% at Bektaşaga (lake). A possible competitive exclusion by Dactylogyrus extensus over D. anchoratus was determined.

HELMINTHOLOGIA, 39, 1:51-57, 2002

Seasonal dynamics of plant parasitic and free living nematodes in sugar beet, cereals and lucerne fields in East Slovakia

M. RENCO

Parasitological Institute Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Kosice, Slovak Republic

The seasonal dynamics of the occurrence of plant parasitic and free living nematodes were compared in sugar beet, cereal and lucerne fields at four localities in East Slovakia. Proportion of plant parasitic nematodes in sugar beet fields during the vegetation varied from 15.6 % to 49.9 %, with minimum in June and maximum in May. In cereal fields proportion of plant parasitic nematodes was from 20.8 % to 49 %, with minimum in May and maximum in June. The proportion of plant parasitic nematodes in lucerne stands was from 18.8 % to 56.5 %, with minimum in June and maximum in May. The most abundant species from obli-gate plant parasitic nematodes in all three crops was Tylen-chorhynchus cylindricus and among facultative species there were Tylenchus exiguus and Tylenchus davainei.