HELMINTHOLOGIA, 40, 3:123-130, 2003
The
dose dependent effect of glucan on worm burden and pathology of mice infected
with Mesocestoides corti (M. vogae)
tetrathyridia
G.
DitteovA, S. VelebnY, G. HrCkovA
Parasitological Institute of the Slovak Academy of
Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovak Republic, E-mail: gabidi@saske.sk
Summary
The
efficacy of three, five and seven doses of glucan and its effect on pathology in
mice infected with Mesocestoides corti larvae
were examined by means of larval counts in the livers and peritoneal cavities
and selected pathophy-siological and biochemical parameters of the host. Sera
and livers of mice were collected on days 32, 42, 50 and 65 p.i. and levels of
ALT, AST, cholesterol and hydroxyproline were determined. Administration of
glucan significantly (P < 0.01) reduced larval counts in the liver of all
treated groups. Larval numbers in the peritoneal cavity of mice treated with
three glucan doses (15 mg.kg-1 of body weight in total) did not
markedly change in comparison with con-trol. On days 50 and 65 p.i. in the liver
and on day 65 p.i. in the peritoneal cavity the lowest larval counts were
recorded in the group treated with five doses of glucan (25 mg. kg-1
of body weight in total). In this group of mice the lo-west intensity of liver
fibrosis was also observed, which was comparable with fibrosis in the control
group. The most intense fibrosis was recorded in the group with three glucan
doses. With respect to larval burden reduction, administration of seven glucan
doses (35 mg.kg-1 of body weight in total) was not as effective as
administration of five doses. AST activities in all glucan treated groups were
markedly (P < 0.01) elevated within the experimental period. In the group
with three doses of glucan, ALT activi-ties decreased
considerably on days 42, 50 and 65 p.i. and in the group treated with
five doses they achieved control levels by the end of the experimental period.
Cholesterol levels were significantly increased after glucan administra-tion
from day 32 up to day 65 p.i., except in three dose-treated mice. The earliest
decline of cholesterol in serum was recorded in the control group. The present
results indicate that greater glucan efficacy is not proportional to the number
of doses, at least in this particular treatment schedule. Administration of five
glucan doses appears to be most effective with respect to the highest reduction
of parasite burden in the liver and peritoneal cavity of mice
and the lowest intensity of liver fibrosis.
HELMINTHOLOGIA, 40, 3:131-134, 2003
Extensive
allozyme polymorphism for phosphoglucomutase in a natural population of Lecithochirium
fusiforme (Digenea) occurring in Conger
conger
R.
Vilas, E. Paniagua*, M. L. SanmartIn1
Laboratorio de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia,
Universidad de Santiago de Compostela. Av. Vigo s/n, Campus Sur, 15782 Santiago
de Compostela, Spain, E-mail: Paniesp@usc.es;
1Instituto de Investigación y Análisis alimentarios, Laboratorio de
Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela
Summary
Allozyme electrophoresis was
used to investigate genetic variation in phosphoglucomutase (PGM) in a natural
population of the hemiurid fluke Lecithochirium
fusiforme oc-curring in conger eels. The banding patterns obtained were
consistent with a monomeric structure for this enzyme and double-locus control.
Although the levels of genetic variation were very different, both Pgm-1
and Pgm-2 loci were polymorphic. The degree of genetic polymorphism at Pgm-1
was unexpectedly high compared with that in other populations of flukes. The
population studied revealed five allozymes for Pgm-1,
and a high heterozygosity for this locus (h = 0.605). However, the population
showed a striking departure from Hardy-Weinberg predictions at Pgm-1 (F= 0.47). The degree of genetic polymorphism of Pgm-1
and the heterozygote deficit detected are discussed in relation to recent
studies of the genetic structure of parasite populations, and also to possible
problems in the definition of a local population of marine fish parasites with
complex life cycles.
HELMINTHOLOGIA, 40, 3:135-140, 2003
Use
of lectins in characterizing developmentally regulated changes on the surface of
Paradiplozoon megan (Monogenea:
Diplozoidae)
I.
SCHABUSSOVA*, M. SCHABUSS1,
M. GELNAR2, P. HORAK3
*Department of Marine Biology, University of Vienna,
Althanstrasse 14, Vienna 1090, Austria,
E-mail: irma1@seznam.cz;
1Department of Limnology, University of Vienna,
Althanstrasse 14, Vienna 1090, Austria; 2Department of Zoology and
Ecology, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic; 3Department
of Parasitology, Charles University, Vinicna 7, 128 44 Prague, Czech Republic
Summary
The
surfaces of three developmental stages (diporpae, just-fused juveniles and
adults) of Paradiplozoon megan have
been examined by histological methods using alcian blue/ periodic acid-Schiff
staining and by binding of lectins conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)
interfaced with confocal scanning laser microscopy, in an attempt to ascertain
developmentally regulated changes of surface saccharide residues. Positive
reactions with alcian blue and periodic acid Schiff indicated the presence of
acidic and neutral mucosubstances, respectively, on the surface and in the
secretory products of glands of the dorsal papilla of diporpa/just-fused
juvenile stages. Binding sites for Man/ Glc, GlcNAc, Gal, GalNAc and Fuc
specific lectins have been detected on the surface of all stages tested, except
the diporpa which failed to react with Fuc-specific lectins.
The dorsal papilla of the juvenile worms expressed binding sites for LCA,
ConA and PNA. The ventral sucker failed to react with Fuc-specific lectins.
Results revealed strong gly-cosylation of the surface of all tested
developmental stages; the level of glycosylation changes during the process of
ageing. It is hypothesized that carbohydrates play a vital role in the somatic
fusion of the diporpae. Differences between the distribution of the carbohydrate
residues of P. megan examined in this study and previous reports of Eudiplozoon
nipponicum have been discussed.
HELMINTHOLOGIA, 40, 3:141-146, 2003
Prevalence
of intestinal parasites of dogs in rural areas of South Moravia (Czech Republic)
M.
Borkovcova
Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry Brno,
Department of Zoology and Apidology, Zemedelska 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic,
e-mail: borkov@mendelu.cz
Summary
The
results of the survey of endoparasites of dogs in 32 small village farms around
Brno city in South Moravia district (Czech Republic) in the period of 1997-2001
are reported. Faecal samples of 483 adult dogs and 216 pups were examined by
direct smear, flotation and Baermann methods. The prevalence of parasites (adult
dogs/pups) found was as follows: Giardia
intestinalis (0.4 %/1.9 %) Isospora
canis (7.9 %/6.0 %), Isospora
ohioensis-like (4.1 %/2.7 %),
Sarcocystis spp. (1.7 %/0.5 %), Taenia-type
eggs (7.9 %/4.6 %), Dipylidium caninum
(2.3 %/1.9 %), Trichuris
vulpis (4.1 %/1.4 %), Toxocara canis (9.5
%/22.2 %), Toxascaris leonina (0.8
%/0.5 %), Ancylostoma/Uncinaria
spp. (0.6 %/0 %).
HELMINTHOLOGIA, 40, 3:147-151, 2003
A
new experimental approach to develop unilocular cystic echinococcosis in
rabbit livers
M.
HOKELEK, H. GUVEN1, U. BELET2, K. ERZURUMLU1,
A. GUVENLI
Ondokuz Mayis University Medical School, Department of
Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, 55139, Kurupelit- Samsun/Turkey, E-mail:
mhokelek@omu.edu.tr; 1Department of
Surgery; 2Department of Radiology, Samsun, Turkey
Summary
Cystic
echinococcosis is a parasitic disease that is endemic in many parts of the world.
Besides surgical and percutaneous interventional methods, new experimental
therapeutic modalities with the use of antiparasitic drugs are still under
investigation. The aim of this study is to present a new practical and time
saving experimental model for treatment of cystic echinococcosis. Daughter cysts
obtained from naturally infected cattle liver with cystic echinococcosis were
implanted into the rabbit liver under sterile conditions. Cysts were evaluated
with ultrasonography and computed tomography for six months. Volumes
were
sig-nificantly
increased
in
seven survived cysts at the end of the sixth month (P < 0.05). The main
advantage of this method over the known classical intraperitoneal protoscoleces
injection methods is to be able to form a successful unilocular liver cyst. This
method proved to be an applicable approach with a short
cyst
development time and high inoculation rate of cysts into the liver.
HELMINTHOLOGIA, 40,
3:153-160, 2003
Helminths
parasitizing the silvery mole-rat, Heliophobius
argenteocinereus (Rodentia: Bathyergidae) from Malawi
F.
Tenora, V. BaruS1, M. ProkeS1, R. Sumbera2, B.
KoubkovA3
Department of Zoology, Mendel University of Agriculture
and Forestry, Brno, Czech Republic; 1Institute of Vertebrate Biology,
Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech
Republic, E-mail: prokes@brno.cas.cz;
2Department of Zoology, South Bohemian University,Ceské Budejovice,
Czech Republic; 3Department of Zoology and Ecology, Faculty of
Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic, E-mail: koubkova@sci.muni.cz
Summary
In the
silvery molerat, Heliophobius
argenteocinereus (Rodentia, Bathyergidae) from Malawi, two helminth species
were identified: Protospirura muricola and
Inermicapsifer arvicanthidis. Mean
abundance of these species was 2.8, and 16.5, respectively. For P.
muricola, silvery molerat is the new host. The morphology of I.
arvicanthidis is described. A review of the genus Inermicapsifer
with notes on the species parasitizing rodents and man is included. Formulated
here is the hypothesis that I.
madagasca-riensis is a tapeworm restricted to man, and that I.
arvicanthidis is a generalist parasite of African rodents.
HELMINTHOLOGIA, 40, 3:161-164, 2003
Parasites
of fallow deer (Dama dama) in Slovenia
G.
VeNguSt, A. BIDOVEC
Institute for Breeding and Health Care of Wild Animals,
Fishes and Bees, University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty, Gerbiceva 60, 1115
Ljubljana, Slovenia, E-mail: Gorazd.Vengust@vf.uni-lj.si
Summary
The
present work summarises the results of a survey of the parasites of farmed
fallow deer across Slovenia. 43 clinically normal fallow deer were shot during
routine culls in 5 enclosures between 1999 and 2001 in wintertime. Eighteen
species of parasites were isolated and determined from gastro-intestinal tract
and liver, 16 of those for the first time in fallow deer in Slovenia. The most
commonly isolated species were Spiculopteragia
asymmetrica, Fasciola hepatica,
Ostertagia leptospicularis, Capillaria bovis, Oesophagostomum radiatum and Skrjabinagia
kolchida. Other species were determined in a lower number of the animals.
The number of parasites in single animals was small, however Fasciola
hepatica was present in larger numbers in the liver of infected animals. No
parasites were isolated from the lungs.
HELMINTHOLOGIA, 40, 3:165-172, 2003
Longidoridae
(Nematoda: Dorylaimida) in the Slovak Republic
M.
LISKOVA, D. J. F. BROWN1
Parasitological Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences,
Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Kosice, Slovak Republic; 1Scottish Crop Research
Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, Scotland, UK
Summary
A total
of 30 longidorid species have been identified from various types of vegetation
in the Slovak Republic, com-prising 22 Longidorus
species (L. attenuatus, L.
caespiticola, L. carpathicus, L. closelongatus, L. cylindricaudatus, L.
elongatus, L. euonymus, L. goodeyi, L. intermedius, L. iug-landis, L.
juglandicola, L. juvenilis, L. leptocephalus, L. macrosoma, L. nevesi, L.
piceicola, L. picenus, L. poes-sneckensis, L. raskii, L. silvae, L. uroshis
and L. vineacola), one Paralongidorus
species (P. maximus), and 7 Xiphi-nema species (X.
dentatum, X. diversicaudatum, X. italiae, X. pachtaicum, X. simile, X. taylori, and X. vuittenezi).
Longidorid nematodes occurred in soil samples at an ove-rall frequency of F = 57
%, with abiotic and biotic factors affecting the frequency of occurrence in the
various types of vegetation investigated. For example, the frequency of
occurrence under cereals was F = 18 %, potatoes F = 21 %, grass leys F = 39 %,
fruit tree orchards F = 67 %, nut tree orchards F = 68 %, vineyards F = 75 %,
forests F = 51 %, floodplain forests F = 96 %, river meadows F = 55 %, and
riverbank vegetation F = 63 %. Populations of L. euony-mus were recovered only from biotopes with sandy soils and
independent of the vegetation type; L.
poessneckensis was present only in very wet soils collected from flooded
forests and river bank vegetation; X. vuittenezi
was present only in soils from the warmest area characteristic for vineyards;
and P. maximus and X. dentatum
were invariably associated with soils derived from calcareous paternal rock. The
association of the longidorid species with different biotopic conditions is
reviewed.
HELMINTHOLOGIA, 40, 3:173-175, 2003
Prevalence
of Toxocara canis
eggs in dog faecal deposits from urban areas of Pisa, Italy
R.
LEGROTTAGLIE, R. Papini1*, R. Capasso, G. Cardini1
Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Profilassi e Igiene
degli Alimenti; *1Dipartimento di Clinica Veterinaria, Facoltà
di Medicina Veterinaria, Viale delle Piagge 2 - 56124 Pisa, Italia; E-mail: rpapini@vet.unipi.it
Summary
The
prevalence of patent Toxocara canis
infection in dogs was determined by examining faecal deposits from the pavement
of three different areas of Pisa, Italy. Of 126 faecal deposits examined, 25
harboured parasite eggs or oocysts throughout the investigation period. T.
canis eggs were found in 14 of
the faecal samples collected and in 1 in association with Dipylidium
caninum. Other parasite infections included D.
caninum, Isospora sp. and Trichuris
vulpis. Public health risk of T. canis
visceral larva migrans is discussed.