HELMINTHOLOGIA, 33, 1: 3 - 7, 1996

Morphology and chaetotaxy of Trichobilharzia szidati Neuhaus, 1952 cercariae (Trematoda: S c h i s t o s o m a t i d a e: Bilharziellinae)

L. KOLAROVA, P. HORAK*

Department of Tropical Diseases, III. Clinic of Infectious and Tropical Medicine, I. Faculty of Medicine, Hospital Bulovka, Studnickova 7, Prague 2, Czech Republic; *Department of Parasitology, Charles University, Vinicna 7, 128 44 Prague 2, Czech Republic

Summary

Morphology and chaetotaxy of Trichobilharzia szidati Neuhaus, 1952 cercariae from naturally and experimentally infected snails of the family L y m n a e i d a e from Czech Republic and Northern Austria were studied. Chaetotaxy of cercariae expressed as the number and arrangement of dorsal, ventral and lateral surface papillae of the body and tail is presented and compared with literature describing cercariae of T. ocellata group.

HELMINTHOLOGIA, 33, 1: 9—11, 1996

Development of the concept of "parasitic contamination"

M. D. SONIN, V. A. ROITMAN, S. A. BE´ER

Institute of Parasitoloogy, RAS, Moscow

HELMINTHOLOGIA, 33, 1: 13—20, 1996

Some properties of partially purified acetylcholinesterase from the adult female filarial parasite, Setaria cervi

B. SHARMA

Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Department of Biochemistry, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow-228 001, India

Summary Acetylcholinesterase (AChE: EC 3.1.1.7) was identifi- ed and partially purified from adult Setaria cervi females, a bovine filarial parasite. The enzyme preparation was glycoprotein in nature. Isoenzyme studies revealed the presence of two isoenzymes of AChE in S. cervi showing different mobilities on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme was not vulnerable to high substrate (acetylthiocholine) concentration. It was optimally active at pH 8.0 and possessed Km for acetylthiocholine equal to 95 µM. The divalent metal ions such as Mg2+ and Ca2+ activated, whereas Cu2+ strongly inhibited the enzyme activity. The effects of some selective inhibitors and anthelmintic/antifilarial compounds on the activity of filarial AChE have been observed. The results suggested the presence of true cholinesterase exhibiting two different isoenzymic forms, its regulation and function in S. cervi and its sensitivity to antifilarial compounds.

HELMINTHOLOGIA, 32, 4: 21 - 24, 1995

Excretory secretory antigens of Setaria cervi microfilariae

N. SRIVASTAVA, H. MUSTAFA, D. C. KAUSHAL1, N. A. KAUSHAL**

Division of Biochemistry and 1Division of Microbiology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow-226 001, India
** Corresponding author

Summary

The excretory-secretory (ES) products from microfilariae (Mf) of Setaria cervi, a bovine filarial parasite, were prepared by in vitro maintenance of microfilariae at 37°C in Ringer´s solution. The microfilarial ES (MfES) products were analysed by immunoelectrophoresis, countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using immune rabbit sera. Immunoelectrophoretic analysis of MfES products using rabbit anti-S. cervi Mf antigen serum, showed the presence of 6 - 7 antigens in ES products while 3 - 4 and 4 - 5 antigens were observed with rabbit anti-S. cervi adult ES (ScA ES) serum and rabbit anti-Brugia malayi Mf (BmMf) serum, respectively. Both the immune rabbit sera (rabbit anti-ScMf and rabbit anti-BmMf) exhibited a reciprocal antibody titre of 400 000 in ELISA. The S. cervi MfES products showed high reactivity with the antibodies present in filarial patient sera and may provide an easily available source of diagnostic filarial antigens.

HELMINTHOLOGIA, 33, l: 25—26, 1996

Demonstration of antibodies to Encephalitozoon cuniculi in rabbits on some Slovak farms

M. LEVKUT, V. LEVKUTOVA, M. HIPIKOVA, L. KOLODZIEYSKI, P. BALENT, V. BAJOVA

University of Veterinary Medicine, Komenskeho 73, 041 81 Kosice, Slovak Republic

Summary

Rabbits from three farms were examined for seropositivity to Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Thirty seven rabbits were included in this experiment. The indirect immunofluorescent antibody test was performed. The serum of all rabbits from the laboratory colony reacted positively to antigen. Serum from animals of amateur breeders reacted negatively.

HELMINTHOLOGIA, 33, l: 27 - 29, 1996

Communities of soil nematodes on the localities polluted with acid and alkaline emissions

M. SABOVA, B. VALOCKA

Parasitological Institute SAS, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice

Summary

Soil nematode communities were studied over the years 1994—1995 by basic trophic groups on two localities with different emission type. The differences were found in the occurrence of nematode trophic groups as well as in the value of M/B ratio. The family C e p h a l o b i d a e showed a marked tolerance to the magnesite dumping grounds.

HELMINTHOLOGIA, 32, 1: 31- 35, 1995

A peculiar finding of trematodes of the genus Dicrocoelium (D i c r o c o e l i d a e, Trematoda) from Turdus pilaris L. (Passeriformes) in Slovakia

J. K. MACKO, A. STEFANCIKOVA

Parasitological Institute SAS, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Kosice, Slovak Republic

Summary

Data are presented on eighteen trematodes Dicrocoelium dendriticum (Rudolphi, 1819) ? from the host Turdus pilaris L. in eastern Slovakia. The trematodes are 4.94—8.55 x 1.36—1.76 mm large. Oral sucker is up to 312—406 x 292—381 µm and acetabulum 292—465 x 358—530 µm. Testes situated aslant in juxtaposition or tandem. Genital opening in the area of intestinal bifurcation or anterior to the intestine. Follicles of vitelline branches commence in the mid-portion of posterior testis or as far as behind the ovary. Within the organophenote available, a specimen was detected having intestines abnormally connected to form an intestinal arch in the posterior portion of the body. The discussion postulates the question of D. dendriticum as a possible parasite of birds and deals with the taxonomy of some species of the genus Dicrocoelium Dujardin, 1845 parasitizing this group of hosts.

HELMINTHOLOGIA, 33, 1: 37 - 41, 1996

Andrya communis Douthitt, 1915 (A n o p l o c e p h a l i d a e), a parasite of Clethrionomys spp. (A r v i c o l i d a e) in the Nearctic region

F. TENORA

Department of Zoology, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic

Summary

The species Andrya communis Douthitt, 1915 (A n o p l o c e p h a l i d a e) is redescribed from the material of Cestoda of Clethrionomys gapperi (Vigors, 1830) and C. rutilus (Pallas, 1778) from several localities in the Nearctic region. The taxonomical status of A. communis is discussed.

HELMINTHOLOGIA, 33, 1: 43 - 50, 1996

New data on Ancylostoma martinezi Miquel, Torres, Casanova et Feliu, 1994 (Nematoda: A n c y l o s t o m a t i d a e) parasitizing
Genetta genetta (Carnivora: V i v e r r i d a e) in Spain

J. MIQUEL 1, J. TORRES 1, J. C. CASANOVA 1, C. FELIU1, 2

1 Laboratori de Parasitologia, Facultat de Farmácia, Universitat de Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal s/n, 08028 2 Barcelona, Spain; 2Institut de Salut Publica, Campus de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain

Summary

New data on Ancylostoma martinezi Miquel, Torres, Casanova et Feliu, 1994 (Nematoda: A n c y l o s t o m a t i d a e), an oioxenous parasite from the small intestine of the common genet, Genetta genetta (Linnaeus, 1758) (Carnivora: V i v e r r i d a e). A. martinezi is characterized by: a) the presence of three pairs of ventro-lateral teeth in the buccal capsule; and b) cuticular prominences in the shape of serrations on the dorso-lateral borders of the oral cavity. This Nematode is mainly distributed in Northeastern Spain, with a prevalence of 9.4 % in its host.

HELMINTHOLOGIA, 33, 1: 51- 58, 1996

Contributions to knowledge on the helminths parasitizing several A r v i c o l i d a e (Rodentia) in Auvergne (France)

A. F. PETAVY, F. TENORA*, S. DEBLOCK**

Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lyon, France; *Department of Zoology, Mendel University, Brno, Czech Republic; **Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lille, France

Summary

In the localities of Espinat and Allanche (Auvergne district), 37 Microtus arvalis, 1 Clethrionomys glareolus and 22 Arvicola terrestris were dissected. In these hosts, 10 parasitic worms species were found. The following adults parasitized M. arvalis: Anoplocephaloides dentata, Paranoplocephala sp. (Cestoda) and Trichuris muris (Nematoda). As larval stages, there were species: Echinococcus multilocularis, Taenia crassiceps, T. polyacantha, T. taeniaeformis, T. mustelae and Cladotaenia globifera. In A. terrestris, the cestodes E. multilocularis (larva) and P. dentata (adult) were found. Cl. glareolus was parasitized by the larval cestodes Cl. globifera and by adult cestodes of Catenotaenia sp. Investigations have confirmed the circulation of E. multilocularis in the area study and corrected some previous knowledge on helminths rodent species in above localities.