China Science » Immunology and Microbiology

Characterization of the first Polish isolate of Neospora caninum from cattle

admin — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 03:24:38 +0000

Neospora caninum was isolated from the brain of an apparently healthy calfborn to a seropositive cow. The calf was killed 12 hrs after birth and homogenate of its brain wasinoculated into Vero cells. Neospora-like tachyzoites were detected 66 days later. The identity ofthe parasite was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction amplification of N. canium-specificfragments using Np21 and Np6 primers. This first Polish isolate of N. caninum was designatedNC-PolB1.

Gozdzik, K　Cabaj, W
Polish Acad Sci, W Stefanski Inst Parasitol, PL-00818 Warsaw, Poland

Neospora caninum　 isolation　 PCR　 ELISA　 Western blot　 calf　 ANTIBODIES　INFECTION BRAIN DOGS

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New data on straggled eyeworm Oxyspirura chabaudi (Barus, 1965) (Nematoda,Thelaziidae) in Europe

admin — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 03:22:01 +0000

Three male specimens of the eyeworm, Oxyspirura chabaudi, were found duringthe post mortem examination of one individual of Turdus merula L. (Passeriformes). This is the firstrecord of Turdus merula as a host for O. chabaudi.

Okulewicz, A　Okulewicz, J　Hildebrand, J　Zalesny, G
Univ Wroclaw, Inst Genet and Microbiol, Dept Parasitol, PL-51148 Wroclaw,Poland; Med Acad Wroclaw, Dept Gen Biol and Med Parasitol, PL-50368 Wroclaw, Poland

Nematoda　 Oxyspirura chabaudi　 Passeriformes Turdus merula Poland

Detection of molecular markers for chloroquine and pyrimethamine/sulfadoxineresistance in imported cases of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Poland

admin — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 03:20:10 +0000

The identified mutations in the pfcrt, dhfr and dhps genes of Plasmodiumfalciparum show a very high correlation with resistance to chloroquine, pyrimethamine andsulfadoxine, the drugs that are still used as malaria chemoprophylaxis or treatment. We undertook amolecular screening of 82 Polish P. falciparum isolates, mainly imported from different countries ofsub-Saharan Africa to assess their molecular drug-resistance profiles. Only 4 isolates showed nomutations in the three analyzed gene fragments. In the remaining isolates from one to six mutationsin one or more examined genes were found. Different mutations in the pfcrt, dhfr and dhps genes werefound in ca. 76%, 80% and 70% of P. falciparum isolates, respectively. About forty our patientsused chloroquine or pyrimethamine + sulfadoxine as malaria chemoprophylaxis and/or antimalarialtreatment, but without success. In all but 5 of the P. falciparum isolates obtained from thesepersons, mutations associated to resistance of the parasite to chloroquine and the antifolate drugswere found.

Myjak, P　Nahorski, W　Szostakowska, B　Zarnowska-Prymek, H　Pietkiewicz, H
Med Univ Gdansk, Inter Fac Inst Maritime and Trop Med, Dept Trop Parasitol,PL-81519 Gdynia, Poland; Med Univ Gdansk, Inter Fac Inst Maritime and Trop Med, Dept Trop and ParasitDis, PL-81519 Gdynia, Poland; Med Univ Warsaw, Dept Zoonot and Trop Dis, PL-01201 Warsaw, Poland

Plasmodium falciparum　 drug resistance　 molecular markers　 chloroquine　pyrimethamine　 sulfadoxine　 DIHYDROFOLATE-REDUCTASE　 RAPID DETECTION　 MUTATIONS　 PFCRT　POLYMORPHISMS　 PREVALENCE　 DIAGNOSIS　 AFRICA UGANDA GENES

Ecological comments on the intestinal helminths of the rabbitfish Siganusrivulatus (Teleostei, Siganidae) from the northern Red Sea

admin — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 03:19:02 +0000

Between May and September 2006, 640 specimens of the rabbitfish Siganusrivulatus Forsskal (Teleostei, Siganidae) were examined for infections with intestinal helminths.These fishes were caught in the Red Sea off the coast of Sharm El-Sheikh, South Sinai, Egypt,examined in a field laboratory and separated into three size groups of regular length intervals.Only three species of helminths were recovered: the trematode Gyliauchen volubilis Nagaty, 1956(Gyliauchenidae Fukui, 1929), the acanthocephalan Sclerocollum rubrimaris Schmidt et Paperna, 1978(Cavisomidae Meyer, 1932) and the nematode Procamallanus elatensis Fusco et Overstreet, 1979(Cucullanidae Cobbold, 1864). The distribution of these helminths along the intestine of S.rivulatus, in all patterns of single and concurrent infections and the corresponding prevalences andintensities of infection in the different size groups of the fish were recorded. In singleinfections, each parasite species was found distributed in a well-defined fundamental niche alongthe intestine of Siganus rivulatus, and a distinct partial overlap between the niches of G.volubilis and Sclerocollum rubrimaris was observed. In concurrent infections with these two species,their fundamental niches were significantly reduced, probably being affected by interactive sitesegregation and individuals of each species were found segregated in a restricted realised niche. Inall other patterns of concurrent infections, each parasite species was normally found in itsoriginal fundamental niche. The prevalences of these parasites in the fish examined were relativelylow and somewhat similar. In all patterns of single and concurrent infections, the intensity ofinfection was directly related to fish size. In concurrent infection with G. volubilis and S.rubrimaris, a significant decline was observed in the intensities of both species in the differentsize groups of the fish, but, in all other patterns of concurrent infections, no significant changein intensity was observed. These observations suggest that the interaction between G. volubilis andS. rubrimaris is probably a negative and symmetrical one. The mode of transmission of theseparasites to the fish is also discussed.

Hassanine, RMES　Al-Jahdali, MO
Assiut Univ, New Valley Fac Educ, Dept Sci and Math, El Kharga, New Valley,Egypt; Jeddah Teachers Coll, Dept Sci, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Intestinal helminths　 interactive site segregation　 fish　 Siganus rivulatus　Red Sea　 SITE SEGREGATION　 FISH　 COMMUNITIES　 PARASITES　 POPULATIONS　 HOST　 RHADINORHYNCHIDAE　ACANTHOCEPHALANS GORGORHYNCHINAE AGGREGATION

Redescription of Brasilochondria riograndensis (Copepoda, Chondracanthidae)parasitic on flounder, Paralichthys orbignyanus (Actinopterygii, Pleuronectiformes) from SouthAmerican Atlantic waters

admin — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 03:17:27 +0000

Brasilochondria riograndensis Thatcher et Pereira, 2004 (Copepoda,Chondracanthidae) is redescribed based on newly collected material from the branchial cavity offlounder, Paralichthys orbignyanus (Valenciennes, 1842), from the coasts of Buenos Aires Province,Argentina. A number of details were overlooked and some appendages were misidentified in originaldescription and are included herein. These are: the distribution and the number of setae and spinesin the antennule, the armature and segmentation of mandible, maxillule, maxilla, and maxilliped,pedigerous segments and genitoabdomen, in both, females and males. Moreover, the geographicaldistribution of this parasite species is broadened.

Braicovich, PE　Alarcos, AJ
Univ Natl Mar del Plata, Fac Ciencias Exactas and Nat, Parasitol Lab, DeptBiol,CONICET, RA-7600 Mar Del Plata, Argentina

Brasilochondria riograndensis　 Copepoda　 redescription　 Paralichthysorbignyanus Pleuronectiformes OPHIDIIDAE

Brasergasilus bifurcatus sp Nov (Copepoda, Ergasilidae, Abergasilinae) fromthe gills and nasal fossae of serrasalmid fishes from the Tres Marias reservoir, upper Sao Franciscoriver, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

admin — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 03:15:44 +0000

Brasergasilus bifurcatus sp. nov. (Copepoda, Ergasilidae, Abergasilinae) isdescribed. Specimens of the new species were collected from the gills and nasal fossae of theserrasalmid fishes, known as “piranhas”, Pygocentrus piraya (Cuvier, 1819) and “pirambebas”,Serrasalmus brandtii (Lutken, 1875).The fishes were netted in the Tres Marias Reservoir (18 degrees12’59 ” S, 45 degrees 17’34 ” W) of the upper Sao Francisco River, Minas Gerais State, Brazil.The new species differs from its congeners by the following characters: the specific setation on theantennule; the terminal barb of the antenna; the deeply bifurcate distal segment of the mandible;the chalice-shaped genital complex; a conspicuous external indentation of the second segment of thefirst endopod and a very short terminal segment of the first exopod.

Santos, MD　Thatcher, VE　Brasil-Sato, MC
Univ Fed Rural Rio De Janeiro, Curso Posgrad Ciencias Vet, BR-23851970Seropedica, RJ, Brazil; Univ Fed Parana, Dept Zool, BR-81531980 Curitiba, Parana, Brazil; UFRRJ,Dept Biol Anim, BR-23851970 Seropedica, RJ, Brazil

　Copepoda　 Ergasilidae　 Brasergasilus bifurcatus sp nov.　 fish　 Pygocentruspiraya　 Serrasalmus brandti　 Tres Marias Reservoir Sao Francisco River Brazil

New feather mite species (Acari, Astigmata) from the Sulphur-crested CockatooCacatua galerita and Yellow-crested Cockatoo C-sulphurea (Psittaciformes, Cacatuidae)

admin — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 03:14:17 +0000

Two new genera and three new species of feather mites (Astigmata,Pterolichoidea, Analgoidea) are described from two closely related species of cockatoos, Cacatuagalerita (type host) and C. sulphurea (Psittaciformes, Cacatuidae): Astrolabelichus caudatus gen.nov., sp. nov. (Pterolichidae), Psittophagus lacunosus sp. nov. (Pterolichidae), and Cacatualgesmicrodiscus gen. nov., sp. nov. (Xolalgidae). The presence of the same set of mite species on thesetwo species of parrots points to a very close affinity of Cacatua sulphurea and C. galerita andgives additional support for the recent hypothesis of the conspecificity of these birds.

Dabert, J　Badek, A　Skoracki, M
Adam Mickiewicz Univ Poznan, Dept Anim Morphol, PL-61614 Poznan, Poland

Feather mites　 new taxa　 host-parasite relationships　 Cacatuidae　 GENERICGROUP ASTIGMATA　 PARROTS AVES　 PTEROLICHIDAE　 PSITTACIDAE　 GAUD TAXA GEN.

Gamasine mite (Parasitiformes, Mesostigmata) infestations of bats (Mammalia,Chiroptera) in Turkey

admin — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 03:13:21 +0000

The present study was conducted on bats from different locations in Turkey.Of 33 bats, belonging to 10 species, 10 individuals (30.3%) of four species were infected withgamasine mites. Fifty-three mites belonging to 2 families (Spinturnicidae and Macronyssidae) werecollected. The spinturnicid Spinturnix myoti (Kolenati) was the most abundant species (27 specimens)and only recorded n Myotis nattereri (Kuhl). The species Steatonyssus periblepharus (Kolenati) andthe genera Steatonyssus, Macronyssus and Ancystropus are reported from Turkey for the first time,while new host and distributional data are presented.

Cicek, H　Stanyukovich, MK　Yagci, S　Aktas, M　Karaer, Z
Afyon Kocatepe Univ, Dept Parasitol, TR-03200 Afyon, Turkey; Russian AcadSci, Inst Zool, St Petersburg 199034, Russia; Ankara Univ, Dept Parasitol, TR-06100 Ankara, Turkey;Gazi Univ, Art and Sci Fac, Dept Biol, TR-06510 Ankara, Turkey

Gamasine　 mites　 Chiroptera host-parasite relationship Turkey

A new species of Ascarophis (Nematoda, Cystidicolidae) from the stomach ofthe marine scorpaeniform fish Hoplichthys citrinus from a seamount off the Chesterfield Islands, NewCaledonia

admin — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 03:12:00 +0000

A new species of parasitic nematode, Ascarophis (Similascarophis) richeri sp.nov. (Cystidicolidae), is described from the stomach of the marine scorpaeniform fish Hoplichthyscitrinus Gilbert (Hoplichthyidae) (prevalence 19%, intensity 1-8 nematodes per fish) collected inthe region of the Chesterfield Islands (Coral Sea, west of New Caledonia) in October 2005. The newspecies, studied using both light and scanning electron microscopy, is characterized mainly by thestructure of the mouth (highly reduced pseudolabia, high pseudolabial terminal projections, nosubmedian labia, well-developed, bilobed sublabia), bifurcate deirids, the length of the spicules(663-729 mu m and 105-108 mu m) and the presence of filaments on both egg poles (2-5 on each).Similascarophis Munoz, Gonzalez et George-Nascimento, 2004 is considered a subgenus of Ascarophisvan Beneden, 1871 to accommodate the species characterized by highly reduced pseudolabia. Presenceof the new species in fish from Seamount Nova (Lord Howe Rise) but not from the Chesterfield plateausuggests that it is endemic to this seamount, a case already encountered for many benthicinvertebrates.

Moravec, F　Justine, JL
Acad Sci Czech Republic, Ctr Biol, Inst Parasitol, CR-37005 Ceske Budejovice,Czech Republic; Inst Rech Pour Dev, Unite Syst Adaptat Evolut, Equipe Biogeog Marine Trop,UPMC,CNRS,MNHN,IRD, Noumea 98848, New Caledonia

Parasitic nematode　 Ascarophis　 Similascarophis　 marine fish　 Hoplichthys　Chesterfield Islands　 New Caledonia　 ATLANTIC PARASITE ENDEMISM

A new species of Moaciria (Nematoda, Heterakidae) and other helminths in thered Mawatta frog, Hylophorbus cf. rufescens (Anura, Microhylidae) from Papua New Guinea

admin — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 03:10:34 +0000

Moaciria moraveci sp. nov. (Nematoda, Heterakidae) from the large intestineof Hylophorbus cf. rufescens from Papua New Guinea is described. Moaciria moraveci sp. nov.represents the 9th species assigned to the genus and the 5th from the Australo-Papuan region. It isdistinguished from congeners by the distribution pattern of the caudal papillae of the male, spiculelength and vulvar position.

Bursey, CR　Goldberg, SR　Kraus, F
Penn State Univ, Dept Biol, Sharon, PA 16146 USA; Whittier Coll, Dept Biol,Whittier, CA 90608 USA; Bernice P Bishop Museum, Dept Nat Sci, Honolulu, HI 96817 USA

Nematoda　 Moaciria moraveci sp nov　 Anura　 Hylophorbus cf. rufescens　 PapuaNew Guinea　 COSMOCERCIDAE　 ENDOPARASITES　 REPTILES ISLANDS SAURIA