A turkey poult sent for post-mortem examination to the Veterinary Research Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Northern Ireland, was found to be suffering from a very heavy infection of a small fluke.

Leipernema leiperi n.g., n.sp. is described from the pangolin Manis pentadactyla in India. Both parasitic and free-living generations have been examined. Features which differentiate the parasite from Strongyloides and Parastrongyloides are described.

By growing potatoes in infested soil in sectional wooden boxes, changes in the population of potato root eelworm have been observed at 5, 9, 13 and 19 weeks after planting, and at 5 two-inch levels in the soil. Results show that most of the increase in population occurred during the last 6 weeks of the experiment and that the normal population changes proceeded more slowly in the topmost level, leading to a lower final population in that level.

Cercariae develop from individual germinal cells occurring freely within the posterior body cavity of rediae. Individual germinal cells give rise to a germinal ball which becomes enveloped by increasing numbers of cytoplasmic extensions originating from specialized parenchyma-like cells, termed nursc cells. Up to eight cytoplasmic layers of nurse cells invest larger germinal balls. These layers may provide mechanical support for developing embryos and/or play a role in the provision of nutrients to them. The cercarial tegument develops from superficially located somatic cells in the germinal ball. Cytoplasmic extensions of presumptive tegumental cells fuse laterally to form a syncytial layer beneath the encapsulating nurse cell layers. As the cercarial tegument differentiates further, the cytoplasm of the nurse cell layers becomes vacuolated and ultimately these layers degenerate. The surface tegumental syncytia of intra-redial cercariae and newly released extra-redial cercariae are nucleated. Separate subtegumental perikarya develop with further differentiation of extra-redial cercariae.

The pathomorphological effects of daily and weekly doses of liposomized albendazole on Trichinella spiralis larvae have been examined and compared during the course of muscle infections in mice. Treatment with three and six daily doses of the drug given by intraperitoneal injection to mice resulted in marked pathological alterations to encapsulated larvae, mainly in the walls of the capsules. There was a 5% efficacy against T. spiralis in mice given three daily doses of albendazole, and 38% efficacy in mice given six daily doses of the drug. The same doses of drug, when administered weekly, did not reduce the numbers of parasite larvae, and the application of drug at 6-weekly intervals resulted in a 5% reduction in numbers.

Xenopodistomum xenopodis Macnae, Rock and Makowski, 1973 was recovered from the gall bladder of Xenopus laevis laevis imported from the Cape Peninsula, South Africa, during 1967 – 1978. The overall incidence amongst 396 toads was 2.8%, and while the maximum intensity was 8 worms per host, most carried single infections. The parasite was not represented in 570 specimens of 8 other Xenopus taxa from East, Central and West Africa. The internal anatomy of X. xenopodis is of a plagiorchild type, but the adult body form is unusual with marked division into a slender very extensible neck and a broad oval hindbody. Although apparently confined within the gall bladder, the parasite can extend its neck along the bile duct and into the duodenum: host gut contents or intestinal epithelium may therefore supplement the diet of bile fluid. The original description and generic diagnosis have been amplified and amended. X. xenopodis apparently lacks close affinities with other known genera, a characteristic common to many of the parasites which infect the clawed toads.

Patent, but not prepatent, Schistosoma mansoni infections in mice enhanced the expulsion of a superimposed infection with Hymenolepis diminuta. An antagonistic effect was also directed against a superimposed H. microstoma infection in mice harbouring patent S. mansoni infections.

889 complete alimentary tracts were examined for helminths during a two-year survey of sheep and goats in Cyprus. Faecal samples were also examined for worm eggs.

The most common parasites found were Ostertagia and Trichostrongylus spp. and a list of all the parasites and their prevalence is given.

Bunostomum trigonoceplialum, Parabronema skrjabini and Skrjabinema ovis were found for the first time in Cyprus.

The infection rate of each of the worms was studied and the results showed that most of the worms followed the same general pattern, having a peak in the spring and another in the autumn, separated by a trough during the hot dry summer period, when the infection rate yvas low. There were variations within this pattern, Trichostrongylus spp. having a spring peak that was more pronounced than the autumn peak. The reverse occurred with Ostertagia, Chabertia and Oesophagostomum spp., which had a more pronounced autumn peak than spring peak and a lower rate of infection in the summer.

Variations in the infection rate were also noted between the two years of study.

The reasons for these variations are discussed and it appears that weather has some influence on the timing and duration of the peaks but that other factors must also be involved. It is suggested that with some species inhibition of development of the immature stages may occur over the hot dry period, and that these immature worms resume their development towards the end of summer.

A similarity was noticed between the seasonal distribution of the different worm species in Cyprus and in the winter rainfall areas of Australia.

This description of a new species of Paraspidodera is based on material from the Helminthological collection of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine which was handed to the writer for examination by Professor R. T. Leiper, F.R.S. The parasite had been collected by Dr. Sells from the wild pig in Uganda; no indication of the habitat is given. The writer wishes to thank Professor Leiper for placing this material at his disposal.

The earliest account of the Strongylid parasites of the rhinoceros is given by von Linstow (1907) where he describes the only form under the name Deletrocephalus stylosus. His description of this type is brief and now inadequate and the illustrations are very few. This form, however, does not show any generic characters in common with the type species, Deletrocephalus dimidiatus, Diesing, of the genus. It was, hence, removed by Skriabin (1916) into a new genus, Kiluluma, created by him for its reception. Thus the form, D. stylosus, von Linstow, was transferred to the genus under the title K. stylosa. It may, however, be mentioned that Skriabin in his account suggests that von Linstow's Deletrocephalus brachylaimus from rock-rabbit is the probable, second species of this new genus, Kiluluma.

The monogenean Pseudodactylogyrus bini parasitizes the gills of eels belonging to the genus Anguilla. Circumstantial evidence suggests that the parasite has been spread accidentally from the Pacific area (East Asia) to Europe by the intercontinental eel trade. This is based on early descriptions of the parasites from Asian regions and the lack of records of the parasites in Europe before 1977. In addition, the susceptibility of European eels to infections with the parasite is significantly higher compared to that of Japanese eels, which could indicate that the European eel had not undergone co-evolution with this parasite. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the origin of the parasite by using molecular tools. Parasite samples were obtained from Europe (Germany), Asia (Taiwan) and Nova Scotia, the latter of which is the first record of P. bini in Canada. Sequencing of rDNA comprising part of the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) gene, 5.8S and part of ITS2 (1323 bp) showed that P. bini isolates from the first two regions showed high variability. One sequence was found both in a number of Asian parasites and with one to a few transitions in European parasites, which could indicate that they were split recently into the two regions. Other sequence variations suggested that one or a few genotypes of P. bini were imported on one occasion from Asia to Europe and that the two geographic isolates subsequently developed differently in the two regions. The Nova Scotian/Canadian isolates showed no variation and were found to be unique compared to the European and Taiwanese forms, indicating that this population is independent in origin. This could indicate that the Canadian parasites were introduced to North America on another occasion and independently of the European colonization.

The tapeworm Ligulaintestinalis commonly infests roach (Rutilusrutilus) and is responsible for the inhibition of gonad development. In order to better understand the effect of the plerocercoid on fish physiology, and to discriminate parasitization effects from those of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDC), Cyp19b and Cyp19a aromatase expression was investigated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in brain and gonads of ligulosed roach, caught from a reference site. Data were compared to reproductive and endocrine endpoints previously reported in a larger cohort study (including the sampled population of the present one), such as gonadosomatic index, Fulton index, gonadal histology, plasma sex steroid levels and brain aromatase activity. A decrease in Cyp19b expression in the brain of infected fish was demonstrated, in agreement with the reduction of aromatase activity previously described. In contrast, Cyp19a expression in the gonads appeared to be enhanced in ligulosed fish, in accordance with the presence of immature but differentiated sexual tissues. Together these results show that: (1) L. intestinalis infestation results in an alteration of aromatase expression which, in particular, may have profound effects on the fish brain; and (2) L. intestinalis infection must be considered as a major confounding factor in ecotoxicological studies using aromatase expression as an EDC biomarker. Moreover, the concordance between activity and expression – investigated for the first time in the same population – gives a functional relevance to the transcript aromatase dosage in the brain. Finally, quantitative PCR was confirmed as a sensitive approach, enabling aromatase status to be defined in the poorly developed gonads of ligulosed individuals.

The efficacy of eprinomectin on Dictyocaulus filaria and Cystocaulus ocreatus in naturally infected sheep was evaluated in the present study. In total, 30 infected sheep were randomly divided into two groups: treated (n = 15) and untreated (n = 15). A single pour-on dose of eprinomectin (0.5 mg/kg) was administered to the treated group. No medication was used in the untreated group. Faecal larval counts were performed on pre-treatment (day 0) and post-treatment (days 7, 14, 21 and 42) days. Eprinomectin was found to be 100% effective against D. filaria on day 7 post-treatment when compared with the untreated group and it maintained this effect on days 14, 21 and 42. However, the decrease in faecal larval count of C. ocreatus was found to be 86, 86 and 91%, on days 14, 21 and 42, respectively.

Here, we report the first record of pleroceroids of the Nearctic tapeworm Proteocephalus ambloplitis (Leidy, 1887) in European fresh waters. The plerocercoids were found encapsulated in the internal organs of the invasive pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus (Linnaeus, 1758) in a pond in Bègles Plage, Bordeaux, France. This parasite species was not observed in L. gibbosus collected from two nearby localities, Bordeaux Lac and a pond in the Parc de Fontaudin. Species identification was confirmed using molecular data and morphological characteristics.

One of the great challenges of veterinary parasitology is the search for alternative methods for controlling gastrointestinal parasites in small ruminants. Milk kefir is a traditional source of probiotic, with great therapeutic potential. The objective of this study was to investigate the anthelmintic effects of kefir on the abomasal nematode Haemonchus contortus from sheep. The study used camel, goat, ewe and cow milk as a starting material, to produce camel, goat, cow and ewe milk kefir. All kefirs showed a significant concentration-dependent effect on H. contortus egg hatching at all tested concentrations. The highest inhibition (100%) of eggs was observed with camel milk kefir at a concentration 0.125 mg/ml. In relation to the effect of kefirs on the survival of adult parasites, all kefirs induced concentration-dependent mortality in adults, with variable results. The complete mortality (100%) of adults of H. contortus occurred at concentrations in the range 0.25–2 mg/ml. The highest inhibition of motility (100%) of worms was observed after 8 h post exposure with camel milk kefir at 0.25 mg/ml. These findings indicate that kefir can be considered a potential tool to control haemonchosis in sheep. Further investigations are needed to assess the active molecules in kefir responsible for its anthelmintic properties and to investigate similar in vivo effects.

A new species, Belondira bagongshanensis n. sp., extracted from soil under grass in Bagongshan Forest Park, Anhui Province, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is mainly characterized by a body length 1.6–2.1 mm; cephalic framework moderately sclerotized; odontostyle robust with a distinct lumen; anterior part of pharynx with a distinct fusiform swelling, bearing distinct sclerotized valve plates and basal expansion occupying about three-fifths of the total neck length; female genital system mono-opisthodelphic and anterior branch 0.8–1.6 times the corresponding body diameter; tail short and hemispheroid; male spicules 36–49 μm long and two widely spaced ventromedian supplements. The new species is close to B. wajahati, B. golden and B. eugeniae in possessing a short tail, a robust odontostyle with a distinct aperture and a moderately sclerotized cephalic framework. New sequences of 18S rDNA and the D2–D3 region of 28S rDNA of the new species were also identified.

Soluble extracts of Gigantocotyle explanatum, isolated from the liver of buffalo Bubalus bubalis were fractionated on Sephadex G-200 columns. Nine major fractions referred to as F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8 and F9 were separated. Each fraction was tested by ELISA for antigenicity using sera from G. explanatum-infected field buffaloes. Fractions F1 and F2 were highly antigenic, F3, F4, F6 and F7 were moderately antigenic and F5, F8 and F9 were poorly antigenic. Analyses by SDS–PAGE revealed that each fraction comprised several polypeptide(s) in the molecular weight range of <29 to >205 kDa. Results of Western blotting indicated that not all polypeptides which appeared in the SDS–PAGE were antigenic. The antigenic molecules of each fraction were mostly in the low molecular weight range of <14 to >94 kDa with the polypeptides in the range of >14, 14, 18, 21–25 and 34–36 kDa.

The beetle–tapeworm life cycle provides a convenient system to study how host behaviour influences the probability of re-infection because initial and secondary infections can be tracked. The beetle, Tenebrio molitor, is infected with the tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta when it ingests rat faeces containing tapeworm eggs, which upon hatching undergo five morphologically distinct stages while developing inside the beetle. In a series of preference trials, both individual and groups of previously infected beetles were exposed to baits of infective (faeces with eggs) and uninfective faeces. Beetles did not differ in the amount of time spent or in the number of occurrences at each bait type, suggesting that infected beetles show no preference for infective faeces. This may be a host adaptation to avoid further infection, parasite manipulation to avoid competition for host resources, or both. Further, once infected, beetles are no more or no less likely to become re-infected than uninfected beetles. An analysis of the mean and variance of infection suggests that some individuals are highly susceptible to and some are highly resistant to infection, with males being more variable than females. This could explain the higher load of cysticercoids observed in males.

Development of exact doses (<100) of Strongyloides venezuelensis third-stage larvae in adult Wistar rats was insignificant (mean proportion of 0·076 of the dose at day 8, n = 16) compared with a homogonic strain of S. ratti (0·538, n = 6; 0·726, n = 6) and heterogonic S. ratti (0·681, n = 6). Newly-weaned Wistars allowed development of a mean proportion of S. venezuelensis of 0·298 (n = 4) compared with 0·013 (n = 4) of the same sample of larvae in adult hosts. Experiments with 75Se-labelled larvae established that S. venezuelensis effectively failed to migrate from skin to intestine in adult animals, while mean proportions of 0·141 (n = 5) and 0·138 (n = 4) of the label was found in the intestines of newly-weaned rats 72 h after skin application. Labelled larvae of homogonic S. ratti migrated equally well in both age groups of host (0·350 and 0·358 in 12- and 3-week-olds respectively). Adult S. venezuelensis transferred surgically to the intestines of previously uninfected full-grown Wistars survived over a 21-day period to the same extent as either strain of S. ratti. Resistance of Wistar rats to S. venezuelensis therefore appears to affect the migratory stage preferentially. S. venezuelensis developed better in mature PVG inbred rats (mean = 0·301, n = 20). Studies of S. ratti showed that infections of both strains initiated by exact (<100) doses in Wistar rats had decayed to insignificance between days 26 and 32. The rate of loss of adults of the heterogonic strain was significantly greater than that for the homogonic. The egg content of worms declined as infection progressed and rats were idiosyncratic in their influence on parasite reproduction from the earliest time of sampling (8 d). It was established that ‘autoinfection’ was an unlikely feature of the biology of homogonic S. ratti following the surgical transfer of 450 first-stage larvae to the intestines of 8 adult Wistar rats. No evidence of infection appeared in the guts of these animals 8 days post-transfer. The significance of these results in terms of the biology of Strongyloides spp. naturally occurring in the rat is discussed.

A male specimen of Dirofilaria (Nochliella) repens has been recovered from the skin of the right upper arm of a patient from Colombo, Ceylon who manifested signs and symptoms of bancroftian filariasis and had microfilariae in his peripheral blood. This is the second case of Dirofilaria infection reported from man in Ceylon.