Larval stages of the trematodes Maritrema madrynense and Hemiuroidea fam. gen. et sp. differentially parasitized Siphonaria lessonii and S. lateralis, two sympatric pulmonate snail species on the rocky intertidal shore at Puerto Deseado, south-western Atlantic coast of Patagonia, Argentina. Snail specimens were collected at two sampling sites with contrasting physical–chemical characteristics. One site, in the upper intertidal, was exposed to sewage from fish-processing plants, greater hydrodynamic forcing and desiccation, a wider temperature range, longer exposure to ultraviolet radiation and higher abundance of birds. The second site, in the lower intertidal, was generally characterized by less stressful environmental conditions. At both sites, S. lateralis showed a markedly higher density than S. lessonii (55.13 vs. 5.87 snails/m2, respectively). Despite this, the prevalence of both digeneans was higher in S. lessonii (17.37% and 3.52% for M. madrynense and Hemiuroidea, respectively) than in S. lateralis (0.09% and 0% for M. madrynense and Hemiuroidea, respectively). This study demonstrates high parasite specificity for the host. Low densities of S. lessonii are attributed to castration of parasitized hosts and reduction of their physiological condition. The prevalence and intensity of infection of both digenean parasites were higher at the more stressful, upper intertidal site, thus suggesting that a higher abundance of birds and exposure to sewage pollution may promote the transmission of trematodes.

Clinical and serological investigations on 175 cattle were carried out in 1999 at the slaughterhouse of Jijel, northeastern Algeria, to verify if partial ablation of a liver infected with Fasciola hepatica represents a good epidemiological indicator in the case of fasciolosis, as partial excision of the liver is widespread throughout North African countries. This study was also performed to determine if there is a direct relationship between the quantity of liver confiscated for fasciolosis and the serological response of slaughtered animals. A significant relationship between highly infected livers and positive serological titres was noted. However, two groups of results were conflicting: the presence of macroscopically healthy, undamaged livers with a positive serology (8.3% of 120 cattle), or the existence of highly damaged livers with a negative serology (13.0% of 31 cattle). These results indicate that partial removal of the liver in the case of fasciolosis is unreliable, so this method does not represent a good tool to establish epidemiological data on this disease.

Monanema nilotica n.sp. (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) is described from the right auricle and pulmonary artery of the Nile rat, Arvicanthis niloticus testicularis (Sundevall, 1842), trapped in Khartoum-North, Sudan. It differs from other species principally in length of adults and microfilariae, in the shape of the buccal capsule and in the structure of the spicules of the males.

This study was conducted in two populations of crabs, Cyrtograpsus angulatus and Neohelice granulata from the Bahía Blanca Estuary, in Argentina, to identify risk factors for infection by the acanthocephalan Profilicollis chasmagnathi and to assess the association between infection and mortality of these hosts. Cyrtograpsus angulatus and N. granulata crabs were sampled seasonally over the course of a year, and spring sampling included collection of dead crabs predated by Olrog's gulls in a nearby breeding colony. Potential risk factors for infection were assessed and the number of cystacanth larvae per crab was counted. In C. angulatus, the odds of infection increased by 7% for each millimetre increase in carapace length, and were nearly 17 times greater in crabs sampled from the Olrog's gull feeding area compared with those sampled from nests in the breeding colony. For every millimetre increase in carapace length in N. granulata, the odds of infection increased by 13% in crabs from the breeding colony, and by 32% in crabs from the feeding area. Mean intensity of infection in N. granulata increased by 16.5% for each additional millimetre of carapace width. The level of parasite aggregation was lowest in the largest C. angulatus and highest in N. granulata predated by Olrog's gull. The results show that host size is the most important factor influencing infection prevalence in both crab species and intensity of infection in N. granulata, and suggest the presence of parasite-induced mortality in the populations studied.

The present study tests the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of silymarin alone or combined with mefloquine on acute schistosomiasis by evaluating parasitological, histopathological, biochemical and immunological parameters. Male CDI Swiss mice were divided into seven groups, which included healthy controls, mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni or treated with silymarin (140 mg/kg body weight) or mefloquine (400 mg/kg body weight), or mice treated with a combination of both drugs and uninfected mice simply treated with mefloquine or silymarin alone. All mouse groups were sacrificed 8 weeks post-infection (pi) and/or post-treatment. Those infected mice treated with both silymarin and mefloquine showed a significant decrease (P <  0.001) in worm burden, immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM), liver function enzymes and granuloma diameter, with complete eradication of immature and mature eggs. In conclusion, treatment with silymarin combined with mefloquine in murine schistosomiasis was able to reduce granulomatous reactions and hepatic fibrosis. Hence, this combination is a new strategy to be studied as an efficient tool in the treatment of schistosomal liver fibrosis.

Between April 2003 and November 2006 a total of 198 nase Chondrostoma nasus (L.) were examined for parasites from seven river sites in Austria. The selected sites showed different levels of anthropogenic alterations in river morphology ranging from pristine areas, with minor anthropogenic alterations, to strongly physically altered rivers. A variety of parasites were recovered from the skin, gills, swimbladder and eyes, with Caryophyllaeus laticeps (Pallas) being identified as the only cestode species occurring in the intestine. This is the first record of this species in nase in Austria. Caryophyllaeus laticeps was confined to the first 20% of the intestine, even in heavily infected hosts. The occurrence of C. laticeps within the fish population seems to be correlated with the degree of anthropogenic changes of the nase's habitat. In rivers with a high degree of ecological integrity or in rivers that are only partially dammed, C. laticeps is either absent in C. nasus or occurs with low prevalence (5.6–20%) and low mean intensity values (1.0–4.0). Where anthropogenic factors have changed the entire river into a reservoir, and fish cannot escape, the prevalence of infection with C. laticeps increases from 46.2 to 78.2% and the mean intensity from 8.8 to 17.2.

1. The males and females of a new nematode Cithariniella citharini gen. et sp. nov. are described from the rectum of the Nile fish Citharinus citharus in the Sudan.

2. Cithariniella citharini is made the genotype of a new genus Cithariniella and differentiated from the nearest genus Laurotravassoxyuris Pérez Vigueras, 1938.

In June, 1930, the writer received from Mr. T. Meyer of Onderstepoort, some parasites collected from a red hartebeest at Gobabis in South West Africa. The examination of this material revealed the presence of rather long slender worms which could not be allocated to any of the known genera of the sub-family Trichostrongylinœ, Leiper, 1908. The genus Longistrongylus is proposed for the reception of this species which is named Longistrongylus meyeri gen. and sp. nov., in honour of the collector and donor.

The indirect immunofluorescent technique was used to determine the occurrence of IgA, IgM and IgG1 immunoglobulin-containing cells in local intestinal mucosal immune responses to Hymenolepis citelli, H. diminuta and H. microstoma infections in mice. In the intestinal lamina propria of H. citelli and H. diminuta infected mice there was no increase in the mean numbers of immunoglobulin-containing cells when compared with uninfected control mice, but there was in H. microstoma infected mice. The numbers of IgG1 – positive cells in both infected and uninfected mice were very small relative to IgA and IgM immunocytes. The distribution of immunocytes in the lamina propria of infected and uninfected mice was essentially similar and the localization of isotypes in duodenal sections showed no immunoglobulins in the villous epithelial cells. There was also no marked difference between primary and secondary infections indicating that immunoglobulin-containing cells play no major role in functional immunity against hymenolepid infections in the mouse. The presence of IgA and IgM was also demonstrated on the tegument of the tapeworms, although the distribution was patchy and more abundant on H. microstoma than on H. diminuta or H. citelli. The time of appearance of both isotypes was latest on H. citelli.

Results of an epidemiological survey carried out in 88 slaughterhouses in Italy from 1979 to 1983 are reported. Data have been compared to national surveys previously conducted in 1955 and from 1968 to 1978. Analysis of various factors affecting the incidence of the disease in different areas of the country are reported.

In 1925, Morgan, in recording field observations on Heterodera schachtii in the Kirton district, pointed out that cysts were frequently as abundant in certain areas of infected fields where the yield was satisfactory, as in “bad patches” where the plants showed every manifestation of eelworm disease, and where the crop was a failure. In a further publication (1926) he again emphasized the lack of correlation between cyst content of the soil and the incidence of “potato-sickness.” One field on which detailed observations were carried out, although the worst case of eelworm infestation examined in the district, was found to give a satisfactory crop—average yield eight tons ware per acre—after only a four year rotation. In summing up these observations, Morgan says: “While it is not suggested that the eelworm had no influence on the yield in this instance, the success of the crop in spite of the pest lends support to the view that the problem is primarily one of obtaining more suitable conditions for plant growth by more judicious manuring and a system of rotation.”

About the middle of June, 1931, the writer received from the Ministry of Agriculture Plant Pathological Laboratory some diseased specimens of carrots which had been growing at Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, where they had been obtained by Mr. Thomas of the School of Agriculture, Cambridge. Microscopic examination showed that they were attacked by Anguillulina dipsaci, and since this is the only record of the parasite on this host or, in fact, on any member of the natural order, Umbellifer it has been thought advisable to give an account of the chief symptoms of the disease shown by the plants.

Methods are described whereby a factorial experiment was set up to test the effects on 40 potato plants, growing in 15 Kg. pots of soil, of the three factors: (S) steam sterilization of soil, (H) infection of soil with about three million eggs ard larvae of Heterodera rostochiensis per pot, and (D) injection of soil with 10 ml. of D-D per pot.

Data from the infected half of the pots were also used to test the effects of factors (S) and (D) on the eelworm population.

The data from 10 plant criteria yielded three statistics: the variance ratio (F), the coefficient of variability (V), and the Normal difference (t) corresponding to each factor and interaction. From an examination of these, the following two criteria are selected as, between them, displaying all the significant treatment effects of the experiment:

Capillaria papuensis sp. nov. is described from specimens collected from the gastro-intestinal systems of 14 pigs from two villages in Papua New Guinea. It differs from C.gastrosuis and C. suis in the number and location of papillae in the vulval region, the sculptured surface of the eggs, a sub-terminal anus in the female and in the length of the spicule and bilateral caudal alae in the male. The species inhabits the epithelium of the tongue, where clusters of eggs move towards the surface with the growth of the epithelium and are subsequently swallowed. The pathological changes in the infected epithelium are minimal. The prepatent period is approximately eight weeks.

A new species Fibricola sarcophila, is described from Sarcophilus harrisii from Tasmania. The history of previous records of strigeid from marsupial hosts is outlined and their possible relationships discussed.

Histochemical techniques have been used to study the chemical composition of the oesophageal gland secretions of Orthocoelium scoliocoelium and Paramphistomum cervi. Results suggest that the secretions contain numerous enzymes, e.g., non-specific alkaline and acid phosphatases, ATPase, TPPase, esterase (Cathepsin C like), β-galactosidase, β-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase. The role of these enzymes in the digestion of food in these amphistomes is discussed.

On the basis of histological and histochemical studies the caecal epithelium of the two amphistomes has been found to be syncytial bearing regularly arranged numerous, long but equal-sized and closely packed cylindrical microvilli. The role of various hydrolytic enzymes in well fed and starved flukes in relation to their gastrodermis and microvilli has also been discussed.

Several specimens of a trichostrongylid, for which the name Paracooperia mazabukae sp. nov. is proposed, were collected from the duodenum of the Oribi (Ourebia ourebi), a small African antelope, in vicinity of the Nega Nega hills in the Mazabuka area, Northern Rhodesia.

Four species of Paracooperia Travassos, 1985, have hitherto been recorded from the small intestine of ruminants. Schwartz (1929) based his description of Cooperia nodulosa on specimens collected from nodules in the mucosa of the small intestine of a carabao (Bubalis bubalis) in the Philippine Islands. Mönnig (1981) described Cooperia serrata, since designated as the type of the genus Paracooperia Travassos, from the springbuck (Antidorcas marsupialis), not Damaliscus albifrons as recorded by Daubney (1988) who records Cooperia serrata Mönnig, 1931, as having been collected frequently from sheep in the Rift Valley and the Athi Plains in Kenya. Daubney notes that the normal host of this helminth has not yet been discovered in Kenya.