A new genus and species of filarioid worm is described from the peritoneal cavity of fruit bats, Pteropus hawaiiensis from Fiji and the name Chiropterofilaria brevicaudata n. sp. is given to it. The microfilaria is described. This appears to be the first record of a nematode from this host. The new genus is differentiated from its nearest genus Lemdana in that the spicules are only slightly unequal; and in the female worms, the oesophagus usually make several turns around the vagina before joining the intestine. From the same host, a second microfilaria, Microfilaria fijiensis n. sp. is described, the adults of which were not found.

Tetrameres fissispina (Diesing, 1861) is recorded for the first time from the Wood-Pigeon, Columba palumbus L., and Stock Dove, C. oenas L.

An account is given of a natural infection of Wood-Pigeons with T. fissispina during the winter months of 1962/63 and 1963/64 in Cambridgeshire.

Brachylaemus arcuatus and Plagiorchis (Multiglandidmns) mmris are recorded for the first time from the fox and sheep respectively.

Les conceptions concernant les propriétées de la cortisone et l'ACTH ont beaucoup évolué. On considérait ces hormones commenuisibles dans les infections bactériennes et parasitaires puisque leur principale propriété est de neutraliser la réaction inflammatoire, histiocytaire et macrophagique. Or dans beaucoup de cas on a observé des résultats favorables dans différentes infections, et on a fait remarquer que plus le processus septicémique est sévère, meilleur est l'effet obtenu. Dans les infections à protozoaires sanguicoles les résultats sont extrèmement divergents même chez l'homme.

Inbred jirds (Meriones unguiculatus) were divided into three groups; each animal in two of the groups was infected with 30 infective larvae (L3) of Litomosoides carinii. When these infections were patent, the jirds of one of the two infected groups plus those of the third group were injected with 30 L3 L. carinii each. All animals were killed either on day 14 or 24 after the second infection for the recovery, enumeration and measurement of all worms and developing larvae. Challenge larvae were stunted (smaller) and fewer than control larvae. Additionally, fewer challenge larva were recovered on day 14 than on day 24, indicating that migration to the pleural cavity was retarded.

A simple method for the collection of third-stage larvae of Necator americanus has been described. This technique provides repeated recovery of very clean larvae from cultures in moderate numbers.

A new species of Dirofilaria, D. (Nochtiella) linstowi n.sp. is described from the subcutaneous tissues of the Grey langur, Presbytis entellus thersites, in Ceylon. The adult worms differ from the hitherto described African and South-east Asian species in several respects, especially spicule size and ratio, arrangement and number of caudal papillae and dimensions of the microfilariae.

Two new species of Calostraurus Sandars, 1957 (Cestoda: Davaineidae) are described from Australian marsupials, C. thylogale from Tliylogale biltardierii and C. mundayt from Potorous apicalis. A redefinition of the genus is given together with tabulated features of the species.

During studies on the ecology of fish helminths, the tapeworm Proteocephalus torulosus (Batsch, 1786) was frequently found in the intestine of the blue bream (Abramis ballerus) from the Oder River (Germany/Poland). In total, 633 fish, ranging between two and 16 years old, were sampled at monthly intervals over a two year period during 1993–1995. Statistically significant differences in the seasonal occurrence of the parasite in its fish host were observed. In 1993, the prevalence remained at a high level, ranging between 61.9 and 100%. During the summer of 1994, this value decreased to 5.5% and remained low for the rest of the year. The pattern of mean intensity of infection was similar to that of the prevalence. In 1993, the mean intensity varied between 8.4 and 31.8 worms per infected fish, with a continual loss of worms being observed in the summer of 1994. Changes in the amount of suspended particulate matter in water have been identified as the main cause of these observed differences in the course of infection of blue bream.

Anguillonema iranicum n. sp. is described and illustrated as the second species of this genus from Iran, based on morphological, morphometric and molecular characteristics. It is identified by a short, thin body, a continuous lip region, six lines on the lateral field, a short, thin stylet, a posteriorly located pharyngo-intestinal junction to excretory pore, the presence of a post-vulval uterine sac, vulval position at 89% (87.4–89.9%) of body length, an elongate conoid tail with a rounded to pointed tip and not dorsally bent, and common functional males with short spicules and lacking a bursa. Morphological differences between the new species and the three known species of the genus, namely A. amolensis, A. crenati and A. poligraphi, are discussed. Molecular phylogenetic studies of the new species using partial 18S rDNA sequence revealed that it formed a sister clade with three species of Howardula, one species of Anguillonema and one unidentified isolate. In phylogenetic analyses using partial sequences of 28S rDNA D2-D3 segment, the new species formed a clade with two isolates of Parasitylenchus. A key to identification of Anguillonema species is also presented.

Over the last century in the uplands of Scotland, the extent of heather moorland which supports high densities of mountain hares Lepus timidus has diminished and has gradually been replaced by large-scale commercial forestry plantations or expanding natural woodlands. The potential impact of such a change in land use on host–parasite interactions was investigated by comparing the intensity and prevalence of infection of hares by parasites in two separate habitats: a large hare-fenced young forestry plantation and the adjacent open moorland. Carcasses were collected in November 1990 from within both habitats and after the woodland had been enclosed for nine months. Age, sex, fatness (kidney fat index) and degree of infection of hares were noted. Two parasites were recorded: the nematode Trichostrongylus retortaeformis and the cestode Mosgovoyia pectinata. Clear differences in the intensity of infection of adults occupying the different habitats had occurred in the nine months since woodland enclosure. Adult mountain hares in the woodland had levels of infections approaching four times that observed in hares occupying the open moorland and although not significant, the prevalence of infection was greater in hosts inhabiting the woodland than the open moorland. It is suggested that the parasite–host relationship differs between the two habitats and as heather-dominated moorland landscapes become more fragmented with the increasing establishment of woodlands, the impact of parasites on the life history strategies of mountain hares needs to be reconsidered.

Neoheterakis chapini n.g., n.sp. (Nematoda: Heterakoidea) is described from the caecum of a Congopeacock Afropavo congensis Chapin, 1936. The diagnostic features of the subfamily Spinaspidoderinae are extended to accomodate the new genus.

Interspecific interactions between parasites sharing the same host are often antagonistic; the presence of one species decreases the number of individuals or negatively affects both the distribution and reproduction of the other species. Antagonistic interactions between co-infecting parasites may translate into direct competition or interactive segregation, but elements of both may be present. Potential interactions between two acanthocephalan species, Pomphorhynchus laevis and Acanthocephalus anguillae, were studied in the field in two of their natural fish definitive hosts. There was no evidence for competitive exclusion between P. laevis and A. anguillae. However, a negative interaction was found for the first time in the field between these two species. Based on the analysis of parasite abundance and total biomass using a static regression approach, I found that the abundance and total biomass of parasite was also limited by host characteristics. These results are consistent with previous laboratory studies on competition between P. laevis and A. anguillae.

The breed differences in post-parturient rise (PPR) in faecal egg counts in lambing ewes of different breeds naturally infected with Haemonchus contortus were compared. The ewes of Nali, 50% Nali × 50% Russian Merino/Corriedale and 37.5% Nali × 62.5% Russian Merino/Corriedale were treated with fenben-dazole while ewes of the above three breeds as well as 25% Nali × 75% Russian Merino/Corriedale, were kept untreated. Observations from 3 weeks before lambing to 12 weeks post-lambing at weekly intervals revealed that in treated ewes, egg counts of Nali did not differ significantly with 50% Nali whereas 37.5% Nali had significantly higher egg counts than those of Nali and 50% Nali. In untreated ewes egg counts of 50% Nali were significantly higher than that of Nali on some occasions, while 25% Nali had significantly higher egg counts than the other three breeds. None of the ewes from the Nali breed showed signs of haemonchosis, whereas few lambing ewes of the three Nali crosses (50%, 37.5% and 25% Nali) showed signs of haemonchosis and one ewe of the latter breed died.

The biochemistry and histochemistry of Pegosomum egretti have been studied using standard techniques. Phosphatases were analysed colorimetrically; the optimum pH for acid phosphatase activity was 5·0 and for alkaline phosphatase was 10·0. The results were compared with those of other trematodes. Histochemical localization of acid and alkaline phosphatases revealed differences in enzyme activity in various tissues. These differences in the site and pattern of distribution of the two enzymes have been discussed in relation to transport of raw materials and the metabolism of the cell concerned.

Rats are known to be relatively resistant to infection with Echinococcus multilocularis. However, when rats are inoculated with the parasite tissues, E. multilocularis proliferates slowly at first but after 6 months the cysts increase in size considerably and contain large numbers of protoscoleces. As rats survive for 18 months or longer, approximately 100 ml of packed protoscoleces can be produced from each rat. A comparison of the antigenicity of the protoscoleces and microvesicles by immunoblot methods showed that both Em18 and Em16 are shared components between both protoscoleces and microvesicles, although the latter have some additional antigenic components. In antigens prepared from protoscoleces, the banding patterns around Em18 were much simpler than those from microvesicles. Therefore, for serodiagnosis of E. multilocularis, antigens should be carefully prepared from protoscoleces rather than microvesicles from the rat.

Many papers have been written about Wilson's snipe (Erickson, 1950), but few of them deal with the parasites of the bird. Schmidt (1962, 1963a, 1963b, 1964) working in Northern Colorado described new species of Hymenohpis, Tetrameres and Arythmorhynchus and listed the other parasites he found in a sample of 29 snipe. In the present work birds from Newfoundland, Ontario and Louisiana were examined for helminth parasites, to determine the species composition of any burden that they might be carrying and to note any differences in the species composition of the burden in birds from different geographical areas. It was also hoped to show if there was any difference in the burden carried by male and female birds.