Antibodies at gastrointestinal mucosal membranes play a vital role in immunological protection against a range of pathogens, including helminths. Gastrointestinal health is central to efficient livestock production, and such infections cause significant losses. Fecal samples were taken from 114 cattle, across three beef farms, with matched blood samples taken from 22 of those animals. To achieve fecal antibody detection, a novel fecal supernatant was extracted. Fecal supernatant and serum samples were then analysed, using adapted enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay protocols, for levels of total immunoglobulin (Ig)A, IgG, IgM, and Teladorsagia circumcincta-specific IgA, IgG, IgM and IgE (in the absence of reagents for cattle-specific nematode species). Fecal nematode egg counts were conducted on all fecal samples. Assays performed successfully and showed that IgA was the predominant antibody in fecal samples, whereas IgG was predominant in serum. Total IgA in feces and serum correlated within individuals (0.581, P = 0.005), but other Ig types did not. Results support the hypothesis that the tested protocols are an effective method for the non-invasive assessment of cattle immunology. The method could be used as part of animal health assessments, although further work is required to interpret the relationship between results and levels of infection and immunity.

In an interconnected world, the international pet trade on wild animals is becoming increasingly important. As a consequence, non-native parasite species are introduced, which affect the health of wildlife and contribute to the loss of biodiversity. Because the investigation of parasite diversity within vulnerable host species implies the molecular identification of large samples of parasite eggs, the sequencing of DNA barcodes is time-consuming and costly. Thereby, the objectives of our study were to apply the high resolution melting (HRM) approach for species determination from pools of parasite eggs. Molecular assays were validated on flatworm parasites (polystomes) infecting the Mediterranean pond turtle Mauremys leprosa and the invasive red-eared slider Trachemys scripta elegans in French natural environments. HRM analysis results indicated that double or multiple parasitic infections could be detected from wild animal populations. They also showed that the cycle of parasite eggs production was not regular over time and may depend on several factors, among which the ecological niche and the target species. Thereby, monitoring parasites from wild endangered animals implies periodic parasitological surveys to avoid false negative diagnostics, based solely on eggs production.

Mice fed 1·5 mg ochratoxin A (OTA) per kg body weight and infected with Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense were compared with trypanosome-infected placebo-fed and uninfected OTA-fed controls. Uninfected OTA-fed mice showed fever, lethargy, facial and eyelid oedemas, mild hepatitis and nephritis, and high survival. Infected placebo-fed controls had mean pre-patent period (PPP) of 3·26 days, lethargy, dyspnoea, fever, facial and scrotal oedema, survival of 33–65 days, reduced red cell counts (RCC: 10·96–6·87×106 cells/μl of blood), packed cell volume (PCV: 43·19–26·36%), haemoglobin levels (Hb: 13·37–7·92 g/dL) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of 37·96–41·31 fL, hepatosplenomegaly, generalized oedemas, heart congestion, hepatitis and nephritis. Compared to infected placebo-fed controls, infected OTA-fed mice had significantly (P<0·05) shorter mean PPP (2·58 days), reduced survival (6–47 days), more pronounced fever and dyspnoea. The latter had significantly (P<0·05) reduced RCC (10·74–4·56×106 cells/μl of blood), PCV (43·90–20·78%), Hb (13·06–5·74 g/dL), increased MCV (39·10–43·97 fL), severe generalized oedemas, haemorrhages, congestion, hepatic haemosiderosis, hepatitis, nephritis, endocarditis, pericarditis and exclusively, splenic macrophage and giant cell hyperplasia, expanded red pulp and splenic erythrophagocytosis. It was concluded that OTA aggravated the pathogenesis of T. b. rhodesiense infection in mice, and should therefore be taken into consideration during trypanosomosis control programmes.

The observations here recorded relate to rat-fleas: (I) in Suffolk and North Essex, and (II) in Cambridgeshire.

In light of the low success rate of target-based genomics and HTS (High Throughput Screening) approaches in anti-infective drug discovery, in silico structure-based drug design (SBDD) is becoming increasingly prominent at the forefront of drug discovery. In silico SBDD can be used to identify novel enzyme inhibitors rapidly, where the strength of this approach lies with its ability to model and predict the outcome of protein-ligand binding. Over the past 10 years, our group have applied this approach to a diverse number of anti-infective drug targets ranging from bacterial D-ala-D-ala ligase to Plasmodium falciparum DHODH. Our search for new inhibitors has produced lead compounds with both enzyme and whole-cell activity with established on-target mode of action. This has been achieved with greater speed and efficiency compared with the more traditional HTS initiatives and at significantly reduced cost and manpower.

The genus Pneumostrongylus was erected by Münnig (1932) to accommodate the species, P. calcaratus, recovered from the lungs of the common impalla (Aepyceros m. melampus) from the Transvaal. Another species, based on the tail piece of a single male lungworm, was described by Dougherty (1945), from the common white-tailed deer, Odocoileus v. virginianus, from North America. The present species, P. ovis, is based on tail pieces of three male specimens which were recovered from bronchioles of sheep and goats at Murree (7000 ft. above sea-level).

The value of arsenic in the treatment of trypanosomiasis is no new discovery.

Evans (1880), who described the first pathogenic trypanosome, recommended the administration of arsenic. Lingard (1899), for many years, investigated surra in India and treated twenty-one horses suffering from that disease with arsenious acid. One horse survived. His system of treatment was, the administration of arsenic in the form of Fowler's solution, commencing with 5 grains, twice daily and gradually increasing to 10 grains. Treatment extended over several months; the total amount of arsenic given, in some instances, amounted to over 2,000 grains. During the period of treatment intermissions of 30 to 50 days were recorded, but all the animals, with one exception, finally succumbed to the disease. Bruce (1897 and 1903), treating nagana in Zululand, gave 6 to 12 grains of arsenic in form of arsenite of soda to horses and asses suffering from that disease. Trypanosomes remained absent during the period of treatment, but reappeared immediately treatment ceased. Trélut (1907) claims to have cured cases of dourine by the daily administration of 3 to 6 grammes of arsenious acid. Archangeliky and Novikoff (1907) also record cases of dourine cured by them with arsenite of sodium and cacodylic acid. Marchal (1903) stated that he cured five stallions suffering from dourine by subcutaneous injections of 1 gramme of cacodylate of soda. Loeffler and Ruehs (1908) record a number of successful experiments on animals affected with nagana, which they treated with a solution of arsenious acid. They consider this solution to be a specific cure and a prophylactie for nagana. Laveran and Thiroux (1907–8) repeated these experiments and came to conclusions different form those of Loeffler and Ruehs.

The entry of blood pigment into the tracheal system after a large meal, previously described in Glossina, has been shown to be an artefact of fixation.

The three forms of Trypanosoma gambiense have been described so often that a few words of apology are needed before brining forward the follwing note on the subject.

1. Psilochasmus agilis Travassos, 1921, is regarded as synonym to P. oxyurus Lühe, 1909.

2. P. indicus sp.n. has been described.

3. An amended specific diagnosis of Psilochasmus oxyurus has been given.

4. Ruddy Shelduck or Brahminy duck, Tadorna ferruginea (= Casarca rutila) is recorded as a new host of the genus.

An illustrated account of a new species of Stephanonympha from the Brazilian termite, Neotermes hirtellus Silvestri, is given.

An historical introduction provides concise accounts of the previously described species of Stephanonympha.

The morphology of the new Stephanonympha is described in detail and illustrated.

Differential characters from previously described species of Stephanonympha are noted, the conclusion being that the Stephanonympha, of Neotermes hirtellus is a new species from a new host, to which the name Stephanonympha campinae n.sp. is given.

Although in nature Sleeping Sickness is chiefly transmitted by Glossina palpalis, the possibility of other modes of infection has been suggested by various authors.

The observations recently set forth by Dr Leiper, and by Dr Sambon in a discussion, have led us to re-examine the ova of S. japonicum in the material which we have at hand. This material was described previously by one of us together with a report of some comparative measurements of the ova of this species of trematode furnished by Dr Shiga.

Since the publication of Moore and Breinl's paper (1908) a new method of wet fixation has been introduced into the technique of protozoological research. It is generally stated that the old method of drying the blood films and fixing them afterwards in absolute alcohol, destroys the minute details of nuclear and protoplasmatic structure; that the preparations made in this way are wholly misleading and the structures do not correspond to those of the living Trypanosomes. This becomes evident when we compare the figures of Moore and Breinl and of Rosenbusch (1909), who studied Tr. lewisi with the aid of wet fixation in Flemming's liquid, with those of other authors (Prowazek (1905), Wenyon (1908) etc.) who studied the same subject. The structure of the nucleus is very dissimilar with the two methods. The big karyosome observed by the first authors cannot be found with dry fixation; then only one or more minute granules are to be seen.

Effects of lithium chloride on growth, differentiation and respiration of Herpetomonas samuelpessoai, cultivated in a synthetic medium were studied both at 28 and 37 °C. Low concentration of lithium chloride (15 mM) stimulated growth at 37 °C. In addition, the protozoon tolerated high concentrations (60–150 mM) of the salt at both incubation temperatures. In general, 15 mM lithium chloride increased and 150 mM decreased oxygen uptake when glucose, glutamic acid and proline were used as substrates. However, at 28 °C after incubation for 96 h, the highest concentration increased oxygen uptake in the presence of glucose. Sodium butyrate induced cell differentiation in H. samuelpessoai both at 28 and 37 °C. High concentration (150 mM) of lithium chloride inhibited cell differentiation of H. samuelpessoai induced by both controlled growth conditions and butyrate addition. The results obtained are described in this paper.