Identification of opossums Didelphis aurita (Wied-Neuweid, 1826) as a definitive host of Sarcocystis falcatula-like sporocysts

Taenia spp. are long, segmented, parasitic tapeworms and are relatively uncommon in canine gastrointestinal diseases compared to other tapeworms like Dipylidium caninum. These parasites have an indirect life cycle, cycling between definitive and intermediate hosts. Dogs act as definitive hosts of different species of Taenia including Taenia multiceps, Taenia serialis, Taenia crassiceps, Taenia hydatigena, Taenia pisiformis, etc. Taenia multiceps is of greatest zoonotic relevance in human. In the definitive host, it causes only mild infection. Larvae are more likely to cause disease than adult tapeworms. Taeniasis in pets should be cautiously handled because of its zoonotic importance. This communication reports a case of 3 months old pup suffering from Taenia infection that was successfully managed with a combination of praziquantel and fenbendazole.

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Didelphis aurita: Astua de Moraes, D., de la Sancha, N. & Costa, L.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species ◽

10.2305/iucn.uk.2011-2.rlts.t40500a10318604.en ◽

2011 ◽

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Didelphis Aurita

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Distribution of the cestode Urocystis prolifer Villot, 1880 (Cyclophyllidea: Hymenolepididae) in the Palaearctic and new data on its postembryonic development

Journal of Helminthology ◽

10.1017/s0022149x21000249 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 95 ◽

Author(s):

S.A. Kornienko ◽

L.A. Ishigenova

Keyword(s):

Host Specificity ◽

Geographical Distribution ◽

Experimental Infection ◽

Definitive Host ◽

Intestinal Parasite ◽

Geographic Area ◽

Postembryonic Development ◽

Generic Diagnosis ◽

Intermediate Hosts ◽

Very High

Abstract Urocystis prolifer Villot, 1880 is an intestinal parasite of Sorex spp. In the Palaearctic. There are significant differences in the descriptions of both adults and stages of ontogenesis of U. prolifer as described by various authors. The experimental infection of intermediate hosts with cestodes has been conducted. An overview of the geographical distribution, infestation of the definitive hosts and the development of the metacestode stages of U. prolifer are presented. The cestode is characterized by an extensive geographic area in the Palaearctic, wide host specificity and very high rates of infection of its definitive host. Urocystis prolifer has been recorded mostly in the taiga and forest zones of Palaearctic. Fourteen species of Sorex were registered as the definitive host. Redescription of U. prolifer and an amended generic diagnosis are provided. A complete description of the ontogeny from oncosphere to fully developed metacestode is given. Features of development of the metacestode are an asexual larval reproduction, the absence of the anterior and posterior obturator valve in the cyst of the fully developed urocyst, as well as excretory bodies.

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Mastomys natalensis (Smith, 1834) as a natural host for Schistosoma haematobium (Bilharz, 1852) Weinland, 1858 x Schistosoma bovis Sonsino, 1876 introgressive hybrids

Parasitology Research ◽

10.1007/s00436-021-07099-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Boris A.E.S. Savassi ◽

Gauthier Dobigny ◽

Jonas R. Etougbétché ◽

Thalasse T. Avocegan ◽

François T. Quinsou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Definitive Host ◽

Schistosoma Haematobium ◽

Rattus Rattus ◽

Introgressive Hybridization ◽

Mastomys Natalensis ◽

New Host ◽

Time Period ◽

Schistosoma Bovis ◽

Bulinus Globosus ◽

Internal Transcribed Spacer Rdna

AbstractCercarial emission of schistosomes is a determinant in the transmission to the definitive host and constitutes a good marker to identify which definitive host is responsible for transmission, mainly in introgressive hybridization situations. Our goal was to test the hypothesis that micro-mammals play a role in Schistosoma haematobium, S. bovis, and/or S. haematobium x S. bovis transmission. Small mammal sampling was conducted in seven semi-lacustrine villages of southern Benin. Among the 62 animals trapped, 50 individuals were investigated for Schistosoma adults and eggs: 37 Rattus rattus, 3 Rattus norvegicus, 9 Mastomys natalensis, and 1 Crocidura olivieri. Schistosoma adults were found in four R. rattus and two M. natalensis, with a local prevalence reaching 80% and 50%, respectively. Two cercarial chronotypes were found from Bulinus globosus experimentally infected with miracidia extracted from naturally infected M. natalensis: a late diurnal and nocturnal chronotype, and an early diurnal, late diurnal, and nocturnal chronotype. The cytochrome C oxidase subunit I mtDNA gene of the collected schistosomes (adults, miracidia, and cercariae) belonged to the S. bovis clade. Eleven internal transcribed spacer rDNA profiles were found; four belonged to S. bovis and seven to S. haematobium x S. bovis. These molecular results together with the observed multi-peak chronotypes add M. natalensis as a new host implicated in S. haematobium x S. bovis transmission. We discuss the origin of the new chronotypes which have become more complex with the appearance of several peaks in a 24-h day. We also discuss how the new populations of offspring may optimize intra-host ecological niche, host spectrum, and transmission time period.

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Lesions caused by Sarcocystis spp., parasites of opossums (Didelphis aurita), in acute and chronic infections in birds (Melopsittacus undulatus)

Parasitology Research ◽

10.1007/s00436-020-06979-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Laura da Silva Ney ◽

Samira Salim Mello Gallo ◽

Nicole Brand Ederli ◽

Francisco Carlos Rodrigues de Oliveira

Keyword(s):

Melopsittacus Undulatus ◽

Chronic Infections ◽

Sarcocystis Spp ◽

Didelphis Aurita

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Evidence for Unknown Sarcocystis-Like Infection in Stranded Striped Dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Ligurian Sea, Italy

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11051201 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 1201

Author(s):

Federica Giorda ◽

Umberto Romani-Cremaschi ◽

Antoinette E. Marsh ◽

Carla Grattarola ◽

Barbara Iulini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neospora Caninum ◽

Positive Staining ◽

Ligurian Sea ◽

Sarcocystis Neurona ◽

Stenella Coeruleoalba ◽

Polyclonal Antisera ◽

Ligurian Coast ◽

Sarcocystis Falcatula ◽

The Brain ◽

The Mediterranean Basin

Two striped dolphins (SD1, SD2), stranded along the Ligurian coast of Italy, were diagnosed with a nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis associated with previously undescribed protozoan tissue cysts. As tissue cysts were morphologically different from those of Toxoplasma gondii, additional histopathological, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and biomolecular investigations were performed, aiming to fully characterize the organism. Histopathology revealed the presence of large Sarcocystis-like tissue cysts, associated with limited inflammatory lesions in all CNS areas studied. IHC was inconclusive, as positive staining with polyclonal antisera did not preclude cross-reaction with other Sarcocystidae coccidia. Applied to each animal, 11 different PCR protocols precluded a neural infection by Sarcocystis neurona, Sarcocystis falcatula, Hammondia hammondi, and Neospora caninum. T. gondii coinfection was confirmed only in dolphin SD2. Sarcocystis sp. sequences, showing the highest homology to species infecting the Bovidae family, were amplified from SD1 myocardium and SD2 skeletal muscle. The present study represents the first report of Sarcocystis-like tissue cysts in the brain of stranded cetaceans along with the first description of Sarcocystis sp. infection in muscle tissue of dolphins from the Mediterranean basin.

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Effects of parasites upon non-host predator avoidance behaviour in native and invasive gammarids

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182020002140 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Sajad Farahani ◽

Per J. Palsbøll ◽

Ido Pen ◽

Jan Komdeur

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

Definitive Host ◽

Predator Avoidance ◽

Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽

Chemical Cues ◽

Critical Role ◽

Fundamental Question ◽

Intermediate Hosts ◽

Gammarus Fossarum ◽

Acanthocephalan Parasite

Abstract The acanthocephalan parasite, Polymorphus minutus, manipulates its intermediate hosts' (gammarids) behaviour, presumably to facilitate its transmission to the definitive hosts. A fundamental question is whether this capability has evolved to target gammarids in general, or specifically sympatric gammarids. We assessed the responses to chemical cues from a non-host predator (the three-spined sticklebacks Gasterosteus aculeatus) in infected and non-infected gammarids; two native (Gammarus pulex and Gammarus fossarum), and one invasive (Echinogammarus berilloni) species, all sampled in the Paderborn Plateau (Germany). The level of predator avoidance was assessed by subjecting gammarids to choice experiments with the presence or absence of predator chemical cues. We did not detect any behavioural differences between uninfected and infected G. pulex and E. berilloni, but an elevated degree of predator avoidance in infected G. fossarum. Avoiding non-host predators may ultimately increase the probability of P. minutus' of predation by the definitive host. Our results suggested that P. minutus' ability to alter the host's behaviour may have evolved to specifically target sympatric gammarid host species. Uninfected gammarids did not appear to avoid the non-host predator chemical cues. Overall the results also opened the possibility that parasites may play a critical role in the success or failure of invasive species.

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