Gastrointestinal helminth parasites of the common wallaroo or euro, Osphranter robustus (Gould) (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) from Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 94 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Beveridge

Abstract The gastrointestinal helminth parasites of 170 common wallaroos or euros, Osphranter robustus (Gould), collected from all mainland states in which the species occurs as well as the Northern Territory, are presented, including previously published data. A total of 65 species of helminths were encountered, including four species of anoplocephalid cestodes found in the bile ducts and small intestine, and 61 species of strongylid nematodes, all but two of which occurring in the stomach, and with the remainder occurring in the terminal ileum, caecum and colon. Among the mainland subspecies of O. robustus, 52 species of helminths were encountered in O. r. robustus, compared with 30 species in O. r. woodwardi and 35 species in O. r. erubescens. Of the parasite species encountered, only 17 were specific to O. robustus, the remaining being shared with sympatric host species. Host-specific species or species occurring in O. robustus at a high prevalence can be classified as follows: widely distributed; restricted to northern Australia; restricted to the northern wallaroo, O. r. woodwardi; found only in the euro, O. r. erubescens; found essentially along the eastern coast of Australia, primarily in O. r. robustus; and species with highly limited regional distributions. The data currently available suggest that the acquisition of a significant number of parasites is due to co-grazing with other macropodids, while subspeciation in wallaroos as well as climatic variables may have influenced the diversification of the parasite fauna.

1968 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 1087-1093 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth L. Brown ◽  
William Threlfall

Ommastrephid squid of the subspecies Illex illecebrosus illecebrosus (LeSueur) were obtained during the late summer and early autumn of 1966 and 1967 from numerous areas around the eastern coast of the island of Newfoundland. Helminths of five genera were found, namely, Phyllobothrium sp. and Dinobothrium plicitum (both of which had previously been recorded from this host), Pelichnibothrium speciosum, Scolex polymorphus, and Nybelinia sp. The last three represent new records from this ommastrephid. The incidence of these parasites was tested for correlation with standard length and with sex of the host animal. Annual and seasonal variations in degree of infection were also noted. The greatest number of procercoids encountered were Dinobothrium plicitum. Degree of infection with helminths in 1966 and 1967 was similar (39%:40%) and contrary to earlier published data, infection by cestodes is not always directly correlated with mantle length. Any possible relations between sex of the squid and parasite burden are unclear.


2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 297-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Guillen-Hernandez ◽  
P.J. Whitfield

AbstractAn analysis was undertaken of intestinal helminth communities in flounderPlatichthys flesusfrom two sites on the River Thames. A comparison was made between helminth community richness and diversity from these sites at the component and infracommunity levels. At the component community level, a richer and more diverse parasite community was found in flounder from the Tilbury location (marine influence) than that from the Lots Road location (freshwater influence). At the infracommunity level, more parasite species and parasite individuals per host were found at Lots Road and the percentage of similarity values were low at both locations. Helminth species with high prevalence values in the parasite communities of the flounder are the dominant species in any individual fish, harbouring multi-specific infections. The presence of more invertebrate species, which are intermediate hosts in the helminth life cycle in the Thames, fish vagility and the high prevalence and abundance values ofPomphorhynchus laevisin the flounder, may explain the differences between the two locations.


Author(s):  
Michael Gabel ◽  
Stefan Theisen ◽  
Harry Wilhelm Palm ◽  
Michael Dähne ◽  
Patrick Unger

Abstract Purpose Endoparasitic nematodes of six harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena and four grey seals Halichoerus grypus, stranded at the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea in Germany in winter 2019, were analysed in order to identify nematode parasites and to compare with recent studies from the same area. Methods Endoparasitic nematodes were identified by using both morphological and molecular characters. The successfully obtained sequences of the rDNA marker regions ITS-1, 5.8S, ITS-2 from 29 anisakid and the rDNA marker region ITS-2 of 11 pseudalid nematodes were amplified. Results Analyses revealed the presence of three parasite species, the anisakid nematode Contracaecum osculatum from grey seals and the pseudalid nematodes Pseudalius inflexus and Stenurus minor from the harbour porpoises. Other anisakid nematodes regularly occurring in the Baltic Sea, e.g. Anisakis simplex or Pseudoterranova decipiens, were not found. Conclusions The prevalence of 100% and a severe parasite load in grey seals demonstrated a very high C. osculatum infection of Baltic Sea fish as their regular prey. Prevalence of 33% for parasites in harbour porpoises and minor infection rates, combined with a distinct lack of anisakid nematodes, are typical for the current situation of the porpoise parasite fauna in the Baltic Sea. Invasive parasite species as possible indicators for climate change could not be detected.


Parasitology ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 115 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. FELIU ◽  
F. RENAUD ◽  
F. CATZEFLIS ◽  
J.-P. HUGOT ◽  
P. DURAND ◽  
...  

Data on parasites of rodents, collected over an 18-year period on the Iberian peninsula, were used to find the determinants of parasite species richness. A total of 77 species of helminth parasites (nematodes, cestodes and digeneans) was identified among 16 species of rodents. Parasites were classified into groups according to their specificity towards their host and their life-cycle. A working phylogeny of the rodents was proposed on the basis of molecular and paleontological data and for each host the following parameters were recorded: sample size, weight, geographical range, longevity, and life-style. Two comparative methods were used, the independent comparisons method of Pagel (1992) and the distance matrix method of Legendre, Lapointe & Casgrain (1995). The second method has the advantage of measuring the relative contribution of phylogeny. Both methods gave similar results. Overall parasite species richness correlated only with host sample size. Host body size does not correlate with any subset of parasite species richness. However, host phylogeny is a good predicator of specific parasites and the species richness of digeneans correlates with host geographical range. A phylogenetic reconstruction of host relations was performed using the parasites belonging to subgroups in which richness is correlated with host phylogeny. These parasite species were treated as Dollo characters, i.e. we made the assumption that the loss of a parasite species is irreversible. The consensus tree obtained reflects the major phylogenetic divisions of the host group. Finally, this study illustrates the relative importance of processes acting at different temporal and spatial scales (evolutionary time and actual geographical range of hosts) in determining the structure of helminth parasite fauna.


1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 304-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Scott

Alimentary tracts of the five common hakes of the Scotian shelf (Urophycis chuss, Urophycis tenuis, Phycis chesteri, Merluccius bilinearis, Merluccius albida) were examined for helminth parasites. A total of 29 species was found: 17 Digenea, 4 Cestoda, 6 Nematoda, 2 Acanthocephala. The greatest numbers of species were found in the closely associated U. tenuis (25) and U. chuss (19). Phycis chesteri hosted a moderate number (14) but included 3 digeneans that are typical of deep water (Anomalotrema koiae, Lethadena profunda, Paraccacladium jamiesoni) not found in the other hakes. The merlucciids were characterized by low numbers of parasite species, particularly of digeneans, but showed high prevalence of the host-specific cestode Clestobothrium crassiceps. The effects of geographic distribution, fish length, and depth of capture on parasite prevalence were examined for those parasites that were adequately represented. There was little difference in geographical distribution except in the case of C. crassiceps, in which distribution suggested a separate population of M. bilinearis on the Scotian Shelf from that of the Gulf of Maine. Fish length and depth of capture had little effect on parasite prevalence.


2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleya Begum ◽  
Nasrin Banu

A total of 75 toads (39 males and 36 females), Bufo melanostictus, collected from different areas of Dhaka city from May 2009 to April 2010 was examined for helminth parasites. The results showed that seven parasite species were collected, and prevalence of infection was 100%. The parasite fauna was comprised of Trematoda: 8% was the prevalence of Ganeo kumaonensis, 8% of Halipegus eccentricus; Nematoda: 100% of Oswaldocruzia indica, 68% of Neopharyngodon sp., 40% of Rhabdias bufonis; Acanthocephala: 28% of Pseudoacanthocephalus bufonis; and Pentastomida: 4% of Raillietiella indica. Serious damage was observed in intestine (53.94%) then rectum (24.55%), stomach (12.73%) and lungs (8.78%). The males had a higher intensity (77.92) than the females (44.58). Seasonally, the highest intensity of infection was found in the rainy season (81.21) and lowest during the winter (39.87). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjz.v40i2.14308 Bangladesh J. Zool. 40(2): 155-164, 2012


2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriele Carolina Franco CARDOSO ◽  
Marcos Sidney Brito OLIVEIRA ◽  
Ligia Rigôr NEVES ◽  
Marcos TAVARES-DIAS

ABSTRACT This study investigated the metazoan parasite fauna in Peckoltia braueri and Pterygoplichthys pardalis from a tributary of the Amazon River system, in northern Brazil. In P. braueri, 630 parasites were collected, belonging to Unilatus unilatus, Nothogyrodactylus sp., Genarchella genarchella, Proteocephalus sp., Gorytocephalus elongorchis, Dolops longicauda and Hirudinea gen. sp., with a dominance of monogenean species. In P. pardalis, 120 parasites were collected, belonging to U. unilatus, Acanthostomum gnerii and Gorytocephalus elongorchis, and this acanthocephalan was the dominant species. In both hosts, the parasites presented clumped distribution, high prevalence, low abundance, low Shannon diversity, and low species richness, with a predominance of helminth species. In P. braueri, host length was positively correlated with parasite species richness and Shannon index. There was no difference in the body condition of parasitized and non-parasitized fishes in either host. This was the first report of these parasites in P. braueri and P. pardalis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mebrahtu Berhe ◽  
Berhanu Mekibib ◽  
Abrha Bsrat ◽  
Gebretsadik Atsbaha

The poultry industry is an infant but fast growing sector in Ethiopia. However, it is largely dependent on local chicken managed under backyard production system. The sector is facing different challenges, mainly emanated from prevalence of infectious diseases such as helminth parasite species. Hence, this study came up with an aim to determine the infection rate and identify helminth parasite species in chickens managed under different production systems, in Mekelle, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study design was employed, from November 2015 to March 2016. Postmortem (N=138) and fecal (N=410) samples of chicken were considered for necropsy and coproscopic examination to see both adult and eggs of helminth parasites, respectively. Similar gastrointestinal helminth parasites infection rate of chicken was obtained from both examination approaches (necropsy, 90.60%; and coproscopy, 90.97%). The study attested high prevalence (87.7%) of mixed infection with helminth parasites of chicken. Heterakis gallinarum (72.5%) and Ascaridia galli (68.8%) were found as the most dominant species (necropsy). During coproscopic examination cestode (89%) infections showed a relatively higher prevalence than nematodes (84.4%), although no difference was observed during that of necropsy examination results. Chickens of local breed from backyard production system had shown more likelihood of getting helminth infection when compared with their corresponding relatives (coproscopy). However, the variation was not statistically significant during that of necropsy finding. Therefore, the higher prevalence of parasitism and mixed infection observed in the study area would warrant for an urgent intervention with regular deworming scheme, and strict attention should be given towards hygienic measures and other health related management activities.


1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (9) ◽  
pp. 1998-2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Brattey ◽  
Alan Campbell

Examination of 885 lobsters (Homarus americanus) trapped in five areas of the Canadian Maritimes during 1980–1982 revealed four parasite species: Porospora gigantea (Apicomplexa: Sporozoea), Polymorphus botulus (Acanthocephala: Palaeacanthocephala), Hysterothylacium sp. (Nematoda: Secernentea), and Stichocotyle nephropis (Platyhelminthes: Trematoda). The prevalence and abundance of each parasite species did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) between lobster sexes or size groups. Lobsters in each area were characterized by a high prevalence of P. gigantea (43.6 to 84.2%) and low prevalences of P. botulus (1.3 to 9.9%) and Hysterothylacium sp. (1.1 to 5.6%). Stichocotyle nephropis was found in one lobster from German Bank. The parasite fauna were similar throughout the areas sampled, which suggests that the data were of little value for lobster stock discrimination. However, lobsters probably acquired P. botulus in the shallow coastal areas where the primary hosts of this parasite occur; therefore, the presence of P. botulus in lobsters from inshore and offshore areas south and southeast of Nova Scotia suggests some mixing between coastal lobsters and those on the continental shelf.


2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Salvatore Mele ◽  
Maria Pennino ◽  
Maria Piras ◽  
José Bellido ◽  
Giovanni Garippa ◽  
...  

AbstractThe metazoan parasite assemblage of the head of 30 specimens of the Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias) from the western Mediterranean Sea was analysed. Eight species of parasites were found, four mazocraeid monogeneans: Grubea cochlear (prevalence = 10%), Kuhnia scombercolias (59%), K. scombri (52%), Pseudokuhnia minor (86%); three didymozoid trematodes: Nematobothrium cf. faciale (21%), N. filiforme (41%), N. scombri (7%); and one laerneopodid copepod: Clavelissa scombri (7%). Results were compared with previously published data from 14 localities of the eastern Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, using non-parametric univariate and multivariate analyses, and the whole parasite fauna of S. colias was compared with that of the congeners (S. australasicus, S. japonicus and S. scombrus). Parasites showed to reflect the biogeographical and phylogenetic history of host. From a methodological point of view, the use of both non-parametric univariate and multivariate techniques proved to be effective tools to detect dissimilarities between parasite assemblages.


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