scholarly journals Cormorant pellets as a tool for the knowledge of parasite-intermediate host associations and nematode diversity in the environment

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 296-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Garbin ◽  
J. I. Diaz ◽  
A. Morgenthaler ◽  
A. Millones ◽  
L. Kuba ◽  
...  

SummaryAnisakids are usually acquired through the diet. Cormorant pellets are useful to detect both parasite larval stages, and prey items which could act as intermediate hosts in the environment. The current study provides information about the feeding habits of both birds and mammals, and the diversity of parasites circulating in the environment. The objective of the study was to identify Anisakidae larvae and prey items in pellets from the Imperial shag Phalacrocorax atriceps and the Red-legged cormorant P. gaimardi, suggesting possible parasite–prey associations. A total of 92 P. atriceps’ and 82 P. gaimardi’s pellets were collected from both Punta León, and Isla Elena bird colonies, respectively, during the period from 2006 to 2010. Pellets were preserved in ethanol and hard prey item remnants, and nematode larvae were studied using standard techniques. Prey item occurrence, nematode prevalence, and mean intensity were calculated. A correspondence analysis was performed to evaluate the larvae-prey association. Contracaecum spp., Pseudoterranova spp,, Anisakis spp., Terranova spp., and Hysterothylacium spp. third-stage larvae (L3) were identifi ed in pellets. Pseudoterranova spp. and Anisakis spp. L3 predominated in the environment of Punta León, whereas Contracaecum spp. and Hysterothylacium spp. L3 predominated in the Puerto Deseado area. The highest larvae-prey association was that of Contracaecum spp. L3 with Engraulis anchoita, followed by with Odontestes sp. in P. atriceps’ pellets. Contracaecum spp. L3 were significantly related to both sprats, Sprattus fueguensis and Ramnogaster arcuatta, in P. gaimardi’s pellets. It was verifi ed that E. anchovy is the main gateway of Contracaecum spp. L3 in P. atriceps. Odonthestes sp. might act as an intermediate/paratenic host of Contracaecum spp. L3 in the area. Both sprats might play a role as intermediate/paratenic hosts of C. australe, being the main gateway into P. gaimardi in the area. Thus, pellet analysis can be postulated as a good tool for indicating parasite-host associations between anisakids, and the prey items which act as intermediate hosts.

Author(s):  
M. Carrassón ◽  
J. Matallanas

The present study examines the feeding habits of Alepocephalus rostratus, the only species of the family Alepocephalidae in the Mediterranean Sea and the second most important fish species, in terms of biomass, inhabiting the deep slope of the Catalan Sea. Samples were obtained at depths between 1000–2250 m. Diet was analysed for two different size-classes (immature and mature specimens) at three different bathymetric strata during two different seasons. The feeding habits of A. rostratus included a narrow range of mobile macroplanktonic organisms (e.g. Pyrosoma atlanticum and Chelophyes appendiculata) and some material of benthic origin. Pyrosoma atlanticum was the preferred prey item in spring at 1000–1425 m, being very scarce in summer at the same depth as a consequence of its scarcity in the environment during this season. There were some ontogenic differences in the diet of A. rostratus at 1425–2250 m. Adults ingested more and larger prey than juvenile specimens. The scarcity of resources below 1200–1400 m fostered a more diversified diet, as well as passive predation of sedimented material.


1976 ◽  
Vol 54 (12) ◽  
pp. 2055-2060 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. M. Bashirullah ◽  
Benazir Ahmed

The larval development of Camallanus adamsi Bashirullah, 1974 was followed in intermediate hosts, Mesocyclops leuckarti (Claus) and Thermocyclops crassus (Fischer), which were kept at 24 °C and 27 °C (average). The nematode molted twice in the haemocoel of copepods. The first molt occurred 117 h after infection at 24 °C and the second molt after 249 h. At 27 °C, the first and the second molts occurred 72 and 168 h respectively after the infection. Three larval stages are described.


Author(s):  
Grace Madanire-Moyo ◽  
Annemariè Avenant-Oldewage

Cestodes are parasitic flatworms that live in the digestive tract of vertebrates as adults and often in the liver, muscle, haemocoel, mesentery and brain of various animals as larval stages. To identify the cestodes infecting Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822 (sharptooth catfish) in the Vaal Dam, a total of 45 host specimens were collected with the aid of gill nets between October 2011, January and April 2012. The fish were sacrificed and examined for cestode parasites. Two adult cestodes, Tetracampos ciliotheca Wedl, 1861 (prevalence 86.7%, mean intensity = 15, n = 45) and Proteocephalus glanduligerus (Janicki, 1928) (prevalence 51.1%, mean intensity = 5, n = 45) were found in the intestines of the catfish. Both T. ciliotheca and P. glanduligerus are new locality records. There were statistically insignificant differences in the infection of the male and female C. gariepinu. Fish with standard length ranging from 40 cm – 54 cm (≥ 3 years) had the highest prevalence and mean intensity while those ranging from 10 cm – 24 cm (< 1 year) had the lowest prevalence and mean intensity for both cestodes. The study highlights the importance of changing feeding habits of C. gariepinus with age on the prevalence and mean intensity of the two gastrointestinal cestode parasites.


1971 ◽  
Vol 28 (10) ◽  
pp. 1385-1392 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Margolis

The role of polychaetes as intermediate hosts of helminth parasites of aquatic vertebrates is reviewed. Some 18–20 species of trematodes and three or four each of cestodes and nematodes are known to have larval stages in these annelids. There are no records of acanthocephalan larvae from polychaetes. Trematoda use polychaetes as first (three species) or second intermediate hosts. The polychaete hosts are found among various genera of Errantia, Sedentaria, and Myzostomida. Definitive hosts are mainly fishes, with a few species of trematodes and one of cestodes developing in birds, and apparently one genus of nematodes (two species) maturing in the lungs of seals. A list of polychaetes and their larval helminth parasites is given.


Parasite ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Kristina M. Hill-Spanik ◽  
Claudia Sams ◽  
Vincent A. Connors ◽  
Tessa Bricker ◽  
Isaure de Buron

The coquina, Donax variabilis, is a known intermediate host of monorchiid and gymnophallid digeneans. Limited morphological criteria for the host and the digeneans’ larval stages have caused confusion in records. Herein, identities of coquinas from the United States (US) Atlantic coast were verified molecularly. We demonstrate that the current GenBank sequences for D. variabilis are erroneous, with the US sequence referring to D. fossor. Two cercariae and three metacercariae previously described in the Gulf of Mexico and one new cercaria were identified morphologically and molecularly, with only metacercariae occurring in both hosts. On the Southeast Atlantic coast, D. variabilis’ role is limited to being a facultative second intermediate host, and D. fossor, an older species, acts as both first and second intermediate hosts. Sequencing demonstrated 100% similarities between larval stages for each of the three digeneans. Sporocysts, single tail cercariae, and metacercariae in the incurrent siphon had sequences identical to those of monorchiid Lasiotocus trachinoti, for which we provide the complete life cycle. Adults are not known for the other two digeneans, and sequences from their larval stages were not identical to any in GenBank. Large sporocysts, cercariae (Cercaria choanura), and metacercariae in the coquinas’ foot were identified as Lasiotocus choanura (Hopkins, 1958) n. comb. Small sporocysts, furcocercous cercariae, and metacercariae in the mantle were identified as gymnophallid Parvatrema cf. donacis. We clarify records wherein authors recognized the three digenean species but confused their life stages, and probably the hosts, as D. variabilis is sympatric with cryptic D. texasianus in the Gulf of Mexico.


Behaviour ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 56 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 44-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glenn Hausfater

Abstract1. A group of 32 yellow baboons (Papio cynocephalus) in the Masai-Amboseli National Park, Kenya, caught and ate 45 vertebrate prey items during 2519.19 hours of observation. 2. Eighty percent of the prey items were mammals and the most frequently eaten species were African hares (Lepus capensis), vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) and neonate gazelle (Cazella granti and G. thomsoni) in that order. The details of predatory behavior for each prey species are described. 3. Rates of predation were significantly higher during the long dry season than during other months of the year, although no correlation was found between total monthly rainfall and monthly rates of predation. A lognormal model however provided a good fit to the monthly rate of predation data suggesting that the rate of predation by Amboseli baboons was affected by several factors that acted multiplicatively with respect to each other and were themselves related to rainfall or dryness. 4. A mean of 2.3 individuals fed directly from the carcass of each prey item. A mean of 3.5 individuals per prey item fed directly or indirectly, i.e., on scraps, from each carcass. In general, both the number of individuals who fed from each carcass and the duration of their feeding bouts was dependent upon the gross body size of the prey item. Adult males fed directly from the carcass of prey items for about three times more minutes than expected from their number in the group; other classes of individuals fed directly from prey carcasses for only one-fourth as many minutes as expected. In general, an adult male would be expected to feed on each category of vertebrate prey at least once per year, while individuals of all other age-sex classes would be expected to feed on most prey categories only once every two years. 5. The most frequent social behavior around prey items was agonistic bouts; no cooperation, simultaneous feeding or specific begging gestures were observed. 6. Estimates of the total number of prey killed annually by Amboseli baboons indicate that baboon predation probably has a negligible effect on prey populations other than vervet monkeys. 7. It is speculated that the need for vitamin B12 underlies baboon predatory behavior, and perhaps that of other primate species as well.


1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 296-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. P. Goater ◽  
J. D. Goss-Custard ◽  
C. R. Kennedy

The cestode Micrasomacanthus rectacantha and the trematode Psilostomum brevicolle are the two most common intestinal helminths of oystercatchers, Haematopus ostralegus, on the Exe estuary, England. Each was present in 57 of 60 birds, in numbers ranging from 1 to 9833 and from 1 to 182, respectively. Cockles (Cerastoderma edule) were used as paratenic host by M. rectacantha and as second intermediate host by P. brevicolle. Over 90% of the transmission of M. rectacantha from intermediate hosts occurred in winter, between cockles and juvenile birds. Exposure to M. rectacantha was highest in cockles from muddy sites, where up to 80% of older cockles were infected with 1–14 larvae. Exposure to P. brevicolle was similarly high at one sandy site. Juveniles also made up > 90% of the birds present on the estuary in summer, when significantly more worms were gravid. Estimates based on the numbers of uterine eggs per individual P. brevicolle showed that 8 % of the total Exe population of oystercatchers (ca. 200) contributed 51% of the eggs to the estuary. The results implicate host age, host feeding preference, and host population structure as important factors determining variation in helminth abundance in birds.


1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (10) ◽  
pp. 2491-2497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murray J. Kennedy ◽  
L. M. Killick ◽  
M. Beverley-Burton

Life cycle studies of Paradistomum geckonum (Dicrocoeliidae) were attempted experimentally. The pulmonate gastropod Lamellaxis gracilis served as the first intermediate host; geckonid lizards (Cosymbotus platyurus, Gehyra mutilata, and Hemidactylus frenatus) served as definitive hosts. The life cycle of Mesocoelium sociale (Mesocoeliidae) was studied in naturally infected first intermediate hosts (L. gracilis, Huttonella bicolor) and experimentally in geckonid definitive hosts (C. platyurus, G. mutilata, and H. frenatus). Some naturally infected L. gracilis were infected concurrently with larval stages of both digeneans. Second intermediate hosts, presumed to be arthropods, were experimentally unnecessary. Metacercariae of P. geckonum were not found. Cercariae of M. sociale formed encysted metacercariae in the same individual snails.


2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (4Supl1) ◽  
pp. 2845
Author(s):  
Renata Bezerra Marujo ◽  
Helio Langoni ◽  
Leila Sabrina Ullmann ◽  
Maysa Pellizzaro ◽  
Ramiro Das Neves Dias Neto ◽  
...  

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic zoonosis with worldwide distribution and different wild species either are involved in maintenance of the pathogen in the environment as definitive or intermediate hosts serving as font of feeding or prey to definitive hosts. The present study aimed to investigate Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and the risk factors relating to infection in mammals at Sorocaba Zoo, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Serum samples collected from 153 animals were analyzed using the modified agglutination test (MAT; cutoff ? 25). Seropositivity was found in 62 animals (40.5%; 95% CI: 33.1-48.5%), with different titers. Significant differences were observed in relation to the ages of the animals, origin, presence of free-ranging animals in the enclosure and feeding habits, through univariate analysis (p ? 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only age (p = 0.03) had significance for the study. Adult animals were 3.5 more likely to become infected than were young ones. In relation to feeding habits, herbivores (80%) and carnivores (46.5%) were the animals most affected. These results highlight the presence of T. gondii in animals at Brazilian zoos, and suggest that continuous transmission is occurring at zoos.


Parasite ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sirous Mehrani Moghaddam ◽  
Stephane Picot ◽  
Ehsan Ahmadpour

Cystic echinococcosis and alveolar echinococcosis are chronic zoonotic infections, transmitted throughout the world. Development of the cestode larval stages in the liver and lungs causes damage to intermediate hosts, including humans. Several pathways leading to the suppression of host immune response and the survival of the cysts in various hosts are known. Immune response modulation and regulated cell death (RCD) play a fundamental role in cyst formation, development and pathogenesis. RCD, referring to apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy, can be triggered either via intrinsic or extrinsic cell stimuli. In this review, we provide a general overview of current knowledge on the process of RCD during echinococcosis. The study of interactions between RCD and Echinococcus spp. metacestodes may provide in-depth understanding of echinococcosis pathogenesis and open new horizons for human intervention and treatment of the disease.


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