scholarly journals Strongyloides westeri and Parascaris equorum: Observations in field studies in Thoroughbred foals on some farms in Central Kentucky, USA

2014 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Lyons ◽  
S. Tolliver

Abstract Observations were made on the intestinal threadworm (Strongyloides westeri) and ascarid (Parascaris equorum) in field studies in 373 Thoroughbred foals on nine farms in Central Kentucky (USA) in 2013. Qualitative examination was made of feces of the foals for presence of S. westeri and P. equorum eggs. The main purpose of the prevalence study was to obtain current data on S. westeri in Thoroughbred foals. This was done to compare these findings with earlier studies in this geographical area where the prevalence of this parasite has been very low the last several decades. All the foals except on one farm had been treated one or more times with a parasiticide before the study. Prevalence of S. westeri in foals was 0 to 3 % on two farms, 6 to 9 % on three farms, and 20 to 51 % on four farms. The prevalence of P. equorum in foals was 0 to 14 % on three farms, 27 to 38 % on three farms, and 46 to 51 % on three farms. Effect of drugs given before the current study, on the prevalence of the two parasitic nematode species, is discussed. Also, three field tests were done by the present authors to evaluate activity of three individual or combination of drugs against ascarids. Evaluation was somewhat limited because, on two of the farms, a relatively small number of foals was passing ascarid eggs before treatment. However, oxibendazole and oxibendazole/piperazine combination were much more efficacious than fenbendazole.

2016 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Slivinska ◽  
V. Kharchenko ◽  
Z. Wróblewski ◽  
J. Gawor ◽  
T. Kuzmina

Summary An extensive analysis of the relationship between age, sex, and different types of management strategies relative to the gastrointestinal parasite community of Polish primitive horses was performed on 124 horses maintained in nine farms from four regions of Poland. The horses (96 females and 28 males) were housed in three types of management strategies: stabled (ST), free-ranging (FR) and semi-free (SF). These horses also were divided into three age groups: <3 years, 3 – 10 years and >10 years old. The gastrointestinal parasites were collected following deworming of all horses with anthelmintics containing the macrocyclic lactones and praziquantel. Totally, 66,192 parasite specimens were collected and identified. The analysis of dependence of horse infection with intestinal nematodes using sex, age and management strategies demonstrated that females had significantly heavier infections of strongylids. Young horses (<3 years old) had higher infections of Parascaris equorum and Strongyloides westeri. Free ranging horses were more infected with strongylids, Oxyuris equi and Gasterophilus intestinalis. Thirty-five nematode species, one cestode and one species of the botfly larvae of Gasterophilus were found. Diagnostic deworming examination revealed presence of Parascaris equorum in 27.4 %, Oxyuris equi in 38.7 %, Habronema muscae in 16.9 %, Anoplocephala perfoliata in 42.7 % and Gasterophilus intestinalis in 46.8% in the Polish primitive horses examined. Strongyloides westeri presence was confirmed only by fecal samples examination; threadworms were not observed in these horses after deworming. In the strongylid community, 31 species (6 of subfamily Strongylinae and 25 of Cyathostominae) were found. Significant differences in prevalence of separate strongylid species, or their proportions in the communities were not observed between females and males, or between age groups (p > 0.05). The highest species diversity (n=30 or 31) was observed in the FR horses, the lowest (n=15) – in ST horses. The FR horses had higher prevalence and proportion of large strongyles in the community, in comparison to SF or ST horses (p < 0.05).


2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heikki M. T. Hokkanen ◽  
Ingeborg Menzler-Hokkanen ◽  
Marja-Leena Lahdenpera

<p>Targeted precision biocontrol and improved pollination were studied Europe-wide in the EU ERA-NET CORE ORGANIC 2 project BICOPOLL (Biocontrol and Pollination). A case study was conducted on the management of strawberry grey mold <em>Botrytis cinerea</em>, with the biocontrol fungus, <em>Gliocladium catenulatum</em>, vectored by honey bees or bumble bees. A joint field trial carried out in five countries targeted strawberry cultivations in open field, and included four treatments: untreated control, chemical fungicide, entomovectored biocontrol, and chemical and biocontrol combined. In organic fields, no pesticide treatments were included. The proportion of moldy berries, and/or the marketable yield of healthy berries were recorded from each treatment, along with other parameters of local interest. A pilot study was started in Finland in 2006, and, by 2012, large commercial farms were using entomovectoring. In 2012, field trials were started in Estonia and in Italy, and in 2013-14, these experiments were expanded to Slovenia and Turkey. In total, 26 field tests were conducted using entomovectoring and <em>Gliocladium catenulatum</em> (Prestop<sup>®</sup> Mix) on strawberry, with five additional trials on raspberry. Efficacy results have been excellent throughout the field studies. The results show crop protection equalling or exceeding that provided by a full chemical fungicide program, under all weather conditions, and over a wide geographical range (from Finland to Turkey). Under heavy disease pressure, entomovectoring provided on average a 47% disease reduction, which was the same as multiple fungicide sprays. Under light disease pressure, biocontrol decreased grey mold by an average of 66%, which was greater than fungicide sprays. The concept has proven to be effective on strawberries, raspberries, pears, apples, blueberries, cherries, and grapes. A conservative estimate for Finland is that over 500 ha of strawberry cultivation currently use the technique (≈15% of the strawberry growing area). To make full use of the entomovectoring technique, organic berry and fruit growers are encouraged to (i) keep bees, or to hire the service from local beekeepers for entomovectoring; and (ii) manage vegetation within and around the target crop to support the activity of bees and other pollinators, which can help to disseminate the beneficial microbial populations within the crop. Beekeepers are encouraged to (i) market pollination and biocontrol services to fruit and berry growers, and (ii) ensure that all operations are effective in mananging bees and their microbe dissemination activity. Biocontrol product manufacturers are encouraged to further develop products and their formulations specifically for entomovectoring, because current formulations are suboptimal as they are initially optimized for other uses (e.g., mixing into the soil).</p>


Molecules ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 312
Author(s):  
Tina V. A. Hansen ◽  
Heinz Sager ◽  
Céline E. Toutain ◽  
Elise Courtot ◽  
Cédric Neveu ◽  
...  

Natural plant compounds, such as betaine, are described to have nematocidal properties. Betaine also acts as a neurotransmitter in the free-living model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, where it is required for normal motility. Worm motility is mediated by nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), including subunits from the nematode-specific DEG-3 group. Not all types of nAChRs in this group are associated with motility, and one of these is the DEG-3/DES-2 channel from C. elegans, which is involved in nociception and possibly chemotaxis. Interestingly, the activity of DEG-3/DES-2 channel from the parasitic nematode of ruminants, Haemonchus contortus, is modulated by monepantel and its sulfone metabolite, which belong to the amino-acetonitrile derivative anthelmintic drug class. Here, our aim was to advance the pharmacological knowledge of the DEG-3/DES-2 channel from C. elegans by functionally expressing the DEG-3/DES-2 channel in Xenopus laevis oocytes and using two-electrode voltage-clamp electrophysiology. We found that the DEG-3/DES-2 channel was more sensitive to betaine than ACh and choline, but insensitive to monepantel and monepantel sulfone when used as direct agonists and as allosteric modulators in co-application with betaine. These findings provide important insight into the pharmacology of DEG-3/DES-2 from C. elegans and highlight the pharmacological differences between non-parasitic and parasitic nematode species.


Author(s):  
Pavlína Šenoldová ◽  
Jiří Rotrekl

This paper compares efficiency of preparations based on a parasitic nematode species Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita with a molluscocide containing methiocarb as an effective substance. Parasitic nematodes by the family Agriolimacidae showed a significantly better effect on mortality and reduction of the percentage of damaged plants than the methiocarb-based preparation. Under laboratory and field conditions, the efficiency of parasitic nematodes on the family Agriolimacidae ranged from 84% to 94% and from 81% to 94%, resp., while the percentages of damaged plants were minimal in both cases. The corresponding effects of the methiocarb-based molluscocide were only 35% and 21%, resp. The effect of parasitic P. hermaphrodita nematodes on members of the snail family Arionidae was not demonstrated both under laboratory and field conditons and the mortality was up to 6% with a total defoliation of plants. Under laboratory and field conditions, the mortality of slugs from the genus Arion after the application of methiocarb-based preparation was 53% and 38%, resp. However, the damage of plants was significant and it reached nearly 67% and 60% under laboratory and field conditions, resp.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 1127
Author(s):  
Iman Mohammadi Bidsardareh ◽  
Mohammad Mohammadi

In Iran Concrete Code (ABA), the criteria for calculation of standard deviation (s) are comprehensive and holistic. However, if it would be determined separately for each geographical area, significant changes could occur due to the use of concrete as one of the common materials. This paper analyses the criteria and redefines the acceptance standards for concrete compressive strength in ABA using experimental data available in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad and Fars provinces. The main hypothesis of the study is that using the statistical analysis of the test specimens for three categories C21, C30 and C35 in various projects located in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad and Fars provinces, extracting standard deviations, mean and the compressive strength of the specimens and their comparison with ABA proposed relationships and values, it is possible to propose new amendments for these areas in line with economic savings in national and international projects. In this study using the quantitative Strategy, library - Internet studies, field studies and in cooperation with the concrete labs, required information for 4878 concrete specimens was collected from the above-mentioned areas. By analysing the acceptance regulations for the specimens based on ABA and comparing the standard deviation of these data with the formulas of the regulations, significant results were obtained for the standard deviation factor correction and finally some formulas were suggested for the acceptance of the concrete specimens.


Behaviour ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 153 (13-14) ◽  
pp. 1777-1793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evan E. Byrnes ◽  
Catarina Vila Pouca ◽  
Sherrie L. Chambers ◽  
Culum Brown

The field of animal personality has received considerable attention in past decades, yet few studies have examined personality in the wild. This study investigated docility, a measure of boldness, in two Port Jackson shark (Heterodontus portusjacksoni) populations using field tests, and if laterality differences explained docility levels. We developed a struggle test as an assay for docility, which is particularly amenable to field studies. The struggle test was effective, and repeatable inter-individual docility differences were observed. Sex, but not population, influenced docility scores, with male sharks being less docile than females. This difference is likely due to the contrasting role each sex plays during mating. We also found individualized lateralization. However, no individual-level relationship between lateralization and docility was detected. Despite reported links between laterality and some personality traits, the relationship between laterality and boldness remains inconclusive in sharks. Further studies will prove essential to clarify the mechanisms behind personality traits in vertebrates.


2021 ◽  
pp. 323-340
Author(s):  
Sebastian Höss ◽  
Walter Traunspurger

Abstract This chapter, after a general introduction to quality assessments of freshwater habitats, reviews the use of freshwater nematodes as in situ bioindicators, including in monitoring the ecological quality of freshwater habitats. By drawing on studies of nematode communities in unpolluted and polluted habitats as examples, it highlights both the different methods used to assess the quality of freshwater ecosystems and their applications. A focus of the chapter is the development of a new index that uses freshwater nematodes to assess chemically induced changes in the ecological status of freshwater habitats, the NemaSPEAR[%]-index (Nematode SPEcies At Risk).


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1420
Author(s):  
Simon Allen ◽  
Carolyn Greig ◽  
Ben Rowson ◽  
Robin B. Gasser ◽  
Abdul Jabbar ◽  
...  

The Western European Hedgehog (Erinaceous europaeus) is a nocturnal animal that is in decline in much of Europe, but the monitoring of this species is subjective, prone to error, and an inadequate basis for estimating population trends. Here, we report the use of Crenosoma striatum, a parasitic nematode specific to hedgehogs as definitive hosts, to detect hedgehog presence in the natural environment. This is achieved through collecting and sampling the parasites within their intermediate hosts, gastropoda, a group much simpler to locate and sample in both urban and rural habitats. C. striatum and Crenosoma vulpis were collected post-mortem from the lungs of hedgehogs and foxes, respectively. Slugs were collected in two sessions, during spring and autumn, from Skomer Island (n = 21), which is known to be free of hedgehogs (and foxes); and Pennard, Swansea (n = 42), known to have a healthy hedgehog population. The second internal transcribed spacer of parasite ribosomal DNA was used to develop a highly specific, novel, PCR based multiplex assay. Crenosoma striatum was found only at the site known to be inhabited by hedgehogs, at an average prevalence in gastropods of 10% in spring and autumn. The molecular test was highly specific: One mollusc was positive for both C. striatum and C. vulpis, and differentiation between the two nematode species was clear. This study demonstrates proof of principle for using detection of specific parasite DNA in easily sampled intermediate hosts to confirm the presence of an elusive nocturnal definitive host species. The approach has great potential as an adaptable, objective tool to supplement and support existing ecological survey methods.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document