Ecological analysis of helminth fauna of wild artiodactyles (Mammalia: artiodactyla) in Karakalpakstan

The purpose of the research is studying current fauna of helminths in wild artiodactyls and analysis of their ecological relationships with populations of representatives of the Artiodactyla in biogeocenoses of Karakalpakstan.Materials and methods. Wild populations of artiodactyls were studied in 2016–2020 in the ecosystems of the Kyzyl Kum, Ustyurt and the lower reaches of the Amu Darya, including the drained bottom of the Aral Sea. Some killed animals (the saiga, Persian gazelle, and Bokharan deer) seized from poachers, as well as those killed by predators and feral dogs in the sanctuaries and reserves of Karakalpakstan were used to collect helminthological material. Wild boars were examined after shooting during the hunting season. A total of 11 saigas, 13 Persian gazelles, 7 Bokharan deer and 16 wild boars, and 213 fecal samples from these animals were examined. The studies were carried out using generally accepted methods of dissection (Skryabin, 1928; Ivashkin et al., 1971) and ovoscopy of animal feces. For a comparative analysis of helminth fauna of the study animals, we used previously collected (1959–1978) parasites from the wild boar, saiga, Persian gazelle and Bokharan deer in Karakalpakstan.Results and discussion. We have found that the fauna of the Artiodactyla is represented by the following 5 species in the biogeocenosis of Karakalpakstan: Sus scrofa nigripes Blan., Cervis elaphus bactrianus Lydek., Gazella subgutturosa Gueld., Saiga tatarica Linn., and Ovis orientalis arcal Gmel., in which we identified 26 helminth species classified as Cestoda, Trematoda and Nematoda. Cestodes are represented by 6 species, trematodes by 2 species, and nematodes by 18 species. The helminth species composition of the study animals is 14 species in pigs, 11 species in Bokharan deer, 13 species in saigas and 14 species in Persian gazelles. Representatives of the genera Taenia, Echinococcus, Fasciola, Schistosoma, Gongylonema and Setaria are common to these animal species. By nature of the biological cycle, the helminths of the study artiodactyls recorded by us can be divided into two groups: monoxenous and heteroxenous. Monoxenous parasites include representatives of the Trichocephalidae (3 species), Trichostrongylidae (2 species), Dictyocaulidae (2 species), Syphaciidae (1 species), and Ascarididae (1 species), whose life cycles proceed without changing hosts. Eighteen species of representatives of cestodes (6 species), trematodes (2 species) and nematodes (10 species) are developed with the involvement of intermediate hosts.

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The helminth infracommunities of the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) two years after the fire in Mediterranean forests

Helminthologia ◽

10.2478/s11687-013-0104-8 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

pp. 27-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

I. Torre ◽

A. Arrizabalaga ◽

C. Feliu ◽

A. Ribas

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Life Cycle ◽

Wood Mouse ◽

Final Host ◽

Life Cycles ◽

Helminth Species ◽

Mediterranean Forests ◽

Intermediate Hosts ◽

Wood Mice ◽

Short Period

AbstractParasites have been recognized as indicators for natural or man-induced environmental stress and perturbation. In this article, we investigated the role of two non-exclusive hypotheses on the response of helminths of wood mice to fire perturbation: 1) a reduction of the helminth infracommunity (species richness) in post-fire areas due to the temporal lack of worms with indirect (complex) life cycles linked to intermediate hosts that are more specialized than the final host, and 2) an increase of the abundance of helminths with direct (simple) life cycles as a response of increasing abundances of the final host, may be in stressful conditions linked to the post-fire recolonization process.We studied the helminth infracommunities of 97 wood mice in two recently burned plots (two years after the fire) and two control plots in Mediterranean forests of NE Spain. Species richness of helminths found in control plots (n = 14) was twice large than in burned ones (n = 7). Six helminth species were negatively affected by fire perturbation and were mainly or only found in unburned plots. Fire increased the homogeneity of helminth infracommunities, and burned plots were characterised by higher dominance, and higher parasitation intensity. We found a gradient of frequency of occurrence of helminth species according to life cycle complexity in burned areas, being more frequent monoxenous (66.6 %), than diheteroxenous (33.3 %) and triheteroxenous (0 %), confirming the utility of helminths as bioindicators for ecosystem perturbations. Despite the short period studied, our results pointed out an increase in the abundance and prevalence of some direct life cycle helminths in early postfire stages, whereas indirect life cycle helminths were almost absent. A mismatch between the final host (that showed a fast recovery shortly after the fire), and the intermediate hosts (that showed slow recoveries shortly after the fire), was responsible for the loss of half of the helminth species.

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The helminth fauna of brown trout (Salmo trutta) from a sub-alpine lake revisited after 40 years with introduced European minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus)

Fauna norvegica ◽

10.5324/fn.v41i0.3952 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 41 ◽

pp. 15-26

Author(s):

Reidar Borgstrøm ◽

Øyvind Hatleli Mestrand ◽

John E. Brittain ◽

Leif Lien

Keyword(s):

Brown Trout ◽

Salmo Trutta ◽

Helminth Fauna ◽

Helminth Species ◽

Population Increase ◽

Intermediate Hosts ◽

Phoxinus Phoxinus ◽

Piscivorous Birds ◽

European Minnow ◽

Brown Trout Salmo Trutta

The helminth fauna of brown trout (Salmo trutta) in the Norwegian subalpine lake, Øvre Heimdalsvatn was studied by examination of gills, eyes, body cavity, kidney, stomach, pyloric region and intestine in a total of 112 brown trout randomly sampled in June, July, and September 2011. Ten helminth species, Discocotyle sagittata, Phyllodistomum umblae, Crepidostomum farionis, C. metoecus, Diplostomum sp., Proteocephalus sp., Cyathocephalus truncatus, Dibothriocephalus ditremus, D. dendriticus, and Capillaria sp. were identified. These data were compared to data from the period 1969 to 1972, just after the first record of the European minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) in 1969. All ten helminth species, except D. dendriticus, were also present in 1969–72. However, a few major changes in infection intensities have occurred. The cestode D. ditremus and the trematode Diplostomum sp., both with piscivorous birds as final hosts, had markedly higher relative densities (abundance) in brown trout in 2011 compared to 1969–72, while the two Crepidostomum species showed a substantial decline in relative densities. We suggest that these changes may be indirectly related to the establishment and subsequent population increase of European minnow in the lake. The abundance of minnows may have increased the food basis for the piscivorous birds, primarily mergansers and the black-throated diver that now regularly forage in the lake. In addition, there have been changes in the littoral invertebrate community, including species serving as intermediate hosts of some of the brown trout parasites.

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The helminth fauna of the barbary partridgeAlectoris barbarain Tenerife, Canary Islands

Journal of Helminthology ◽

10.1079/joh2005277 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 79 (2) ◽

pp. 133-138 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

P. Foronda ◽

J.C. Casanova ◽

E. Figueruelo ◽

N. Abreu ◽

C. Feliu

Keyword(s):

Canary Islands ◽

North Africa ◽

Dominant Species ◽

Helminth Fauna ◽

Helminth Species ◽

Ascaridia Galli ◽

Intermediate Hosts ◽

Tenerife Island ◽

First Time ◽

Species Being

AbstractThe helminth fauna of the barbary partridge (Alectoris barbara) in Tenerife Island (Canary Archipelago) was studied from 2001 to 2002, as there were no records of helminths from this host in the Canary Islands. Seven helminth species were identified: two cestodesChoanotaenia infundibulumandLyruterina nigropunctata, and five nematodesAonchotheca caudinflata,Baruscapillaria obsignata,Eucoleus annulatus,Ascaridia galliandHeterakis gallinarum.Lyruterina nigropunctata,A. galli and E. annulatusare recorded for first time inA. barbara. An analysis of available data onAlectorisspp. reveals the importance of intermediate hosts such as arthropods and earthworms in the diet of partridges. Terrestrial helminths are dominant species, with monoxenous and heteroxenous species being present in similar numbers in differentAlectorisspecies along their geographical distribution. Helminth species found in Tenerife fromA. barbaraare poor indicators of the host colonization from North Africa because these helminths are species that are commonly found in fowl with a cosmopolitan distribution.

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An Overview of the Helminths of Moor Frog Rana arvalis Nilsson, 1842 (Amphibia: Anura) in the Volga Basin

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d13020061 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 61

Author(s):

Igor V. Chikhlyaev ◽

Alexander B. Ruchin

Keyword(s):

Systematic Position ◽

Helminth Fauna ◽

Helminth Species ◽

Volga Basin ◽

Rana Arvalis ◽

Amphibian Species ◽

Volga River ◽

Spirometra Erinacei ◽

First Time ◽

Moor Frog

This is the first review of the helminth fauna of the moor frog Rana arvalis Nilsson, 1842 from the Volga river basin (Russia). The article summarizes the authors’ and literature data on the helminthic fauna of this species. The method of complete helminthological dissection was used. Thirthy-eight helminth species were recorded from three classes: Cestoda (1), Trematoda (28), and Chromadorea (9). Nine helminth species are new to the moor frog in Russia: trematodes Gorgodera varsoviensis Sinitzin, 1905, Strigea falconis Szidat, 1928, larvae, Neodiplostomum spathoides Dubois, 1937, larvae, Tylodelphys excavata (Rudolphi, 1803), larvae, Pharyngostomum cordatum (Diesing, 1850), larvae, Astiotrema monticelli Stossich, 1904, larvae and Encyclometra colubrimurorum (Rudolphi, 1819), larvae, nematodes Strongyloides spiralis Grabda-Kazubska, 1978 and Icosiella neglecta (Diesing, 1851). The cestode Spirometra erinacei (Rudolphi, 1918), larvae were observed of this amphibian species in the Volga basin for the first time. The nematodes Rhabdias bufonis, Oswaldocruzia filiformis, Cosmocerca ornata and the trematode Haplometra cylindracea form the core of the helminth fauna of the moor frog. Information on species of helminths includes systematic position, localization, areas of detection, type and scheme of life cycle, geographical distribution, and degree of specificity to host amphibians.

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Leeches as the intermediate host for strigeid trematodes: genetic diversity and taxonomy of the genera Australapatemon Sudarikov, 1959 and Cotylurus Szidat, 1928

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/s13071-020-04538-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ewa Pyrka ◽

Gerard Kanarek ◽

Grzegorz Zaleśny ◽

Joanna Hildebrand

Keyword(s):

Intermediate Host ◽

Life Cycles ◽

Coi Gene ◽

Small Rivers ◽

Ecological Niches ◽

Its2 Region ◽

28S Rrna ◽

Intermediate Hosts ◽

Internal Transcribed Spacer Region ◽

Wide Range

Abstract Background Leeches (Hirudinida) play a significant role as intermediate hosts in the circulation of trematodes in the aquatic environment. However, species richness and the molecular diversity and phylogeny of larval stages of strigeid trematodes (tetracotyle) occurring in this group of aquatic invertebrates remain poorly understood. Here, we report our use of recently obtained sequences of several molecular markers to analyse some aspects of the ecology, taxonomy and phylogeny of the genera Australapatemon and Cotylurus, which utilise leeches as intermediate hosts. Methods From April 2017 to September 2018, 153 leeches were collected from several sampling stations in small rivers with slow-flowing waters and related drainage canals located in three regions of Poland. The distinctive forms of tetracotyle metacercariae collected from leeches supplemented with adult Strigeidae specimens sampled from a wide range of water birds were analysed using the 28S rDNA partial gene, the second internal transcribed spacer region (ITS2) region and the cytochrome c oxidase (COI) fragment. Results Among investigated leeches, metacercariae of the tetracotyle type were detected in the parenchyma and musculature of 62 specimens (prevalence 40.5%) with a mean intensity reaching 19.9 individuals. The taxonomic generic affiliation of metacercariae derived from the leeches revealed the occurrence of two strigeid genera: Australapatemon Sudarikov, 1959 and Cotylurus Szidat, 1928. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on the partial 28S rRNA gene, ITS2 region and partial COI gene confirmed the separation of the Australapatemon and Cotylurus clades. Taking currently available molecular data and our results into consideration, recently sequenced tetracotyle of Australapatemon represents most probably Au. minor; however, unclear phylogenetic relationships between Au. burti and Au. minor reduce the reliability of this conclusion. On the other hand, on the basis of the obtained sequences, supplemented with previously published data, the metacercariae of Cotylurus detected in leeches were identified as two species: C. strigeoides Dubois, 1958 and C. syrius Dubois, 1934. This is the first record of C. syrius from the intermediate host. Conclusions The results of this study suggest the separation of ecological niches and life cycles between C. cornutus (Rudolphi, 1808) and C. strigeoides/C. syrius, with potential serious evolutionary consequences for a wide range of host–parasite relationships. Moreover, phylogenetic analyses corroborated the polyphyletic character of C. syrius, the unclear status of C. cornutus and the separate position of Cotylurus raabei Bezubik, 1958 within Cotylurus. The data demonstrate the inconsistent taxonomic status of the sequenced tetracotyle of Australapatemon, resulting, in our opinion, from the limited availability of fully reliable, comparative sequences of related taxa in GenBank.

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Helminth fauna of Microtus cf. arvalis (Rodentia, Cricetidae) in Russia and adjacent countries

Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity ◽

10.13057/biodiv/d210524 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (5) ◽

Author(s):

NADEZHDA Yu. KIRILLOVA ◽

Alexander Kirillov ◽

ALEXANDER B. RUCHIN ◽

MAXIM V. TRUKHACHEV

Keyword(s):

Common Vole ◽

Common Species ◽

Final Host ◽

Helminth Fauna ◽

Helminth Species ◽

Research Areas ◽

The Common ◽

Common Voles ◽

Paratenic Hosts ◽

Parasitic Worms

Abstract. Kirillova NYu, Kirillov AA, Ruchin AB, Trukhachev MV. 2020. Helminth fauna of Microtus cf. arvalis (Rodentia, Cricetidae) in Russia and adjacent countries. Biodiversitas 21: 1961-1979. The helminth fauna of voles of the Microtus cf. arvalis group is reviewed focusing on the Russian fauna and that of adjacent territories. In total, 61 helminth species have been recorded in these rodents: Trematoda-14, Cestoda-21, Nematoda-25, Acanthocephala-1. The diversity of the helminth community of the common vole is due to the wide species range and abundance of this rodent. M. arvalis is the final host for most of the parasites recorded from this host species. Only 10 cestodes and trematodes species use common voles as intermediate and paratenic hosts. The core of this voles’ helminth fauna is formed by common species that parasitize many different rodent species. The helminth fauna of the common vole has been most intensively studied in Russia, where 45 species of parasitic worms have been recorded in rodents. The similarity of the helminth fauna of the common vole from different study regions is determined by both the geographical proximity of the research areas and the broad distribution of most of the M. cf. arvalis helminth species.

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Molecular data reshape our understanding of the life cycles of three digeneans (Monorchiidae and Gymnophallidae) infecting the bivalve, Donax variabilis: it’s just a facultative host!

Parasite ◽

10.1051/parasite/2021027 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 ◽

pp. 34

Author(s):

Kristina M. Hill-Spanik ◽

Claudia Sams ◽

Vincent A. Connors ◽

Tessa Bricker ◽

Isaure de Buron

Keyword(s):

Gulf Of Mexico ◽

Intermediate Host ◽

Atlantic Coast ◽

The United States ◽

Life Cycles ◽

Intermediate Hosts ◽

Larval Stages ◽

Complete Life Cycle ◽

Morphological Criteria ◽

Donax Variabilis

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.

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Parthenogenesis and asexual multiplication among parasitic platyhelminths

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182000050873 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 86 (4) ◽

pp. 121-160 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

P. J. Whitfield ◽

N. A. Evans

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Population Expansion ◽

Life Cycles ◽

Intermediate Hosts ◽

Present Evidence ◽

Stage Of Development ◽

The Family ◽

Asexual Multiplication ◽

Modes Of Existence ◽

First Intermediate Host

SUMMARYAmong flatworms with parasitic and commensal modes of existence, parthenogenesis and asexual multiplication appear to be largely confined to the Digenea and Cestoda, the only parasitic platyhelminths that routinely utilize indirect life-cycles. Parthenogenesis is apparently restricted to a minority of adult digeneans and cestodes inhabiting their final hosts, and a survey is made of the particular modes of parthenogenesis (i.e. apomictic, automictic and generative) which are employed by such adults. Asexual (amictic) multiplication, in the form of fissioning, is demonstrated by young adults of the cyclophyllidean cestode, Mesoces-toides corti, but is otherwise not exhibited by adult cestodes or digeneans, other than in the perplexing phenomenon of proglottid formation in polyzoic tapeworms. Secondary multiplication is of ubiquitous occurrence in digenean life-cycles in the form of the proliferation which takes place within sporocysts and rediae (germinal sacs) located in the first intermediate host. The controversy concerning the nature of this multiplication is reconsidered in the context of recent findings which have centred on cellular aspects. On the basis of present evidence germinal sac multiplication should be regarded as an asexual rather than a parthen-ogenetic process. The cestode asexual multiplication which occurs in intermediate hosts is a function of the metacestode stage of development. Metacestode proliferation is only known from about 20 species and 6 families of polyzoic cestodes with approximately half the described instances occurring in the family Taeniidae. The organization of these proliferative metacestodes, findings concerning their totipotent stem cells and the ontogeny of buds and new scolices are all reviewed. Finally, the capacity for population expansion of multiplicative larval digeneans and metacestodes are compared, while the ecological roles and the genetical consequences of both parthenogenesis and amictic multiplication in the two taxa are also examined.

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Life cycles of species of Proteocephalus, parasites of fishes in the Palearctic Region: a review

Journal of Helminthology ◽

10.1017/s0022149x99000013 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 73 (1) ◽

pp. 1-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

T. Scholz

Keyword(s):

Intermediate Host ◽

Body Cavity ◽

Life Cycles ◽

The Body ◽

Individual Species ◽

Intermediate Hosts ◽

Palearctic Region ◽

Second Intermediate Host ◽

Planktonic Crustaceans ◽

Fish Hosts

The life cycles of species of Proteocephalus Weinland, 1858 (Cestoda: Proteocephalidea) parasitizing fishes in the Palearctic Region are reviewed on the basis of literary data and personal experimental observations, with special attention being paid to the development within the intermediate and definitive hosts. Planktonic crustaceans, diaptomid or cyclopid copepods (Copepoda), serve as the only intermediate hosts of all Proteocephalus species considered. A metacestode, or procercoid, develops in the body cavity of these planktonic crustaceans and the definitive host, a fish, becomes infected directly after consuming them. No previous reports of the parenteral location of metacestodes within the second intermediate host as it is in the Nearctic species P. ambloplitis have been recorded. Thus, the life cycles of Proteocephalus tapeworms resemble in their general patterns those of some pseudophyllidean cestodes such as Eubothrium or Bothriocephalus, differing from the latter in the presence of a floating eggs instead of possessing an operculate egg from which a ciliated, freely swimming larva, a coracidium, is liberated. The scolex of Proteocephalus is already formed at the stage of the procercoid within the copepod intermediate host; in this feature, proteocephalideans resemble caryophyllidean rather than pseudophyllidean cestodes. The morphology of procercoids of individual species is described with respect to the possibility of their differentiation and data on the spectrum of intermediate hosts are summarized. Procercoids of most taxa have a cercomer, which does not contain embryonic hooks in contrast to most pseudophyllidean cestodes. The role of invertebrates (alder-fly larvae — Megaloptera) and small prey fishes feeding upon plankton in the transmission of Proteocephalus tapeworms still remains unclear but these hosts are likely to occur in the life cycle. Data on the establishment of procercoids in definitive hosts, morphogenesis of tapeworms within fish hosts, and the length of the prepatent period are still scarce and new observations are needed. Whereas extensive information exists on the development of P. longicollis (syns. P. exiguus and P. neglectus), almost no data are available on the ontogeny of other taxa, in particular those occurring in brackish waters (P. gobiorum, P. tetrastomus). The morphology of P. cernuae and P. osculatus procercoids from experimentally infected intermediate hosts is described for the first time.

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Checklist of helminth parasites of cetaceans from Brazil

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.2548.14 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 2548 (1) ◽

pp. 57 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

JOSÉ L. LUQUE ◽

LUÍS C. MUNIZ-PEREIRA ◽

SALVATORE SICILIANO ◽

LIEGE R. SIQUEIRA ◽

MAGDA S. OLIVEIRA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Helminth Fauna ◽

Helminth Species ◽

Helminth Parasites ◽

Helminthological Collection ◽

Unpublished Information

Based on published records and unpublished information retrieved from the Helminthological Collection of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (CHIOC), a checklist of the helminth parasites of cetaceans from Brazil was generated. A total of 215 records of 18 species of helminths were associated with 22 species of cetaceans in Brazil. Six species determined only to genus were also included. The majority of these helminth species are nematodes (33.3%) and trematodes (33.3%), which total 66.6% of the helminth fauna of cetaceans from Brazil. The Acanthocephala represents 22.2% of species, and the Cestoda 11.1%.

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