scholarly journals First Data on the Helminth Community of the Smallest Living Mammal on Earth, the Etruscan Pygmy Shrew, Suncus etruscus (Savi, 1822) (Eulipotyphla: Soricidae)

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 2074
Author(s):  
María Teresa Galán-Puchades ◽  
Santiago Mas-Coma ◽  
María Adela Valero ◽  
Màrius V. Fuentes

Suncus etruscus is the smallest living mammal on Earth by mass. Most adults weigh 1.8–3 g with a body length of 35–48 mm. Catching it in small mammal traps in nature is extremely difficult due to its minute size, and therefore special trapping methods must be used. We had the unique opportunity of studying, for the first time, the helminth parasites of 166 individuals of S. etruscus, part of the largest collection in the world, which belonged to the French scientist Dr Roger Fons (1942–2016). A total of 150 individuals were captured in the Banyuls-Cerbère area (France) and 16 in the island of Corsica (France). We found seven helminth species, specifically, the cestodes Joyeuxiella pasqualei larvae, Mesocestoides sp. larvae, Staphylocystis claudevaucheri, S. banyulsensis, S. cerberensis, and Pseudhymenolepis sp., and the nematodes Aonchotheca sp. and Nematoda gen. sp. larvae. Neither trematodes nor acanthocephalans were detected. We provide prevalences, infracommunity compositions, and helminth associations. The adult helminth community of S. etruscus seems to be highly specific, i.e., oioxenous, and linked to its insectivore diet. Due to its small size, S. etruscus has undergone numerous physiological adaptations that have probably influenced its helminth spectrum as well as its helminth specificity.

2015 ◽  
Vol 90 (6) ◽  
pp. 779-783 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.H. Bezerra ◽  
R.W. Ávila ◽  
D.C. Passos ◽  
D. Zanchi-Silva ◽  
C.A.B. Galdino

AbstractParasites represent a great, unknown component of animal biodiversity. Recent efforts have begun to uncover patterns of infection by helminth parasites in several Neotropical lizards. The present study reports, for the first time, levels of helminth infection in a population of the flat lizard Tropidurus semitaeniatus. One hundred and thirty-nine lizards were examined and evidence of five intestinal helminth species was found, comprising four species of nematodes, one species of cestode and an unidentified encysted larval nematode. The most frequently occurring species was the intestinal nematode Parapharyngodon alvarengai, which did not exhibit differences in prevalence and intensity of infection relative to host sex or age/body size. Furthermore, helminth species richness was not related to host body size.


2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Birlik ◽  
H. S. Yildirimhan ◽  
Y. Kumlutaş ◽  
K. Candan ◽  
Ç. Ilgaz

Summary Population of Iranolacerta brandtii lizard including 56 (21♀, 34♂, 1 juvenile) samples were examined for helminths. 17 of them were found to harbour one or more helminth parasites, while 39 didn’t harbor any. Two helminth species were determined. These belong to Phylum: Nematoda, Spauligodon aloisei Casanova, Milazzo, Ribas & Cagnin, 2003 and Skrjabinodon medinae. García-Calvente, 1948. This study represents new host and locality records in both host lizard and the helminth species. Sp. aloisei is recorded for the first time; Sk. medinae is the third report from Turkey nevertheless Sk. medinae is a new host record for I. brandtii.


2016 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 262-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Bırlık ◽  
H. S. Yildirimhan ◽  
N. Sümer ◽  
Y. Kumlutaş ◽  
Ç. Ilgaz ◽  
...  

SummaryIn the years 2010 and 2014, fifty-four samples ofPhoenicolacerta laevisfrom eight localities in Adana (n=6) and Hatay (n=48) were collected and examined for helminth parasites. New host and locality records were recorded. As a results of present study, three species of Digenea,Sonsinotrema tacapense, Prosthodendrium chilostomum, Brachylaimasp. (metacercaria); two species of Cestoda,Oochoristica tuberculataandMesocestoides sp. and four species of Nematoda,Skrjabinodon medinae, Spauligodon sp.,Thubunaea sp. and a larva of the AscaridiidaeAscarididaegen.sp. were reported for lizard samples. We document new host records for all of helminth species reported here.Sonsionotrema tacapense(Digenea), andThubunaea sp. (Nematoda) are recorded for the first time from Turkey. There are, to our knowledge, no reports of helminths forP. laevisin Turkey and also from its range.


Author(s):  
Yassir Sulieman ◽  
Azzam Afifi ◽  
Higazi M. Awad ◽  
Theerakamol Pengsakul

Sixty-nine subdesert toads, Amietophrynus (Bufo) xeros, were collected in Shendi, Sudan, from August to November 2014, and examined for the first time for the presence of internal helminth parasites. Sixty-seven (97.1%) of the toads were found infected with one or more helminth species including, four Nematoda: Aplectanamacintoshii, Rhabdiasbufonis, Strongyloidesprokopici, and Oswaldocruzia sp.; one Trematoda: Mesocoelium sp.; one Cestoda: Lanfrediella sp. A higher prevalence and intensity of infection was found in male toads compared with females, and old toads were found to harbor a higher prevalence and intensity of infection when compared to younger ones. However, neither of these differences was statistically significant. In addition, there were no significant correlations found between the gender of the toads examined and either the prevalence or intensity of infection of any of the helminth species. Likewise, the prevalence and intensity of infection of the helminth species were not significantly correlated with the snout-vent length of the toads.


2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 314-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Komorová ◽  
J. Sitko ◽  
M. Špakulová ◽  
Z. Hurníková ◽  
R. Sałamatin ◽  
...  

Summary In the years 2012-2014, carcasses of 286 birds of prey from the territory of Slovakia were examined for the presence of helminth parasites. The number of bird species in the study was 23; five belonging to the Falconiformes order, eleven to Accipitriformes, and seven to Strigiformes. A finding of Cestoda class comprehended 4 families: Paruterinidae (4), Dilepididae (2), Mesocestoididae (2) and Anoplocephalidae (1). Birds of prey were infected with 6 families Nematoda species of the Secernentea class: Syngamidae (1), Habronematidae (2), Tetrameridae (3), Physalopteridae (1), Acuariidae (1), and Anisakidae (2). Out of the Adenophorea class, the Capillariidae family (1) was confirmed. The Acanthocephala group was represented by the Paleacanthocephala class, the Centrorhynchidae family (3). Out of the Trematoda class, 12 different species of flukes were found, belonging to the Diplostomidae (5), Cyathocotylidae (1), Strigeidae (4), Opistorchidae (1), and Plagiorchidae (1) families. The most frequent helminth species infecting diurnal birds of prey was Strigea falconis. This fluke was confirmed in one bird species from the Falconiformes order and in eight species from the Accipitriformes order. In nocturnal birds of prey, the most common finding was the acanthocephalan Centrorhynchus aluconis, identified in four different host species of the Strigiformes order. In total, 23 helminth species were recorded for the first time in Slovakia.


2020 ◽  
Vol 119 (12) ◽  
pp. 4005-4015
Author(s):  
Pedro Hercílio de Oliveira Cavalcante ◽  
Maralina Torres da Silva ◽  
Aldenice de Nazaré Silva Pereira ◽  
Rosana Gentile ◽  
Cláudia Portes Santos

AbstractStructure of the helminth community and analyses of helminth population parameters of Pimelodus blochii collected in the Xapuri River in comparison with those in the Acre River were evaluated. Eight adult helminth species were found parasitizing P. blochii in the Acre River: the nematodes Orientatractis moraveci, Rondonia rondoni, Philometroides acreanensis, Cucullanus (Cucculanus) pinai pinai, Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) pimelodus, Rhadochona acuminata, and Brasilnema sp., and the trematode Dadaytrema oxycephala. For Xapuri’s fishes, nine helminth species were found: the nematodes O. moraveci, R. rondoni, C. (C.) pinai pinai, Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) rarus, P. (S.) pimelodus, R. acuminata, Brasilnema sp., and Cystidicolidae gen. sp., and the trematode D. oxycephala. Nematode and Acanthocephala larvae were also reported. Helminth abundance, prevalence, and diversity were influenced by seasonality and locality (river). The helminth parasites from Acre’s fishes formed a subset of the helminth community of the Xapuri’s. The results indicate an influence of the environmental characteristics of the rivers on the helminth community structure and diversity. This is the first study of the parasite community of P. blochii in the Xapuri River. The paretheses of (Spirocamallanus) and (S.) should not be in italics all along the text and tables.


2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 353-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Torres ◽  
C. Feliu ◽  
J. Fernández-Morán ◽  
J. Ruíz-Olmo ◽  
R. Rosoux ◽  
...  

AbstractThe helminth fauna in 109 Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra L.) from France, Portugal and Spain was analysed, together with 56 faecal samples collected in Portugal and 23 fresh stools from otters included in a reintroduction programme. Seven helminth species were found in L. lutra in southwest Europe: Phagicola sp. (Trematoda), Aonchotheca putorii, Eucoleus schvalovoj, Strongyloides lutrae, Anisakis (third stage larvae) and Dirofilaria immitis (Nematoda), and Gigantorhynchus sp. (Acanthocephala). Eucoleus schvalovoj was the dominant species throughout southwest Europe. Strongyloides lutrae was significantly more prevalent in the Iberian Peninsula than in France. Apart from these two dominant nematodes and A. putorii, the other helminth species were incidental parasites of L. lutra in southwest Europe. The helminth fauna of L. lutra in southwest Europe is, in general, poorer than that reported in eastern Europe and in all other aquatic mustelids in southwest Europe. Phagicola specimens are reported for the first time in a non-marine wild carnivore in Europe. The prevalences of E. schvalovoj and S. lutrae obtained by necropsy were higher than those observed by coprological analysis using a formalin-ether concentration method (Ritchie). Nevertheless, the culture of fresh faeces appears to be the best method to study infection of L. lutra by Strongyloides.


2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duško Ćirović ◽  
Ivan Pavlović ◽  
Aleksandra Penezić

The grey wolf (Canis lupus L.) is the most widespread large carnivore in Europe with large populations in the Eastern part of Europe and the Balkan Peninsula. In this study, a total of 102 wolves were examined for intestinal helminth parasites. The carcasses were collected within the Serbian part of the wolf’s range during the period 2009–2014. Nine helminth species were found: one nematode, Toxocara canis (3.9%), one trematode, Alaria alata (1.0%), and seven cestodes, Taenia pisiformis (1.0%), T. hydatigena (9.8%), T. polyacantha (2.9%), T. taeniaeformis (2.0%), T. (syn. Multiceps) multiceps (3.9%), T. serialis (1.0%) and Mesocestoides litteratus (1.0%). Taenia (syn. Hydatigera) taeniaeformis has been registered for the first time in a wolf from Europe. An overall moderate prevalence (16.7%) of infected wolves was recorded. There was no statistically significant difference in prevalence between sexes. Of the years studied, the highest prevalence was found in 2014 (57.1%). The maximum number of helminth species per host specimen was four.


Author(s):  
Anusha P ◽  
Bankar Nandkishor J ◽  
Karan Jain ◽  
Ramdas Brahmane ◽  
Dhrubha Hari Chandi

INTRODUCTION: India being the second highly populated nation in the world. HIV/AIDS has acquired pandemic proportion in the world. Estimate by WHO for current infection rate in Asia. India has the third largest HIV epidemic in the world. HIV prevalence in the age group 15-49 yrs was an estimate of 0.2%. India has been classified as an intermediate in the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) endemic (HBsAg carriage 2-7%) zone with the second largest global pool of chronic HBV infections. Safety assessment of the blood supply, the quality of screening measures and the risk of transfusion transmitted infectious diseases (TTIs) in any country can be estimated by scrutinizing the files of blood donors. After the introduction of the blood banks and improved storage facilities, it became more extensively used. Blood is one of the major sources of TTIs like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis, and many other blood borne diseases. Disclosure of these threats brought a dramatic change in attitude of physicians and patients about blood transfusion. The objective of this study is to determine the seroprevalence of transfusion transmitted infections amidst voluntary blood donors at a rural tertiary healthcare teaching hospital in Chhattisgarh. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study was carried out in Chandulal Chandrakar Memorial Medical College, Kachandur, Durg. Blood donors were volunteers, or and commercial donors who donated the blood and paid by patients, their families, or friends to replace blood used or expected to be used for patients from the blood bank of the hospital. After proper donation of blood routine screening of blood was carried out according to standard protocol. Laboratory diagnosis of HIV 1 and HIV 2 was carried out by ELISA test. Hepatitis B surface antigen was screened by using ELISA. RESULTS: A total of 1915 consecutive blood donors’ sera were screened at Chandulal Chandrakar Memorial Medical College, blood bank during study period. Of these 1914 were male and 1 female. The mean age of patients was found to be 29.34 years with standard deviation (SD) of 11.65 Years. Among all blood donors in present study, 759(39.63%) were first time donors and 1156(60.37%) were repeated donors. 1 patient was HIV positive in first donation group while 3 (75%) were positive in repeat donation group. 7 (38.9%) were HBsAg positive in in first donation group while 11(61.1%) were positive in repeat donation group. Two patients in first donation group had dual infection of HIV and HBsAg. CONCLUSION: Seropositivity was high in repeated donors as compared to first time donors. The incidence of HIV is observed to be 0.2% and that of HBsAg is 0.94%. Strict selection of blood donors should be done to avoid transfusion-transmissible infections during the window period.


ENTOMON ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 311-314
Author(s):  
A. Roobakkumar ◽  
H.G. Seetharama ◽  
P. Krishna Reddy ◽  
M.S. Uma ◽  
A. P. Ranjith

Rinamba opacicollis Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was collected from Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka, India for the first time from the larvae of white stem borer, Xylotrechus quadripes Chevrolat infesting arabica coffee. Its role in the biological or integrated control of X. quadripes remains to be evaluated. White stem borer could be the first host record of this parasitoid all over the world.


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