Effects of Environmental Factors and Infecting Trematodes on the Size and Inorganic Elements of Bithynia siamensis goniomphalos Snails in Northeast Thailand

Infection with the foodborne trematode, Opisthorchis viverrini, is a major public health issue in southeast Asia. The freshwater snail, Bithynia siamensis goniomphalos, is an intermediate host of O. viverrini and other trematode species. Understanding the effects of environmental conditions and infecting trematodes on B.s. goniomphalos snails is thus crucial for the potential influences on trematode transmission. This study measured environmental variables of water and soil properties, and analyzed B.s. goniomphalos snails for their trematode infection, snail shell length, and inorganic elemental concentration, from 30 localities in northeast Thailand. The results showed that prevalence of trematode infection in B.s. goniomphalos was 3.82%. Nine types of trematode cercariae were identified, with virgulate type 1 as the most common (1.23%). Opisthorchis viverrini-infected snails were mostly found in low-humic gley soils in Sakon Nakhon Province, and were associated with water dissolved oxygen and soil pH. Compared with uninfected snails, larger sizes were observed in virgulate type 1 and pleurolophocerca-infected snails, whereas hypercalcification was noticed in virgulate type 1, virgulate type 3, and pleurolophocerca-infected snails. Infected snails were more sensitive toward environmental conditions, possibly because of the dynamic parasitic processes between trematodes and hosts. Among the environmental factors, soil texture (i.e., sand, silt, and clay compositions) exhibited more significant correlations with B.s. goniomphalos shell characteristics regardless of the trematode infection types. The findings of this study underscore the need to consider the effects of environmental conditions and trematode species-specific pathogenic processes for a more effective and sustainable parasitic control and prevention effort.

Digenetic Trematode Parasites in Two Fresh Water Fishes Ophiocephalus Punctatus and Xenentodon Cancila From North West Himalayas

The study was conducted during September 2018-August 2019 to study the digenetic trematode infection in fresh water fishes of some of the water bodies viz. Gho-manhasan, Chakrali and Chadwal of Jammu region of J&K union territory A total of 220 fishes comprising Ophiocephalus punctatus and Xenentodon cancila belonging to families Channidae and Belonidae respectively were examined. A total of 4 digenetic trematode parasites belonging to 4 different families i.e., Euclinostomum heterostomum (Clinostomidae Luhe, 1901); Phyllodistomum tripathi (Gorgoderidae Looss, 1901); Genarchopsis piscicola (Hemiuridae, Luhe, 1901), and Bucephalopsis karvei (Bucephalidae Poche, 1907) were detected. The overall prevalence of digenetic trematode infection was 65.90% and the mean intensity was 3.58. Among these Genarchopsis piscicola showed the highest prevalence (40.38%) with mean intensity 2.95 in the host fish Xenentodon cancila, while in other species the prevalence ranged between 26.23% and 34.62%. Present study authenticates the presence of several species of digenetic trematode parasites in the fishes inhabiting freshwater of J&K union territory.

Effects of temperature and trematode infection on the foraging behaviour of their snail hosts

Hypothesis – Snails with trematode infections and exposure to increased temperatures will show greater preference for antioxidant-rich foods

Effects of temperature and trematode infection on the foraging behaviour of their snail hosts

Hypothesis – Snails with trematode infections and exposure to increased temperatures will show greater preference for antioxidant-rich foods

Hepatic fascioliasis as an important differential diagnosis to cholangiocarcinoma

Human fascioliasis is a rare trematode infection and diagnosis may be missed. We describe the case of one patient from Cape Verde that presented with eosinophilia and liver masses, initially misdiagnosed as cholangiocarcinoma. The diagnosis was then reviewed as hepatic fascioliasis and he was successfully treated with triclabendazol.

HELMINTHIASIS OF PIGS IN DELTA AREA OF NIGERIA

A survey of the helminth parasites of pigs in the Delta area of Nigeria was carried out. Faecal samples obtained from the rectum of the pigs were examined for helminth ova by using the sedimentation method. Structured questionnaires were also used to get information on some epizootiological factors from pig farmers. Of the 1,140 faecal samples examined, 3.8% was positive for trematode infection while 47.5% was positive for nematode infection. Among the nematode parasite identified, Ascaris suum was found to predominate (43.8% of the total). Poor sanitation was found to be the major factor predisposing pigs to helminth infections in the area. It was therefore concluded that since pig is an important livestock to the inhabitants of the area, there is the need to regularly organize programmes that will educate the farmers on the proper keeping of the animal for maximum productivity.

Plotting biological data in various ways.

This chapter introduces plotting line graphs, bar charts, pie charts, box and whisker plots. It will troubleshoot the main areas where you are likely to encounter problems. It will show how to create log plots, add legends, error bars, notches and confidence limits, and introduce confidence limits and statistical testing. Examples are given, including bryophytes up a mountain; relationship between rural population size and the potential remaining intact forest; dietary differences between hornbill species (Buceros bicornis, Rhyticeros undulatus, Anthracoceros albirostris and Anorrhinus (Ptilolaemus) tickelli); and study of the level of trematode infection in various species of fish in Thailand.