Prevalence of Helminths in Digestive Tract of Cows in Indonesia

Helminthiasis is an important problem that affects the productivity and health of cows in tropical countries. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of helminthiasis in the digestive tract and the factors that affect it. In the current study, feces samples were from 75 cows aged up to one year old. The samples were collected from areas with the majority of the population as cattle breeders. The data were analyzed descriptively and statistically. The result indicated that most of the cows have suffered from helminthiasis caused by Toxocara vitulorum and the prevalence of intestinal helminths was mostly mild. Toxocara vitulorum spp. was the most common nematode worm that infected cows. The most effective factors on prevalence of helminthiasis in cows were age and cage location.

Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites on Beef Cattle in Jombang District

The disease that is quite detrimental to cattle is gastrointestinal parasitic infection. Gastrointestinal parasites infect the cattle by taking host nutrients that would caused emaciation, lethargy, and decreased productivity. This study aims to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in cattle in Jombang District. This research was conducted in July to August 2019 with 100 samples of cattle feces. Sample examinations were carried out in the laboratory of the Division of Veterinary Parasitology, Universitas Airlangga using the sedimentation and floating methods. Detection of parasites in all samples using microscope with magnification of 100x and 400x. On examination, several types of parasites were found included Strongyloides papillosus, Toxocara vitulorum, Oesophagostomum spp., Moniezia expansa, Blastocystis spp. and Eimeria spp. The results of this study were found the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites on beef cattle in Jombang district was 35% with a worm infection prevalence of 15% and protozoan infections of 20%.

Assessment The Efficacy of Thymol Against Toxocara Vitulorum In Experimentally Infected Rats

The effect of thymol and ivermectin on the development and embryonation of Toxocara vitulorum (T. vitulorum) eggs, as well as their migration in albino rats was investigated in vitro. A total of forty male albino rats were divided into four groups for an in vivo experiment. The first group was uninfected; the second group was infected but left untreated; the third group received thymol at a dose of 40 mg/kg; and the fourth group received ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg). Thymol inhibited the development of Toxocara larvae within the eggs in vitro. Ivermectin; however, produced inconsistent results. The in vivo results indicated that the recovery rates of Toxocara larvae from the liver and lungs on day 7 post-infection were significantly lower in the thymol- or ivermectin-treated group than in the infected untreated control group. Histopathological examination demonstrated that thymol and ivermectin were effective in reducing larval load, reducing the number and size of granulomas in the absence of larvae, and improving tissue architectures. Albumin levels were significantly increased in the thymol-treated group. Nitric oxide, IL-4, and IFN- γ levels were significantly decreased in the serum of the thymol- or ivermectin-treated group. The current study concluded that thymol possessed anti-Toxocara activity in a rat model. Additionally, thymol possessed ovicidal properties and may be used as a disinfectant.

Western Blot Analysis to Detect Cross-reaction in Toxocara vitulorum Protein with Anti-Mecistocirrus digitatus Serum

Worm infections are found in livestock and can be transmitted to humans. Toxocara vitulorum is a worm species which commonly infected people. Cross-reaction among worms can generate false positive to establish helminthiasis diagnosis through antibody inspection. This study aimed to determine specific proteins that caused cross-reaction between Toxocara vitulorum antigen and anti-M. digitatus serum by using the western blot technique. In the present study, the whole worms extracted of T. vitulorum and M. digitatus have been used to make polyclonal antibodies from M. digitatus with Wistar rats as hosts. The cross-reaction between whole worm extract of T. vitulorum protein and anti-M. digitatus serum obtained 12 protein bands that each relative molecular mass (Mr) valued of 176, 124, 92, 68, 59, 47, 31, 29, 26, 16, 12, and 10 kDa. Cross-reaction occurred between T. vitulorum protein and anti-M. digitatus.

Cross Reaction of Haemonchus contortus Protein with Toxocara vitulorum Anti-L2 Serum Using Western Blot Technique

In the adult stage, Haemonchus contortus worms infect the abomasum host causing anemia and even death in animals. However, identifying the H. contortus protein can be used as a reference for the diagnosis of diseases. The diagnosis is performed by serological cross-reaction between H. contortus protein and anti-L2 Toxocara vitulorum (T. vitulorum) serum using the western blot technique. The main purpose of the current research was to identify the cross-reaction between H. contortus proteins and anti-L2 T. vitulorum serum using the western blot technique. T. vitulorum worms were collected from the intestine of cattle and H. contortus worms were collected from the abomasum of goats. The first step was making antibodies by oral infection of rats with infective eggs (L2) of T. vitulorum. The blood was taken 21 days after infection. Then, the blood was centrifuged at 1500 rpm for 10 minutes to get the serum. The second step was making homogenates from the whole worm extract of H. contortus. After crushing the worms, it was centrifuged at 5000 rpm for 15 minutes and the supernatant was taken. The supernatant was then analyzed using Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) with coomassie brilliant blue staining. The third step was the analysis of H. contortus protein with serum anti-L2 T. vitulorum using the western blot technique. From the H. contortus homogenates analysis using SDS-PAGE, 16 protein bands were obtained. The cross-reactions were 141.3, 81.3, 64. 6, 51.3, 46.8, and 38 kDa. The data from cross-reactions suggested that the H. contortus protein cannot be used as a diagnostic material. It is serologically Haemonchosis because it caused false positives with diagnostic Toxocariasis.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell co-adjuvant therapy with albendazole for managing Toxocara vitulorum-rat model

Background and Aim: Toxocara vitulorum is a bovine intestinal nematode. Immune pictures following infection are conflicting and stopping anthelmintic albendazole treatment recording reversed liver abnormalities. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) therapy, subsequent to albendazole administration in rats infected with T. vitulorum. Materials and Methods: The ultrasonographic and histopathological examinations as well as serum liver enzymes activity and the kinetics of recovery were investigated. The correlation of cell-mediated and humoral immune pictures was assessed by assaying immunoglobulins, splenocytes viability, phagocytic index, and Th1/Th2 cytokines. Results: The cultured BMMSCs counting were 4.21×104 cells/cm2 with 96.03% viability. Flow-cytometric analysis indicated positive CD90 (82%), CD105 (79%) and negative CD34 (0.37%), CD45 (0.42%), attesting to the suitability of the isolated BMMSCs for use in therapy. Transplantation of BMMSCs after albendazole administration significantly reduced the release of liver enzymes (p<0.05) indicating liver cellularity improvement. The ultrasonographic, macroscopic, and histopathological findings confirmed the biochemical results. Significant elevation in the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (INF)-γ with a decline in interleukin (IL)-4 was observed in the untreated model (p<0.05). However, albendazole treatment followed by BMMSCs therapy significantly lowered the release of TNF-α and INF-γ, associated with significant production of IL-4 and IL-10 (p<0.05). Conclusion: The final results indicated that the liver functions, histopathological findings, and immune parameters were aggravated after experimental T. vitulorum infection. Albendazole treatment followed by BMMSCs therapy was found to assist in regeneration of injured hepatic tissue. Besides, it appeared to modulate host defensive immune responses against T. vitulorum antigens. This work could define more clearly the events that manipulate the host immune, histopathological, and biochemical responses to minimize obstacles in using stem cell therapy in animal toxocariosis.

Intestinal Parasites of Buffalo Calves from Romania: Molecular Characterization of Cryptoporidium spp. and Giardia Duodenalis, and the first Report of Eimeria Bareillyi

Buffaloes represent an important economic resource for several regions of the world including Romania; however, no reports on parasitic infections in buffaloes from Romania are available. In the present study, we examined for the gastrointestinal parasites 104 fecal samples bimonthly collected from 38 buffalo calves (2–11 weeks old) from household rearing systems in Romania. All samples were tested using the saturated salt flotation, McMaster and modified Ziehl-Nielsen staining methods. PCR coupled with isolates sequencing methods were used to identify the Giardia duodenalis assemblages and Cryptosporidium species. Overall, 33 out of 38 examined buffalo calves were infected with different gastrointestinal parasites; 16 had single infections and 17 had mixed infections with 2 or 3 parasites. Eimeria species (32/38; 84.2%) was the most prevalent parasite; 8 species were identified according to the oocyst morphology including the pathogenic E. bareillyi which detected for the first time in buffaloes from Romania. Toxocara vitulorum (11/38; 36.8%) and Strongyloides papillosus (6/38; 15.8%) were also detected. Cryptosporidium spp. were found in 4 (10.5%) buffalo calves; 2 of them were molecularly identified as C. ryanae and another one was clustered in the same clade with C. ryanae, C. bovis, and C. xiaoi. Giardia duodenalis assemblage E was also molecularly detected in a single (2.6%) buffalo calf. The presence of other buffaloes in the same barn was identified as a risk factor for infection with T. vitulorum. Our results indicate extensive parasitic infections in buffalo calves from Northwestern Romania and underline the necessity of prophylactic treatments for T. vitulorum and E. bareillyi.

Protective effect of Toxocara vitulorum extract against alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate-induced cholangitis in rat

Background Cholestasis is the major cause of bile acid accumulation leading to liver damage. Chronic infection of worms can modulate the immune response towards T helper (Th)2-related cytokines. The present study aims to evaluate the protective impact of an ascarid nematode Toxocara vitulorum extract (TvE) against alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced cholangitis male wistar rat model compared to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) as a standard drug. Results Pretreatment with TvE and/or UDCA induced a marked reduction in the levels of liver function tests and malondialdehyde, while antioxidant markers were increased compared to cholestatic rats. Pretreatment with either TvE or combination before cholangitis induction attenuated the predominant Th1-related cytokines (IFN-γ and TNF-α) to Th2 (IL-13 and IL-10). TvE administration promoted higher expression levels of Bcl-2 protein and lower levels of caspase-3 compared to cholestatic rats. Conclusions Treatment with TvE has improved the liver functions and elevated the levels of oxidative stress markers. The upregulation of Th2-related cytokines and suppression of apoptosis through caspase-3 might be considered as a potential mechanism of TvE. Thereby, this natural extract revealed an opportunity for use in treatment of cholangitis disease.