Presença de Ascaridia galli, Aspiculuris tetraptera, Syphacia obvelata e Passalurus ambiguus em cachorro-do-mato (Cerdocyon thous, Linnaeus, 1766) residente em cativeiro / Presence of Ascaridia galli, Aspiculuris tetraptera, Syphacia obvelata e Passalurus ambiguus in crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous, Linnaeus, 1766) residing in captivity

O cachorro-do-mato é um animal de difícil manejo, sendo necessária contenção anestésica para coleta de material biológico, dificultando a realização de exames de rotina. A alimentação essencialmente proteica oriunda de outros animais como leporídeos, roedores e aves não inspecionadas, aumenta o risco do parasitismo predatório e acidental causando agravos à saúde do animal. A dificuldade de manuseio destes animais leva a escassez de literatura, assim objetivou-se relatar a presença de parasitismo por diferentes espécies de helmintos em cachorro do mato (Cerdocyon thous) mantido em cativeiro. Foi realizada uma visita clínica ao Criatório Conservacionista do Centro Universitário Cesmac. Ao exame clínico observou-se: apatia, perda de peso e pelos ressecados. Foi coletada amostra fecal e encaminhada ao Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias da mesma instituição, onde foi submetida à técnica de Willis-Mollay. Constatou-se a presença de Ascaridia galli, Aspiculuris tetraptera, Syphacia obvelata e Passalurus ambiguus em grande quantidade, os quais são parasitas de galinha, roedores e coelho, respectivamente. O animal não havia sido vermifugado e recebeu esse tipo de alimentação meses antes da realização do exame coproparasitológico. Sugere-se que o animal seja portador e hospedeiro paratênico. É importante ressaltar, ainda, que a vermifugação, o monitoramento e a qualidade do alimento fornecido são determinantes para a prevenção e melhora da saúde e bem-estar desses animais.

First Report of Lophomonas spp. in German Cockroaches (Blattella Germanica) Trapped in Hospitals, Northern Iran

Cockroaches are considered to be important reservoirs for protozoan and helminth parasites ,particularly an emerging Lophomonas spp., protozoan parasite. German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (B. germanica), are domestic pest distributed worldwide. However, little information is available regarding the burden of Lophomonas spp. infestation among domestic cockroach population worldwide. The present study investigated parasitic agents, emphasizing Lophomonas spp. infestation among B. germanica in northern Iran. During spring and summer 2018, a total of 496 adults B. germanica (265 males and 231 females) were trapped by hand and glass traps from the teaching hospitals in Mazandaran, Sari, northern Iran. All cockroaches were identified using taxonomic keys. Each cockroaches was anesthetized with chloroform and the alimentary tract removed. Each section was smeared onto a glass slide. All the smears were examined under light microscopy to determine the presence of the parasites. Ten genera of parasites were identified from the trapped B. germanica; overall, 233 (47%) were found to be positive for helminths (n=135) and protozoa (n=98). The helminths included Aspiculuris tetraptera egg (67/233, 28.7%), Oxiuros sp. (39/233; 16.7%), Dentostomella translucida (17/233; 7.3%), and nematodes Ova (12/233; 5.2%). The protozoan parasites identified Gregarina sp. (61/233; 26.2%), Entamoeba sp. (19/233; 8.2%), Blastocystis sp. (5/233; 2.1%), Lophomonas (4/233; 1.7%), Nyctotherus sp. (4/233; 1.7%), unclassified flagella (5/233; 2.1%). Lophomonas spp. was detected within the gut of B. germanica, for the first time, in Iran. It has previously been identified in the gut of cockroaches a long time ago, however, this is the first attempt to detect Lophomonas in cockroaches housing in hospitals. Thereby, it possibly presenting pose a serious respiratory infection risk for patients and health care personnel.

OCURRENCIA DE NEMATODOS GASTROINTESTINALES ASPICULURIS TETRAPTERA (NITZSCH, 1821) SCHULZ, 1927 Y SYPHACIA OBVELATA RUDOLPHI, 1802 EN MUS MUSCULUS LINNAEUS, 1758 EN BIOTERIOS DE INVESTIGACION EN MEXICO

El ratón común Mus musculus Linnaeus, 1758 es empleado comúnmente como modelo de investigación en las ciencias veterinarias y biomédicas. Cuarenta organismos fueron colectados en cuatro diferentes bioterios de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México y fue evaluada la presencia de parásitos. La examinación intestinal reveló al nematodo Aspiculuris tetraptera (Nitzsch, 1821) Schulz, 1927 (n=104) y Syphacia obvelata Rudolphi, 1802 (n=1582). El análisis estadístico determinó que no hay preferencia parasitaria por sexo del hospedero. Se registró al cestodo Rodentolepis nana (Siebold, 1852) sinónimos (Hymenolepis nana y Vampirolepis nana) que son causantes de cestodiasis en el humano. Este trabajo tiene un énfasis en estos helmintos debido a su potencial zoonótico. No se detectó la presencia de ectoparasitos. Se elaboró un reporte del registro de parásitos en roedores de bioterio en México obtenido de una base de datos de la Colección Nacional de Helmintos del Instituto de Biología de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Este es un primer registro preliminar de la ocurrencia del nematodo A. tetraptera y S. obvelata en el ratón común M. musculus en cuatro bioterios en la ciudad de México. Este trabajo amplía la distribución geográfica y contribuye también, a un nuevo registro del parásito.

LOS HELMINTOS PARÁSITOS DE RATTUS RATTUS (LINNAEUS, 1758) DE LOS ENTORNOS URBANOS, INTERMEDIOS Y RURALES EN EL SUR DE BRASIL

Rattus rattus tiene hábitos sinantrópicos que lo convierten en el roedor importante para la difusión de parasitos zoonóticos. Treinta individuos fueron capturados y someterse a necropsia con el objetivo de conocer la fauna de helmintos de R. rattus. Se encontraron tres espécies, dos nematodos (Aspiculuris tetraptera y Syphacia obvelata) y uno cestodo (Hymenolepis diminuta). El área rural mostró mayor diversidad de helmintos.

Standardization of an LNA-based TaqMan assay qPCR analysis for Aspiculuris tetraptera DNA in mouse faeces

Background Aspiculuris tetraptera, as a parasitic pinworm, is most frequently detected in laboratory mice, and transmission is mediated by the eggs contained in the faeces of infected mice. A highly sensitive and quantitative faeces-based diagnostic tool would be useful for the early detection of A. tetraptera to inhibit the expansion of infection. In this study, we developed a quantitative assay that exhibits high sensitivity in detecting A. tetraptera in faeces using PCR techniques. Results Endpoint PCR demonstrated the detection of A. tetraptera DNA in 0.5 ng genomic DNA extracted from the faeces of infected mice. To quantitatively detect the small amount of A. tetraptera DNA, locked nucleic acid (LNA)-based primers and LNA-based TaqMan probes were used for the quantitative PCR assay (qPCR). The combination of LNA-based DNA increased detection sensitivity by more than 100-fold compared to using normal oligo DNAs. The copy number of the A. tetraptera DNA detected was positively related to the infected faeces-derived genomic DNA with a simple linearity regression in the range of 20 pg to 15 ng of the genomic DNA. To more conveniently detect infection using faeces, the LNA-based TaqMan assay was applied to the crude fraction of the faeces without DNA purification. An assay using ethanol precipitation of the faeces yielded results consistent with those of direct microscopic observation. Conclusion The LNA-TaqMan assay developed in this study quantitatively detects A. tetraptera infection in mouse faeces.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Aspiculuris tetraptera (nematoda: Heteroxynematidae) from Mus musculus (rodentia: Muridae) in Saudi Arabia

Aspiculuris tetraptera a pinworm of mice, is an important parasite in institutions with mice colonies for both research and teaching purposes. Infection with this parasite has impact on biomedical research. This is likely due to the availability of the parasite’s eggs in the environment, therefore can easily be transmitted and infection is generally asymptomatic. No information regarding the prevalence, morphology or phylogeny is available on A. tetraptera from Saudi Arabia. A group of 50 laboratory mice were investigated for the presence of A. tetraptera. Worms were described morphologically and molecular characterization was attempted using 18S rRNA and Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I genes. The prevalence of A. tetraptera infestation in the laboratory mice examined was found to be 46%. Morphological description indicated that the worms belong to A. tetraptera and this was confirmed by molecular characterization. Both regions studied have shown that the worm under investigation grouped with A. tetraptera. 18S rDNA sequences obtained in the present study showed high identity with sequences from A. tetraptera while Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit I gene (COI) sequences showed intraspecific variation resulted into two haplotypes from the isolates in the present study. A. tetraptera was recorded for the first time from Saudi Arabia. Molecular characterization has shown, based on the COI sequences, that the Saudi isolates of A. tetraptera are distinct.

Oxyurid nematodes of pet rodents in Slovakia - a neglected zoonotic threat

The role of rodents as reservoirs of helminths of public health importance is not well known. The zoonotic potential of Syphacia spp. has been confirmed; therefore, the study aimed to estimate the occurrence of oxyurid nematodes in small rodents from pet shops and breeding clubs in Slovakia. Fecal samples of 586 pet rodents kept in 133 cages were collected between 2016 and 2018 and examined by Faust´s flotation method. Four species of oxyurid nematodes, Syphacia muris, S. obvelata, Aspiculuris tetraptera and Paraspidodera uncinata were detected. A. tetraptera was found in the faecal samples of all rodent species included in this survey. The number of positive boxes varied from 5.4% in hamsters to 70.0% with mice. The prevalence of Syphacia muris was highest in Mongolian gerbils where up to 75.0% boxes were positive; S. obvelata was found in 26.7% of boxes with mice, 25.0% of boxes with Mongolian gerbils and 3.2% of boxes with rats. The high prevalence of Syphacia spp. in all animal species points out the infection risk for humans. Animals offered for sale are often in close contact with human beings; therefore they should be regularly tested for parasites and then effectively dewormed.