Prospective measures of control and prevention of Helminthosis among agricultural animals in animal complexes

Prospect of timely cleaning of livestock complexes from accumulated manure prevents environmental pollution. For this purpose, the most promising was the “cold” method of dehelminthization of a heap of manure, complete neutralization of chicken manure when heated and dried at temperatures above 100 °C, a “dry” method for neutralizing horse, pig, cow, sheep manure from helminth eggs using the Kranz biothermal method. For dehelminthization of humans and animals, science has recommended, and practice has successfully tested a fairly large, constantly growing and updated range of highly effective anthelmintics, mainly for gastrointestinal and partially for pulmonary helminthiasis.

Soil contamination by Ancylostoma spp. and Toxocara spp. eggs in elementary school playgrounds in the extreme south of Brazil

Millions of people worldwide, and especially schoolchildren, may be infected by geohelminths due to their exposure to a contaminated environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate soil contamination by Ancylostoma spp. and Toxocara spp. eggs in recreation areas at elementary schools in Pelotas, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Sand samples were collected from 22 schools and were processed using the centrifugal flotation method. Helminth eggs with zoonotic potential were found in 12 out of the 22 schools (54.5%). Contamination by Ancylostoma spp. and Toxocara spp. was observed in 36.4% (8/22) and 27.3% (6/22) of the soil samples collected at these schools, respectively. These findings of eggs show that the school communities are exposed to risks of zoonotic transmission.

Prevalence of Swine Nematodes in Moscow, Russia

To continue the fight against pig helminthiasis, a detailed analysis of the current prevalence of nematodes in these productive animals is required. The assessment of the material after the technological slaughter of pigs kept in the Moscow region revealed the presence of parasitization in their intestines of four nematodes (Ascaris suum, Metastrongylus spp., Trichocephalus spp., Strongyloides spp.) In the form of monoinvasion and any combination thereof. The total infestation of pigs with intestinal nematodes was 55.24%. Trichocytic invasion (Trichocephalus spp.) Occurred in pigs most often (23.77%), ascarous invasion (Ascaris suum) reached 22.38%, strongyloid invasion (Strongyloides spp.) Was noted in 9.09% of cases, metastrongylous (Metastrongylus spp.) was present in 1.75% of cases. In conditions of an increase in the severity of monoinvasion, the size of helminth eggs decreased in Trichuris: size in length by 5.9%, size in width by 7.4%, in Ascaris: length by 4.9%, width by 4.6%, in strongulata eggs a decrease in size is also noted. In the case of mixed Ascaris-Metastrongylous invasion, there was a clear antagonistic relationship, manifested in a decrease in the size of Ascaris eggs. The size of the eggs of Trichuris in the case of an invasion mixed with Ascaris decreased, which is apparently associated with the development of antagonism between them. Comparative analysis of information on the prevalence of nematodes in pigs in farms of the Moscow region and their size can help to increase the effectiveness of treatment and prophylactic measures against helminthiasis, and can be taken into account in the course of further examination of pigs in the Moscow.

Numerical Calculation of Sink Velocities for Helminth Eggs in Water

The settling velocities of helminth eggs of three types, namely Ascaris suum (ASC), Trichuris suis (TRI), and Oesophagostomum spp. (OES), in clean tap water are computationally determined by means of computational fluid dynamics, using the general-purpose CFD software ANSYS Fluent 18.0. The previous measurements of other authors are taken as the basis for the problem formulation and validation, whereby the latter is performed by comparing the predicted sink velocities with those measured in an Owen tube. To enable a computational treatment, the measured shapes of the eggs are parametrized by idealizing them in terms of elementary geometric forms. As the egg shapes show a variation within each class, “mean” shapes are considered. The sink velocities are obtained through the computationally obtained drag coefficients. The latter are defined by means of steady-state calculations. Predicted sink velocities are compared with the measured ones. It is observed that the calculated values show a better agreement with the measurements, for ASC and TRI, compared to the theoretical sink values delivered by the Stokes theory. However, the observed agreement is still found not to be very satisfactory, indicating the role of further parameters, such as the uncertainties in the characterization of egg shapes or flocculation effects even in clean tap water.

Supercapacitance/Resistance Behaviors of Helminth Eggs as Reliable Recognition and Direct Differentiation Probe

Parasitic helminths are usually known as undesired pathogens, causing various diseases in both human and animal species. In this study, we explore supercapacitance/resistance behaviors as a novel probe for rapid identification and direct differentiation of Fasciola hepatica, Parascaris equorum (with and without larvae), Dicrocoelium dendriticum, Taenia multiceps, and Moniezia expansa eggs. This claim is attributed to some characteristics, such as grave supercapacitance/area, high-energy storage/area, large power/egg, huge permittivity, and great electrical break-down potential, respectively (Fasciola hepatica: 2,158, 0.485, 2.7 × 10–3, 267, 52.6, Parascaris equorum without larvae: 2,825, 0.574, 3.0 × 10–3, 351, 68.4, Parascaris equorum with larvae: 4,519, 0.716, 2.4 × 10–3, 1.96, 97.6, Dicrocoelium dendriticum: 1,581, 0.219, 2.8 × 10–3, 1.96, 48.8, Moniezia expansa: 714, 0.149, 2.2 × 10–3, 0.88, 35.2, Taenia multiceps: 3,738, 0.619, 4.7 × 10–3, 4.63, 84.4), and durable capacitance up to at least 15,000 sequential cycles at different scan rates (between 2.0 × 10−4 and 120.0 V s−1) as well as highly differentiated resistance between 400 and 600 Ω. These traits are measured by the “Blind Patch-Clamp” method, at the giga ohm sealed condition (6.18 ± 0.12 GΩ cm−1, n = 5). Significant detection ranges are detected for each capacitance and resistance with gradient limits as large as at least 880 to 1,000 mF and 400 to 600 Ω depending on the type of helminth egg. The effect of water in the structure of helminth eggs has also been investigated with acceptable reproducibility (RSD 7%–10%, n = 5). These intrinsic characteristics would provide novel facilitators for direct helminth egg identification in comparison with several methods, such as ELISA, PCR, and microscopic methods.

Prevalence of gastrointestinal endoparasites in Waringin sheep (Ovis aries) fed with complete forage and forage-concentrate

Feed composition has a substantial impact on the persistence of gastrointestinal endoparasite infection in sheep. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of gastrointestinal endoparasites in Waringin sheep (Ovis aries) fed with complete forage and feed concentrate in Sidomulyo Village, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra. The study has been conducted from June to August 2020 with a total of 20 sheep for each type of feed. Fecal samples from each sheep were prepared for microscopical examination using sedimentation technique (glass beads). Gastrointestinal endoparasites was identifiedmorphologically. The results documented 3 genera of endoparasites namely Haemonchus (Nematoda), Fasciola (Trematoda) and Paramphistomum (Trematoda). Based on the type of forages, sheep fed with forage-concentrate showed a lower number of helminth eggs than the complete forage group. Haemonchus sp was identified as the most frequent parasite in both type of feeds. The intensity was categorized from mild-to-moderate level of infection. Provision of forage-concentrate was then proven to prevent a high rate of infection in Waringin sheep.

Contamination of environmental objects by helminth-protozoan infestations in Astrakhan region. Аnalysis of activities of “Сenter for hygiene and epidemiology in Astrakhan region” for 2011–2020

Objective. To study and analyze the contamination of environmental objects in the Astrakhan Region (by the example of soil, water, and washout samples from solid household surfaces) based on the results of laboratory studies of the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Astrakhan Region for 20112020. Materials and methods. The work was carried out on the basis of the Laboratory of Bacteriological and Parasitological Research of the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Astrakhan Region and in the laboratories of the Branches of the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Astrakhan Region in 20112020. As a whole, during the analyzed period, the laboratory and its branches conducted laboratory studies of 79 742 samples taken from various environmental objects, and 94 495 studies were performed. The number of samples that do not meet the hygiene standards was 1.01 % (806 samples). Results. The objects of sampling for the study of their parasitic purity were water, soil and wash-out from solid household surfaces. The share of water samples in the structure of all the studied samples taken from environmental objects was 7.3 % (5858 samples), of which 172 samples were contaminated with pathogens of parasitic diseases, the extent of invasion was 2.9 %. The structure of positive findings in the water samples was represented by 6 nosological forms of helminths 88.0 % (154 samples) and 3 nosoforms of protozoa 12.0 %. The share of the studied soil samples in the overall structure of sanitary and parasitological studies of the environment was 11.2 % (8895 samples). The number of unsatisfactory samples in the structure of all positive findings revealed during the study of soil, water and washouts during the analyzed period was 70.4 % (625 samples). The total soil contamination for the period of 20112020 was 7.0 % (625 samples). In most cases, helminth eggs and larvae were detected 99.8 % (624 samples). The proportion of pathogenic protozoan cysts detected in the soil was 0.2 % (1 sample). In addition to water and soil samples, the washout samples, taken from solid household surfaces were studied 81.5 % (64989 samples), of which 0.01 % (9 samples) were unsatisfactory. All positive findings in the washout samples were represented by two nosological forms of helminthiasis: Enterobius vermicularis eggs 0.012 % (8 samples) and teniid oncospheres 0.002 (1 sample). Conclusions. The presence of helminth eggs and cysts of pathogenic intestinal protozoa in the studied soil and water samples indicates contamination of these objects with the feces of infected persons and/or contamination by sewage runoff resulting from various accidents. The presence of toxocara eggs and strongylid larvae in the soil and water indicates contamination of these objects with the feces of infected animals (dogs, cats). The presence of positive findings in wastewater samples indicates poor-quality disinfection of these objects. The presence of contact helminth eggs in the studied samples of washout samples taken from hard surfaces indicates direct contact of infected persons with these samples.