Effets De L’extrait Aqueux Du Moringa Oleifera Sur L’abondance Des Oocystes De Protozoaires Intestinaux Des , Usées D’origine Hospitalière À Yaoundé-Cameroun

L’accès à l’eau potable demeure une très grande préoccupation en Afrique sub-saharienne, plus particulièrement dans les agglomérations où les populations sont confrontées à la pollution, l’insuffisance d’hygiène d’assainissement et au manque de méthodes appropriées de traitement à l’échelle familiale. De ce fait, l’intégration de procédés biologiques de traitement des eaux pourrait être une alternative durable dans l’amélioration de la qualité des eaux de boisson et des eaux déversées dans l’environnement après usage. La présente étude menée de juin 2019 à avril 2020 porte sur l’optimisation de l’efficacité des feuilles de Moringa oleifera dans le traitement des eaux usées d’origine hospitalière. Ces eaux ont été traitées avec différentes concentrations (100mg/l, 200mg/l, 300mg/l, 400mg/l, 500mg/L et 600mg/l) de l’extrait aqueux de Moringa oleifera. Le suivi des paramètres physicochimiques et parasitologiques à différents temps de décantation a permis de déterminer les conditions optimales et d’évaluer l’efficacité des traitements. Il en ressort qu’en fonction des caractéristiques des eaux, les temps de décantation compris entre 24-36 h sont apparus suffisants pour éliminer la presque totalité des matières en suspension et des colloïdes. Pour le même temps de décantation, l’abattement parasitologique était en moyenne de l’ordre de 99 % pour Isospora spp, 94 % pour Cryptosporidium spp, 98 % pour Cyclospora spp et 96 % pour les oocystes de Sarcocystis spp. Au cours du traitement, la baisse de certains paramètres physicochimiques tels que la réduction des teneurs en matières organique biodégradables exprimée par l’oxydabilité et la hausse d’autres paramètres comme le pH, la conductivité électrique et des Solide Totaux Dissout ont facilité la réduction des parasites durant le traitement. Ces résultats indiquent qu’en fonction des concentrations initiales, le traitement des eaux brutes avec l’extrait aqueux des feuillets de Moringa oleifera améliore considérablement la qualité des eaux. Access to safe drinking water remains a major concern in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in urban areas where people are confronted with pollution, poor hygiene, inadequate sanitation and lack of appropriate treatment methods at the household level. Therefore, the integration of biological water treatment processes could be a sustainable alternative in improving the quality of drinking water and water discharged into the environment after use. The present study conducted from June 2019 to April 2020 focuses on optimising the efficiency of Moringa oleifera leaves in the treatment of hospital wastewater. These waters were treated with different concentrations (100mg/l, 200mg/l, 300mg/l, 400mg/l, 500mg/L and 600mg/l) of the aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera. The monitoring of physico-chemical and parasitological parameters at different decantation times made it possible to determine the optimal conditions and to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatments. The results showed that, depending on the characteristics of the water, settling times between 24-36 hours appeared to be sufficient to eliminate almost all the suspended matter and colloids. For the same settling time, parasitological removal was on average around 99% for Isospora spp, 94% for Cryptosporidium spp, 98% for Cyclospora spp and 96% for Sarcocystis spp oocysts. During the treatment the decrease values of some physicochemical parameters such as the reduction of biodegradable organic matter content expressed by oxidability and the increase of other parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity and Total Dissolved Solids facilitated the reduction of parasites during the treatment. These results indicate that, depending on the initial concentrations, treatment of raw water with the aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera leaflets significantly improves water quality.

New Insights into Gastrointestinal and Pulmonary Parasitofauna of Wild Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in the Harz Mountains of Germany

The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) represents an endangered wild felid species. In Germany, it currently occurs in three isolated populations in and around the Harz Mountains, the Palatinate Forest and the Bavarian Forest. Lynx parasitic infections affect animal health and might have an influence on population performance. Therefore, we investigated the protozoan and helminth fauna of free-ranging Eurasian lynx of the Harz population with emphasis on zoonotic parasites. Individual scat samples (n = 24) were collected from wild animals between 2019 and 2021 in the Harz National Park and surrounding areas. In total, 15 taxa of endoparasites were detected, including seven nematodes (i.e., Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, Angiostrongylus spp., Uncinaria stenocephala, Toxascaris leonina, Toxocara cati, Cylicospirura spp. and Capillaria spp.), one cestode (Diphyllobothriidae) and one trematode (Heterophylidae) as well as six protozoans (i.e., Cystoisospora rivolta, Cystoisospora felis, Toxoplasma gondii/Hammondia spp., Sarcocystis spp., Giardia intestinalis and Cryptosporidium spp.). Moreover, first-stage larvae (L1) of spurious lungworm, Protostrongylus pulmonalis, originating from lagomorph preys were identified. This work represents the first report on patent A. abstrusus and Angiostrongylus spp. infections in wild German Eurasian lynxes. Some of the identified parasites represent relevant pathogens for lynxes, circulating between these carnivorous definitive hosts and a variety of mammalian and invertebrate intermediate hosts, e.g., Sarcocystis spp., T. gondii/Hammondia spp., T. cati, T. leonina, A. abstrusus and Angiostrongylus spp., while others are considered exclusively pathogenic for wild felids (e.g., Cylicospirura spp., C. rivolta, C. felis). This study provides insights in the occurrence of zooanthroponotically relevant metazoan (i.e., T. cati and U. stenocephala) and protozoan (i.e., G. intestinalis) species in free-ranging lynx. The present work should be considered as a baseline study for future monitoring surveys on endoparasites circulating in wild Eurasian lynx for appropriate management practices in lynx conservation strategies in Europe.

The Role of Birds of the Family Corvidae in Transmitting Sarcocystis Protozoan Parasites

Members of the family Corvidae are ecologically flexible omnivorous birds, particularly adaptive to urban habitats, and living in proximity to humans; these birds may serve as definitive hosts (DH) for Sarcocystis spp., but research about this is lacking. In the present study, intestinal samples from 91 corvids collected in Lithuania were molecularly tested by species-specific PCR targeting the ITS1 and cox1 genes and subsequently sequenced for the presence of Sarcocystis spp. Under a light microscope, oocysts of Sarcocystis spp. were observed in 43 samples (47.3%), while molecular methods, detected Sarcocystis spp. in 77 birds (84.6%). Eleven Sarcocystis spp. (S. columbae, S. cornixi, potentially pathogenic S. halieti, S. kutkienae, S. lari, S. turdusi, S. wobeseri, S. arctica, S. lutrae, S. ovalis, and S. oviformis) were identified in the intestinal samples from six corvid species from Lithuania. Infections with multiple Sarcocystis spp. were detected in 79.2% of the infected corvid birds. Three of the identified Sarcocystis spp. use corvids as intermediate hosts (IH); therefore, corvids may serve as IH and DH of the same Sarcocystis species. Based on molecular results and on corvid diet, omnivorous corvids may play an important role in transmitting Sarcocystis spp.

Molecular characterization of Sarcocystis spp. as a cause of protozoal encephalitis in a free-ranging black bear

A free-ranging juvenile male black bear ( Ursus americanus), found dead in Alberta, Canada, had severe nonsuppurative encephalitis. Lesions in the brain were most severe in the gray matter of the cerebral cortex, and included perivascular cuffs of lymphocytes and plasma cells, areas of gliosis that disrupted the neuropil, and intralesional protozoan schizonts. The left hindlimb had suppurative myositis associated with Streptococcus halichoeri. Immunohistochemistry and molecular analyses (PCR and sequencing of 4 discriminatory loci: 18S rDNA, ITS-1 rDNA, cox1, rpoB) identified Sarcocystis canis or a very closely related Sarcocystis sp. in the affected muscle and brain tissues. The main lesion described in previously reported cases of fatal sarcocystosis in bears was necrotizing hepatitis. Fatal encephalitis associated with this parasite represents a novel presentation of sarcocystosis in bears. Sarcocystosis should be considered a differential diagnosis for nonsuppurative encephalitis in bears.

Molecular and Microscopic Investigation of Sarcocystis Species Isolated from Sheep Muscles in Iran

Sarcocystis species is a genus of cyst-forming parasites infecting both humans and animals globally. Some of these species cause clinical and subclinical diseases in the host and may lead to economic losses. This study was carried out to identify the distribution patterns of Sarcocystis spp. in slaughtered sheep based on the digestion method and PCR-RFLP in Isfahan, the center of Iran. In total, 150 fresh muscle samples (30 hearts, 60 esophagi, and 60 diaphragms) were investigated by naked eye observation and then scrutinized based on the digestion method. To this end, pepsin and HCl were used to observe the Sarcocystis parasite via a light microscope. The PCR was carried out to intensify a fragment of the 18S rRNA gene. Afterward, the PCR products were exposed to digestion by endonuclease TaqI, HindII, EcoRI, and AvaI. Consequently, the results of RFLP were confirmed by sequencing, and the phylogenetic placement of all species was analyzed. Through the examination by the naked eye, 5/150 (3.33%) macroscopic cysts were found in the samples. With the tissue digestion and microscopic examination, 116 (77.33%) samples were positive for Sarcocystis spp.; however, 125 (83.33%) samples were positive with PCR. Moreover, the results of sequence analysis on macrocysts and microcysts showed that 4% and 96% of the species belonged to S. gigantea and S. tenella, respectively. According to the results of the current study, sarcocystosis caused by S. tenella are highly prevalent among sheep in the Isfahan region. Due to the high prevalence of Sarcocystis infection in the world and Iran, the development of disease control and prevention policies in sheep would be essential, and changing attitudes in the way of keeping livestock from the traditional type to the industrial method is recommended in this regard.