Gastrointestinal Helminth Parasites of Wild Ungulates In Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary, Kashmir, India

Parasitic infection represents an emerging threat to wild ungulates and a challenge to their management. Although a lot of work has been carried out on helminth parasitic infestation of domestic ungulates of Kashmir but the data pertaining to this aspect of wild ungulates has being ignored. The study on gastrointestinal helminth parasitic infestation of wild ungulates was carried out during post livestock grazing period (November to May) of 2018/2019 in Hirpora Wildlife sanctuary (HWLS) to fill the gap in the existing literature. During the study fresh faecal samples of musk deer Moschus sp.(n=44) and markhor Capra falconeri (n=41)were collected and examined qualitatively and quantitatively for gastrointestinal helminth parasites. A total of seven helminth parasites were recorded which are arranged in the descending order of their overall prevalence as Haemonchus spp. (44.70%),Nematodirus spp. (40%), Trichuris spp. (37.64%), Strongyloides spp. (34.11%)Trichostrongylus spp. (28.23%),Monieziaspp. (23.52%) and Fasciola spp. (20%). The mean EPG (eggs per gram) of different parasites showed a considerable variation in both the wild ungulates. The highest mean EPGwas that of Haemonchus spp. and the lowest mean EPG was that of Fasciola spp. in both hosts. A statistically significant difference was observed in the mean EPG of different parasites among two wild hosts (t=3.606, p=0.01).

Recent Advances in the Control of Helminths of Domestic Animals by Helminthophagous Fungi

This review describes the advances acquired and proven in the use of helminthophagous fungi in the control of gastrointestinal helminth parasites in domestic animals. Old and well-known premises about parasitic epidemiology and the factors that can interfere with the best performance of biological control are mentioned. Some of the most promising fungi are Duddingtonia flagrans from the predatory fungi group and Pochonia chamydosporia and Mucor circinelloides from the ovicidal fungi group. These fungi produce resistance spores called chlamidospores. Bioverm® and BioWorma®, based on the fungus D. flagrans, are available as commercial. Biotechnological products such as nanoparticles and obtaining primary and secondary metabolites have already been obtained from these fungi. Because they have different mechanisms of action, ovicidal and predatory fungi, when used together, can present a complementary and synergistic action in the biological control of helminths. Therefore, future research in the search for new formulations, the association of fungi from different groups, extraction of new molecules, and nanoparticles of these fungi in the control of helminths in various domestic animals are desired.

Gastrointestinal Helminthic Parasites of Stray Cats (Felis catus) in Northwest Iran

Background: Stray cats are considered an important source of various human and animal diseases, particularly diseases of parasitic helminths. We aimed to investigate the distribution of zoonotic species of gastrointestinal helminths in stray cats in Meshkin-Shahr district in Ardabil Province in the northwest of Iran. Methods: The gastrointestinal tract of 104 stray cats from villages of Meshkin-Shahr district were provided during 2014-2015. Each gastrointestinal tract was cut into distinct sections, including esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine, and each section was examined separately for detection of helminths. Helminths were collected and then identified at the species level after clearing and staining. Results: Overall, 88 out of 104 cats (84.6%) were found to be infected with at least one gastrointestinal helminth. The rate of infection for each species was as follows: Toxocara mystax (syn. cati) (49%), Taenia taeniaeformis (44.2%), Joyexiella pasqualei (32.7%), Dipylidium caninum (23.1%), Rictularia cahirensis (4.8%), and Physaloptera praeputialis (4.8%). Among these parasites, only Ph. praeputialis was collected from the stomach, all other helminths were collected from the small intestine. Conclusion: The results demonstrate a high infection rate of stray cats with zoonotic helminths. The presence of zoonotic species in stray cats, particularly T. mystax, has public health importance.

The genome of the thin-necked bladder worm Taenia hydatigena reveals evolutionary strategies for helminth survival

Taenia hydatigena is a widespread gastrointestinal helminth that causes significant health problems in livestock industry. This parasite can survive in a remarkably wide range of intermediate hosts and affects the transmission dynamics of zoonotic parasites. T. hydatigena is therefore of particular interest to researchers interested in studying zoonotic diseases and the evolutionary strategies of parasites. Herein we report a high-quality draft genome for this tapeworm, characterized by some hallmarks (e.g., expanded genome size, wide integrations of viral-like sequences and extensive alternative splicing during development), and specialized adaptations related to its parasitic fitness (e.g., adaptive evolutions for teguments and lipid metabolism). Importantly, in contrast with the evolutionarily close trematodes, which achieve gene diversification associated with immunosuppression by gene family expansions, in T. hydatigena and other cestodes, this is accomplished by alternative splicing and gene loss. This indicates that these two classes have evolved different mechanisms for survival. In addition, molecular targets for diagnosis and intervention were identified to facilitate the development of control interventions. Overall, this work uncovers new strategies by which helminths evolved to interact with their hosts.

Potential Zoonotic Gastrointestinal Nematode Infection from Goat in Sumedang

Potential of zoonotic gastrointestinal nematode infection from livestock in Indonesia is still often overlooked. Farms with a risk for nematodes infection would create a risk of infecting the local community with zoonotic gastrointestinal nematodes. This study aimed to assess the risk of gastrointestinal nematodes from goats that have zoonotic potential in Cibeureum Wetan, Sumedang, and to identify the incidence of nematodes infection among goats. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in August to November 2019 with a total of 52 samples of feces collected directly from goat’s rectum to prevent soil contamination. Sampling was performed randomly from goats raised at the Agriculture and Self-Sustaining Village Training Center (Pusat Pelatihan Pertanian dan Pedesaan Swadaya, P4S) Simpay Tampomas, Sumedang, Indonesia. The GPS point of the sampling location was recorded. Samples were then examined using the concentration sedimentation method at the Parasitology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran. Results showed that 22 of 52 samples were positive for gastrointestinal helminth eggs, contained of Bunostomum sp., Strongyloides sp., Haemmonchus sp., Trichostrongylus sp., Toxocara sp. and Trichuris sp. The nematode parasites found are parasites that often infect goats.

Prevalence, Intensity and Risks Involved in Helminth Infections in Domestic Mountain Pony and Balkan Donkey in Nature Park Stara Planina, Serbia

Background: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, intensity and risk factors (age and gender) promoting the intestinal helminthic infections of the Domestic mountain ponies and Balkan donkeys in Serbia. Methods: Prevalence, intensity and risk factors influencing helminth infection in horses (n=39) and donkeys (n=18) at the site of Nature Park Stara Planina, were studied from May to Sep 2015. The presence of one or several gastrointestinal helminth species was confirmed by faecal flotation in 97.43% of horses and 88.88% of donkeys included in the monitoring. The identified helminth species were Trichostrongylus axei, Strongylus edentatus, S. vulgaris, Parascaris equorum, Dictyocaulus arnfieldi and Anoplocephala magna in 84.61%, 46.15%, 5.13%, 58.97%, 94.87% and 38.46% of horses, respectively. The significant association of infection with P. equorum and sex of horses was established. (χ2=13.33, P<0.01). Results: The prevalence of parasitic helminths identified in donkeys was the following: D. arnfieldi, T. axei, Pa. equorum, S. vulgaris, A. margna and Strongyloides westeri in 55.55%, 38.89%, 27.78%, 22.22% and 22.22% of donkeys, respectively. Moreover, the mean faecal egg count was higher in donkeys (369.9 EPG - egg per gram) than in horses (250.2 EPG). The association between the age and the mean EPG was significant (P<0.05) in both equine species. Conclusion: The results of the investigation provided basic information that can be helpful for planning strategic control of nematode infection in equine population in Nature Reserves in Serbia.

Occurrence of Endoparasites in Domestic Fowls (GALLUS GALLUS) And Ducks (ANAS PLATYRHYNCHOS)

A comparative study was carried out to investigate the gastrointestinal helminth infection in domestic fowls Gallus gallus (30 specimens) and ducks Anas platyrhynchos (30 specimen). A total of 1610 helminth parasites of eight species from three taxonomic classes were recovered and identified from the different parts of alimentary canal. Among the parasitic group the cestodes were turned out to be predominant with a prevalence of 50.93% (820) whereas, the rate was 27.97% (450) and 21.19% (340) in nematodes and trematodes, respectively. The prevalence of parasites species were Ascaridia galli (80%), Echinostoma revolutum (73.33%), Raillientina echinobothrida (53.33%), Echinoparyphium recurvatum (53.33%), Cotugnia digonophora (50%), Amoebotaenia sphenoids (30%), Ascaridia hermaphoridita (43.33%) and Hymenolepis cantania (26.67%). The rate of infestation was higher (90%) in fowls than in ducks (80%) and the intensity of infections was slightly higher in ducks 31.67 (31.48 in domestic fowls). In both domestic fowls and ducks, cestode parasites were most dominant, and prevalence (83.33% and 16.80±4.31) and intensity were lower in fowls than in ducks (76.67% and 17.39 ± 4.2 2). Highest rate of infestation was observed in summer both in fowl (81.82%) and duck (70%) while, winter was associated with peak intensity of parasites in fowl (46.67) and in duck (44.28) observed in summer. The prevalence of parasites was higher in caecum of both domestic fowls and ducks. Bangladesh J. Zool. 49(1): 35-46, 2021