Regional Heterogeneity and an Unexpectedly High Abundance of Cooperia Punctata in Beef Cattle at Northern Latitude Were Revealed by ITS-2 rDNA Nemabiome Metabarcoding

BackgroundThe species composition of cattle gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) communities can vary greatly between regions. Despite this, there is remarkably little large-scale surveillance data for cattle GIN species which is due, at least in part, to a lack of scalable diagnostic tools. This lack of regional GIN species-level data represents a major knowledge gap for evidence-based parasite management and assessing the status and impact of factors such as climate change and anthelmintic drug resistance. MethodsThis paper presents a large-scale survey of GIN in beef herds across western Canada using ITS-2 rDNA nemabiome metabarcoding. Individual fecal samples were collected from 6–20 randomly selected heifers (n = 1665) from each of 85 herds between September 2016 and February 2017 and 10–25 first season calves (n = 824) from each of 42 herds between November 2016 and February 2017. ResultsGastrointestinal nematode communities in heifers and calves were similar in Alberta and Saskatchewan, with Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora being the predominant GIN species in all herds consistent with previous studies. However, in Manitoba, Cooperia punctata was the most predominant species overall and the most abundant GIN species in calves from 4/8 beef herds. ConclusionsThis study revealed a marked regional heterogenicity of GIN species in grazing beef herds in western Canada. The predominance of C. punctata in Manitoba is unexpected as although this parasite is often the most predominant cattle GIN species in more southerly latitudes, it is generally only a minor component of cattle GIN communities in northern temperate regions. We hypothesize that the unexpected predominance of C. punctata at such a northerly latitude represents a range expansion, likely associated with changes in climate, anthelmintic use, management, and/or animal movement. Whatever the cause, these results are of practical concern since C. punctata is more pathogenic than C. oncophora, the Cooperia species that typically predominates in cooler temperate regions. Finally, this study illustrates the value of ITS-2 rDNA nemabiome metabarcoding as a surveillance tool for ruminant GIN parasites.

ГЕЛЬМІНТИ КОПИТНИХ, ЗАНЕСЕНИХ ДО ЧЕРВОНОЇ КНИГИ УКРАЇНИ

В Україні ме-шкають 9 видів диких копитних; з них два види – зубр європейський Bison bonasus та кінь Пржевальського Equus ferrus przewalskii – внесені до Червоної книги України. Метою даної роботи було узагальнення сучасних даних про видовий склад паразитофауни зубра європей-ського та коня Пржевальського на основі публікацій з України та суміжних країн. Аналіз наявних показав, що більшість паразитологічних досліджень європейських зубрів було про-ведені у Польщі, Білорусі та Росії. У зубра зареєстровано 67 видів гельмінтів, з яких 7 нале-жать до класу трематод (Trematoda), 4 види з класу цестод (Cestoda) та 56 видів нематод (Nematoda). За фрагментарними даними досліджень паразитів зубрів в Україні зареєстровано 5 видів нематод (Cooperia oncophora, Co. punctata, Co. zurnabada, Thelazia rhodesi, Nematodirus helvetianus) та один вид трематод (Liorchis scotiae). Основні дослідження пара-зитів коня Пржевальського проведені саме в Україні: зареєстровано 47 видів паразитів, з яких 2 види цестод, 43 види нематод і 2 види шлункових оводів. Проведення регулярних моніто-рингових досліджень паразитів зубра європейського та коня Пржевальського є необхідним для оцінки впливу зараженості цих копитних основними патогенними групами паразитів на стан їх популяцій у різних регіонах України.

Mixed Helminthosis in Sheep Intestines in Dagestan

The purpose of the research is studying mixed zoonosis of sheep intestines and helminth biodiversity in the altitudinal zonation of Dagestan. Materials and methods. We used materials in our work that were collected in 1985-2018 from sheep (young animals up to 1 year old, 1 to 2 years old, and 3 years old and older) by seasons of the year. 5,000 fecal samples were tested and 180 intestinal dissections were performed. We used the method of complete helminthological dissection of animals and humans per Skrjabin, the method of sequential washing of feces according to Berman-Orlov, the method of cultivation of gastrointestinal Strongylata larvae in a thermostat, and the method of their differentiation according to Shumakovich by shape, number and location of intestinal cells. Results and discussion. In terms of species, representatives of the genera Nematodirus Ransom, 1907, 7 species, Trichostrongylus Loss, 1905, 5 species, Ostertagia Ransom, 1907, 6 species, and Cooperia Ransom, 1907, 4 species prevail in the plain and sub-mountain belts of Dagestan. At the population level, the species Nematodirus, Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus are more often recorded. H. contortus (Rudolphi, 1803), N. spathiger (Railliet, 1896), N. filicollis (Rudolphi, 1802), T. axei (Cobb., 1879), T. capricola (Ransom, 1907), T. colubriformis (Giles, 1829), Cooperia oncophora (Ranson, 1907), C. punctata (Linstov, 1906), Bunostomum trigonocephalum (Railliet, 1902), and Chabertia ovina (Fabricius, 1788) were observed in the mountain belt.

Helminths parasites of digestive trackt of sheep and goats in Macedonian region

During two periods (December 1985-October 1986 and October 1990-April 1991), the digestive tracts of 102 sheep and 29 goats were examined, with the purpose to find out and identify the helminthes parasites of these animals. The 96,1% of sheep and 93,1% of goats were found to be infected with 26 and 20 different helminths, respectively. The nematodes which were found out of the different parts of the digestive tract of these animals were: Sheep: oesophagus: Gongylonema pulchrum, abomasum: Haemonchus contortus, Teladorsagia circumcincta, T. trifurcata, Trichostrongylus axei and Cooperia oncophora, small intestine: Teladorsagia circumcincta, Trichostrongylus colubriformis} T. vitrinus, T. capricola, Cooperia oncophora, C. curticei, Nematodirus filicollis, N. helvetianus, N. spathiger, N. battus, Bunostomum trigonocephalum and Strongyloides papillosus, large intestine: Oesophagostomum venulosum, Oe. columbianum, Chabertia ovina, Trichuris globulosa, T. ovis and Skrjabinema ovis. Goats: all the previous findings except T. vitrinus, Nematodirus helvetianus, N. battus and Trichuris ovis. The cestodes parasites, Moniezia expansa, Moniezia benedni, Avitellina centripunctata and Stilesia globipunctata were found into the small intestine of sheep and, Moniezia expansa and Avitellina centripunctata, in goats only. All animals were infected with more than one different parasites. The sheep nematodes Cooperia curticei, Nematodirus helvetianus, and N. spathiger, were identified for the first time in Greece, more over, Nematodirus battus were found out and identified for the first time in Greece.