Prevalence, Identification and Geographical Distribution of Eimeria spp. in Wild Rodents in Malang, East Java

Eimeria is a genus of apicomplexan parasites that infected various species and known as the enteric monoxenous coccidian. This study aims to determine the prevalence, identification and geographical distribution study of gastrointestinal protozoa Eimeria spp. in wild rodents in Malang city, East Java. A total of 74 rodents were collected from different part of Malang, using single live traps. Rats were euthanized with ketamine and xylazine. Samples of stools were taken from gastrointestinal tract. Coprological procedure using floatation method lead to the demonstration of Eimeria spp. oocysts in the faecal samples examined at 400 and 1000 magnifications of light microscope. Cultivation in dichromate potassium 2.5% was carried out for all of coccidian positive samples. The identification is based on morphology and morphometry. Eimeria identification data was analyzed descriptively, while the analysis of species and gender of rodents on prevalence used chi square. Result, the prevalence of Eimeria spp. in Malang is 11 (14.9%). It was suggesting coccidiosis caused by Eimeria nieschulzi. In addition, Chi square analysis showed that species of rats did not have a significant relationship (P>0.05) to the incidence of Eimeria infection, however it has significant correlation between gender of rats and Eimeria infection (P<0.05). The geographical of Eimeria spp. spots were showed in 8 Sampling area, in Lowokwaru, Klojen, Kedung kandang and Sukun sub district. Findings of this study showed that wild rodents in Malang city are infected with intestinal coccidian parasites.

Risk Evaluation of Passive Transmission of Animal Parasites by Feeding of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae and Prepupae

ABSTRACT Finding sustainable feed alternatives is an emerging topic in times of depletion of potential arable land and strict land use regulations. Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae can be reared on almost all organic matters and may be used as a source for animal feed. However, the risk of disease transmission is high when animals are fed larvae or prepupae raised on waste materials that may contain potentially infectious pathogens. We qualitatively examined the effect of larval intestine extracts on the coccidian parasites Eimeria nieschulzi and Eimeria tenella and on eggs of the nematode Ascaris suum. Furthermore, we focused on the question of whether the persistent parasite stages (oocysts and eggs) would be digested, pass through living larvae, or attach to the larval surface. Neither living black soldier fly larvae nor black soldier fly larval intestine extracts had any effect on oocysts or eggs of the studied parasites. Thus, untreated H. illucens larvae as animal feed pose a risk of disease transmission to animals and humans, and a simple larval washing step is not sufficient for total removal of parasites. HIGHLIGHTS

Development ofEimeria nieschulzi(Coccidia, Apicomplexa) Gamonts and Oocysts in Primary Fetal Rat Cells

Thein vitroproduction of gametocytes and oocysts of the apicomplexan parasite genusEimeriais still a challenge in coccidiosis research. Until today, anin vitrodevelopment of gametocytes or oocysts had only been shown in someEimeriaspecies. For several mammalianEimeriaspecies, partial developments could be achieved in different cell types, but a development up to gametocytes or oocysts is still lacking. This study compares several permanent cell lines with primary fetal cells of the black rat (Rattus norvegicus) concerning the qualitativein vitrodevelopment of the rat parasiteEimeria nieschulzi. With the help of transgenic parasites, the developmental progress was documented. The selectedEimeria nieschulzistrain constitutively expresses the yellow fluorescent protein and a macrogamont specific upregulated red tandem dimer tomato. In the majority of all investigated host cells the development stopped at the second merozoite stage. In a mixed culture of cells derived from inner fetal organs the development of schizont generations I-IV, macrogamonts, and oocysts were observed in crypt-like organoid structures. Microgamonts and microgametes could not be observed and oocysts did not sporulate under air supply. By immunohistology, we could confirm that wild-typeE. nieschulzistages can be found in the crypts of the small intestine. The results of this study may be helpful for characterization of native host cells and for development of anin vitrocultivation system forEimeriaspecies.