Extreme lifespan extension in tapeworm-infected ant workers

Social insects are hosts of diverse parasites, but the influence of these parasites on phenotypic host traits is not yet well understood. Here, we tracked the survival of tapeworm-infected ant workers, their uninfected nest-mates and of ants from unparasitized colonies. Our multi-year study on the ant Temnothorax nylanderi, the intermediate host of the tapeworm Anomotaenia brevis, revealed a prolonged lifespan of infected workers compared with their uninfected peers. Intriguingly, their survival over 3 years did not differ from those of (uninfected) queens, whose lifespan can reach two decades. By contrast, uninfected workers from parasitized colonies suffered from increased mortality compared with uninfected workers from unparasitized colonies. Infected workers exhibited a metabolic rate and lipid content similar to young workers in this species, and they received more social care than uninfected workers and queens in their colonies. This increased attention could be mediated by their deviant chemical profile, which we determined to elicit more interest from uninfected nest-mates in a separate experiment. In conclusion, our study demonstrates an extreme lifespan extension in a social host following tapeworm infection, which appears to enable host workers to retain traits typical for young workers.

The Things They Carry: Diphyllobothriasis at Sea, a Case Report

Diphyllobothrium, also known as the “Broad Tapeworm” or “Fish Tapeworm,” is a genus of Cestoda acquired through the consumption of undercooked fish. Although infection by a Diphyllobothrium spp. in the United States is rare, it remains an important global zoonosis, with an estimated burden of approximately 20 million people worldwide. A seldom on the Primary Care Physician’s differential diagnosis in the United States, Diphyllobothrium spp. should be considered more readily when treating operational service members as they are exposed to endemic regions more frequently than the civilian population. This case presents one such service member diagnosed with Diphyllobothrium while aboard a U.S. naval vessel at sea, illustrating the importance of military medical providers considering Tapeworm infection even when risk factors seem remote. Diagnostic considerations, practical limitations of the Ova and Parasite (O&P) exam, particulars of specimen collection and handling, and recommendations for empiric treatment in the operational setting will be reviewed.

The medical relevance of Spirometra tapeworm infection in Indonesian Bronzeback snakes (Dendrelaphis pictus): A neglected zoonotic disease

Aim: Spirometra parasites cause sparganosis, a zoonotic disease, especially in reptiles and humans. This study aimed to report on the prevalence and effects of Spirometra parasites infection on public health and provide a scientific foundation for its prevention. Materials and Methods: A total of 378 living Indonesian wild-caught and captive-bred Bronzeback snakes (Dendrelaphis pictus) were selected. The snakes were euthanized using ethyl ether anesthesia before checking for Spirometra parasites. The numbers of Spirometra located in the muscle tissue, subcutaneous tissue, and coelom (including the viscera) were each counted to investigate the distribution of Spirometra inside the snake body cavity. Results: The total prevalence in the sample was 50.85%. The prevalence values in wild-caught and captive-bred snakes were 70.7% and 48.7%, respectively. More than half (56.6%) of the Spirometra parasites were located in the muscular tissue, while 29.5% were in the subcutaneous tissue and 13.8% were in the coelomic cavity. Conclusion: Wild-caught Indonesian Bronzeback snakes, which are sold as food in markets, and captive-bred snakes, which are collected as exotic pets in Indonesia, have similar opportunities to transmit the Spirometra parasite and cause global health problems due to their high prevalence.

Case Report: Sparganosis in Domestic Cat

Sparganosis is one of the food borne zoonotic diseases caused by the plerocercoid larvae (spargana) of the Spirometric genus. Sparganosis cases in five-month-old female cats in Denpasar, Bali were reported by us. Clinical sign of a Spirometric tapeworm infection in the case cat of the fecal consistency is grade 3.5. These findings are reported from animal’s owners who found worms when defecate. Eggs per gram (EPG) 16,900 it shows the intensity of spirometra infection in cat high enough. The Animal were treated with praziquantel 0.5 tablets, given twice with a seven-day interval. Evaluation of the cat after two times treatments for clinical signs of significant changes only from the fecal effusion from grade 3.5 to grade 2 was well formed, does not leave a mark when picked up.