Phytonematodes Community and Polyphasic Character of Aphelenchoides varicaudatus on Garlic Plants in Tegal Regency, Central Java

The interception of Ditylenchus dipsaci, D. destructor, and Aphelenchoides fragariae, which are classified as quarantine pests, has been reported to occur on imported garlic bulbs used for consumption at several traditional markets in Bogor. This finding should increase awareness of the chance of garlic contamination in Indonesia’s garlic fields. This study aimed to evaluate the nematode community and determine polyphasic characters of Aphelenchoides species from garlic plantations. The study was conducted by sampling soil and plants from garlic plantations in Tuwel and Rembul Villages, Bojong District, Tegal Regency, Central Java in December 2018. Nematode extraction was done using a mist chamber for plant materials and sugar flotation – centrifugation methods for soil samples. Parameters measured included nematode species identity, absolute population and prominence indexes. Nematode identification was conducted based on their morphological characters. Further identification based on morphometric and molecular characters (polyphasic) conducted for nematodes species suspected as quarantine pests. Six generas of nematodes identified were Helicotylenchus, Aphelenchoides, Rotylenchulus, Aphelenchus, Criconemoides, and Tylenchus. Aphelenchoides sp. had the highest prominence value from plant tissue with a value of 6.32 and is categorized as a quarantine pest genus (A. fragariae) in garlic and was further identified to the species level. Further identification based on polyphasic characters showed the Aphelenchoides sp. found was A. varicaudatus.

Importation of cats and risk of parasite spread: a Caribbean perspective and case study from St Kitts

Background In more recent years, international travel with cats has increased. The distribution of cat parasites can change with this movement. Already, subtropical and tropical parasites have been reported by veterinarians in areas where they are not naturally present. Understanding the prevalence of tropical and subtropical parasites in Caribbean islands and the risk of importation to temperate areas could enable improved prevention recommendations and border control import requirements. Methods We present a study focused on cat owning students enrolled in a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) programme on St Kitts. Owners were interviewed about their cats and their use of parasiticides. Cats were examined for Trichuris felis and Platynosomum fastosum using sugar flotation, Lynxacarus radovskyi using an adhesive tape test, and Dirofilaria immitis using commercial antigen and antibody tests. Results Data on 115 cats owned by 87 DVM students were collected and 90 cats, all expected to travel to the USA, were examined. Most of the cats were adults and born in St Kitts. Prevalence was reported as 6.8% (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.2–15.1%) for T. felis, 16.2% (95% CI: 8.7–26.6%) for P. fastosum and 6.8% (95% CI: 2.5–14.3%) for L. radovskyi. All D. immitis tests were negative. DVM students reported a high level of deworming (83.3% of the cats), but the number of cats treated per recommendations were low (56.1% for endoparasites and 70.8% for ectoparasites). Also, there was a lack of clarity regarding the purpose of the treatments used and treatments did not appear to be targeted for the parasites present. Conclusion Our results indicate a low prevalence of the parasites of interest in the DVM student cat population compared to other prevalence studies from the Caribbean. However, a degree of non-compliance with parasiticide uses and the high number of cats traveling to the USA indicate a medium risk of importation of tropical and subtropical cat parasites to temperate areas. We recommend stronger health inspections and health screening requirements at the borders including the development of specific parasiticide protocols for cat importation.

Comparison of fecal analysis methods for the detection of Platynosomum fastosum in naturally infected cats

Objectives Diagnosis of Platynosomum fastosum Kossack 1910, a liver fluke of cats, can be challenging, with infections potentially not identified depending on the fecal analysis method used. The aim of this study was to compare three methods for identification of P fastosum eggs in feces. Methods Feces from 50 cats with unknown infection status from a location endemic for P fastosum were analyzed. The methods used included double centrifugation with Sheather’s sugar flotation solution (specific gravity 1.28); the Mini-Parasep (Apacor) flotation kit with ZnSO4 (specific gravity 1.20); and the Mini-Parasep sedimentation kit with Triton X/ethyl acetate solution. Results Thirty-four cats were identified as positive for P fastosum. Of these cats, 33 were identified with the double centrifugation method, 16 with the Mini-Parasep flotation kit and 11 with the Mini-Parasep sedimentation kit. Using the total number of samples identified as positive by at least one method as the true positive, the sensitivity of the methods was 97.1% for double centrifugation, 47.1% for the Mini-Parasep flotation kit and 32.4% for the Mini-Parasep sedimentation kit. Other parasite eggs (eg, Ancylostoma tubaeforme, Trichuris species and Toxocara cati) also were detected more frequently with the double centrifugation method. Conclusions and relevance Of the three methods tested, double centrifugation with Sheather’s sugar flotation solution was the most effective in identifying cats with P fastosum and other helminth eggs in their feces. The lower specific gravity of the flotation solution in the Mini-Parasep flotation kit likely influenced the results. A primary drawback of the Mini-Parasep sedimentation kit was the amount of sediment. While more sediment was examined than recommended in the manufacturer’s instructions, this was still only a small portion of the total sediment. In addition, reading the slides took longer than with the other methods.

Evaluation of Parasite Egg and Cyst Recovery Using Devices Designed for Centrifugal or Stationary Flotation

ABSTRACT Two new devices (OT, ST), were recently introduced for the recovery of parasite eggs and cysts for microscopic examination. These devices, two stationary flotation devices, and a standard double-centrifugal sugar-flotation were compared using common flotation solutions and methods recommended by the manufacturers for the recovery of hookworm, ascaridoid, and whipworm eggs from companion animal fecal samples. Additionally, the recovery of Giardia cysts in the OT device using a zinc sulfate versus sodium nitrate solution was evaluated. Double-centrifugal sugar-flotation (1.30 specific gravity) was the most sensitive method for the recovery of the nematode eggs from feces of companion animals. Overall, centrifugation increased the recovery of eggs as compared with standing flotation methods, with the ST performing equivalently to the OT. Although these more recently introduced tests have good sensitivities for the nematodes tested, egg recovery was routinely markedly less than that achieved by standard double-centrifugal sugar-flotation, and false-negatives did occur. Still, the OT and ST generally have increased recoveries over the two standing flotation devices, and are significantly better than these for the recovery of ascaridoid and whipworm eggs from dog and cat samples. Zinc sulfate (1.18 specific gravity) is recommended for the recovery of Giardia cysts when using the OT device.

Parasites with zoonotic potencial in dog feces found in public places in the city of Barueri, SP, Brazil

Dogs are responsible for many zoonosis. This paper presents some zoonosis transmitted by fecal parasites. Twenty fecal pools were collected from four different sites (five pools per site) between June and August 2015. Soon after retrieval, samples were sent to the laboratory for parasite research by the modified Wisconsin sugar flotation method. 85% of the analyzed samples contained eggs of parasites. The most frequent were eggs of Ancylostoma sp (100% of samples), followed by Toxocara canis and Giardia sp (17.6) and Trichuris vulpis and taenids (5.9%). These results indicate the need for parasitic control of dogs in the region in order to reduce environmental contamination and the risk of zoonosis.

Isolation by sugar flotation has no direct effect on the hatching success of zooplankton resting eggs

<p>Zooplankton in temporary waters produces resting stages to survive recurrent dry periods. Branchiopod crustaceans (i.e., cladocerans, large branchiopods) overcome these periods in the form of resting eggs buried in the sediment. Examining the diversity in the resting egg banks allows for a more accurate estimation of biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems than looking only at the active communities. The isolation of resting eggs from the sediment may be achieved by the sugar flotation method, which usually results in higher density and diversity than untreated samples (i.e., incubated in the sediment). We tested the effect of sugar isolation and centrifugation on the hatching success of resting eggs already isolated from sediment in order to reveal any direct effects on hatching success. We used four different branchiopod species, <em>Daphnia magna</em>, <em>Moina brachiata</em>, <em>Branchinecta orientalis</em>, and <em>Triops cancriformis</em>. Although we hypothesised that osmotic stress caused by sugar and centrifuging influence the hatching success either positively (e.g., faster activation as a response to osmotic changes) or negatively (destroyed by centrifugation), we found no significant difference either in the timing or rate of hatching between centrifuged and non-centrifuged eggs. Once the eggs are exposed to light and/or oxygen availability by being removed from the sediment, the centrifugation process does not have any additional effect on their hatching. Regardless of treatment, we found a significant difference in the hatching timing in the two major groups, with large branchiopods hatching earlier than cladocerans. We found that the sugar flotation method itself does not influence the hatching fraction of branchiopod resting eggs (implying no adverse effect on their viability) and its success in enhancing hatching can be attributed to its efficiency in removing eggs from the sediment.</p>

Prevalence and Genotyping ofCryptosporidiumInfection in Pet Parrots in North China

Cryptosporidiosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused byCryptosporidiumspp., sometimes leading to severe diarrhea in humans and animals. In the present study, 311 parrots, belonging to four species, namely, Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus), Lovebirds (Agapornissp.), Alexandrine parakeets (Psittacula eupatria), and Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus), from Beijing and Weifang cities, were examined forCryptosporidiumspp. infection. Blood samples of each bird were examined using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and fecal samples were examined by Sheather’s sugar flotation technique. Prevalence ofCryptosporidiuminfection were 3.22% (10/311) and 0.64% (2/311) by ELISA and Sheather’s sugar flotation technique, respectively. Seroprevalence ofCryptosporidiuminfection in different breeds varied from 0 to 15.39%. Sequencing analysis showed that both positive samples from fecal samples belonged toCryptosporidiumavian genotype V. This is the first report ofCryptosporidiumavian genotype V in Budgerigars. The results of the present study provided foundation-data for prevention and control of cryptosporidiosis in pet birds in China.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Intestinal Parasites in Cats from China

The prevalence of intestinal parasites in cats from China was largely unknown prior to this study. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of intestinal parasites in cats from central China and also identify risk factors for parasitism. Fecal samples from 360 cats were examined using sugar flotation procedure and fecal smear test by microscope. Cats had mixed two or three kinds of parasites infections. Of the 360 cats feces, intestinal parasites positive feces were 149 (41.39%). 64 (17.78%) were infected withToxocara cati, 61 (16.94%) withIsospora felis, 41 (11.39%) withIsospora rivolta, 33 (9.17%) withParagonimus, 23 (6.39%) with hookworms, 11 (3.06%) withToxoplasma-like oocysts, 10 (2.78%) withTrichuris, 4 (1.11%) with lungworm, 2 (0.56%) withSarcocystis, and 1 (0.28%) withTrematode. The cats’ living outdoor was identified as risk factor by statistical analysis. These results provide relevant basic data for assessing the infection of intestinal parasites in cats from central region of China. In conclusion, there was high prevalence of intestinal parasites in cats from China.