Nematoda of the gastrointestinal system of Gavia stellata and Gavia arctica (Gaviidae)

Four species of Nematoda: Capillaria mergi, Contracaecum rudolphii, Paracuaria tridentata, Stegophorus stellaepolaris were detected for the first time in Poland in two red-throated divers (G. stellata). Species P. tridentata and S. stellaepolaris appeared to be new for the Polish fauna. In turn black-throated diver (G. arctica) is a new host to C. mergi.     

Taxonomic, topical and quantitative structure of the community of intestinal flukes (Digenea) of mallards, Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 from the area of Szczecin

Taxonomic, topical and quantitative structure of the community of intestinal flukes (Digenea) of mallards, Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 from the area of Szczecin. A total of 55 mallards (Anas platyrhynchos L.) from the area of Szczecin were examined for the presence of intestinal flukes (Digenea). This study covered the taxonomic structure (specific composition and taxonomic affiliation of the parasites), topical structure (parasites' distribution within the host's organism), and quantitative structure (infection intensity, abundance, prevalence, and infection index "Z"). Flukes were found in 69.1% of the birds studied. The highest intensity of infection and prevalence exhibited species of the family Echinostomatidae (Echinostoma revolutum, Echinostoma miyagawai, Echinostoma sp., Echinoparyphium recurvatum) and Notocotylus attenuatus of the family Notocotylidae. The mallards surveyed hosted 15 species of flukes, representing 6 families. Echinostoma miyagawai Ishii, 1932 has been found for the first time in Poland. The present findings of Psilotrema similium and Prosthogonimus ovatus in mallard constitute new host records for these parasites.     

First record of species Dicranotaenia synsacculata Macko, 1988 (Cestoda, Hymenolepididae) of the goldeneye Bucephala clangula (Linneus, 1758) in Poland

During parasitological studies of 32 specimens of the goldeneye Bucephala clangula L., twenty seven cestode specimens were found. Four of them, isolated from the jejunum of two young female hosts, were determinated as Dicranotaenia synsacculata Macko, 1988. We based on the shape of cirrus fused with sacculus accessorius internus, shape and size of scolex and other organs. This is the first record of this species in Poland.     

Ticks attacking domestic dogs in the area of the Rymanów district, Subcarpathian province, Poland

Domestic dogs in Poland are attacked by five species of ticks. The present study shows results of research on species of ticks, their intensity and prevalence of infection in the domestic dogs in the district of Rymanów (Subcarpathian province, Poland). Local research was conducted from 25 August 2005 to 27 October 2006 on 82 randomly selected dogs in the veterinarian centre in Rymanów. Collected ticks were put into tubes with 70% ethyl alcohol. Collected and full up ticks were examined straight after being taken out of the preserving liquid. Stereoscopic microscope for species identification was used. The study revealed that domestic dogs in the Rymanów district are hosts for two species of ticks from the Ixodidae family: Ixodes (Ixodes) ricinus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Ixodes (Pholeoixodes) hexagonus Leach, 1815. Only one dog was infected with both tick species simultaneously. The dogs were attacked mainly by females. Ticks usually attached to such places as the neck, ear conches or groin. In general, the prevalence of ticks infestation on domestic dogs was 48.78%; I. ricinus prevalence was 47.56%, whereas I. hexagonus--2.43%. On the basis of obtained results it can be claimed that I. ricinus is more prevalent in the Rymanów district than I. hexagonus, therefore the domestic dogs are more frequently attacked by this species of ticks.     

Morphology of tick tarsus (Acari: Ixodida)--modifications connected with life cycle, behaviour, and habitat

Ticks are ectoparasites of wide variety of vertebrates living in various types of environment all over the world. Morphological, biological, and physiological differences among tick species as well as among tick life stages are the result of tick adaptations to various life conditions. This paper presents morphological adaptations of tick tarsus to the hosts and the life conditions. The authors underline morphological differences of Haller's organ and pretarsus in four tick species: Argas reflexus (Fabricius, 1794), A. persicus (Oken, 1818), Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius, 1794), and Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus, 1758).     

Actitis hypoleucos (L., 1758)--new Polish host of the trematodes: Plagiorchis nanus (Rudolphi, 1802) and Leucochloridium perturbatum Pojmańska, 1969

In July-August of 2005-2008, 47 digenean trematodes were examined from 7 specimens of the common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos (L., 1758). The digeneans were collected during a study on the food composition of the common sandpiper. The research was conducted near Lisewo Malborskie (near Tczew, Zu?awy Wi?lane, Gdańsk sea-coast), at a resting site on the birds' migration route. The foods ingested were extracted from live birds by draining their alimentary tracts with a nasogastric tube. Two digenean species were identified: Plagiorchis nanus Rudolphi, 1802 (Plagiorchiidae) and Leucochloridium perturbatum Pojmańska, 1969 (Leucochloridiidae). Actitis hypoleucos is the host for these new records in Poland. The P. nanus individuals isolated from A. hypoleucos differed in terms of the visible uterus and the extent of the vitellaria in the posterior part of the body.     

Parasitic nematodes of anseriform birds in Hokkaido, Japan

Summary  Parasitic nematodes of 176 individuals of 15 bird species belonging to the order Anseriformes from Hokkaido, Japan were investigated. A total of 12 nematode species were obtained, namely Amidostomum anseris, A. acutum, Epomidiostomum crami, E. uncinatum, Tetrameres fissispina, Eucoleus contortus, Capillaria anatis, Baruscapillaria mergi, Contracaecum rudolphii, Echinuria uncinata, Streptocara crassicauda and Sarconema eurycerca. Among these, E. uncinatum (hosts: Anas platyrhynchos, A. poecilorhyncha, A. acuta, Mel. nigra) and E. crami (hosts: Anser albifroms, Ans. fabalis, C. cygnus, C. columbianus) were the first geographical records in Japan. There appeared to be strict host-parasite relationships between the wild swans/geese and A. anseris/E. crami, and between wild duck species and A. acutum/E. uncinatum, respectively.     

Enteric helminths of the mallard Anas platyrhynchos L., 1758 in the north-western part of Poland

Although the mallard, Anas platyrhynchos, is the most common wild duck in Poland, as well as in the entire Palearctic, it is extremely rarely studied by comprehensive parasitological surveys. The aim of this study was to present a synthesis on the species composition of enteric helminths of the mallard in north-western Poland. The study was carried out in 1999-2006 and involved parasitic worms isolated from the alimentary tracts of 187 mallards (Anseriformes: Anatidae). Following isolation, the parasites were preserved in 70% ethylene and stained (flatworms) or viewed in transient light (nematodes and acanthocephalans). Taxonomic identity of the worms was determined using taxonomic keys and numerous original papers. The studies have revealed that the parasitic community of this host in the north-west part of Poland is relatively complex, composed of 51 species of helminths of four systematic groups: 16 digenean species, 23 tapeworms, 9 nematodes, and 3 acanthocephalans. The material also revealed five new to Polish fauna parasitic species: one trematode (Echinostoma miyagawai) and four tapeworms (Microsomacanthus baeri, M. pachycephala, Monotestilepis tadornae, and Sobolevicanthus aculeostileticus). On the other hand, for another 11 species (Prosthogonimus ovatus, Psilotrema simillimum, Australapatemon minor, Leucochloridiomorpha lutea, Psilostomum brevicolle, Echinocotyle rosseteri, Fimbriarioides sp., Retinometra giranensis, Anisakinae gen. sp., Pseudocapillaria mergi i Polymorphus magnus) the mallard was found to be a new host.     

几种鼠类人工感染日本血吸虫的实验观察

对常见的5种野鼠人工感染日本血吸虫尾蚴后,观察野鼠体内的成虫发育率、虫体大小、寄生部位、血清抗体反应及排卵等情况,以了解不同野鼠对血吸虫的易感性。实验结果,野鼠对血吸虫易感性的高低依次为板齿鼠、海南屋顶鼠、黄胸鼠、黄毛鼠、褐家鼠。不同种属的野鼠与血吸虫的关系差异较大,如作为新感染调查对象,应在原螺区内以敏感的优势鼠种为主,才能取得确切的结论。     

Taxonomic structure of Digenea in wild ducks (Anatinae) from West Pomerania

Parasitic fauna of birds connected with water environment, including digeneans, is relatively well researched in Poland. The exception, however, is West Pomerania, where those birds were not frequent objects of parasitological research until recently. The purpose of this work is to determine the taxonomic structure of the Digenea, parasitising wild ducks living in West Pomerania. The research material was 124 individuals of wild Anatinae (Anseriformes) belonging to 8 species: Anas strepera, A. crecca, A. platyrhynchos, Aythya marila, A. fuligula, Melanitta nigra, M. fusca and Mergus merganser. The ducks were obtained in the years 2001-2006 from small ponds near Szczecin, Lake Dabie, the Szczecin Lagoon and the Baltic Sea. The research showed the presence of 29 species of digeneans from 11 families: Paracoenogonimus ovatus Katsurada, 1914; Diplostomum mergi Dubois, 1932; D. parviventosum Dubois, 1932; D. phoxini (Faust, 1918); D. pusillum (Dubois, 1928); Ornithodiplostomum scardinii (Shulman in Dubinin, 1952); Echinochasmus spinulosus (Rudolphi, 1808); Echinoparyphium cinctum (Rudolphi, 1802); E. recurvatum (Linstow, 1873); Echinostoma miyagawai Ischii, 1932; E. revolutum (Fr?hlich, 1802); Hypoderaeum conoideum (Bloch, 1782); Stephanoprora pseudoechinata (Olsson, 1876); Cryptocotyle concava (Creplin, 1825); C. lingua (Creplin, 1825); Leucochloridiomorpha lutea (von Baer, 1826); Catatropis verrucosa (Fr?hlich, 1789); Notocotylus attenuatus (Rudolphi, 1809); Paramonostomum alveatum (Mehlis, 1846); Metorchis xanthostomus (Creplin, 1846); Prosthogonimus ovatus (Rudolphi, 1803); P. rarus Braun, 1901; Psilochasmus oxyurus (Creplin, 1825); Psilostomum brevicolle (Creplin, 1829); Psilotrema simillimum (Mühling, 1898); Bilharziella polonica (Kowalewski, 1895); Apatemon gracilis (Rudolphi, 1819); Australapatemon minor (Yamaguti, 1933); Cotylurus cornutus (Rudolphi, 1808).     

中国云南洱海周边地带斯氏家鼠体表寄生虫的研究

目的 研究斯氏家鼠体表寄生虫的主要种类. 方法用U榆验和相关分析的统计方法对2003-2004 年云南洱海(中国滇西北著名的淡水湖泊) 周边88只斯氏家鼠体表寄生虫进行了调查,对斯氏家鼠的体表寄生虫群落和体表寄生虫医学和兽医学的重要性进行描述. 结果有70只斯氏家鼠寄生有体表寄生虫,侵染率为80%.采集到的体表寄生虫有54种,包括34种恙螨、15种革螨、4种蚤和1种吸虱.其中11种以前已经被证明是人类疾病的主要媒介. 结论斯氏家鼠很可能成为鼠疫、流行性出血热和恙虫病等病原体的贮存宿主.     

Prevalence of three zoonotic Babesia species in Ixodes ricinus (Linné, 1758) nymphs in a suburban forest in Switzerland

The tick Ixodes ricinus (Linné, 1758) is known as the vector of various Babesia spp. pathogenic for humans. In Switzerland, three of them, Babesia divergens, Babesia venatorum (also known as Babesia EU1), and Babesia microti, have been reported in I. ricinus ticks from various areas. The aim here was to determine how frequently these species infect I. ricinus nymphs in a suburban forest and to determine their prevalence over 3 years along a pathway delimited in four different sections. Babesia spp. was detected and identified in 44/2568 (1.7%) I. ricinus nymphs using Reverse Line Blot. B. venatorum was infecting 1.1% (27/2568) of nymphs, B. divergens 0.2% (4/2568), and B. microti 0.7% (13/1908). Tick infection rates by these three Babesia species between years were not different except for B. microti, which was significantly less frequent in ticks in 2008 than in 2006 and 2007 according to a test using trusted intervals of percentages. B. microti was displaying the greater difference of prevalence among sampling sections, ranging from 1.6% in section 1 to 0% in section 4. The presence of these three Babesia species that are of medical relevance in a suburban forest where I. ricinus tick density is high requires attention from physicians, particularly for patients presenting unspecific symptoms and for patients who are immunocompromised, and who have history of contact with tick biotopes.     

Evolution of the chalcone synthase gene family in the genus Ipomoea.

The evolution of the chalcone synthase [CHS; malonyl-CoA:4-coumaroyl-CoA malonyltransferase (cyclizing), EC 2.3.1.74] multigene family in the genus Ipomoea is explored. Thirteen CHS genes from seven Ipomoea species (family Convolvulaceae) were sequenced--three from genomic clones and the remainder from PCR amplification with primers designed from the 5' flanking region and the end of the 3' coding region of Ipomoea purpurea Roth. Analysis of the data indicates a duplication of CHS that predates the divergence of the Ipomoea species in this study. The Ipomoea CHS genes are among the most rapidly evolving of the CHS genes sequenced to date. The CHS genes in this study are most closely related to the Petunia CHS-B gene, which is also rapidly evolving and highly divergent from the rest of the Petunia CHS sequences.     

Cloacotaenia megalops (Nitzsch in Creplin, 1829) (Cestoda, Hymenolepididae) in wild ducks in Western Pomerania, Poland

Cloacotaenia megalops (Nitzsch in Creplin, 1892) is a polyxenic and cosmopolitan tapeworm from the family Hymenolepididae. Its generic name derives from their typical location (cloaca), and the typical final hosts which are birds typically associated with water and marsh environments: Anseriformes, Galliformes and Gruiformes. In Poland, the presence of C. megalops has been observed so far in 16 species of ducks from the Baltic coast, the Mazurian Lake District, Wielkopolsko-Kujawska Lowland, Mazovian Lowland, and Podlasie Lowland. In Western Pomerania, quantitative structure analyses were only carried out on Anas platyrhynchos, and therefore the aim of this study was the detailed analysis of environmental populations of C. megalops in wild ducks. The examined tapeworms were isolated from the digestive tract of 1005 wild ducks representing 17 species belonging to three different eco-tribes: Anatini (n=225), Aythyini (n=413) and Mergini (n=367), from northwestern Poland. During the Study 187 C. megalops were found in 89 birds (8.8% of examined ducks) belonging to 7 species: Anas crecca (common teal), A. querquedula (garganey), A. platyrhynchos (mallard) (Anatini); Aythyaferina (pochard), A. fuligula (tufted duck), A. marila (greater scaup) (Aythyini) and Bucephala clangula (goldeneye) (Mergini). The results show the differences in the quantitative structure of C. megalops among the examined species of ducks. The highest prevalence was found in mallard (18.6%) and the lowest in greater scaup (3.2%). The highest mean intensity was observed in greater scaup (4.0), and the lowest in garganey and common teal (1.0). Relative density was at a similar level in the tested birds. Based on the ratio of dominance, it was found that C. megalops is a rare species in the cestodofauna in the examined birds.     

Helminth communities of European eels Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Vistula Lagoon and Puck Bay, Poland

Within 2001-2002 a total of 621 eel Anguilla anguilla (L., 1758) (488 from the Vistula Lagoon and 133 from the Puck Bay) were examined. Fifteen parasite taxa were recovered: Pseudodactylogyrus anguillae (Yin et Sproston, 1948), Brachyphallus crenatus (Rudolphi, 1802), Deropristis inflata (Molin, 1859), Diplostomum spp., Bothriocephalus claviceps (Goeze, 1782), Proteocephalus macrocephalus (Creplin, 1825), Anguillicola crassus (Kuwahara, Niimi et Itagaki, 1974), Camallanus lacustris (Zoega, 1776), Cystidicola farionis Fischer, 1798, Hysterothylacium aduncum (Rudolphi, 1802), Raphidascaris acus (Bloch, 1779), Acanthocephalus anguillae (Müller, 1780), A. lucii (Müller, 1776), Echinorhynchus gadi Müller, 1776, and Pomphorhynchus laevis (Müller, 1776), representing Monogenea, Digenea, Cestoda, Nematoda, and Acanthocephala, respectively. Ten of these taxa occurred in the Vistula Lagoon, while fourteen were noted in the Puck Bay. P. anguillae, Diplostomum spp., C. lacustris, C. farionis and P. laevis were not found in the lagoon eels, while B. crenatus did not occur in the bay. Anguillicola crassus was the most frequently found parasite (Vistula Lagoon: prevalence 75%, mean intensity 6.9 specimens; Puck Bay: 74.4%, and 8.3 specimens, respectively). Pseudodactylogyrus anguillae was recorded for the first time in the Puck Bay.     

Ecological study of Ixodes ricinus (Linné, 1758) (Acarina, Ixodoides) in southeastern France]

Ixodes ricinus (LINNE, 1758) is being surveyed in the northern Alp and the Jura mountains. This species, quite often found in the mesophilous forests of the hills, preferably takes root in the forest clusters, where there is a mull type mild humus often covered with an abundant litter. Such plant layers maintain a high degree of moisture, which beneficially affects this species. Examinations performed for three years in a southern Jura's resort allow for securing a preliminary approximation as regards the seasonal population variations.     

Wound myiasis in urban and suburban United States

BACKGROUND: The epidemiologic characteristics of human myiasis in the United States remain undefined. OBJECTIVE: To describe the most common clinical conditions associated with human myiasis and the causative maggot species. METHODS: Multicenter, prospective observational study of urban and suburban patients who were infested with maggots. RESULTS: Forty-two cases of US-acquired myiasis were collected from 20 participating centers. Most infestations occurred within preexisting wounds. No cases of tissue invasion were recorded. Host age averaged 60 years, with a male-female ratio of 5.5:1. Homelessness, alcoholism, and peripheral vascular disease were frequent cofactors. Two patients (5%) were hospitalized at the time of their infestation. The most common species was Phaenicia sericata (green blowfly; family: Calliphoridae). Other blowflies, flesh flies (Sarcophagidae), and humpbacked flies (Phoridae) also were identified. In 6 cases, 2 coinfesting species were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this prospective study of myiasis differ significantly from those of our analysis of previously published reports and suggest that most cases of human myiasis are caused by noninvasive blowflies laying eggs in preexisting wounds. Five percent of infestations were nosocomially acquired and not necessarily associated with patient neglect.     

Structure and heterogeneity of the oligosaccharides from the lipopolysaccharides of a pyocin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

The compositions and partial structures of the oligosaccharides from the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of a pyocin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae (strain JW31R) have been determined by liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry (LSIMS), tandem mass spectrometry, and methylation analysis. Four major structures were identified with Mr 2123, 2000, 1961, and 1838, as well as seven species of lower abundance of Mr 1758-1272. The largest of the major oligosaccharides (Mr, 2122) consists of 3-deoxymanno-2-ketooctulosonic acid (KDO)-Hep2GalNAcGlcNAcGal4Glc2 (Hep, heptose) and phosphoethanolamine (PEA). The smaller oligosaccharides are truncated versions of this larger oligosaccharide. The oligosaccharides consist of a common triantennary structure containing KDO at the reducing terminus attached to a heptose disaccharide. A hexose (Hex)2-3 branch is attached to the heptose linked directly to KDO and a GalNAc-Hex3, GlcNAc, and PEA are separately attached to the second heptose. These oligosaccharides are the first structures to be determined for a gonococcal LPS and should further our understanding of the structural and antigenic diversity of these glycolipids.     

Complete coding sequence of rat tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA.

Several clones specific for tyrosine hydroxylase [tyrosine 3-monooxygenase, L-tyrosine, tetrahydropteridine:oxygen oxidoreductase (3-hydroxylating), EC 1.14.16.2] have been identified from a rat PC12 library by using the previously characterized clone pTH-1. The most complete of these, pTH-51, is 1758 base pairs long and covers most of the length of the mRNA, including the entire coding and 3' untranslated region. The polypeptide has an estimated molecular weight of 55,903 and some of its characteristic features are discussed.