Occurence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Echinococcus multilocularis</Emphasis> in red foxes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vulpes vulpes</Emphasis>) in southern Poland

Summary The prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis in 214 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in the southern part of Poland (Małopolskie voivodship) was evaluated post mortem in 2005. Infected foxes were found in 8 districts within 17 examined, with the prevalence from 10.0 % to 63.9 % (a mean 20.1 % in the whole study area). The highest prevalence (41.2 % and 63.9 %) was revealed in two districts, in the south and the east of the province, respectively. The high prevalence of E. multilocularis in red foxes in the region previously recognised as that of low parasite endemicity provides evidence for the need of regular screening of the current epidemiological situation in foxes as well as the monitoring of humans from risk groups for early recognition of possible AE cases.     

Occurrence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xiphinema</Emphasis> species in grapevine areas of Tyrnavos with comments on the distribution of <Emphasis Type="Italic">X. italiae</Emphasis> in Greece

Summary A survey for presence of Xiphinema species was undertaken in the viticulture areas of Tyrnavos, Thessally, Greece. Soil samples were collected from existing vineyards and from fields where grapevines had been uprooted and were currently under fallow or a cereal crop. The species X. index, X. italiae and X. pachtaicum were present in 37% of the samples with a prevalence of the last two species in uprooted fields. The occurrence of X. italiae in association with light sandy soils is discussed and compared with similar findings from other Greek grapevine areas.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Echinococcus multilocularis</Emphasis> is a frequent parasite of red foxes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vulpes vulpes</Emphasis>) in Latvia

Summary  45 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from various regions of Latvia were examined by necropsy between 2003 and 2008 for the presence and infection intensity of Echinococcus multilocularis. The overall prevalence was 35.6 %, with the intensity of infection ranging from 1 to 1438. Although a limited number of foxes were examined, the prevalence was high and infected animals were found throughout the country. Considering the increasing number of humans infected with echinococcosis in Latvia since 2002, the situation is highly suggestive of a recent emergence of E. multilocularis. DNA sequences of four fox isolates were examined by multilocus analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear genes (cox1, nad1, rrnS, atp6, actII). All isolates were allocated to the predominant genetic form in Europe, with partial affinity of one isolate to a genotype that had previously been reported from southern Germany.     

Study of the 49 kDa excretory-secretory protein gene of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichinella nativa</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichinella spiralis</Emphasis>

Summary To study the function of the 49 kDa excretory-secretory (ES) protein gene (P49) of Trichinella, the genes was amplified by RT-PCR from RNA of Trichinella spiralis and Trichinella nativa and several Chinese Trichinella isolates of domestic animals, and sequenced after being cloned. The amplified products of these parasites produced bands of about 950 bp. The 97.2 % to 100 % nucleotides identity and 94.3 % to 100 % identity of deduced amino acids among P49 gene of these Trichinella strains showed the close relationship of these parasites. The P49 gene of T. nativa was cloned into the BamHI site of the prokaryotic expression vector pET-30a, and the recombinant vector was expressed. The expressed product was 40.8 kDa in size. In Western blot analysis, the expressed product was reactive to sera of mice infected with T. nativa, T. spiralis and their Chinese geographical strains.     

Occurrence of the root-knot nematode <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meloidogyne arenaria</Emphasis> on balm and in a mixed population with <Emphasis Type="Italic">M. javanica</Emphasis> on grapevine in Greece

Summary The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne arenaria was found in Greece infecting balm (Melissa officinalis L.) and grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.). The isolate from balm was M. arenaria while the one from grapevine was a mixture of M. arenaria and M. javanica (prevalent species). This is the first report of the M. arenaria species in the country in which identification was based on biochemical methods and its occurrence on balm is a new host record.     

Note on morphology of two nematode species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ascaridia hermaphrodita</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ascaridia platyceri</Emphasis> (Nematoda): scanning electron microscope study

Summary  Morphological features of adult specimens of Ascaridia hermaphrodita and A. platyceri (Nematoda: Ascaridida), parasitizing parrots (Psittaciformes), were studied for the first time using scanning electron microscopy. The morphology of A. hermaphrodita, the type species of Ascaridia, coincides fully with the generic diagnosis. The shape of the labial inner structure (two spoon-like projections), cervical alae and spicule with cuticular wings were typical for this species. A. hermaphrodita has been found in the Czech Republic for the first time in a new host, Amazona pretrei, from Brazil. The morphology of Ascaridia platyceri does not correspond with the generic diagnosis in all aspects, as some variation was found, mainly in the presence of interlabia, small teeth in the inner ribbon of the lips and long lateral alae. These morphological characteristics in other species of Ascaridia are discussed. The generic diagnosis is to include the statement “interlabia very rarely present”.     

Effects of land use history and inoculation with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium oxysporum</Emphasis> f. sp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">cucumberinum</Emphasis> Owen on soil nematodes communities

Summary  A pot culture experiment was carried out to study the effects of land use history and inoculation with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumberinum Owen (Foc) on soil nematodes communities during the cucumber growing season in 2007. The results showed that land use history and inoculation had significant effects on the abundance and diversity of soil nematodes. Bacterivores were found to be the most dominant group in this study. Irrespective of inoculation, numbers of fungivores, plant-parasites and values of trophic diversity index (TD) and plant-parasites index (PPI) were greater in greenhouse soils (GH) than in open field vegetable soils (OF) during the growth period of cucumber. While, the number of omnivores-predators and values of richness (SR) and maturity index (MI) presented an opposite trend. Foc inoculation had noticeable effects on numbers of plant-parasites and some taxa, such as Helicotylenchus, Epidorlaimus at flowering stage and Aphelenchus, Tobrilus at fruiting stage. Besides, inoculation significantly affected values of PPI at flowering stage and TD at fruiting stage, respectively. The faunal analysis showed that soil food web in GH was highly disturbed and in OF was degraded.     

Detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Echinococcus granulosus</Emphasis> coproantigens in dogs from Antakya Province,Turkey

Summary  Seventy-nine owned dogs (47 males and 32 females) from Antakya province were examined for E. granulosus by coproantigen ELISA (CHEKIT?-ECHINOTEST) between April to July in 2006. The estimated prevalence of E. granulosus infection was 8.86 % (7/79). Mean age of the dogs with E. granulosus was 2.3 years ranging from one to five years. There was no statistically significant difference regarding the prevalence between male and female dogs. A significant difference was detected between unrestrained (or free roaming) and indoor or chained dogs (p < 0.05). Although the prevalence of the E. granulosus infection in owned dogs in Antakya province is low, the incidence was quite high in the unrestrained and undewormed dogs. Therefore a preventive control programme in the dogs should be initiated in this region.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori</Emphasis> duodenal ulcer promoting gene, <Emphasis Type="Italic">dupA</Emphasis>in China

Background  

The prevalence of H. pylori is as high as 60–70% in Chinese population. Although duodenal ulcer and gastric cancer are both caused by H. pylori, they are at opposite ends of the spectrum and as such are considered mutually exclusive. Duodenal ulcer promoting (dupA) gene was reported to be associated with duodenal ulcer development. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dupA gene of Helicobacter pylori in patients with various gastroduodenal diseases and to explore the association between the gene and other virulence factors.     

Temporal dynamics of soil nematode community structure under invasive <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ambrosia trifida</Emphasis> and native <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chenopodium serotinum</Emphasis>

Summary Temporal dynamics of soil nematode community structure at the depth of 0 — 30 cm was compared under invasive Ambrosia trifida and native Chenopodium serotinum in an abandoned cropland in Northeast China. The results showed the difference of nematode taxa and dominant genera under A. trifida and C. serotinum during the study period. Acrobeloides and Paratylenchus were found to be dominant genera under both A. trifida and C. serotinum. Helicotylenchus prevailed in soil with C. serotinum, while Macroposthonia was dominant in soil with A. trifida. Nematode taxa was higher under A. trifida than under C. serotinum from June to September. Except in the July, significantly higher numbers of plant-parasites were observed under A. trifida than under C. serotinum during the study period (P < 0.05). Nematode taxa, Simpson index and structure index were found to be sensitive indicators that detected nematode community structural differences under A. trifida and C. serotinum during the study period.     

Gastrointestinal helminths found in the three freshwater turtles (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Erymnochelys madagascariensis,Pelomedusa subrufa</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pelusios castanoides</Emphasis>) from Ankarafantsika National Park,Madagascar

Summary We conducted a survey of the presence, prevalence and diversity of gastrointestinal helminths in faecal samples and stomach contents of three turtle species, — Erymnochelys madagascariensis (Chelonia: Podocnemididae), Pelomedusa subrufa and Pelusios castanoides (Chelonia: Pelomedusidae), — from several localities in Madagascar. Four nematode species were detected: Atractis chabaudi, Camallanus chelonius, Falcaustra pelusios, and Spiroxys sp. E. madagascariensis, with all four species, had the greatest helminth diversity. A. chabaudi was the community’s core species, whereas Spiroxys sp. was a satellite species. Only two species (A. chabaudi and Spiroxys sp.) were found in P. subrufa and only one, Spiroxys sp., in P. castanoides. These are the first helminthological data on E. madagascariensis, one of the most threatened freshwater turtles in the world.     

The first record of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dracunculus mulbus</Emphasis> (Nematoda: Dracunculidae) in the Papuan olive python <Emphasis Type="Italic">Apodora papuana</Emphasis> (Ophidia: Boidae)

Summary A male specimen of Dracunculus (Nematoda: Dracunculidae), collected in 1973 from the lung of the Papuan olive python Apodora papuana (Peters et Doria) and now deposited in the helminthological collection of the Natural History Museum in London, is identified as Dracunculus mulbus Jones et Mulder, 2007, a species recently described from the water python Liasis fuscus Peters in northern Australia. Apodora papuana is a new host record for D. mulbus and Papua New Guinea is apparently a new geographical record.     

Metacercariae of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Centrocestus formosanus</Emphasis> in goldfish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Carassius auratus</Emphasis> L.) imported into Croatia

Summary The presence of metacercariae of Centrocestus formosanus was detected on the gills of goldfish (Carassius auratus L.) imported from Singapore and obtained from two pet shops. This is the first report of the parasite in Croatia. The histopathological changes observed lead to the conclusion that the infection could be one of the reasons for the death of goldfish.     

The first record of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spirocerca lupi</Emphasis> (Rudolphi, 1809) (Spirocercidae,Nematoda) from Poland based on faecal analysis of wolf (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Canis lupus</Emphasis> L.)

Summary During studies on the helminth fauna of wolves inhabiting natural ecosystems of Poland, 86 scats were examined. All the samples were collected in the autumn of 2005. Spirocerca lupi was detected with decantation and flotation techniques. The prevalence was 2.32 %. This is the first record of the parasite from Poland and the third case of its occurrence in the wolf (Canis lupus L.) within its distribution range.     

A new nematode, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pongobius hugoti</Emphasis> gen. et sp. n. from the orangutan <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pongo abelii</Emphasis> (Primates: Hominidae)

Summary Light and scanning electron microscopical examination and molecular analysis of pinworm samples collected from the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) from Sumatra (Indonesia) revealed the presence of a new taxon, Pongobius hugoti gen. et sp. n. (Oxyuridae: Enterobiinae). The monotypic genus Pongobius is characterised by the presence of a triangular mouth, three rounded teeth and three chisel-like inner teeth in the buccal cavity, an oesophagus with a long pharyngeal part, corpus posteriorly slightly enlarged and continuing as a pyriform bulb, isthmus absent. These features differentiate P. hugoti from all members of the subfamily Enterobiinae. The male has a long caudal appendix (> 50% of total tail length). Molecular analysis of the new taxon is presented for more precise identification.     

Association of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lewis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Secretor</Emphasis> gene polymorphisms and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori</Emphasis> seropositivity among Japanese-Brazilians

Background Secretor (Se) and Lewis (Le) genes are involved in the synthesis of Lewis b (Le^b) and type I antigens throughout the body, especially in the epithelial cells of gastric mucosa. Helicobacter pylori can attach to the gastric epithelial cells with the blood group antigen-binding adhesin, which binds to Le^b or H type I carbohydrate structures. In a previous study, a marked association between H. pylori seropositivity and polymorphism of the Se and Le genes was observed among Japanese outpatients of a gastroenterology clinic. The present work aims to investigate the associations between Se and Le gene polymorphisms and H. pylori infection among Japanese-Brazilians.Methods The subjects consisted of 942 healthy volunteer Japanese-Brazilians, who were tested for the presence of anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies and genotyped for Se and Le polymorphisms.Results The sex-age-adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for H. pylori seropositivity were 0.99 for the Sese genotype relative to the SeSe genotype (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.73–1.33), and 1.03 for sese relative to SeSe (95% CI, 0.71–1.48). On the other hand, the aOR for the subjects with the le allele (Lele or lele) relative to the LeLe genotype was 1.48 (95% CI, 1.07–1.79). When the Se and Le genotypes were analyzed in combination according to risk group, no statistically significant association was observed.Conclusions These results are inconsistent with previous work and may have been modulated by an external factor or some other unidentified factor. Japanese-Brazilians are genotypically the same as Japanese, but their lifestyle is adapted to that of Brazil. Further investigations are necessary to clarify this influence on susceptibility to H. pylori infection.     

Occurence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pomphorhynchus laevis</Emphasis> (Acanthocephala) in the Marsh Frog (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rana ridibunda</Emphasis> Pallas, 1771), from Turkey

Summary   Pomphorhynchus laevis (Müller, 1776) was recovered from Marsh frogs (Rana ridibunda), collected in three localities, Yesilirmak River (Amasya Province), Civril Isikli Lake and Bagbasi district (Denizli Province) from Turkey. This is the first report of Pomphorhynchus laevis from a frog in Turkey.