Volume 50 (2013): Issue 4 (December 2013)

Ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) structure was studied in monozoic tapeworms Caryophyllaeus laticeps (Pallas, 1781) from freshwater bream Abramis brama (L.) and white-eyed bream Ballerus sapa (Pallas) and Caryophyllaeus brachycollis Janiszewska, 1951 from A. brama and Mediterranean barbel Barbus meridionalis (Risso). Homologous intragenomic ITS2 structure (474 bp) was determined for C. brachycollis from both fish hosts and for C. laticeps from A. brama (486 bp). Contrary to this, divergent intragenomic ITS2 copies (ITS2 paralogues) were detected in C. laticeps from B. sapa. They were mostly induced by different numbers of short repetitive motif (TA)n within the sequences, allowing their assortment into two ITS2 variants (457 and 467 bp). Current data represent first information on ITS2 structure/ITS paralogues in the caryophyllidean family Caryophyllaeidae with focus on their applicability in the molecular taxonomy of the genus Caryophyllaeus.

The nematodes of genus Baylisascaris are common intestinal roundworms of carnivores such as raccoons, skunks, badgers, martens and bears. This report describes Baylisascaris sp. infection in a pet kinkajou Potos flavus imported into Japan from Guyana. Nematode eggs were detected in feces of the juvenile kinkajou in 2011 during a routine veterinary examination. A sequence analysis of the ITS2 nuclear target clustered the examined isolate with B. procyonis and B. columnaris, with 7.8 — 8.8 % base differences from these taxa. Eleven tandem G-A repeats identified in the polymorphic repetitive region further differentiate the kinkajou’s roundworm from recognized Baylisascaris species. This classified the studied isolate as referring to Baylisascaris sp., with its precise species delineation remaining to be determined. Given that the Baylisascaris sp. from the kinkajou is genetically closely affiliated with B. procyonis having a serious disease-producing capacity, the report appeals for precautions in informing people to avoid transmission risk.

The study was focused on a role of lymphocytes and macrophages in the immune response of mice to Trichinella spiralis infection with low (10) and high (400) infective doses of larvae. The light infection stimulated the proliferation of splenic T lymphocytes only during the intestinal phase of the infection, till day 15 post infection (p.i.), but the heavy infection activated T cells during the migration of newborn larvae (from day 20 to 30 p.i.). B cell proliferation was markedly stimulated after the heavy infection. The light infection increased the presence of helper CD4 cells till day 10 p.i. in contrast to the heavy infection, but subpopulation of CD8 T cells was not influenced by a different size of infective dose. Cytokine production of IL-5 and IFN-γ was not markedly affected by the light infection in contrast to the heavy infection that stimulated IL-5 synthesis during the whole experiment and IFN-Γ during the migration of newborn larvae. The light infection stimulated a metabolic activity of peritoneal macrophages already in the intestinal phase, but the heavy infection affected their activity only in the muscle phase of the infection.

Serratospiculiasis is a parasitic disease caused by filariid nematodes of the genus Serratospiculum, the subfamily Dicheilonematinae. Serratospiculum spp. parasitizes the air sacs and members of this genus have been found in various species of Falcons, Bald Eagles and Cooper’s Hawk from all around the world. In the present study, infection with Serratospiculum was confirmed for the first time in the Great Tit in Slovakia. Nematode infestation was identified post mortem. Lesions in the respiratory system (airsacculitis, pneumonia) were associated with the presence of this nematode. Smears of the necrotic lesions in the crop and oesophagus contained the large numbers of embryonated eggs. Faecal samples were examined by flotation method and Serratospiculum eggs were found. Adult parasites were cleared in lactophenol solution and morphological analysis of male reproductive organs (shape of male nematode spicules) indicated the species Serratospiculum amaculata. Scattered inflammatory cells were seen in the mucosal and submucosal layers of infected oesophagus and inflammatory foci were found mainly in the stroma of the air sacs.

The presence of the filariid nematode in the nonspecific species Great Tit (Parus major) common in Slovakia indicates the importance of monitoring of serratospiculiasis in the avian hosts. The parasite can cause serious health problems, even sudden death of their hosts, therefore suitable effective measures for their elimination should be implemented.

The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of toxocariasis in Bratislava and smaller towns in western Slovakia. During 2006–2011, sand samples collected from 121 sandpits were investigated: 63 sandpits were from Bratislava City and 58 from sandpits in towns outside Bratislava (Malacky, Pezinok Stupava). In Bratislava, 27% of examined sandpits were contaminated with Toxocara spp. eggs. In smaller towns eggs of Toxocara spp. were found from three sandpits (6.8 %) of Pezinok and Stupava only. In Malacky, no faeces and no eggs were found in any sandpits. Faecal samples of 1436 dogs and 263 cats were investigated. T. canis eggs were found in the faeces of 16.5 % dogs and T. cati in 18.6 % of examined cats. Toxocariasis of dogs was significantly higher in smaller towns such as the city Bratislava (χ2 = 10.88 for P ≤ 0.001). The difference in prevalence of T. cati in cats bred in Bratislava and outside Bratislava was not confirmed (P ≤ 0.05). 382 pregnant women were examined by ELISA. Anti-Toxocara antibodies were detected in 32 women (8.4 %). The difference in seroprevalence of women coming from Bratislava (6.6 %) and smaller towns outside Bratislava (11.0 %) was not statistically significant (χ2 = 1.6; P ≤ 0.05).

The mugilids are among the most cosmopolitan teleost fishes and they are widely distributed in fresh, brackish and coastal marine waters of the tropical and temperate regions of the world. Liza aurata is one of eight mugilid species survive in Turkish waters. Parasite fauna of the golden grey mullet Liza aurata (Risso, 1810) collected from Lower Kızılırmak Delta in Samsun, Turkey were investigated in the present study. Standard parasitological investigation methods were applied and standard indices of infection were calculated. A total of 10 parasite species were identified and they are; Trichodina puytoraci, Trichodina lepsii, Ligophorus mediterraneus, Ligophorus cephali, Microcotyle mugilis, Ascocotyle (Phagicola) longa, Haplosplanchnus pachysomus, Tylodelphys clavata, Neoechinorhyncus agilis and Ergasilus lizae. Overall infection prevalence was 100 % and both the mean intensity and abundance values were 190.09 ± 43.15 parasites per infected/examined fish. Ligophorus-group parasites were the most abundant (97.83 %) and Tylodelphys clavata was the least (4.35 %) among all parasite species identified. Water temperature (C), dissolved oxygen (mg/lt), salinity (ppt) and nitrate (mg/lt) values were also presented. According to results obtained in the present study, Ligophorus cephali, Ligophorus mediterraneus, Thylodelphys clavata and Ascocotyle (Phagicola) longa are new parasite records for L. aurata and Ligophorus mediterraneus, Ligophorus cephali and Ergasilus lizae are the new parasite records for Turkish parasite fauna of fish in Turkey.

Four specimens of Skrjabinus skrjabini, were isolated from two out of 93 red-backed shrikes (Lanius collurio) examined during 1962–2012. The species have been re-described and the generic diagnosis amended. Eight species of the genus have been validated: S. aenigma, S. indicus, S. latus, S. pancreaticus, S. rarus, S. skrjabini, S. similis, and S. sp. of Oshmarin (1970). Others have been reclassified as Platynosomum (P. dicruri, P. gracile, and P. talischense with synonyms P. butei and S. sp. of Oshmarin (1963)) and Zonorchis (Z. francolini, and Z. petiolatus with synonyms S. biliosus, S. gvozdevi, S. popovi). Skrjabinus petrovi is a synonym of Brachydistomum ventricosum. Lubens lubens determited by Bhuta & Khan (1975) is a synonym of S. aenigma.

The effect of heavy metals and pesticides on viability of miracidia stage of Fasciola hepatica was investigated. The experimental groups with chemicals were compared with the untreated control group. After 16 days of exposure, the groups contained Cr, Zn, CdZn, exhibited decreased motility of miracidia inside the egg shells. In the groups which contain AGCr, GCdZn, CdCrZn and AGCdCrZn no effect on movement of emerged miracidia were observed. In the rest of the groups immobile or dead miracidia inside the egg shells have been identified. The possible protective effect of zinc on miracidia of Fasciola hepatica is discussed.

Twenty-one specimens of pike-perch (Sander lucioperca) were caught in the Danube-Tisa-Danube Canal in the city area of Novi Sad for parasitological examination. The presence of nematodes in the muscles was revealed in three fish. The parasites were identified to belong to the species Eustrongylides excisus, for which the pike-perch is a paratenic host. This finding represents the first determination of the larvae in the pike-perch in Serbia. The pike-perch is infected by ingestion of benthos- or plankton-eating fishes, the second intermediate hosts harbouring the fourth-stage nematode larvae. E. excisus is pathogenic to humans, who may be infected by consuming raw or undercooked fish.