<abstract><title style='display:none'>Summary</title> Three acanthocephalan parasites, namely Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) quinghaiensis, Rhadinorhynchus ganapatti, and Bolbosoma sp. are reported for the first time from Philippine fishes. N. (N.) quinghaiensis (Neoechinorhynchidae) may have been introduced into the country through the importation of carp species from China, where this parasite was first described and is presumed to be naturally occurring. The adult worms of R. ganapatti and the isolated cystacanth of Bolbosoma sp. represent the first record of parasites from both the family Rhadinorhynchidae and Polymorphidae in Philippine waters, respectively. These three new records encompass a third of all listed acanthocephalan parasites that have been reported in Philippine fish species to date, highlighting the need for more biodiversity-focused parasitology research, in light of potentially numerous more undocumented parasite species.</abstract>

Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Santo Tomas, Manila 1015, Philippines

Department of Ecosystem Studies, School of Environmental Science, The University of Shiga Prefecture, Hassaka-cho, Hikone 522-8533, Japan

Research Note. The first report of three acanthocephalan parasite species isolated from Philippine fishes

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Summary</title>The present note describes the occurrence of <italic>Rhytidodoides intestinalis</italic> and <italic>Rhytidodoides similis</italic> (Digenea: Rhytidodidae) in the gallbladder of two juvenile green turtles (<italic>Chelonia mydas</italic> - Testu- dines, Cheloniidae) found on the coast of Brazil. Both were detected in gallbladder and intestine of green turtles: <italic>Rhytidodoides similis</italic> (United States, Panama, Costa Rica and Brazil) and <italic>R. intestinais</italic> (United States, Panama and Costa Rica). This note is the first report of <italic>R. intestinalis</italic> in Brazil and South-West Atlantic Ocean. Also the histological lesions caused by the parasites in one gallbladder are described.</abstract>

The genus <italic>Rhytidodoides</italic> Price, 1939 (Digenea: Rhytidodidae) in Brazil: New geographic occurrence and report of pathology in the gallbladder

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Helminth infections caused by Enterobius vermicularis have a cosmopolitan character and most often affect the paediatric pre-school and school age population. The presented study was conducted to determine the prevalence of E. vermicularis in the analyzed population of children in the Eastern Slovakia. The Graham’s scotch tape method was used to investigate the presence of Enterobius vermicularis eggs in 390 specimens. The analyzed set consisted of 218 girls and 172 boys, divided by age into three groups - aged from 5 months to 2 years, aged from 3 to 6 years, and aged from 7 to 15 years. Investigation of perianal scotch tapes of children for the presence of E. vermicularis eggs revealed the prevalence of E. vermicularis was P = 3.59 %. Depending on the incidence of E. vermicularis infection, we detected no statistically signifi cant difference (p&gt; 0.05). The prevalence of E. vermicularis in boys was P = 4.07 %, and in girls P = 3.21 %. The highest prevalence of E. vermicularis was recorded in the group of children aged from 3 to 6 years (P = 5.03 %). Most of the samples were positive at age 4 and 5. The lowest prevalence was in the group of children aged from 5 months to 2 years (P = 0.97 %), and the prevalence of E. vermicularis in the group of children aged from 7 to 15 was P = 3.91 %. The difference in the incidence of E. vermicularis infection among different age groups of children was not statistically significant (p&gt; 0.05). Enterobius vermicularis nematode infection and enterobiasis currently represents a major public health problem in Slovakia. At the present its occurrence is the most frequent in the paediatric population. Therefore it is important to introduce a targeted hygienic-epidemiological measure in children’s collectives, what also should include proper and effective diagnostics and frequent recurrent therapy.</abstract>

The incidence of pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis) in pre-school and school aged children in the Eastern Slovakia

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Summary</title>Schoolchildren in primary schools are mostly at risk of acquiring soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) infections due to their habits (geophagy, onychophagy and playing with barefoot). Profiling soil parasites on school playgrounds is expected to provide an insight to an array of parasites schoolchildren are constantly at risk of acquiring; and this information could guide on intervention programmes. Soil samples from sixteen primary school playgrounds in Edo State (South-South, Nigeria) were collected over a six-month period both in the dry (January, February and March) and wet (May, June and July) seasons in 2018 and early 2019. Samples were processed and analysed following standard parasitological procedures. Of the 576 soil samples collected, 318(55.2 %) were positive with one or more soil parasites. Generally, the predominant parasites recovered from the total number of soil samples collected were: <italic>Ascaris</italic> 127(22 %), <italic>Strongyloides</italic> 111(19.27 %) and hookworm 50(8.68 %). <italic>Ascaris</italic> was most preponderant in the dry season, while <italic>Strongyloides</italic> was the most occurring in the wet season. The mean differences in the parasite load for <italic>Ascaris</italic> and hookworm between dry and wet seasons were not significant; while for <italic>Strongyloides</italic> it was higher in the wet than dry season. These results could be a consequence of observed poor state of toilet/sanitary facilities as well as the lack or poor state of basic infrastructure like proper drainage and waste disposal systems in the host communities. There is therefore urgent need to interrupt the STHs transmission cycles in the environment and possibly in schoolchildren by instituting sustainable intervention programmes within schools located in STHs endemic regions like southern Nigeria.</abstract>

Prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths in primary school playgrounds in Edo State, southern Nigeria

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Summary</title>Freshwater snails serve as one of trematodes’ intermediate hosts. Previous studies on trematode larval stages in the Philippines have largely focused on species with public health importance. This study sought to investigate the prevalence of cercarial morphotypes in several freshwater snail species found in different habitat types (rice field, irrigation canals, and residential area) in selected agricultural areas in Los Baños and Bay in Laguna. Cercarial emergence was induced through exposure to artificial light. A total of 2,720 freshwater snails were collected and were represented by seven species, namely, <italic>Melanoides tuberculata</italic> Muller 1774 (n = 1229), <italic>Radix quadrasi</italic> von Moellendorf (n = 630), <italic>Tarebia granifera</italic> Lamarck, 1816 (n = 417), <italic>Pomacea canaliculata</italic> Lamarck 1819 (n = 257), <italic>Vivipara angularis philippinensis</italic> Nevill (n = 18), <italic>Stenomelania</italic> sp. (n = 104), <italic>Thiara scabra</italic> Muller 1774 (n = 65). A 2.57 % over-all prevalence was recorded; the infected snail species were <italic>M. tuberculata</italic> (2.21 %), <italic>R. quadrasi</italic> (0.21 %), <italic>T. granifera</italic> (0.11 %). Four cercarial morphotypes, namely, Parapleurolophocercous cercaria (1.80 %), Virgulate xiphidiocercaria (0.26 %), Megaluruous cercaria (0.29 %), and Echinostome cercaria (0.22 %) were recovered from the infected snail species. Prevalence of cercarial infection was significantly different (p &lt; 0.05) among habitat types.</abstract>

Cercarial fauna of freshwater snails in selected agricultural areas in Laguna, Philippines

<abstract xml:lang="en"><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Anthelmintic resistance among parasites of sheep and goats has been known to occur for at least four decades. Both species of host have similar genera of nematodes, but the nematodes in goat herds usually develop anthelmintic resistance more rapidly. In vitro tests show higher ED50 values in goats than in flocks of sheep. Sheep and goats differ in many ways; for example, goats have a higher metabolic rate and require higher dose rates for drugs. The immune system of goats is also different. Additionally, these animals are reared under different management systems, i.e. sheep graze pastures and goats browse bushes, and lambing/kidding periods are different. Most anthelmintics used in goats have not been licensed for this animal species, and correct dose rates have rarely been experimentally determined. Possible explanations for such differences are discussed.</abstract>

Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Kosice, Slovakia

Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece

Anthelmintic resistance in parasites of small ruminants: sheep versus goats

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Summary</title>
A general limitation of ecological investigations based on nematodes is related to the difficult and time-consuming taxonomic identification of species. Therefore, nematologists are investing many efforts to develop alternative approaches as proxies applicable in biomonitoring assessment. Recently, an alternative method that combines morpho-functional traits was proposed for detecting assemblage changes of marine nematodes. In view of the promising results, it was tested the same approach to document taxonomic structure changes of soil free-living and plant parasitic nematodes. Specifically, this attempt was carried out using three data sets that include studies from various European regions and different types of ecosystems: forests, grasslands and maize crops. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed that the simple combination of the four traits (i.e., buccal cavity cuticularization occurrence, amphideal fovea size and shape, morphology of the cuticle and pharynx) in a single code number perfectly mirrors the taxonomic structure trends of the nematode assemblage at genus level. Therefore, we predict that similar results can be also obtained by directly encoding nematode specimens with the selected traits and we point to new important advances if this procedure can be coupled with advanced machine learning.
</abstract>

Simple, inexpensive, and rapid approach to detect changes in the structure of soil free-living nematodes

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Summary</title>
The main goal of the current work was to describe and analyse the Digenean community structure in <italic>Sarpa salpa.</italic> A total of 114 specimens of <italic>S. salpa</italic> were collected from the Central Coast of Algeria at six localities. The fish were immediately transported to the laboratory to be examined for digeneans. From 107 of the 114 <italic>S. salpa</italic> examined, a total of 8,722 specimens of seven species belonging to three families were recovered. Among them, <italic>Robphildollfusium fractum</italic> and <italic>Mesometra orbicularis</italic> were the most prevalent and abundant species. Moreover, <italic>Lepocreadium album</italic> was found for the first time in <italic>S. salpa</italic> from the coast of Algeria, and <italic>Centroderma spinosissima</italic> and <italic>Wardula capitellata</italic> represent new parasites to the Algerian digenean fauna that infect teleost fish. The component community of these Digeneans is characterised by <italic>R. fractum</italic> as its dominant species representing 62% of the total number of collected Digeneans, as well by a Shannon diversity index (H′) and Dominance Simpson index (D) of 1.03 and 2.23, respectively. According to Spearman's correlation test, <italic>Mesometra brachycoelia</italic> and <italic>W. capitellata</italic> were negatively correlated to the host biological factors. On the other hand, <italic>R. fractum</italic> showed a positive correlation between its mean abundance and the total length of the fish. With these findings, we provided the component structure of the Digenean fauna of <italic>S. salpa</italic> and highlighted their diversity, contributing to the biodiversity of the parasitic Platyhelminthes in Algeria.
</abstract>

Digenea community structure of the Salema, <italic>Sarpa salpa</italic> (Linnaeus, 1758) (Teleostei, Sparidae), from the Central coast of Algeria

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Summary</title>
The free radical nitric oxide (NO) and Ca2+ are critical regulators of skeletal muscle exercise performance and fatigue. The major source of NO in skeletal muscle cells is the neuronal form of the enzyme Nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). One of the most peculiar characteristics of the Nurse cell of <italic>Trichinella spiralis</italic> (<italic>T. spiralis</italic>) is the complete loss of the contractile capabilities of its derivative striated muscle fiber. The aim of the present study was to clarify the expression of nNOS protein and mRNA in striated muscles during the muscle phase of <italic>T. spiralis</italic> infection in mice. Muscle tissue samples were collected from mice at days 0, 14, 24, and 35 post infection (d.p.i.). The expression of nNOS was investigated by immunohistochemistry, and the expression levels of mRNA of mouse Nitric oxide synthase 1 (<italic>Nos1)</italic> by real-time PCR. The presence of nNOS protein was still well observable in the disintegrated sarcoplasm at the early stage of infection. The cytoplasm of the developing and mature Nurse cell showed the absence of this protein. At least at the beginning of the Nurse cell development, <italic>Trichinella</italic> uses the same repairing process of skeletal muscle cell, induced after any trauma and this corroborates very well our results concerning the nNOS expression on day 14 p.i. At a later stage, however, we could suggest that the down-regulation of nNOS in the Nurse cell of <italic>T. spiralis</italic> either serves a protective function or is an outcome of the genetic identity of the Nurse cell.
</abstract>

Down-regulation of neuronal form of Nitric oxide synthase in the Nurse cell of <italic>Trichinella spiralis</italic>

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Summary</title>
During a survey of soil nematodes in South Africa, a species of predatory nematodes, namely <italic>Mylonchulus hawaiiensis</italic> was recovered from soil in the Magoebaskloof mountain of Limpopo Province, South Africa. The morphology of the material studied fit well with the previous populations of the same species. A molecular study of 18S rDNA region of <italic>M. hawaiiensis</italic> indicated a 100% similarity between the South African population and the Japanese population of <italic>M. hawaiiensis</italic> (AB361438; AB361439; AB361440; AB361442). In addition, phylogenetic analysis placed all <italic>M. hawaiiensis</italic> in a group with 0.97 posterior probability. Additionally, ITS rDNA of <italic>M. hawaiiensis</italic> amplified for the first time. However, Principal component analysis (PCA) showed a morphological variation among the different populations of <italic>M. hawaiiensis</italic>. In addition, haplotype analysis also revealed that the South African population is close to the Japanese population. In conclusion, 18S rDNA was a good marker for detecting <italic>M. hawaiiensis</italic>. Measurement, photographs, and phylogenetic position of South African <italic>M. hawaiinesis</italic> are given.
</abstract>

First molecular observation on <italic>Mylonchulus hawaiiensis</italic> from South Africa

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Summary</title>
The World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology recently released new recommendations for the design of fecal egg count (FEC) reduction tests for livestock. These provide suggestions as to the number of animals to be sampled and the minimum number of eggs that must be counted to produce statistically meaningful results.
One of the considerations for study design is the multiplication factor of the FEC method to be used; methods with lower multiplication factors require fewer animals to be sampled because they are presumed to count more eggs per test. However, multiplication factor is not the sole determinant of the number of eggs counted by any given method, since different techniques use very different sample extraction methodologies that could affect the number of eggs detected beyond just the amount of feces examined.
In this light, we compared three commonly used manual FEC methods (mini-FLOTAC, McMaster and Wisconsin) and two automated methods (Imagyst and Parasight All-in-One) with respect to how many equine strongylid and ascarid eggs they counted in the same samples.
McMaster and mini-FLOTAC (multiplication factors of 25x and 5x, respectively) produced the most accurate results of the methods tested but mini-FLOTAC counted approximately 5-times more eggs than McMaster. However, Wisconsin and Parasight (multiplication factor = 1x) counted 3-times more ova than mini-FLOTAC, which was less than the 5-fold difference in their multiplication factors. As a result, these tests perform with multiplication factors more akin to 1.6x relative to mini-FLOTAC. Imagyst, due to its unique sample preparation methodology, does not have a traditional multiplication factor but performed similarly to McMaster with respect to egg recovery.
</abstract>

Relative egg extraction efficiencies of manual and automated fecal egg count methods in equines

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Summary</title>
<italic>Pratylenchus coffeae</italic>, belonging to the root-lesion nematode group, is a highly prevalent and destructive plant-parasitic nematode that is able to infest a wide range of host plants. Although this species' devastating impacts on coffee plantations across the world are widely known on other host plants, its association with Ming aralia has never been reported. Our study characterized two popu lations of <italic>P. coffeae</italic> (associated with Ming aralia and coffee) and compared them with other popu lations from previous studies in Vietnam and other countries in the world. The identification of <italic>P. coffeae</italic> in our study was confirmed by the comprehensive analysis encompassing morphological examination, morphometric data, and molecular characterizations of the <italic>COI</italic> mtDNA and D2D3 of 28S rRNA regions. The cluster and MDS analyses revealed that the two populations of <italic>P. coffeae</italic> from Vietnam are closely related to those from Japan and Indonesia. The D2-D3 sequences of 28S rRNA and <italic>COI</italic> mtDNA regions exhibited high similarity among these populations, indicating a stable genetic profile. Our research contributes to a better understanding of the distribution and genetic characterizations of <italic>P. coffeae</italic> by offering new morphological and molecular insights into the presence of this nematode in Vietnam. Additionally, this nematode species was found to be associated with host plant's symptoms such as chlorotic leaves, stunted growth and root lesion in both hosts. Given the economic significance of both Ming aralia and coffee crops in Vietnam, as well as the damaging potential of <italic>P. coffeae</italic>, this study emphasizes the need of proactive nematode management measures to control this destructive pest.
</abstract>

Morphological and molecular characterizations of <italic>Pratylenchus coffeae</italic> infecting Ming aralia and coffee in Vietnam

<abstract xml:lang="en"><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The environmental conditions in Madeira Island are favorable for the presence and dissemination of the pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Five hundred Pinus pinaster wood samples were collected in several forest areas and PWN was detected in 22.8 % of the samples. Bursaphelenchus xylophilus isolates from Madeira Island displayed the species-specific diagnostic characters. A morphological variation in the female tail terminus was detected. In most females, the tail presented a broadly rounded terminus and, occasionally, a digitate terminus with a terminal nipple-like extension resembling a mucro. PCR ITS-RFLP analysis revealed that Madeira Island isolates exhibited patterns specific to the species B. xylophilus and similar to virulent isolates. Amplified ITS regions were further sequenced and no genetic diversity was found for this genomic region among 17 Portuguese isolates (Madeira Island and Continental Portugal). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Portuguese isolates grouped with isolates from China, Korea and one isolate from Japan.</abstract>

IMAR-CMA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3004-517, Coimbra, Portugal

Laboratório de Qualidade Agrícola, RAM, 9135-372, Santa Cruz, Portugal

Direcção Regional de Florestas, 9020-149, Funchal, Portugal

NemaLab-ICAAM, University of Évora, 7002-554, Évora, Portugal

The pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, in Madeira Island

<abstract xml:lang="en"><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Ascarididae nematodes of genera Toxocara and Toxascaris are of significant epizootic relevance among predatory mammals from families Canidae and Felidae. Localization of these nematodes in the definitive hosts, their morphology, as well as the measurements of eggs and adult worms are similar. Recently, molecular techniques have provided alternative approaches for the identification of ascarid species. A common feature of the life cycles of these generally monoxenous nematodes is the significant participation of small rodents. In case of Toxocara spp., the rodent plays the role of paratenic host but optional intermediate host for T. leonina. Several studies indicate co-occurence of both T. canis and T. leonina in domestic and wild canids as well as T. cati and T. leonina in felids. Although the infections of humans with T. canis and T. cati are common worldwide, larvae of T. leonina has the potential to cause human disease as emerging zoonosis.</abstract>

Toxocara canis, Toxocara cati and Toxascaris leonina in wild and domestic carnivores

<abstract xml:lang="en"><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Despite records of ruminal paramphistomes in Argentina dating back to the beginning of the XX century, in the last decade cases have increased in number with evidence of spreading to new geographical areas. This fact led us to carry out some studies in the last few years in order to enhance the poor availability of reports in South America, some of which are actually performed in our group. This paper reviews the characteristics of the life cycles and some aspects of the disease both at world and local level, and updates the latest paramphistome reports in domestic ruminants of Argentina.</abstract>

Review and update of paramphistomosis

<abstract xml:lang="en"><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The species-specific ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) markers were designed for PCR-based molecular differentiation of Fasciola hepatica, Fascioloides magna, Dicrocoelium dendriticum and Paramphistomum cervi, liver and stomach flukes of domestic and free living ruminants. Complete ITS2 sequences were obtained for D. dendriticum and P. cervi, for the later species, ITS2 structure was determined for the first time. Intraspecific variation within geographically distant populations was found to be either very low (F. hepatica; D. dendriticum) or even absent (F. magna; P. cervi). ITS2 regions with the absence of intraspecific polymorphisms but with interspecific sequence heterogeneity were applied for design of speciesspecific primers. The specificity of developed primers was tested on genomic DNA isolated from adult individuals of studied fluke species. Application of the primers is of particular value for molecular differentiation of morphologically hardly distinguishable F. hepatica, F. magna and P. cervi eggs after coprological examinations.</abstract>

Parasitological Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, KoŠice, Slovakia

Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Animal Breeding, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, KoŠice, Slovakia

Determination of ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) interspecific markers in Fasciola hepatica, Fascioloides magna, Dicrocoelium dendriticum and Paramphistomum cervi (Trematoda), parasites of wild and domestic ruminants

<abstract xml:lang="en"><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The genetic identification and distribution of Anisakis larvae in Indonesia is described. 110 Auxis rochei rochei and 45 Decapterus russellii were sampled from fish markets in North (Anturan) and South (Kedonganan) Bali. Nematode larvae from A. rochei rochei, Caesio cuning and Epinephelus areolatus from Kedonganan and from Coryphaena hippurus from Pelabuhan Ratu, South Java, were identified using sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS-1, ITS-2) and 5.8S region of rDNA. The larvae belonged to Anisakis typica with an identical sequence to this species from the spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) from Brazil, and to 2 further genotypes that differed from that sequence by 0.24–0.47 %. A. typica occurred in the migratory A. rochei rochei and C. hippurus, while Anisakis sp. 1 and 2 were isolated from the same fish species and the non-migratory C. cuning and E. areolatus. The latter genotype is distinguishable by 4 positions in the ITS-1 region (1.1 %), a genetic distance that indicates the presence of an Indonesian A. typica sibling species. The musculature infection in A. rochei rochei was low (2.5 %), indicating no major risk for the fish consumers. The much higher A. typica infection of fish intermediate hosts in the northern Bali coast is suggested to be dependent on the large dolphin population (nematode final hosts) in the waters off Lovina Beach (North Bali).</abstract>

Institute of Zoomorphology, Cell Biology and Parasitology, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany

Bukit Jimbaran, Udayana University, 80363, Badung, Bali, Indonesia

Molecular genotyping of Anisakis Dujardin, 1845 (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea: Anisakidae) larvae from marine fish of Balinese and Javanese waters, Indonesia

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Helminthologia

Simple, inexpensive, and rapid approach to detect changes in the structure of soil free-living nematodes

Digenea community structure of the Salema, Sarpa salpa (Linnaeus, 1758) (Teleostei, Sparidae), from the Central coast of Algeria

Down-regulation of neuronal form of Nitric oxide synthase in the Nurse cell of Trichinella spiralis

First molecular observation on Mylonchulus hawaiiensis from South Africa

Relative egg extraction efficiencies of manual and automated fecal egg count methods in equines

Morphological and molecular characterizations of Pratylenchus coffeae infecting Ming aralia and coffee in Vietnam