Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “NEMATODE INFECTIONS”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 811 records · Page 45Linked to original sources

Distribution and repeatability of faecal egg counts and blood parameters in dairy goats naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes.

The frequency, distribution and repeatability of measurements related to infection with gastrointestinal nematodes have been estimated in dairy goats. Monthly faecal and blood samples were taken over two grazing seasons from a flock of 120 naturally infected goats. The frequency distribution of egg excretion was positively skewed at each sampling date, suggesting an aggregative distribution of parasites. Overdispersed distributions were also apparent for pepsinogen and inorganic phosphate values. Repeatabilities for each parameter were estimated within each year. The values ranged between 0.23 to 0.43 and were relatively similar during the 2 years, with the highest coefficients recorded for pepsinogen. For each parameter, moderate to high repeatabilities were also estimated between the 2 years. Overall, the data suggest that, in dairy goats, the distribution of worms is overdispersed with a few individuals repeatedly harbouring large worm populations. These results have practical implications for genetic selection for resistance to worm infection and for selective administration of anthelmintics.

Animals↗

Stochastic modelling of environmental variation for biological populations.

We examine stochastic effects, in particular environmental variability, in population models of biological systems. Some simple models of environmental stochasticity are suggested, and we demonstrate a number of analytic approximations and simulation-based approaches that can usefully be applied to them. Initially, these techniques, including moment-closure approximations and local linearization, are explored in the context of a simple and relatively tractable process. Our presentation seeks to introduce these techniques to a broad-based audience of applied modellers. Therefore, as a test case, we study a natural stochastic formulation of a non-linear deterministic model for nematode infections in ruminants, proposed by Roberts and Grenfell (1991). This system is particularly suitable for our purposes, since it captures the essence of more complicated formulations of parasite demography and herd immunity found in the literature. We explore two modes of behaviour. In the endemic regime the stochastic dynamic fluctuates widely around the non-zero fixed points of the deterministic model. Enhancement of these fluctuations in the presence of environmental stochasticity can lead to extinction events. Using a simple model of environmental fluctuations we show that the magnitude of this system response reflects not only the variance of environmental noise, but also its autocorrelation structure. In the managed regime host-replacement is modelled via periodic perturbation of the population variables. In the absence of environmental variation stochastic effects are negligible, and we examine the system response to a realistic environmental perturbation based on the effect of micro-climatic fluctuations on the contact rate. The resultant stochastic effects and the relevance of analytic approximations based on simple models of environmental stochasticity are discussed.

Animals↗

Detection of two fungal biocontrol agents against root-knot nematodes by RAPD markers.

The strain ZK7 of Pochonia chlamydosporia var. chlamydosporia and IPC of Paecilomyces lilacinus are highly effective in the biological control against root-knot nematodes infecting tobacco. When applied, they require a specific monitoring method to evaluate the colonization and dispersal in soil. In this work, the randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was used to differentiate between the two individual strains and 95 other isolates, including isolates of the same species and common soil fungi. This approach allowed the selection of specific fragments of 1.2 kb (Vc1200) and 2.0 kb (Vc2000) specific for ZK7, 1.4 kb (P1400) and 0.85 kb (P850) specific for IPC, using the random Primers OPL-02, OPD-05, OPD-05 and OPC-11, respectively. These fragments were cloned, sequenced, and used to design sequence-characterized amplification region (SCAR) primers specific for the two strains. In classical polymerase chain reaction (PCR), with serial dilution of ZK7 and IPC pure culture DNAs template, the detection limits of these oligonucleotide SCAR-PCR primers were found to be 10, 1000, 500, 100 pg, respectively. In the dot blotting, digoxigenin (DIG)-labeled amplicons from these four primers specifically recognized the corresponding fragments in the DNAs template of these two strains. The detection limit of these amplicons were 0.2, 0.2, 0.5, 0.5 mug, respectively.

DNA, Fungal↗

Evaluation of anthelmintic efficacy of doramectin against gastrointestinal nematodes by fecal examination in cattle in Japan.

The nematocidal effect of doramectin was assessed by subcutaneous injection of 200 micrograms/kg (single dosage) in cattle with naturally acquired gastrointestinal nematode infection in Japan. This study consisted of two experiments. In experiment 1, animals were randomly divided into a doramectin group (n = 21) and a non-treated control group (n = 21) by fecal egg count. In experiment 2, another group of ivermectin treatment (n = 12) was prepared in addition to doramectin (n = 23) and control (n = 10) groups, by random assignment as in study 1. After doramectin or ivermectin treatment, the egg count/5 g of feces was measured by the sucrose centrifugal flotation method at intervals of 7 days until Day 21 in experiment 1 and at Days 7, 14, 21, 35, 42, 49 and 63 in experiment 2. Coproculture was also carried out using some of the fecal samples. In the 2 doramectin-treated groups, 96.1%-100% egg reduction rates were obtained for Haemonchus, Cooperia, Mecistocirrus, Trichostrongylus, Ostertagia, Bunostomum, Strongyloides and Trichuris from the 7th day until the 49th day after treatment. Thus doramectin was confirmed to be highly effective against those species of adult nematoda. The effect against Mecistocirrus has not been previously determined. The nematocidal effect against Nematodirus was lower (egg reduction rate approximately 50%) than other species. No adverse reactions to treatment were seen in any animal during either study.

Animals↗

Anthelmintic efficacy of netobimin against naturally acquired gastrointestinal nematodes in yearling heifers.

The efficacy of netobimin (Coded SCH 32481, Schering Corporation) in removing naturally acquired gastrointestinal nematode infections was evaluated in 10 treated and 10 untreated (control) yearling beef heifers. The anthelmintic was administered as an oral drench at a dose level of 7.5 mg kg-1 body weight. Fecal egg per gram (EPG) counts were reduced with netobimin by 98% (P less than or equal to 0.01) at both 1 and 2 weeks post-treatment (PT). The compound was highly effective in removing Oesophagostomum radiatum (100% at P less than or equal to 0.01), Cooperia spp. (97.66% at P less than or equal to 0.01) and Nematodirus helvetianus (100%, although not significant), but was ineffective against immature Ostertagia ostertagi (3.19%) and only moderately effective against adult forms (66.14% at P less than or equal to 0.05). The low efficacy against adult O. ostertagi was partially attributed to the maturation of fourth-stage larvae, not removed by the 7.5 mg kg-1 treatment, during the 14-day treatment-slaughter interval. Efficacy against Trichuris spp. could not be evaluated due to low levels and unequal numbers of worms recovered in the groups. The overall efficacy against adult species, excluding Trichuris spp., was 67.40% (P less than or equal to 0.05). No adverse reactions or signs of toxicosis were observed in heifers treated with netobimin.

Administration, Oral↗

Gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle in the northeastern US: results of a producer survey.

A questionnaire covering management practices and producer perception of the effects of gastrointestinal nematode infections was sent to dairy and beef producers in the northeastern US. The mailing list was derived from membership in grazing groups and attendance at grazing events. A final total of 474 responses were suitable for analyses. These responses covered 14 states, but for the purpose of analysis were broken into five groups: New England (NE), Vermont (VT), New York (NY), Pennsylvania (PA), and south and west (S and W) of Pennsylvania. Two-thirds of the responses were from dairy producers. The average number of animals for the farms was 50 cows, 27 heifers, and 20 calves. The average acreage used for grazing was 70 acres, and about two-thirds of the responses used rotational grazing for at least the cows. About one-half of the rotational grazers had been practicing rotational grazing for more than 5 years. Most rotational programs for cows involved a daily rotation, but the rotational interval for other age groups was longer. There was a difference of about 2 months (5.25-7.27) in the length of the grazing season as one moved from New England to south and west of Pennsylvania. Parasite control practices varied greatly by location and animal class. Most producers used anthelmintics one to two times per year, but 10-30% of responses said they did not deworm their cattle. The most common time to deworm was in the spring, and the second most common time was the fall. Between 10 and 20% of respondents reported deworming as a response to decreased productivity or body condition. The use of anthelmintics increased as the location moved from New England to south and west of Pennsylvania. Producer perception of parasite effects was closely related to their anthelmintic use, and also increased as the location moved to the south, and is most likely the result of the increased length of the grazing season. Of producers who ascribed estimated a cost of the parasite, the majority estimated this cost to be between US$ 5 and 20 per animal per year.

Animal Husbandry↗

New north american records of aquatic insects as paratenic hosts of pheromermis (Nematoda: mermithidae)

Several species of aquatic insects in Trout Park Nature Preserve (Elgin, IL) were observed to have small, black spots (<0.1 mm diameter) visible within their bodies. Microscopic examination revealed these spots to be coiled juveniles of a mermithid (Nematoda: Mermithidae). Based on host habitat (seepage areas and rivulets), host species (aquatic insects), and size (mean diameter of coiled juveniles = 79 &mgr;m), it is likely that these mermithids were in the genus Pheromermis. Since adult mermithids were not found, species determination was not feasible, and the possibility of a new species cannot be ruled out. Pheromermis pachysoma and Pheromermis vesparum, however, are two species known to use aquatic insects as paratenic (i.e., transport) hosts in order to reach their definitive hosts, vespid wasps. Wasp larvae are infected by consuming the flesh of adult aquatic insects that contain the coiled juveniles of these Pheromermis spp. Of the 19 macroinvertebrate species examined in this study, Pheromermis juveniles were found in 4 caddisfly species (Hesperophylax designatus, Lepidostoma liba, Glossosoma intermedium, and Diplectrona modesta) and in 2 stonefly species (Clioperla clio and Amphinemura delosa). In addition to all 6 insect species being new host records for Pheromermis infection, this also represents the first report of nematode infection in stoneflies within the Western Hemisphere and of a Pheromermis sp. in Illinois. Among trophic groups, insect detritivores have been frequently recorded infected with coiled Pheromermis juveniles because of their direct consumption of eggs, and we also observed this for detritivores in our investigation (e.g., L. liba and A. delosa). Because C. clio was intensively infected, however, our study also provided evidence that predatory insects can be paratenic hosts. Coiled juveniles were typically present in muscle and fat body and present in almost all body regions. Not every infected paratenic host had external signs of infection; thus, dissections are required for accurate determination of infection prevalence and intensity. Our findings, in conjunction with those made in previous studies, indicate that a wide variety of aquatic insects may be used as paratenic hosts by Pheromermis. Because of their small size, it is highly likely that coiled juveniles are either overlooked or mistaken for melanized integumental wounds during field studies of aquatic insects. A more careful inspection for these coiled juveniles in aquatic insects, especially detritivores and their predators in seepage areas, would probably reveal that Pheromermis is far more common than presently documented. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Journal Article↗

Immunocytochemical localization of secretory acetylcholinesterase of the parasitic nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis.

Various parasitic nematodes secrete acetylcholinesterase (AChE). In this study, the localization of AChE in the nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis and the secretory forms of AChE in culture fluid were examined. A thiocholine method revealed that AChE activity was localized in the subventral glands, which have a secretory and excretory function via a duct connected to the excretory pore. By electron microscopy, AChE activity was found mainly in the matrix of secretory granules, and sometimes in the Golgi apparatus in the subventral gland cells. These results show that nematode AChE is produced and stored in the subventral glands. Monoclonal antibodies against AChE of human erythrocytes or electric rays also bound to the nematode subventral gland, suggesting immuno-cross-reactivity of AChE among these species. When AChE activity in the nematode excretory-secretory product was examined by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis combined with the thiocholine method, intense activity was demonstrated as a single band at 74 kDa. Immunoblot analysis showed specific recognition of this molecule by IgE and IgG1 antibodies, but not by IgG2a antibody, in nematode-infected rat sera. These results indicate that the nematode AChE molecule produced in and secreted from the subventral glands is antigenic for the production of IgE/IgG1 in host animals.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Coccidiosis: localization of lymphoblasts in the infected small intestine.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes of chickens and thoracic duct lymphocytes and mesenteric lymph node cells of rats, were labelled with 125I-deoxyuridine and injected intravenously into chickens or rats respectively. Sixteen to 18 h later the intestines of coccidia infected animals contained more radioactivity than those of uninfected controls. This result was obtained with cell suspensions from both infected and normal donors indicating that, as with nematode infected rodents, the increased homing of the cells to parasitised gut was not antigen specific. In chickens the stimulus which causes the increased homing of cells to the intestine was induced within hours of parasite inoculation. This reflects the rapid response of this host, previously described with other parameters, and which may be characteristic of birds.

Animals↗

Biology of Cucullanus truttae (nematoda) in a trout stream.

The life-history of Cucullanus truttae (fabricius, 1794) from a trout stream (Cernovický Brook) in Czechoslovakia is described on the basis of observations in the years 1977--78. Larval lampreys, Lampetra planeri, were found to serve as natural obligate intermediate hosts, whereas the definitive and probably also postcyclic hosts are brown trout, Salmo trutta m. fario. No distinct seasonal changes were observed in the occurrence of infective nematode larvae in the intermediate hosts; the rate of their infestation increases with increasing size of their bodies. Only trout older than two years become infected with the nematodes; the frequency distribution of nematodes is typically overdispersed. There are no seasonal cycles in the maturation of nematodes and gravid females are present in fish throughout the year. A case of conspecific hyperparasitism in this species is recorded for the first time.

Animals↗