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The taxonomic status of Digramma (Pseudophyllidea: Ligulidae) inferred from DNA sequences.

The traditional classification of the ligulid tapeworms into 2 genera, Ligula Bloch, 1782 and Digramma Cholodkovsky, 1914, remains controversial. Molecular data of sequences for the 5' end of the nuclear 28S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene, the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, and the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit 1 (ND1) gene, as well as the first internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) of the nuclear ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), were used to characterize Digramma and to investigate its relationship with Ligula. Digramma spp. exhibited identical sequences with Ligula intestinalis both in the 28S rRNA and the COI gene and differed from L. intestinalis by 0.7% in the ITS1 region and 7.4% in the ND1 gene, respectively. A high degree of genetic conservation within 28S ribosomal DNA, COI, ITS1, and even ND1 genes, was found in Ligula and Digramma. The low genetic divergence in the 4 genes between Ligula and Digramma indicates that Digramma is probably not an independent genus. Therefore, it is proposed that Ligula and Digramma should be considered as 2 species within the genus Ligula and the tapeworms of Digramma collected from diverse localities in China belong to the same species. The present study also suggests that ITS1 and ND1 sequences can act as useful genetic markers to distinguish Ligula and Digramma.

Animals↗

A revision of Phoreiobothrium (Tetraphyllidea: Onchobothriidae) with descriptions of five new species.

Five new species of Phoreiobothrium (Cestoda: Tetraphyllidea) are described from carcharhiniform sharks collected from a diversity of localities throughout the world. These are Phoreiobothrium perilocrocodilus n. sp. from Negaprion acutidens, Phoreiobothrium anticaporum n. sp. from Negaprion brevirostris, Phoreiobothrium lewinense n. sp. from Sphyrna lewini, Phoreiobothrium robertsoni n. sp. from Carcharhinus brachyurus, and Phoreiobothrium blissorum n. sp. from C. plumbeus, This brings the number of described species of Phoreiobothrium to 17. The new species from the lemon sharks, P. perilocrocodilus n. sp. and P. anticaporum n. sp., both possess more bothridial subloculi than do all species from hammerhead sharks, and fewer subloculi than do all species from sharks of Carcharhinus spp. Phoreiobothrium anticaporum n. sp. is unique among Phoreiobothrium species in that its genital pore is located in the extreme anterior portion of the proglottid. Phoreiobothrium lewinense n. sp. is unique in its possession of a combination of 8-11 subloculi and basal hook prongs that lack internal channels. Phoreiobothrium robertsoni n. sp. possesses 25-29 subloculi, triangular bothridia that flare posteriorly, and hooks that extend well beyond the middle of the bothridia. Phoreiobothrium blissorum n. sp. is most similar to Phoreiobothrium lasium in that it possesses rectangular bothridia with greater than 22 subloculi and long filitriches on its scolex. However, it differs from the latter species in that rather than articulating with one another, the bases of the medial and lateral hooks are widely separated; it also possesses 5-6 (vs.) 7-8 columns of testes. Phoreiobothrium lasium and Phoreiobothrium tiburonis are redescribed. The host associations of P. lasium are reevaluated and a neotype is designated for this species. The mature proglottid of P. tiburonis is described for the first time from voucher material collected from the type host and locality. These data suggest that the proglottid information provided in the original description, which was obtained from detached gravid proglottids, may have come from a tapeworm species other than P. tiburonis. All 7 species treated here in detail were examined with scanning electron microscopy; most were found to exhibit a microthrix pattern similar to that described previously for other members of the genus, e.g., Phoreiobothrium manirei. Bladelike spinitriches were present on the strobila, cephalic peduncle, and proximal bothridial surfaces, but were lacking from the distal bothridial surfaces. These spinitriches varied in length and density among species. Filitriches were present on all of these surfaces, but varied somewhat in length among species. Phoreiobothrium lewinense n. sp. is exceptional in that spinitriches were not seen on the proximal bothridial surfaces. A key to Phoreiobothrium species is provided. This work brings the number of carcharhinid shark species known to host this onchobothriid genus to 6, and the number of sphyrnid species to 5. Like many other onchobothriid tapeworms, species of Phoreiobothrium appear to exhibit oioxenous specificity for their hosts. Given this, and the fact that a total of 9 genera and 46 species of carcharhinid and sphyrnid sharks have yet to be examined for Phoreiobothrium, the diversity of the genus globally is likely to greatly exceed that described to date.

Animals↗

Differential expression of calreticulin in developmental stages of Taenia solium.

Taenia solium, a cestode that causes neurocysticercosis and taeniasis in humans, has a complex life cycle. The adult tapeworm develops in the intestine of human beings and is also responsible for neurocysticercosis, which is caused by the metacestode or cysticercus that develops in the brain. Recently, we have cloned the coding region for T. solium calreticulin (TsCRT) as a functional Ca(2+)-binding protein. Calreticulin is a ubiquitous protein involved in cellular Ca2+ homeostasis and protein folding. These important functions affect several aspects of cell physiology. To explore the expression of TsCRT during the T. solium life cycle, we used a specific polyclonal antibody raised against recombinant TsCRT to localize this protein by immunolabeling techniques. In sections of cysticerci obtained from swine muscle, as well as of adult tapeworms obtained after infection of hamsters with cysticerci, TsCRT was preferentially localized in tegumentary and muscle cytons of the suckers and rostellum. In mature proglottids obtained from infected humans, positive staining was observed in spermatogonia, ovogonia, uterine epithelium, and cells of the vas deferens. In the gravid uterus, the morula and early stage embryos were highly positive to TsCRT. However, expression diminished as embryonic development progressed and was absent in fully developed oncospheres that were surrounded by an embryophore. A similar down regulation was observed during spermatogenesis. Although early spermatocytes showed a high expression of TsCRT, mature spermatozoa present in the vas deferens were completely negative. These data indicate that calreticulin expression is spatially and temporally regulated during development of T. solium, especially during germ cell development and embryogenesis. In addition, these original images illustrate, for the first time, these processes at a histological level.

Animals↗

Cerebral sparganosis. Case report.

The tapeworm Spirometra mansonoides infects man worldwide, particularly in Asian countries. Rarely, the central nervous system is involved; such a case is presented here. In the total of 12 reported cases, including the case described, the worm presented clinically as a mass suspicious for neoplasm or chronic abscess cavity. Surgical removal was invariably curative in each case. Although infrequent, the possibility of tapeworm infection should be entertained in the evaluation of intracranial masses in patients who have visited exotic locales.

Adult↗

Two rare cases of Diphyllobothrium latum parvum type infection in Korea.

Two rare cases of human infection with parvum (dwarf) type of Diphyllobothrium latum [syn. D. parvum (Stephens, 1908)], were discovered in Korea. The first case was a 46-year old housewife, from whom a kind of pseudophyllidean tapeworm eggs was detected in the feces. She was treated with praziquantel and purged, and a complete strobila with scolex, 120 cm in total length, was recovered. She recalled that she had eaten raw trouts at a raw-fish restaurant near the Chungju Lake. Another patient was a 22-year old medical student (male), who used to eat raw sea-foods. He discovered a chain of tapeworm proglottids, 15 cm in length, discharged spontaneously in his stool and brought it for identification. The worms from the two cases were compatible with D. parvum (Stephens, 1908) of which the taxonomic significance has long been questioned. After a detailed morphological study and review of literature, we designated the worms as D. latum parvum type. This is the first report on the occurrence of this rare type of D. latum infection in Korea.

Adult↗

Diphyllobothrium latum infection after eating domestic salmon flesh.

Diphyllobothrium latum infection in human is not common in Korea and only thirty seven cases have been reported since 1921. We report two cases of fish tapeworm infection after ingestion of raw cherry salmon (Oncorhynchus masou) caught in the domestic river. Among four family members who ate together raw salmon flesh six months ago, just two, mother and daughter, were infected. It is our expectation that the salmon associated tapeworm infections would be enlisted as one of the major parasitic problems with the growing consumption of salmon in Korea.

Adult↗

Codon usage and bias in mitochondrial genomes of parasitic platyhelminthes.

Sequences of the complete protein-coding portions of the mitochondrial (mt) genome were analysed for 6 species of cestodes (including hydatid tapeworms and the pork tapeworm) and 5 species of trematodes (blood flukes and liver- and lung-flukes). A near-complete sequence was also available for an additional trematode (the blood fluke Schistosoma malayensis). All of these parasites belong to a large flatworm taxon named the Neodermata. Considerable variation was found in the base composition of the protein-coding genes among these neodermatans. This variation was reflected in statistically-significant differences in numbers of each inferred amino acid between many pairs of species. Both convergence and divergence in nucleotide, and hence amino acid, composition was noted among groups within the Neodermata. Considerable variation in skew (unequal representation of complementary bases on the same strand) was found among the species studied. A pattern is thus emerging of diversity in the mt genome in neodermatans that may cast light on evolution of mt genomes generally.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The cestode Atractolytocestus huronensis (Caryophyllidea) continues to spread in Europe: new data on the helminth parasite of the common carp.

The caryophyllidean tapeworm Atractolytocestus huronensis Anthony, 1958, originally described from the common carp Cyprinus carpio carpio L. from North America, has recently been introduced into Europe (UK, Hungary). In the present study, the dispersion of the tapeworm in other countries of Central Europe (Slovakia and the Czech Republic) is described, including its first observation in the common carp of the Tisa River, southeastern Slovakia. Because of the transboundary location of the river, there are possible consequences of the rapid distribution of the parasite to other regions throughout the Danube River basin. The parasite has also been found in cultured carp from fishponds in South Bohemia, from where the carp are imported to many European countries. Rapid dissemination of this cestode in Europe indicates its ability to colonise new regions, and represents another example of man-made introduction of potential pathogens of carp and other farmed fish. The morphology of the A. huronensis specimens found is compared with that of specimens from Hungary and North America as well as that of Atractolytocestus sagittatus (Kulakovskaya and Akhmerov, 1965) from the same fish host in eastern Asia.

Animals↗

Epidemiology of gastrointestinal helminths infections in Dorper sheep in a semi-arid area of Kenya.

A survey on the prevalence and intensity of infection with gastrointestinal helminths of Dorper sheep in relation to age and weather factors was carried out on a ranch in Kajiado district, a semi-arid area of Kenya for a period of 13 months (May 1999 to May 2000). Faecal samples from lambs (3 months to 1 year), yearlings (1-2 years) and adult breeding ewes (2-4 years) were examined for helminth egg output and helminth genus composition at 3-week intervals. The results indicated that the prevalence of strongyle and tapeworms infections were highest for lambs, followed by the adult breeding ewes and then for the yearlings. In all age groups the proportions of infected animals were higher during the wet season than in the dry season for both nematodes and tapeworms. The mean strongyle egg counts were higher during the dry season for lambs, but were higher during the wet season for the other age groups. Mixed strongyle infections were detected, with Trichostrongylus (55 %), Haemonchus (28 %), Cooperia (10.5 %) and Oesophagostomum (6.5 %) being the most frequently encountered genera throughout the study period. The trends in strongyle faecal egg counts indicated the occurrence of hypobiosis, with resumption of development towards the end of the dry season and at the onset of the short rains in October and November. Self-cure was also observed in September and November in all age groups, although less frequently in lactating ewes. The prevalence and intensities of infection with gastrointestinal helminths in this area appeared to be influenced by the age of the host and weather factors.

Age Factors↗

Taenia solium taeniasis and neurocysticercosis in a Mexican rural family.

A case of neurocysticercosis in a six-year-old Mexican boy and a case of Taenia solium taeniasis in his five-year-old brother are reported. Neurocysticercosis was suspected based on clinical findings and was confirmed by computed tomography scanning. A parasitologic examination with zinc-sulfate flotation and formalin-ether sedimentation techniques was carried out on the whole family, and revealed Taenia sp. eggs in three stool samples from the five-year-old boy. The entire family agreed to undergo chemotherapy with niclosamide, but only the child passing taeniid eggs eliminated T. solium. No additional taeniasis cases were found in an examination of 20% of the village population, using the same parasitologic techniques. The results of an ELISA using cysticercus antigens were negative for the boy with neurocysticercosis, for other family members, and for 24 village volunteers, but were positive for the T. solium tapeworm carrier. It was concluded that in this family, person-to-person transmission of the tapeworm occurred due to poor living conditions and hygiene.

Animals↗

Short report: a new case report of human Mesocestoides infection in the United States.

The twenty-seventh documented case of human Mesocestoides infection, which corresponds to the seventh documented case in the United States, is reported. The case had its origin in Alexandria, Louisiana in the summer of 1998. The patient was a 19-month-old boy. The strobila consisted of 35 proglottids that included mature as well as gravid segments containing a ventral genital pore and a parauterine organ. After a detailed microscopic examination, the tapeworm was identified as belonging to the genus Mesocestoides. Mesocestoides variabilis is the probable species responsible for the infection, since the six cases previously reported in the United States were identified as this species. After the treatment with a single dose of praziquantel (10 mg/kg), the tapeworm segments were no longer detectable in the child's feces. A food-borne origin of this infection derived from culinary customs of the Acadian and Creole communities in Louisiana is proposed.

Animals↗

Meckel's diverticulitis due to Taenia saginata: case report.

A thirteen-year old girl presented with acute right lower quadrant abdominal pain for which evaluation suggested appendicitis. At laparotomy, the appendix was normal but a Meckel's diverticulum with an impacted Taenia saginata (tapeworm) was found. The diverticulum was excised and histopathology confirmed diverticulitis from the parasite. Though Meckel's diverticulitis due to parasites has been reported, this is usually from ascaris. Tapeworm causing this complication is rare.

Abdominal Pain↗

Parasites of black bears of the Lake Superior region.

Parasites collected from free-ranging black bears, Ursus americanus Pallas, 1780, from northeastern Minnesota or northern Michigan include the dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Say, 1821), the winter tick, D. ALBIPICTUS (Packard, 1869), a louse, Trichodectes pinguis euarctidoes Hopkins, 1954, an ascarid worm, Baylisascaris transfuga (rudolphi, 1819), a filarial worm, Dirofilaria ursi Yamaguti, 1941, taeniid tapeworms, and unidentified fleas. The broad fish tapeworm, Diphyllobothrium latum (linnaeus, 1785), was reported to be common in man and black bears in northeastern Minnesota earlier in this century, but now it apparently is uncommon in black bears in norther Wisconsin. Cannibalism of carcasses is common in the black bear and may play a major role in the transmission of Trichinella.

Animals↗

Uredofos: anthelmintic activity against nematodes and cestodes in dogs with naturally occurring infections.

A new broad-spectrum anthelmintic, uredofos, was tested in 146 dogs by single and multiple oral dosing. Single doses of 100 and 50 (but not 25) mg/kg were totally effective in removing Dipylidium caninum and Taenia spp from 46 dogs with infections of tapeworms. Among groups of 15 to 20 dogs, the average percentage efficacies against Toxocara canis for single soese of 100, 50, and 25 mg/kg were 98, 96, and 81%, respectively. The average percentage of efficacies against hookworm (Ancylostoma caninum) were greater than 96% in dogs treated with single doses of 100, 50, or 25 mg/kg and were 100% in the 35 dogs given 2 or 3 treatments (24-hour intervals) at dose levels of either 25 or 50 mg/kg. The whipworm, Trichuris vulpis, was not efficaciously eliminated by single doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg (av percentage of efficacies of 30, 35, and 71%, respectively). Efficacy against T vulpis markedly improved when 2 doses were given at a 24-hour interval (av percentage of efficacies were 89% at dose level of 25 mg/kg and 99% at dose level of 50 mg/kg). At either dose (25 or 50 mg/kg), 3 daily treatments were no more efficacious against whipworms than were 2 doses. There was no evidence of drug toxicosis in any dogs tested. It was concluded that uredofos is highly effective against canine tapeworms, ascarids, and hookworms when given as a single dose of 50 mg/kg and against whipworm when given at dose level of 50 mg/kg/day for 2 days.

Ancylostomiasis↗

Taenia saginata asiatica: epidemiology, infection, immunological and molecular studies.

The taeniasis in East Asia has a special epidemiological pattern: people eat meat and/or viscera of pigs and acquire infection of Taenia saginata-like tapeworms. However, cysticercosis is more often found in pigs than cattles. In order to elucidate the taxonomic status of this parasite, we have conducted extensive field surveys, experimental infections, and morphological as well as immunological studies since 1981. After obtaining sufficient information from our studies, we finally came to the conclusion that the T. saginata-like tapeworm in Asia is a new subspecies of T. saginata and was named as T. saginata asiatica. The classical T. saginata was renamed as T. saginata saginata. In this paper, we provide the history of T. s. asiatica in Asia.

Animals↗

A proposal to declare neurocysticercosis an international reportable disease.

Neurocysticercosis is an infection of the nervous system caused by Taenia solium. It is the most important human parasitic neurological disease and a common cause of epilepsy in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, representing enormous costs for anticonvulsants, medical resources and lost production. Neurocysticercosis is a human-to-human infection, acquired by the faecal-enteric route from carriers of intestinal T. solium, most often in areas with deficient sanitation. Intestinal tapeworms cause few symptoms, but adult taeniae carried by humans release large numbers of infective eggs and are extremely contagious. Ingestion of poorly cooked pig meat infested with T. solium larvae results in intestinal taeniosis but not neurocysticercosis. With a view to hastening the control of taeniosis and neurocysticercosis we propose that neurocysticercosis be declared an international reportable disease. New cases of neurocysticercosis should be reported by physicians or hospital administrators to their health ministries. An epidemiological intervention could then be launched to interrupt the chain of transmission by: (1) searching for, treating and reporting the sources of contagion, i.e. human carriers of tapeworms; (2) identifying and treating other exposed contacts; (3) providing health education on parasite transmission and improvement of hygiene and sanitary conditions; and (4) enforcing meat inspection policies and limiting the animal reservoir by treatment of pigs. We believe that the first step required to solve the problem of neurocysticercosis is to implement appropriate surveillance mechanisms under the responsibility of ministries of health. Compulsory notification also has the major advantage of providing accurate quantification of the incidence and prevalence of neurocysticercosis at regional level, thus permitting the rational use of resources in eradication campaigns.

Adolescent↗

Evaluation of taeniasis prevalence in the area supervised by the Provincial Sanitary-Epidemiological Unit in Szczecin between 1994 and 1998.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of taeniasis in population supervised by the Provincial Sanitary-Epidemiological Unit in Szczecin between 1994 and 1998. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The prevalence of intestinal taeniasis in population of Szczecin Province was evaluated basing on data from the selection charts available in the Provincial and Field Sanitary-Epidemiological Units between 1994 and 1998. The following parameters were analyzed: environment (urban, rural), sex and age groups of patients. Basing on these data the prevalence of taeniasis per 100,000 of citizens was calculated. The study presents also the prevalence of taeniasis according to the species. RESULTS: In the studied period 337 cases of infestation of tapeworms were registered. The incidence of taeniasis in the consecutive years tended to be decreasing. The incidence of taeniasis decreased from 10.33 cases per 100.000 of population in 1994 to 3.52/100.000 in 1998. The incidence rate was higher in urban residents than in rural residents. In the whole analyzed period 82% of cases were noted in patients aged 20-59; however, the highest incidence of taeniasis (30%) was observed in patients aged 40-49 years. Taenia saginata turned out to be the prevalent species. The percentage of unclassified taeniasis (Taenia species) was only 3.3% in the analyzed period of time. It is necessary to improve the accessibility of efficient health care units in the rural environment to make the evaluation of incidence of taeniasis reliable. CONCLUSIONS: Taeniasis, despite its lower prevalence in the consecutive years, is still an epidemiological problem. Better access to effective health care institutions in the rural area is extremely important for reliable evaluation of prevalence of tapeworm infestation.

Adolescent↗

Gastrointestinal worm infections. The prevalence and treatment in Australia.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal worm (helminth) infections occur in a large proportion of the world's population, often constituting public health problems, and are occasionally encountered by practitioners in urban Australia. Prevalence levels in some remote Australian Aboriginal communities compare with those in developing countries. OBJECTIVE: To provide general practitioners with a brief outline of the most common human intestinal helminthiases, their usual clinical presentations and how they are diagnosed and managed. DISCUSSION: The pinworm, Enteroblus vermicularis, occurs in all populations, and is the most common species of nematode encountered in suburbia. Eradication is impossible, but its numbers can be kept low in those children who seem predisposed to heavy, symptomatic infections. The other nematodes are prevalent in some remote Australian Aboriginal communities, and are encountered occasionally in travellers from overseas. These infections are often asymptomatic, they cannot spread directly to other people and so do not pose any public health threat to the general community under suburban living conditions. The tapeworms are encountered even less frequently, except for Hymenolepis, the dwarf tapeworm, which is prevalent in some Aboriginal communities.

Animals↗