Development of T-cell immune response in experimental murine trichinellosis
E. Dvorožňáková1, M. Kołodziej-Sobocińska2, Z. Hurníková1
1Parasitological Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovak Republic, E-mail: dvoroz@saske.sk; 2Institute of Parasitology PAS, Twarda 51/55, 00 818 Warsaw, Poland
Summary
Cellular response of mice Balb/c to the infection with 400 larvae of Trichinella spiralis and the parasite recovery in the host were examined during 180 days post infection (p.i.). Numbers of T. spiralis adults in small intestine were gradually reduced from the beginning of the infection (304.5 ± 40.5 per mouse) up to day 30 p.i. (20.3 ± 3.6 per mouse). Muscle larvae were present from day 20 p.i. in numbers of 15908.3 ± 2420.3 per mouse. The rapid increase and high numbers of larvae were found from day 30 p.i. (114520.0 ± 15419.9) till the end of the examination (100139.3 ± 4026.6). Both splenic T and B lymphocytes responded to nonspecific mitogens (concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide) with increased proliferative activity even at the beginning of the infection, with the maximum on days 30 and 45 p.i., respectively. However, B lymphocytes were more stimulated during the muscle phase of the infection (after day 20 p.i.). Splenic CD4+ T subpopulation was reduced till day 20 p.i. and their numbers increased after day 30 p.i. The subpopulation of CD8+ T cells was already increased on day 15 p.i. The enhancement of serum IFN-g concentration (Th1 type) till day 45 p.i. was changed to the decline until day 90 p.i. The production of serum cytokine IL-5 (Th2 type) was biphasic, reaching peaks on days 10 and 90 p.i. Results suggest that the T. spiralis infection induced the increase of function activity of immunocompetent T and B cells, as well as the presence of splenic CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes. Th2 immune response was predominant during the intestinal (till day 30 p.i.) and chronic phase of the infection (after day 90 p.i.), but Th1 type reaction was activated during the migratory phase of larvae till their encapsulation.
HELMINTHOLOGIA, 42, 4: 197-204, 2005
Efficacy of praziquantel and liposome entrapped glucan on larval Mesocestoides vogae infection in mice, the type I and III collagen distribution and collagen content in the liver
S. VELEBNÝ, G. HRČKOVÁ
Parasitological Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovak Republic, E-mail: veleb@saske.sk
Summary
The larvicidal effect of praziquantel (PZQ), liposomized glucan (LG) alone or co-administered with PZQ and im-pact of these drugs on collagen content and distribution in the liver of mice infected with Mesocestoides vogae tetrathyridia was investigated on days 1, 7 and 14 after treatment (i.e. on days 16, 22 and 29 post infection, p.i.). Drugs were administered in acute phase of infection from day 13 to day 15 p.i. The highest larvicidal effect in the liver and peritoneal cavity of mice was found during the first week after co-administration of PZQ and LG and was inversely related to collagenesis in the liver. Co-administration of these drugs did not increase collagen content in comparison with control. However, in spite of the increased total collagen content in the liver of PZQ- and LG-treated mice, biodegradable type III collagen was observed in the greater measure than the cross-linked type I collagen in these groups in comparison with control mice. We suppose that stimulation of various hepatic cell types with glucan targeted to the liver by means of liposomes and reversibility of hepatic fibrogenesis after treatment could enhance the defence processes of mice infected with M. vogae tetrathyridia.
HELMINTHOLOGIA, 42, 4: 205-209, 2005
The occurrence of sheep gastrointestinal parasites in the Slovak Republic
D. Čerňanská, M. Várady, J. Čorba
Parasitological Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovak Republic, E-mail: cernanska@saske.sk
Summary
The occurrence of sheep gastrointestinal parasites was assessed on 37 sheep farms in the Slovak Republic from June to November 2003 and 2004. The sheep farms carried mainly Tsigaja, Valachian and Merino breeds. A total of 1519 sheep faecal samples were analysed in order to deter-mine the presence of parasite eggs on surveyed farms. Strongyle eggs were identified in 1255 samples (82.6 %), Nematodirus spp. in 481 samples (31.7 %), Strongyloides papillosus in 431 samples (28.4 %) Moniezia spp. in 291 samples (19.2 %) and Trichuris spp. in 148 samples (9.7 %). In 27 out of 37 examined sheep farms coprocultures were prepared and the third stage larvae were morphologically identified. Teladorsagia/Ostertagia spp. (100 % of farms), Trichostrongylus spp. (92.6 % of farms), Chabertia spp. (81.5 % of farms) and Oesophagostomum spp. (70.4 % of farms) were the most prevalent genera. High numbers of surveyed farms carried also other genera as Haemon-chus spp. (48.1 % of farms), Cooperia spp. (37.0 % of farms), Nematodirus spp. (22.2 % of farms) and Bunostomum spp. (18.5 % of farms). Teladorsagia/Ostertagia spp. were the most dominant genera on 17 out of 27 sheep farms. Trichostrongylus spp. was dominant on 4 farms, Chabertia spp. on 3 farms, Haemonchus spp. on 2 farms and Oesophagostomum spp. on 1 farm. Mean values of strongyle eggs per gram (EPG) varied from 0 to maximum value of 3731.4.
HELMINTHOLOGIA, 42, 4: 211-214, 2005
Efficacy of ivermectin in calves in a farm occurring sudden-death type of strongyloidosis
M. A. O. Almeida1, C. Usa2, S. Ura3, N. Taira4, K. Taira5
1Parasitology Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Ondina, Bahia 40.210, Brazil; 2Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Natural Resources, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkla 90112, Thailand; 3Kyodoken Institute, 585 Shimoitabashi, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto 612-8073, Japan; 4Kyushu Research Station, National Institute of Animal Health, 2702 Chuzan-cho, Kagoshima-shi 891-0105, Japan; 5Animal Health Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1 Chuo, Ami-machi, Ibaraki 300-0393, Japan, E-mail: kta@nibs.or.jp
Summary
A field study of an anthelmintic evaluation against Strongyloides papillosus (SPL) infection in calves was carried out at a farm afflicted with sudden-death. Thirty-six calves with 15800 to 191200 SPL eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) were subcutaneously injected at least once with ivermectin at 0.1 mg or 0.2 mg/kg body weight (BW). After the medication, 2 calves died, one after 4 and the other after 17 hrs. However, the other calves showed EPG reductions ranging from 94.4 % to 100 % at 3 days after medication. Ivermectin injected once with the dose of 0.1 mg/kg or 0.2 mg/kg BW resulted in a SPL-EPG reduction and also had a restorative effect against the sudden-death type of strongyloidosis.
HELMINTHOLOGIA, 42, 4: 215-218, 2005
The gizzard worm, Amidostomum acutum (Lundahl, 1848) Seurat, 1918 in common eiders (Somateria mollissima L.) in the Netherlands
F. H. M. Borgsteede
Animal Sciences Group WUR, Division Infectious Diseases, Laboratory for Parasitic Diseases, P.O. Box 65 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands, E-mail: fred.borgsteede@wur.nl
Summary
A study was made on the prevalence of Amidostomum acutum in the gizzard of the common eider (Somateria mollissima L.) in the Netherlands. The investigated birds were found dead along the Dutch coast in the winter of 2001/ 2002. From the dead birds collected at two localities, the North Sea coast near the Hondsbossche Zeewering and the Wadden Sea coast of the isle Texel, 50 eiders were selected. These 50 birds consisted of ten adult males, ten adult females, 15 juvenile males and 15 juvenile females. All birds were infected with A. acutum. The number of worms varied from four to 826. There were no significant differences in worm numbers in birds from both localities. Adult birds had significantly more worms (av. 150) than juveniles (48). Adult males had significantly more worms (av. 202) than adult females (98). These differences were found in both localities. The possible role of A. acutum in the mass mortality among the eiders is discussed.
HELMINTHOLOGIA, 42, 4: 219-222, 2005
Research Note
Changes in the parasitic fauna of rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus (L.) from Lake Warniak, Poland
E. DZIKA
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warmia and Mazury, Oczapowskiego 5, 10-957 Olsztyn, Poland, E-mail: e.dzika@.uwm.edu.pl
Summary
During the years 1998 – 1999 the fauna of helminthes of rudd from Warniak lake was studied. In total 87 specimens of fish were examined. Twelve species of parasites belonging to various systematic groups were found (Monogenea – 3, Digenea – 6 and Acanthocephala, Nematoda and Crustecea – 1 species each). Diplostomum sp. (mc) and Ornithodiplostomum scardinii (mc) (Schulman, 1952) were the do-minating species. Dactylogyrus difformis (Wagener, 1857), D. difformoides (Gläser et Gusev, 1971) and Neoechinorhynchus rutili (Müller, 1780) were common. The other species: Posthodiplostomum cuticola (Nordmann, 1832) (mc) Ergasilus sieboldi (Nordmann, 1832), Dactylogyrus fallax (Wagener, 1857), Tylodelphys clavata (Nordmann, 1832) (mc), Ichthyocotylurus sp. (mc), Phyllodistomum sp. and Raphidascaris acus (l) (Bloch, 1779) were present ra-rely or sporadically. The presence of parasites of rudd from Lake Warniak during the years 1979 – 1984 and 1998 – 1999 was compared and the differences were discussed.
HELMINTHOLOGIA, 42, 4: 223-232, 2005
Nematode communities of river banks and adjacent meadows in the Slovak Republic
M. LIŠKOVÁ, A. ČEREVKOVÁ
Parasitological Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovak Republic, E-mail: cerev@saske.sk
Summary
An investigation of the nematode communities of river banks and adjacent meadows of five localities in the Slovak Republic was conducted. The specific structure included 111 species from 67 genera in river banks and 66 species from 49 genera in meadows. The species Paramphidelus uniformis, Mononchus aquaticus, Ogma danubiale, Sphaeronema sp. and Tylolaimophorus sp. from river banks vegetation and Campydora demonstrans from meadows are new for the fauna of the Slovak Republic. In river banks and adjacent neighbouring meadows a high variability in taxa diversity between both ecosystems was recorded with higher taxa diversity in soil of river banks. This was associated with the occurrence of taxa preferring wet soil conditions with river bank vegetation. Such were Ach-romadora terricola, Paratrophurus bursifer, Hemicycliophora spp., Longidorus poessneckensis, Xiphinema diversicaudatum, Trichodorus variopapillatus, and many others. Specific and genera diversity did not correlate with the abundance of nematodes. In both types of ecosystems plant parasitic nematodes dominated (more than 50 % of total abundance), mainly with preponderance of Helicotylenchus spp., in some localities of river banks with preponderance of genera Tylenchorhynchus, Longidorus, and Trichodorus. The plant feeders were followed in domination by bacterial feeders in both ecosystems. Higher proportion of omnivores was observed in meadows, joined with preponderance of dorylaimid nematodes. Higher proportion of predators in river banks was associated with preponderance of mononchid nematodes. Indices of species and genera diversity (H´spp and H´gen) reflected variations in nematode diversity in both types of ecosystems. Although the average indices MI, PPI and ratio MI/PP indicate maturity and stability of natural ecosystems studied, the diversity of ecological indices within individual localities presents heterogenity of nematode communities, which can be in each particular locality influenced in different ways, mostly by fluctuation of water level in soil caused by unstable water level of rivers and by inundations.
HELMINTHOLOGIA, 42, 4: 233-245, 2005
A survey of helminth species originally described from the territory of Slovakia supplemented by a list of the type material deposited in the East-Slovakian Museum (Východoslovenské múzeum) in Košice
V. DUDIŇÁK, M. ŠPAKULOVÁ
Parasitological Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovak Republic, E-mail: dudinak@saske.sk
Summary
On the territory of Slovakia, 61 helminth species have been originally described to date. Out of them, 50 are still valid while 11 were synonymised or were recognised to be species inquirenda. The type and other collected material of helminth species, parasitizing animals and plants, had been deposited in the Helminthological Collection of the Parasitological Institute SAS in Košice until 1996. Then the collection has been transferred to the East-Slovakian Mu-seum, Hviezdoslavova 3, Košice (E-mail: vsmuz@stonline. sk) where it is available for scientific loans. Additionally, types of other helminth species from Argentina, Cuba, Georgia, Italy and Spain are also deposited in the Museum collection. The present paper publishes detailed information on type material in the East-Slovakian Museum as well as the complete list of the helminth species originally described in Slovakia. Families of helminths are arranged according to papers and books of Khalil et al. (1994), De Ley and Blaxter (2002), Olson and Littlewood (2002) and Olson et al. (2003).