Angiostrongylus cantonensis can invade the central nervous system, leading to human eosinophilic meningitis or eosinophilic meningoencephalitis. Curcumin is a natural product which has the effects of anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation and anti-carcinogensis, while the administration of curcumin has been reported to possibly relieve the symptoms of meningitis. The present study tested the potential efficacy of curcumin in A. cantonensis-induced eosinophilic meningitis of BALB/c mice. Assay indicators for the therapeutic effect included the larvicidal effect, eosinophil counts and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity in angiostrongyliasis. Eosinophils were mildly reduced in treatment groups compared with infected-untreated mice. However, there were no significant differences in larvicidal effects or MMP-9 activity. This study suggests that anti-inflammatory treatment with curcumin alone has low efficacy, but the treatment does not interfere with MMP-9 expression and is not useful for larvicidal effects. The possible reasons include low curcumin across the blood–brain barrier and also those larvae that survive stimulate MMP-9 production, which promotes blood–brain barrier damage, with leukocytes then crossing the blood–brain barrier to cause meningitis. Further studies will be required to test these possibilities.

Single and double infections of juvenile Omphiscola glabra (Gastropoda: Lymnaeidae) with Paramphistomum daubneyi and/or Fasciola hepatica were carried out to determine the redial burden and cercarial production in snails dissected at day 60 or at day 75 post-exposure (p.e.) in the laboratory at 20°C. The results were compared with those obtained with single-miracidium infections by Fascioloides magna. Compared to F. hepatica, low values were noted at day 75 p.e. for the prevalence of snail infections with P. daubneyi (4.6–8.3% instead of 23.6–25.9%), the total number of free rediae (10.7–17.9 per snail instead of 26.3–34.7), and that of free cercariae (112.8–136.9 per snail instead of 177.8–248.5). Despite a greater number of free rediae at day 75 p.e. (36.2–45.6 per snail), the prevalences of snail infections with F. magna and cercarial production were similar to those noted for F. hepatica. The results concerning F. hepatica and P. daubneyi might partly be explained by a progressive adaptation of O. glabra to sustain the larval development of these digeneans over the years, as this snail is a natural intermediate host of F. hepatica and P. daubneyi in central France since 1995. Compared with the high number of fully-grown rediae of F. magna in O. glabra, cercarial production seemed limited and this might be explained by the presence of high numbers of rediae which reduced the avaibility of nutrients for cercarial differentiation within the snail.

In a cross-sectional study, a total of 5381 slaughtered animals, namely 928 cattle, 243 buffaloes, 3765 sheep and 445 goats were inspected macroscopically for hydatid cysts in northwest Iran, with prevalence values of 38.3%, 11.9%, 74.4% and 20%, respectively, being recorded. Prevalences were higher in females compared with males, but a significant difference (P < 0.001) was only found in sheep and cattle. Most cases which were condemned were seen in the lungs of sheep (13.4%) indicating that sheep are the most important intermediate hosts for Echinococcus granulosus in this area.

The relative importance of ecology and evolution as factors determining species richness and composition of the helminth communities of fish is a matter of current debate. Theoretical studies use host–parasite lists, but these do not include studies on a temporal or spatial scale. Local environmental conditions and host biological characteristics are shown to influence helminth species richness and composition in four fish species (Eugerres plumieri, Hexanematichthys assimilis, Oligoplites saurus, and Scomberomorus maculatus) in Chetumal Bay, Mexico. With the exception of H. assimilis, the helminth communities had not been previously studied and possible associations between environmental and host biological characteristics as factors determining helminth species richness and composition using redundancy analysis (RDA) are described. Thirty-four helminth species are identified, with the highest number of species (19 total (mean = 6.3 ± 2.1)) and the lowest (9 (4.0 ± 1.0)) occurring in H. assimilis and S. maculatus, respectively. The larval nematodes Contracaecum sp. and Pseudoterranova sp. were not only the helminth species shared by all four host species but also were the most prevalent and abundant. Statistical associations between helminth community parameters and local ecological variables such as host habitat use, feeding habits, mobility, and time of residence in coastal lagoons are identified. Phylogeny is important because it clearly separates all four host species by their specialist parasites, although specific habitat and feeding habits also significantly influence the differentiation between the four fish species.

Five species of monogeneans were recovered from the gill filaments of 181 chub mackerel, Scomber japonicus, from the Madeiran waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal, during 2004/2005. The monogenean Pseudokuhnia minor showed the highest prevalence (98.68%) and a mean intensity of 28.23, followed by Kuhnia scombri (prevalence of 43.71% and mean intensity of 2.69) and K. scombercolias (prevalence of 39.1% and a mean intensity of 1.81). Kuhnia sprostonae and Grubea cochlear were rare, occurring in only one and five fish hosts respectively. No correlation between fish host length and mean intensity of infection with the three most abundant monogeneans was found. However, significant differences in prevalence and abundance were found in relation to date of sampling for P. minor, and all parasites were aggregated in their distribution.

In Thailand, infection with the liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini is a serious health problem, with over 8.6 million human infections each year. Early stage biliary intrahepatic migration and infection of O. viverrini in the Syrian golden hamster were used to study the growth and development of this fluke. Fifty metacercariae of O. viverrini were introduced into each hamster by gastric intubation. Worms were found to migrate rapidly from the stomach to the gall bladder and hepatic duct, where they remained in relatively constant numbers until the end of week 8. Sexual development of worms was rapid, with full development of the uterus and testes by one and one half weeks and the appearance of eggs in the uterus by the beginning of the third week of infection. Worm growth as indicated by body length had ceased by week 8. Hamsters demonstrated development of a full reproductive cycle with in three to four weeks, and this generation continued until 8 weeks.

To understand the characteristic features of the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus, as an animal model of ascarid infections, the migration behaviour and pathogenesis of larvae were investigated in experimentally infected gerbils. Embryonated eggs from each of Toxocara canis,Baylisascaris procyonis, B. transfuga, Ascaris suum, and A. lumbricoides were orally inoculated into gerbils and larvae were recovered from various organs at designated periods. In T. canis-infected gerbils, larvae were present in the liver 3 days after infection and in the skeletal muscle and brain via the heart and lungs at a similar rate. In B. procyonis- and B. transfuga-infected gerbils, larvae were present in the lungs within 24 h after infection, with some having reached the brain by that time. After 24 h, larvae of B. procyonis tended to accumulate in the brain, while those of B. transfuga accumulated in skeletal muscles. In A. suum- and A. lumbricoides-infected gerbils, larvae remained in the liver on day 5 post-infection and elicited pulmonary haemorrhagic lesions, which disappeared 7 days after initial infection. Thereafter, no larvae of any type were recovered. Ocular manifestations were frequently observed in T. canis- and B. procyonis infected gerbils, but were rare in B. transfuga-infected gerbils. In the cases of A. suum and A. lumbricoides, migration to the central nervous system and eyes was extremely rare, and larvae had disappeared by 2 weeks post-infection. Fatal neurological disturbances were observed in B. procyonis-infected gerbils, whereas irreversible non-fatal neurological symptoms were observed in the case of B. transfuga.

In Finland during 2003–2005, large numbers of nematodes, tentatively identified as Setaria sp., were observed in the peritoneal cavity of reindeer Rangifer tarandus during a peritonitis outbreak associated with poor body condition. The morphology of worms recovered from slaughtered reindeer is described based on light and scanning electron microscopy. Worms were confirmed as belonging to the superfamily Filarioidea by the presence of microfilariae-producing females and the size and the shape of the male spicules. Further classification to the genus Setaria was based on the location of worms in the peritoneal cavity and the morphology of spicules and the peribuccal crown. The present measurements correlate with those in the description of Setaria tundra by Rajewsky (1929) and only minor differences were present compared with descriptions of key parts of identification of S. yehi from the American white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus and mule deer O. hemionus. Current morphological findings support our earlier studies employing a polymerase chain reaction and confirm the occurrence S. tundra in reindeer in Finland.

Wood mice Apodemus sylvaticus were trapped each September over a 13-year period, from 1993 to 2005, in a wooded area adjacent to Malham Tarn, Yorkshire, UK. Plagiorchis muris was found to be the dominant intestinal trematode and occurred in every year of sampling, with an overall prevalence of 16.9%. This appears to be the first record of P. muris in A. sylvaticus within the UK. The mean worm burden was 2.03 and the distribution of the parasite within mice was typically overdispersed. No difference in prevalence relative to host sex was evident although there was a higher prevalence of 21.9% in larger older mice compared with 9.1% in juveniles, which probably relates to a greater foraging activity in older mice. Annual prevalence values of P. muris infections varied significantly over the study period with higher prevalences being associated with years with a high spring/summer rainfall. The second intermediate hosts for P. muris include a variety of aquatic insect larvae and it is likely that the higher rainfall may result in the occurrence of temporary water bodies suitable for the development of insect larvae.

A cross-sectional survey was undertaken to study the prevalence and intensity of infection with Toxocara cati in 100 stray cats, from April to October 2004 in urban areas of Sari, northern Iran. A total of 44 cats (44%) were found to be infected with T. cati. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of infection relative to host age and weight (P = 0.000). There was also a significant difference in the intensity of infection relative to body weight and urban sites (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between the prevalence of infection relative to host gender, urban sites and season (P>0.05), nor in the intensity of infection between host gender, age and season (P>0.05). The intensity of infection ranged from 1 to 32 worms per cat, with a mean of 7.30 ± 6.82.

A total of 549 birds from four orders were examined for nematodes in their respiratory system from 1995 to 2000. Twelve individuals of Falconiformes (n = 503), one of Gruiformes (n = 22) and one of Ciconiformes (n = 1), but no bird of the order Strigiformes (n = 23) were infected with syngamids. The syngamid species included Hovorkonema variegatum, Syngamus trachea and Cyathostoma trifurcatum from the trachea, bronchi and air sacs, with H. variegatum being the most prevalent. Cyathostoma trifurcatum from a black stork Ciconia nigra is a new record for Germany. The marsh harrier Circus aeruginosus and the white-tailed sea eagle Haliaeetus albicilla are new hosts for H. variegatum. Morphological characters such as the dorsal rays of the bursa copulatrix, length of the spicules and the mouth capsule are used to differentiate species of the family Syngamidae. Egg size is different between S. trachea and H. variegatum. In addition to morphological characters, the nucleotide sequence of the SSU ribosomal gene was determined for H. variegatum. Pairwise comparisons with the SSU sequence of S. trachea (AF036606) revealed sequence difference of 2.6%. The nucleotide sequence of the second internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal DNA for different populations of H. variegatum was also determined. Pairwise comparisons revealed two separate strains with a sequence difference of 14.0% to 14.5% suggesting the existence of a cryptic species. Pathological findings associated with H. variegatum were found in 7 of 12 cases and consisted of thickened air sac walls and lesions or granuloma at the site of attachment of the worm, which occasionally involved the underlaying tissues. Lymphoplasmocytic air sacculitis was the most prominent histological lesion found.

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique has been used for the differentiation of T. canis and T. cati eggs isolated from soil and previously identified from microscopical observations. The method, using specific primers for the identification of the two Toxocara species, was assessed in both the field and laboratory. Successful results were obtained when only a single or large numbers of eggs were recovered from 40 g soil samples. The method is sensitive, allows analysis of material independent of the stage of egg development and can be adapted for the recovery of other species of parasites from soil.

Faecal egg outputs and subsequent herbage larval contamination with third stage larvae (L3) of Ostertagia spp. and Oesophagostomum spp. from a herd of naturally infected sika deer Cervus nippon were examined in the same pasture in 2001/2002 in Lithuania. Sika deer were infected with Ostertagia circumcincta, O. kolchida, O. spiculoptera, Oesophagostomum radiatum, O. columbianum and O. venulosum. Faecal egg output in adult deer peaked in the spring during the periparturient period and also in late August, compared with a peak in egg output in calves during September to November. Herbage contamination with L3 of Ostertagia spp. peaked in June but larvae were not present on pastures from the end of September. Hence the highest risk of infection was in early born calves grazed on pastures in July. Infective larvae of Oesophagostomum spp. did not survive during the winter, but the nematodes were reintroduced onto the pastures by adult deer in the spring.

A total of 984 snails, comprising nine species, were collected from six areas in the Kafue wetlands between August and October 2003 to assess larval trematode infections. Of these, 135 (13.7%) were positive. Most trematode infections were recorded from Lymnaea natalensis (42.8%), which harboured four of the five morphologically different cercariae found. No trematodes were recovered from Bellamya capillata, Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Melanoides tuberculata, Physa acuta and Cleopatra nswendweensis. One snail (0.2%) of 416 Bulinus snails shed brevifurcate-apharyngeate distome cercariae while three (0.7%) shed amphistomes. Gymnocephalous and longifurcate-pharyngeate distome were the commonest types of cercariae recorded while xiphidiocercaria was the least common. The highest prevalence rates of F. gigantica (68.8%) and amphistomes (50.0%) in cattle (n = 101) were in Chiyasa while those in Kaleya had the lowest (9.1 and 18.2%, respectively). In most habitats, infections were recorded in both cattle and snails. Critical determinants of infection may have been the distance of settlements and/or cattle kraals, the number of animals in nearby homesteads and the presence of susceptible host snails. This study suggests that fascioliasis and amphistomiasis could be major constraints of cattle production in the Kafue wetlands because favourable factors were available to introduce and maintain the infections. It further provides a starting point for some comprehensive studies on snail-related aspects of transmission and snail host ecology in Zambia.

Proteinases released during the in vitro maintenance of asynchronous cultures of the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans were characterized on the basis of subunit composition, fluorogenic substrate specificity, inhibitor sensitivity and pH optima. Cysteine proteinases are present in the excretory–secretory products (ESP) as indicated by the hydrolysis of cathepsin fluorogenic substrates and confirmed by immunoblotting. Serine proteinases were predominant as indicated by substrate gel analysis and inhibitor studies. The presence of metallo-proteinases was also indicated by inhibitor studies. The optimal pH value for cysteine proteinases was 5.5, while serine proteinases were optimal at pH 8.0. As a control, cultures of Escherichia coli, the diet of C. elegans, were extracted separately and gave no evidence of overlap with C. elegans ESP. Cross reactivity between the ESP of C. elegans and antibodies raised against the ESP of the equine parasite Strongylus vulgaris indicated antigenic relatedness of a proteic epitope. This is the first study to characterize the ESP of C. elegans and to display its relatedness with that of S. vulgaris.

Game bird farming is associated with high parasite levels that reduce farm productivity, reduce survival after releasing, and may pose a health risk for natural populations. The efficacy of albendazole (orally, 20 mg kg− 1) was evaluated in farmed red-legged partridges naturally infected with the nematodes Aonchotheca caudinflata and Heterakis gallinarum. In treated birds body condition improved, nematode egg deposition was reduced and the proportion of gravid A. caudinflata females was reduced, but not the overall worm burdens. Albendazole was found to be 36.8% and 17.1% effective against A. caudinflata and H. gallinarum, respectively. These results indicate that the anthelmintic treatment used normally in Spanish partridge farms is not effective enough to avoid the introduction of parasites into the field after release.