Lake Teletskoye (West Siberia, Russia) is inhabited by a sympatric pair of whitefish, with each member of the pair being characterized by different feeding habits. Coregonus lavaretus pidschian (Gmelin, 1789) is a large ‘benthivorous’ form, while C. l. pravdinellus (Dulkeit, 1949) is a small ‘planktivorous’ form. Fish were collected from the end of August to the middle of September in 2017 and 2019–2020 in the north part of Lake Teletskoye. For the ‘benthivorous’ form the prevalence, intensity and abundance of T. crassus ranged from 22.4% to 51.9%, 1.9–2.8 and 0.4–1.3, respectively, whereas the same indices for the ‘planktivorous’ form ranged from 94.7% to 97.5%, 4.2–4.8 and 4.0–4.7, respectively. The level of prevalence of infection and abundance of T. crassus in muscle was relatively stable among studied years for both forms. The level of prevalence was higher in the years 2019 and 2020 than in 2017 for the ‘benthivorous’ form, whereas for the ‘planktivorous’ form this index did not change during the studied years. For the first time, a partial sequencing of the cox1 gene (593 bp) for T. crassus was sequenced. All 15 plerocercoids of T. crassus were represented by four haplotypes.

In this study, the excretory–secretory products (ESP) of the daughter sporocysts of Vesicocoelium solenophagum (Trematoda) and plasma proteins of its host, Sinonovacula constricta were characterized by sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) and gelatin-substrate gel analyses, and the relationships between them were analysed using immunoblotting. Proteinase activity was detected in the ESP from daughter sporocysts of V. solenophagum. Some polypeptides of the ESP were found to be recognized by antiserum, raised against plasma from non-infected S. constricta, suggesting that the ESP may mimic host molecules (molecular mimicry). In contrast, neither the obvious proteinase activity nor the binding to the antisera was observed for the soluble proteins of daughter sporocyst, indicating that the ESP may play a important role in the parasite–host relationship. Although the plasma of infected S. constricta contained polypeptides that were similar to the plasma of non-infected bivalves, increased quantities of proteins at >170 kDa, 15 kDa and decreased quantities at 60 kDa were observed in the plasma of infected bivalves. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that the plasma of infected bivalves had a faint reaction with both anti-non-infected plasma antisera and anti-sporocyst antisera. These results indicated that the structure and quantity of some polypeptides from the plasma of infected bivalves had changed because of the infection with V. solenophagum. The polypeptides between the plasma of bivalves from a non-epidemic area and that from an epidemic area were similar, but the former had more polypeptides of 170–220 kDa and much greater proteinase activity than the latter, suggesting that the increased polypeptides of 170–220 kDa and the high proteinase activity in plasma may be favourable for protecting the host from being invaded by the parasites.

Information concerning worm control practices of sheep and goat farmers in the region of Trikala (central Greece) was collected through a questionnaire survey by visiting farms and interviewing farmers. Questionnaires from 57 farmers residing in 23 rural communities were collected. Anthelmintics were used by 89% of the farmers. On average, lambs, kids and goats were treated once annually, while sheep were treated either once or twice annually. Only 2% of farmers reported treatment of animals with anthelmintics when moving to new pastures. The most common broad-spectrum anthelmintics used were those belonging to the benzimidazoles and probenzimidazoles. Fifty nine percent of the farmers used the same anthelmintic group for 3 or more years and 34% used two or more anthelmintic groups in the same year. Almost all farmers reported estimating live weights for calculating anthelmintic doses through visual perception on the basis of an average weight (96%). Tablets and boluses were the most preferred anthelmintic formulation used by 96% of farmers. The selection of an anthelmintic was based for 58% of farmers on recommendation by a veterinarian and for 39% of farmers on the cost of the drug. The most common occasions for deworming the animals were at turn out (86%) and after parturition (31%). Only 6% of farmers reported deworming new animals before introducing them onto the farm. Farmers preferred to seek information about the use of anthelmintics and worm control strategies from veterinarians (63%) and other farmers (37%).

Trichinellosis is a re-emerging worldwide foodborne zoonosis. Oxidative stress is one of the most common detrimental effects caused by trichinellosis. In addition, Trichinella infection poses an infinite and major challenge to the host’s immune system. Resistance and side effects limit the efficiency of the existing anti-trichinella medication. Given that concern, this work aimed to investigate the anti-helminthic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of resveratrol and zinc during both phases of Trichinella spiralis infection. Sixty-four Swiss albino mice were divided into four equal groups: non-infected control, infected control, infected and treated with resveratrol, and infected and treated with zinc. Animals were sacrificed on the 7th and 35th days post-infection for intestinal and muscular phase assessments. Drug efficacy was assessed by biochemical, parasitological, histopathological, immunological, and immunohistochemical assays. Resveratrol and zinc can be promising antiparasitic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory agents, as evidenced by the significant decrease in parasite burden, the significant improvement of liver and kidney function parameters, the increase in total antioxidant capacity (TAC), the reduction of malondialdehyde (MDA) level, the increase in nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like-2 factor expression, and the improvement in histopathological findings. Moreover, both drugs enhanced the immune system and restored the disturbed immune balance by increasing the interleukin 12 (IL-12) level. In conclusion, resveratrol and zinc provide protection for the host against oxidative harm and the detrimental effects produced by the host’s defense response during Trichinella spiralis infection, making them promising natural alternatives for the treatment of trichinellosis.

Taenia solium is the most common parasite infection of the brain, causing neurocysticercosis and typically found in rural communities with free-ranging pigs. Identification of transmission in rural areas is essential for its control. Risk factors and transmission of the parasite were evaluated in three rural Venezuelan communities (Valle del Rio and Potrero Largo, Cojedes state; and Palmarito, Portuguesa state) by a questionnaire (112 households) and coprological (492 samples) and serological (433 human and 230 porcine sera) analysis, respectively. Typical risk factors were found in all three communities: free-foraging pig husbandry, deficient sanitary conditions, high open defecation and ignorance of the parasite life cycle. Coprological examinations revealed a high level of soil-transmitted parasites. Importantly, two T. solium adult worm carriers were identified in each of the three communities. Anti-metacestode antibodies and the HP10 secreted metacestode glycoprotein were detected at significant levels in human and porcine sera in Valle del Rio, Potrero Largo and Palmarito. In conclusion, these communities may be considered to be endemic for taeniasis/cysticercosis, and the instigation of an appropriate control programme is recommended.

Isozyme patterns of six enzymes, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glucosephosphate isomerase, hexokinase, malate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and phosphoglucomutase were examined in electrophoresed homogenates of adult male worms of Schistosoma japonicum and S. mansoni. In general, enzyme patterns obtained from the parasite homogenates differed from that of host (mouse) blood and muscle, indicating that electrophoretic patterns from parasite extracts are most probably of parasite origin. Adult male and female S. mansoni worms yielded identical patterns. However, all six enzyme patterns showed distinct differences between S. japonicum and S. mansoni. These results suggest that S. japonicum is clearly distinguishable from S. mansoni at the molecular level.

Methods are discussed for greatly increasing the cyst content of Helerodera-intested soil, so that very little soil need be “floated” to provide the number of cysts necessary to form a replicate in bioassay. Such a “float” contains very little debris and may be used directly, thus avoiding the laborious and time-consuming step of separating the cysts from the debris. An apparatus for quick recovery of the “float” is described.

The following note is based on a sample of Filariae collected by Dr. W. Stefanski (University of Warsaw) from the trachea of a Black Stork shot in the neighbourhood of Warsaw and generously placed by him at my disposal.

The nematicidal activity of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) on the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita was tested. Dried plant methanol extract presented higher nematicidal activity than fresh plant extracts with an EC50 = 62.6 ± 26.0 and 40.8 ± 26.1 μg/ml after 48 and 72 hours of immersion, respectively. GC-MS analysis showed the presence of 17 aldehydes, with salicylaldehyde (o-hydroxybenzaldehyde) being the most abundant at 16%. Nematicidal activity of the latter and other aldehydes with chemical similarities was then assessed. The most active aldehyde was o-hydroxybenzaldehyde followed by m-hydroxybenzaldehyde, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and benzeneacetaldehyde with an EC50 of about 11.0 ± 1.0, 31.0 ± 22.0, 75.0 ± 23.0 and 168.1 ± 52.3 μg/ml after 1 day of immersion, respectively. Position 2 of the hydroxyl group in the benzene ring seems to be very important for the nematicidal activity, followed by positions 3 and 4. As a complementary experiment, synergistic activity was observed when we added o-hydroxybenzaldehyde to m-hydroxybenzaldehyde and to p-hydroxybenzaldehyde with an EC50 after 24 hours of immersion of 8.0 ± 2.5 and 6.1 ± 2.3 μg/ml, respectively. Antioxidant activity assessment showed that this latter is inversely proportional to nematicidal activity. Our results showed that F. esculentum and its major compound salicylaldehyde could be integrated into the pest management system.

The four species of the genus Strongylus Müller, 1780, namely, S. equinus, S. edentatus, S. vulgaris and S. asini were examined with the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The buccal cavity of each species was cut transversely and longitudinally and the scanning electron micrographs illustrate the shape of the buccal cavity and the dorsal gutter. The micrographs also show the presence of denticles near the oral rim of the buccal cavity of S. edentatus and the shape of the teeth in the buccal cavity of S. equinus, S. vulgaris and S. asini. The bursa of the four species has three symmetrical lobes, one dorsal and two lateral. The length of the three lobes in relation to each other varies between the species. The genital cone has a single large ventral papilla, a pair of dorsal raylets, a median dorsal cuticular appendage and a variety of cuticular appendages lateral and ventral to the cloaca. The development and arrangement of these components differs between the four species of the genus and can be used as a supportive character for specific identification.

A comparative study on the pathogenicity of two strains of Schistosoma mansoni one from Bor District and the other from the Gezira in the Sudan, using Cercopithecus aethiops monkeys as experimental hosts. The results, which were based on the assessment of various clinical, parasitological and pathological parameters, indicated that Bor strain was responsible for a more severe type of disease than its Gezira counterpart. Monkeys infected with Bor parasite generally revealed higher worm and egg loads, more marked changes inHb content and body weight gain and more extensive lesions in the liver and two monkeys died.

In the Sudan, it has often been noted that the disease produced by Schistosoma mansoni, as observed among patients from Bor District in the Southern Region, is far more severe than that usually encountered in those from the Gezira in the northern part of the country. These two areas which are about 500 miles apart differ widely in their climate, indigenous population, and social and economic status. It has been suspected that differences in the pathogenicity of the local S. mansoni strains may be one of the important factors determining the clinical presentation of the disease. Accordingly, a comparison of these two strains was undertaken, using the green monkey, Cercopithecus aethiops, as an experimental model. These animals varied in their response to the schistosomal infection, irrespective of the strain used, but the group infected with the Bor strain generally suffered from a more severe illness than their counterparts infected with the Gezira form of the parasite. This was evidenced by the higher worm and egg loads, and consequently the more severe clinical and pathological effects shown by the former group.

A Few specimens of the Trichostrongyle, described in this paper, were obtained from the intestine of moles caught on the experimental farm of the Institute of Agricultural Parasitology, St. Albans.

A detailed redescription of Gazellostrongylus lerouxi and Paracooperia serrata was given from specimenscollected from antelopes in Kenya. It was felt that there was no justification for the synonymy of the genus Gazellostrongylus with Paracooperia. Gazellostrongylus was placed in the tribe Ostertagiea.

A number of helminths from a small bat from a cave in Northern Rhodesia were presented by Dr. P. L. leRoux to the author for study. The collection of consisted of about twenty specimens of one species of trematode, Prosthodendrium cordiforme; the rest were nematodes, namely, two males and three females of Molinostrongylus pseudornatus sp. nov., at least one species of filarial worm, one species of Capillaria and one or two species of trichostrongylid nematodes. Only the first two helminth species mentioned above were studied in detail. The others, for one reason or another, were inadequate for detailed study.

Dissolved carbon dioxide was deemed not to be an important factor in the activation of Taenia taeniaeformis oncospheres. Rabbit bile was found to provide the most appropriate whole bile for in vitro activation of oncospheres

Experimental completion of the life-cycle of Paragonimus westermani (Trematoda: Troglotrematidae) (diploid type) from egg to adult has been achieved in the laboratory for the first time. A dog was fed metacercariae of P. westermani from naturally infected freshwater crabs, Geothelphusa dehaani. The adult flukes were recovered and their eggs were incubated in water at 28°C, hatching after 20 days. Laboratory reared marsh snails, Semisulcospira libertina, were exposed to miracidia from embryonated eggs. One of 47 snails became infected with a large number of 2nd generation rediae containing fully mature cercariae 245 days after exposure. Paragonimus-free crabs (G. dehaani) were then infected with the intramolluscan larvae. Of the 40 crabs examined 34–70 days after infection, 17 were infected with a total of 84 metacercariae. A cat and 4 dogs were fed with 55 metacercariae obtained. Eighty to 100 days later, a total of 40 flukes was recovered; 39 flukes were adults with eggs in their Uteri.

Five Macaca mulatta were each inoculated with 200 larvae of Brugia pahangi. One monkey showed no microfilariae and the other 4 only low and transient microfilaraemias. Another group of 5 monkeys were each given an original 200 larvae and 11 further infections with 50 larvae but no better microfilaraemias were obtained. These monkeys were killed between 176 and 185 days later and no adult worms could be found. A few adult worms were found in two further monkeys killed 60 days after infection.

Brugia pahangi infects mammalian hosts of several orders but the only primate found naturally infected is Nycticebiis coucang (Laing et al., 1960, Ash and Riley, 1970). Edeson et al. (1960) tried to infect Macaca inis, M. nemestrina, M. mulatta and N. coucang but were only able to detect microfilariae in N. coucang. On the other hand, B. malayi (sub-periodic strain) infects primates much more readily (Laing et al., 1960) in nature. Fredericks and Ramachandran (1968) successfully infected 26 of 27 M. mulatta with B. malayi.

The activities of selected enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism were measured in tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides corti and in adult females and males of Heterakis spumosa. When the species were compared, only lactate dehydrogenase and phosphoenolphyruvate carboxykinase activities were considerably higher in M. corti. Activities of other enzymes were higher in H. spumosa, with malate dehydrogenase activity being considerable so. In H. spumosa, enzyme activity was higher, and succinate dehydrogenase markedly so in males, when compared with females. Tetrathyridia aged 170 and 210 days show relatively stable malate and lactate dehydrogenase activities, and mice of ICR and BALB/c strains are suitable for the maintenance of tetrathyridia.

The total DNA of two morphologically similar cestode species of the genus Proteocephalus parasitizing coregonid and salmonid fish, P. exiguus La Rue, 1911 and P. neglectus La Rue, 1911, was compared. The methods of DNA analysis involved digestion of the total DNA with restriction endonucleases and Southern blotting hybridization with the ribosomal DNA probes pSM 889, pSM 389 and pSM 890. No inter-specific variation was found between the two proteocephalid species. Distinct differences in RFLP patterns were recorded between two geographically distinct population of P. neglectus after BspRI digestion; after EcoRI digestion and following hybridization with the 32P-labelled probe pSM 890 and after BamHI digestion and hybridization with the 32P-labelled probe pSM 889. The high degree of genetic similarity revealed in the two Proteocephalus spp. could be a further argument for the conspecifity of both taxa.

A number of these specimens were available for study. They were collected from the stomach of Galago crassicaudatus agisymbanus (Coquerel) in Tanganyika Territory by Dr. W. H. R. Lumsden whom I wish to thank for the material.

These stout worms have a thick cuticle which is finely striated. The well-developed lateral lips are smooth, hemispherical, each possessing a large triangular external tooth and three smaller internal teeth. There are two prominent papillae towards the dorsal and ventral margins of each lip. The cervical cuticle forms a collar round the anterior end.