The sudden occurrence of severe attacks of A. dipsaci on cultivated plants has never been completely explained. Goodey (1933 and 1936) has summarised the information on the subject of seed-borne infection by means of the seeds of cultivated and wild hosts. The same writer also suggests that weeds may play an important rôle in maintaining an active eelworm infestation in the soil by acting as hosts for strains of the eelworm capable of producing diseased conditions in cultivated crops.

It has been known for a number of years that potatoes, besides many other cultivated plants and weeds, are subject to attack from the eelworm, Anguillulina dipsaci.

In a study of the morphology of the posterior ends of O. tricuspis, it could firstly be recognized that not only the adult females but also the LII to LIV possess five cusps. They have apparently been partly overlooked by microscopic examination because of their appearance in different optical planes.

Enzyme electrophoresis was conducted on 10 Schistosoma mattheei adult worm samples, comprising 270 individuals, collected from cattle in the Eastern Transvaal Lowveld. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) was studied in all the samples and phosphoglucomutase (PGM) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) in five populations each. Only one population was polymorphic for G6PDH. In this population, in addition to the allele found in all the other samples, a second allele occurred with a similar Rf value to S. haematobium. The two alleles were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. MDH-1 exhibited two alleles. However, these alleles were not in equilibrium. In certain populations, heterozygotes occurred together with homozygotes of one of the alleles only. PGM was monomorphic in all the populations studied.

Ancylostoma ceylanicum and Nippostrongylus brasiliensis decarboxylated most of the amino acids examined, but only a few at signficant rates. The former nematode in general possessed higher activites. Striking differences between the two parasites were, however, noticed regarding the metabolism of some of the amino acids. For instance, while alanine followed by asparate produced highest amounts of 14CO2in the presence of A. ceylanicum, proline exhibited maximum decarboxlation in case of N. brasiliensis. Tyrosine, on the other hand, did not libreate detectable CO2with either parasite. Likewise, although large number of amino acids underwent transmination with 2-oxoglutarate, only some of them elicited appreciable activity for any two parasites.

The material comprises two immature females found in a baboon in Rhodesia. So far as I can gather from the available literature, they appear to be the first record of the genus Gigantorhynchus Hamann, 1892, emend. Yamaguti, 1963 in monkeys; moreover, they are a new locality record of this genus in Africa, since all the hitherto known species occur only in South America (Brazil, Venezuela and Peru).

Progamotaenia gynandrolinearis sp. nov. is described from the small intestine of Lagorchestes conspicillatus Gould, 1842 from Barrow I., Western Australia. It is distinguished from other species by the small number of testes arranged in a single transverse row. Progamotaenia lagorchestis (Lewis, 1914) is redescribed. The name Progamotaenia thylogale sp. nov. is proposed for a second species described previously under the name P. lagorchestis. Progamotaenia zschokkei (Janicki, 1905), Progamotaenia festiva (Rudolphi, 1819) and Progamotaenia villosa (Lewis, 1914) were also found in L. conspicillatus.

An anæmia, resembling pernicious anæmia, has been commonly associated with Dibothriocephalus latus infection in man, but the experimental evidence in support of clinical observation has not yet been forthcoming.

The presence of the cyclophyllidean cestode Rodentolepis straminea (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae), was confirmed by molecular DNA analysis from a wood mouse (Apodemussylvaticus) population inhabiting urban woodland in Salford, Greater Manchester (UK) with a prevalence of 27.8%. It would appear that the only previously published record of this species in A. sylvaticus in the British Isles is that from south-west Ireland, where 24% of the wood mice examined were infected with R. straminea. This species has been recorded in studies on A. sylvaticus in continental Europe. The current report represents a new record for R. straminea on mainland Britain and a first study of helminth parasites in an urban wood mouse population.

Mesocoelium malayanum sp.n. is described from the frog Rana macrodon, in Malaysia. Elongate body, broader anteriorly, measuring 1·900 (1·679–2·070) mm long by 0·404 (0·380–0·437) wide, tegument aspinose oral sucker 0·212 (0·200–0·228) by 0·202 (0·191–0·205), acetabulum 0·141 (0·132–0·150) by 0·139 (0·123–0·146), prepharynx present, oesophagus 0·115 (0·096–0·137), caeca reaching posterior ⅓ of body, anterior testis 0·097 (0·087–0·110) by 0·091 (0·087–0·100) dorsal to acetabulum, posterior testis 0·094 (0·087–0·101) by 0·092 (0·091–0·100), cirrus pouch 0·121 (0·111–0·130) by 0·047 (0·041–0·055), genital pore at left of midline of oesophagus just anterior to intestinal bifurcation, ovary 0·110 (0·091–0·127) by 0·089 (0·085–0·096) on left of body and posterior to acetabulum, vitelline glands with single follicles extending from intestinal bifurcation to ends of caeca, excretory vesicle I-shaped and eggs 0·040 (0·037–0·046) by 0·023 (0·022–0·024). Although morphologically related to M. maroccanum and M. meggitti, M. malayanum is considered to be a new species.

More than twenty years ago Schwartz (1911) described a disease of cultivated violets associated with eelworm attack. The plants were obtained from gardens at Greiz and Kreuznach in Germany and in all cases had distinct gall-like swellings at the bases of the leaf-stalks. As the disease progressed the leaves became smaller and smaller and the leaf-stalks shorter until, finally, an irregular, walnut-sized gall was produced the surface of which was covered with abortive buds. Schwartz drew attention to the similarity presented by such plants to the “cauliflower” condition in strawberry plants associated with the presence of Aphelenchoides fragariae. Goffart (1930) mentioned the fact that the disease persisted for a time in Germany; being reported in 1910–12 and 1915–17 but had not been recorded again up to 1930.

The occurrence of Bilharzia infection in Cyprus was first recorded by Dr. George A. Williamson in a paper entitled “Bilharzia hæmatobia in Cyprus,” published in the British Medical Journal of 27th September, 1902.

1. Eufilaria sergenti Seurat, 1921 is recorded from the areolar tissue of the legs and neck of the White-crested Jay-Thrush, Garrulax leucolophus from the Himalayas.

2. A new species of filarial worm Chandlerella braziliensis is described from the Green-billed Toucan from Brazil. It differs from other species of Chandlerella in the presence of small preanal papillae.

3. Chandlerella and Splendidofilaria which are considered as synonymous by some recent authors are considered to be valid genera by the present writer.

4. The genus Buckleyfilaria Singh, 1949 is shown to be a synonym of Pseudaprocta Shikhobalova, 1930, and the genotype becomes Pseudaprocta buckleyi (Singh, 1949) n.comb.

The parasite Cyathostomum pateratum, which occurs in the large intestine of equines, is a common species of the subfamily Cyathostominae. Cyathostominae nematodes are a complex nematode group for which only limited genetic information has been reported. To re-examine the phylogenetic relationships among Cyathostominae nematodes, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of Cy. pateratum and compared it with the mt genome of the congeneric species Cyathostomum catinatum. The complete mtDNA sequence of Cy. pateratum was 13,822 bp in length, 16 bp shorter than that of Cy. catinatum. The mtDNA sequences of both species contained 12 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes and 22 tRNA genes, and all 36 genes were transcribed in the same direction and in the same strand. Pairwise comparisons of the 12 predicted amino acid sequences between Cy. catinatum and Cy. pateratum revealed differences of 0.4–3.1%; the least conserved sequence was that of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 3 (cox3). Phylogenetic analysis of the concatenated amino acid sequences using Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods showed that Cy. catinatum and Cy. pateratum clustered together with very high nodal support, and Cylicostephanus goldi was closer to the Cyathostomum nematodes than to other Cyathostominae nematodes. The mtDNA sequence of Cy. pateratum is reported here for the first time. The study will shed some light on the genetic evolution among parasitic nematodes in Cyathostomum.

In spite of using aquatic snails as bioindicators for water pollution, little attention has been paid to the effect of parasitism upon the concentration of heavy metals (Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn) in these organisms. The present study therefore aimed to compare the concentrations of heavy metals in trematode-infected Biomphalaria alexandrina collected from Kafer Alsheikh and Menofia provinces, Egypt, with uninfected snails from the same sites, in order to assess the effect of parasitism on the use of these snails as bioindicators. The concentrations of heavy metals in the soft parts and shells of snails were measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The results showed that the heavy metal profile in snails infected with Echinostoma liei was very different from that in snails infected with Schistosoma mansoni. The total concentration of heavy metals in E. liei-infected snails collected from Kafer Alsheikh or Menofia province was greater than in uninfected snails. In contrast, the total concentration of heavy metals in S. mansoni-infected snails was reduced compared with uninfected snails. In conclusion, the status of snails with respect to parasitic infection must be taken into consideration when these snails are used as bioindicators.

In many tropical areas schistosomiasis is a major health problem causing hepatosplenic, intestinal or urogenital complaints. Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni is also characterized by blood coagulation abnormalities. Liver pathology plays a role in the development of haemostatic changes and the parasitic infection may directly affect coagulation. However, these contributing factors cannot be studied separately in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis infections. This pilot study provides insight in haemostatic changes in urinary schistosomiasis by studying coagulation parameters in schistosomiasis haematobium-infected Gabonese schoolchildren. Selection on urinary schistosomiasis patients without hepatosplenic complaints allows for the investigation of the direct effects of the parasite on haemostasis. Levels of von Willebrand Factor (VWF) antigen, active VWF and osteoprotegerin were elevated, indicating inflammation-mediated endothelial activation. In contrast to hepatosplenic schistosomiasis, thrombin–antithrombin complex and D-dimer levels were not affected. Despite its small sample size, this study clearly indicates that Schistosoma haematobium directly alters the activation status of the endothelium, without initiation of coagulation.

In a previous research work aimed at discovering natural helminthicides as alternatives to conventional synthetic drugs, Piper retrofractum fruit hexane extract (PHE) has been shown to possess promising nematocidal activity against the third-stage infective larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the chemical composition and the impact of PHE on symptom and structural alterations of S. stercoralis. Chemical analysis of PHE by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry demonstrated 26 different compounds, constituting 100% of the total composition. The main components were 4-acetylphenyl (4-benzoylphenoxy) acetate (14.86%) and octyl methoxycinnamate (12.72%). Nematocidal bioassays revealed promising potential of PHE against S. stercoralis larvae, with an LC50 value of 0.059 mg/ml, while the reference drug ivermectin exerted higher efficacy, with an LC50 value of 0.020 µg/ml. Behavioural observations under light microscopy revealed that PHE-treated S. stercoralis larvae moved slowly, became paralysed and eventually died during 24 h of incubation. The dead larvae appeared under light microscope as straight worms with unknown vacuoles of different sizes inside their internal bodies. Morphological alterations of the PHE-treated S. stercoralis larvae, such as straight bodies with swollen cuticle, faded transverse annulations and faded longitudinal striations, as well as shallow and smooth lateral longitudinal grooves, were seen clearly under scanning electron microscopy. Ultrastructural changes in the treated larvae, such as protruded lateral longitudinal grooves, loose muscle with vacuolation, dissociation between the hypodermis and cuticle and marked intracellular disorganization with vacuolation, were detected under transmission electron microscopy. The results of this study provide evidence that PHE is toxic against S. stercoralis and also a potential new alternative for anti-Strongyloides chemotherapy.

The development of metacestodes and adult worms of Taenia asiatica in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) were observed. Cysticerci were recovered from gerbils subcutaneously injected with hatched oncospheres. The recovery rate ranged from 0.1 to 3.2%. No cysticerci were recovered from the orally inoculated gerbils. The infectivity of the cysticerci recovered at 48 weeks post-infection was evaluated. Tapeworms were recovered on day 14 postinfection from the small intestine of 5 of 11 gerbils, with a recovery rate of 27% (6 worms recovered/22 worms inoculated). Three and four adult worms were recovered from two human volunteers who ingested five cysticerci after 4 months post-infection. In worms recovered from gerbils, segmentation and genital primordia in the posterior proglottids and hooklets in the residual rostellum were observed. The results indicate that gerbils can serve as an alternative intermediate host and that partial development of the adult worm stage occurs in gerbils.

During a survey of soil nematodes in Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town, a population of plectid nematodes belonging to the genus Anaplectus was recovered and proved to be a species new to science. Anaplectus deconincki n. sp. is characterized by female body length (612–932 μm), b = 4.6–5.2, c = 12.8–18.0, c’ = 2.6–3.1, V = 51–54, and tail length (43–63 μm). Males are characterized by body length (779–956 μm), b = 4.8–5.6, c = 13.9–16.7, c’ = 2.2–2.5, spicule length 33–39 μm, gubernaculum length 10–12 μm, and tail length (56–65 μm). Discriminant analysis clearly separated A. deconincki n. sp. from the other related species of Aanaplectus. The phylogenetic analysis placed Anaplectus deconincki n. sp. in a clade with 1.00 posterior probability values with other Anaplectus. Partial sequences of the 18S and 28S regions of the ribosomal DNA gene were amplified for Anaplectus deconincki n. sp., and 18S rDNA showed 99% similarity with an unidentified Anaplectus (AJ966473) and A. porosus (MF622934) from Belgium. In addition, 28S rDNA showed a 93% similarity with A. porosus from Belgium (MF622938) and a 98% similarity with A. granulosus from Germany (MF325171). Measurements, illustrations, and light microscopy pictures for Anaplectus deconincki n. sp. are given.

The European truffle beetle Leiodes cinnamomeus is the most important pest in black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) plantations. Current control methods against it are inefficient, so entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) could play an important role in their population regulation due to their efficacy against many soil-dwelling insect pests. A survey of EPNs and Pristionchus nematodes was conducted in truffle soils of Spain, considering environmental and physical–chemical soil factors. A total of 164 soil samples were collected from forests, productive plantations and null-low productive plantations, representing three distinct black truffle-growing habitat types. EPNs were isolated from seven soil samples (4.3%); four nematodes were identified as Steinernema feltiae and three as Heterorhabditis bacteriophora. Both species were sampled in three types of soil texture (loam, sandy loam or sandy clay loam), characterized by alkaline pH (7.5 to 8.5) and high organic matter (2.1–11.04%). The presence of these EPNs was influenced by habitat type and organic matter content. Pristionchus nematodes were isolated from truffle soil, around truffle fruit bodies and under the elytra of L. cinnamomeus, with Pristionchus maupasi being the most commonly identified species. No significant associations were found between environmental and soil factors and the occurrence of Pristionchus nematodes. These nematodes were found in alkaline soils (pH 7.75 to 8.7), across all seven sampled soil textures, with variable organic matter content (0.73%–5.92%). The ecological trends and the presence of Pristionchus may affect the occurrence of EPNs and their prospective use as biological control agents against L. cinnamomeus in black truffle plantations.