Achillea millifolium Linn., commonly called ‘Pehl-ghasa’, is used by farmers in traditional animal health care as a vermifuge. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of crude aqueous extracts and crude ethanolic extracts of entire A. millifolium against the gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep. The worm motility inhibition assay was used for in vitro studies and faecal egg count reduction assay was used for in vivo studies. In vitro studies revealed significant anthelmintic effects of aqueous extracts and ethanolic extracts on live Haemonchus contortus worms (P < 0.05) as evident from their paralysis and/or death at 8 h post exposure. Aqueous extracts of A. millifolium resulted in a mean worm motility inhibition of 94.44%, while ethanolic extracts resulted in mean worm motility inhibition of 88.88%. The mean mortality index of aqueous extracts was 0.95 while for ethanolic extracts it was 0.9. The lethal concentration 50 was 0.05 mg ml− 1 for aqueous extracts and 0.11 mg ml− 1 for ethanolic extracts. The in vivo anthelmintic activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of A. millifolium demonstrated a maximum (88.40%) nematode egg count reduction in sheep treated with aqueous extracts at 2 g kg− 1 body weight on day 15 after treatment. Ethanolic extracts resulted in a maximum of 76.53% reduction in faecal egg counts on day 15 after treatment with 2 g kg− 1 body weight. Thus, the aqueous extracts exhibited greater anthelmintic activity under both in vitro and in vivo conditions, and could be due to the presence of water-soluble active principle/s in A. millifolium. It is concluded that the entire plant of A. millifolium possesses significant anthelmintic activity and could be a potential alternative for treating cases of helminth infections in ruminants.

In the present study viable protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus were exposed to in vitro anthelmintic treatment to observe efficacy against Indian buffalo isolates. Evaluation criteria included morphological changes, viability scores and expression of peptides as a product of prestressed protoscoleces. Protoscolex changes included presence of bladder-like structure and morphological distortion. Two peptides of relative molecular weight (Mr) 40 and 70 kDa were visualized when proteins were separated by discontinuous gel electrophoresis. These two peptides seemed to be products of prestressed protoscoleces.

The level of specific anti-Toxocara IgG was examined in 343 children from central Poland with suspected Toxocara infection. Based on the presence of specific IgG antibodies and clinical signs and symptoms, toxocariasis was confirmed in 249 patients. The serological results of diagnosed cases were analysed in connection with epidemiological data (contamination of soil around the children's homes and presence of a dog or a cat). A higher prevalence of soil contamination with Toxocara eggs was found in suburban and rural areas (30.9% and 24.6%, respectively) whereas it was lower in urban areas (10.3%). In about 40% of the children whose households were not contaminated, a decrease in the antibody level was observed 2 years after treatment for toxocariasis, while there was no such decline in those living in contaminated places. The logistic regression model employed to determine the correlation between seropositivity in the children and selected epidemiological risk factors showed a statistically significant relationship in connection only with dog ownership (P = 0.0238). The present results have demonstrated the high risk of toxocariasis for children from rural and suburban areas in Poland. The sero-epidemiological investigations indicated that re-infection might be the reason for persistence of seropositivity after treatment.

Extracts of Anisakis simplex third (L3) and fourth (L4) larval stages were assayed for protein content and activity and properties of α-amylase, glucoamylase and glycogen phosphorylase. Protein content in L4 was twice that in L3. SDS–PAGE applied to both larval stages revealed 22 protein fractions in each, including five stage-specific fractions in each larval stage. The L3 extracts contained three amylase isoenzymes: α1, α2 and α3; their molecular weights were 64, 29 and 21 kDa, respectively. Only one amylase isoenzyme (64 kDa) was found in the L4 extracts. Glycogen in L3 was found to be broken down mostly by hydrolysis because of low glycogen phosphorylase activity. The α-amylase activity in L4 was higher than that in L3 by half and the glycogen phosphorylase activity was ten times higher. In addition, the same enzymes isolated from L3 and L4 were found to differ in their properties. These differences could be manifestations of metabolic adaptations of A. simplex larvae to host switch from fish (L3) to mammals (L4), i.e. adaptations to a new habitat.

A total of 153 free-ranging birds from Germany belonging to 15 species were examined for nematodes in their digestive and respiratory tracts. In 51.7% of the birds 14 different nematode species were found: the intestinal ascarids Porrocaecum depressum and P. angusticolle, the strongylid Hovorkonema variegatum, which inhabits the trachea and bronchi, the hairworms Eucoleus dispar and Capillaria tenuissima isolated from the digestive system, the spirurid nematodes Cyrnea leptoptera, C. mansioni, C. seurati, Microtetrameres cloacitectus, Physaloptera alata, P. apivori, Synhimantus hamatus and S. laticeps, which inhabit the proventriculus and gizzard of the raptors, and the spirurid nematode Serratospiculum tendo, which lives in the air sacs. To revise their systematic positions the ribosomal 18S gene regions of the nematode species were analysed and a phylogenetic tree was constructed. The molecular data confirmed the morphological systematics, except the spirurid family Physalopteridae, which grouped together with the Acuariidae.

In any geographical area, surveys of the prevalence of intestinal helminths are necessary to suggest appropriate control measures. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminth infections in children of the Kashmir valley and to identify the risk factors. Stool samples were collected from 2256 children from rural as well as urban areas of the Kashmir valley. The samples were examined by simple smear and zinc sulphate concentration methods. Intensity of the infection was quantified by Stoll's egg-counting technique. Infection by at least one intestinal helminth was found in 71.18% of the sampled population. The prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides was highest (68.30%), followed by Trichuris trichiura (27.92%), Enterobius vermicularis (12.67%) and Taenia saginata (4.60%). Light (57.1%) to moderate (42.8%) intensity of infection was observed for A. lumbricoides, while the majority of the infected children (92.3%) harboured a light intensity of infection for T. trichiura. The age group, rural or urban residence, type of water source, boiled or unboiled water, type of defecation site, level of personal hygiene and maternal education were associated with helminth infection. Adequate control measures are urgently needed to combat the high prevalence of intestinal helminths and risk factors in the children of Kashmir valley.

Between April 2003 and November 2006 a total of 198 nase Chondrostoma nasus (L.) were examined for parasites from seven river sites in Austria. The selected sites showed different levels of anthropogenic alterations in river morphology ranging from pristine areas, with minor anthropogenic alterations, to strongly physically altered rivers. A variety of parasites were recovered from the skin, gills, swimbladder and eyes, with Caryophyllaeus laticeps (Pallas) being identified as the only cestode species occurring in the intestine. This is the first record of this species in nase in Austria. Caryophyllaeus laticeps was confined to the first 20% of the intestine, even in heavily infected hosts. The occurrence of C. laticeps within the fish population seems to be correlated with the degree of anthropogenic changes of the nase's habitat. In rivers with a high degree of ecological integrity or in rivers that are only partially dammed, C. laticeps is either absent in C. nasus or occurs with low prevalence (5.6–20%) and low mean intensity values (1.0–4.0). Where anthropogenic factors have changed the entire river into a reservoir, and fish cannot escape, the prevalence of infection with C. laticeps increases from 46.2 to 78.2% and the mean intensity from 8.8 to 17.2.

The present study was based on assessments of the molluscicidal and antiparasitic activities of Solanum nigrum villosum. This plant has been collected in Tozeur's traditional oases (south-western Tunisia). Molluscicidal activities of leaves, ripe fruit and unripe fruit extracts of S. n. villosum have been assessed in experimental and semi-field conditions on uninfected Galba truncatula. Antiparasitic activities have also been assessed on larval stages (rediae, intraredial germinal masses and cercariae) of the parasite Fasciola hepatica infecting G. truncatula naturally. The unripe fruit extract (LC50 = 41.2 mg l− 1) was more toxic than the leaf (LC50 = 132.5 mg l− 1) and the ripe fruit (LC50 = 172.8 mg l− 1) extracts on the snail after 48 h of treatment. One mg l− 1 of cupric chloride produced the death of 97% of G. truncatula after 25 days of treatment. Solanum n. villosum extracts used at the lethal laboratory concentration in semi-field conditions were also toxic to G. truncatula. The unripe fruit extract was more toxic than the leaf and the ripe fruit extracts on larval stages of F. hepatica. Maximum deterioration rates were obtained with the unripe fruit extract: 65.6% for rediae, 77.8% for cercariae and 27.6% for intraredial germinal masses after 48 h of treating the snails. The possibility of the unripe fruit extract application for the control of G. truncatula and F. hepatica larval stages should be considered.

A total of 488 stray cats, 212 adult and 29 juvenile females plus 235 adult and 12 juvenile males, were examined post-mortem during the winter and summer months of 2006 from five sites in the vicinity of Doha and its outskirts. Five helminths, comprising three nematode and two cestode species were identified and the majority of cats harboured two of these species. The most prevalent was the cestode Taenia taeniaeformis (75.8%), followed by the cestode Diplopylidium sp. (42.8%), and the nematodes Ancylostoma tubaeforme (17.0%), Physaloptera sp. (6.6%) and Toxocara cati (0.8%). All five species were found to be typically overdispersed in their distribution. Using univariate and multivariate analyses, the prevalence and abundance of infections were primarily influenced by host gender and season, with females tending to harbour higher levels of infection during the summer. No significant differences were found relative to site except in the case of Physaloptera sp. Using bivariate Pearson product moment correlations, significant positive co-occurrences were identified between Diplopylidium sp. and T. taeniaeformis and also between A. tubaeforme and T. taeniaeformis. The results are discussed in relation to the effect of environmental conditions on the intestinal helminth infracommunities and their possible interactions in stray cat populations from such a harsh and arid region as Qatar.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of Iris hookeriana Linn. rhizome against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep. A worm motility inhibition assay was used for in vitro study and a faecal egg count reduction assay was used for an in vivo study. The in vitro study revealed anthelmintic effects of crude aqueous extracts and crude ethanolic extracts on live Trichuris ovis worms (P ≤ 0.05) as evident from their paralysis and/or death at 8 h after exposure. The aqueous extracts of I. hookeriana resulted in a mean worm motility inhibition of 54.0%, while ethanolic extracts resulted in a mean worm motility inhibition of 84.6%. The mean mortality index of aqueous extracts was 0.55, while for ethanolic extracts it was 0.85. The lethal concentration 50 for aqueous extracts was 0.45 mg ml− 1 and for ethanolic extracts it was 0.15 mg ml− 1. The in vivo anthelmintic activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of I. hookeriana in sheep naturally infected with mixed species of gastrointestinal nematodes demonstrated a maximum (45.62%) egg count reduction in sheep treated with ethanolic extracts at 2 g kg− 1 body weight on day 10 after treatment, closely followed by ethanolic extracts at 1 g kg− 1 body weight on day 10 after treatment (43.54% egg count reduction). The aqueous extracts resulted in a maximum of 31.53% reduction in faecal egg counts on day 10 after treatment with 1 g kg− 1 body weight. Thus ethanolic extracts exhibited greater anthelmintic activity under both in vitro and in vivo conditions; this could be due to the presence of alcohol-soluble active ingredients in I. hookeriana. From the present study it can be suggested that I. hookeriana rhizome exhibited significant anthelmintic activity against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep and has the potential to contribute to the control of gastrointestinal nematode parasites of small ruminants.

A total of 180 individuals of Scardinius erythrophthalmus from Srebarna Lake, north-east Bulgaria, were examined for helminth parasites during spring, summer and autumn of 2005–2006 (30 specimens per season). Helminth parasites were recorded in 166 individuals (92.2%). Ten helminth species were found: trematodes – metacercariae of Posthodiplostomum cuticola, Diplostomumchromatophorum and D. spathaceum; monogeneans – Dactylogyrus difformis, D. difformoides and Diplozoon scardinii; cestodes – metacestodes of Paradilepis scolecina; nematodes – larvae of Spiroxys contortus and Rhabdochona denudata and adults of Schulmanela petruschewskii. Significant seasonal differences in the mean abundance were recorded for D. difformis, D. difformoides and D. scardinii. Significant seasonal differences in prevalence were recorded for P. cuticola, D. difformis, D. difformoides and D. scardinii. Dominant species in the component communities were P. cuticola, D. difformis and D. difformoides. The species composition of the component community essentially differs from that in the adjacent Danube River; a possible reason is the specific hydrobiological situation of the lake, characterized by a low density of benthic molluscs and crustaceans.

The ovicidal activity of Paecilomyces lilacinus was evaluated on Moniezia sp. eggs. Eggs of Moniezia sp. were incubated on plates with 2% agar-water inoculated with grown fungal isolates and a control treatment without fungus. After 5, 10 and 15 days post-inoculation, the eggs were removed and classified according to the following parameters: effect type 1, lytic effect without morphological damage to eggshells; effect type 2, lytic effect with morphological change in embryos and eggshells; and effect type 3, lytic effect with morphological change in embryos and eggshells, with hyphal penetration and internal colonization of eggs. Paecilomyces lilacinus showed percentages for ovicidal activity (P < 0.01), mainly type 3 effect, of 19, 20 and 23% on eggs of Moniezia sp., after 5, 10 and 15 days post-inoculation, respectively. Therefore P. lilacinus can be considered as a potential biological control agent for this cestode.

In order to identify the respective importance of the ecological and biological factors involved in the transmission of Echinococcus multilocularis, we estimated grassland vole intermediate host (Microtus sp. and Arvicola terrestris) population densities, in relation to the diet of the definitive host (red fox, Vulpes vulpes) and with the prevalence of E. multilocularis in the fox population. The study was conducted in the Ardennes, north-eastern France, which is an area with a high incidence of alveolar echinococcosis. Surface index methods showed that Microtus was the most abundant intermediate host in the area. Furthermore, Microtus was present in one-third of the 144 faeces and 98 stomach content samples examined and represented more than two-thirds of the rodent occurrences. Red fox predation on Microtus was significantly correlated with Microtus relative abundance. In contrast, the relative abundance of A. terrestris was very low. This species, as well as Clethrionomys glareolus and Apodemus sp., was little consumed. E. multilocularis prevalence in foxes was determined from carcasses and reached 53% (95% confidence interval 45–61%). Intensity of infection varied from 2 to 73,380 worms per fox, with 72% of the sampled worm burden harboured by 8% of the sampled foxes. The selected explanatory variables (sex, year, age class, health and nutritional condition, and season) failed to predict prevalence rate and worm burden. The high prevalence rate in foxes indicates the possibility of intense E. multilocularis transmission, apart from periods, or in landscapes, favourable to large population outbreaks of grassland rodents.

Visceral larva migrans (VLM), caused by Toxocara canis larvae in humans, animals and birds, is now well documented throughout the world. Seven piglets were infected orally with 5 × 104 embryonated eggs and the migration and distribution of T. canis larvae in the tissues were evaluated. After artificial gastric juice digestion, larval yields at necropsy from different organs and muscles on days 1, 3, 7, 15 and 30 post-infection (DPI) revealed 3.05, 0.97, 0.21, 0.13, 0.05, 0.14% recovery from liver, lungs, heart, kidneys, skeletal muscles and brain tissues respectively, with a total of 2486 (4.97%) recovery from all tissues together. The highest number of larvae 1527 (3.05%) was recovered from the liver throughout the period (1–30 DPI), indicating a special affinity of larvae for the liver. Subsequently five mice were each infected orally with 5 g of infected pig liver and, after necropsy on 10 DPI, 20 ± 3.62, 17 ± 5.10, 3 ± 1.26, 12 ± 3.92 and 30 ± 5.69 larvae were recovered from liver, lungs, heart, brain and muscles, respectively. Thus, primarily, the migratory potential and adaptation of T. canis larvae in porcine tissue was examined and, subsequently, their establishment in the second paratenic host, the mouse, has been successful. No influence of host sex on the migratory potential of T. canis larvae was observed. The related pathology caused by migratory larvae and its zoonotic significance through the consumption of raw or undercooked pork has been emphasized.

The influence of climatic conditions on the prevalence and transmission of helminth parasites in a terrestrial mollusc population was studied in a grassland site in southern England between 1974 and 1983. Molluscs were sampled in each September of 5 years over this period (1974, 1976, 1979, 1981, 1983). Climatic conditions had a variable effect on parasite prevalence. Trematode sporocyst infections increased after wet summer and warm winter conditions and declined in hot, dry periods. Cestode infections increased after combined wet spring and summer weather and low winter temperatures, although trematode metacercariae and nematode infections were less likely to be influenced by climate. The effects on parasite transmission were undertaken by comparing parasite prevalences in the principal definitive hosts, the common shrew (Sorex araneus) and the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) in the same habitat over the period 1973–1983. Changes in parasite prevalences in the molluscan population were rarely replicated by changes in the small mammal population, except for trematode parasites in small mammals during a period of severe drought in 1976. These results suggest that only long-term persistent modifications in climate are likely to affect host–parasite dynamics.

The qualitative and quantitative parameters of temporal distribution of Cucullanus tripapillatus and Cucullanus chrysophrydes in the intestine of Orthopristis ruber in the Caribbean Sea on the north of Margarita Island, Venezuela were analysed. A total of 540 fish were collected at random from the catch of commercial trawlers during 1982–83 and 1992–93. Both species of Cucullanus were found throughout the year; prevalence and mean intensity of C. tripapillatus were higher than that of C. chrysophrydes. A significant difference was found in infection between the two years of sampling. Female worms were more abundant than male in both years. Both species exhibited pronounced prevalence and maturity in September and March of each year, indicating seasonality. The patterns of occurrence of the two species of Cucullanus in O. ruber did not change in the 10-year interval but the host size and number of parasites declined, which may be due to over-exploitation of definitive fish hosts.

The nematode Protospirura numidica criceticola infects the stomach of Neotropical cricetid rodents when they ingest infected arthropods. In North America, prevalence values fluctuated, showing marked peaks in desert habitats, while remaining low in humid environments. The infection pattern has not been studied in South American rodents. In this work, yearly infection by P. n. criceticola was analysed in the South American cricetid Akodon azarae seasonally captured from July 1998 to July 2000 and in March 2001 on poultry farms of a humid region of Argentina. Seasonal occurrence of third- and fourth-stage larvae and adults was recorded. Seasonal population and community parameters of the parasite were calculated. The occurrence of larval stages was confirmed for the four seasons. Prevalence fluctuated between 0 and 36% and did not show a seasonal pattern. It was not related to the abundance of A. azarae (rs = 0.37) or to rainfall. In this humid region of Argentina, where food resources are diverse throughout the year, the omnivorous A. azarae may have a variable diet so that infection can occur in the four seasons. Prevalence values were not very high, in accordance with observations in humid habitats of North America. The infection was also characterized by low intensity, abundance and dominance. Only 3.8% of the rodents were parasitized with three or more specimens of the parasite, and that was only in autumn. It is suggested that rodents can not overwinter successfully with a heavy biomass of stomach parasites.

Experimental infections of Lymnaea columella with Fasciola hepatica were carried out to determine the influence of shell size on the infection rate and on the outcome of rediae and cercariae. Snails were divided into seven groups according to shell size: 2–4 mm, 5–6 mm, 7–8 mm, 9–10 mm, 11–12 mm, 13–14 mm and 15 mm or more. One hundred snails in each group were infected by using four miracidia for each snail. Snails with larger shell size showed a lower infection rate, the groups presenting the highest (79%) and lowest (2%) proportions of positives being those of 5–6 mm and 15 mm or more, respectively. Cercariae were present in 21% of them at 31 days post-infection, and cercarial shedding was observed 61 days post-infection. It was concluded that there is a non-linear negative association between shell size and infection rate.

The interaction between Duddingtonia flagrans and infective larvae of Haemonchus contortus was studied in vitro under optical and scanning electron microscopy. Trap formation by the fungus started 9 hours after inoculation and first larvae were found 11 hours after larval inoculation on colonies grown on the surface of dialysis membranes. Scanning electron micrographs were taken 12, 24, 36 and 48 h after larval predation. Details of predation structures and fungus–larvae interaction are described. A mucilaginous substance occurred at the points of adherence of traps to nematode cuticle. Bacteria were also found at some points of interaction between fungus and larval cuticle. Cuticle penetration by fungus hyphae occurred only 48 h after predation.

Angiostrongylus costaricensis is the aetiological agent of human abdominal angiostrongyliasis, a parasitic disease reported from the United States to Argentina, with a widespread occurrence of the nematode throughout Central and South America. This study assesses the performance of A. costaricensis eggs as antigen in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), for the determination of parasite-specific IgG1 antibodies. The specificity and the sensitivity of the method were 87% and 90.5%, respectively. Through this test it was possible to demonstrate a sharp and early decline in IgG1 antibody in serum samples taken from patients with histopathological diagnosis of abdominal angiostrongyliasis at different time points after surgical treatment. The present work demonstrated the usefulness of the egg antigen in the development of a specific diagnostic test for abdominal angiostrongylosis.