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PubMed1982

Strongyle infections of small ruminants in Nigeria.

A survey of strongyle infections was conducted in sheep and goats reared in a traditional extensive husbandry system in two ecological zones of Nigeria. One zone had a seasonal pattern of infection. The majority of animals had faecal worm parasite egg counts of below 500 eggs per gram. Kids, and lambs younger than 3 months did not carry strongyle worm burdens, and the highest infection rate was found in the 7-12 month age group. A high proportion of small ruminants shed strongyle eggs during the postparturient period. The helminth species found by the use of larval culture techniques on the faeces were: Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Oesophagostomum columbianum. Adults of the same species were found in the few animals necropsied. The significance of the findings is discussed.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2006

Oesophagostomum dentatum and Trichuris suis infections in pigs born and raised on contaminated paddocks.

Transmission of Oesophagostomum dentatum and Trichuris suis was studied in outdoor reared pigs. Six farrowing paddocks were naturally contaminated in May to mid-June 2001 by experimentally infected seeder pigs. In early July 1 sow farrowed on each paddock and starting at week 3 post-partum (p.p.) the offspring was slaughtered serially every 2 weeks for parasite recovery. Faeces were collected regularly for parasite egg counts and acid-insoluble ash (AIA) content as an indicator of geophagy. Weaning took place at week 7 p.p. by removing the sow. Paddock infection levels were estimated in mid-June (O. dentatum) and late November (O. dentatum and T. suis) using helminth-naïve tracer pigs. Soil and vegetation samples were collected regularly. Despite a high initial contamination by the seeder pigs, O. dentatum paddock infectivity was negligible to low throughout the raising of the experimental piglets, which had a slow accumulation of nodular worms ending with a mean of 422 worms/pig at week 19 p.p. As only few eggs developed to infectivity overall T. suis transmission was minimal. The first T. suis were recovered at week 11 p.p. and the highest mean burden of 21 worms/pig was recorded at week 19 p.p. The experimental pigs initially had a high faecal level of AIA although it decreased over time. The results are discussed in relation to the biological characteristics of the 2 parasites and their occurrence in organic pig production.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed2004

[Modelling sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of hematuria testing using reagent sticks in the diagnosis of Schistosoma haematobium infection].

Since its recognition as an effective tool to identify Schistosoma haematobium infection, haematuria detection has been used in several large scale control programs. However, large variations in performance between age groups, gender, prevalence and areas were observed. Correlation between the degree of haematuria and the intensity of infection and between intensity of infection with age and/or gender could partly explained these variations. Other factors, such as the circadian cycles and day-to-day variations of haematuria and egg excretion, a concomitant presence of blood in urine for another reason than schistosomiasis and the intrinsic characteristics of the reagents strips also contribute to the observed variations. This study assessed the influence of age, gender and intensity of infection taken together on the performance of the diagnostic test by fitting logistic regression models. During a socio-economic study of schistosomiasis, carried out between 1989 and 1991 in a rice-growing area located in Mali, West Africa, haematuria was detected by reagent strips among 2,873 six-year-old and more subjects randomly chosen from 14 villages. The "gold standard" of infection was provided by the parasite egg counts. Laboratory quality controls were implemented. Observed sensitivities, specificities, positive and negative predictive values were calculated by the standard two-by-two tables. The influence of age, gender, intensity of infection, measured in a continuous scale, on these parameters were studied by fitting two logistic models. The first one modelled sensitivity and specificity The second one modelled predictive values. Goodness-of-fit tests were performed. Large variations in the observed values of sensitivities, specificities and predictive values by age and gender were observed. The best fitted model for sensitivity and specificity included infection status, age, gender, intensity and an age by gender interaction. For the predictive values, the best model included haematuria, age, and an haematuria by age interaction. Given the large variations in the performances across the covariates strata defined by cross-tabulation of the age/gender and intensity categories, this modelling approach provided a more realistic appraisal of the performances than using overall values obtained from a general two- by-two table. It allowed to assess the effect of the covariates of interest on the performances of the test and provided an adjustment of the performances on these covariates. The best fitted model was able to provide estimates of sensitivity for each age/gender stratum as a function of the intensity of infection, which could not be done by using the two-by-two table approach. A decrease in sensitivity adjusted for intensity of infection above 10 years of age among males is discussed. This modelling approach also uses all the information available and not only the data from the stratum of interest.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Effects of ionophore feeding and anthelmintic administration on age and weight at puberty in spring-born beef heifers.

Two hundred eighty-eight heifer calves in two 1-yr replications were used to test the hypothesis that ionophore (ION) feeding, anthelmintic (ANT) administration, or the combination (COMB) would cause heifers to express pubertal estrus at a younger age than control (CONT) heifers. Heifers were assigned randomly within three weight blocks in a randomized complete block design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. A high-fiber diet was fed for 172 d during yr 1 (Y1) and 199 d during yr 2 (Y2). Monensin sodium (200mg.animal-1.d-1) was fed to ION and COMB treatments and ivermectin (200 micrograms/kg of BW) was given to ANT and COMB groups at weaning and 84 d later. Rate of gain was monitored every 21 d and diet intake was adjusted to obtain equal rates of gain across treatments. Fecal samples were collected from one-third of the heifers in each group and analyzed for internal parasite egg counts every 21 d. Serum progesterone samples taken twice weekly were used to estimate onset of puberty. There was no treatment x year interaction in any parameter measured and the data were pooled across both years. Total weight gain was similar (P > .10) for all treatments. Fecal egg output decreased (P < .01) after initial application of anthelmintic. The ANT, ION, and COMB heifers had greater (P < .05) gain:feed ratios than did CONT (.132, .142, and .148 vs .125 kg for ANT, ION, COMB, and CONT, respectively). Age and weight at puberty were different (P < .05) for ION (425 d, 351.8 kg), COMB (425 d, 349.5 kg), and ANT (424 d, 348.8 kg) compared with CONT (433 d, 362.5 kg). There was no difference (P > .10) in age and weight at puberty between COMB, ION, or ANT heifers. During Y1, but not Y2, there were a greater (P < .05) number of COMB, ION, and ANT heifers pubertal before the breeding season. Additionally, there was a tendency (P = .12) for higher first-service conception in the COMB, ION, and ANT heifers than in the CONT heifers. Final pregnancy rates among treatments were similar (P > .10).

Aging↗
PubMed1997

Clinical trial of moxidectin oral gel in horses.

A clinical trial carried out over 98 days was done to evaluate treatment of horses with moxidectin gel for efficacy as measured by (1) reduction in the production of parasite ova post treatment, (2) a comparison of the posttreatment parasite egg count suppression of moxidectin to ivermectin, and (3) assessment of the field safety, animal acceptance of the moxidectin formulation, and the utility of the moxidectin delivery device. One hundred and fifty Standardbred horses with naturally acquired parasite infections were used in the study. Moxidectin had more prolonged and greater suppressive influence than did ivermectin on reappearance and magnitude of strongyle egg counts post treatment. Differences were not observed between the capability of ivermectin or moxidectin to reduce and suppress low Parascaris equorum egg counts. Adverse reactions to treatments were not observed, and the utility of the moxidectin delivery syringe and animal acceptance of moxidectin treatment were satisfactory.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Concurrent infections and neutrophil phagocytic function in Nigerians with urinary schistosomiasis.

Bacteria infections, parasitic infections and neutrophil phagocytic function were assessed in 60 urinary schistosomiasis (USS) subjects and 36 healthy controls. Only Salmonella was isolated from the blood samples of few USS subjects (3%) and controls (1%). The species of bacteria detected in the urine of USS and control subjects are Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis and Klebsiella. There was no significant difference in the proportion of the USS subjects with bacteriuria compared with the controls (X2 = 0.20, P > 0.20). Higher proportions of USS subjects compared with the controls were concurrently infected with Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworms, Giardia lambila and Taenia solium. In contrast, significantly higher proportion of the control subjects were concurrently infected with Plasmodium falciparum and Schistosoma mansoni. There was no significant reduction in neutrophil phagocytic function of USS subjects compared with the controls (P > 0.49). This study suggests that S. haematobium protects its host from certain blood dwelling parasites and that Nigeria USS subjects expressed adequate neutrophil phagocytic function. These may explain the absence of clinical manifestations of bacterial and viral infections in these subjects.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

[Parasitological results of a medico-anthropological research-work at the Azande in northeast-Zaire (author's transl)].

Among 165 examined Azande 118 (71.5%) were found with intestinal helminthic infections: Hookworm (69.1%), Schistosoma mansoni (13.9%), Trichuris trichiura (4.2%), Ascaris lumbricoides (1.2%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.6%). The intradermal Schistosoma test with a commercial antigen preparation was positive in 63.3% of 147 examinees. Protozoa-excretions were found in 62.2% of 151 examines: E. histolytica (27.2%), E. hartmanni (13.2%), E. coli (24.5%), Jodamoeba buetschlii (7.3%), Endolimax nana (1.3%), Lamblia intestinalis (17.2%). Microfilariae were found in 87 of 165 blood-smears (52.7%). The positive diagnoses increased with the age of the examinees. 73.8% of 141 examinees showed an increase of eosinophilic granulozytes up to 11-29%, and 7.8% up to more than 30%. The reliability of the methods used to conserve the test material under extreme conditions as well as the connection between ethnographical situations and the detected parasites are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Circulating anodic antigen levels in two areas endemic for schistosomiasis mansoni indicate differences in worm fecundity.

Serum levels of the adult schistosome circulating anodic antigen (CAA) were compared in 2 populations, both living in an area with extremely high transmission levels of Schistosoma mansoni. In one focus (Maniema, eastern Zaire) transmission has been established for several decades, while in the other focus (Ndombo, northern Senegal) transmission started only recently. While parasite egg counts in the 2 populations were virtually similar, including analogous age-related distributions, serum levels of CAA were approximately 5 times higher in the chronically exposed community. This difference in antigen level was most pronounced in adolescents and adults. As the level of CAA is assumed to be a direct reflection of worm burden, these findings suggest higher parasite fecundity in the recently exposed community. It is not very likely that these observations could be explained solely by differences in clearance mechanisms caused by a variation in experience of infection. The relationship between circulating antigen levels and egg counts was consistent for all age groups in the Maniema population, while in the Ndombo population only children showed a pattern similar to that in the chronically exposed community.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in Georgia cattle.

A survey of gastrointestinal nematodes in Georgia cattle was conducted from 1968 through 1973 from actual worm counts from viscera of 145 slaughtered beef cattle or from egg counts made from fecal samples from 3,273 beef and 100 dairy cattle. Beef cattle were grouped as calves, yearlings, and cows. Dairy cattle were grouped as calves, replacement heifers, and cows. Results of fecal examinations positive; 99.5, 99.3, 99.6, and 41.2% of the calves, yearlings, drylot calves, and cows, respectively, were infected with nematodes. Seventy-four percent of the eggs counted were of the Cooperia-Ostertagia - Trichostrongylus complex (C-O-T) and 21% were of the Haemonchus-Oesophagostomum complex (H-O). Sixty-nine percent of the infective larvae recovered from coprocultures made from composite samples were of Ostertagia ostertagi. Moniezia (tapeworm) eggs were seen in 16% of all the samples, more predominantly in the calves (24%) and less in the cows (smaller than 1%). Oocysts of Eimeria spp were detected in 61% of the cattle, more predominantly in younger cattle. All cattle necropsied were infected with O ostertagi. Other nematodes present, in order of decreasing frequency, were Trichostrongylus axei (97%), Haemonchus placei (66%), Cooperia punctata (63%), Cooperia oncophora (61%), Oesophagostomum radiatum (61%), Bunostomum phlebotomum (55%), Trichostrongylus colubriformis (36%), Cooperia pectinata (28%), Trichuris spp (17%), Nematodirus spathiger (9%), and Capillaria bovis (4%). Tapeworms were also recovered from 19% of the cattle at necropsy. Seventy-eight percent of the dairy cattle were positive; 98% of the calves, 80% of the heifers, and 58% of the cows. Cooperia-Ostertagia-Trichostrongylus eggs were detected in 78% and H-O eggs in 38% of the cattle. Eimeria oocysts were detected in 71% of all the dairy cattle, and Moniezia eggs were in 10% of the calves and 7% of the heifers.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

A study on the prevention of prenatal and galactogenic Toxocara canis infections in pups by treatment of infected bitches with ivermectin or doramectin.

Investigations were carried out to test the efficacy of a two dose treatment with ivermectin or doramectin on reactivated larvae of Toxocara canis in bitches to prevent prenatal and galactogenic infections of their pups. Thirty pregnant bitches were treated by subcutaneous injection of ivermectin or doramectin on day 40 and 50 post conception (p.c.) each with a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight. The efficacy of the treatments was determined by faecal examinations and by comparing the number of infected pups and the onset of patency in each group of pups. 1. Patient infections with T. canis were seen in pups from untreated bitches from day 21 after birth and all pups were coproscopically positive one week later. To prevent severe clinical symptoms all pups in this group were treated with anthelmintics on day 42 after birth. 2. Pups from ivermectin treated bitches occasionally exhibited patent infections from day 28 after birth onwards; pups from doramectin group exhibited infections from day 56 after birth. The number of patently infected pups in both groups increased till 70 days after birth, probably because of postnatal infections. 3. 28 days after parturition, T. canis infections became patent in all untreated bitches. Single bitches in the ivermectin and doramectin groups developed patent infections after day 49 after parturition. All coproscopically positive bitches had patently infected pups in their litters. 4. The contamination of the environment with eggs of T. canis was calculated from the results of the faecal examinations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Eosinophilia as a marker of resistance to Teladorsagia circumcincta in Scottish Blackface lambs.

Faecal egg counts and peripheral blood eosinophil counts were taken from Scottish Blackface lambs following natural, predominantly Teladorsagia circumcincta infection. Peripheral eosinophil concentrations were higher in animals with lower egg counts but only in lambs that were at least 3 months of age. The reduced egg counts were due to reduced fecundity of T. circumcincta; there was no association with the number of adult T. circumcincta. Associations with the number of parasites from other species of gastrointestinal nematodes appeared to be neutral or favourable. Estimated heritabilities for eosinophil concentrations in 4- and 5-month-old lambs were 0.48 +/- 0.16 and 0.43 +/- 0.17, respectively. Therefore, under defined circumstances, eosinophil concentrations may be a useful indicator of resistance to predominantly T. circumcincta infection.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Use of two in vitro methods for the detection of anthelmintic resistant nematode parasites on Slovak sheep farms.

A survey of the prevalence of anthelmintic resistant nematode populations was conducted on 32 sheep farms in the Slovak Republic. In vitro egg hatch test and larval development tests were used for the detection of resistance to benzimidazole anthelmintics and they were compared with in vivo faecal egg count reduction tests. There was agreement in the declaration of resistance between the faecal egg count reduction test and both in vitro tests. The presence of resistant populations was determined on two farms using egg hatch test. In both farms, the LD(50) values were higher than 0.1 microg TBZ/ml, indicating resistance. By using LD(99) values it might be possible to reveal relatively small proportion of resistant larvae in the population. The prevalence of benzimidazole resistance has not change on Slovak sheep farms during last decade.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Factors influencing the fecal egg and oocyst counts of parasites of wild European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.) in Southern Western Australia.

Abundance of intestinal parasites was monitored by fecal egg and oocyst counts for samples of wild rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus with different levels of imposed female sterility from 12 populations in southwestern Australia. Differences in egg counts of Trichostrongylus retortaeformis between seasons and age groups were dependent on the sex of the host. Pregnancy may have been responsible for these differences because egg counts were consistently higher in intact females than in females surgically sterilized by tubal ligation. Egg counts for Passalurus ambiguus were influenced by season and host age but there were no differences between sexes or between intact and sterilized female rabbits. No differences were detected in the oocyst counts of the 8 species of Eimeria between male and female rabbits or between intact and sterilized females. Seasonal differences were detected in oocyst counts of Eimeria flavescens and Eimeria stiedai. The overwhelming determinant of coccidian oocyst counts was host age, with 6 species being much more abundant in rabbits up to 4 mo of age. There was a suggestion that egg counts of T. retortaeformis and oocyst counts of several species of Eimeria were reduced in populations where rabbit numbers had been depressed for at least 2 yr, but there was no evidence that short-term variations in rabbit numbers had a measurable effect on parasite abundance.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1985

Comparison of the FeKal CON-Trate system with the formalin-ethyl acetate technique for detection of intestinal parasites.

The ability of the FeKal CON-Trate system (Trend Scientific, Minneapolis, Minn.) to recover parasite ova, cysts, or larvae from 300 fecal specimens was compared with that of the Formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation technique. One hundred stool samples had previously been determined to contain 129 parasite forms. The FeKal system detected 127 parasites (sensitivity, 98.4%), and the Formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation technique detected 125 parasites (sensitivity, 96.9%). Higher counts of parasite forms were obtained for 11 of 14 species of parasites in specimens prepared by the FeKal system. Four specimens were negative by the Formalin-ethyl acetate method and two by the FeKal system. These false-negative observations occurred in specimens with low counts of parasites. There were no false-positive results.

Acetates↗
PubMed1980

Relationships between hemoglobin type and reproduction, lamb, wool and milk production and health-related traits in crossbred ewes.

Relationships among hemoglobin (Hb) types and production traits were examined in 294 crossbred ewes from North Country Cheviot, Dorset, Finnsheep and Romney rams, and Suffolk and Columbia-type ewes. Hb BB ewe lambs were youngest at first estrus, while Hb AA ewe lambs were oldest. Ewe lamb fertility was similar for Hb AB and Hb BB ewes, and both were superior to Hb AA ewes. When Finnsheep crossbreds were excluded, from which Hb BB was absent, Hb BB ewes had higher ewe lamb fertility than did Hb AB ewes. There was a minor advantage of the A over the B allele in ewe lamb prolificacy. Hb BB ewes were highest, Hb AB ewes were intermediate and Hb AA ewes were lowest for average fertility, prolificacy per ewe lambing, lambs born per ewe exposed to mating, total number of lambs weaned and total kilograms of lamb weaned. Grease wool production, staple length, fiber diameter grade, incidence of medullated fibers and incidence of cotted fleeces all were similar across Hb types. Likewise, Hb type did not affect milk production or composition. Ewes with Hb AB had the lowest incidence of footrot; Hb AA and Hb BB ewes were similar. Ewes with Hb AA had the lowest fecal parasite egg counts, while ewes with Hb AB or Hb BB were similar. Ewes with Hb AA also had the lowest incidence of mastitis, Hb BB ewes were intermediate and Hb AB ewes were highest. The combination of overdominance (as for footrot resistance), beneficial effects of the A allele on health-related traits (as for mastitis and parasite resistance) and the beneficial effect of the B allele on reproductive traits, if real, could partly explain the genetic polymorphism commonly reported at the Hb locus in sheep.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Canine faecal contamination and parasitic risk in the city of Naples (southern Italy).

BACKGROUND: Dogs are associated with more than 60 zoonotic diseases among which, parasitosis and, in particular, helminthosis, can pose serious public-health concerns worldwide. Many canine gastrointestinal parasites eliminate their dispersion elements (eggs, larvae, oocysts) by the faecal route. The quantity of canine faeces deposited on public and private property in cities worldwide is both a perennial nuisance and an important health issue. Public sites such as playgrounds, parks, gardens, public squares and sandpits may be an important source of human infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent of both canine faecal contamination in the city of Naples (southern Italy), and presence of canine parasitic elements, with particular regard to those which are potential agents of zoonosis. A regular grid of sub-areas (1 km x 700 m) was overlaid on the city map using a Geographical Information System (GIS). In each sub-area the straightest 1 km transect was drawn and digitalized on-screen in the GIS. Between February and May 2005 canine faeces were counted along the 1 km transects in 143 sub-areas, and 415 canine faecal samples were collected and submitted to coprological examinations. Negative binomial regression models and Gaussian random effects models were used to analyze the association between faeces count and human population density taking into account for extraPoisson variability. Logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between positivity to parasitic elements and number of canine faeces. RESULTS: Out of the 143 studied sub-areas, 141 (98.6%) contained canine faeces. There was a strong spatial gradient with 48% of the total variability accounted by between neighbourhood variability; a positive association between the number of faeces and the human population density was found. Seventy (over 415, 16.9%) canine faecal samples were positive for parasitic elements. There was no association between positivity to parasitic elements and the number of canine faeces. Eggs of Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina, Ancylostoma caninum and Trichuris vulpis were found, as well as oocysts of Isospora canis. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the results of the present study, conducted using GIS both for planning and sampling and for evaluation and presentation of findings, showed the presence of canine faecal contamination in the city of Naples, and the presence of canine parasitic elements, some of which are potential agents of zoonosis.

Animals↗