Eosinophilic meningitis beyond the Pacific Basin: the global dispersal of a peridomestic zoonosis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the nematode lungworm of rats.

Neuro-angiostrongyliasis: unresolved issues

http://www.tsusinvasives.org/dotAsset/de3987ff-184b-4336-bf0e-c9850fcbcf48.pdf

The giant African snail Achatina fulica as natural intermediate host of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Pernambuco, northeast Brazil.

The levels of some heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) were determined in water, plankton, and fish (Liza aurata) collected from 5 sites in Lake Manzala. Metals in the water and fish exhibited a significant seasonal and regional variation, in which all metals attained their maximum value during summer, while the lowest levels were found during winter. The concentration of different metals in water, plankton, and fish tissues followed the same order: Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd. The mean concentrations of metals in the water were as follow: Cu, 0.055; Zn, 0.311; Cd, 0.020; and Pb, 0.022 mg/L. The Cd level in the water was found to be higher than the permissible limit recommended for drinking water. Metals in plankton were much higher than those of water and fish. Gills of the examined fish contained the highest concentration of all of the measured metals, while muscles retained the lowest. In spite of the contamination of Lake Manzala by heavy metals, the level of the metals in fish muscle (the edible part) did not exceed the recommended permissible limit and the fish is considered safe for human consumption.

https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/issues/zoo-11-35-2/zoo-35-2-13-0810-6.pdf

Assessment of heavy metal concentrations in water, plankton, and fish of Lake Manzala, Egypt

In the Msambweni area of the Kwale District in Kenya, an area endemic for Schistosoma haematobium, potential intermediate-host snails were systematically surveyed in water bodies associated with human contact that were previously surveyed in the 1980s. Bulinus (africanus) nasutus, which accounted for 67% of the snails collected, was the only snail shedding S. haematobium cercariae. Lanistes purpureus was the second most common snail (25%); lower numbers of Bulinus forskalii and Melanoides tuberculata were also recovered. Infection with non-S. haematobium trematodes was found among all snail species. Rainfall was significantly associated with the temporal distribution of all snail species: high numbers of Bulinus nasutus developed after extensive rainfall, followed, in turn, by increased S. haematobium shedding. Spatial distribution of snails was significantly clustered over a range of up to 1 km, with peak clustering observed at a distance of 400 meters. Water lily (Nymphaea spp.) and several aquatic grass species appeared necessary for local colonization by B. nasutus or L. purpureus.

/pdf/distribution-patterns-and-cercarial-shedding-of-bulinus-249sq550wr.pdf

Distribution patterns and cercarial shedding of bulinus nasutus and other snails in the msambweni area, coast province, kenya

In this paper the first record of the medically important nematode parasite, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, is made from Egypt A survey of eight species of freshwater gastropods collected from natural water courses and of three species of wild rats caught from the same areas revealed respectively, that the ampullarid snail Lanistes carinatus acts as the intermediate host transmitting this parasite, and that the rat Rattus norvegicus is its definitive host The life cycle of the parasite was successfully completed through experimental infection of laboratory bred albino rats with third-stage larvae, obtained from the above mentioned snail intermediate host A morphological description of the adult worms and of all larval stages of the parasite is given

The first record of Angiostrongylus cantonensis from Egypt.

Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb concentrations have been determined in water. bottom sediment and fishes (Oreochromi. aureus and Liza ramada ) in Damietta Nile Estuary The results show that, heavy metals concentration in water was foundin the following descending order : Zn > Pb > Cu > Cd , with average concentrations between 0.03 and 0.35 for Cu 0 13 and 0.79 for Zn 0.001 and 0.005 for Cd , 0.02 and 0.51 mg/Ifor Pb. The maximum concentrations of Cu , Zn and Cd in water was found in Damietta city, while Pb concentration was the highest, in El-Borg city coast, where ship building is common. Moreover. Pb concenttdtion in most studied sites was found to exceed the international permissible limit.Heavy metals concentration in sediment was many times higher than those of overlying water, and followed the order : Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd. Zn and Cu concentrations in sediment of most studied sites that far exceeded the international standard concentrations. Heavy metals concentration in the muscles of O.aureus and L.ramada followed theorder: Zn> Cu> Pb> Cd. The muscles and liver of L.ramada accumulated higher levels of heavy metals than those of O. aureus. However, higher concentrations were reported in the liver, while the edible muscles still have lower levels of heavy metals than the international permissible levels.

DISTRlBUTION OF HEAVY METALS IN THE DAMIETTA NILE ESTUARY ECOSYSTEM.

2 Abstract: Morphological description of eleven types of cercariae procured from the freshwater prosobranch snail Melanoides tuberculata is given here for the first time. These cercariae belong to four main type groups namely xiphidiocercariae (2), furcocercous cercariae (2), pleurolophocercous (4) and gymnocephalous cercariae (3). They were obtained during parasitological investigation of thousands of snails (13,840) collected during various seasons of the year from the Nile and irrigation system in several localities of Egypt. The procured cercariae were examined alive, stained and fixed. They were traced by camera lucida and photos were given to support this description.

Morphology of new eleven Cercariae procured from Melanoides tuberculata snails in Egypt.

Effect of combined praziquantel and recombinant glutathione S-transferase on resistance to reinfection in murine Schistosomiasis mansoni.

his study was designed to redescribe the cestode Polyonchobothrium clarias that has been recovered from the stomach of Clarias gariepinus, in addition to the ultrastructure of the parasite and the histopathological changes of the stomach of Clarias gariepinus infected with this parasite. Samples of C. gariepinus were dissected and examined for parasites and prepared for SEM, while the stomach of the host was prepared for histological observations. There were significant differences between normal fish and infected ones, where the stomach of normal fish exhibited continuous mucosal layer with well developed tubules and ducts with little infiltration of lymphocytes, while a remarkable damage was observed in the mucosal layer of the stomach of the infected fish with excessive infiltration of lymphocytes in addition to excessive mucous secretion and subsequent fibrosis.This study has provided further information on Polyonchobothrium clarias that can reveal more information about host-parasite relationships, particularly its impact on the host fish.

Abdalla Ibrahim

Papers

The first record of Angiostrongylus cantonensis from Egypt.

DISTRlBUTION OF HEAVY METALS IN THE DAMIETTA NILE ESTUARY ECOSYSTEM.

Morphology of new eleven Cercariae procured from Melanoides tuberculata snails in Egypt.

Effect of combined praziquantel and recombinant glutathione S-transferase on resistance to reinfection in murine Schistosomiasis mansoni.

Redescription of the cestode Polyonchobothrium Clarias and its histopathological impact on the stomach of Clarias gariepinus