Showing papers in "Angewandte Parasitologie in 1992"

Filariasis in Gongola State Nigeria. I: Clinical and parasitological studies in Mutum-Biyu District.

Abstract: A total of 2,552 persons living in 9 villages along the Benue river valley, Mutum Biyu district of Gongola State, Nigeria were examined between October and December 1989 for filariasis. It is the first time a filariasis survey will be carried out in this state. 276 (10.8%) had Wuchereria bancrofti, 50 (2.0%) had Loa loa, 281 (11.0%) were positive for Mansonella perstans while 12 (0.5%) were positive for Onchocerca volvulus. Villages located near the Benue river had higher prevalence rates than those further away. Dermatitis and hydrocoele were common and clinical manifestations were associated with parasite types. Clinical symptoms without microfilaremia and microfilaremia without clinical symptoms were also observed.

Mixed infestation of a domestic cat by Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and Oslerus rostratus.

Abstract: Two types of nematodes were found in the lungs of a Spanish cat in poor condition One type was identified as the rather common Aelurostrongylus abstrusus The other, although presenting slight differences in some of its measurements, had the morphologic features and the characteristic location of Oslerus rostratus, a species which apparently has not been previously reported in Europe It is hypothesized that O rostratus is a parasite of wild felids, the domestic cat being just an accidental host No severe pathological changes were related to the presence of O rostratus

Incidence of Mallophaga on poultry in Dehradun (India).

Abstract: The order of abundance of different mallophagan species on poultry birds in Dehradun (India) has been found to be Menopon gallinae greater than Menacanthus cornutus greater than Menacanthus stramineus greater than Goniocotes gallinae greater than Goniodes dissimilis greater than Lipeurus caponis greater than Lipeurus lawrensis tropicalis greater than Goniodes gigas. The intensity of these species upon 1249 birds has been recorded by coding system. The correlation between the monthly incidence of different species and environmental temperature as well as R.H. has been recorded. The degree of association between four most commonly occurring combinations has also been analysed.

Australian-German collaborative studies on the immunology of Sarcocystis infections.

Abstract: This paper reviews a decade of collaborative studies performed between two laboratories in Germany and Australia on the life cycle, pathogenicity and immunology of infections by the cyst-forming sporozoan parasites Sarcocystis spp. in domestic animals. Experimental transmission studies demonstrated that certain parasite species could cause an acute clinical disease in sheep and pigs severely affecting their health, productivity and reproductivity. Despite the high prevalence of infections found in farm animals, few outbreaks of naturally-occurring clinical disease have ever been recorded. Host animals exposed to low levels of infection were found to develop a strong protective immunity against subsequent lethal challenge and clinical disease even though parasites were not completely eliminated nor prevented from further establishment (premunitive immunity rather than sterile immunity). Modern molecular biological techniques are currently being used to examine the parasite antigens and host immune responses involved in the acquisition of the protective immunity.

Experimental Wuchereria bancrofti infection of Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti.

Abstract: Laboratory-derived females of Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti were experimentally infected with Wuchereria bancrofti by allowing the insects to feed on infected volunteers of known microfilariae density between 24.00 and 2.00 hours. Of the 240 mosquitoes used for the experiments only 67 (55.8%) of C. quinquefasciatus and 83 (69.2%) of the Ae.aegypti actually fed on the volunteers' blood. After 16 days post-infection period, 50 (74.62%) of the engorged C. quinquefasciatus harboured infective L3 larval stages of W. bancrofti, while 16 (23.9%) and 1 (1.49%) harboured L2 and L1 pre-infective larval stages, respectively. On the other hand, no development to the L3 infective stage was observed in the engorged Ae.aegypti though 34 (40.96%) harboured L1 pre-infective stages of the parasite. Our results suggest that C.quinquefasciatus could be actively involved in the transmission of urban bancroftian filariasis in Nigeria.

The tick fauna of eastern Germany

Abstract: The occurrence of several tick species in selected areas of Eastern Germany is described. From May 1987 till December 1989 8,472 ticks from 430 places were examined. Ixodidae of the genus Ixodes, Dermacentor and Haemaphysalis as well as Argasidae of the genus Argas were identified. The most common species was Ixodes ricinus. Furthermore, an endemic area of Dermacentor reticulatus was detected in the Duben-Dahlen and Annaburg health. Two other species of ticks, which were found frequently and sometimes with a high intensity on the host were Ixodes hexagonus and Ixodes canisuga. On the other side the species Haemaphysalis concinna and Argas vespertilionis were present at only one respectively two places and with a low population density.

Behavioural aspects and their possible uses in the control of dracontiasis (guinea-worm) in Igwun river basin area of Imo State, Nigeria.

Abstract: Between December 1988 and March 1989 in the Igwun river basin of Imo State Nigeria health workers randomly chose examined and interviewed 100 people with dracontiasis (Guinea-worm infection) living in the villages of Isi Ugwu Ndi Okorie Ndi Agwu Ndi Oji and Ndi Okereke in the Arochukwu/Ohafia local government area. Males were significantly more likely to be infected with guinea-worm than were females (63% vs. 37%; p < .05). Guinea-worm infection was significantly associated with age (95% of cases were between 10-60 years old; p < .05). 93% of the 228 villagers who completed a questionnaire about local disease perception treatment/control and sociocultural factors were familiar with Akwara (the local term for guinea-worm infection). 84.2% believed infants and the very old who had low rate of guinea-worm infection tended to not do farm work which was indeed the case. 85.5% knew about the damaging effects of the infection. 36.8% believed Akwara was inherited. 35.1% thought enemies or gods caused Akwara. Just 10.5% made the connection between guinea-worm infection and drinking water from contaminated streams ponds and lakes. Most guinea-worm infected patients (42%) either just used the time-honored method of winding the emergent female worm around a small stick or the time-honored method in combination with other methods such as herbalist treatment consulting an oracle and receiving Western medical treatment. 21% sought an oracle and received treatment from herbalists. 17% sought an oracle and appeased the gods to achieve relief from guinea-worm. 15% just received herbalist treatments. 5% only sought treatment at the hospital. Just 2 (3.8%) of the 53 patients with dressed guinea-worm blisters and ulcers immersed the dressing into a water source while retrieving water. This low number helped reduce the transmission of the larvae from the blisters/ulcers to the water. Guinea-worm was most devastating in Isi Ugwu where people believed that drinking potable water separated them from their gods.

Observations on mansonellosis among the Ibos of Abia and Imo States, Nigeria.

Abstract: Between November, 1988 and April, 1991, parasitological and symptomatological methods of diagnosis were used to survey the prevalence of mansonellosis among the Ibo population in Abia and Imo States of Nigeria. 1,197 or 28.6% of the 4,183 persons examined were positive for microfilariae of Mansonella perstans. The prevalence of mansonellosis was significantly higher (P < 0.05) among rural dwellers (34.6%) than among urban dwellers (22.5%), in males (30.8%) than in females (26.3%), in farmers (59.8%) and palm wine tappers (46.1%) than in civil servants (7.6%), and in persons 21 years of age and above (36.2%) than in those in the first two decades of life (9.4%). Clinical signs observed in most infected persons include body itching, joint and back pains, occasional giddiness and elephantoid scrotum. Body itching was the most commonly observed clinical sign (14.7%), followed by joint pains (12.41%) with elephantoid scrotum (3.5%) as the least. The public health implication of the findings is discussed.

Incidence of phthirapteran infestation upon the buffaloes of Dehradun (India)

Abstract: Out of 373 buffaloes examined in different localities of Dehradun, 60.58% have been found infested with Haematopinus tuberculatus. Incidence of infestation was higher on adults than on youngs. The lice index was highest in January and lowest in June. The adults and nymphs preferred neck, back, ribs, shoulder, belly, thigh, hind, flank, head, hind legs, tail, fore legs and fore flank in this order of decreasing frequency. On the other hand eggs were found most heavily concentrated on neck and back regions.

The occurrence of Echinococcus granulosis and E. multilocularis in Thuringia

Abstract: The occurrence of E. granulosus and E. multilocularis in the region of Thuringia is reported. Parasitological investigations showed 1421 E. granulosus metacestodes, 91.7% of them in lungs and 1.3% in livers of cattle, 6% in lungs and 1% in livers of pigs; that means an infestation rate at slaughter of 0.1%-0.3% in cattle and 0.001-0.004% or less in pigs resp. 90.1% of the hydatid cysts proved to be fertile even in a size of 1.5 cm diameter. Adult E. granulosus was found post mortem in 2 of 324 dogs. In the period from 1985 to 1988, only 11 dogs were infested with E. granulosus as found at autopsy all over the GDR. Out of 23,325 faecal samples 270 samples (1.2%) were positive for eggs of Taenia spp. The animals with egg-shedding were treated as infected with Echinococcus. In experimental infections of 12 Beagles the prepatent period ranged from the minimum of 34 days up to the maximum of 40 days. The detected E. granulosus strain could be identified as a dog-cattle strain. The microscopical examination of the intestine of 805 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) revealed the presence of E. multilocularis in 12.7% of the animals. Thuringia is one of the endemic distribution area of E. multilocularis in Central Europe. In the west of Thuringia 25% of the foxes were found with E. multilocularis, in the remaining area (lowlands) only 3.3%. In some of mountainous areas, 40% of the foxes were infected with E. multilocularis. 2 cats of 58 from this region were infected with E. multilocularis.

The male reproductive organs in the chronic phase of experimental Chagas' disease.

Abstract: A previous study showed amastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi in the sex organs of male mice 15 days after inoculation. The purpose of the present work was to investigate the sequelae occurring in the male reproductive system during a later phase of Chagas' disease. Depleted germinal epithelium and release of immature germ cells into the tubular lumen were observed in the testis of chronic chagasic mice. The relative weights of the epididymis, vas deferens and seminal vesicle were significantly increased. Histological examination revealed a sharp thinning of the ductal and acinar walls. The results are discussed in terms of a neuromotor disturbance leading to sperm retention.

The epidemiology of Taenia saginata taeniasis

Abstract: The aim of the epidemiological analysis was to detect the distribution and changes in the incidence of Taenia saginata and to find the relations between taeniosis and cysticercosis in the district of Halle (Saale). The morbidity rate of taeniosis was calculated at first by the number of notified cases and also by the quantity of anthelmintics in the treatment of T. saginata infections in humans. The morbidity based on notifications did not show any relations to the frequency of metacestodes of T. saginata in cattle. This morbidity rate gave an exact relation to the number of notified cases but not to the number of real cases of cestodes in humans. On the contrary, the theoretical morbidity based on used anthelmintics developed parallel to the degree of infestation in cattle. Therefore this theoretical morbidity is very suitable for epidemiological studies of taeniosis.

Human helminthosis in a rural community of Plateau State, Nigeria.

Abstract: Urine and faecal samples were obtained from 1,517 people in Fier, a typical rural village in Plateau State, Nigeria, for a parasitological survey among the population. 643 (42.39%) persons were found to be infected with altogether 9 helminths, namely: Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, Taenia sp., Trichuris trichiura, Enterobius vermicularis, Schistosoma mansoni, S. haematobium, Hymenolepis nana and Strongyloides stercoralis. Age and religion as opposed to sex, type of sewage system, and type of housing had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on the prevalence rates of the helminths in the population. Snail vector survey for schistosomatosis revealed the presence of Bulinus (Bulinus) truncatus, Bulinus (Physopsis) globosus and Biomphalaria pfeifferi with the latter being the most common with brevifurcate cercariae, and xiphidiocercariae being the most common cercariae harboured by the snails.

Musculo-skeletal pain (MSP) in onchocerciasis: a potential in the rapid low cost epidemiological survey and in the assessment of impact of ivermectin treatment on a community.

Abstract: The diagnostic potential of musculo-skeletal pain (MSP) in the rapid assessment of onchocerciasis of morbidity and of the impact of ivermectin treatment in a community is brought to picture. The clinical impression is that MSP is a common, early, chronic important symptom of onchocerciasis. With a significant association with onchocerciasis, MSP has the potential of being an important operational diagnostic clue in the detection of onchocerciasis. It has the advantage of being easily recognizable, and therefore can be applied by primary health care workers. MPS is proved to cause the greatest morbidity, particularly among working farmers in areas where the forest strain of O. volvulus is predominant. Thus, onchocerciasis is contributing more than was perhaps realized to the reduced output of work from farmers. However, MPS, a parasitic rheumatism, is proved to be eminently susceptible to treatment by DEC.

The modification of Helicella obvia by Dicrocoelium parthenitae

Abstract: During the pasture period in 1990 the snail species Helicella obvia, collected in a dicrocoeliosis area in the east of Brandenburg, was investigated for Dicrocoelium sporocysts. Simultaneously in adult snails the condition of albumen gland was examined. Investigations showed that Dicrocoelium infection in the snail host impairs their reproduction ability and life expectancy. The term "parasite caused sterilisation" is suggested for changes which lead to infertility in the case of parasite infection.

On the uptake of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilariae in vector mosquitoes of different susceptibility to filarial infections.

Abstract: The quantitative uptake of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilariae by mosquito species of different susceptibility to filarial infection was studied. There was no relationship between the degree of susceptibility and the number of ingested microfilariae. However, in all tested mosquito strains the females ingested as a mean 1.2-1.9 times more microfilariae of W. bancrofti than expected.

The therapy of swimbladder inflammation (renicola sphaerosporosis) of carp

Abstract: In pond experiments the efficiency of different chemotherapy variants against swimbladder inflammation (SBI) was proved. Only by feeding of Fumagillin, specifically affecting Myxosporidians, the infection of kidney with Sphaerospora renicola as well as the force of SBI could be reduced. The chemotherapy with Metronidazole remained inefficacious, whereas the permanent feeding with Methylene blue prevented only the infection with Bothriocephalus acheilognathi and probably lowered insignificantly the breeding-losses on this way. Water-conditioning by means of chloride of lime only lowered the losses caused by gill necrosis, on SBI it had no influence. A relationship between gill necrosis and SBI, that seemed to be possible, could not been corroborated.

Trials to infect Anopheles stephensi with Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis by the membrane feeding technique.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to find optimal conditions for the membrane feeding technique to obtain maximum infection rates of mosquitoes with Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis. The results show that the malaria parasite Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis is most infective to Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes on day 3 of the infection in the mice, 1 day before the peak of parasitaemia. The mortality rate of the mosquitoes fed on mice on day 3 after infection was the highest as compared to mosquitoes fed on other days after infection. Gametocytes from mice 3 days after infection were fed to mosquitoes by three different membrane feeding methods. The results indicate that feeding during the first 10 min after blood collection gave the highest infection rates. Keeping the blood meal at a pH of 7.2 yields higher infection rates than keeping it at pH of 8.5. Stirring of the blood and supplying it with CO2 is not necessary when feeding of the mosquitoes is completed within the first 10 min after collection of the blood.

In vivo observations of the division of the oversized round forms of Trichomonas vaginalis in culture

Abstract: Continuous in vivo observations of the behaviour of multinucleate, multiflagellate forms of Trichomonas vaginalis have been made in a microchamber at 36 degrees C. It has been proven that these forms are initial forms of the multiplication of the parasite by cell division. Serial in vivo shots have been taken in this microchamber of the budding of a young flagellate from a multinucleate, multiflagellate form. In vivo observations have shown that these round forms are multiplicable, living cell forms of the parasite.

In vitro effect of albendazole and fenbendazole on the histochemical localization of some enzymes of Trichuris globulosa (Nematoda: Trichuridae).

Abstract: Trichuris globulosa (Nematoda: Trichuridae) incubated in 10 micrograms/ml and 50 micrograms/ml concentrations of albendazole and fenbendazole in Tyrode's solution were stained for histoenzymic demonstration of various phosphatases and oxidoreductases. The intestine, muscles and bacillary band showed major alterations after the drug treatment. The strong reaction of the various mitochondrial enzymes and ATPase suggests a possible respiratory role of the bacillary band in this species. The most noticeable effect of these two drugs especially the higher concentrations on the intestine was the disruption of its epithelium with the release and scattering of the enzymic activity of the various enzymes such as SDH, GDH (only fenbendazole treatment), NADPH-D and NADH-D. The functional significance of these enzymes has been fully discussed.

Comparative study of soluble protein profiles of different Trichinella isolates.

Abstract: The comparison and characterization of different populations of Trichinella has become possible through the study of their complex polypeptide profiles. Techniques such as polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and isoelectric focusing (IEF) provide a high capacity of resolution. We used both techniques to compare proteinograms of different Trichinella isolates, in order to characterize an isolate detected in a wild boar captured in Guejar-Sierra (Province of Granada, Spain).