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Simple Summary: Parasitological examinations of wild boar foraging in urban and suburban areas revealed the presence of a mixed infection of coccidia and gastrointestinal nematodes. The parasites Eimeria debliecki, E. suis, E. polita, E. scabra and Isospora suis and two species of nematodes, Ascaris suum and Oesophagostomum dentatum, were observed in both analysed groups of animals. Wild boar from the city were characterised as having a higher prevalence of total Eimeria and a lower prevalence of noted species of nematodes compared to those from the suburban area. Since the wild boars were mainly infected with Eimeria, it should be assumed that they may pose a real health threat to farm pigs and other farm animals for which Eimeria is a pathogenic parasite. The occurrence of coccidiosis leads to serious health problems and economic losses for breeders. Although the prevalence of A. suum was low, it should be taken into account that this nematode is able to both infect and complete their life cycle in humans. The aim of this study was to compare the species composition of gastrointestinal parasites in wild boar feeding in the city of Szczecin with those in its suburban area, as well as to determine the prevalence and intensity of this parasite infection. The intestines and stomachs of 57 wild boars were supplied by a municipal hunter from the city of Szczecin. Both analysed groups of animals were infected with the following parasites: Eimeria debliecki, E. suis, E. polita, E. scabra, Isospora suis, Ascaris suum and Oesophagostomum dentatum. Wild boar from the city were characterised as having a significantly higher prevalence of total Eimeria (p = 0.04) and a lower prevalence of noted species of nematodes (p = 0.15) compared to those from the suburban area. Since the wild boars were mainly infected with Eimeria, it should be assumed that they may pose a real health threat to farm pigs and other farm animals for which Eimeria is a pathogenic parasite. The occurrence of coccidiosis leads to serious health problems and economic losses for breeders. Although the prevalence of A. suum was low, it should be taken into account that this nematode is able to both infect and complete their life cycle in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ivermectin efficacy based on FECRT conducted in-field and under controlled conditions ranged between 52% and 86%. • In the controlled efficacy trial, ivermectin efficacy against adult and L3/L4 worms differed, being 5% v 94% respectively. • This is the first report of anthelmintic resistance in pigs in the United Kingdom. • Wider surveillance is necessary for the detection of nematode resistance in pigs. In 2016 suspected reduced ivermectin (IVM) efficacy in O esophagostomum species in pigs was reported in England. Following this initial report, APHA raised awareness amongst private pig veterinary practitioners of the need to monitor the efficacy of the worm control on pig units. In 2017 another veterinary practitioner highlighted a potential in-field lack of IVM efficacy in treating Oesophagostomum species in sows on another breeder-finisher unit. In this trial, the efficacy of IVM against Oesophagostomum species worms has been investigated to determine whether suspected reduced efficacy (52% reduction in mean faecal egg count 14 days post ivermectin administration) on a mixed indoor and outdoor breeder-finisher pig farm in England reflected true IVM resistance under controlled experimental conditions. On days 0 and 40 of the trial, twenty helminth-naive pigs were artificially infected per os with 5000 Oesophagostomum L3 obtained from the farm under investigation. The pigs were allocated to treatment or control groups (n = 10 per group). Treatment group pigs received IVM (0.3 mg kg body weight) by sub-cutaneous injection as per manufacturer's instructions on day 44. Control group animals were left untreated. Faecal worm egg counts were monitored throughout the trial from day 15 post infection to determine time to patency. On day 50 all pigs were euthanased to assess the worm burdens. Resistance to IVM was confirmed in Oesophagostomum dentatum based on the results of a faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) and a controlled efficacy test (CET). Efficacy based on mean reduction in faecal egg count of IVM-treated pigs compared to untreated control pigs was 86%. Mean reduction in IVM-treated pig worm burdens was 5% against an adult worm population and 94% against an L3/L4 population. The apparent discrepancy between FECRT and CET efficacy results appears to be due to egg development and/or oviposition suppression in IVM-treated female worms. The detection of IVM resistance in Oesophagostomum species worms for the first time in UK pigs is particularly important considering the global situation where resistance to pyrantel, levamisole and benzimidazole anthelmintics in Oesophagostomum species in pigs have already been reported. The results also provide an opportunity to discuss the wider issue of anthelmintic usage and efficacy on pig farms and highlight the need for wider surveillance for the occurrence of anthelmintic resistance in pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the details of the innate and Th1/Tregtype- associated host immune responses in Trichuris suis and Oesophagostomum dentatum mono- and co-infected pigs and in vitro in stimulated porcine dendritic cell cultures. Fortyeight pigs were allocated into a 2-factorial design with two groups trickle-inoculated with 10 T. suis eggs/kg/day (Group T) or 20 O. dentatum L3/kg/day (O). Another group (OT) was infected with both parasites. Group C remained uninfected. Expression of innate and Th1/Treg-cell-associated genes in gut mucosa and associated lymph nodes was determined by qPCR at necropsy day 35 and 71. Gene expression showed suppressed/ inhibited Th1 and Treg-type immune reactions, in accordance with previous findings of a predominant Th2-type immune response to both nematodes. The in vitro part examined the production of TNF-α in porcine dendritic cells (DC) exposed to T. suis and/or O. dentatum excretory/secretory (E/S) products. Further, binding capacity and structure of E/S products were characterized. Glycan and lectin-binding capacity were generally lower in O. dentatum E/S products compared to T. suis which may explain the earlier found weaker Th2 response to the former. Surprisingly, O. dentatum E/S products induced a significant (P < 0.0001) increase in TNF-α DC production, potentially indicating a new mode of helminth-host immune response interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are major gaps in our knowledge of many molecular biological processes that take place during the development of parasitic nematodes, in spite of the fact that understanding such processes could lead to new ways of treating and controlling parasitic diseases via the disruption of one or more biological pathways in the parasites. Progress in genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and bioinformatics now provides unique opportunities to investigate the molecular basis of key developmental processes in parasitic nematodes. The porcine nodule worm, Oesophagostomum dentatum, represents a large order (Strongylida) of socioeconomically important nematodes, and provides a useful platform for exploring molecular developmental processes, particularly given that this nematode can be grown and maintained in culture in vitro for periods longer than most other nematodes of this order. In this article, we focus on the moulting process (ecdysis) in nematodes; review recent advances in our understanding of molecular aspects of moulting in O. dentatum achieved by using integrated proteomic-bioinformatic tools and discuss key implications and future prospects for research in this area, also with respect to developing new anti-nematode interventions and biotechnological outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An alternative anthelmintic diatomaceous earth (DE) was evaluated for its ability to inhibit the migration of Oesaphagostomum dentatum larvae using migration and inhibition assays in vitro in unsheathed and exsheathed third stage larvae. The experiments were tested in 24-well plates at room temperature with five replications per treatment using different DE concentrations of 0.1 mg/ml, 0.3 mg/ml and 1mg/ml. About 120 larvae per well were deposited on a larval migration apparatus consisting of 20 µm nylon mesh filters and incubated in 2, 4, 16, 20 and 24 hr under different treatments and another 2 hr to allow the migration of active motile larvae. The percentage inhibition were statistically analyzed. The highest inhibition was 78.20%, observed when DE was given at a dose of 0.3 mg/ml after 24 hr (P<0.001) for exsheathed larvae and 67.60% (P<0.01) with unsheathed larvae under 1 mg/ml concentration of DE after 24 hr. DE was more effective in exsheathed larvae at 0.3 mg/ml after 20 hr with 61.60% inhibition (P<0.01). With unsheathed larvae, DE had a significant effect at 1 mg/ml exposed within 24 hr with 67.60% inhibition (P<0.01). The larval migration/inhibition assay presented in this study showed the inhibitory effects of DE on O. dentatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to investigate parasite induced immune responses in pigs co-infected with Trichuris suis and Oesophagostomum dentatum as compared to mono-species infected pigs. T. suis is known to elicit a strong immune response leading to rapid expulsion, and a strong antagonistic effect on O. dentatum populations has been observed in co-infected pigs. Forty-eight helminth naïve pigs were allocated into 4 groups in a 2-factorial design. Two groups were trickle inoculated with either 10 T. suis eggs/kg/day (Group T) or 20 O. dentatum L3/kg/day (Group O). Group OT was infected with same levels of both T. suis and O. dentatum (Group OT) and Group C remained uninfected. In each group, six pigs were necropsied after 35 days and the remaining pigs after 71 days. Parasite E/S-antigen specific serum antibodies were quantified by an in-direct ELISA. qPCR was used to measure the expression of immune function related genes in the mucosa of proximal colon and the draining lymph node. Highly significant interactions were identified for O. dentatum specific IgG1 ( p < 0.0001) and IgG2 ( p < 0.0006) antibodies with a remarkable 2-fold higher antibody response in group OT pigs as compared to group O. These findings indicated that T. suis enhanced the antibody response against O. dentatum in Group OT. The gene expression data confirmed a strong Type 2 response to T. suis (e.g. marked increase in IL-13, ARG1 and CCL11) and clearly weaker in amplitude and/or delayed onset response to O. dentatum in the single infected group. Interactions were found between the two nematodes with regard to several cytokines, e.g. the increase in IL-13 observed in Group T was absent in Group OT ( p = 0.06, proximal colon mucosa, 35 and 71 p.i.). Some of these immune response-related interactions may support, or even partially explain, the observed interactions between the two worm populations in co-infected pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Plant-derived condensed tannins (CT) show promise as a complementary option to treat gastrointestinal helminth infections, thus reducing reliance on synthetic anthelmintic drugs. Most studies on the anthelmintic effects of CT have been conducted on parasites of ruminant livestock. Oesophagostomum dentatum is an economically important parasite of pigs, as well as serving as a useful laboratory model of helminth parasites due to the ability to culture it in vitro for long periods through several life-cycle stages. Here, we investigated the anthelmintic effects of CT on multiple life cycle stages of O. dentatum. Methods: Extracts and purified fractions were prepared from five plants containing CT and analysed by HPLC-MS. Anthelmintic activity was assessed at five different stages of the O. dentatum life cycle; the development of eggs to infective third-stage larvae (L3), the parasitic L3 stage, the moult from L3 to fourth-stage larvae (L4), the L4 stage and the adult stage. Results: Free-living larvae of O. dentatum were highly susceptible to all five plant extracts. In contrast, only two of the five extracts had activity against L3, as evidenced by migration inhibition assays, whilst three of the five extracts inhibited the moulting of L3 to L4. All five extracts reduced the motility of L4, and the motility of adult worms exposed to a CT-rich extract derived from hazelnut skins was strongly inhibited, with electron microscopy demonstrating direct damage to the worm cuticle and hypodermis. Purified CT fractions retained anthelmintic activity, and depletion of CT from extracts by pre-incubation in polyvinylpolypyrrolidone removed anthelmintic effects, strongly suggesting CT as the active molecules. Conclusions: These results suggest that CT may have promise as an alternative parasite control option for O. dentatum in pigs, particularly against adult stages. Moreover, our results demonstrate a varied susceptibility of different life-cycle stages of the same parasite to CT, which may offer an insight into the anthelmintic mechanisms of these commonly found plant compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored molecules involved in in vitro exsheathment of Oesophagostomum dentatum L3s using a proteomic-transcriptomic-bioinformatic approach. Analysis of L3s before, during and after exsheathment identified 11 proteins that were over-expressed exclusively during exsheathment. These proteins (including key enzymes, heat shock, structural and nematode-specific proteins) were inferred to be involved in development, metabolism, structure, motility and/or host-parasite interactions. Some of these molecules represented homologues linked to entry into and exit from the dauer stage in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans . The approach established here provides a basis for investigations of ecdysis in other strongylid nematodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the population dynamics and potential interactions between Trichuris suis and Oesophagostomum dentatum in experimentally co-infected pigs, by quantification of parasite parameters such as egg excretion, worm recovery and worm location. Forty-eight helminth naïve pigs were allocated into four groups. Group O was inoculated with 20 O. dentatum L3/kg/day and Group T with 10 T. suis eggs/kg/day. Group OT was inoculated with both 20 O. dentatum L3/kg/day and 10 T. suis eggs/kg/day, while Group C was kept as an uninfected control group. All inoculations were trickle infections administered twice weekly and were continued until slaughter. Faecal samples were collected from the rectum of all pigs at day 0, and twice weekly from 2 to 9 weeks post first infection (wpi). Six pigs from each group were necropsied 5 wpi and the remaining 6 pigs from each group were necropsied 10 wpi. The faecal egg counts (FEC) and total worm burdens of O. dentatum were dramatically influenced by the presence of T. suis, with significantly lower mean FECs and worm burdens at 5 and 10 wpi compared to single infected pigs. Furthermore, in the presence of T. suis we found that O. dentatum was located more posteriorly in the gut. The changes in the Trichuris population were less prominent, but faecal egg counts, worm counts 5 wpi (57% recovered vs. 39%) and the proportion of infected animals at 10 wpi were higher in Group OT compared to Group T. The location of T. suis was unaffected by the presence of O. dentatum. These results indicate an antagonistic interaction between T. suis and O. dentatum which is dominated by T. suis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The present study identified and characterized new major sperm protein (MSP) genes from the two nodule worms Oesophagostomum dentatum and Oesophagostomum quadrispinulatum collected from pigs in China. Total genomic DNA was extracted individually from 10 male nematode samples representing O. dentatum, and 4 male nematode samples representing O. quadrispinulatum. A pair of primers (OMSP1F/MSP1R) was designed based on the MSP gene sequences of Ascaris suum and O. dentatum available in GenBank, and used to amplify the MSP genes from the two porcine nodule worms. The PCR products were purified and subsequently cloned into pGEM-T Easy vector. Recombinants were identified by PCR and sequenced. Sequence analysis revealed that there were two different types of MSP sequences in O. dentatum and O. quadrispinulatum, one contained intron, and the other did not. The lengths of the MSP sequences containing introns were 433bp or 439bp in O. dentatum, and 436bp, 439bp or 446bp in O. quadrispinulatum, containing 1 or 2 introns. Five and three new members of the MSP multigene family were identified in O. dentatum and O. quadrispinulatum in this study, respectively. The MSP sequences without introns were 381bp in length, and can be deduced into 126 amino acids. The sequences of MSP genes containing introns seem to be more conserved than those without introns. The identities of deduced amino acid sequences of the MSP genes containing introns were 96.0–100% within and between the two nodule worms, and were 81.1–93.7% compared with other published MSP sequences of the representative nematodes. The present study identified new MSP genes with introns from O. dentatum and O. quadrispinulatum for the first time. The identification and characterization of newly described MSP genes from O. dentatum and O. quadrispinulatum have implications for further studies of molecular biology and reproduction control of Oesophagostomum spp. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the present study, the complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences of the pig nodule worm Oesophagostomum quadrispinulatum were determined for the first time, and the mt genome of Oesophagostomum dentatum from China was also sequenced for comparative analysis of their gene contents and genome organizations. The mtDNA sequences of O. dentatum China isolate and O. quadrispinulatum were 13,752 and 13,681bp in size, respectively. Each of the two mt genomes comprises 36 genes, including 12 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA and 22 transfer RNA genes, but lacks the ATP synthetase subunit 8 gene. All genes are transcribed in the same direction and have a nucleotide composition high in A and T. The contents of A+T are 75.79% and 77.52% for the mt genomes of O. dentatum and O. quadrispinulatum, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses using concatenated amino acid sequences of the 12 protein-coding genes, with three different computational algorithms (maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference), all revealed that O. dentatum and O. quadrispinulatum represent distinct but closely-related species. These data provide novel and useful markers for studying the systematics, population genetics and molecular diagnosis of the two pig nodule worms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A study was conducted to evaluate and compare the efficacy of two injectable formulations of ivermectin (IVM-1 and IVM-2) at a dose rate of 0.3mg/kg bodyweight versus placebo in the treatment and control of larval and adult stages of Ascaris suum and Oesophagostomum spp. in experimentally infected pigs. Seventy helminth free pigs were allocated on a liveweight basis to 7 groups each comprising 10 pigs (A–G). Group A served as an untreated control group. Groups B and C were used to investigate the efficacy of both formulations against adult stages of A. suum and Oesophagostomum spp., Groups D and E for efficacy against larval stages of A. suum and Groups F and G for efficacy against larval stages of Oesophagostomum spp. Pigs of groups A, B, C, D and E were infected on Day-0 with 1000 infective A. suum eggs each. Infective larvae of Oesophagostomum spp. (10,000/pig) were given on Day-0 to pigs of Groups F and G and on Day-21 to pigs of Groups A, B and C. Treatment was given to pigs of Group A (saline as placebo) on Day-7 and -28, IVM-1 to pigs of Group F on Day-7, pigs of Group D on Day-14 and pigs of Group B on Day-49. IVM-2 was given to pigs of Group G on Day-7, Group E on Day-28 and Group C on Day-49. Pigs of Groups F and G were sacrificed on Day-28, pigs of Groups A, D and E on Day-49 and pigs of Groups B and C on Day-56. Post mortem worm counts showed the following efficacies: (IVM-1) against larval A. suum 100%, against adult A. suum 94.4%, against larval Oesophagostomum spp. 52.0% and against adult Oesophagostomum spp. 83.0%. (IVM-2) against larval A. suum 100%, against adult A. suum 90.3%, against larval Oesophagostomum spp. 94.0% and against adult Oesophagostomum spp. 94.7%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The influence of nodular worms Oesophagostomum dentatum infection and dietary carbohydrates on the morphology characteristics and epithelial cell proliferation in the large intestine of pigs was investigated. Thirty-two worm free weaners were randomly divided into four groups (A-D), of eight animals in each. Pigs in groups A (Control) and B (Infected) were fed Diet 1, and pigs in groups C (Control) and D (Infected) were fed Diet 2. The two diets were formulated: Diet 1 contained barley flour, oat husk meal plus soya bean meal (55% : 21%: 24%) and Diet 2 - barley flour, inulin and sugar beet fibre (SBF) (80.1% : 7%: 12.9%) plus soya bean meal (3:1). The two infected pig groups (B and D) were infected with 6000 infective larvae of O. dentatum and all 32 pigs were slaughtered 12 weeks p. i. The combination of O. dentatum infection and highly fermentable dietary carbohydrates affected the mucosal architecture, the epithelial cell proliferation and mucin secretion of the large intestine. These dietary carbohydrates in control pigs significantly influenced the tissue weight of caecum and colon. Infection with O. dentatum had significant effect on the gut wall architecture, because the changes in the affected gut sections corresponded directly to the number of worms present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The survival and viability of eggs from Ascaris suum and Oesophagostomum dentatum and of infective larvae (L3) from O. dentatum were determined in the ensiled solid fraction of swine faeces after 0, 7, 14, 28 and 56 days of ensiling. The experiment had two treatments, un-ensiled and ensiled manure, in a split-plot design. Each of 50 containers was inoculated with 40,000 eggs of both A. suum and O. dentatum, and another 50 containers were inoculated with 32,747 L3 of O. dentatum each. A. suum eggs were not destroyed by the ensiling process, although their viability was diminished. O. dentatum eggs and larvae were destroyed during the first 7–14 days of the ensiling process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The direct influence of intracaecal infusion of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and lactic acids (LA) on already established Oesophagostomum dentatum infection in cannulated pigs was investigated. We tested the hypothesis that the previously discovered anti-parasitic effect of inulin is mediated through its metabolic products SCFA and LA by infusing into cannulated pigs these compounds in amounts approximating to those produced in the pigs large intestine and caecum during the metabolism of inulin. The experiment comprised of 18 pigs—2 groups of 9 pigs in each. The normal diet used in the experiment was based on barley flour with insoluble fibre from oat husk with added soybean meal, vitamins and minerals. After 2 weeks of adaptation to the diet all the pigs were inoculated with 6000 infective larvae of O. dentatum. Six weeks later, surgery on all pigs was performed to install cannulas into caeci. At 7 weeks post-infection (p.i.) the SCFA and LA infusion was initiated in Group 1 (experimental) pigs; at the same time pigs in Group 2 (controls) were infused with saline. At week 10 p.i., all pigs were killed and their worm burdens determined. SCFA and LA infused pigs exhibited markedly reduced fecal egg counts and worm recoveries (98 and 92% reduction, respectively, compared to saline controls). The results from this study demonstrate that SCFA and LA have a significant negative influence on established O. dentatum infection in growing pigs. The results also show that the type of dietary carbohydrates fed and its intestinal degradation can yield metabolic by products that profoundly influence helminth survival. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

1 The development of resistance to all chemotnerapeutic agents increases and needs to be addressed. We are interested in resistance in parasitic nematodes to the anthelmintic levamisole. During studies on methyridine, we found that it gave us a new insight into pharmacological changes associated with levamisole resistance. Initially, electrophysiological investigation using a two-micropipette current-clamp recording technique revealed that methyridine acts as a cholinergic agonist on nematode muscle receptors (Ascaris sum). Methyridine (>30 μM) produced reversible concentration-dependent depolarizations and increases in input conductance. Mecamylamine (30 μM) and paraherquamide (0.3 μM) produced reversible antagonism of the depolarization and conductance responses to methyridine. These observations suggest that methyridine, like acetylcholine and levamisole, gates ion channels on the muscle of parasitic nematodes. 2 The antagonistic effects of dihydro-β-eryhroidine and paraherquamide on methyridine-induced contractions of A. suum muscle flaps were then examined to determine if methyridine showed subtype selectivity for N-subtype (nicotine-sensitive) or L-subtype (levamisole-sensitive) acetylcholine receptors. Dihydro-β-erythroidine weakly antagonized the effects of methyridine (but had no effect on levamisole responses). The antagonism of methyridine (pA[sub2], 5.9) and nicotine (p.A[sub2], 6.1) by paraherquamide was similar, but was less than the antagonism of levamisole (pA[sub2], 7.0). The antagonist profiles suggested that methyridine has a selective action on the N-subtype rather than on the L-subtype. 3 A novel use for a larval inhibition migration assay was made using L[sub3] larvae of Oesophagostomum dentatum. Inhibitory effects of nicotine, levamisole, pyrantel and methyridine on the migration of larvae of levamisole-sensitive (SENS) and levamisole-resistant (LEV-R) isolates were tested at different concentrations. Levamisole and pyrantel (putative L-subtype-selective agonists) concentration -response plots were displaced to the right in LEV-R isolates. Nicotine (an N-subtype-selective agonist) and methyridine produced little shift in concentration-response plots in the LEV-R isolates. Resistance dose ratios were used to calculate the relative selectivity,p[subL], for the L-type receptor (levamisole p[subL] = 1.0; pyrantel p[subL] = 0.93; methyridine p[subL] = 0.17: nicotine p[subL] =0.06). These observations reveal an N-subtype-selective action of methyridine and suggest that levamisole resistance may be associated with a loss of the L-subtype. but not the N-subtype receptors. The pharmacology of methyridine suggests an approach for the treatment of levamisole-resistnt parasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of Oesophagostomum dentatum infection and dietary carbohydrates on the morphology and epithelial cell proliferation in the gastrointestinal tract of pigs were investigated experimentally. Thirty-two worm-free pigs (n=32) from a specific pathogen-free farm were randomly divided into four groups (A–D), of eight animals each. Pigs in groups A (control) and B (infected) were fed Diet 1, and pigs in groups C (control) and D (infected) were fed Diet 2. The two diets were formulated: Diet 1 (%) contained barley flour, oat husk meal plus soya bean meal (55:21:24) and Diet 2 (%) contained barley flour, inulin and sugar beet fibre (SBF) (80.1:7:12.9) plus soya bean meal (3:1) to contain carbohydrates from inulin and sugar beet fibre (SBF) that were readily fermentable in the large intestine. The two infected pig groups (16 pigs total) were inoculated with 6000 infective larvae of O. dentatum and all pigs, including the controls, were slaughtered 12 weeks p.i. The combination of O. dentatum infection and highly fermentable dietary carbohydrates affected the mucosal architecture, the epithelial cell proliferation and mucin secretion of the large intestine. Infection had a significant influence on the crypt volume, height and density, and on muscularis externa at the proximal and middle colon. The changes in the affected gut sections were proportional to the number of worms present. However, these parameters appeared unaffected by those diets alone. In pigs without infection non-digestible dietary carbohydrates significantly influenced the tissue weight of colon. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Understanding reproductive and developmental processes of socioeconomically important parasitic nematodes is of fundamental scientific interest and could have important implications for developing novel methods for parasite control via the disruption or interruption of such processes. Central to investigating reproductive molecular biology is the identification and characterisation of genes with sex-specific expression profiles. However, there is currently a paucity of information on such genes and their expression patterns in parasitic nematodes. This article describes recent progress on the characterisation of sex-specific genes from a parasitic nematode of veterinary importance, and discusses the fundamental scientific and applied implications of this work. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A male-specifically expressed sequence tag was used as a probe to screen adult male Oesophagostomum dentatum (Nematoda; Strongylida) gene libraries. The cDNA clones isolated coded for a serine/threonine protein phosphatase with ∼85% identity to two Caenorhabditis elegans proteins implicated in reproduction. However, the genomic structures for the two species were distinct, in that the O. dentatum gene contained seven introns, whereas the C. elegans homologues contained three (two of which were conserved between the two nematodes). The promoters of all three nematode genes contained two putative GATA motifs separated by six to seven nucleotides and located within 100 nucleotides of the predicted transcriptional start site. RNA interference (RNAi) experiments in C. elegans, targetting the two homologues, revealed a consistent reduction in the number of progeny produced by treated worms, indicating a functional role in reproduction. Expression of green fluorescent protein, directed by the putative promoters for the C. elegans phosphatase genes, was analysed in transgenic C. elegans. The present results suggest that there is a significant degree of conservation between O. dentatum and C. elegans in the features and function of the serine/threonine protein phosphatase characterised, which should have implications for detailed investigations into molecular reproductive processes of some parasitic nematodes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]