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Present study was performed to know the infection status of Gnathostoma sp. larvae in swamp eels from Cambodia. We purchased total 30 Asian swamp eels, Monopterus albus, from local markets in Pursat and Takeo Provinces and Phnom Penh on May and November 2017 and May 2018. All collected eels were transferred to our laboratory with ice and each of them was examined by artificial digestion method. A total of 15 larval gnathostomes (1-5 larvae) were detected from 55.6% (5/9) swamp eels in Pursat Province. No larval gnathostomes were found in 21 swamp eels in Takeo Province and Phnom Penh. The advanced third-stage larvae (AdL3) detected were 2.575-3.825 (3.250) mm in length and 0.375-0.425 (0.386) mm in width. They had the characteristic head bulb (av. 0.104-0.218 mm) with 4 rows of hooklets, long muscular esophagus (1.048 mm), and 2 pairs of cervical sacs (0.615 mm). The number of hooklets in 4 rows on the head bulb was 41, 44, 47, and 50. In scanning electron microscopy, characteristic features were 4 rows of hooklets on the head bulb, cervical papillae, tegumental spines regularly arranged in transverse striations, and anus. The larval gnathostomes were identified as AdL3 of Gnathostoma spinigerum based on the morphological characters. By the present study, it has been confirmed that G. spinigerum larvae are infected in Asian swamp eels, M. albus, in Pursat Province, Cambodia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study aims to investigate the antioxidant and anticancer properties of fractionated eel protein hydrolysate (EPH) as well as qualitatively determine its free fatty acids. The eel flesh was enzymatically hydrolyzed and fractionated through membrane filter (10 kDa, 5 kDa and 3 kDa). The lipid peroxidation assays and mechanisms of antioxidant activity (reducing power, ferrous ion chelating activity and 1, 1-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity) of fractionated EPH were determined. The anticancer activity was determined by 3–4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay using MCF-7 cell lines. Free fatty acids in eel flesh and EPH were determined using gas chromatography. The results obtained showed that 3 kDa EPH possessed the highest inhibition of lipid peroxidation, reducing power, DPPH scavenging activity and anticancer activity. Moreover, the changes of unsaturated fatty acids during hydrolysis process resulting in more stable hydrolysate towards oxidation. Based on the mechanisms of antioxidant activity conducted, this study found that the EPH had more ability as primary antioxidant than secondary antioxidant. Highlights • 3 kDa EPH possessed the highest antioxidant and anticancer activity. • Hydrolysis process resulted in more stable hydrolysate towards oxidation. • EPH demonstrated greater ability as a primary antioxidant than as a secondary antioxidant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was performed to determine the infection status of swamp eels with Gnathostoma sp. larvae in Myanmar. We purchased total 37 Asian swamp eels, Monopterus albus, from a local market in Yangon in June and December 2013 and 2014. All collected eels were transferred with ice to our laboratory and each of them was examined by the artificial digestion technique. A total of 401 larval gnathostomes (1-96 larvae/eel) were detected in 33 (89.2%) swamp eels. Most of the larvae (n=383; 95.5%) were found in the muscle. The remaining 18 larvae were detected in the viscera. The advanced third-stage larvae (AdL3) were 2.3-4.4 mm long and 0.25-0.425 mm wide. The characteristic head bulb (0.093×0.221 mm in average size) with 4 rows of hooklets, muscular long esophagus (1.025 mm), and 2 pairs of cervical sacs (0.574 mm) were observed by light microscopy. The average number of hooklets in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th rows was 41, 45, 48, and 51, respectively. As scanning electron microscopic findings, the characteristic 4-5 rows of hooklets on the head bulb, a cervical papilla, tegumental spines regularly arranged in the transverse striations, and an anus were well observed. Based on these morphological characters, they were identified as the AdL3 of Gnathostoma spinigerum. By the present study, it has been confirmed for the first time that Asian swamp eels, M. albus, from Yangon, Myanmar are heavily infected with G. spinigerum larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The Asian swamp eel (Monopterus albus), is commonly distributed in Asian countries. However, its therapeutic potential has not been thoroughly investigated yet. The current study aimed to evaluate the in-vivo therapeutic properties of the skin mucus of this fish. The eel mucus was collected fleshly and topical gel with carbopol 934 was formulated to study the antibacterial activity on the infected skin of the rats. Sprague Dawley rats were used in the study and divided into 4 groups negative, positive, normal control, and treated groups. Intracutaneous injections of pathogenic bacteria (Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus) and fungi (Microsporum gypseum , Candida albicans) were injected into the rats. The development of tinea capitis, impetigo, and cutaneous candidiasis in the animal model was confirmed based on clinical and histopathological observations. To treat the infected rats, a formulated gel of eel skin mucus was applied on the infected rat's skins topically. The histological analysis confirms a complete recovery in the skin tissues similar to commercial antifungal and antibacterial agents used in the positive control groups. The present novel eel skin mucus is an efficient therapeutic candidate in treating skin infections associated with pathogenic microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From July 2008 to June 2009, livers of the swamp eels (Monopterus alba) were investigated for advanced third-stage larvae (AL3) of Gnathostoma spinigerum. Results revealed that 10.2% (106/1,037) and 20.4% (78/383) of farmed eels from Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province and those of wild-caught eels obtained from a market in Min Buri District of Bangkok, Thailand were infected, respectively. The prevalence was high during the rainy and winter seasons. The infection rate abruptly decreased in the beginning of summer. The highest infection rate (13.7%) was observed in September and absence of infection (0%) in March-April in the farmed eels. Whereas, in the wild-caught eels, the highest rate (30.7%) was observed in November, and the rate decreased to the lowest at 6.3% in March. The average no. (mean ± SE) of AL3 per investigated liver in farmed eels (1.1 ± 0.2) was significantly lower (P = 0.040) than those in the caught eels (0.2 ± 0.03). In addition, the intensity of AL3 recovered from each infected liver varied from 1 to 18 (2.3 ± 0.3) in the farmed eels and from 1 to 47 (6.3 ± 1.2) in the caught eels, respectively. The AL3 intensity showed significant difference (P= 0.011) between these 2 different sources of eels. This is the first observation that farmed eels showed positive findings of G. spinigerum infective larvae. This may affect the standard farming of the culture farm and also present a risk of consuming undercooked eels from the wild-caught and farmed eels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A personal narrative is presented in which the author talks about the time when he first held an Asian swamp eel or Monopterus albus, stating that they live in muddy burrows and are not easy to see even though they are slithering enough.