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Anguillicoloides crassus is an invasive nematode parasite of the critically endangered European eel, Anguilla anguilla, and possibly one of the primary drivers of eel population collapse, impacting many features of eel physiology and life history. Early detection of the parasite is vital to limit the spread of A. crassus, to assess its potential impact on spawning biomass. However accurate diagnosis of infection could only be achieved via necropsy. To support eel fisheries management we developed a rapid, non-lethal, minimally invasive and in situ DNA-based method to infer the presence of the parasite in the swim bladder. Screening of 131 wild eels was undertaken between 2017 and 2019 in Ireland and UK to validate the procedure. DNA extractions and PCR were conducted using both a Qiagen Stool kit and in situ using Whatman qualitative filter paper No1 and a miniPCR DNA Discovery-System™. Primers were specifically designed to target the cytochrome oxidase mtDNA gene region and in situ extraction and amplification takes approximately 3 h for up to 16 individuals. Our in-situ diagnostic procedure demonstrated positive predictive values at 96% and negative predictive values at 87% by comparison to necropsy data. Our method could be a valuable tool in the hands of fisheries managers to enable infection control and help protect this iconic but critically endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the rumen fluke, Calicophoron daubneyi is now very common and widespread throughout Western Europe, reports of clinical cases are still rare. This study explores the epidemiological background to a severe rumen fluke outbreak in 6-month-old heifers on a dairy farm in Ireland. Sequence analysis of the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (Cox1) gene of the rumen fluke metacercariae on pasture failed to identify predominant, possibly pathogenic subtypes. However, estimates of metacercarial load indicated that the animals were exposed to a daily dose of about 5334 C. daubneyi metacercariae for a period of 3 weeks resulting in the build-up of very large numbers of immature worms in the small intestine. It is hypothesized that specific environmental conditions may favour this parasite over its competitor, the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, possibly by allowing it to emerge earlier. The possibility that C. daubneyi may be better adapted to the Irish climate than F. hepatica together with the fact that selective treatment against F. hepatica effectively frees the niche for C. daubneyi, may result in the gradual replacement of F. hepatica by C. daubneyi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARYNatural Cryptosporidiuminfections in pigs are widespread but generally apathogenic. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of zoonotic Cryptosporidiumspp. in piggeries in Ireland, where the drinking water supply is particularly vulnerable to contamination with zoonotic species. Overall, infections were detected in 39 out of 342 animals (11?4%), with highest infection rates among weaners (15%) and sows (13?3%). Twenty-nine positive samples were genotyped based on SSU rRNA sequence analysis. Infections with Cryptosporidium parvum, the most important zoonotic species were rare and are likely to be of greater concern to animal handlers than suppliers of drinking water. In addition to C. parvum, Cryptosporidium suis, Cryptosporidiumpig genotype II, Cryptosporidium murisand a previously undescribed genotype were identified. ABI-profiles indicated the presence of different alleles in at least 40% of all genotyped isolates. This was confirmed in 3 isolates by cloning of the PCR products. Since chronic mixed infections appear to be quite common in pigs they could be considered as models for mixed infections in immunocompromised humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]