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Only a small fraction of the Earth's total biodiversity has been described. This is particularly true of parasitic fauna, due to the paucity of taxonomic expertise, funding, and interest in parasites. It is expected that co-extinctions will become the main cause of species loss with potentially half of the parasite species becoming extinct prior to their discovery. This article addresses this issue and highlights case studies from the Otago Museum (OMNZ) (Dunedin, New Zealand), providing examples of successful collaborations between government organisations, museums, and parasitologists in bridging knowledge gaps in parasite diversity. The case studies presented focus on the parasitic helminths from opportunistic necropsies of stranded marine mammals and deceased birds. Collections from these case studies have doubled the size of the parasite collection at the OM, making this institution the most important repository of parasitic helminths in the country. We encourage such collaborations between museums, governing bodies, indigenous communities, ecologists and parasitologists in enhancing our knowledge of parasite diversity. Furthermore, we urge scientists to deposit both host and parasite tissues from surveys, vouchers, along with their respective metadata so that samples can be adequately stored and curated, thus ensuring that parasite collections become a legacy for future generations of scientists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A full account of the world's species is important for understanding how natural systems are structured, how they function and how they will respond to natural and anthropogenic pressures in the future. Despite the well-known importance of parasites in natural systems, they are too often underrepresented from studies on biodiversity and ecological functioning. In this review, we provide a quantitative synthesis of the current state of knowledge of helminth biodiversity within New Zealand's marine environment. We report that records of parasitic helminths within New Zealand marine animals are few and uneven across host taxa. A large proportion of parasite species are taxonomically unresolved, with some differences across parasite taxa. Few parasites have their whole life cycles resolved, and the majority are only reported from one host species at one life stage. Most endemic host species are yet to be investigated for helminths and there is likely an abundance of endemic parasite diversity yet to be discovered. Host species of greater conservation concern are being investigated for helminths less frequently than species of low conservation concern. We conclude that little is known about parasitic helminths in New Zealand's marine environment and make recommendations on how to improve this situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary sludge (PS) from the wastewater treatment plants is constituted of organic matter and other nutrients that could be reused as soil fertilizers. However, primary sludge amendment is hampered due to the presence of pathogens that could be responsible for several infections in various ways depending on the prevalence of the human sources. This study investigates helminth eggs (HE) removal and inactivation efficiency by co-composting. So, PS was mixed with date palm waste as a bulking material at a 1:1 volume ratio. The C/N ratio decreased from 25:1 to 12:1 and temperatures above 50ºC were observed since 33 days. The initial concentration of HE eggs in the PS is 135.9 per 10 g DR. Microscopic examination of the PS, according to the Bailenger method, showed the presence of nematodes and Cestodes represented by: Ascaris lombricoïde, Ancylostomes duodenale, Trichuris trichiura, Capilaria spp, Hymenolepis nana, Taenia saginata, and Ascaris lombricoïde. After 60 days of co-composting, the charge of parasites was reduced to 18 eggs per 10 g per DR. The viability of ascaris eggs was examined using a light microscope and the percentage of the embryonated eggs was determined. No viable eggs were observed in the final compost. The result corroborates the WHO guidelines for the application of the composted sewage sludge safely for agriculture purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The parasite communities of marine fish in the tropical Pacific remain poorly studied. We did an initial study of the metazoan parasite communities of striped bonito Sarda orientalis from the Pacific coast of Mexico. Two hundred thirty individuals from two locations were collected between April 2017 and March 2018. Twenty-two metazoan parasite taxa (20 helminths and two Crustacea) were identified: one species of Monogenea, twelve of Digenea, one of Acanthocephala, two of Cestoda, four of Nematoda, one of Copepoda, and one of Isopoda. Didymozoid digeneans (six species) were the most frequent and abundant parasite species at both sampling locations. Parasite species richness at the component community level was similar in both locations (16–17 species). However, parasite community structure and species composition varied between them. Local fluctuations in some biotic (e.g. host feeding behaviour and body size) and abiotic environmental factors were probably responsible for these variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specimens of common smooth-hound, Mustelus mustelus, fished as bycatch in the Northwestern Adriatic Sea, were subjected to a complete parasitological examination. Parasites were processed for morphological and morphometric analyses aimed at identifying them to the species level. Parasite identity was confirmed through amplification and sequencing of 28S rDNA. The nematode Acanthocheilus rotundatus was recovered from the stomach and the proximal intestine, while the cestode Calliobothrium verticillatum was collected from the spiral valve. Our results confirm the occurrence of C. verticillatum in M. mustelus from the Mediterranean Sea and provide the first sequence data of A. rotundatus from the same area. Updated knowledge on the parasite fauna of M. mustelus from Adriatic Sea contributes to elucidating aspects of the ecology, biology and health status of elasmobranchs from the Mediterranean Sea, providing useful information for their proper management and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specimens of common smooth-hound, Mustelus mustelus, fished as bycatch in the Northwestern Adriatic Sea, were subjected to a complete parasitological examination. Parasites were processed for morphological and morphometric analyses aimed at identifying them to the species level. Parasite identity was confirmed through amplification and sequencing of 28S rDNA. The nematode Acanthocheilus rotundatus was recovered from the stomach and the proximal intestine, while the cestode Calliobothrium verticillatum was collected from the spiral valve. Our results confirm the occurrence of C. verticillatum in M. mustelus from the Mediterranean Sea and provide the first sequence data of A. rotundatus from the same area. Updated knowledge on the parasite fauna of M. mustelus from Adriatic Sea contributes to elucidating aspects of the ecology, biology and health status of elasmobranchs from the Mediterranean Sea, providing useful information for their proper management and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasitic infections of the gut have major implications for child health, but many questions remain unanswered. Protozoal parasites, especially cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis, cause diarrhoea and contribute to impaired growth, neurocognitive development and mortality. Entamoeba histolytica causes dysentery and may have more subtle effects on child growth. Helminth infections are mostly asymptomatic, and untargeted mass deworming has not been shown to be beneficial. However, children with heavy infections certainly benefit from antihelminthic treatment. Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis is a neglected problem on a massive scale, which causes portal hypertension and lifelong morbidity in individuals who get infected in childhood. Neurocysticercosis causes epilepsy and is a significant consequence of taeniasis solium, another neglected disease which is entirely preventable. Parasitic infections of the gut contribute to child health problems on a large scale. Fresh approaches are needed to prevention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil has the richest anuran biodiversity in the world and many species have not yet been studied for parasites. One hundred and forty frogs belonging to 18 species (Rhinella schneideri,Dendropsophusaff.minutus,Dendropsophus nanus,Hypsiboas albopunctatus,Hypsiboas punctatus,Hypsiboas raniceps,Phyllomedusa tetraploidea,Pseudis platensis,Scinax fuscovarius,Trachycephalus typhonius,Leptodactylus chaquensis,Leptodactylus fuscus,Leptodactylusaff.latrans,Leptodactylus mystacinus,Leptodactylus podicipinus,Physalaemus cuvieri,Physalaemus nattereriandElachistocleis bicolor) collected in aquatic habitats in forest remnants and surrounding agricultural landscapes in southern Brazil were examined for endoparasites. Twenty-four species of endoparasites were identified among 21 adult and three larval individuals: one species of Monogenea,Polystoma lopezromani; eight species of Digenea,Catadiscus marinholutzi,Catadiscus propinquus,Choledocystus simulans,Gordoderinasp.,Neohaematoloechus neivai,Rauschiella lenti,Rauschiella linguatula,Rauschiella repandum; one species of Cestoda,Ophiotaeniasp.; one species of Acanthocephala,Centrorhyncussp.; 12 species of Nematoda,Aplectanasp.,Aplectana travassosi,Cosmocerca podicipinus,Raillietnemasp.,Schrankiana formolusa,Falcaustra mascula,Oxyascaris oxyascaris,Ochoterenella digiticauda,Physalopterasp.,Brevimulticecumsp.,Rhabdiassp.,Parapharyngodon hylidae; and one species of Annelida,Dero(Allodero)lutzi. The endoparasite fauna found is constituted by generalist species. Two new records of occurrence in Brazil and 33 new host records are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A parasitological survey of 107 jirds, belonging to two species, Meriones shawi and M. libycus, was carried out. Rodents were trapped in three separate desert regions of Tunisia: Bouhedma (in the centre), Dghoumes (in the southwest) and Sidi Toui (in the southeast). The survey revealed infection with nine helminth species – six cestodes: Raillietina sp., Meggittina numida, Meggittina gerbilli and Inermicapsifer madagascariensis, and two Taeniidae species: Taenia endothoracicus and Taenia sp.; and three nematodes: Gongylonema neoplasticum, Physaloptera sp. and Trichuris gerbilli. The overall prevalence of helminth infection was 68.22% (73/107); the highest rate was in M. shawi (80.82%, 59 cases), whereas it was 41.17% (14 cases) in M. libycus. The most frequent helminth was Raillietina sp. (53.27%) followed by Meggittina numida (21.5%). Merionesshawi showed the highest helminth diversity with eight parasite species, with synchronous infections of two, three and four species of helminths in one rodent, compared to M. libycus in which only two cestode species were found, without synchronous infection. Moreover, significant differences in the overall infection prevalence between sexes (60.27 and 39.73% for males and females, respectively) and age were detected; only one juvenile specimen of M. shawi was found infected. Prevalence depended also on habitat: the highest infection rate was in Bouhedma (80%), followed by Dghoumes (58.33%), and the lowest was in Sidi Toui (47.82%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A preliminary study to evaluate the possibilities of biological control procedures against parasites affecting livestock reared in a care farm has been conducted. Adults with mental disabilities were involved in spreading the spores of the filamentous fungusMucor circinelloidesdirectly onto the faeces, or as a food additive. In the first assay, the spores were sprayed directly onto the faeces of piglets and calves parasitised by roundworms (Ascaris suum) and liver flukes (Fasciola hepatica), respectively. In the second assay, the spores were mixed with on-farm mash feed. Participation of the adults in the experiments was fully satisfactory. In the manure sprayedMucorspores, the viability of eggs of roundworms and flukes reduced by 53% and 74%, respectively. Significant reductions of viability of eggs ofAscaris(60%) andFasciola(67%) in the faeces of piglets and calves given mash feed-addedMucorspores were achieved, which demonstrates their ability to survive in the digestive tract of the animals. It is concluded that biological control of parasites could be helpful to decrease the risk of infection in animals reared by intellectually disabled adults in a care farm, and it could motivate them to accomplish new tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we applied an ultrafiltration process to detectBlastocystisspp.,Cryptosporidium parvum,Giardia lambliaand helminth ova during a dry season with cold and warm periods. Samples of wastewater, reuse water for the irrigation of green areas and groundwater were collected on the campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Physicochemical parameters were measured.Blastocystisspp. and its subtypes (ST) were identified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and indirect immunofluorescence (IFA);G. lambliaandC. parvumwere identified using IFA, and helminth ova were searched for using flotation/sedimentation and microscopic observation.BlastocystisST3,C. parvumandG. lambliawere detected in wastewater and reuse water, but onlyG. lambliawas detected in all of the samples of reuse water. Helminth ova were not detected. Statistical analysis showed a dependency between total dissolved solids and protozoa. Our data suggest thatG. lambliadetection can be performed as part of reuse water quality assessments for irrigation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

For land application, biosolids are classified as Class A or Class B based on the levels of bacterial, viral, and helminths pathogens in residual biosolids. The current EPA methods for the detection of these groups of pathogens in biosolids include discrete steps. Therefore, a separate sample is processed independently to quantify the number of each group of the pathogens in biosolids. The aim of the study was to develop a unified method for simultaneous processing of a single biosolids sample to recover bacterial, viral, and helminths pathogens. At the first stage for developing a simultaneous method, nine eluents were compared for their efficiency to recover viruses from a 100 gm spiked biosolids sample. In the second stage, the three top performing eluents were thoroughly evaluated for the recovery of bacteria, viruses, and helminthes. For all three groups of pathogens, the glycine-based eluent provided higher recovery than the beef extract-based eluent. Additional experiments were performed to optimize performance of glycine-based eluent under various procedural factors such as, solids to eluent ratio, stir time, and centrifugation conditions. Last, the new method was directly compared with the EPA methods for the recovery of the three groups of pathogens spiked in duplicate samples of biosolids collected from different sources. For viruses, the new method yielded up to 10% higher recoveries than the EPA method. For bacteria and helminths, recoveries were 74% and 83% by the new method compared to 34% and 68% by the EPA method, respectively. The unified sample processing method significantly reduces the time required for processing biosolids samples for different groups of pathogens; it is less impacted by the intrinsic variability of samples, while providing higher yields (P= 0.05) and greater consistency than the current EPA methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One hundred and ninety-one frogs collected in Papua New Guinea from 10 species of the genusLitoria, namely,L. angiana,L. arfakiana,L. caerulea,L. congenita,L. eurynastes,L. gasconi,L. infrafrenata,L. iris,L. kumaeandL. modica, were examined for helminths. Eighteen species of helminths were found: one species of Monogenea,Parapolystoma bulliense; three species of Digenea,Diplodiscus amphichrus,Halipegus zweifeliandMesocoelium monas; 13 species of Nematoda, gravid specimens ofAplectana macintoshii,Cosmocerca novaeguineae,Falcaustra papuensis,Maxvachonia adamsoni,Maxvachonia flindersi,Maxvachonia ingens,Meteterakis crombiei,Moaciria moraveci,Parathelandros mastigurus,Physalopteroides milnensis,Pseudorictularia dipsarilis,Seuratascaris numidica, and larvae (in cysts) ofAbbreviatasp. and, one species of Acanthocephala,Pseudoacanthocephalus bufonis. Mean number of helminth species per host species was 3.0 ± 1.4 SD (range 1–5), mean number of helminth species per infected frog was 1.1 ± 0.4 SD (range 1–2), and mean number of helminths per infected host was 33.3 ± 5.8 SD (range 1–36). Twenty-eight new host records and two new locality records are reported. The biogeography of the recovered helminths is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. In a previous study, we demonstrated that the human macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF)-like protein (As-MIF) isolated from helminths could inhibit allergic airway inflammation via the recruitment of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells. Objective. To evaluate the clinical importance of As-MIF as an antiasthma drug, we evaluated immune responses after recombinant As-MIF (rAs-MIF) treatment in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures. Methods. PBMC was isolated from 10 patients with atopic asthma, 8 patients with nonatopic asthma, and 12 nonatopic healthy subjects, and various concentrations of rAs-MIF were transferred into the PBMC culture medium. After 3 days, we measured the levels of T helper 2 and T helper 1 cytokines via ELISA. Results. In atopic asthma, IL-4 and IL-5 production was significantly reduced in the PBMC cultures after rAs-MIF treatment. These inhibitory effects were not observed in the nonatopic asthma group. By way of contrast, IL-10 production in the PMBC cultures was significantly increased after rAs-MIF treatment in all experimental groups. Conclusion. The results of this study are similar to those previously reported in a mouse study, suggesting that As-MIF might be a candidate for the specific treatment of asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasitic infections of the eye are a major cause of ocular diseases in many parts of the globe. The causative agents of ocular parasitoses include several species of unicellular protozoan and metazoan helminth parasites, which have a natural predilection for and utilize the eye as their habitat. At times ocular invasion by accidental or uncommon parasites may result in infections of unusual nature. In this review the authors discuss the various parasitic causal agents of eye diseases and the current status of immunology against ocular parasitoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five hundred and sixty microhylid frogs representing 26 species collected from 2002 to 2005 in Papua New Guinea were examined for helminths. Found were three species of Digenea, two species of Cestoda, nineteen species of Nematoda, and two species of Acanthocephala. One hundred and eleven new host records were recorded. Nematodes comprised 73% (19/26) of the species present and 95% (10,581/11,107) of the individuals present. Seventeen of the 26 (65%) helminth species found are currently known only from Papua New Guinea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A combined and updated checklist helminth and protozoan parasites of terrestrial mammals in New Zealand is provided. This checklist, which is divided into two parts, includes a total of 301 parasites (151 nematodes, 27 cestodes, trematodes, 2 acanthocephalans and 113 protozoans) from 37 hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helminth parasites of amphibians from the Gelegele Forest Reserve, a pristine forest in southwestern Nigeria, were investigated. Amphibians encountered included Amietophrynus maculatus, Hoplobatrachus occipitalis, Aubria subsigillata, Ptychadena longirostris, Ptychadena oxyrynchus, Ptychadena bibroni, Ptychadena pumilio, Chiromantis rufescens, Leptopelis hyloides, Hyperolius fusciventris and a Phrynobatrachus sp. Nineteen helminth parasites, including two cestodes, three monogeneans, six trematodes and eight nematodes were recorded from these amphibians. Contrary to the earlier assumption that monogeneans in Nigeria were preferentially parasites of amphibians in drier environments such as the savanna, this study has shown that these parasites also infect amphibians in highly humid environments such as the rainforest. Monogeneans recorded included Metapolystoma cachani and two unidentified Polystoma species. Haematoloechus aubriae, Mesocoelium monas, a Halipegus sp. and a Physalopteroides sp. are new geographical records for Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil-transmitted helminthiases are major parasitic diseases that cause health problems world-wide. School-based health education is one of several basic interventions currently recommended by the World Health Organization for the control of these infections. A 3-year programme of health education for the control of soil-transmitted helminths (STH) has recently been completed in four primary schools in the Hauykayeng subdistrict of Thong Pha Phum district, in the Kanchanaburi province of Thailand. Overall, the percentage of the schoolchildren found infected with STH increased between the start of year 1 of the intervention (16.6%) and the end of year 2 (23.8%) but showed signs of falling by the end of year 3 (19.4%). Although none of these year-on-year changes in overall prevalence was statistically significant, some significant trends were detected when the six school grades (i.e. age-groups) were considered separately. The grade showing the highest prevalence of STH infection changed, from grade 6 (representing the oldest children investigated) at the start of year 1 (when grade-1 children were excluded from the survey) to grade 1 (representing the youngest children) at the ends of year 2 and year 3. By the end of year 3, the children in grades 5 and 6 had significantly lower prevalences of infection than the grade-1 subjects. The prevalence of STH infection in the grade-1 children was significantly higher than that in any of the older grades at the end of year 2 and significantly higher than that in grades 3–6 at the end of year 3. These results indicate that the health education had a greater impact on the children in the higher grades (who, presumably had better levels of understanding and practised better, personal, infection prevention) than on the younger children. Although school-based interventions can serve as a useful entry point for parasite control, more effort, including anthelminthic treatment, may be required among the youngest children. The activities need to be sustainable and supported by appropriate school-health policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 136 digestive tracts and faecal samples were collected from free-ranging birds originating from different parts of Greece and were evaluated for the presence of gastrointestinal parasites. The birds belonged to 35 species and 16 families (Pelecanidae, Ardeidae, Phoenicopteridae, Anatidae, Accipitridae, Falconidae, Rallidae, Laridae, Sternidae, Columbidae, Tytonidae, Strigidae, Caprimulgidae, Apodidae, Turdidae and Corvidae). Among the 6 protozoan, 11 trematode, 5 cestode, 19 nematode and 7 acanthocephalan species found, the parasites Clinostomum complanatum, Cotylurus cornutus, Ophiosoma spp., Neodiplostomum spathoides, Conodiplostomum spathula, Cardiocephaloides longicollis, Diplostomum spathaceum, Cladogynia spp., Leptotaenia ischnorhyncha, Sobolevicanthus gracilis, Tetrameres fissispina, Capillaria tenuissima, C. strigis, Cyrnea leptoptera, Porrocaecum spp., Physaloptera alata, Centrorhynchus bazaleticus, C. aluconis, C. milvus, C. globocaudatus, Polymorphus spp. and Plagiorhynchus spp. are reported for the first time in Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To provide scientific information on geohelminth contamination of raw fruits and vegetables in Nigeria required for risk profile evaluation. Design. Laboratory research. A parasitological analysis of raw fruits and vegetables purchased from major markets. Materials and methods. Isolation of geohelminth ova from fruits and vegetables using a standard parasitological technique. Results. Of the 118 helminth ova isolated, 64 (54.2%) were Ascaris lumbicoides, 11 (9.3%) Trichuris trichiura and 43 (36.4%) hookworm. Vegetables were more contaminated than fruits (71.2%, 95% confidence interval 63.0-79.3% vs. 28.8%, 95% confidence interval 20.6-37.0%). Carrot (Daucus carota) was the most contaminated vegetable (31.0%, 95% confidence interval 21.1-40.9%) and the least contaminated was egg plant (Solanum marcrocarpon) (6.0%, 95% confidence interval 0.9-11.1%); differences were statistically significant (F ratio = 4.72, p<0.05). Of the 34 ova isolated from fruits, 30 (88.2%, 95% confidence interval 77.4-99.0%) were from pineapple (Ananas cosmosus). Conclusions. The results do suggest the existence of a great potential of acquiring enteric helminth infections from ingesting raw produce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A parasitological survey was carried out to determine the relationships between helminth fauna and some biological traits of two host species of lacertid lizards. Size, sex, diet, and season of collection, as well as infracommunities and component communities of Podarcis bocagei and P. carbonelli from Douro litoral (northwest Portugal), have been analysed. In both host species, we found low values of parasite infection parameters and diversity. These findings were in accordance with their feeding habits, eating only animal prey and no plant matter. Evidences suggest a relationship between the presence of Brachylaima sp (Trematoda: Brachylaimidae) and the ingestion of snails by both lizard species. Spauligodon carbonelli (Nematoda, Pharyngodonidae), a specialist in Podarcis hosts, was the most important parasite, affecting mainly adult males with a prevalence of infection showing seasonal variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of broader study on the helminth parasites of amphibians in the different biodimatic zones of Nigeria, a study of the helminth parasites of amphibians at New Bussa in the Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria was undertaken. Amphibian hosts examined included Burn regularis, B. maculatus, Dicroglossus occipitalis and Rana galamensis. The cestode Cylindrotaenia sp. was recovered from Burn regularis and B. maculatus. Monogeneans were represented by Eupolystoma alluaudi and Polystoma galamensis and trematodes by Haematoloechus exoterorchis, H. micrurus, Mesocoelium monodi and Diplodiscus fischthalicus. Nematode parasites included Rhabdias bufonis, Amplicaecum africanum, Camallanus dimitrovi, Cosmocerca ornata and the larvae of an ascaridoid nematode. Eupolystoma alluoudi, which has been shown to have low prevalence rates in other savanna locations, had high prevalence rates in B. regularis (68.4%) and B. maculatus (82.3%). A few Bufo specimens, which had over-dispersed infection with adult worms and the whole range of developing stages represented, confirm the internal cycle of re-infection already observed by other investigators for E. alluoudi in Bufo spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract 1. A cross-sectional prevalence study of gastrointestinal helminths in Danish poultry production systems was conducted on 268 adult chickens selected at random from 16 farms in Denmark from October 1994 to October 1995. 2. The trachea and the gastrointestinal tract of each bird was examined for the presence of helminths. 3. In the free-range/organic systems the following helminths were found: Ascaridia galli (63 8%), Heterakis gallinarum (72 5%), Capillaria obsignata (53 6%), Capillaria anatis (31 9%) and Capillaria caudinflata (1 5%). In the deep-litter systems: A. galli (41 9%), H. gallinarum (19 4%) and C. obsignata (51 6%). In the battery cages: A. galli (5%) and Raillietina cesticillus or Choanotaenia infundibulum (3 3%). Exact identification of the cestodes was not possible because of missing scolexices. In the broiler/parent system: C. obsignata (1 6%), and finally for the backyard system: A. galli (37 5%) H. gallinarum (68 8%), C. obsignata (50 0%), C. anatis (56 3%) and C. caudinflata (6 3%). 4. The results confirm the higher risk of helminth infections in free-range and backyard systems but prevalence may also be high in deep litter systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the presence of some endohelminths in freshwater turtle Trachemys scripta in Yucatan, Mexico. Parasites known to occur in local fishes and serve as paratenic hosts; Description of species of helminths; Discussion of problems concerning the morphology, taxonomy and geographical distribution of helminths.

Three species of African chameleons (Chamaeleo gracills, C. jacksoni and C. johnstoni) were examined for helminths. Two species of Cestoda (Oochorisrica truncata and tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides sp.) and four species of Nematoda (Oswaldocruzia chamaeleonis, Parapharyngodon kenyaensis, Raillietnema chamaeleo, and Strongyluris elegans) were found. Four new host records are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Microscopy remains the gold standard in the diagnosis of neglected tropical diseases. As resource limited, rural areas often lack laboratory equipment and trained personnel, new diagnostic techniques are needed. Low-cost, point-of-care imaging devices show potential in the diagnosis of these diseases. Novel, digital image analysis algorithms can be utilized to automate sample analysis. Objective:Evaluation of the imaging performance of a miniature digital microscopy scanner for the diagnosis of soil-transmitted helminths andSchistosoma haematobium, and training of a deep learning-based image analysis algorithm for automated detection of soil-transmitted helminths in the captured images. Methods:A total of 13 iodine-stained stool samples containingAscaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiuraand hookworm eggs and 4 urine samples containingSchistosoma haematobiumwere digitized using a reference whole slide-scanner and the mobile microscopy scanner. Parasites in the images were identified by visual examination and by analysis with a deep learning-based image analysis algorithm in the stool samples. Results were compared between the digital and visual analysis of the images showing helminth eggs. Results:Parasite identification by visual analysis of digital slides captured with the mobile microscope was feasible for all analyzed parasites. Although the spatial resolution of the reference slide-scanner is higher, the resolution of the mobile microscope is sufficient for reliable identification and classification of all parasites studied. Digital image analysis of stool sample images captured with the mobile microscope showed high sensitivity for detection of all helminths studied (range of sensitivity = 83.3–100%) in the test set (n = 217) of manually labeled helminth eggs. Conclusions:In this proof-of-concept study, the imaging performance of a mobile, digital microscope was sufficient for visual detection of soil-transmitted helminths andSchistosoma haematobium. Furthermore, we show that deep learning-based image analysis can be utilized for the automated detection and classification of helminths in the captured images. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]