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An adult domestic shorthair (DSH) cat was presented with acute vomiting, anorexia, lethargy, and dyspnea. The cat's clinical status worsened over 24 hours with conservative medical management. An exploratory celiotomy was performed. Acute intestinal obstruction resulting from infection with Taenia (T.) taeniaeformis was diagnosed. Surgical removal of the cestodes via multiple enterotomies resolved the obstruction. This paper reports, for the first time, small intestinal obstruction caused by T. taeniaeformis infection in a cat.

Rapid detection and differentiation of Taenia species are required for the control and prevention of taeniasis and cysticercosis in areas where these diseases are endemic. Because of the lower sensitivity and specificity of the conventional diagnosis based on microscopical examination, molecular tools are more reliable for differential diagnosis of these diseases. In this study, we developed and evaluated a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for differential diagnosis of infections with Taenia species with cathepsin L-like cysteine peptidase (clp) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) genes. LAMP with primer sets to the cox1 gene could differentiate between three species, and LAMP with primer sets to the clp gene could differentiate Taenia solium from Taenia saginata/Taenia asiatica. Restriction enzyme digestion of the LAMP products from primer set Tsag-clp allowed the differentiation of Taenia saginata from Taenia asiatica. We demonstrated the high specificity of LAMP by testing known parasite DNA samples extracted from proglottids (n = 100) and cysticerci (n = 68). LAMP could detect one copy of the target gene or five eggs of T. asiatica and T. saginata per gram of feces, showing sensitivity similar to that of PCR methods. Furthermore, LAMP could detect parasite DNA in all taeniid egg-positive fecal samples (n = 6). Due to the rapid, simple, specific, and sensitive detection of Taenia species, the LAMP assays are valuable tools which might be easily applicable for the control and prevention of taeniasis and cysticercosis in countries where these diseases are endemic.

Taenia solium and T. saginata are zoonotic tapeworms of substantial medical and economic importance. Although human taeniasis is widely recognised as an endemic problem in Mexico, its presence in the United States is poorly understood. The first population-based study to estimate the prevalence of human infection with Taenia tapeworms along the Texas-Mexico border has recently been conducted. Households were interviewed in the Texan city of El Paso and in the neighbouring Ciudad Juárez, in Mexico. Faecal samples from household members were then checked for Taenia eggs by flotation and/or for Taenia copro-antigens in an ELISA. The overall prevalence of taeniasis in this border region was found to be 3% but, compared with the residents of Juárez, El Paso residents were 8.6-fold more likely to be tapeworm carriers. The interviews revealed some important differences between the two study sites, particularly the more frequent use of anthelminthic drugs on the Mexican side of the border. These findings have implications in terms of the planning of effective health-education campaigns to decrease the prevalence of taeniasis in the human populations along the Texas-Mexico border.

Environmental and socio-cultural variables influencing the distribution of helminth eggs in 608 soil samples were studied in 14 playgrounds that differ in socio-economic status in Kaduna metropolis, Nigeria, using a modified sieving method and a sucrose flotation medium of specific gravity 1.27. Helminth eggs were found in 62% of the soil samples and the distribution was as follows: Toxocara spp. 50.4%, Taenia spp./Echinococcus spp. 36.9%, Dipylidium caninum 26.3%, Ancylostoma spp. 9.0%, Ascaris spp. 7.2%, Trichuris spp. 3.7% and Ascaridia spp. 1.9%. A higher prevalence (68.1%) was recorded during the dry harmattan period while in the rainy period the rate was 58.1%. Mean egg densities ranged from 1.11 +/- 0.32 to 3.92 +/- 2.47 in areas moderately rated. Samples from site 14, which was highly rated, were more contaminated (78.1%) than those collected from other sites, while the intensity of contamination (14.0%) was more in moderately rated site 4 than in the rest of the sites. There were significant associations between the prevalence of helminth eggs and rainy period of the study (odds ratio (OR) = 0.38; 95% confidence interval (CI) on OR: 0.20 0.05). This study shows that the period of study, the presence of dogs and vegetation influence the prevalence of helminth eggs in soil in Kaduna metropolis.

The epidemiological status of hydatidosis, cysticercosis, and gid in sheep and the production practices of sheep farmers that increase the risk of exposure of sheep to infecting agents of these diseases were investigated in Thessaly, central Greece during 2002-2006. A total of 700 hoggets (sheep up to the age of 1 year) and 1500 adult sheep were examined randomly at an abattoir survey and the prevalences of hydatidosis and cysticercosis were found 39.32% and 29.41%, respectively. Hoggets had significantly lower prevalences of hydatidosis and cysticercosis compared to adult sheep (p<0.001). The distribution of parasitic cysts showed an overdispersion pattern mostly in the hogget population. The proportion of fertile hydatid cysts was significantly higher in hoggets compared to adult sheep (p<0.001). A cohort of 74 sheep flocks was observed during the same period in a prospective survey to assess the incidence of gid. A total of 57 sheep belonging to 15 flocks (20.27% of investigated flocks) developed clinical signs of gid at an annual rate of 11.40+/-4.77 (95% C.I.). In the infected flocks there were 3.80+/-0.92 (95% C.I.) gid cases per flock. The mean age of onset of clinical signs for all sheep was 11.86+/-1.33 months (95% C.I.) (range 5-22 months) while for hoggets was 8.48+/-0.73 (95% C.I.) (range 5-12 months) and for adult sheep 17.23+/-1.42 (95% C.I.) (range 13-22 months). A significant difference was observed in the prevalence of unilateral blindness between hoggets (31.42%) and adult sheep (4.54%) (p<0.05). The most common production practices identified in a questionnaire survey of sheep farmers that may increase the risk of exposure of sheep to hydatidosis, cysticercosis, and gid were the improper disposal of dead animals, the access of farm dogs to offal of slaughtered sheep, the carelessness of farmers to treat farm dogs with anthelmintics, and the grazing of flocks in fields where stray dogs have free access.

From 1,600 surgically removed appendices, 24 (1.5%) were found to have helminths. Enterobius vermicularis was observed in 23 of the 24 specimens (95.8%) and Taenia sp was detected in only 1 (4.2%) case. Sixteen patients (66.7%) were less than 10 year-old; 15 patients were male and 9 female. Pathologic analysis disclosed acute neutrophilic inflammation in 12 cases and lymphoid hyperplasia in 10 of the 24 appendices. Gangrenous appendicitis was diagnosed in 3 cases and peritonitis was found in 11 of the 24 infested appendices. Parasitic infection of the appendix is an uncommon cause of acute appendicitis in children and adolescents.

High neurocysticercosis (NC) prevalence was recently determined by a computed tomography (CT) scan study in the community of Tepetzitzintla, State of Puebla, Mexico. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the magnitude of fecal and parasite contamination by Taenia spp. in the soil of households of this community during the four seasons of the year. The toilet, backyard, kitchen, washboard, water containers and corrals of 14 to 26 households were sampled during each season. High Taenia spp. egg intensity was found in 24.2% of the sampled areas. The highest percentage was detected in Spring and the lowest in Summer. Significantly higher levels of Taenia spp. eggs were present in kitchen soil samples. A significant correlation was found between the presence of Taenia spp. eggs in household soil during the Summer, and NC diagnoses of the inhabitants by CT scan. Coproparasitological examinations and anti-cysticercal antibodies were determined in a cohort of inhabitants of the sampled households. Antibody levels and coproparasitological results were not associated with NC. Overall, these results illustrate the high degree of fecal contamination of potential risk to human health in rural communities and could be of use for control programmes.

A new cost-effective method using silicon dioxide- and guanidine isothiocyanate-containing buffers, after previous alkaline lysis, was established for the DNA extraction from taeniid eggs isolated from canine faeces. The purified DNA can be used to amplify the species-specific 12S mitochondrial DNA of Echinococcus multilocularis in direct and nested polymerase chain reaction in order to differentiate between E. multilocularis and Taenia spp.

One hundred wild boars (Sus scrofa) from a geographically isolated population on the island Saaremaa of western Estonia were examined for visceral helminths. Seven helminth species, Metastrongylus pudendotectus, M. salmi, M. elongatus, Ascaris suum, Trichuris suis, Dicrocoelium dendriticum and Taenia hydatigena larva, were found. The predominant helminths discovered were lung nematodes (prevalence 82%, mean intensity 96.2 per animal). A significant negative correlation was observed between the weight of wild boars and the number of lungworms and helminth species. The number of helminth species found in the wild boar population on the island was lower compared to that of the adjacent mainland.

There is a lack of information on the disease burden due to Taenia solium taeniasis and its associated risk factors in pig farming communities throughout the world. The present study was conducted in a rural pig farming community of north India to estimate the prevalence of T. solium taeniasis and associated factors. Demographic, clinical and epidemiological data were collected from 1181 subjects in 210 households in 30 villages. Stool specimens from 924 subjects were examined for eggs of Taenia and other parasites. Identification of T. solium was confirmed by morphological features of segments and species-specific DNA detection from segments and stool. The prevalence of T. solium taeniasis was 18.6% (172/924); factors associated with taeniasis on multivariate analysis were age above 15 years, history of passage of Taenia segments in stool, undercooked pork consumption and poor hand hygiene (hand-washing with clay/water after defecation). Seventy-eight subjects (6.6%) with epilepsy were identified. The study showed alarmingly high rates of epilepsy and T. solium taeniasis in the study community; it highlights the need for large-scale imaging-based surveys to identify the factors associated with epilepsy including neurocysticercosis. Health education, mass anthelminthic therapy and other preventive measures are required to control the menace of the disease.

The distribution of single cysticerci between cerebral hemispheres was studied in 227 adult cases of calcified and vesicular neurocysticercosis (NC). A rightward lateralization of calcified cysticerci was significant only in women, whereas vesicular cysticerci were equally distributed in both hemispheres. Factors related with the differences in the inflammatory response and in the regional cerebral blood flow between genders could be involved.

We confirmed sympatric occurrence of Taenia solium, T. saginata, and T. asiatica in western Thailand. DNA analysis of morphologically identified T. saginata, in a dual infection with T. solium, indicated it was T. asiatica. To our knowledge, this report is the first of T. asiatica and a dual Taenia infection from Thailand.

Background: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a disorder caused by the Taenia solium larva. It is the most common parasitosis of the central nervous system (CNS). Its distribution is universal, but it is endemic in many developing countries and in the third world. In Spain most patients come from countries where the condition is endemic. However, sporadic cases occur among the population of rural regions. NCC in transplant recipients is uncommon. One renal transplant recipient developed NCC but responded to treatment with praziquantel. Recently, it has been reported to complicate a liver transplantation., Case Report: The patient was a 49-year-old Ecuatorian man who received a cadaveric donor liver graft in June 2001 due to acute liver failure induced by toadstool and was under treatment with FK506. In January 2006, the patient presented with a generalized onset of a tonic-clonic seizure for 1 minute without sphincter incontinence, headache, fever, or previous brain trauma. Neurological evaluation did not show evidence of organic brain dysfunction. The neuroimaging findings (brain) computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging were compatible with NCC: many cystic lesions intra- and extraparenchymatous with a scolex visible in three of them. Serology for cysticercosis in plasma was initially indeterminate but positive afterward. The patient was treated with anticonvulsivants (valproic acid) and albendazole. Systemic steroids were added in order to reduce the edema produced upon death of the cyst. Treatment lasted 3 weeks and it was completed without complications or neurological symptoms. Liver function was not affected. One year later the patient remained asymptomatic., Conclusion: NCC is a condition that must be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with CNS involvement and cystic lesions on neuroimaging investigations in transplant recipients, especially patients originating from or traveling to endemic areas. First-line therapy for active cysts includes antiparasitic drugs (albendazole or praziquantel) as well as steroids and anticonvulsivants. In our patient, this therapy was effective.

Background and Purpose: There are few studies comparing the capacity of lesion detection of conventional MR imaging in neurocysticercosis (NCC). This study was designed to clarify its role in the evaluation of this disease, focusing on the total number of lesions identified and the characterization of the scolex., Materials and Methods: MR images from 115 patients were prospectively collected during a 3-year interval, including axial spin-echo (SE) T1-weighted; axial fast SE T2-weighted; axial fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR); and gadolinium-enhanced axial, coronal, and sagittal SE T1-weighted sequences. They were compared regarding the potential for detection of NCC lesions and specifically of the scolex., Results: Comparing all sequences, we found that FLAIR images were more sensitive to the detection of the scolex (P < .003), whereas the last gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted series (coronal or sagittal) identified the highest number of lesions (P < .001)., Conclusion: When dealing with NCC, optimal MR imaging protocols should include FLAIR images to obtain maximal rates of scolex detection. Special attention should be paid to the last gadolinium-enhanced sequence, which maximizes the quantification of lesion load.

Progesterone participates in numerous developmental and behavioral processes in the mammalian brain. The intracellular (is this really intracellular? nuclear membrane?) progesterone receptor is expressed as two isoforms: a full-length form (PR-B) and the N-terminally truncated one (PR-A). Experimental intraperitoneal infections with Taenia crassiceps in mice exhibit the tendency of the parasites to develop more rapidly in females. Male mice undergo a feminization process characterized by their oestrogenisation, deandrogenisation and loss of sexual and aggressive patterns of behavior. Hence, we suspected that changes in PR expression in the brain could be involved in the feminization of the infected male mice and in the loss of the sexual and aggressive behaviors. We have studied the expression of PR isoforms in the normal and infected male mouse brain. Transcripts of both receptor isoforms (PR-A and -B) were readily detectable in normal and infected mice, but differentially regulated during infection depending on the area of the brain studied. Although the precise role of progesterone in mediating the behavioral changes noted during infection is not fully understood, our data implicate a role for PR signaling in the feminization process. CNS activity is potentially involved in the network that regulates the oestrogenisation and deandrogenisation observed in chronically infected male mice, as well as in the behavioral peculiarities observed in this parasitic infection.

Coenuriasis is a parasitic disease induced by larval taeniid tapeworms that is rarely observed in humans. In December 2005, a case was diagnosed in Nancy, France, after surgical excision of a cyst on a 24-yr-old woman returning from the Côte d'Ivoire. Morphological and epidemiological criteria suggested that the infection was due to Taenia serialis. Molecular analysis of NADH dehydrogenase subunit I (NDI) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences was also in favor of T. serialis identification, but the absence of available genetic data on T. brauni and T. glomeratus and the small number of published sequences for T. serialis and T. multiceps must be considered with caution. The NDI partial sequences presented more variations within species of Taenia than the COI sequences, which make them more useful targets for species identification and analysis of intraspecific polymorphisms. The present study points to the usefulness of molecular biology tools to help make up for the shortcomings of the commonplace parasitological diagnosis for coenuriasis.

Two rare clinical manifestations of coenurosis in sheep are reported. (i) A case of partial seizure disorder in a ram of 11 months old. During seizure episodes the animal lay down in lateral recumbency displaying initially a stuporous condition and subsequently began to revolve its head from the base of the cervix. At the necropsy of the case, Coenurus cerebralis cyst (young bladder worm) was found dorsally inside the brainstem, in the site of the tectum mesencephaly. (ii) The second-reported manifestation was a bacterial meningoengephalitis that was witnessed in two lambs of 6-7 weeks old. The lambs displayed lateral recumbency with seizure activity. At necropsy, meningoencephalitis with congestion and abscesses were observed in both of them. Interestingly, C. cerebralis cysts were also found in both brains. Streptococcus dysgalactiae was isolated from the abscesses. Possibly, S. dysgalactiae translocation of the blood-brain barrier was facilitated by the migration of the immature stages of C. cerebralis to and through the brain.

A survey was carried out to assess the occurrence of Coenurus cerebralis infection in Sardinian sheep. A prevalence of 0.35% was observed when 566 regularly slaughtered sheep were examined. However, in 120 sheep with suspected symptoms of coenurosis examined from November 2001 to October 2002, a total of 299 cerebral coenurosis lesions were observed with an incidence of 1% per year. Lesions were classified as migratory, cystic and secondary. Most migratory lesions were found in sheep aged 3-6 months. Cavitary lesions containing cysts in different developing stages were found with high incidence per year in sheep aged 7-12 months. Secondary lesions due to the development of Coenurus were most frequent in sheep aged 19-36 months. Most sheep were found infected in spring and in early summer, between March and June. Most lesions were located in the cortex. The mean number of protoscolices per cyst was 149 (range 10-370).

Objectives: Neurocysticercosis is a common parasitic disease in the CNS in humans caused by the metacestode Taenia solium, with high incidence in developing countries. Albendazole is the drug of choice. However, a wide interindividual variability in the response has been reported. In order to evaluate alternative treatment options, the in vitro efficacy of nitazoxanide, its main metabolite tizoxanide as well as the tizoxanide and albendazole sulphoxide combination was tested against Taenia crassiceps cysts., Methods: T. crassiceps cysts were incubated in culture medium containing different concentrations of nitazoxanide, tizoxanide and albendazole sulphoxide (0.037-0.42 microg/mL). The effect of the tizoxanide and albendazole sulphoxide combination was evaluated in a fixed-concentration ratio (1:1). Isobolographic analyses were used to define the kind of interaction between drugs. Morphological and ultrastructural alterations over the parasite tissue were observed by light and transmission electron microscopy., Results: Nitazoxanide and tizoxanide exhibited cestocidal activity which was time-concentration-dependent. The EC(50) values were 0.15, 0.12 and 0.080 microg/mL for nitazoxanide, tizoxanide and albendazole sulphoxide, respectively. No statistical differences between EC(50) values were found, indicating that nitazoxanide and tizoxanide are equally potent as albendazole sulphoxide. The effect of the tizoxanide and albendazole sulphoxide combination was faster than that observed with each drug alone. Isobolographic analysis showed that the effect of the combination was additive. Nitazoxanide and tizoxanide had an effect on the germinal layer, where lipid droplets were found. Nitazoxanide and tizoxanide produced less damage than albendazole sulphoxide on the germinal layer. After the tizoxanide and albendazole sulphoxide combination, a high accumulation of lipid droplets within the germinal layer of the parasite was found., Conclusions: Our results suggest that nitazoxanide in combination with albendazole could be useful for treatment of cysticercosis infections. Additional in vivo studies are required to confirm this hypothesis.

A 4-year old, male intact, captive-bred chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) was presented due to progressive exophthalmos of the right eye over a 5-month period. Ophthalmic examination revealed exophthalmos with dorsal displacement of the right globe. Retropulsion was decreased and a fluctuant, subcutaneous mass could be palpated posterior and dorsal to the central aspect of the zygomatic bone. Transdermal ultrasonography revealed a fluid-filled mass consistent with a cyst located within the ventral right orbit. Computed tomography demonstrated dorsal displacement of the globe, lateral displacement of the zygomatic arch, and numerous mineral-dense foci within the lumen of the cyst. The cyst was removed en bloc by ventral transpalpebral orbitotomy. Histopathology revealed a single capsulated cyst with multiple invaginated protoscolices, characterized by a prominent scolex with refractile hooklets, suckers, and abundant calcareous corpuscles consistent with a Taenia coenurus. Exophthalmos resolved with surgical therapy and there was no evidence of recurrence or postoperative complications over a period of 2 years. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of an orbital cyst of parasitic origin in a chinchilla.

In this study, the carriage of intestinal parasites was investigated in a total of 73 children (35 girls, 38 boys) in the 1-6 age-group in two special day nurseries in the city of Rize. Stool samples and cellophane tape preparations were obtained from children three times a month. Parasite cysts or eggs were found in total of 15.0% of the stool samples or cellophane tape preparations from children. It has been determined that 8.5% of the girls and 21.0% of the boys were parasite porters, and that all of these were asymptomatic carriers. Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba coli + Iodamoeba bütschlii, Taenia spp. and Enterobius vermicularis were detected at rates of 11.0%, 1.3%, 1.3% and 1.3%, respectively.

The results of a preliminary survey of taeniasis/cysticercosis in Yajiang County, Ganze Tibetan Prefecture in southwest Sichuan Province, China, indicated a very high prevalence of taeniasis (22.5%), with Taenia saginata as the dominant species. There was also a significant occurrence of late-onset epilepsy (8.5% prevalence and 16.4% seropositive for Taenia solium antibodies) attributable in large part to probable neurocysticercosis caused by T. solium. The poor sanitation and hygiene in this Tibetan community likely contributed to a high risk of human cysticercosis despite a low level of T. solium taeniasis (actually no T. solium carriers were detected amongst the 21 proven Taenia carriers). In addition, three taeniasis cases were confirmed by DNA genotyping as Taenia asiatica, which is the first report of this tapeworm in Tibetans, the first report for Sichuan Province and only the third report for mainland China.

Tapeworm cysts were identified in liver of Wistar rats and it induced fibrosarcoma in liver and gastroenteropathy in stomach and intestine. The tapeworm larva was confirmed as Strobilocercus fasciolaris by PCR linked mitochondrial DNA sequencing. Light microscopy, special staining (masson trichrome) and immunoflouresence supported the diagnosis of fibrosarcoma. Infiltration of plasma cells, macrophages and eosinophils were observed in the liver section. Gastric mucosal hyperplasia, dilation of gastric glands with secretion, intestinal mucosal cell hyperplasia, proliferation of duodenal submucosal glands were confirmed by light microscopy and supported by PAS, AB staining. The concomitant development of hepatic sarcoma and gastroenteropathy by larvae of Taenia taeniaeformis (S. fasciolaris) infection is very rare and is the first reported case in Wistar rats to our knowledge.

Infections with larvae of Taenia crassiceps are rare in humans and have mostly affected patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. We report the first case of a patient with malignancy (non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) and infection of the subcutis and muscles of the hand and forearm. Surgery and antiparasitic chemotherapy led to a complete cure.

Contamination of soil with feline and canine ascarid eggs in eight playgrounds in Kirikkale, Turkey was investigated monthly from February 2003 to January 2004. Dog faeces were also collected and all samples were examined using the zinc sulphate centrifugal flotation method. Eggs of Toxocara were observed in 5 of 8 (62.5%) of playgrounds examined and in 15.6% of 480 soil samples. The number of eggs varied from 1 to 11. Eggs were observed in soil samples collected in February, March to June, August and November, with embryonated eggs appearing in June and August. Eggs of Toxascaris leonina and Taenia spp. and oocysts of Isospora spp. were also found in 1.5%, 1.0% and 0.2% of soil samples, respectively. Of 26 samples of dog faeces collected, 7.7% were contaminated with Toxocara spp. and 11.5% with Taenia spp. The presence of Toxocara eggs in the city playgrounds and dog populations suggests a potential human health hazard due to toxocariasis.

Red deer (Cervus elaphus) were introduced in southern Latin America about a century ago and characteristics of the invasion raise concerns over their epidemiological role for various diseases. We report on the possible occurrence of Taenia ovis krabbei established in a sylvatic cycle in Patagonia. Hook characters, size, appearance, and location of a cysticercus from a wild red deer are consistent with Taenia ovis ovis or T. o. krabbei. Although it is not possible to differentiate between T. o. ovis and T. o. krabbei on morphological grounds with certainty, several biological characteristics indicate the cysticercus may belong to T. o. krabbei. Red deer have been reported to be refractory to T. o. ovis infection whereas other potential intermediate hosts like cattle, goats, pigs and sheep have been shown to be refractory to T. o. krabbei. Other native ungulates sympatric with red deer in Patagonia include Lama guanicoe and the endangered huemul deer (Hippocamelus bisulcus). Possible or known definitive hosts include native felids like Puma concolor, Felis colocolo, F. guigna and canids like Dusicyon griseus, D. culpaeus, and domestic dogs.

It has been reported that three human Taenia species are distributed in Indonesia: Taenia solium, Taenia asiatica and Taenia saginata. T. asiatica is well known in North Sumatra, especially on Samosir island in Lake Toba. T. solium and T. saginata are known from Bali. T. solium is most serious public health issue in Papua (former Irian Jaya). In this report, we briefly review the present situation of these three human Taenia species mainly in Bali and North Sumatra. For community based epidemiological survey, we have adopted and applied questionnaire, microscopic observation of eggs, coproantigen tests, coproDNA tests, mitochondrial DNA analysis and morphology for isolated specimens, serology for cysticercosis and taeniasis. For detection of taeniasis cases of both T. saginata and T. asiatica, questionnaire by expert doctors is perfect to detect worm carriers. Corpoantigen test developed for detection of taeniasis of T. solium is also highly reliable to detect taeniasis carriers in the community. Epidemiological data from these two islands 2002-2005 are reviewed with backgrounds of historical culture, religions and customs.

PCR has proven its value for the diagnosis of taeniid cestodes in animal definitive hosts, although only few specific tests are available at the moment (Echinococcus multilocularis, Echinococcus granulosus 'sheep strain'). Additional tests with specificities for further taeniids are urgently needed and new tests are currently being developed, e.g. a multiplex PCR for simultaneous detection of E. multilocularis, E. granulosus (all strains) and Taenia spp. (all species). PCR is a technically demanding and expensive technique: DNA isolation from faecal specimens remains a laborious task because of the presence of PCR-inhibitory substances, and special precautions need to be taken to avoid false-positive results due to cross-contamination of amplification reactions. PCR, therefore, is mainly used for confirmative purposes of coproantigen-positive samples or for identification of taeniid eggs recovered from faecal specimens or from environmental samples.

A case of parasitic appendicitis caused by Taenia sp. in a 28-year-old woman from Brazil is reported. Histopathological data and a description of the helminthe found in the appendix lumen are presented.

The aim of the present study was to find out the number of students with enterobiasis and/or taeniasis in primary schools of Sivas. Among the 2,029 students in 6 primary schools, 316 (15.6%) were positive to Enterobius vermicularis eggs and 32 (1.6%) were positive to Taenia spp. eggs by the cellophane tape method. The egg positive rates of E. vermicularis and Taenia spp. ranged from 9.4% to 27.2% and from 0.8% to 2.6% respectively among six schools. The egg positive rate of E. vermicularis was found to be significantly different among these schools (chi2 = 31.96, P < 0.05), whereas there was no significant difference between the schools for Taenia spp. (chi2 = 4.37; P > 0.05). The rate (18.7%) of E. vermicularis in the urban slum regions was higher than the rate (11.5%) in the urban central regions (chi2 = 19.20; P < 0.05). Above results demonstrate that the egg positive rate of E. vermicularis and Taenia spp. was still prevalent among primary school children.

A survey on intestinal helminths in school children was conducted in Haiti in 2002. This first nationwide study involving the entire country was stratified by department according to urban and rural zones using the cluster method. Focusing on elementary school children (n=5792; age range 3 to 20 years), it involved 26 urban and 49 rural schools randomly selected. Stools were preserved in formalin and examined by the Ritchie technique. Thirty-four per cent of stools (1981/5792) tested positive for intestinal helminths with the following parasites identified: Ascaris lumbricoides (27.3%), Trichuris trichiura (7.3%), Necator americanus (3.8%), Hymenolepsis nana (2%), Taenia sp. (0.3%) and Strongyloides stercoralis (0.2%). The helminth prevalence was higher in rural (38.4%) compared to urban areas (30%). There was no significant difference in prevalence by sex and age. The importance of geohelminths changed from one department to another with the highest prevalence found in the Southern department of Grande Anse (73.7%) and the lowest prevalence in the Center department (20.6%). Five out of the country's nine departments had a similar prevalence varying from 25.5% to 28.2%. Intestinal helminthic polyparasitism was observed in a percentage of infested school children comprise between 3.4% and 28.6% according in relation to the geographical area. A program to fight against geohelminths in school children should be initiated as a public health priority. Albendazole is the drug of choice. Frequency of drug distribution should be based on the prevalence of geohelminths in each department.

The 18S rDNA gene of adult worms of Taenia parva found in Genetta genetta in the Iberian Peninsula and larval stages of T. pisiformis from the wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Tenerife (Canary Islands) were amplified and sequenced. The sequences of the 18S rDNA gene of T. parva (1768 bp) and T. pisiformis (1760 bp) are reported for the first time (GenBank accession nos. AJ555167-AJ555168 and AJ555169-AJ555170, respectively). In 168 alignment positions microsatellites in the 18S rDNA of both taxa were detected for the first time (TGC in T. parva and TGCT in T. pisiformis) and differences in their sequences with different repetition numbers were observed. The use of nucleotide sequences of this gene in the resolution of systematic problems in cestodes is discussed with reference to the systematic status of Taenia spp. and mainly in human taeniids such as T. solium, T. saginata, and Asian human isolates of Taenia.

Multiple cestode cysts identified as Taenia serialis were present in the bodies of two wild-caught African giant pouched rats (Cricetomys gambianus) at necropsy. This rodent species can be an intermediate host for this parasite. Exotic rodents kept as pets in the United States may be affected.

Twelve sheep from 7 different flocks consisting of approximately 150-250 animals each were diagnosed with coenurosis caused by the larval stage of Taenia multiceps. Ataxia, incoordination, drowsiness, hind leg paralysis and coma were the most prominent clinical symptoms. Monocytosis and lymphocytosis were observed upon hematological examination. Creatin kinase (CKBB) levels of the animals varied between 421 and 495 U/l. Cysts were commonly localized in the parietal and frontal lobes of the brain and in the cerebellum. In two cases, cysts were found on the lumbar aspect of the medulla spinalis. Symptoms were related to cyst localization. Depression, tilting of the head either to the right or left and head pressing were seen when cysts were located in the cerebrum. Incoordination and hyperexcitability were noted if the cysts were involved with the cerebellum and when located in the spinal cord, hind leg paralysis was the typical clinical sign. On microscopic examination, atrophy was observed in the central nervous system (CNS) organs due to pression by the bladderworms. Nonpurulent meningoencephalitis with perivascular cuffings were the most common histopathological findings. In periodic acid Schiff staining (PAS), positive reaction was observed in protoscoleces. Neurons were the most affected cell type when stained by the Klüver Barrera method. This method also showed that in the CNS, Coenurus cerebralis caused a prominent glial reaction. When parasites were localized in the nervous system treatment was impossible. Animals without neurologic sings were treated with praziquantel (Tenikur tablet-Topkim A.S.) 50-100 mg/kg/day for three days.

Expression-library immunization has been proposed as an effective means to screen a large number of genes of the pathogen as candidate protective molecules. In this study, we examined the efficacy of expression-library immunization using a T. taeniaeformis rat model system. Total RNAs were isolated from the last 15 segments of adult T. taeniaeformis and poly A RNA was purified. cDNA library was produced using SuperScript Plasmid System, which contains a mammalian expression vector, pCMV*SPORT6. From about 3,500 clones examined, more than 800 clones were found to contain DNA fragments. About 200 clones were sequenced and the homology search was carried out. The blast search revealed that 29% of the expression genes were mitochondrial genes (rRNA; 17%, protein; 12%). Nuclear rRNA genes (10%), nuclear protein (9%) and genes from Escherichia coli were also detected. Forty-two percent of sequences did not show a significant similarity to any genes deposited in the public database. Rats were immunized with expression-library and injected orally with 1,000 T. taeniaeformis eggs. However the protective effect of expression-library vaccine was not confirmed.

Strobilae from Taenia crassiceps (WFU strain) were obtained from outbred hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) by feeding them viable metacestodes maintained by intraperitoneal passage in female Balb/c mice. Mature and gravid proglottids from strobilae were recovered from hamster intestines and fixed for light and electron microscopy. By light microscopy, the expected structure of taeniid proglottids was observed. Ultrastructural analysis of ten proglottids showed that testicular follicles and vas deferens contained filiform spermatids, with a single axoneme, and an elongated helicoidal nucleus inserted between the axoneme and the spiraled cortical microtubules. At the apical cone, a single crest-like body was found and mature spermatids also exhibited transverse intracytoplasmic walls. The morphology and characters of the spermatids in T. crassiceps conform to type III spermiogenesis, which has been described in other taeniids., (Copyright 2004 Springer-Verlag)

Thirty-seven carcasses of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) collected and examined in Estonia during 1999-2001 had helminths. Parasites identified and their prevalence included Diphyllobothrium latum (5%), Taenia pisiformis (100%), Taenia laticollis (41%), Taenia hydatigena (3%), Taenia taeniaeformis (3%), Toxocara cati (68%), and Trichinella spp. (22%). The only significant relationships (P < or = 0.05) between occurrence of helminths and host age and sex were a greater number of T. pisiformis and T. laticollis in older than in youger male lynx, and older males had a greater number of species of helminth than did younger lynx. Sixty-one fecal samples collected during snow tracking of nine lynx were examined; eggs of T. cati were identified in 38 samples, and Capillaria spp were found in eight samples. This is the first systematic investigation of parasites of lynx in Estonia.

Multiplex PCR was established for differential diagnosis of taeniasis and cysticercosis, including their causative agents. For identification of the parasites, multiplex PCR with cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene yielded evident differential products unique for Taenia saginata and Taenia asiatica and for American/African and Asian genotypes of Taenia solium with molecular sizes of 827, 269, 720, and 984 bp, respectively. In the PCR-based detection of tapeworm carriers using fecal samples, the diagnostic markers were detected from 7 of 14 and 4 of 9 T. solium carriers from Guatemala and Indonesia, respectively. Test sensitivity may have been reduced by the length of time (up to 12 years) that samples were stored and/or small sample volumes (ca. 30 to 50 mg). However, the diagnostic markers were detected by nested PCR in five worm carriers from Guatemalan cases that were found to be negative by multiplex PCR. It was noteworthy that a 720 bp-diagnostic marker was detected from a T. solium carrier who was egg-free, implying that it is possible to detect worm carriers and treat before mature gravid proglottids are discharged. In contrast to T. solium carriers, 827-bp markers were detected by multiplex PCR in all T. saginata carriers. The application of the multiplex PCR would be useful not only for surveillance of taeniasis and cysticercosis control but also for the molecular epidemiological survey of these cestode infections.

An investigation on the presence of larval cestodes in musk rats (Ondatra zibethicus) was carried out in two regions of the Netherlands (east Groningen and south Limburg) where in a earlier study foxes with Echinococcus multilocularis were found. A total of 1726 musk rats were dissected (1200 in Groningen, 526 in Limburg). Larval stages of Taenia taeniaeformis were most frequently found (total 44.8%: Groningen 42%, Limburg 51.3%), followed by T. martis (total 6.1%: Groningen 0.7%, Limburg 18.6%). Infections with T. crassiceps (total 0.3%: Groningen 0%, Limburg 1.0%), T. polyacantha (total 0.2%; Groningen 0.3%, Limburg 0%) and E. multilocularis (0.1%: Groningen 0.1%, Limburg 0%) were rare. Infections with T. taeniaeformis were more frequent in adults (71.8%) than in juveniles (34.2%). The same was found for T. martis: adults 15.3%, juveniles 2.5%. This difference was also reflected in the relation between weight of the animals and presence of infection. Heavier animals (>1000 g) were more often infected with T. taeniaeformis (74.1%) than animals less than 1000 g (34.8%). In musk rats weighing less than 500 g (n=155) only 5.2% were infected, but above 1200 g, 82.6%. The highest number of T. taeniaeformis was 28, of T. martis 13, of T. crassiceps >1000 and of T. polyacantha 24. The E. multilocularis was in a very young stage, a few white spots in the liver. Although E. multilocularis infections were exceptional, it is expected that with a rise in the number of infected foxes in the Netherlands the number of infected musk rats will increase.

Background: The design and development of school health programmes will require information at demographic characteristics of schoolchildren and the major health burdens of the school-age group, the opportunities for intervention and the appropriateness of the available infrastructure. This study aims to analyse demographic and parasitic infections status of schoolchildren and sanitary conditions of schools in Sanliurfa province of south-eastern Turkey., Method: Three primary schools were randomly selected in the shantytown, apartment and rural districts. A total of 1820 schoolchildren between 7-14 years age were took part to the survey of whom 1120 (61.5%) were boys and 700 (38.4%) were girls. A child form (including child's name, sex, age, school grade and parasitic infections) and school survey form (including condition of water supply, condition of latrines, presence of soaps on the basins and presence of garbage piles around to the schools) were used for demographic, parasitic and sanitary surveys. Stool samples were examined by cellophane thick smear technique for the eggs of intestinal helminths., Results: The demographic survey showed that number of schoolchildren was gradually decreased as their age's increase in shantytown school. The sex ratio was proportional until the second grade, after which the number of females gradually decreased in children in shantytown and rural schools while, in apartment area, schoolchildren was proportionally distributed between age groups and gender even the high-grade students. The prevalence of helminthic infections was %77.1 of the schoolchildren in shantytown, 53.2% in apartment district and 53.1% of rural area. Ascaris lumbricoides was the most prevalent species and followed by Trichuris trichiura, Hymenolepis nana and Taenia species in three schools. Sanitation survey indicated that the tap water was limited in shantytown school, toilet's sanitation was poor, available no soaps on lavatories and garbage piles were accumulated around the schools in shantytown and rural area, while, the school in apartment area was well sanitised., Conclusions: These results indicated that burden of parasitic infections and poor sanitation conditions constituted public health importance among to the shantytown schoolchildren. School health programmes including deworming and sanitation activities through the health education and improvement of sanitation conditions in the schools have a potential to better health and education for schoolchildren. These programmes also offer the potential to reach significant numbers of population in the shantytown schools with high level of absenteeism.

Cerebral cysticercosis by Taenia crassiceps was diagnosed in an adult female domestic shorthair cat. The animal was euthanized 6 weeks after the initial presentation with signs of vomiting, lethargy, and ataxia. The disease took an intermittent relapsing course with the neurological signs progressing eventually to recumbancy and coma. At necropsy, numerous cysticerci were found in the dilated left lateral ventricle and the adjacent brain parenchyma. The cysticerci were identified as metacestodes of T. crassiceps larvae based on size and morphology of the cysts; shape, number, and size of the rostellar hooks; and mode of proliferation, including endogenous and exogenous budding. Cerebral cysticercosis by T. crassiceps is rare in atypical intermediate hosts and has not been described in cats.

This article summarizes the most recent advances in techniques and applications for the detection of taeniid cestode-infected persons or animals. In addition, the use of molecular approaches for strain identification and control of parasite transmission is discussed.

Most diagnostic work conducted on the Taenia species zoonoses has been carried out on the larval stage of Taenia solium in man, reflecting the relative severity of the pathology caused by this stage of that organism. This review will, however, concentrate on the immunodiagnosis of the adult intestinal stages of these parasites in humans. Diagnosis of T. solium will be examined in most detail because of the relative importance of this parasite but relevant work from other cestodes of man and animals will also be discussed. In addition both classical and molecular approaches to diagnosis will be briefly covered. There have been a number of advances in immunodiagnosis of taeniasis over recent years that have improved both diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. Techniques for the detection of Taenia specific coproantigens in human taeniasis infections have been shown to more than double the numbers of T. solium cases accurately diagnosed in epidemiological studies. More recently, work on the serological diagnosis of T. solium have led to the development of a sensitive and specific enzyme linked immuno-transfer blot for the detection of species and stage specific circulating antibodies to adult worm excretory-secretory antigens. Work is ongoing to further improve these assays.

For the first time, a jar of embalming rejects was studied in search for helminth parasite eggs. This kind of jar was used to put discarded material by Egyptian embalmers during mummification process. Ascaris lumbricoides and Taenia saginata eggs were found in the linen and strip fragment contents of the jar, dated of 2,715-2,656 years ago.

Objective: To identify the types of Taenia saginata isolated from Dali of Yunnan Province, and from Duyun and Congjiang of Guizhou Province., Methods: Genomic DNA was isolated, and the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (mtCO I) genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and analyzed by PHYLIP software package., Results: The mtCO I gene sequences of Lanping sample were identical to that of T. saginata asiatica known in Taiwan, and the samples obtained from Dali and Duyun showed the same mtCO I gene sequences, while the sample from Congjiang had the same mtCO I gene sequences as T. saginata. The homology between these two groups of gene sequences was 97.44%, while the homology of amino acid sequences reached to 99.16%. The constructed phylogenetic tree revealed that the relationship between T. saginata asiatica and T. saginata is closer, both are distant relative to T. solium and other species of cestodes., Conclusion: The Taenia prevalent in Lanping, Dali and Duyun is identified as T. saginata asiatica, while that isolated in Congjiang is the typical T. saginata.

Serology (ELISA and immunoblot) using native glycoproteins, affinity purified glycoproteins, and a recombinant antigen is known to be highly specific to Taenia solium cysticercosis in humans and pigs. These techniques were applied for dogs in the highly endemic area of cysticercosis in Papua (Irian Jaya), Indonesia. Analysis of dog sera by both ELISA and immunoblot revealed 7 of 64 dogs were highly positive. Examination of two sero-positive dogs revealed cysticerci of T. solium in the brain and heart of these dogs. Mitochondrial DNA analysis confirmed that they were the same as T. solium previously confirmed from pigs and biopsies from local people from Irian Jaya. It is suggested that the life cycle of T. solium may be completed not only between humans and pigs but also between humans and dogs.

From March 1996 to February 1997, slaughtered-sheeps' heads were examined for the metacestode of Taenia multiceps. Out of 451 sheep heads, only 12 (3%) were infested. All cysts but one were in the age group 0.5-2.5 years old, with prevalence of 10% (11 of 108). Eleven of 12 infested heads were found during the spring and autumn seasons. Out of 95 flocks involved in questionnaire survey unrelated to the abattoir survey, all the farmers reported the existence of the clinical signs known for coenurosis and described it in locally known names and diseases. Twenty-five of them had recent cases that were diagnosed by the veterinarian as coenurosis cases. Each flock reported one or two cases at the time of survey. A variety of clinical signs were reported from these cases (n = 42). These included circling (86%), head pressing (52%), blindness (29%) and paresis (40%). Coenurosis is a sheep-health problem and an important cause of sheep culling in Jordan., (Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science B.V.)