Abdominal angiostrongyliasis, report of two cases and analysis of published reports from Colombia / Angiostrongiliasis abdominal, reporte de dos casos y análisis de los casos publicados en Colombia

Abdominal angiostrongyliasis is a parasitic zoonosis, endemic in the American continent. Its etiological agent is Angiostrongylus costaricensis, a nematode whose definitive hosts are rats and other rodents and the intermediate hosts, slugs. Mammals acquire the infection by consuming vegetables contaminated with L3 larvae. The disease shows a heterogeneous clinical spectrum and given its low incidence its diagnosis is a great challenge. In Colombia, the first case was reported in 1979 and until 1998, only five additional cases have been reported. However, in the last two decades, no new cases were reported. Here we discuss two cases of children from Huila and Caquetá departments who developed the disease. Both cases required long in-patient care and multiple surgical interventions. The diagnosis was achieved by histopathological observation of parasitic elements inside the mesenteric arteries. One of the children died while the other fully recovered. We discuss the epidemiology, pathogenic cycle, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and prevention strategies of this disease paying particular attention to our patients' features and the Colombian context.

La angiostrongiloidiasis abdominal es una zoonosis parasitaria endémica en el continente americano. Su agente etiológico es el nematodo Angiostrongylus costaricensis, cuyos huéspedes definitivos son los roedores y, los intermediarios, los caracoles y las babosas, por lo que se adquiere al consumir vegetales contaminados con larvas en estadio 3. La presentación clínica es muy variada y, dada su rareza, su diagnóstico es un desafío. En Colombia el primer caso se reportó en 1979 y, desde entonces hasta 1998, se han informado cinco casos más, aunque en las últimas dos décadas no se había reportado ningún caso. Se describen aquí dos casos de angiostrongiloidiasis en niños provenientes de los departamentos de Huila y Caquetá que requirieron una larga hospitalización y múltiples intervenciones quirúrgicas. El diagnóstico se logró al observar en los especímenes quirúrgicos larvas and huevos cuya morfología sugería una infección por nematodos; uno de los pacientes murió y el otro se recuperó satisfactoriamente. Se discuten la epidemiología, la patogenia, la presentación clínica, el diagnóstico y las estrategias de prevención de esta parasitosis, con énfasis en las características particulares de los casos descritos y en el contexto colombiano.

First report of Nematodirus filicollis natural infection in a sheep from the mexican sub-humid tropics / Primer reporte de infección natural de Nematodirus filicollis en un ovino del trópico sub-húmedo mexicano

ABSTRACT Objective. The aim of the present study is to report for the first time the natural infection of a sheep with Nematodirus filicollis in the sub-humid tropics of Mexico. Materials and methods. Faecal samples were processed to identify and quantify faecal nematode eggs per gram of feces (EPG) using the flotation and modified McMaster techniques. Also, faecal cultures were made using the Corticelli-Lai technique. Results. The ewe showed a mixed infection with Trichuris spp. (100 EPG), Nematodirus (100 EPG) and other strongylida nematodes (1500 EPG). The egg size of Nematodirus spp. was 202±3 µ long and 97±2 µ wide. Larvae of Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Oesophagostomum and Nematodirus genera were identified from de faecal cultures. Nematodirus larvae averaged 955±8.0 µ long and 28±0.5 µ wide. Whereas, the average length of the sheath tail was 233.4±41.6 µ. Conclusions. According to the morphological traits of eggs and larvae, it is concluded that the infection of the sheep corresponded to Nematodirus filicollis. It is concluded that N. filicollis is able to survive in the sub-humid tropics of Mexico and for the first time an acquired natural infection of this nematode in a sheep is reported.

RESUMEN Objetivo. El presente estudio tiene por objetivo reportar por primera vez el caso de un ovino que adquirió la infección natural con Nematodirus filicollis en condiciones de clima tropical sub-húmedo. Materiales y métodos. Se tomó una muestra de heces que fue procesada para identificar y cuantificar la excreción de huevos de nematodos por gramo de heces (h/gh) mediante las pruebas de Flotación Centrifugada y McMaster. Asimismo, se realizó un cultivo de larvas mediante la prueba de Corticelli-Lai. Resultados. El ovino presentó una nematodiasis mixta por Trichuris spp. (100 h/gh), Nematodirus spp. (100 h/gh) y otros nematodos del orden strongylida (1500 h/gh). El tamaño de los huevos del Nematodirus fue de 202±3 µ de largo y 97±2 µ de ancho. En el cultivo de larvas se identificaron los géneros Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Oesophagostomum y Nematodirus. La longitud promedio de las larvas de Nematodirus fue de 955±8.0 µ y ancho de 28±0.5 µ, mientras que la longitud promedio de la cola de la vaina fue de 233.4±41.6 µ. Conclusiones. Con base en las dimensiones de las larvas y sus características morfológicas se reporta que la infección del ovino fue por Nematodirus filicollis. Se concluye que N. filicollis es capaz de sobrevivir en las condiciones del clima tropical sub-húmedo en México y se reporta por primera vez el caso de un ovino que adquirió la infección natural con este nematodo.

Reliability of different methods of diagnosing intestinal parasites in horses

Parasitism by intestinal nematodes may cause serious injuries to equines affecting their performance, given that the parasites compete for food and cause irritation, internal bleeding and anaemia. The diagnostic methods currently available are not efficient in detecting all the species of parasites simultaneously, hampering reliable diagnosis. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate four diagnostic methods for detecting equine intestinal parasites in the southern hinterland of Pernambuco, Brazil. Fecal samples (n = 87) were collected and examined through flotation based methods (Willis-Mollay, modified centrifugal flotation and EPG/OPG) and sedimentation (Hoffman). Of the total number of samples examined, 77.0% (67/87) were positive by modified centrifugal flotation; 44.8% (39/87) were positive by the Willis-Mollay method; 34.5% (30/87) by the Hoffman method and 28.7% (25/87) by the EPG/ OPG method. The Kappa index indicated moderate concordance between the Willis-Mollay and modified centrifugal flotation techniques (K= 0.477); Willis-Mollay and EPG/OPG (K= 0.466); EPG/OPG and Hoffman (K= 0.425). In conclusion, modified centrifugal flotation presented high sensitivity for detection of parasites of the Strongylida order and Parascaris spp. It may, therefore, be used in association with the Willis-Mollay technique as a safe and accurate method of diagnosis.

Comparative morphology of the species of Libyostrongylus and Codiostomum, parasites from ostriches, Struthio camelus, with a identification key to the species / Morfologia Comparativa das espécies de Libyostrongylus e Codiostomum, parasitas de avestruzes, Struthio camelus, com uma chave para identificação das espécies

One of the most common problems in breeding of ostriches in captivity is the control of parasitic diseases. This work presents keys for the identification of adult nematodes and infective larvae by morphologic and morphometric characteristics. These keys will allow the scientific community to identify the species that infect the ostriches either based on the characteristics of the posterior end of the infective larvae found through a simple fecal exam or by observing the morphology and morphometry of adult worms recovered during necropsies. These keys will facilitate ecological and systematic studies, as well as increase the understanding of the epidemiology of these parasitosis in ostriches.

Um dos problemas mais comuns na criação de avestruzes em cativeiro é o controle das doenças parasitárias. Este trabalho apresenta chaves para a identificação de Nematoda adultos e larvas infectantes através de caracteres morfológicos e morfométricos. Essas chaves de identificação permitirão à comunidade científica o diagnóstico das espécies que infectam as avestruzes com base nas características da extremidade posterior das larvas infectantes encontradas por meio de simples exames fecais ou pela observação da morfologia e morfometria dos espécimes adultos recuperados durante necropsia. Dessa forma, as chaves de identificação facilitarão os estudos ecológicos e sistemáticos, bem como a melhor compreensão da epidemiologia dessas infecções em avestruzes.

Occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in goats from the Western Santa Catarina, Brazil / Ocorrência de parasitas gastrintestinais em caprinos na região Oeste de Santa Catarina, Brasil

This study aims to investigate the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in goats from the Western Santa Catarina, Brazil. Twenty four farms were analyzed in 17 different municipalities. Animals (n=217) from different production purposes (milk and meat) and age were randomly chosen. Fecal samples were collected from the rectum stored in plastic bottles and transported to the laboratory in portable coolers at 10 °C. The technique of centrifugal flotation with saturated sugar solution was carried out in order to investigate the presence of eggs, cysts, and oocysts of gastrointestinal parasites. In 88.9% of the investigated animals, it was observed that the presence of nematode eggs which belongs to the Strongylida order, after cultivation and larvae identification were identified as Haemonchus spp., Trichostrongylus spp., Teladorsagia spp., Cooperia spp., and Oesophagostomum spp. Eggs of Thysanosoma, Trichuris, Moniezia, and Neoascaris genus were also observed. Additionally, the presence of oocysts of Eimeria spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. as well as cysts of Giardia spp., and Entamoeba spp. were verified. In all the farms evaluated, the animals showed a single or mixed infection, with the highest occurrence of helminths belonging to the Haemonchus and Trichostrongylus genus, as well as the protozoan Eimeria.

O presente estudo objetivou investigar a ocorrência de parasitas gastrointestinais que infectam caprinos na região Oeste de Santa Catarina, Brasil. Foram analisadas 24 propriedades localizadas em 17 municípios, totalizando 217 caprinos. Os animais de diferentes categorias de produção (leite ou carne) e idade foram escolhidos aleatoriamente. A coleta das fezes foi realizada diretamente da ampola retal dos animais, armazenadas em frascos plásticos e transportadas para o laboratório em caixas térmicas a 10 °C. A técnica de centrífugo-flutuação com solução saturada de açúcar foi utilizada para pesquisar a presença de ovos, cistos e oocistos de parasitos. Em 88,9% dos animais analisados foi verificada a presença de ovos de nematóides da ordem Strongylida e, após cultivo, foram identificadas larvas de Haemonchus spp., Trichostrongylus spp., Teladorsagia spp., Cooperia spp. e Oesophagostomum spp. Foram identificados também ovos de parasitos dos gêneros Thysanosoma, Trichuris, Moniezia e Neoascaris. A presença de oocistos de Eimeria spp. e Cryptosporidium spp., e cistos de Giardia spp., e Entamoeba spp. foram observadas. Em todas as propriedades avaliadas, os animais apresentavam infecções simples ou mistas, sendo a maior ocorrência de helmintos do gênero Haemonchus e Trichostrongylus, assim como pelo protozoário Eimeria.