Erratic migration of Ascaridia hermaphrodita (Nematoda: Ascaridida) in a blue-fronted Amazon parrot (Amazona aestiva) from illegal wildlife trade: case report / [Migração errática de Ascaridia hermaphrodita (Nematoda: Ascaridida) em papagaio-verdadeiro (Amazona aestiva) oriundo do comércio ilegal: relato de caso]

Ascaridiasis by Ascaridia hermaphrodita is a common parasitic disease in blue-fronted Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva) and the contamination occurs by ingestion of eggs. Illegal trade of wild birds can increase the frequency of visceral erratic migration by this parasite. Hence, this report describes the erratic migration of A. hermaphrodita and associated lesions in a blue-fronted Amazon parrot. This is a retrospective study, which originated from several apprehension of illegal birds in the state of Paraíba, Brazil. Necropsy revealed intense intestinal ascarid infestation. Hepatic lesions were also observed associated with the parasite migration. Stereoscopy allowed the identification of the morphology of the parasites. Summarizing, this condition in wild birds is not fully understood and may be associated with illegal trade.(AU)

Ascaridíase por Ascaridia hermaphrodita é uma doença parasitária comum em papagaios-verdadeiros. Sua contaminação ocorre pela ingestão de ovos. O tráfico de aves silvestres pode facilitar a migração errática visceral desse parasita. Este relato descreve a migração errática de A. hermaphrodita e lesões associadas em papagaio-verdadeiro. Trata-se de um relato retrospectivo, analisado a partir de uma série de apreensões de aves no estado da Paraíba, Brasil. A necropsia revelou intensa infestação ascarídea intestinal. Também foram observadas lesões hepáticas em uma ave, associadas à migração do parasita. A estereoscopia permitiu distinguir a morfologia dos parasitas. Resumidamente, essa condição em aves silvestres é pouco conhecida e pode ser considerada, inclusive, associada à comercialização ilegal.(AU)

Gastrointestinal helminths of two populations of wild pigeons (Columba livia) in Brazil / Helmintos gastrointestinais de duas populações de pombos de vida livre (Columba livia) no Brasil

Abstract The present study analyzed gastrointestinal helminth communities in 265 wild pigeons (Columba livia) living in the municipalities of São Paulo and Tatuí, state of São Paulo, Brazil, over a one-year period. The birds were caught next to grain storage warehouses and were necropsied. A total of 790 parasites comprising one nematode species and one cestode genus were recovered from 110 pigeons, thus yielding an overall prevalence of 41.5%, mean intensity of infection of 7.2 ± 1.6 (range 1-144) and discrepancy index of 0.855. Only 15 pigeons (5.7%) presented mixed infection. The helminths isolated from the birds were Ascaridia columbae (Ascaridiidae) and Raillietina sp. (Davaineidae). The birds' weights differed according to sex but this did not influence the intensity of infection. The overall prevalence and intensity of infection did not differ between the sexes, but the prevalence was higher among the birds from Tatuí (47.8%). The gastrointestinal helminth community of C. livia was characterized in the two areas studied and parasite homogeneity was observed over the 12 months analyzed at both locations. These results make contributions to the current literature on health aspects of wild C. livia populations.

Resumo O presente estudo analisou comunidades gastrointestinais de helmintos em 265 indivíduos de Columba livia de vida livre nos municípios de São Paulo e Tatuí, estado de São Paulo, Brasil, durante um ano. As aves foram capturadas em áreas de armazenamento de grãos e sementes e necropsiadas. Um total de 790 parasitos representando uma espécie de nematódeo e um gênero de cestoide foram recuperados de 110 pombos com uma prevalência geral de 41,5%, intensidade média de infecção de 7,2 ± 1,6 (amplitude 1-144) e índice de discrepância de 0,855. Somente 15 (5,7%) pombos tiveram uma infecção mista. Os helmintos isolados das aves foram Ascaridia columbae (Ascaridiidae) e Raillietina sp. (Davaineidae). O peso das aves foi diferente entre os sexos, mas não influenciou a intensidade de infecção. A prevalência geral e a intensidade de infecção não foram diferentes entre sexo, mas a prevalência foi maior nas aves de Tatuí (47,8%). A comunidade gastrointestinal de helmintos de C. livia foi caracterizada nas duas áreas estudadas e uma homogeneidade de parasitos foi observada nos 12 meses analisados, em ambas localidades. Os resultados contribuem para a literatura atual sobre aspectos sanitários de populações de C. livia em vida livre.

Retrieving ascarid and taeniid eggs from the biological remains of a Neolithic dog from the late 9th millennium BC in Western Iran

BACKGROUND Paleoparasitology reveals the status of parasitic infections in humans and animals in ancient times based on parasitic particles found in biological remains from archaeological excavations. This line of research emerged in Iran in 2013. OBJECTIVE The identification of parasites from Neolithic times is an attractive subject that shows the oldest origins of parasitic infections in a given geographical region. From an archaeological point of view, this archaeological site is well-known for animal domestication and agriculture in ancient Iran. METHODS In this study, soil deposited on the surface and in the pores of a dog pelvic bone was carefully collected and rehydrated using trisodium phosphate solution. FINDINGS The results showed ascarid and taeniid eggs retrieved from the biological remains of a dog excavated at the East Chia Sabz archaeological site, which dates back to the Neolithic period (8100 BC). MAIN CONCLUSION The current findings clearly illustrate the natural circulation of nematode and cestode parasites among dogs at that time. These ancient helminth eggs can also be used to track the oldest parasitic infections in the Iranian plateau and contribute to the paleoparasitological documentation of the Fertile Crescent.

Eficácia de Chenopodium ambrosioides (erva-de-santa-maria) no controle de endoparasitos de Gallus gallus (galinha caipira) / Effectiveness of Chenopodium ambrosioides (santa maria herb) for controlling Gallus gallus (free range chicken) endoparasites

The present survey was carried out at Zoology Laboratory, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, and Animal Parasitology Sector, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Rio de Janeiro state, from 2011 to 2012. The aim was to test in vitro and in vivo the effectiveness of the medicinal plant Chenopodium ambrosioides Linnaeus, 1786 (santa maria herb) regarding phytotherapeutic and homeopathic alternative methods to control endoparasites of Gallus gallus Linnaeus, 1758 (free range chicken), a serious problem affecting domestic poultry performance causing losses, retarded development, decreased food conversion rate and increase of susceptibility to infectious diseases. In vitro essay demonstrated high reduction rate on eggs eclosion inhibition (97.18%), and in vivo essay showed high fecal eggs counting reduction rate (91.67%). Presence of the genera Ascaridia (35.00%), Capillaria (30.00%), Heterakis (25.00%) and Strongyloides (10.00%) was displayed by this survey. The plant C. ambrosioides showed upper rates front traditional products (Thiabendalol/Mebendazol) as well as to those ones advocated by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and the World Health Organization as effective.

A pesquisa foi desenvolvida no Laboratório de Zoologia da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro e Setor de Parasitologia Animal da Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, estado do Rio de Janeiro, no período de 2011 a 2012. O objetivo foi testar in vitro e in vivo a eficácia da planta medicinal Chenopodium ambrosioides Linnaeus, 1786 (erva-de-santa-maria), nas formas fitoterápica e homeopática, como meios alternativos para o controle de endoparasitos de Gallus gallus Linnaeus, 1758 (galinha caipira), um sério problema que afeta a criação e desempenho de aves domésticas, ocasionando morte quando muito intenso, retardo de crescimento, redução do índice de conversão alimentar e aumento na suscetibilidade às doenças infecciosas. As metodologias utilizadas foram preconizadas por Coles et al. (1992), creditada pela World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP). O ensaio in vitro demonstrou alta taxa de redução na inibição de eclosão de ovos (97,18%), e o ensaio in vivo, elevada taxa na redução da contagem de ovos nas fezes (91,67%). A pesquisa evidenciou a presença dos gêneros Ascaridia (35,00%), Capillaria (30,00%), Heterakis (25,00%) e Strongyloides (10,00%). C. ambrosioides mostrou em certos momentos superioridade frente ao produto tradicional (Thiabendazole/Mebendazole) e índices superiores aos preconizados pelo Ministério da Agricultura do Brasil e Organização Mundial da Saúde como indicativos de eficácia.

Death of two slender-billed parakeet (King) (Enicognathus leptorhynchus) (Aves, Psittacidae) by Ascaridia hermaphrodita (Froelich, 1789, Railliet & Henry, 1914) at the National Zoo of Santiago, Chile

No Zoológico Nacional do Parque Metropolitano de Santiago, Chile, foram encontrados dois psitacídeos Enicognathus leptorhynchus, mortos pelo nematódeo Ascaridia hermaphrodita (Froelich, 1789). Este é o primeiro registro desse nematódeo em E. leptorhynchus e também o primeiro registro deste parasito no Chile.

Atividade anti-helmíntica de plantas em frangos de corte naturalmente infectados com Ascaridia galli / Anthelminthic activity of plants in broiler chickens naturally infected with Ascaridia galli

The anthelminthic activity of four plants - Allium sativum (garlic), Punica granatum (pomegranate), Tynnanthus labiatus (liana-carnation) and Cocus nucifera (coconut) with the activity of mebendazole was compared. Seventy Hubbard chickens, naturally infected with Ascarídia galli, divided in 5 groups of 10 chichens plus a control group (not treated, n=20) were used in the experiment. The vegetable matter was used in the forms of aqueous extract, juice and triturated, administered by probe or incorporated to the diet, in the doses of 2, 3 and 10glkg/day, for three days. A non parametric test was used to evaluate the anthelminthic effect of the plants. The eliminations of A galli for the garlic, pomegranate, lianacarnation, coconut and mebendazole were: 9.7; 6.6, 16.7; 19. 0 and 99. 0, respectively. The results showed that those plants do not have anthelminthic activity.

Infeccion natural de Speothos venaticus (Carnivora: Canidae) por estadios adultos de Lagochilascaris sp / Natural infection of Speothos venaticus (Carnivora: Canidae) by adult stages of Lagochilascaris sp

Un ejemplar adulto macho de Speothos venaticus Lund, 1842 fue muerto accidentalmente en una via de penetracion rural, situada en la region Noroeste del Estado Bolivar, Venezuela, en el Municipio donde desde hace 16 años vive una paciente con lagochilascariasis. El animal conservado durante un mes por congelacion y desprovisto de su piel y cabeza fue autopsiado, hallandose en la traquea dos especimenes adultos hembras y gravidos de Lagochilascaris sp., los cuales presentaban algumas caracteristicas morfologicas de sus partes blandas diferentes a Lagochilascaris minor Leiper, 1909; entretanto, distintivos estables como son la forma de los interlabios, la localizacion de la vulva y particularmente el tamano y numero de las depresiones la cascara de los huevos, inclinan a pensar que se trata de aquel parasito, a pesar de no haberse hallado vermes machos que permitiesen el estudio de las espiculas y su ducto eyaculador. Fueron localizadas en cortes histologicos de laringe y traquea profundamente situadas, secciones de formas degeneradas con caracteristicas atribuibles a Lagochilascaris sp.

Stool findings in "chronic dysentery".

Faecal samples from 63 subjects with self-diagnosis of "chronic dysentery" and 50 control subjects were examined under light microscope. Vegetative form of E.h. was not detected in any of them. E.h. cyst was found in 6.3% of the "chronic dysentery" subjects and in 16% of the control subjects. E. coli and Giardia were also detected less often in the "chronic dysentery" than the control subjects. Lower incidence of protozoa namely E.h. cyst, E. coli cyst or Giardia in the former group was probably due to frequent intake of antiamoebic agents which are also effective against other intestinal protozoa. Incidence of Ascaris, hookworm, and Trichuris was not appreciably different in the two groups. More subjects in the "chronic dysentery" group had normal stool findings (31%) as compared to the control subjects (16%). It has been inferred that E.h. infection is not the cause of symptoms of "chronic dysentery".