Endoparasites of Small Mammals in Edo State, Nigeria: Public Health Implications

Some small mammals occur as household pests and harbour a number of parasites that could be of public health importance. This study profiled the helminth and protozoan parasites in trapped small mammals within and around human dwelling places (houses) located across 4 major towns (Auchi, Benin, Ekpoma, and Uromi) and environs in Edo state, Nigeria. Six genera (Apodemus sp., Crocidura sp., Mastomys natalensis, Mus musculus, Rattus sp., and Sorex sp.) were identified from 502 trapped small mammals. Overall, M. musculus (71.9%) and Rattus rattus (20.1%) were the most frequently trapped. In total, on examination of blood, gastrointestinal contents, and brain tissues, 12 helminth taxa (Angiostrongylus sp., Aspicularis sp., Capillaria sp., Gongylonema sp., Heterakis spumosa, Hymenolepis diminuta, Hymenolepis nana, Mastophorus muris, Moniliformis moniliformis, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Strongyloides sp., Trichosomoides sp., and Trichuris sp.), and 6 protozoan parasites (Babesia sp., Trypanosoma lewisi, Plasmodium sp., Eimeria sp., Isospora sp., and Toxoplasma gondii) were isolated. Most prevalent helminths with relatively heavy mean intensity were Strongyloides sp. and Heterakis spumosa, while Plasmodium, Eimeria, and Isospora were the most prevalent protozoan parasites. Generally, intrinsic factors like sex and age had marginal influence on the rate and burden of infection in M. musculus and R. rattus. Although the infection rate and prevalence of zoonotic parasites were low, they were largely recovered in rodents from Ekpoma. This study elucidates the public health implication of the presence of zoonotic parasites in these small mammals.

Chemical Investigation on an Endophytic fungus Gibberella moniliformis JS1055 Derived from a Halophyte Vitex rotundifolia

Chemical investigation of the ethyl acetate extract of Gibberella moniliformis JS1055 endophytic fungus derived from a halophyte, Vitex rotundifolia, led to the isolation of nine compounds including 7-butyl-6,8-dihydroxy-3(R)-pent-11-enylisochroman-1-one (1), 7-butyl-6,8-dihydroxy-3(R)-pentylisochroman-1-one (2), 7-butyl-6,8-dihydroxy-3(R)-pentylisochroman-1-one (3), 5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6,9(11),22-trien-3-ol (4), ergosterol peroxide (5), tetradecanoic acid (6), 8-O-methylfusarubin (7), nicotinic acid (8) and adenosine (9). They were identified by extensive spectroscopic data analysis including 1D, 2D (¹H-¹H COSY, HSQC, HMBC) NMR, and ESIMS. All the isolates (1

Diversity of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from Korean Ginseng Leaves

We investigated the diversity of the foliar endophytes of Korean ginseng. Endophytic fungi were isolated from healthy leaves of mountain-cultivated ginseng (MCG) and field-cultivated ginseng (FCG) at 4 sites in Chungbuk Province. A total of 24 species of fungal endophytes were identified using molecular approaches. Additionally, the diversity of these endophytic fungi was compared between MCG and FCG. The major isolated endophytes were Edenia gomezpompae and Gibberella moniliformis in the MCG and FCG samples, respectively. The results suggest that ginseng endophytes have different community structures in different environments, and this understanding may prove useful in ginseng cultivation.

Endoparasites of rodents and their zoonotic importance in Germi, Dashte-Mogan, Ardabil province, Iran

In order to verify the infectivity of rodents with endoparasites in Germi [Dashte-Mogan, Ardabil Province] the current study was undertaken. Using live traps, 177 rodents were trapped during 2005-2007. in field laboratory, all rodents were bled prior to autopsy, frozen at -20[degree sign] C, and shipped to the School of public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. In parasitological laboratory, every rodent was dissected and its different organs were examined for the presence of any parasite. Blood thick and thin smears as well as impression smears of liver and spleen were stained with Geimsa and examined microscopically. Two species of rodents were trapped; Meriones persicus [90.4%] and Microtus socialis [9.6%]. The species of parasites found in M. persicus and their prevalences were as follows: Hymenolepis diminuta [38.8%], Hymenolepis nana [2.5%], Trichuris sp. [40.6], Mesocestoides larva [=tetraptrathyridium] [3.1%], Capillaria hepatica [6.9%], Moniliformis moniliformis [11.3%], Syphacia obvelata [2.5%], Taenia endothoracicus larva [0.6%], Physaloptera sp. [0.6%], Dentostomella translucida [0.6%, Heligmosomum mixtum [0.6%], Strobilocercus fasciolaris [0.6%], and Aspiculuris tetraptera [11.8%]. There were no statistical differences between male and female for infectivity with parasites in either M. persicus or M. socialis. No blood or tissue protozoan parasite was found in any of the rodents examined. Among different species identified, some had zoonotic importance. Therefore, the potential health hazard of these species needs to be considered to prevent infectivity of humans

A Case of Rat Bite Fever Arthritis / 대한류마티스학회지

Rat bite fever is a rare, systemic illness caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis or Spirillum minus following a rat or other rodent bite. Characteristically, fever develops abruptly with maculopapular skin rash after an incubation period of two to ten days, and asymmetric migrating polyarthritis starts later in up to 50% of patients. The arthritis involves the knees, shoulders, elbows, wrists and hands, which may either be suppurative or non-suppurative. Although most cases seem to resolve spontaneously within two weeks, the mortality in untreated cases is around 10~15%. The response to antibiotic treatment is good and early diagnosis is the most important prognostic factor. We report a patient who developed arthritis with fever after biting by rat.

A case of Moniliformis moniliformis (Acanthocephala) infection in Iran

Only a few cases of Acanthocephala infections have been reported in humans, and Moniliformis moniliformis is the most common species around the world. We report here a case of infection with M. moniliformis, which passed in the stool of a 2-year-old girl in Iran. The patient had abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and facial edema. According to her mother, the patient had habit of eating dirt and once a cockroach was discovered in her mouth. In stool examination, eggs of M. moniliformis were not found. She was treated with levamisole and the clinical symptoms reduced within 2 weeks. The specimen contained 2 pieces of a female worm with a total length of 148 mm lacking the posterior end. The spiral musculature of the proboscis receptacle and the shape of the trunk allowed its generic determination. Previously 2 cases of M. moniliformis infection were reported in Iran. This is the 3rd case of M. moniliformis infection in Iran.

Reinvestigated life history of Moniliformis dubius Meyer, 1933 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The lite cycle of Moniliformis dubius Meyer, 1933 was investigated by using rats (Rattus norvegicus) as the definitive host and American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) as an intermediate host. At room temperature (22-26 degrees C), the shelled acanthor hatched in mid-gut of P. americana 3 days postinfection. released to be the acanthor and then penetrated the gut wall into the hemocoel 5 days postinfection. It further developed into acanthella with proboscis primordium 16 days postinfection. The cystacanth stage recovered 45-52 days postinfection. Rats were fed with the cystacanth, their intestine and feces were examined daily. Shelled acanthor was found in feces on the 31st day of the infection. From the above results, the life cycle of M. dubius was completed within 76-83 days. Observation of the mature adult by scanning electron microscope, both sexes were similar in morphology.

Caso de Moniliformis Moniliformis (Acanthocephala) em criança na Cidade de Säo Paulo / Moniliformis moniliformis (Acanthocephala) from a child in Säo Paulo, Brazil

Em abril de 1994 foi encaminhado ao Laboratório de Enteroparasitoses do Instituto Adolfo Lutz, para identificaçäo, um verme eliminado por criança do sexo feminino, de 12 meses de idade, que vinha apresentando quadro de diarréia, vômito e perda de peso. O exemplar foi examinado em miscroscópio estereoscópio e após estudos biométricos morfológicos, foi classificado como fêmea do gênero Moniliformis moniliformis, Acanthocephala, parasita comum do rato e que pode, acidentalmente, parasitar o homem. O objetivo do presente trabalho é relatar o segundo caso de parasitismo humano no Brasil e chamar a atençäo para a ocorrência eventual do parasita em nosso meio.

Parasite fauna of the house rat Rattus rattus diardii in Kuala Lumpur and nearby villages.

One hundred and fifty one house rats, Rattus rattus diardii from five different localities, Jinjang, Dato Keramat, Kuala Lumpur, Sungai Besi and Selayang Baru, were examined for parasites. Nineteen species of parasites were recovered. Hymenolepis diminuta and Nippostrongylus brasiliensis are the predominant species. The dominancy of the parasite species in the rats differed in each locality: Hymenolepis diminuta in Dato Keramat and Kuala Lumpur; Nippostrongylus brasiliensis in Sungai Besi; Gongylomena neoplasticum in Jinjang and Selayang Baru. The influences of human habitats on the parasite fauna of house rats are discussed.