Development and application of a PCR diagnostic assay for the accurate and rapid identification of the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans.

The nematophagous fungus, Duddingtonia flagrans is a potential biocontrol agent against nematode parasites of ruminants. Improved methods for the rapid and accurate detection of D. flagrans would aid the evaluation of this fungus as a biocontrol agent and its suitability for environmental release. To date, detection and identification of D. flagrans is reliant on morphological methods, which can be laborious, time-consuming, and error prone. In this study, a PCR assay using species-specific primers located in the ITS regions was developed for the rapid and accurate identification of D. flagrans. The PCR assay was specific to five different isolates of D. flagrans and was capable of detecting a minimum concentration of 100 chlamydospores per gram of soil. In contrast to cultured-based detection and identification methods, this assay is amenable to high throughput screening of environmental samples. The assay detected D. flagrans in faecal, leaf litter, and soil samples collected from 80% of the Irish farms tested indicating that the fungus is abundant in Ireland.

Angiostrongylus vasorum: a real heartbreaker.

Recent reports suggest that the canine heartworm Angiostrongylus vasorum is expanding from traditional endemic foci in several parts of the world. We are ill placed to judge the causes and potential consequences of this expansion because of a lack of knowledge about fundamental aspects of the biology of the parasite. We call for a renewed focus on this important but neglected nematode.

Ticks and tick-borne diseases of livestock belonging to resource-poor farmers in the eastern Free State of South Africa.

The paper provides a summary of three studies conducted in the eastern Free State of South Africa between 1998 and 2000. In a questionnaire-based study approximately 21% of interviewed resource-poor farmers (n = 150) indicated that they experienced problems with ticks and tick-borne diseases. About 56% of farmers indicated that tick-related problems were most severe in summer, while 32% indicated that the most problems were encountered in winter. About 12% indicated that the tick problems were experienced throughout the year. Farmers also indicated that the highest tick burdens were experienced between spring and early winter. The principal ticks infesting cattle (n = 30) were found to be Boophilus decoloratus (53.1%). Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi (44.7%), Rhipicephalus follis (1.0%), Rhipicephalus gertrudae (0.7%) and Rhipicephalus warburtoni (0.4%). On small stock (n = 188), R. evertsi evertsi (68%) and B. decoloratus (32%) were recorded as the main ticks in the study area. A sero-epidemiological survey of cattle (n = 386) showed that 94% of cattle were seropositive for Babesia bigentina by IFAT, while 87% were sero-positive for Anaplasma by indirect ELISA. All the animals were sero-negative for Babesia bovis and this is probably because the tick vector, Boophilus microplus, is not present in the study area. All sheep and goats were sero-positive for Theileria species by IFAT while 85% of sheep and 100% of goats tested positive for Anaplasma species by competition inhibition ELISA. The high incidence of positive serological results for B. bigemina and Anaplasma in cattle, and Theileria and Anaplasma in sheep and goats and the absence of clinical cases would indicate that this area is endemically stable for these diseases.