ABSTRACT
Investigations were conducted on the taxonomy, distribution in the carcase, pathology and transmission of Onchocerca spp. in equids from Queensland and the Northern Territory. Examination of small groups of horses and ponies revealed high infection rates with O. cervicalis, while lesser numbers were infected with O. gutturosa. O. reticulata was not found. Neither of the Australian species is likely to be of economic importance to the horsemeat industry. The findings support the belief that O. cervicalis is a pre-disposing factor in the aetiology of equine nuchal disease, most commonly seen clinically as fistulous withers. O. gutturosa is virtually non-pathogenic. Forcipomyia (Lasiohelea) townsvillensis, Austrosimulium pestilens and Culicoides victoriae are suggested as potential vectors, and it is unlikely that C. brevitarsis is involved.
Subject(s)
Horse Diseases/parasitology , Onchocerca/classification , Onchocerciasis/veterinary , Animals , Australia , Ceratopogonidae/parasitology , Horse Diseases/pathology , Horses , Insect Vectors , Ligaments/pathology , Microfilariae , Onchocerca/growth & development , Onchocerciasis/parasitology , Onchocerciasis/pathology , Simuliidae/parasitologyABSTRACT
Minor morphological variations occur in some specimens of Onchocerca gutturosa and O. lienalis developing in unusual anatomical sites in their normal hosts and in unusual Hosts. These variations may affect characters usually considered to be important diagnostic features. Variations in O. lienalis show a range which encompass the features used by Eberhard (1979) to distinguish a new species, O. stilesi. Further studies on fresh material are needed before O. stilesi can be accepted as a valid species.
Subject(s)
Buffaloes/parasitology , Cattle/parasitology , Horses/parasitology , Onchocerca/anatomy & histology , Animals , Female , Onchocerca/classification , Onchocerca/growth & developmentABSTRACT
Babesia argentina, Babesia bigemina and Theileria mutans were transmitted experimentally from water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) to splenectomised Bos taurus calves. Buffaloes were positive to an indirect fluorescent antibody test for B. argentina when reagents of bovine origin were used. The formation of similar patterns during immunoelectrophoresis suggested a homology of buffalo and bovine serum proteins, particularly IgG.
