A survey of ectoparasitic arthropods on domestic animals in Tak Province, Thailand.

In July 2008 a survey of ectoparasites on domestic animals was conducted in the Royal Thai Army areas of operation along the Thai-Myanmar Border, Tak Province, Thailand. Eleven different ectoparasites were collected: two species of hard ticks (Ixodidae), three species of fleas (Siphonaptera) and 6 species of sucking or chewing lice (2 species each in the suborders Anoplura, Ischnocera and Amblycera) were collected. Domestic dogs (Canis lupusfamiliaris) (n = 94) were found infested with 2 species of flea Ctenocephalides felis orientis (86.2%) and Echidnophaga gallinacea (1.1%), one species of tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus (21.3%), and one louse species, Heterodoxus spiniger (7.4%). Domestic cats (Felis catus) (n = 6) were found infested with only flea species, Ctenocephalides felis felis (100%) and E. gallinacea (33.3%). Cattle (Bos indicus) (n = 11) had Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (72.7%), Linognathus vituli (27.3%), and Solenopotes capillatus (9.1%) present, while chickens (Gallus domesticus) (n = 10) had infestations with E. gallinacea (20%), and 3 lice species, Lipeurus caponis (10%), Goniodes dissimilis (10%) and Menopon gallinae (60%). This is believed to be the first report of S. capillatus collected in Thailand.

Detection of Toxolasma gondii in captive wild felids.

Toxoplasma gondii can infect all species of warm-blooded animals, including humans, and causes serious diseases in immunocompromized hosts. Live tachyzoites derived from serial passage in HeLa culture were used in the Sabin-Feldman dye test for detection of Toxoplasma gondii antibody in serum samples of 21 captive wild felids including one fishing cat (Prion nailurus viverrina), one leopard (Panthera pardus), two flat-headed cats (Prion nailurus planiceps), 6 tigers (Panthera tigris), two leopard cats (Felis bengalensis), two clouded leopards (Felis nebulosa), 3 pumas (Puma concolor), and 4 jungle cats (Felis chaus). Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii were founded in 9 of 21 felids (42.8%). This study revealed that cell culture-derived tachyzoites can be used successfully as a source of live organisms in a gold standard Sabin-Feldman dye test, which is simpler, cheaper and less ethically sensitive than in vivo inoculation.

Cultivation of Giardia duodenalis in Mongolian gerbils.

The Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) is susceptible to infection with Giardia duodenalis trophozoites. Each animal was orally infected with 0.5 ml Diamond's TYIS-33 culture medium containing 10(6) trophozoites. Cysts were then collected and concentrated by sucrose gradient centrifugation. G. duodenalis cysts were first observed in feces on day 5 post-infection. The characteristic of G. duodenalis infection in gerbils was intermittent cyst release. The range in the number of cysts released per gerbil for a 4-hour collection period was 0-1.5 x 10(3).

In vivo culture of Cryptosporidium oocysts for laboratory use.

In the present study, we describe in vivo cultivation to produce oocysts. Seven-day-old mice were orally infected with 100,000-120,000 Cryptosporidium oocysts. On day 8 post-infection, the mice were killed by ether, and the small and large intestines collected. A simple extraction procedure was used and purified using Ficoll gradient centrifugation. After purification, the oocysts were preserved in phosphate buffered saline with antibiotic at 4 degrees C before use.