Biochemical changes in the livers of bovines naturally infected with Fasciola gigantica.

The present study was carried out to determine the total carbohydrate, total protein and total lipid content in the non-infected (Control) and naturally infected with Fasciola gigantica liver samples of buffaloes and cows. The estimated total protein and lipid content in the infected livers of these animals were found significantly higher as compared to their control samples. Total carbohydrate content in the infected livers of buffaloes and cows did not show any significant change as compared to their control animals.

A new nematode Spirocotyle otolithi n. gen, n.sp, (Camallanidae Railliet and Henry, 1915) from the fish Otolithus rubber (Schneider) of Karachi coast.

A new genus and species of camallanid nematode Spirocotyle otolithi is described here from the fish Otolithus rubber (Schneider) of Karachi coast. This is a medium sized nematode, pointed to its posterior extremity in male and blunt in female, with a buccal capsule oval in shape in both the sexes and having a sucker like structure in its anterior extremity. The wall of the buccal capsule is provided with fifteen spiral thicknings. Two unequal spicules are present in male. Ten pairs of caudal papillae are present, including five pairs preanal, four pairs postanal and one adanal. Valva in female is prominent, post equatorial

Prevalence of parasitic infections in a rural area of Karachi, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To find the prevalence of human intestinal pathogenic parasites. SETTING: The study was conducted in Konkor, Gadap, District East, Karachi. METHODS: After taking the verbal consent, all the villagers, selected by area sampling technique were interviewed by a structured questionnaire and then each person in the house was provided with a clean, plastic container to collect the stool samples. Samples were examined using normal saline, iodine preparation and zinc floatation technique where appropriate. RESULTS: Out of 263 residents 185 tested for intestinal parasites and 88 (47.5%) had pathogenic parasites. The distributions of parasites were Giardia lamblia 50% and Entamoeba histolytica 48.86%. Statistically none of the socio-demographic variables were associated except education and age group. CONCLUSION: In the light of the study result it is concluded that there is a high prevalence of parasitic infection in the community and an intervention strategy including health education program should be designed and implemented to control parasitic infections.

Pseudocryptogonimus pakistanensis n. gen., n. sp. (Trematoda: Cryptogonimidae) from the fish Labeo rohita.

Pseudocryptogonimus pakistanensis n.g., n. sp., is described from freshwater fish Labeo rohita from Kalri Lake, Sind, Pakistan. It is characterised by possessing spines at the basal margin of oral sucker; testes, postequatorial, subsymmetrical; vitellaria lateral to ovary in middle of hindbody, confluent in postovarian region and reaching to level of testes; ovary flattened; genital pore antero-lateral to acetabulum; seminal vesicle large and ejaculatory duct long. Subfamily Neochasminae Van Cleave et Mueller, 1932 is being emended.

Plagioporus gonii nov. spec. (Trematoda: Opecoelidae) from the fish Labeo gonius of Kalri Lake, Sind, Pakistan.

A new trematode, Plagioporus gonii sp. n., is described from the fish Labeo gonius of Kalri Lake, Sind, Pakistan. This species is characterized by possessing round, subterminal oral sucker; small prepharynx; pharynx subglobular; oesophagus short; acetabulum larger than oral sucker; caeca simple; testes subspherical to irregular in shape; ovary irregular in shape; vitellaria rounded, follicular, extending little behind intestinal bifurcation to the end of the body, interrupted on one or both sides at the level of the acetabulum; cirrus sac preacetabular; genital pore posterior to intestinal bifurcation; and eggs 0.071-0.078 by 0.033-0.042 mm in size.