Molecular identification of Taenia mustelae cysts in subterranean rodent plateau zokors(Eospalax baileyi)

Cestode larvae spend one phase of their two-phase life cycle in the viscera of rodents, but cases of cestodes infecting subterranean rodents have only been rarely observed. To experimentally gain some insight into this phenomenon, we captured approximately 300 plateau zokors(Eospalax baileyi), a typical subterranean rodent inhabiting the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and examined their livers for the presence of cysts. Totally, we collected five cysts, and using a mitochondrial gene(cox1) and two nuclear genes(pepck and pold) as genetic markers, we were able to analyze the taxonomy of the cysts. Both the maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods showed that the cysts share a monophyly with Taenia mustelae, while Kimura 2-parameter distances and number of different sites between our sequences and T. mustelae were far less than those found between the examined sequences and other Taeniidae species. These results, alongside supporting paraffin section histology, imply that the cysts found in plateau zokors can be regarded as larvae of T. mustelae, illustrating that zokors are a newly discovered intermediate host record of this parasite.

Parasites Status of Village Chickens (<i>Gallus gallus domesticus</i>) in Selected Communities in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Parasites constitute a major obstacle to poultry production, leading to significant losses in many poultry farms. This study investigated the parasites status of village chicken (Gallus domesticus) collected from selected communities in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State Nigeria, during January to March 2020. A total of 35 birds were collected from 5 communities: Igbogeni, Tombia, Agudama, Akenfa and Opolo to assess their parasitic status. The procession of the chicken and the identifications of both ecto and endo parasites followed standard techniques. From the results, the prevalence of the ecto parasites and the endo parasites in the chickens were 85.71% and 88.57% respectively. The ectoparasites species in order of increasing frequency were Lice (37.65%), Fleas (32.94%), and Mites (29.41%). Mixed infection of lice & fleas accounted for 34.12%. The prevalence of endo parasites was: Nematode (71.59%) and Cestode (28.41%) respectively. The species specific prevalence of the endo parasites encountered were Ascaridia galli (44.4%), Heterakis gallinarum (22.2%), Capillaria spp. (33.3%), Davainea proglottina (56%), Raillientina spp. (44%) respectively. This present study has provided an insight into parasitic infection of domestic birds across communities in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State Nigeria and recommended that an intensive health education on their public health implications in the spread disease causing pathogens among humans be carried out.

Treatment of Pathological Fractures of the Proximal Femur Due to Advanced Metastasis of Highly Malignant Tumors: A Clinical Controlled Study of Enterostenosis Reconstruction and Conservative Treatment

Objective: To investigate whether different treatment methods have an impact on the quality of life and life span after fracture of patients with proximal femoral pathological fractures caused by advanced metastasis of highly malignant tumors. Methods: Karnofsky performance status (KPS) and visual analogue score (VAS) were counted at the time of admission and 2 months after the treatments. Survival analysis was implemented to compare the median survival time and 6-month survival rate of the 2 groups. Musculoskeletal score (MSTS) was used to evaluate limb function in the surgical group at 2 months after the treatment. Results: There was no significant difference in KPS score and VAS score between the two groups at the time of admission (p > 0.05). At 2 months after treatment, the KPS score of the surgical group was higher than that of the conservative group (P < 0.05), and the VAS score of the survivors of the surgical group was lower than that of the conservative group (P < 0.05). Survival analysis showed that the median survival time and 6-month survival rate after fracture in the surgical group were higher than those in the conservative group (P < 0.05). After 2 months of treatment, the average MTST score of survivors in the surgical group was 20.38 ± 0.9 (16 - 26 points). Conclusion: Surgical intervention can benefit patients with pathological fractures of the proximal femur due to metastasis of highly malignant tumors in terms of quality of life and survival. Local tumor resection and endoparasitic replacement, which can be tolerated by most patients, can effectively reconstruct the limb function of these patients and restore their self-care ability.

Malpighian Tubules in Larvae of Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera;Crambidae): A Morphological Comparison between Non-Parasitized and Parasitized by Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera;Braconidae)

In Diatraea saccharalis larvae, the Malpighian tubules are found along the digestive tube, extending from the middle mesenteric region to the end of the posterior intestine, where they come in contact with the rectum to form the cryptonephridium. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy of non-parasitized and parasitized larvae by Cotesia flavipes have indicated that the tubules consist of secretory and reabsorption cells. In parasitized larvae, the occurrence of hemocytes and teratocytes around the tubules is indicative of their role in immunological defense;however, they were not observed in non-parasitized larvae. At day 9 of parasitism, the mitochondria-containing vacuoles and myelin-like figures show signs of degeneration. The results of this study have confirmed that C. flavipes manipulates the physiology and biochemistry of D. saccharalis because the Malpighian tubules of the parasitized larvae remain active until the parasitoid completes its pupal stage and is released from the host organism.

Effects of macroparasites on the energy allocation of reproducing small mammals

Reproduction,including lactation,is the most costly activity in terms of energy expenditure in female mammals.Consequently,the energy requirements of the reproducing female may not be met at this time,especially if other energy demanding activities are occurring concomitantly.Such activities could be the activation and maintenance of an immune system in response to parasitic infestation.These protective processes are energetically demanding and require trade-off decisions among competing energy demands.In the case of a reproducing mammal,the trade-offs occur mainly between defence against parasites and reproductive costs of the host.In this paper,I discuss the effects of macroparasites on the energy allocation of reproducing small mammals.