TWO NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS AMOEBOTAENIA CESTODES(DILEPIDIDAE)FROM SCOLOPAX RUSTICOLA IN FUJIAN,CHINA

The present paper dea1s with two new species of the genus Amoebotaenia(Dilepididae)cestodes collected from Scolopax rusticola in Fujian,China.Holotype andparatype are deposited in Parasitology Researoh Laboratory,Xiamen University.

Epidemiology and clinical features of cystic hydatidosis in Western Sicily:A ten-year review

AIM:To assess retrospectively the epidemiological and clinical aspects of cystic echinococcosis(CE)and to evaluate follow-up and response to treatment in patients affected by CE.METHODS:From January 2000 to December 2010,all patients affected by CE at the Infectious Diseases Units of the University of Catania and of Basilotta Hospital in Nicosia-Enna,were enrolled as participants in the study.Epidemiological,clinical and laboratory data were collected for each patient.Diagnosis of CE was performed using clinical imaging and laboratory parameters.Response to treatment was categorized as follows:"cure"as the disappearance or complete calcification of cyst/s;"improvement"as a reduction in the diameter and/or number of existing cysts;and"impairment"as an increase in the diameter and/or number of existing cyst/s and the onset of relapses(i.e.,the onset of new cyst/s and an increase in the diameter of previously existing cyst/s and/or complications.Immunoglobulin E(IgE)titers and eosinophil percentages were evaluated at diagnosis,at six months after the initiation of treatment and again in the case of relapse.Hyper-eosinophilia was defined as an eosinophil percentage of≥6%.RESULTS:Thirty-two patients were diagnosed with CE in our Unit during the research period,with a malefemale ratio of 2:1.At the time of diagnosis,40%of patients presented a single CE cyst.Sixty percent showed multi-organ involvement.The liver-lung localization ratio was 2:1.Patients below the age of 50 at diagnosis were more likely to have multiple cysts(73.7%vs 35.5%,P<0.05).Regarding treatment,30 patients were treated medically and 16 surgically.Fourteen patients were treated both medically and surgically.Relapses were seen to be less frequent in patients treated with albendazole before and after surgery.Complete cure or an improvement was achieved in 23 patients.Impairment was observed in one patient.Two patients showed no improvement.Relapses were more frequent in those patients treated before 2005.At diagnosis,71%of patients were positive for specific CE IgE,and 56.3%showed an eosinophil percentage of≥6%.Patients who were diagnosed with hyper-eosinophilia developed complications more frequently than the other patients,but did not suffer relapses.CONCLUSION:On the basis of our results,we propose cystic echinococcosis screening for family members of patients,appropriate pre-and post-surgery treatment and the assessment of anti-echinococcus IgE titer or eosinophil percentage as a therapy response marker in settings with limited resources.

Helminths of veterinary and zoonotic importance in Nigerian ruminants:a 46-year meta-analysis(1970-2016)of their prevalence and distribution

Background:The livestock industry plays a vital role in the economy of Nigeria.It serves as a major source of income and livelihood for majority of Nigerians who are rural settlers and contributes about 5.2%to the National Gross Domestic Product(GDP).Helminths however,cause economic losses due to reductions in milk production,weight gain,fertility and carcass quality.Zoonotic helminths of livestock origin cause health problems in humans.Methods:Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis(PRISMA)guidelines,the prevalence and distribution of helminths of veterinary and zoonotic importance in Nigerian ruminants were determined in a meta-analysis of data published between 1970 and 2016.Data were stratified based on regions,hosts,study periods,sample sizes and study types while helminths were phylogenetically grouped into cestodes,nematodes and trematodes.Results:Data from 44 studies reported across 19 Nigerian states revealed an overall pooled prevalence estimate(PPE)of 7.48%(95%CI:7.38-7.57)for helminths of veterinary and zoonotic importance from a total of 320208 ruminants.We observed a significant variation(P<0.001)between the PPEs range of 1.90%(95%CI:1.78-2.02)and 60.98%(95%CI:58.37-63.55)reported across different strata.High heterogeneity(99.78,95%CI:7.38-7.57)was observed.Strongyloides papillosus was the most prevalent(Prev:32.02%,95%CI:31.01-33.11),while,Fasciola gigantica had the widest geographical distribution.Conclusions:Helminths of veterinary and zoonotic importance are prevalent in ruminants and well distributed across Nigeria.Our findings show that helminths of ruminants may also be possible causes of morbidity in humans and economic losses in the livestock industry in Nigeria.High heterogeneity was observed within studies and the different strata.Good agricultural practices on farms,standard veterinary meat inspection and adequate hygiene and sanitation in abattoirs,farms and livestock markets need to be implemented in Nigeria in order to reduce the economic,public health and veterinary threats due to these helminths.

Priorities for research and control of cestode zoonoses in Asia

Globally,cestode zoonoses cause serious public health problems,particularly in Asia.Among all neglected zoonotic diseases,cestode zoonoses account for over 75%of global disability adjusted life years(DALYs)lost.An international symposium on cestode zoonoses research and control was held in Shanghai,China between 28th and 30th October 2012 in order to establish joint efforts to study and research effective approaches to control these zoonoses.It brought together 96 scientists from the Asian region and beyond to exchange ideas,report on progress,make a gap analysis,and distill prioritizing settings with a focus on the Asian region.Key objectives of this international symposium were to agree on solutions to accelerate progress towards decreasing transmission,and human mortality and morbidity caused by the three major cestode zoonoses(cystic echinococcosis,alveolar echinococcosis,and cysticercosis);to critically assess the potential to control these diseases;to establish a research and validation agenda on existing and new approaches;and to report on novel tools for the study and control of cestode zoonoses.

Feeding on clean food?Potential effects of electric organ discharges by Torpedo spp.(Torpediniformes:Torpedinidae)on their trophically transmitted parasites

Members of the Torpedinidae(torpedoes)and Hypnidae(coffin ray)use electric organ discharges(EOD)to stun or kill their prey before consumption.We investigated whether EOD could also negatively affect the helminth larvae infecting these preys through a surrogate model:we applied electric discharges to individuals of blue whiting,Micromesistius poutassou,that harbored live larvae of Anisakis.Larval mortality throughout a 6-h period was significantly higher in the treatment group,suggesting that EODs could significantly hamper helminth recruitment.We then tested whether torpedinids and hypnids(“strong-EOD”families)harbored species-poor helminth(cestode)assemblages compared with“weak-EOD”Torpediniformes(Narcidae and Narkidae)and other Batoidea.Based on comparisons on estimated species diversity and mean species richness of tapeworms at host individual level we found that(i)Torpediniformes had the lowest tapeworm diversity of all Batoidea orders;(ii)Torpedo spp.consistently had the lowest mean cestode richness at host individual level,and this could not be related to other host factors influencing cestode diversity in chondrichthyans,that is body size,trophic level or dietary breath.However,a preliminary comparison between“strong-EOD”and“weak-EOD”Torpediniformes did not detect clear differences of cestode richness.Thus,evidence supporting an unambiguous contribution of EODs to depauperate cestode assemblages requires further research.