Comment on: Human tapeworms in north Vietnam

Ecological study of the wood mouse helminth community in a burned Mediterranean ecosystem in regeneration five years after a wildfire

AbstractParasites are used as biological tags in environmental impact studies. However, terrestrial systems in general and small mammals in particular are rarely considered in these ecological studies. Based on the effects of a wildfire which occurred in the Spanish Serra Calderona Natural Park — a typical Mediterranean ecosystem — the regeneration process of the wood mouse population and its helminth community is analysed. A total of 217 individuals of Apodemus sylvaticus were studied in a five year period, from the second to the fifth post-fire year: 152 mice originating from the burned area and 65 from the control — non-burned — area. The helminth community for both burned and non-burned…

Taenia asiatica and pig cysticercosis

First finding of Ityogonimus lorum and I. ocreatus co-infection in the Iberian mole, Talpa occidentalis.

Abstract The Ityogonimus lorum-I. ocreatus co-infection is reported for the first time in the Iberian mole Talpa occidentalis in Asturias (NW Spain). Both Ityogonimus species are stenoxenous helminths of insectivores of the genus Talpa and they have often been found parasitizing the Iberian mole and also the European mole T. europaea, but a mixed infection had not been previously reported. The present study also highlights the main differential morphometric characteristics between I. lorum and I. ocreatus such as the body length, the ventral sucker diameter, the ratio between suckers and the distance between suckers.

Socio-environmental variables and transmission risk of lymphatic filariasis in central and northern Mozambique

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is endemic in Mozambique, where it is caused by Wuchereria bancrofti with Culex quinquefasciatus as the main vector. It affects approximately 10% of the population (2 million) with about 16 million at risk. Prevalence rates in 40 out of 65 districts that together comprise the four endemic provinces Niassa, Cabo Delgado, Nampula and Zambezia were analysed with the aim of elucidating the socio-environmental variables influencing the transmission. The levels of prevalence were divided into six ranks and certain climatic, environmental and social factors were considered independent variables. A climadiagram was created and the LF risk and the water budget-based index w…

Human taeniasis diagnosed by radiography/endoscopy and morphology

Validation of a mapping and prediction model for human fasciolosis transmission in Andean very high altitude endemic areas using remote sensing data.

The present paper aims to validate the usefulness of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) obtained by satellite remote sensing for the development of local maps of risk and for prediction of human fasciolosis in the Northern Bolivian Altiplano. The endemic area, which is located at very high altitudes (3800-4100 m) between Lake Titicaca and the valley of the city of La Paz, presents the highest prevalences and intensities of fasciolosis known in humans. NDVI images of 1.1 km resolution from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) sensor on board the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) series of environmental satellites appear to provide adequate …

Ascaridoid nematodes in horse mackerel, Trachurus trachurus, sold in Spanish supermarkets—Factors able to diminish consumer risk

Abstract Horse mackerel, Trachurus trachurus, specimens sold in supermarket chains in the metropolitan area of Valencia (Spain) were analyzed to assess which intrinsic and extrinsic factors are able to diminish the risk of human anisakiosis. 202 T. trachurus, caught in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, were examined for ascaridoid nematodes. The overall prevalence and abundance of Anisakis type I larvae were 65.3 % and 23.2 helminths/host, respectively, being higher in the Atlantic area (98.2 %; 41.4 helminths/host). 34.2 % of the total fish sample was parasitized in the flesh. Moreover, global prevalence and abundance of Hysterothylacium spp. larvae were 67.3 % and 9.41, respec…

Diagnosis of Human Cysticercosis and Taenia asiatica

Absence of Toxoplasma gondii in 100% Iberian products from experimentally infected pigs cured following a specific traditional process.

Infection with Toxoplasma gondii in humans has usually been related to the consumption of raw, undercooked or cured meat. Our study is based on the detection of T. gondii in cured legs and shoulders made from 100% Iberian sows fed mainly with acorn and raised as outdoor livestock in Aracena (Spain), which having been elaborated following a specific curing process (time period and location). An outdoor farm with a total of 636 animals was studied, showing a seroprevalence of 10% for the parasite T. gondii. Twenty individuals were chosen to be experimentally infected and slaughtered 60 days post-infection. Their legs and shoulders were processed to make 100% Iberian ham legs and shoulders. Th…

One Health Approach to Zoonotic Parasites: Molecular Detection of Intestinal Protozoans in an Urban Population of Norway Rats, Rattus norvegicus, in Barcelona, Spain

Rattus norvegicus, the brown or Norway rat, is the most abundant mammal after humans in urban areas, where they live in close proximity to people. Among rodent-borne diseases, the reservoir role of Norway rats of zoonotic parasites in cities has practically been ignored. Considering the parasitic diseases in the One Health approach, we intended to identify and quantify the zoonotic intestinal protozoans (ZIP) in an urban population of R. norvegicus in the city of Barcelona, Spain. We studied the presence of ZIP in 100 rats trapped in parks (n = 15) as well as in the city’s sewage system (n = 85) in the winter of 2016/17. The protozoans were molecularly identified by means of a multiplex PCR…

Analysis of climatic data and forecast indices for human fascioliasis at very high altitude

Human infection with Fasciola hepatica has recently been recognized as an important health problem worldwide, and particularly at very high altitudes in South America. The highest prevalences and intensities of human fascioliasis known are those of the northern Bolivian Altiplano, where infected Lymnaea truncatula occur at altitudes of 3800-4100 m. In the present study, the climatic data for this area of the Altiplano, which differ markedly from those of endemic areas in the lowlands, were analysed. There is no marked seasonality in temperature but there are large variations in temperature within a daily, 24-h period. Rainfall is seasonal, with a long dry season, coinciding with the lowest …

Short report - A new case report of human Mesocestoides infection in the United States

The twenty-seventh documented case of human Mesocestoides infection, which corresponds to the seventh documented case in the United States, is reported. The case had its origin in Alexandria, Louisiana in the summer of 1998. The patient was a 19-month-old boy. The strobila consisted of 35 proglottids that included mature as well as gravid segments containing a ventral genital pore and a parauterine organ. After a detailed microscopic examination, the tapeworm was identified as belonging to the genus Mesocestoides. Mesocestoides variabilis is the probable species responsible for the infection, since the six cases previously reported in the United States were identified as this species. After…

The helminth community of Apodemus sylvaticus (Rodentia, Muridae) in the Sierra de Gredos (Spain)

The Spanish mountain range of Gredos was included in the studies conducted on the Iberian peninsula to investigate helminth fauna of small mammals. The helminth community of the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus (Rodentia, Muridae), was analysed. Qualitatively, 13 helminth species were detected: Plagiorchis sp. I and Plagiorchis sp. II (Trematoda); Taenia parva larvae, T. martis larvae, T. taeniaeformis larvae, Rodentolepis straminea and R. fraterna (Cestoda); and Trichuris muris, Heligmosomoides polygyrus, Syphacia stroma, S. frederici, Aspiculuris tetraptera and Rictularia proni (Nematoda). Quantitatively, the highest prevalence (65.0%) and the mean abundance (36.9%) of H. polygyrus stand o…

Anisakid Nematodes and Potential Risk of Human Anisakiasis through the Consumption of Hake, Merluccius spp., Sold Fresh in Spanish Supermarkets

Nematode parasite species belonging to the Anisakis simplex complex are the most important cause of human anisakiasis through the consumption of (mainly) undercooked, previously not frozen, or conveniently treated fish. In Spain, the consumption of hake has been recognized as an important source of this parasitosis. With the aim of shedding light on the risk factors that can influence the potential risk of human anisakiasis in Spain through the consumption of fresh hake sold by nationwide supermarket chains, a total of 536 small hake specimens belonging to the species Merluccius bilinearis caught off the Northeast American coasts and Merluccius merluccius caught in the Northeast Atlantic an…

Morphology of Bertiella studeri (Blanchard, 1891) sensu Stunkard (1940) (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) of human origin and a proposal of criteria for the specific diagnosis of bertiellosis.

Human material of an African specimen of Bertiella studeri (Blanchard, 1891), a typical intestinal cestode of monkeys, is described. Mature, postmature and gravid proglottides, and eggs, previously inadequately figured, are illustrated and photographed. The description of the species agrees with that provided by Stunkard (1940). A comparative study with other descriptions of the species is made in an attempt to clarify previous findings. The morphological differences reported in various earlier descriptions of the species suggest that B. studeri should be regarded as a "B. studeri species complex". Improvements are required in the descriptions of new future findings in order to clarify the …

First report on the helminthfauna of the yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis, in the Iberian Peninsula

Summary Information about the prevalence of helminth parasites of the yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis, in the Iberian Peninsula is almost non-existent and there is no reliable data reported from Spain. Fourteen A. flavicollis from the Erro River valley (Navarre, Spain) were examined for endoparasites, between February 2001 and July 2002. Thirteen specimens (92.9 %) of the total sample were parasitized by at least one of the following six helminth species: one trematode (Corrigia vitta), one cestode (Taenia parva larvae) and four nematodes (Trichuris muris, Calodium hepaticum, Heligmosomoides polygyrus and Syphacia stroma). This is the first report about the helminthfauna of A. fla…

Quantification and viability assays of Toxoplasma gondii in commercial "Serrano" ham samples using magnetic capture real-time qPCR and bioassay techniques.

"Serrano" ham is a typical pork product from the Mediterranean area, highly valued for its flavour. To make Serrano ham, pork undergoes a salting and a subsequent fermentation process known as curing. Certain pigs used for meat production are an important source of Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans. We have developed a method for quantifying and assaying the viability of the T. gondii present in commercial Serrano ham samples. A magnetic capture method for the isolation of T. gondii DNA and a qRT-PCR were used to estimate the T. gondii burden in 475 commercial samples of "Serrano" ham in two presentation formats: ham pieces and sliced ham. The infectivity capacity of T. gondii in positi…

Human cysticercosis and larval tropism of Taenia asiatica

Taenia solium, T. saginata and the recently discovered T. asiatica1xTaiwan Taenia and taeniasis. Fan, P.C. Parasitol. Today. 1988; 4: 86–88Abstract | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (61)See all References, 2xMorphologic descriptions of Taenia asiatica sp. n.. Eom, K.S. and Rim, H.J. Korean J. Parasitol. 1993; 31: 1–6Crossref | PubMedSee all References, 3xMorphological description of Taenia saginata asiatica (Cyclophyllidea: Taeniidae) from man in Asia. Fan, P.C. et al. J. Helminthol. 1995; 69: 299–303Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (44)See all References, are species of taeniid cestodes whose adult stages are known to infect humans. Less clear is whether the eggs of T. asiatica also infect human…

First Data on the Helminth Community of the Smallest Living Mammal on Earth, the Etruscan Pygmy Shrew, Suncus etruscus (Savi, 1822) (Eulipotyphla: Soricidae)

Suncus etruscus is the smallest living mammal on Earth by mass. Most adults weigh 1.8–3 g with a body length of 35–48 mm. Catching it in small mammal traps in nature is extremely difficult due to its minute size, and therefore special trapping methods must be used. We had the unique opportunity of studying, for the first time, the helminth parasites of 166 individuals of S. etruscus, part of the largest collection in the world, which belonged to the French scientist Dr Roger Fons (1942–2016). A total of 150 individuals were captured in the Banyuls-Cerbère area (France) and 16 in the island of Corsica (France). We found seven helminth species, specifically, the cestodes Joyeuxiella pasqualei…

Mercury, lead and cadmium concentrations in Talpa occidentalis and in their digeneans of the genus Ityogonimus

Many parasites living in aquatic ecosystems are useful indicators of environmental health. On the other hand, information is scarcer with respect to the use of helminth parasites of vertebrates living in terrestrial ecosystems as monitoring tools for toxic element environmental pollution. The present study evaluates the suitability of the model Talpa occidentalis/Ityogonimus spp. as a bioindicator system for mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soils from Asturias (Spain). Kidney and liver samples collected from T. occidentalis specimens (n = 36) and Ityogonimus spp. samples collected from 14 infected hosts were analyzed by ICP-MS. The highest mean levels o…

Low-altitude outbreaks of human fascioliasis related with summer rainfall in Gilan province, Iran

Following human fascioliasis outbreaks in 1988 and 1999 in Gilan province, northern Iran, efforts are now made to shed light on the seasonal pattern of fascioliasis transmission in this endemic area, taking into account snail host populations, climatic conditions and human cases. Populations of the intermediate host snail (Lymnaea spp.) peak in May and November, while there is a fourfold increase in the rate of human fascioliasis in February compared to that of September. Transmission is likely to occur mainly in late autumn and sporadically in late spring. Rainfall, seasonally analysed in periods of 3 years, indicates that accumulated summer rainfall may be related with the 1988 and 1999 h…

Proposal of a Geographic Information System for modeling zoonotic fasciolosis transmission in the Andes

ABSTRACT The present study describes the basis for the development of a Geographic Information System(GIS) for conducting an epidemiological analysis of human and animal fasciolosis in the Andes. Themethodology proposes the use of various data bases - those derived from epidemiologicalmutidisciplinary studies and environmental data derived from terrestrial stations and remote sensing. Key words : Fasciola hepatica, fasciolosis transmission, Andes, geographic information system,model. INTRODUCTIONOver the last decade, the importance of humanand animal fasciolosis in various south Americancountries has been emphasized in the scientificliterature 1-5 ; indeed, human infection by Fasciolahepati…

Risk Analysis of Human Anisakidosis Through the Consumption of the Blue Whiting, Micromesistius poutassou, Sold at Spanish Supermarkets

European legislation directed at the catering industry concerning the prevention of anisakidosis proposes efficient measures to avoid human infestation, but this legislation does not directly address the consumer at the household level. Assessing the anisakidosis risk for consumers who buy fresh fish at supermarkets in Spain, 284 blue whiting, Micromesistius poutassou, specimens, originating from two fishing zones and seasons of capture, sold at five nationwide Spanish supermarket chains, were examined to identify the presence of anisakid species and analyze their prevalence and abundance in viscera and flesh. The potential influence of intrinsic (length and weight) and extrinsic (origin, s…

Taenia asiatica intermediate hosts

First spermatological data on the digenean genus Ityogonimus derived from the description of sperm characters of Ityogonimus ocreatus (Brachylaimidae: Ityogoniminae)

Abstract The present study describes the ultrastructural organization of the spermatozoa of the brachylaimid digenean Ityogonimus ocreatus (Ityogoniminae) by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Live digeneans were collected from the digestive tract of an Iberian mole Talpa occidentalis (Eulipotyphla, Talpidae) captured accidentally during a vole pest control campaign in Priesca (Asturias, Spain). The TEM study reveals that the I. ocreatus sperm are filiform, tapered at both extremities, and have two 9+'1' trepaxonematan axonemes, external ornamentation of the plasma membrane associated with cortical microtubules, spine-like bodies, two bundles of parallel cortical microtubules …

Hepatic parasitosis in two wood mice, Apodemus sylvaticus (Rodentia: Muridae), due to Aonchotheca annulosa (Nematoda: Trichuridae), and Eucoleus bacillatus (Nematoda: Trichuridae). Erratic parasitism or post mortem migration?

AbstractAonchotheca annulosa and Eucoleus bacillatus are two capillariin nematodes parasitizing the intestinal and stomach mucosa, respectively, of various rodent species, and two, among others, component species of the helminth fauna of the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus. A capillariin each was found in the liver parenchyma of two wood mice in a post-fire regeneration enclave in Serra Calderona Natural Park (Valencian Community, Spain). Due to their location, the preliminary identification of the helminths corresponded to Calodium hepaticum, a hepatic capillariin with rodents as its main host. So far, this species had never been found in Serra Calderona. To verify the preliminary identifi…

About people, pig movements and pork 'tapeworms'.

Potential risk analysis of human anisakiasis through the consumption of mackerel, Scomber scombrus, sold at Spanish supermarkets

Abstract Herein, the potential risk of human anisakiasis through the consumption of mackerel, Scomber scombrus , sold at nationwide Spanish supermarket chains is assessed, by means of the identification of anisakid and other nematode species found, and the analysis of intrinsic and extrinsic factors that may influence the prevalence and abundance of nematode worms, as well as their presence in the viscera or in the flesh. 231 fresh mackerel specimens caught between 2008 and 2014 (140 from the Atlantic and 91 from the Mediterranean), captured in autumn and spring and acquired at nationwide Spanish supermarket chains, were examined dissecting their viscera and submitting their flesh to artifi…

Lights and shadows of the Taenia asiatica life cycle and pathogenicity.

Humans are definitive hosts of two well-known species of the Taenia genus, Taenia solium (the pig tapeworm) and Taenia saginata (the cattle tapeworm). In the 1990s, a third species, Taenia asiatica, was discovered, sharing features with the other two since the adult morphology is similar to that of T. saginata, but its life cycle is like that of T. solium. Human taeniasis usually is asymptomatic or displays mild symptoms, and only T. solium can cause other sometimes serious disorders when humans accidentally ingest the eggs and develop the larval stage in different organs (cysticercosis). In this review, we expose what we currently know (lights) and what we do not yet know (shadows) about t…

The Asian Taenia and the possibility of cysticercosis

In certain Asian countries, a third form of human Taenia, also known as the Asian Taenia, has been discovered. This Asian Taenia seems to be an intermediate between Taenia solium and T. saginata since in morphological terms it is similar to T. saginata, yet biologically, as it uses the same intermediate host (pigs), it is more akin to T. solium. Taenia solium causes human cysticercosis, while T. saginata does not. It is not known whether the Asian taeniid is able to develop to the larval stage in humans or not. The arguments proposed by those authors who consider it unlikely that the Asian Taenia causes human cysticercosis are: (a) its molecular similarities with T. saginata; (b) the absenc…

Toxoplasma gondii detection and viability assays in ham legs and shoulders from experimentally infected pigs

Abstract Epidemiological studies of toxoplasmosis show that infection in humans is mainly caused by the consumption of raw, undercooked or cured meat. Cured “Serrano” ham is a typical pork product from the Mediterranean area, highly valued for its flavour. The “Serrano” ham is prepared from pork meat and undergoes a process known as curing and a subsequent fermentation without thermal or smoking treatments. The viability of Toxoplasma gondii in hams and shoulders from experimentally infected pigs that have been subject to different curing processes has been studied in order to evaluate the best method to completely eliminate the viable protozoa. The different treatments include, i) freezing…

Taenia Species, Uterine Branches and Capsule Endoscopy

Hamada et al. show, in their article, several proglottids of an adult stage of a Taenia species in the small bowel of a woman by capsule endoscopy (1). One of the images clearly shows a gravid proglottid that allows the view of the characteristic Taenia uterus morphology, with a central axis and a n

Malaria resurgence risk in southern Europe: climate assessment in an historically endemic area of rice fields at the Mediterranean shore of Spain

Abstract Background International travel and immigration have been related with an increase of imported malaria cases. This fact and climate change, prolonging the period favouring vector development, require an analysis of the malaria transmission resurgence risk in areas of southern Europe. Such a study is made for the first time in Spain. The Ebro Delta historically endemic area was selected due to its rice field landscape, the presence of only one vector, Anopheles atroparvus, with densities similar to those it presented when malaria was present, in a situation which pronouncedly differs from already assessed potential resurgence areas in other Mediterranean countries, such as France an…

Nematode Parasites of the European Pilchard, Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792): A Genuine Human Hazard?

The European pilchard is one of the most frequently consumed fish species in Mediterranean countries, especially in Italy and Spain, and has been reported as the cause of at least eight human anisakidosis cases in Spain. With the aim to shed light on the potential human parasitosis risk posed by nematode larvae belonging to families Anisakidae or Raphidascarididae, a total of 350 sardines captured in the Atlantic Ocean (175 specimens) and the Mediterranean Sea (175 specimens), acquired in various Spanish nationwide supermarket chains, were helminthologically analyzed. The statistical analysis of some helminth parameters revealed a higher presence of nematodes belonging to the genus Hysterot…

On the role of Taenia asiatica in human cases of cysticercosis.

Angiostrongiliasis humana. Aclaraciones a propósito del reporte de un caso importado en España

Human Bertiella studeri in Spain, Probably of African Origin

A mature tapeworm and gravid proglottids of Bertiella studeri were reported from the stools of a 33-year-old pregnant Spanish woman. The patient had spent the six months preceding this discovery in Kenya. The evidence suggests a case of parasitism imported to Spain from the African continent. The patient presented no symptoms related to the parasite and the discovery in stools of a number of active, white structures led her to collect them. A morphologic and morphometric description of the material obtained is presented. Mebendazole failed to remove the parasite but niclosamide was effective.

Influence of Environmental Pollution and Living Conditions on Parasite Transmission among Indigenous Ecuadorians

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of environmental pollution and the living conditions of indigenous Ecuadorians on the transmission of enteroparasites in an Andean agricultural area located at high altitude. Environmental pollution was recorded after observation in each community. The parasites were identified by microscopic sediment analysis using physiological saline solution from macerated arthropods, washed vegetables, and human stools, utilizing four coproparasitological techniques (direct examination, Kato–Katz, ether concentration, and Ziehl–Neelsen). The results show that the inadequate disposal of human and animal excreta that contaminate soil and…

On the diagnosis of human taeniasis by endoscopy

On the Visual Diagnosis of Human Taeniasis by Capsule Endoscopy

Comment on "Epidemiological Survey on Porcine Cysticercosis in Nay Pyi Taw Area, Myanmar".

We have read with interest the paper by Khaing et al. [1], in which first data on Taenia solium cysticercosis in pigs from Myanmar are published. The authors found a porcine cysticercosis prevalence of 23.67% in slaughtered pigs, which, as they mention, indicates the presence of human taeniasis and also the risk of acquiring human cysticercosis and, therefore, neurocysticercosis. The high porcine cysticercosis prevalence detected by the authors means, obviously, that there has to be a high prevalence of human T. solium taeniasis among the inhabitants of Myanmar leading to a high presence of infective eggs in the environment. However, as far as we know, the presence of T. solium taeniasis, a…

The specificity of the electroimmunotransfer blot assay for Taenia solium cysticercosis

COMMENTS ON TAENIA GUESTS IN HUMANS.

The helminth community of the Iberian hare, Lepus granatensis (Lagomorpha: Leporidae), in the province of Granada, Spain

Abstract The helminth community of the Iberian hare, Lepus granatensis, in the southern Spanish province of Granada was analysed, thorough the study of 487 individuals shot by hunters between November 1998 and October 1999. Six helminth species were found: Mosgovoyia pectinata (Cestoda); Trichostrongylus retortaeformis, Nematodiroides zembrae, Nematodirus sp., Passalurus ambiguus and Micipsella numidica (Nematoda). N. zembrae and M. pectinata (62.4 % and 17.2 %, respectively) were the only component species found. The predominance of helminth species with a direct life cycle is noteworthy. These two component species were significantly influenced by season of capture. Other factors, such as…

Ocurrence of enteroparasites with zoonotic potential in animals of the rural area of San Andres, Chimborazo, Ecuador.

Abstract Objective The aim of this research was the identification of the enteroparasites harbored by the animals of the San Andres community, to evaluate their role as susceptible hosts and sources of infection for other animals, humans (zoonoses), as well as parasite forms spreaders to the environment in this rural area, located in the province of Chimborazo, Ecuadorian Andean region. Material and methods The study was carried out combining 3 coproparasitological techniques: direct examination, Ritchie and Ziehl-Neelsen in 300 animal stool samples Results Blastocystis sp., Entamoeba spp., Giardia spp., Balantidium spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Ascaris spp., Toxocara spp., Ancylostoma spp., …

Ecological Analysis of the Helminth Community of the Wood Mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, along an 18-Year Post-Fire Regeneration Period in a Mediterranean Ecosystem

The role of helminths of the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, as biological indicators of the post-fire regeneration process in Serra Calderona Natural Park, a Mediterranean forest ecosystem located between the provinces of València and Castelló (Valencian Country, Spain), has been analysed for almost twenty years. The helminth ecological analysis of 917 A. sylvaticus (675 originating from the burned area and 242 originating from the control area) has been carried out between the 2nd and 18th post-fire years. The influence of intrinsic (host population density, sex and age) and extrinsic (site, period and year of capture, climate variables) factors on the post-fire evolution of the helminth…

Leishmaniasis in Norway Rats in Sewers, Barcelona, Spain.

We detected Leishmania infantum in 98 Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) trapped in parks and sewers of Barcelona, Spain. The 84 rats from the sewers showed a prevalence of 33.3% and up to 2,272 estimated parasites. These results, in the most abundant potential reservoir in cities, is of public health concern.

A global network for the control of snail-borne disease using satellite surveillance and geographic information systems

Abstract At a team residency sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation in Bellagio, Italy, 10-14 April 2000 an organizational plan was conceived to create a global network of collaborating health workers and earth scientists dedicated to the development of computer-based models that can be used for improved control programs for schistosomiasis and other snail-borne diseases of medical and veterinary importance. The models will be assembled using GIS methods, global climate model data, sensor data from earth observing satellites, disease prevalence data, the distribution and abundance of snail hosts, and digital maps of key environmental factors that affect development and propagation of snail…

The helminth community of the wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus in a Mediterranean ecosystem in regeneration ten years after a wildfire.

AbstractThis study was carried out 10 years after a wildfire in the Spanish Serra Calderona Natural Park, following a previous analysis comprising the first 5 years after the fire. Its primary aim was to elucidate the impact of this perturbation on the population biology of the wood mouseApodemus sylvaticus, and the repercussions on its helminth community in this regenerating Mediterranean ecosystem. Second, confirmation of the ability of the parasites to tolerate environmental stressors and the effects on their transmission strategies was sought. Five hundred and sixty-four individuals ofA. sylvaticuswere studied in a 9-year period, from the second to the tenth post-fire year: 408 mice fro…

Taenia asiatica: left out by globalisation?

A recent review article discusses how globalisation, related to the movement of people, animals, and food, affects the epidemiology of foodborne parasites [1].

Prevalence of bacteria and absence of anisakid parasites in raw and prepared fish and seafood dishes in Spanish restaurants

This study evaluated the presence of bacteria and anisakid parasites in 45 samples of raw anchovies in vinegar, a dish widely eaten in Spain, and in 227 samples of cooked fish and cephalopods served in Spanish food service establishments. Our analysis showed that, according to European and Spanish regulation, 14 to 30% of the prepared fish and cephalopod dishes exceeded the maximum allowable level for mesophilic aerobic counts, and 10 to 40% of these samples exceeded the allowable levels for Enterobacteriaceae. None of the studied samples showed evidence of anisakid parasites, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, or Listeria monocyto genes. These results indicate that applic…

Natural vs. experimental hosts: The peculiar case of Taenia asiatica

Ecological Analysis of the Helminth Community of Microtus lusitanicus (Gerbe, 1879) (Rodentia) in Asturias (NW Spain)

Simple Summary The Lusitanian pine vole is an endemic rodent of the Iberian Peninsula, which has a burrowing behaviour and prefers to live underground. It feeds on bark and roots causing severe damage to trees. In Asturias (NW Spain), this species is considered a pest causing economic losses in apple orchards, damaging the tree, and sometimes even causing its death. With the aim to shed light on the helminth community of this rodent pest species and to elucidate which intrinsic and extrinsic factors affect its helminth species, a faunistic-ecological study was carried out. For this purpose, our own collection of 710 voles from several orchards of various locations in Asturias was used. The …

The helminth community of the Mediterranean mouse, Mus spretus, in a post-fire regenerated Mediterranean ecosystem

Abstract The helminth community of the Mediterranean mouse, Mus spretus, was analysed in a post-fire regenerated Mediterranean ecosystem. The study was carried out in the Spanish Natural Park of the Serra Calderona and comprised a 13 year period, from the 2nd to the 14th year after a wildfire. A total of 121 host individuals was analysed, 66 mice from the burned area and 55 from the non-burned area used as control. The results show a helminth community consisting of 10 helminth species, characterised by low diversity, with Syphacia obvelata as the only dominant helminth species. The helminth infracommunity, determined by its origin of capture, burned or non-burned areas, shows some signific…

Neurocysticercosis, Taenia asiatica and Cheju Island in Korea

Human Bertiella studeri in Equatorial Guinea.

Is the El Niño-Southern Oscillation likely to increase the risk of Fasciola transmission?

(2007). Is the El Nino–Southern Oscillation likely to increase the risk of Fasciola transmission? Annals of Tropical Medicine & Parasitology: Vol. 101, No. 6, pp. 555-557.

First survey on zoonotic helminthosis in urban brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in Spain and associated public health considerations.

Abstract The brown rat, Rattus norvegicus, with a worldwide distribution, is the most commensal species among synanthropic rodents, since its main habitat, in urban as well as in rural areas, is always linked to humans. Therefore, people living in close proximity to rodent populations can be exposed to infection. Whereas bacteria and viruses are the best known rat-associated zoonoses in urban environments, the role of brown rats as reservoirs for helminth parasites and the associated risk for humans are less well known. Specifically, this role has not been analyzed in Spain to date. A total of 100 R. norvegicus trapped in the sewage system (n = 85), and parks (n = 15) of Barcelona was exami…

Unusual multiparasitism causes overweight in a wood mouse,Apodemus sylvaticus(Rodentia: Muridae), from a post-fire regeneration area

Multiparasitism is a common ecological phenomenon, being the norm rather than the exception, in the wild. This article describes the case of a wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, originating from a post-fire regeneration area, infected with multiple helminth species and remarkable overweight. The mouse analyzed was captured at a post-fire regeneration site in the Serra Calderona Natural Park (Comunitat Valenciana, Spain). The rodent was captured and marked for the first time in the spring of 2011, weighing 22.5 g. When it was recaptured in the winter of 2012, it weighed 44.0 g. The mouse was parasitized by a total of 31 helminths belonging to seven species, including six Taenia parva metacesto…

Parasitic porkborne hazards, globalisation, and meat inspection

On taeniasis, hydatidosis and 'figatellu'.

rDNA Sequences of <I>Anopheles</I> Species from the Iberian Peninsula and an Evaluation of the 18S rRNA Gene as Phylogenetic Marker in Anophelinae

The complete 18S rDNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-2 rDNA sequences were obtained from Anopheles atroparvus Van Thiel and Anopheles plumbeus Stephens from two areas of Spain. The number of nucleotide differences in the 18S rDNA of the two species is high compared with differences in the same gene of other invertebrate vectors. In Anopheles, short 18S rDNA sequences are richer in AT than the longer sequences, which are richer in GC and include extremely GC-biased expanded regions. Four small regions in the variable regions V4 and V7 contain the majority of nucleotide differences. The results did not support the use of partial sequences for relationship analyses. Genetic distances an…

Prevalence and Risk of Anisakid Larvae in Fresh Fish Frequently Consumed in Spain: An Overview

Anisakidosis is a fish-borne zoonosis caused by parasitic nematodes of the family Anisakidae, of which the species belonging to Anisakis simplex complex are the most representative. It is considered an emerging disease in Spain. The objective of this study is to analyse the presence of larvae in fish frequently consumed in Spanish supermarkets, inferring the risk of infection. In total 1,786 specimens of 9 different fish species, from two geographical origins (Atlantic and Mediterranean), acquired fresh and not eviscerated were examined for anisakid nematodes. Analysis showed that 33.7% of the samples were parasitized by Anisakis larvae. The horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) presented th…

Remote sensing and climate data as a key for understanding fasciolosis transmission in the Andes: review and update of an ongoing interdisciplinary project

Fasciolosis caused by Fasciola hepatica in various South American countries located on the slopes of the Andes has been recognized as an important public health problem. However, the importance of this zoonotic hepatic parasite was neglected until the last decade. Countries such as Peru and Bolivia are considered to be hyperendemic areas for human and animal fasciolosis, and other countries such as Chile, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela are also affected. At the beginning of the 1990s a multidisciplinary project was launched with the aim to shed light on the problems related to this parasitic disease in the Northern Bolivian Altiplano. A few years later, a geographic information system (GIS…

On Taeniasis/Cysticercosis Mimicking Lymphoma on PET/CT Imaging.

On the reservoirs of Leishmania infantum in urban areas

Leishmania has biologically adapted to specific phlebotomine sand flies through long co-evolution. The ability of Leishmania spp. to bind to sand fly midgut allows each Leishmania species to propagate and differentiate into infectious promastigotes and be transmitted. Sand fly feeding upon a mammalian host is the first step towards being infected and a host of Leishmania. Once deposited into the skin, host susceptibility to infection vs. ability to mount a sterilizing immune response predicts which hosts could be reservoirs of different Leishmania spp. Materials, in addition to parasites, are expelled during sand fly during feeding, including salivary antigens and other factors that promote…

Pufferfish nests vs. parasite hooks: A bizarre resemblance

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The helminth community of the wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus from the Erro River valley, Navarre, Spain.

AbstractThe helminth fauna of the wood mouse,Apodemus sylvaticus, in the Erro River valley (Navarre, Spain) was investigated from a total of 150 mice between February 2001 and July 2002. An overall prevalence of 90.7% was recorded and up to 14 helminth species identified. The most prevalent species was the nematodeHeligmosomoidespolygyrus(78.0%), whereasSyphacia stromawas the species with the highest median abundance (19.8). The detection ofCalodium hepaticum,Rodentolepis stramineaand the larvae ofHydatigera taeniaeformisare significant, since these helminth species could be considered potential human parasites. The helminth infracommunity comprised no more than five species. A significant …