Search results for "Helminth"
showing 10 items of 363 documents
Are the helminth communities from unisexual and bisexual lizards different? Evidences from gastrointestinal parasites of Darevskia spp. in Turkey
2015
1Departament de Zoologia, Facultat de Ciencies Biologiques, Universitat de Valencia Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100 Burjassot, Spain; E-mail: vicente.roca@uv.es 2CIBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrario de Vairao, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 7. 4485–661 Vairao, Vila do Conde, Portugal; E-mail: carretero@cibio.up.pt 3Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciencias da Universidade do Porto R. Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169–007 Porto, Portugal; E-mail: fatima.esperanca@cibio.up.pt 4Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Dokuz Eylul University, Buca, Izmir, Turkey E-mails: cetin.ilgaz@deu.edu.tr, yusuf.kumlutas@deu.edu.tr 5Department of Biology…
Molecular and Morphological Differentiation of Two Similar Species of Accacoeliidae (Digenea):Accacladocoelium macrocotyleandA. nigroflavumfrom Sunfi…
2014
In a study of 106 sunfish, Mola mola (L.), from Mediterranean waters, 2,731 worms, belonging to 2 congeneric species of accacoeliids, Accacladocoelium macrocotyle (Diesing, 1858) Robinson, 1934 and Accacladocoelium nigroflavum (Rudolphi, 1819) Robinson, 1934 , were collected from the digestive system. It is often difficult to differentiate between these 2 species as they are sympatric and very similar; in fact, according to previous descriptions, the extent of the vitellarium is the only interspecific difference, described as extending posteriorly to the ovary in A. macrocotyle and as anterior to the anterior testis in A. nigroflavum. However, this diagnostic trait is not always valid; more…
First helminthological data on Iberian vipers: Helminth communities and host-parasite relationships
2006
AbstractEuropean vipers are ambush predators with sporadic feeding events, thereby maintaining the digestive tract empty for long periods. According to previous studies relating lizards’ dietary habits and their helminth faunas, we predict poor gastrointestinal helminth communities in vipers. To test this hypothesis, we have examined the digestive tract of 86 specimens of Vipera aspis (L., 1758) and V. latastei Boscá, 1878, from several localities of the Iberian Peninsula. We found adults of only two nematode species Kalicephalus viperae (Rud., 1819) and Ophidascaris sp. and cysts adhering to the external wall on the stomach in case of two other nematode species Ascarops strongylina (Rud., …
Interrelationships of the Haploporinae (Digenea: Haploporidae): A molecular test of the taxonomic framework based on morphology
2009
The taxonomic framework of the Haploporidae is evaluated and the relationships within the Haploporinae are assessed for the first time at the generic level using molecular data. Partial 28S and complete ITS2 rDNA sequences from representatives of six of the nine recognised genera within the Haploporinae were analysed together with published sequences representing members of two haploporid subfamilies and of the closely related family Atractotrematidae. Molecular analyses revealed: (i) a close relationship between the Atractotrematidae and the Haploporidae; (ii) strong support for the monophyly of the Haploporinae, Dicrogaster and Saccocoelium, and the position of Ragaia within the Haplopori…
Potentiation of the cytotoxic activity of copper by polyphosphate on biofilm-producing bacteria: A bioinspired approach
2012
Adhesion and accumulation of organic molecules represent an ecologically and economically massive problem. Adhesion of organic molecules is followed by microorganisms, unicellular organisms and plants together with their secreted soluble and structure-associated byproducts, which damage unprotected surfaces of submerged marine structures, including ship hulls and heat exchangers of power plants. This is termed biofouling. The search for less toxic anti-biofilm strategies has intensified since the ban of efficient and cost-effective anti-fouling paints, enriched with the organotin compound tributyltin, not least because of our finding of the ubiquitous toxic/pro-apoptotic effects displayed b…
Parasites as indicators of social structure and stock identity of marine mammals
1995
Abstract Introduction: the use of parasites as biological indicators of marine mammals has not yet received all the necessary attention. The aim of this review is to show the value of parasite data in studies of stock identity and social structure. Methods: the application of the technique to marine mammals is hampered by the lack of control over sampling conditions and the paucity of information about the biology of their parasites. Relevant criteria for, suitable parasite tags are discussed. Case studies: previous work on marine mammals is presented to illustrate the usefulness and limitations of parasite data. A study of pilot whales revealed that differences in helminth infections betwe…
Ecological study of the wood mouse helminth community in a burned Mediterranean ecosystem in regeneration five years after a wildfire
2007
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…
Preliminary health screening and possible pathogen determination in aBufo bufo(Linnaeus, 1758) (Amphibia: Bufonidae) population
2010
The population of the common toad, Bufo bufo, on Jersey (Channel Islands, UK) has undergone a marked decline over recent years. Hypothesized causes for this decline include land use change, pollution, climate change and predation. We examined the carcasses of 97 wild adult common toads for gastrointestinal and pulmonary helminths. In addition, 31 adult toad carcasses were examined for the presence of ranavirus infection, and 212 wild common toads were examined for the presence of infection with the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Three nematode species Rhabdias bufonis, Aplectana macintoshii and Oswaldocruzia filiformis, and one species of cestode, Nematotaenia dispar, were identifie…
Anaphylaxis caused by helminths: review of the literature.
2012
BACKGROUND: Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening, generalized or systemic hypersensitivity reaction. In many individuals with anaphylaxis a pivotal role is played by IgE and the high-affinity IgE receptor on mast cells or basophils. Less commonly, it is triggered through other immunologic mechanisms, or through nonimmunologic mechanisms. The human immune response to helminth infections is associated with elevated levels of IgE, tissue eosinophilia and mastocytosis, and the presence of CD4+ T cells that preferentially produce IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13. Individuals exposed to helminth infections may have allergic inflammatory responses to parasites and parasite antigens. AIM: To summarize th…
The transcriptome analysis of Strongyloides stercoralis L3i larvae reveals targets for intervention in a neglected disease.
2012
Background: Strongyloidiasis is one of the most neglected diseases distributed worldwide with endemic areas in developed countries, where chronic infections are life threatening. Despite its impact, very little is known about the molecular biology of the parasite involved and its interplay with its hosts. Next generation sequencing technologies now provide unique opportunities to rapidly address these questions. Principal Findings: Here we present the first transcriptome of the third larval stage of S. stercoralis using 454 sequencing coupled with semi-automated bioinformatic analyses. 253,266 raw sequence reads were assembled into 11,250 contiguous sequences, most of which were novel. 8037…