The dissimilation of leucine, isoleucine and valine to volatile fatty acids by adult Fasciola hepatica

The dissimilation of leucine, isoleucine and valine to volatile fatty acids was determined in Fasciola hepatica and the degradation of (U−¹⁴C) branched amino acids to the volatile fatty acids end products demonstrated. F. hepatica was found to metabolize leucine, isoleucine and valine to isovaleric, 2-methylbutyric and isobutyric acid respectively. The rate of formation of isobutyrate, isovalerate and 2-methylbutyrate was found to be positively related to the rate of propionic acid production with air or nitrogen as the gas phase. However, under 95% O₂/5% CO₂ the formation of the branched chain acids was independent of propionic acid production. The production of isobutyrate, isovalerate and 2-methylbutyrate caused a simultaneous reduction in the rate of acetate formation. The role of propionate formation in regulating metabolism is discussed.     

Hyperparasitism of intrasnail stages of Fasciola hepatica by a mosquito microsporidian parasite

Laboratory studies were conducted to investigate the infective behavior of Nosema algerae spores when ingested by Fasciola hepatica free of F. hepatica-infected snails (Lymnaea cubensis). Among the F. hepatica-infected snails exposed to N. algerae, 38.09% harbored microsporidia-infected F. hepatica rediae. The F. hepatica-free snails exposed to N. algerae as well as the controls did not become infected. Light microscopical studies of Giemsa-stained microsporidia distinguished this organism from microsporidia previously described in trematode larvae. Based on the infectivity studies and morphological data, it was concluded that N. algerae, a mosquito pathogen, was transmitted to intrasnail stages of F. hepatica.     

Concurrent Capillaria and Heterakis Infections in Zoo Rock Partridges, Alectoris graeca

Two adult rock partridges raised in a city zoo were examined parasitologically and pathologically. Two distinctive eggs resembling those of Capillaria and Heterakis were detected in the feces. At necropsy, a markedly-dilated duodenum with severe catarrhal exudates, containing adult worms of Capillaria sp. and Heterakis sp. in the cecum, was observed. Male Capillaria had the cloacal aperture extended almost terminally with a small bursal lobe and an unsheathed spicule with transverse folds without spines. Female Capillaria had a vulva that was slightly prominent and slightly posterior to the union of the esophagus and intestine. The esophagus of the adult Capillaria was more than a half as long as the body in the male, but was much shorter in the female. Based on these morphological features, the capillarid nematode was identified as Capillaria obsignata. The male adult worms of Heterakis was identifiable by 2 dissimilar spicules, a unique morphological feature where the right spicule was considerably longer than the left, which is also a characteristic feature of Heterakis gallinarum. This is the first report of concurrent infections with C. obsignata and H. gallinarium in rock partridges.     

毛细属线虫中国新记录种的记述(嘴刺目:鞭虫科)

毛细属Capillaria中国新记录种——越南毛细线虫C.vietnamensis Meszaros,1973,采自广东省惠州市小蹄蝠Hipposideros pomona、大黄蝠Scotophilus heathi,龙门县长翅蝠Miniopterus schreibersi,广州市扁颅蝠Tylonycteris pa...     

肝毛细线虫对雌性布氏田鼠繁殖参数的影响

2005年5月,在内蒙古锡林郭勒盟阿巴嘎旗北部,研究了肝毛细线虫(Capillaria hepatica)对典型草原区雌性布氏田鼠(Lasiopodomys brandtii)繁殖参数的影响。采用标准夹线法捕获鼠类,对捕获的鼠类进行常规生物学解剖,根据虫卵有无确定肝毛细线虫病感染情况,记录鼠类名称、体长、体重、胴体重、繁殖特征以及肝毛细线虫病感染情况。由于体重是划分鼠类年龄的常用指标之一,结合布氏田鼠的繁殖特征研究数据,采用25.1~55.0 g之间的雌性个体作为本研究分析样本,并将其分为25.1~35.0 g、35.1~45.0 g和45.1~55.0 g体重(年龄)组。采用卡方检验比较分析同一体重(年龄)组内,肝毛细线虫病感染情况与雌性布氏田鼠妊娠率的关系,T检验分析感染情况与胎仔数的关系。结果显示,在各个体重(年龄)组中,感染肝毛细线虫组布氏田鼠雌鼠妊娠率均略低于未感染组,但感染情况与妊娠情况无显著相关关系(P0.05);感染肝毛细线虫布氏田鼠胎仔数低于未感染布氏田鼠,感染情况与胎仔数有显著相关关系(P0.05)。结果表明,肝毛细线虫病对布氏田鼠妊娠率无明显影响,但对布氏田鼠胎仔数有明显的负面影响。     

Proteomic analysis of glutathione transferases from the liver fluke parasite, Fasciola hepatica

The parasite Fasciola hepatica causes major global disease of livestock, with increasing reports of human infection. Vaccine candidates with varying protection rates have been identified by pre-genomic approaches. As many candidates are part of protein superfamilies, sub-proteomics offers new possibilities to systematically reveal the relative importance of individual family proteins to vaccine formulations within populations. The superfamily glutathione transferase (GST) from liver fluke has phase II detoxification and housekeeping roles, and has been shown to contain protective vaccine candidates. GST were purified from cytosolic fractions of adult flukes using glutathione- and S-hexylglutathione-agarose, separated by 2-DE, and identified by MS/MS, with the support of a liver fluke EST database. All previously described F. hepatica GST isoforms were identified in 2-DE. Amongst the isoforms mapped by 2-DE, a new GST, closely related to the Sigma class enzymes is described for the first time in the liver fluke. We also describe cDNA encoding putative Omega class GST in F. hepatica.     

长爪沙鼠的肝毛细线虫感染率与鼠类及猛禽密度的关系

为研究鼠类密度和猛禽密度对鼠类肝毛细线虫(Capillaria hepatica)感染率的影响,作者于2004年7月在内蒙古锡林郭勒盟阿巴嘎旗北部和东乌珠穆沁旗西南部典型草原草场选取了14个实验样地,采用洞口计数法(四分之一圆面积法)调查估计各实验样地内长爪沙鼠(Meriones unguiculatus)密度,同时采用夹线调查法捕获鼠类样本,进行常规解剖获取肝毛细线虫的感染数据。采用目测计数法统计猛禽的出现频次,并以其出现频次作为猛禽的相对密度指标。实验样地共捕获长爪沙鼠1 058只,观察到鹰隼类活动69只次。数据分析结果表明,长爪沙鼠肝毛细线虫感染率与鼠类密度之间存在极显著的正相关关系(P0.01,R~2=0.926),长爪沙鼠肝毛细线虫感染率与猛禽密度之间亦存在极显著的正相关关系(P0.01,R~2=0.853)。该结果说明,长爪沙鼠是肝毛细线虫的主要宿主,鼠类密度和猛禽密度的升高均会增加长爪沙鼠肝毛细线虫感染率,猛禽密度和鼠类密度之间还存在叠加效应,猛禽的捕食作用会加快肝毛细线虫病的传播周期,加重肝毛细线虫病疫情。     

布氏田鼠肝毛细线虫感染率与其体重的关系

2005年5月和8月,在内蒙古锡林郭勒北部典型草原调查了肝毛细线虫对布氏田鼠种群的感染特征,分析肝毛细线虫对布氏田鼠的感染率与其性别、年龄、体重及种群密度的关系。结果表明:肝毛细线虫对布氏田鼠感染率没有性别差异,雄鼠与雌鼠的感染率相当;但是与布氏田鼠体重/年龄密切相关:幼鼠的感染率较低,成鼠感染率较高,感染率和平均感染度均随着个体年龄的增长而增高。布氏田鼠达到一定的年龄(或体重)后才可感染肝毛细线虫病,其最低感染体重为24.3 g。布氏田鼠的种群密度对肝毛细线虫的感染率和平均感染度没有明显的影响,但同一样地不同季节感染率不同,本次调查显示,2005年5月份感染率高于8月份群体感染率,同一样地的春季感染率与秋季感染率之间呈现出显著的正相关。     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in the liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica)

Six microsatellite markers were isolated from Fasciola hepatica, a re‐emerging parasite that causes important veterinary and public health problems. In a sample of 52 liver flukes from a region of hyperendemicity (Bolivian Altiplano), five microsatellite were polymorphic. Our results showed that liver flukes present important genetic variability, suggesting a preferential outcrossing reproduction mode for this hermaphroditic parasite.     

Changing temperatures and prediction models for the liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica)

The principle of using mathematical modesl, based on temperature data, to predict the development times of the extra-mammalian stages of the liver fluke is described. The effect of temperature on survival of those stages are also modelled. The effect of temperature is also examined in relation to its effect on predation efficiency.