The taxonomy of Capillaria spp. (Nematoda: Trichuroidea) in carnivorous mammals from Ontario,Canada

Summary Four species of Capillaria were found in eight species of wild carnivorous mammals (286 carcasses) taken in Ontario, Canada. C. plica was found in the urinary bladder of raccoon (Procyon lotor), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), coyote (Canis latrans), fisher (Martes pennanti) and striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis); C. putorii in the stomach and intestine of short-tailed weasel (Mustela erminea), mink (M. vison), fisher, marten (Martes americana), striped skunk and raccoon; C. aerophila in the mucosa of the trachea and bronchi of red fox and marten and C. procyonis in the epithelial lining of the oesophagus of raccoon and striped skunk. All four Capillaria spp. are redescribed and specimens of each species from different host species are compared. A key to the identification of the above species as well as C. didelphis and C. hepatica is presented. Specimens of C. erinacei and additional material of C. putorii were obtained on loan. Specimens named C. mustelorum by previous authors were collected from carnivores in Ontario. C. mustelorum and C. erinacei are considered to be synonyms of C. putorii. The genus Capillaria is briefly reviewed historically and the recognition of other genera, based on single characters, is discussed and rejected. The possibility of accommodating the Capillaria spp. from Canadian carnivorous mammals in the sub-genera Capillaria and Thominx is discussed and dismissed. ac]19791022     

Endoparasite spectrum of wild cats (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Felis silvestris</Emphasis> Schreber, 1777) and domestic cats (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Felis catus</Emphasis> L.) from the Eifel,Pfalz region and Saarland,Germany

Between 1993 and 2002, carcasses from 15 wild cats (Felis silvestris) and 17 domestic cats (Felis catus) from the Eifel region, Pfalz region and the Saarland were collected and examined for endoparasites. Most cats were road casualties (74%), some died from disease (14%), some were shot (3%), or some died of unknown reasons (9%). Three wild cats were too decomposed for parasitological examination. Endoparasites were recovered in 14 wild cats (n = 15) and 11 domestic cats (n = 17). A total of eight endoparasite species were found in wild cats and six in domestic cats. The nematodes Toxocara mystax and Toxascaris leonina and the cestode Taenia taeniaeformis were the most prevalent parasites. Other helminths detected were Capillaria aerophila, Capillaria feliscati, Capillaria plica and Mesocestoides litteratus. The spiruride Petrowospirura petrowi was detected in Germany for the first time. The parasite fauna was more diverse in male than in female cats indicating a male-biased parasitism in the wild cats.     

Effects of fragmentation on parasite burden (nematodes) of generalist and specialist small mammal species in secondary forest fragments of the coastal Atlantic Forest,Brazil

Parasites are considered to play an important role in the regulation of wild animal populations. We investigated parasite burden of gastrointestinal nematodes and body condition in specialist and generalist small mammal species in secondary forest fragments in the highly endangered coastal Atlantic Forest. We hypothesized that body condition decreases with increasing parasite load and that parasite burden increases with increasing fragmentation in specialist species but not in generalist species as a consequence of differing responses to fragmentation effects. Investigated species were Akodon montensis, Oligoryzomys nigripes, and Delomys sublineatus (rodents) and the marsupials Marmosops incanus and Gracilinanus microtarsus. Prevalence of parasites was high in all species except for the arboreal G. microtarsus, presumably because of decreased infection probability. No correlation was found between body condition and parasite load in any of the species. Contrary to our expectations, body condition of the specialists D. sublineatus and M. incanus increased in both species with increasing fragmentation. In D. sublineatus, parasite burden increased and body condition decreased in fragments with relatively high density probably due to increased contact rates and facilitation of infection with nematodes. In all generalist species, low or no correlation between parasite burden and fragmentation was detected, suggesting little effect of fragmentation on population health.     

Sanitary risks of red-legged partridge releases: introduction of parasites

We studied the helminth community and body condition of 99 hunter-harvested red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) from Ciudad Real (Central Spain). Forty-six were sampled in two game estates where an important number of farm-reared red-legged partridges are released yearly. The remaining 53 were obtained from natural wild populations adjacent to one of the estates with releases. Four nematode species (Heterakis gallinarum, Aonchoteca caudinflata, Eucoleus contortus and Cheilospirura gruveli) and two cestode species (Raillietina (R.) tetragona and Skryabinia bolivari) were identified. The managed areas showed higher parasite diversity, with higher prevalences and intensities for all helminths found. Three of these species were typical of farm-bred partridges and two of these, A. caundinflata and S. bolivari, were found parasitizing adult partridges. This suggests introduction of these helminths into the breeding population of managed states. The birds sampled in the nonmanaged estates showed a better body condition, but no relation with parasite infection was found. Our results suggest that the release of farm-reared red-legged partridges, a strategy that is becoming a common practice in Spanish hunting areas, poses risk to wild populations because of introducing parasites. However, these results also suggest that simply stopping releases may be a good way to remove locally those parasites from populations, as the establishment of the introduced parasites seems limited.     

Occurrence of eggs and oocysts of intestinal parasites of pheasant (<Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Phasianus colchicus</Emphasis>) in droppings collected in differently managed protected areas of Tuscany (Italy)

The releasing of farm-reared pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) is a very common practice in order to sustain high hunting pressures. However farm-reared birds may be carriers of parasites and diseases for the natural populations. We compared the parasite egg and oocyst prevalence and abundance of excretions found in faecal droppings collected in 13 different protected areas of Tuscany: seven areas where farm-reared pheasants are released every year to increase the reproduction and dispersion of the wild population (restocking areas) and in six areas where the production of pheasants is guaranteed only by the wild population (wild areas). Eimeria spp. oocysts were found in 33 of 129 (25.6%) samples collected in wild areas and in 59 of 119 (51.3%) of samples collected in restocking areas. Nematode eggs were found in 21 of 129 (16.3%) samples collected in wild areas and in 59 of 119 (49.6%) of samples collected in restocking areas. Significant differences were found for Capillaria spp. (31.9% of restocking areas vs. 9.3% of wild areas) and Syngamus spp. (10.1% of restocking areas vs. 3.1% of wild areas) but not for Heterakis or Ascaridia spp. (7.6% of restocking areas vs. 3.9% of wild areas). Parasitic excretion abundance was higher in the droppings collected in restocking areas compared to those collected in wild areas, but differences were significant only for Eimeria and Capillaria spp. In order to reduce the risk of spreading parasites and diseases, we suggest to interpose a strip (larger than the home range of the pheasants) where hunting is not forbidden between the restocking areas and the wild areas, and pheasant releases should not be allowed at least within a “pheasant home range distance” from the wild areas.     

The occurrence of blood-inhabiting protozoa in captive and free-living penguins

While the susceptibility to infection with blood protozoa, particularly Plasmodium spp. and Leucocytozoon, of a wide range of species of penguins held in captivity is well established, the parasitism of penguins in the wild has been less studied. It appears, however, that free-living penguins from temperate locations exhibit infrequent parasitism, with the exception of Spheniscus demersus in Southern Africa in which infection with Babesia peircei is endemic, while the few available reports suggest that Antarctic and sub-antarctic species exhibit a generalised absence of blood-borne parasites. We have extended these studies by examining 194 thin blood smears for blood protozoa obtained from 4 species of free-living penguins from 5 sites, and have detected no blood parasites in penguins from either Antarctic (Aptenodytes forsteri, Pygoscelis adeliae) or temperate (Eudyptulaminor, Spheniscus humboldti) locations. We discuss the possible reasons for the relative scarcity of blood protozoa in wild penguins, which include biting preferences or absence of suitable vectors, host specificity of the parasites, and long periods spent at sea by most penguin species, resulting in reduced opportunity for maintenance of parasite life-cycles. Accepted: 6 July 1998     

The taxonomy of Capillaria spp. (Nematoda: Trichuroidea) in North American freshwater fishes

Summary The Capillaria spp. from North American freshwater fishes are redescribed. These are: Capillaria catastomi from Catastomus commersoni, Cyprinus carpio, Cyprinus carpio × Carassius auratus hybrid (carp × goldfish) and Coregonus clupeaformis; Capillaria salvelini from Salvelinus fontinalis, S. namaycush, Salmo salar and Oncorhynchus kisutch and Capillaria catenata from Lepomis gibbosus. A key to identification of the above is included. C. bakeri is considered a nomen dubium.     

The parasites of Anolis lizards in the northern Lesser Antilles

Summary The helminth communities from ten species of lizard on seven islands in the Caribbean were sampled by collecting one hundred specimens of each species. Nine genera of parasites were identified; these included six nematodes, two digeneans and an acanthocephalan. No relationship was discernible between parasite density or abundance and island area or altitude, although dry islands tend to have fewer species of parasites. Anolis lizards of the bimaculatus and wattsi series share similar parasites with four out of nine species common to both series. The parasite community of lizards on these islands is depauperate with respect to similar surveys on the larger islands of the Greater Antilles.On three of the islands lizards were sub-sampled by collecting from moist woodland and more xeric habitats. These data suggest that differences between habitats are as significant as differences between islands in determining parasite burdens. Worm burdens of the commonest parasite species, T. cubensis, increased monotonically with host body size and no evidence was found to suggest that these parasites affect either host survival or fecundity. The sex-ratio of this species correlated with mean abundance of the parasite, with females the dominant sex on islands or in habitats where the parasite was common. This pattern may reflect haplodiploid sexual determination in this species.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichophyton erinacei</Emphasis> Infection from a Hedgehog: A Case Report from Taiwan

Trichophyton erinacei is a fungus affecting hedgehogs. As these animals have become popular as exotic pets, human infections with this organism have been documented in many countries. In Taiwan, a 36-year-old woman developed tinea lesions at multiple sites after carrying a sick hedgehog. The animal subsequently lost its quills and died. On culture of the patient’s skin scrapings, the pathogen was identified mycologically as Trichophyton erinacei, which was confirmed by sequencing of the internal transcribed spacers of the fungal nuclear ribosomal DNA. The same fungus was isolated from the sawdust bed previously used by the diseased hedgehog. A careful contact history is important for identifying this emerging zoonosis.     

The prevalence and diversity of intestinal parasitic infections in humans and domestic animals in a rural Cambodian village

In Cambodia, intestinal parasitic infections are prevalent in humans and particularly in children. Yet, information on potentially zoonotic parasites in animal reservoir hosts is lacking. In May 2012, faecal samples from 218 humans, 94 dogs and 76 pigs were collected from 67 households in Dong village, Preah Vihear province, Cambodia. Faecal samples were examined microscopically using sodium nitrate and zinc sulphate flotation methods, the Baermann method, Koga Agar plate culture, formalin-ether concentration technique and Kato Katz technique. PCR was used to confirm hookworm, Ascaris spp., Giardia spp. and Blastocystis spp. Major gastrointestinal parasitic infections found in humans included hookworms (63.3%), Entamoeba spp. (27.1%) and Strongyloides stercoralis (24.3%). In dogs, hookworm (80.8%), Spirometra spp. (21.3%) and Strongyloides spp. (14.9%) were most commonly detected and in pigs Isospora suis (75.0%), Oesophagostomum spp. (73.7%) and Entamoeba spp. (31.6%) were found. Eleven parasite species were detected in dogs (eight helminths and three protozoa), seven of which have zoonotic potential, including hookworm, Strongyloides spp., Trichuris spp., Toxocara canis, Echinostoma spp., Giardia duodenalis and Entamoeba spp. Five of the parasite species detected in pigs also have zoonotic potential, including Ascaris spp., Trichuris spp., Capillaria spp., Balantidium coli and Entamoeba spp. Further molecular epidemiological studies will aid characterisation of parasite species and genotypes and allow further insight into the potential for zoonotic cross transmission of parasites in this community.     

Antibodies and coinfection drive variation in nematode burdens in wild mice

Coinfections with parasitic helminths and microparasites are highly common in nature and can lead to complex within-host interactions between parasite species which can cause negative health outcomes for humans, and domestic and wild animals. Many of these negative health effects worsen with increasing parasite burdens. However, even though many studies have identified several key factors that determine worm burdens across various host systems, less is known about how the immune response interacts with these factors and what the consequences are for the outcome of within-host parasite interactions. We investigated two interacting gastrointestinal parasites of wild wood mice, Heligmosomoides polygyrus (nematode) and Eimeria spp. (coccidia), in order to investigate how host demographic factors, coinfection and the host’s immune response affected parasite burdens and infection probability, and to determine what factors predict parasite-specific and total antibody levels. We found that antibody levels were the only factors that significantly influenced variation in both H. polygyrus burden and infection probability, and Eimeria spp. infection probability. Total faecal IgA was negatively associated with H. polygyrus burden and Eimeria spp. infection, whereas H. polygyrus-specific IgG1 was positively associated with H. polygyrus infection. We further found that the presence of Eimeria spp. had a negative effect on both faecal IgA and H. polygyrus-specific IgG1. Our results show that even in the context of natural demographic and immunological variation amongst individuals, we were able to decipher a role for the host humoral immune response in shaping the within-host interaction between H. polygyrus and Eimeria spp.     

Maintaining microendemic primate species along an environmental gradient – parasites as drivers for species differentiation

Understanding the drivers of species adaptations to changing environments on the one hand and the limits for hybridization on the other hand is among the hottest questions in evolutionary biology. Parasites represent one of the major selective forces driving host evolution and at least those with free‐living stages are at the same time dependent on the ecological conditions of their host's habitat. Local immunological adaptations of host species to varying parasite pressure are therefore expected and might represent the genetic basis for ecological speciation and the maintenance of recently diverged species. Madagascar provides one of the rare examples where two partially sympatric primate species (Microcebus griseorufus, M. murinus) and their hybrids, as well as an allopatric species (M. cf rufus) live in close proximity along a very steep environmental gradient ranging from southern dry spiny bush to gallery forest to evergreen eastern humid rain forest, thus mimicking the situation encountered during extensions and retreats of vegetation formations under changing climatic conditions. This system was used to study parasite infection and immune gene (MHC) adaptations to varying parasite pressure that might provide selective advantages to pure species over hybrids. Parasite burdens increased with increasing humidity. M. griseorufus, M. murinus, and their hybrids but not M. rufus shared the same MHC alleles, indicating either retention of ancestral polymorphism or recent gene flow. The hybrids had much higher prevalence of intestinal parasites than either of the parent species living under identical environmental conditions. The different representation of parasites can indicate a handicap for hybrids that maintains species identities.     

Seasonal dynamics in mosquito abundance and temperature do not influence avian malaria prevalence in the Himalayan foothills

We examined seasonal prevalence in avian haemosporidians (Plasmodium and Haemoproteus) in migrant and resident birds in western Himalaya, India. We investigated how infection with haemosporidians in avian hosts is associated with temporal changes in temperature and mosquito abundance along with host abundance and life‐history traits (body mass). Using molecular methods for parasite detection and sequencing partial cytochrome b gene, 12 Plasmodium and 27 Haemoproteus lineages were isolated. Our 1‐year study from December 2008 to December 2009 in tropical Himalayan foothills revealed a lack of seasonal variation in Plasmodium spp. prevalence in birds despite a strong correlation between mosquito abundance and temperature. The probability of infection with Plasmodium decreased with increase in temperature. Total parasite prevalence and specifically Plasmodium prevalence showed an increase with average avian body mass. In addition, total prevalence exhibited a U‐shaped relationship with avian host abundance. There was no difference in prevalence of Plasmodium spp. or Haemoproteus spp. across altitudes; parasite prevalence in high‐altitude locations was mainly driven by the seasonal migrants. One Haemoproteus lineage showed cross‐species infections between migrant and resident birds. This is the first molecular study in the tropical Himalayan bird community that emphasizes the importance of studying seasonal variation in parasite prevalence. Our study provides a basis for further evolutionary study on the epidemiology of avian malaria and spread of disease across Himalayan bird communities, which may not have been exposed to vectors and parasites throughout the year, with consequential implications to the risk of infection to naïve resident birds in high altitude.     

North‐African house martins endure greater haemosporidian infection than their European counterparts

Afro‐Palearctic migrant species are exposed to parasites at both breeding and over‐wintering grounds. The house martin Delichon urbicum is one such migratory species facing high instances of blood parasite infection. In an attempt to determine whether breeding European house martins harbour similar blood parasite communities to populations breeding in North Africa, birds were sampled at their breeding grounds in Switzerland and Algeria. Moreover, haemosporidian prevalence and parasite communities were compared to published data sets on Spanish and Dutch breeding populations. This study furthermore wanted to establish whether co‐infection with multiple genera or lineages of parasites had negative e?ects on host body condition. Breeding house martins caught in Algeria showed a higher prevalence of avian haemosporidian parasites than did European populations. Swiss house martins showed a prevalence comparable to that of Spanish and Dutch populations. There were slight differences in the haemosporidian community between European and North‐African populations in terms of composition and abundance of each lineage. Similar to the Dutch house martins, but in contrast to the Spanish population, infection status and number of genera of parasites infecting single hosts did not in?uence Swiss house martin body condition.     

Parasites of the flounder Platichthys flesus (L.) from the German Bight, North Sea, and their potential use in ecosystem monitoring

As part of integrated biological-effect monitoring, the parasite fauna of the flounder Platichthys flesus (L.) was investigated at five locations in the German Bight, with a view to using parasite species as bio-indicators. Over a period of 6 years, parasites from 30 different taxa were identified, but only 7 taxa of the parasite community occurred regularly at all locations and in sufficient abundance that they could be considered as potential indicator species. These species were the ciliophoran Trichodina spp., the copepods Acanthochondria cornuta, Lepeophtheirus pectoralis and Lernaeocera branchialis, the helminths Zoogonoides viviparus and Cucullanus heterochrous and metacercaria of an unidentified digenean species. Infection characteristics of these parasites are presented, with a comparison of the results from individual sampling periods and those of the long-term data set. Natural influences on the infection levels, such as temporal variations, habitat conditions and host-related factors, were evaluated. All of these parasite species showed significant differences in their infection levels between the Elbe estuary, as the most polluted site, and the less polluted coastal and marine locations: Helgoland, Outer Eider estuary and Spiekeroog, especially in the long-term data set. Gradual differences between the Elbe, the Outer Eider and Helgoland, which were not detected in individual sampling periods, also became evident in the pooled-data set. These were found in the prevalence of Trichodina spp., A. cornuta, Z. viviparus and C. heterochrous. Although salinity is considered as the most important natural factor, influencing the distribution pattern of the majority of the potential indicator species, infection levels of most of these species differed between locations with similar salinity conditions. Infection levels corresponded to a contamination gradient (Elbe > Inner Eider, Outer Eider > Helgoland) established across the locations. Seasonal variation in the infection parameters affected the spatial distribution of the copepod species Lepeophtheirus pectoralis and Lernaeocera branchialis. Annual variations are considered to occur in the range of natural variability, so no trend of increasing or decreasing infection levels of the parasites was found during the course of the study. This study underlined the idea that an analysis of fish-parasite fauna is very useful in ecosystem monitoring. Communicated by H. von Westerhagen, A. Diamant     

Some remarks on parasitic infections of the invasive Neogobius spp. (Pisces) in the Hungarian reaches of the Danube River, with a description of Goussia szekelyi sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae)

During a survey of the parasite fauna Neogobius spp., which only recently invaded Hungarian reaches of the Danube River upstream from Budapest, it was found that Neogobius melanostomus and N. fluviatilis had become common species. Neogobius kessleri was less frequent and the previously widespread Proterorhinus marmoratus was drastically reduced. The parasite fauna of the newcomer fish species was characterized by ubiquitous parasites of a wide host range, such as the trematode Nicolla skrjabini, the metacercariae of Metagonimus yokogawai and Apatemon cobitidis, the larval stages of the acanthocephalan Pomphorhynchus laevis and the nematode Rhaphidascaris acus, the glochidia of an Anodonta sp. (Mollusca) and the ciliophoran Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. The specific parasites of Neogobius spp. were represented by three intestinal coccidia: Eimeria daviesae, Goussia kessleri, and a new species described here as Goussia szekelyi sp. n. This survey showed that the rapid invasion of Ponto‐Caspian gobies in the northern Danube caused important changes in the fish fauna composition of the Danube River and enriched the parasite fauna of Hungarian fishes.     

The effect of an indirect anthelmintic treatment on parasites and breeding success of free-living pheasants Phasianus colchicus

In Great Britain free-living common pheasants Phasianus colchicus are often managed at high densities owing to their popularity as a quarry species. They are prone to infection by a range of parasite species including Heterakis gallinarum, Capillaria spp. and Syngamus trachea. In 1995 the efficacy of an indirect anthelmintic technique for controlling parasitic worm burdens of pheasants was determined in a pilot study on a shooting estate in the south of England. Between 2000 and 2003 a large-scale field experiment was conducted on nine estates in eastern England to determine the effect of the technique on parasite burden and pheasant breeding success. In the absence of anthelmintic treatment worm burdens increased rapidly through March and April, whereas birds given anthelmintic-treated grain had lower worm burdens during the same period. The breeding success of pheasants was significantly higher on plots provided with anthelmintic treatment, although no long-term increases in population densities were observed. The burdens of the most common parasite H. gallinarum were significantly lower in pheasants from treatment plots six weeks after the anthelmintic treatment had ceased, but spring treatment did not influence parasite burden in the following winter.     

Infestation of urban populations of the Northern white‐breasted hedgehog,Erinaceus roumanicus,by Ixodes spp. ticks in Poland

Infestation by the nest‐dwelling Ixodes hexagonus Leach and the exophilic Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus) (Ixodida: Ixodidae) on the Northern white‐breasted hedgehog, Erinaceus roumanicus (Erinaceomorpha: Erinaceidae), was investigated during a 4‐year study in residential areas of the city of Poznań, west‐central Poland. Of 341 hedgehogs, 303 (88.9%) hosted 10 061 Ixodes spp. ticks encompassing all parasitic life stages (larvae, nymphs, females). Ixodes hexagonus accounted for 73% and I. ricinus for 27% of the collected ticks. Male hedgehogs carried significantly higher tick burdens than females. Analyses of seasonal prevalence and abundance of I. hexagonus revealed relatively stable levels of infestation of all parasitic stages, with a modest summer peak in tick abundance noted only on male hosts. By contrast, I. ricinus females and nymphs peaked in spring and declined steadily thereafter in summer and autumn, whereas the less abundant larvae peaked in summer. This is the first longterm study to evaluate the seasonal dynamics of both tick species on populations of wild hedgehogs inhabiting urban residential areas.     

Ecological impacts of invading species: Do parasites of the cane toad imperil Australian frogs?

Parasite transfer to native fauna is a potentially catastrophic impact of invasive species. Introduced cane toads in Australia frequently host the nematode lungworm Rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala, which reduces viability of metamorph toads. If native frogs are vulnerable to this South American parasite, cane toad invasion may affect native species via this route; but if the native taxa are not vulnerable, we may be able to exploit the parasites for managing toads. Our laboratory experiments show that infective larvae can penetrate the body of all seven species of Australian frogs (five hylids: Cyclorana longipes, Litoria caerulea, Litoria dahlii, Litoria nasuta, Litoria rothii, one myobatrachid: Opisthodon ornatus, and one limnodynastid: Limnodynastes convexiusculus) we tested, but most did not host the adult worms at the end of the trials, and none showed major impairment of growth, survival or locomotor performance. One native tree‐frog (L. caerulea) retained high infection levels with few ill effects, suggesting that we might be able to use this taxon as a reservoir species to build up local parasite densities for toad management. However, the interspecific variation in lungworm retention suggests that generalizations about parasite effects on native frogs will be elusive.