Health evaluation of free-ranging rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocomes) in Argentina.

As part of annual colony counts in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, a health survey of rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocomes) was conducted in 1994. Forty-five birds were examined during handling procedures, and blood and fecal samples were collected for laboratory analysis. All birds appeared to be in good condition. No ecto- or endoparasites were found. Hematology, plasma chemistry, and plasma mineral levels were measured and correlated with the results of bacterial and viral serology. Antibodies against Chlamydia sp., avian adenovirus, avian encephalomyelitis virus, infectious bronchitis virus, avian reovirus, and paramyxovirus-1, -2, and -3 were found. Mean plasma chemistry and mineral values differed between individuals testing positive and negative on serologic tests. There was no serologic evidence of exposure to avian influenza virus, duck viral enteritis, infectious bursal disease, infectious laryngotracheitis, Aspergillus sp., or Salmonella pullorum. Trace amounts of endrin were found in the plasma of one bird, but all other chlorinated pesticide and polychlorinated biphenyl levels were below detectable limits.     

Dispharynx nasuta (Nematoda:Acuariidae) infection causing proventricular lesions and death in three captive rosellas (Psittaciformes:Psittacidae)

Two adult male Crimson rosellas (Platycercus elegans) and an adult female eastern rosella (Platycercus eximius) were found dead in their cages in a private aviary in March 2009, April 2010, and February 2010, respectively, without premonitory signs. Their postmortem examination showed pectoral muscle atrophy and a distended proventriculus. The proventricular mucosal surface was covered with a gelatinous, whitish material, where a large number of nematode parasites identified as Dispharynx nasuta were present. A histologic examination revealed a hyperplastic mucosa, spirurid nematodes in the mucosal layer and inflammatory mononuclear cells in the lamina propria. This is the first report of a D. nasuta infection associated with proliferative proventriculitis and subsequent death in psittacine birds.     

Development of conventional multiplex PCR method for discrimination between Dispharynx nasuta and Cheilospirura hamulosa (Nematoda: Acuariidae) parasitizing poultry

The poultry infections caused by Dispharynx nasuta and Cheilospirura hamulosa nematodes are difficult to be diagnosed by fecal examination because of their egg similarity. In this study, we analyzed DNA sequences of nuclear ribosomal 18S-ITS1-5.8S-ITS2-28S region of D. nasuta and C. hamulosa and developed conventional multiplex PCR method using species-specific primers for discriminating between the two species. The method amplified 455-bp and 319-bp fragments specific to D. nasuta and C. hamulosa, respectively, and did not produce them against the other chicken nematode species, Ascaridia galli, Oxyspirura mansoni, Heterakis gallinarum, Heterakis beramporia, and Heterakis indica, suggesting that the multiplex PCR is sensitive and available for species diagnosis.     

Trichostrongylus auriculatus n. sp. (Nematoda: Trichostrongylidae) from the steenbok, Raphicerus campestris (Thunberg, 1811)

During a pilot survey of the parasites of some artiodactylids in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park a new species of Trichostrongylus Looss, 1905 was recovered from the small intestine of a steenbok, Raphicerus campestris (Thunberg, 1811), a gemsbok, Oryx gazella (Linnaeus, 1758), and a red hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus (Pallas, 1766). The male spicules were 0,120-0,148 mm long and an ear-shaped protuberance was present on the shaft of the left spicule. The presence of only a single protuberance is characteristic of the species.     

Lactate dehydrogenase from adult Setaria digitata (Nematoda: Onchocercidae)

Lactate dehydrogenase of Setaria digitata exhibited an optimum pH of 7.0-8.0 and showed resistance to high temperature. The inhibition/activation of various anions differed in both the forward and backward directions. Filarin (a drug used in Siddha medicine) and diethylcarbamazine (DEC) inhibited pyruvate reduction rather than lactate oxidation. High pyruvate reduction:lactate oxidation at Vmax and Vmax/Km favoured pyruvate reduction in vivo. The enzyme exists as isozymes (four in the female and three in the male) and their separation depended on the percentage of gel and on pH. The mobility of the 700 X g supernatant fraction in the gel was less than that of the 10,000 X g supernatant.     

Cooperia connochaeti sp. nov. (Nematoda, Trichostrongylidae) from the blue wildebeest, Connochaetes taurinus (Burchell, 1823)

A new species of nematode. Cooperia connochaeti, was collected from cross-bred blue and black wildebeest at Krugersdorp (Transvaal), blue wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus (Burchell, 1823) from the Kruger National Park (Transvaal) and Lake Xhau (Botswana), as well as from impala Aepyceros melampus (Lichtenstein, 1812) at Malelane (Transvaal) and Pafuri (Kruger National Park). These nematodes are smaller than Cooperia pectinata Ransom, 1907, and their spicules, which are bifid in the distal third, are shorter (145-166 micron) than those of C. pectinata (240-280 micron). In addition, the lateral branches of the dorsal ray of C. connochaeti are directed ventrally and slightly anteriorly, while those of C. pectinata are directed posteriorly.     

Ultrastructural observations on the surface of Thelazia lacrymalis (Nematoda: Spirurida, Thelaziidae)

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the surface ultrastructure of female Thelazia lacrymalis obtained from naturally infected cattle. At the anterior end, the buccal capsule was cup shaped. The mouth was without lips and was surrounded by four cephalic papillae and two amphids. There were two lateral cervical papillae. Also, a single small papilla was seen on the ventral side, close to the vulvar opening. The vulva was located posterior to the end of the oesophagus and the tail carried an anal pore and a pair of phasmids near the tip. The cuticle was transversally annulated with fine striations.     

Three new Chromadoropsis species (Nematoda,Desmodoridae) from Southern Africa and the North Sea

Three new Chromadoropsis species with four pharyngeal bulbi are described from Southern Africa, Namibia (S.W.A.) and the North Sea. C. granulosus sp.nov. is described from a sandy beach near Port Elizabeth. This species is characterized by a very distinct layer of yellow granules just below the cuticle. C. namibiensis sp.nov. is described from a sandy beach at Langstrand, Namibia. This species can be distinguished by the length and shape of the gubernaculum and spicules as well as the size of the capitulum. C. longispiculosa sp.nov. is described from the North Sea and is characterized by the long spicules and the presence of numerous porids. The genus Chromadoropsis Filipjev, 1918 is revised.     

First report of Lamanema chavezi (Nematoda: Trichostrongyloidea) in llamas (Lama glama) from Argentina

Lamanema chavezi is a characteristic helminth of llamas and alpacas in Peru and Chile. However, its overall geographic range has not been well defined. This report documents the presence of L. chavezi in llamas from Argentina.     

Paracooperia horaki n. sp. (Nematoda: Trichostrongylidae) from the nyala Tragelaphus angasi Gray, 1849

A new species of Paracooperia Travassos, 1935 was found in small numbers in the small intestines of 36 out of 68 nyala Tragelaphus angasi Gray 1849 in the Mkuzi, Ndumu and Umfolozi Game Reserves, Natal. The worms, for which the name Paracooperia horaki is proposed, can be differentiated from the closely related Paracooperia devossi Boomker & Kingsley, 1984 by the absence of ridges on 1 of the branches of the spicules, the slightly longer branches of the tips of the dorsal ray and the large hemispheric knobs on the ends of the spicules. Furthermore, the branch of the spicules that bears the hook-like process is about two thirds the length of the spicule in P. devossi and almost the entire length of the spicule in P. horaki. The ovigerous females of P. horaki have 2 or 3 expanded ridges in front of the vulva that form vulvar flaps. The females without eggs resemble those of P. devossi and have only a single vulvar flap.     

First record of Cylicospirura (Cylicospirura) felineus (Chandler, 1925) Sandground, 1933 (Nematoda: Spirocercidae) from a domestic cat in South Africa

Cylicospirura (Cylicospirura) felineus (Chandler, 1925) Sandground, 1933 is reported from a cat in South Africa for the first time. The nematode was present in a gastric parasitic nodule in a male domestic cat, and three males were recovered as well as the anterior parts of three and the posterior parts of two gravid females. The heads of two specimens of undetermined sex were also found. Part of the removed parasitic nodule was processed for histopathological examination. The parasitic nodule was located in the submucosa and slightly expanded into the muscular layer. In its centre were small necrotic areas containing debris of inflammatory cells, adult nematodes and numerous bacterial colonies. Neutrophils, eosinophils, plasma cells and lymphocytes, as well as fibroblasts, were the predominant cell types. The serosal surface of the stomach remained unaffected. Some comparative morphological as well as ecological data concerning Cylicospirura (Cylicospirura) Vevers, 1922 in other feline hosts, mainly from Australia, India and North America, are included.     

The occurrence of Contracaecum sp. larvae (Nematoda: Anisakidae) in the catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell) from Lake Chivero, Zimbabwe

Clarias gariepinus were collected from Lake Chivero, Zimbabwe, and examined for nematode parasites from November 2000 to May 2002. Of the 202 specimens collected, 42.6% were infected with third-stage larvae of Contracaecum sp. in the body cavity. The intensity of the infection was 1-7 worms per fish (mean intensity = 2.2). Seasonal variation in the prevalence of the parasite was not obvious and there was no significant difference in the prevalence of infection between males and females (chi 2 = 2.228; P > 0.05). No significant relationship between host size and prevalence was established. There was also no significant relationship between intensity and the body condition factor (r = 0.11; P > 0.05). The low parasite prevalence may have been caused by the disruption of the infection cycle since piscivorous birds, which are the final hosts of the parasite, do not feed on C. garieplnus in Lake Chivero.