Precision, repeatability and representative ability of faecal egg counts in Heterakis gallinarum infected chickens

This study investigated whether a precise and repeatable quantification of Heterakis gallinarum egg excretion, which considerably reflects the actual worm burdens, can be achieved based on collection of the daily total amount of faeces from chickens. Three-week-old birds (N=64) were infected with 200 embryonated eggs of H. gallinarum, and placed into individual cages 3 wk after infection for 5 wk to collect daily faeces (N=2240). The total daily faeces was mixed and a randomly taken sample per bird was analyzed to estimate the numbers of eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) and total number of eggs excreted within 24h (EPD). A total of 235 daily faecal collections were randomly selected and further examined to determine between and within sample variations of EPG counts as a measure of precision. For this, two random faecal samples were taken from the daily produced faeces by a bird, and the EPG was determined for each of the samples (EPG1 and EPG2). The second faecal sample was analyzed once more to determine a parallel EPG2 count (EPG2a) of the suspended sample. Precision of an EPG count was defined as its relative closeness to the average of two EPG counts using a relative asymmetry index (Index(EPG)). At an age of 11 wk, i.e. 8 wk p.i. the birds were slaughtered and their worm burdens were determined. There were no significant differences between EPG1 and EPG2 (P=0.764) nor between EPG2 and EPG2a (P=0.700), suggesting that the differences between or within the samples were not different from zero. Correlations between EPG counts, as between and within sample coherences, were r=0.85 and r=0.86, respectively. Precision of EPG counts, as measured by Index(EPG), was not influenced by consistency (P=0.870) and total amount of faeces (P=0.088). However, concentration of eggs in faeces (mean EPG) had a significant effect on the precision of the EPG counts (P<0.001). Similar results were also observed for the within sample precision (Index(EPG2)). A segmented regression analysis indicated an abrupt change in the precision of EPG counts as the response to changing egg concentration in the examined faecal samples. The precision of analyses remarkably heightened up to a breakpoint with an EPG count of ≤ 617. A similar breakpoint was also determined for within sample precision (EPG2 ≤ 621). Moderate repeatabilities (R=0.49) for EPG and EPD were estimated in the first week of egg excretion, whereas the estimates were higher (R=0.67-0.84) in the following weeks. Correlations between number of female worms with daily measured EPG and EPD increased to an almost constant level (r ≥ 0.70; P<0.05) in a few days after the nematode excreted eggs and predominantly remained so for the rest of the sampling period. It is concluded that mixing daily total faeces provides samples with random homogenous distribution of H. gallinarum eggs. Precision of the EPG counts increases as the egg concentration in faecal sample increases. Egg excretion of H. gallinarum, quantified either as EPG or EPD, is highly repeatable and closely correlated with the actual worm burden of birds starting as early as in 5 th wk of infection.     

Effects of dietary non-starch polysaccharides on establishment and fecundity of Heterakis gallinarum in grower layers

It was hypothesized that the establishment and fecundity of Histomonas meleagridis free Heterakis gallinarum may be affected by dietary non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs). One-day-old female layer chicks (N=670) were fed ad libitum for 11wk one of the following diets in a three-times repeated experiment: basal diet (CON), basal diet plus pea bran rich in insoluble NSP (I-NSP), basal diet plus chicory root meal as a source of inulin rich soluble NSP (S-NSP). At the end of wk three, each feeding group was subdivided into an uninfected and an infected group of birds each being inoculated with a placebo or with 200 H. meleagridis free eggs of H. gallinarum. The birds were slaughtered 8wk post infection and their worm burdens, the nematode egg excretion, caeca sizes and weights as well as intracaecal pH and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations were determined. The NSP supplemented diets and also infection led to reduced body weights (BWs) of birds and impaired the feed conversion rate (P<0.001). The NSP supplemented diets increased average length of caecum (P<0.001) with S-NSP exerting a stronger effect than I-NSP (P<0.05). Full caeca weight was increased by S-NSP (P<0.001). Feeding S-NSP lowered intracaecal pH and molar proportion of acetate and increased that of butyrate compared to CON and I-NSP (P<0.001). Caecal pool of VFA was increased with S-NSP (P<0.001). The NSP-diets elevated incidence of infection (P<0.01), average number of larvae (P<0.009) and total worm burden (P<0.001) compared to CON. The daily amount of faeces increased in NSP-fed birds (P<0.001). Number of eggs per gram of faeces (EPG), number of eggs excreted per worm population of a bird within 24h (EPD) and female worm fecundity (EPD/female worm) were elevated after feeding S-NSP (P≤0.002), whereas I-NSP led to lower EPG/female worm (P<0.05). The EPD increased in the sequence of CON相似文献   

Dirofilaria immitis: worm burden and pulmonary artery proliferation in dogs from Michigan (United States)

Despite the ability to prevent heartworm disease, infection with Dirofilaria immitis continues to be a major problem for domestic dogs. To determine worm burden in heartworm-positive dogs from three county animal shelters in the state of Michigan in the United States and to assess the relationship between gross intimal proliferation and worm burden, necropsy was done on 176 heartworm-positive dogs. Adult heartworms were found in the heart and pulmonary artery of 170 of the 176 (96.6%) dogs examined. Mean worm burden was 14 +/- 13 (range 0-85). Fifty-nine percent of dogs had < or =10 heartworms. In contrast, 52% of dogs in a published report from the southern US (Florida) had worm burdens >10 [C.H. Courtney, Q.Y. Zeng, The structure of heartworm populations in dogs and cats in Florida, in: Proceedings of the American Heartworm Symposium, 1989]. These data suggest that mean worm burden in northern areas may be < or = that in warmer areas. Also, since diagnostic tests are less sensitive with lower worm burdens, diagnosis of heartworm infection in Michigan and other surrounding more northern states may be a greater challenge than in areas with higher worm burdens.     

Population dynamics of nematode parasites of reindeer in the sub-arctic

Nematode parasite infections of semi-domestic reindeer grazing in their natural habitat in northern Finland were monitored for approximately 2 years. This was achieved by monthly faecal egg counts of male and female calves and adult females from an experimental reindeer herd, in addition to estimating the acquisition of nematode infection from pasture using tracer reindeer calves. The most abundant parasite was Ostertagia gruehneri in the worm counts of tracer animals and in faecal egg counts of adult female reindeer. Capillaria sp. eggs were detected in calves and adults, but Nematodirinae eggs were only recovered from calves. Faecal egg counts showed variations between months for each nematode species, with male and female calves shedding similar numbers of eggs. During each year, calves shed more Capillaria sp. eggs than adult female reindeer, but similar numbers of O. gruehneri eggs. Egg counts of O. gruehneri were more abundant in late summer-autumn (July-September), whereas Capillaria sp. and the Nematodirinae dominated the winter months (November-February). The seasonal trends of adult worm burdens of O. gruehneri in the tracers paralleled the egg count patterns. Capillaria sp. was not detected in tracer worm counts. Tracer worm burdens showed that the proportion of inhibited larvae of O. gruehneri and Nematodirinae steadily increased from spring to early winter, followed by a decline and a commensurate increase in the number of adult parasites in the second summer. This investigation showed that parasite transmission occurs continuously throughout the year for nematode parasites of reindeer in northern Finland.     

Development of resistance to Trichostrongylus colubriformis in goats

A high level of host resistance to Trichostrongylus colubriformis was established in a group of Saanen goats infected weekly with 10,000 infective larvae for 10 weeks, treated with an anthelmintic and then challenged twice with 50,000 larvae, with a further anthelmintic treatment 28 days after the first challenge. A second group of goats exposed only to the two challenge infections developed worm burdens intermediate between, and significantly different from, the first group and a third control group given only the second challenge infection. Nematode fecundity (eggs per female) and male:female ratios were also significantly decreased in the first two groups. Faecal egg counts and worm counts were highly correlated and this relationship was dominated by the influence of the number of eggs/female nematode. The goats were approximately 9 months old at the start of the experiment.     

Non-starch polysaccharides alter interactions between Heterakis gallinarum and Histomonas meleagridis

Nutrition of the host animal may not only influence interactions between the host and its parasites, but also relations between different parasites species residing on the same host. We investigated effects of insoluble and soluble non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) on establishment and development of Heterakis gallinarum in chicken being treated or left untreated against Histomonas meleagridis. Six groups of one-day-old birds were allocated to three diets, two on each diet. The birds were fed ad libitum either a basal diet (CON), or CON+insoluble NSP (I-NSP) or CON+soluble NSP (S-NSP) until an age of 11wk. At an age of 19d, one of each diet groups was prophylactically treated for 9d with dimetridazole (0.05%, w/v) via drinking water against histomonas. The remaining three groups were left un-treated. Two days after starting dimetridazole treatment (at 3wk), each of the 6 groups was divided into two sub-groups. One dimetridazole treated and one dimetridazole un-treated groups of birds on each diet (6 groups) were infected with 200 embryonated eggs of H. gallinarum that were previously harvested from histomonas-carrying H. gallinarum infected chickens. The remaining 6 groups of uninfected birds, either treated or left un-treated against H. meleagridis, served as controls. Worm burdens of infected birds were determined 8wk p.i. Treatment against H. meleagridis significantly increased incidence of H. gallinarum infection and average worm length in all infected groups independent of the diet consumed (p<0.001). An interaction between effects of diet and dimetridazole treatment on worm burden (p<0.001) indicated that the S-NSP diet resulted in lowest worm burden in dimetridazole un-treated birds, whereas it caused the highest worm burden in the treated birds (p<0.05). Furthermore, the treatment resulted in higher worm burdens when compared to un-treated birds on the corresponding diets (p<0.05). Infection with H. gallinarum impaired body weight (BW) of the chicks (p<0.05) and H. meleagridis aggravated this effect (p<0.05). Dimetridazole treated and un-treated uninfected birds developed similar BW (p>0.05). Both NSP supplemented diets resulted in lower (p<0.05) BW when compared with the CON diet, S-NSP being inferior to I-NSP (p<0.05). It is concluded that H. meleagridis harms the definitive host as well as H. gallinarum. Both insoluble and soluble NSP supplemented diets favor H. gallinarum infection while S-NSP additionally intensifies histomonas infection, which then impairs establishment and development of H. gallinarum.     

Does suckling offer protection to the lamb against Teladorsagia circumcincta infection?

This study tested the hypothesis that milk has a direct effect on the establishment of infection with Teladorsagia circumcincta, and provides information on the effects of suckling on resilience to infection in young lambs. Of 46 six-week-old twin-born lambs, one from each twin was allowed to continue suckling (S-) and its twin-weaned (W-) while both were concurrently infected with an average of either 0 (-0; n=7/group), 250 (-250; n=8/group) or 1000 (-1000; n=8/group) third stage infective larvae (L3) of T. circumcincta per day, providing six treatment groups. All groups grazed minimally contaminated pasture, and after 42 days were slaughtered for necropsy. Low pasture larval contamination was confirmed in W0 and S0 lambs by faecal egg counts (FEC) of less than 30 eggs per gram (EPG) and burdens of less than 140 worms. There was no difference in FEC between weaned and suckled lambs. Within infection regime, total worm burdens were 55-60% greater in the weaned compared with their suckled counterparts (P=0.05), and represented 27 and 17%, respectively, net establishment of larvae. The greater worm burdens of both groups of weaned animals, which compared with their suckled counterparts, and of those infected with 1000 compared with 250 larvae per day, were associated with shorter female adults that had fewer eggs in utero, perhaps indicating intra-worm population regulation, but highlighting the limitation of FEC in assessing nematode burdens of such young lambs. There was no effect of infection on live weight gain of either weaned or suckled groups and the possibility was raised that, in such young lambs, immune unresponsiveness may be responsible. The major benefit of continued milk consumption appears to lie more in providing nutrients for enhanced growth rather than in improving resilience of the lambs to infection.     

The role of preparation technique, culture media and incubation time for embryonation of Heterakis gallinarum eggs

The importance of preparation technique, culture media and incubation time in the embryonation of the infective egg stages of the intestinal nematode parasite Heterakis gallinarum was studied. Mature H. gallinarum worms were isolated from the caeca of infected chickens and separated by sex. In a first experiment intact female worms were kept for the development of their eggs in four different media (0.5% formalin, 2% formalin, 0.1 N sulphuric acid, 0.1% potassium dichromate) and incubated under constant temperature (20-22 degrees C) for 2, 4, 6 or 8 weeks. Afterwards the body of the worms were ruptured and the numbers of unembryonated and embryonated eggs were determined using a McMaster egg counting chamber, and the percentage of embryonated eggs was calculated. After 8 weeks of incubation in 0.5% formalin, 0.1 N sulphuric acid or 0.1% potassium dichromate 27.6%, 26.7% and 29.4% of the eggs, respectively, embryonated into third stage larvae (p > 0.05). In contrast, incubation in 2% formalin resulted in an embryonation of 18.6% only (p < 0.05). In a second experiment H. gallinarum eggs were directly harvested from worm uteri and cultivated afterwards in different media (2% formalin, 0.1 N sulphuric acid, 0.1% potassium dichromate) at 20 to 22 degrees C for 6 weeks. An incubation of isolated eggs in 2.0% formalin or 0.1% potassium dichromate during 6 weeks resulted in a significantly higher percentage of embryonation in comparison to the incubation of intact worms (first experiment). The results suggest that preparation technique, media and time of incubation has an essential influence on the development rate of H. gallinarum eggs.     

Genetic resistance to Heterakis gallinarum in two chicken layer lines following a single dose infection

Groups of White Leghorn and New Hampshire male and female chicks were reared under helminth-free conditions and divided into two groups at an age of 8 weeks. One group was artificially infected with 100 embryonated Heterakis gallinarum eggs, while the other group was kept as uninfected control. After 8 weeks all animals were harvested and worm burden was established. Maximum of 60 worms per bird randomly selected were measured for length. Body weights were recorded at 8 and 16 weeks of age. Total worm burden was significantly (P<0.0001) higher in infected males than in infected females. Furthermore, White Leghorns showed a significantly (P=0.011) higher number of worms when compared with New Hampshire animals. Average worm lengths were not significantly different between the breeds (P=0.155) and sexes (P=0.062). Correlations between worm burden and worm length was 0.08 (P=0.140). The daily weight gains between 8 and 16 weeks of age of the infected animals were significantly (P=0.038) lower when compared with the control group. There was no significant correlation between daily weight gain and worm burden. The estimated heritabilities for logarithm (ln) worm burden were 0.41 (S.E.+/-0.086) in White Leghorn and 0.31 (S.E.+/-0.126) in New Hampshire, respectively. Based on the estimated heritabilities it is possible to select for H. gallinarum resistance in both genetically distinct chicken breeds. This approach may be of importance for chickens kept in floor husbandry systems.     

Ostertagia circumcincta infection in lambs originating from larvae which survived the winter

Four worm-free lambs were grazed from May to October 1972 on a paddock carrying a low residual infection of O. circumcincta larvae whilst another group grazed a similar paddock carrying a substantial residual larval infection. On the first paddock the lambs acquired low worm burdens of mature worms passing large numbers of eggs, but in spite of this, pasture larval infection remained low. On the second paddock the lambs acquired high worm burdens, a large proportion of which were immature. On this paddock a rise in pasture larval count was observed and this reached a peak in July and August. In spite of the differences in worm burden of the two groups there was no significant difference in weight gain. The mechanism by which the differences in worm burdens may have developed as well as their implications in worm control are discussed.     

Efficacy evaluation of epsiprantel (Cestex) against Echinococcus mutilocularis in dogs and cats

Helminth-free dogs and cats were experimentally infected with protoscoleces of Echinococcus multilocularis and used in controlled trials for efficacy evaluation of the cestodicide epsiprantel. In two separate trials each 4 dogs were treated at day 20 post infection (p.i.) with average oral dosages of 5.1 (4.9-5.3) and 5.4 (5.2-5.8) mg/kg body weight (b.w.) epsiprantel, respectively, and necropsied at day 24 p.i. Among each 4 dogs of the two untreated control groups all animals were infected and had high intestinal worm burdens with averages of 33.575 and 100.725 E. multilocularis specimens per animal (individual worm burdens in group Ib 59,500-149,800, group IIb 20,500-43,200); in the two groups of treated dogs the average worm burdens were reduced by 99.6 and 99.9%. Among 8 treated dogs 4 were helminth-free, the other 4 had residual worm burdens (10-70 in 3 dogs, 1480 in 1 dog). In each 5 cats single oral treatments with average doses of 2.7 (2.7-2.8) and 5.5 (5.5-5.5) mg/kg b.w. epsiprantel were 100% effective against E. multilocularis 20 days p.i. and eliminated the worm burdens from all 10 animals. In the untreated group of 5 cats the average worm burden was 2864 per animal (individual worm burdens 20-6830). Side effects of the drug treatment were not observed. The results of the study show that in single therapeutic dosages recommended by the producer (dogs 5.5 mg, cats 2.75 mg/kg b.w.) epsiprantel eliminates E. multilocularis to over 99% or completely, but residual worm burdens may persist in some animals.     

捻转血矛线虫重组H11抗原山羊免疫保护性试验

以重组H11-1、H11-2及H11-1与H11-2混合物分别免疫山羊后,ELISA检测发现血清抗体均在首次免疫后14 d达到较高水平,在第2次免疫后10 d达到高峰。用10 000只捻转血矛线虫第3期幼虫攻击山羊后,对不同免疫组山羊排出虫卵数、虫卵孵化率和成虫数的统计分析结果表明,免疫组与对照组间差异不显著,但免疫组雌虫数显著少于对照组,这对防治捻转血矛线虫病可能会起一定的作用。     

Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Indigenous Zebu Cattle under Pastoral and Nomadic Management Systems in the Lower Plain of the Southern Highlands of Tanzania

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal nematode infections in indigenous Zebu cattle in the lower plain (lowland zone) of the southern highlands of Tanzania. Gastrointestinal tracts were randomly purchased at the Iringa regional abattoir and at Kihesa and Ipogolo slaughter slabs in different seasons of the year. The contents of the abomasum, small intestine and large intestine were processed separately to recover the worms. The results indicated that 140 out of 144 (97.2%) of the examined animals were infected. The mean (±SE) total worm burden was 1284±183 (range 10–12 600) worms per animal and most infected animals contained more than one nematode species. The nematode species present, their prevalence and mean burden were as follows: Haemonchus placei, 84.7%, 316; H. similis, 5.6%, 1; Oesophagostomum radiatum, 79.2%, 66; Cooperia pectinata, 55.6%, 713; C. punctata, 44.4%, 157; Bunostomum phlebotomum, 5.6%, 5; Trichuris globulosa, 5.6%, 2; and Trichostrongylus colubriformis, 1.4%, 24. The burdens were mainly composed of Cooperia pectinata (55.5%), Haemonchus placei (24.6%), Cooperia punctata (12.3%) and Oesophagostomum radiatum (5.1%). The highest burdens occurred at the end of the rainy/early dry season, while the lowest burdens were found at the end of the dry/early rainy season. There was no difference in the burdens between male and female animals. Immature cattle (<3 years) had significantly higher worm burdens than mature cattle (p<0.01). A poor grade for a live animal was associated with higher worm burdens only in immature cattle and then especially during the dry season (r = 0.456, p<0.001). Anthelmintic treatments in the late rainy/early dry season and early rainy season are recommended in order to prevent outbreaks of helminthosis during the dry season and to reduce carryover of infection into the next rainy season. An additional wet season treatment is advisable in immature cattle, but may not be needed for mature cattle owing to the availability of plenty of mature, good quality pasture.     

Comparison of the resistance to sympatric and allopatric isolates of Haemonchus contortus of Black Belly sheep in Guadeloupe (FWI) and of INRA 401 sheep in France

The resistance of a tropical breed of sheep towards the nematode parasite Haemonchus contortus (Hc) was compared to that of a European breed after artificial infection with the parasite following a 2 x 2 x 2 experimental design: two isolates (Hc Gua from Guadeloupe versus Hc Fra from France), two breeds each reared in their native habitats (Black Belly (BB) in Guadeloupe, FWI, INRA 401 reared in France), and two groups of lambs with differing infection status (one naive, i.e. infected for the first time during the experiment, and one primed, i.e. which had previously received doses of 5000 L3 on Days -35 and -32 before the infection during this experiment). Both groups were composed of 10 male lambs, which were 20 weeks of age when they were given a dose of 10,000 L3 of the relevant isolate on Day 0. Resistance was assessed by regular fecal egg counts (FECs) and blood samples, and worm counts were processed on Day 35 p.i. The FEC was lower in the BB than in INRA 401 lambs, lower in the primed than naive groups, and lower in Hc Fra than in Hc Gua. The eosinophil count remained unchanged in the naive INRA 401 groups, but increased in all the other groups. The hematocrit fell after infection, but the live weight was not affected by the infection. Worm burdens were 1868 and 5237 in the naive BB and INRA 401 groups, respectively, and 596 and 4835 in the primed BB and INRA 401 groups. The daily production of eggs per Hc Gua female worm was 1.5-fold that of Hc Fra. The number of worms had no effect on worm length or Hc in utero egg count in the BB sheep, but a positive and significant correlation between these two traits was seen in the INRA 401 lambs. These findings are indicative of innate resistance, and confirmed the high acquired resistance of the BB sheep to both sympatric and allopatric isolates of Hc. The regulation of worm population and fecundity differed in the BB and INRA 401 sheep.     

Egg output of Ostertagia circumcincta in sheep given single infections of varying size

The faecal egg counts of groups of sheep given 5 000, 20 000 or 40 000 infective larvae of Ostertagia circumcincta reached a peak at about 28 days after infection; the height of the peak varying directly with the number of larvae given. At 35 days the ratios of total worm burdens and the total eggs in all females amongst the groups were similar. Between 35 and 70 days post infection the faecal egg counts fell to a low level which was roughly the same regardless of the number of larvae administered. At 70 days the two groups of lambs given the two higher doses of larvae had similar worm burdens, but those given 5 000 larvae harboured about half as many. At this time the total eggs in all females was approximately the same in each group. Whatever factor, in addition to worm numbers, which may have limited egg output appeared to be ineffective until some time after the peak egg count was reached.     

The epidemiology of nematode and fluke infections in cattle in the Red River Delta in Vietnam

Over a period of 13 months, faecal samples were collected monthly from approximately 45 cattle over 3 months of age. Additionally, 74 calves of 1-2 months were sampled to determine the presence of Toxocara vitulorum eggs. Individual egg counts and infective strongyle larvae from pooled faecal samples were examined. Post-mortem worm counts were carried out on six groups of tracer calves (n=12) that had been kept for 4 weeks on pasture in and around the village studied. The following helminths were identified: T. vitulorum, Cooperia punctata, C. pectinata, C. oncophora, Oesophagostomum radiatum, Trichostrongylus axei, T. colubriformis, Haemonchus spp., Fasciola spp. and Paramphistomum spp. In 8% of the samples collected from young calves, individual egg counts for T. vitulorum were found indicative for pathogenic worm burdens. Strongyle egg counts and worm counts indicated that transmission is low without a distinct seasonality. In animals of 3-9 months old, a strongyle egg count peak can be demonstrated which at a higher age steadily and significantly decreased. In faecal cultures Cooperia spp. were most prominent in all age groups throughout the year with the exception of the period September-November when Haemonchus spp. and Oesophagostomum spp. were most prevalent. Fasciola spp. eggs were found in 22% of the collected faecal samples and the egg counts were low indicating that the intensity of Fasciola spp. infection is mild. Based on the present data, regular anthelmintic treatments seem not to be justified, except for a single treatment at the age of 2 weeks against toxocariosis.     

Field evaluation of an intravital diagnostic test of Echinococcus multilocularis infection in red foxes

Echinococcus multilocularis parasitizes the small intestine of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and other carnivores, and has a wide distribution throughout the northern hemisphere. This cestode is the causative agent of human alveolar echinococcosis, a life-threatening helminth zoonosis. In 2000-2002, 2130 red foxes were examined for its presence in Slovakia, with a total prevalence of 30.7%. The data on occurrence were obtained by the combination of necropsy of small intestines from red foxes and coproantigen detection in faecal samples. The correlation between the number of detected specimens and the value of optical density of copro-ELISA test was found. When worm burdens were low (1-25 specimens) the sensitivity of the method was 31.3+/-8.64%, when worm burdens were >50 specimens, 81.8+/-0.66%, and with high worm burdens (>1000 specimens) the sensitivity reached 100+/-0.34%. E. multilocularis presence was detected using the nested PCR method from the eggs in the faecal samples with a 100% specificity. In epidemiological surveys of this zoonosis, it is of crucial importance to detect animals with a high level of infection, which are responsible for the bulk of environmental contamination. The advantage of copro-ELISA test lies in allowing the intravital diagnostics to be employed within the epidemiological survey of E. multilocularis occurrence in the protected and urban areas.     

Prevalence of helminth parasites in free-range chickens from selected rural communities in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa

A total of 79 chickens were randomly collected from 4 rural localities and processed to detect the presence of helminth parasites and their prevalences. Sixteen helminth species comprising 12 nematode and 4 cestode species were recorded from the 4 localities. Syngamus trachea and Cyathostoma spp. were the only helminth species recovered from the respiratory tract and the rest of the helminth species were from the gastrointestinal tract. The most prevalent nematode species across the 4 localities were Heterakis gallinarum (prevalence range 80-94.4%), Gongylonema ingluvicola (43.3-867%), Tetrameres american (53.3-66.7%) and Ascaridia galli (22.2-43.8%) and for cestode species, Raillietina tetragona (16.7-40%) and Skrijabinia cesticillus (3.3-13.3%) were the most prevalent in that order. Heterakis gallinarum and T americana had the highest intensity of infection in chickens across all the rural areas compared with other helminth species. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) observed in the sex distribution for As. galli, Baruscapillaria obsignata (syn. Capillaria obsignata), Eucoleus annulatus (syn. Capillaria annulata), Eucoleus contortus (syn. Capillaria contorta) and Subulura suctoria among the 4 rural areas. However, a significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed in the intensity of infection of both males and females for H. gallinarum and T americana across the 4 localities studied. Tetrameres americana, A. galli, C. obsignata and C. annulata had prevalence and number of females higher than that of males, while H. gallinarum showed the opposite. Prevalence of H. gallinarum and T. americana as determined by faecal egg count were much lower compared with the prevalence as determined by post mortem examination, confirming the limitation of using faecal samples in determining the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites in chickens.     

Periparturient rise in faecal nematode egg counts in west African dwarf sheep in southern Ghana in the absence of arrested strongyle larvae

The nematode egg output of two groups of ewes, a pregnant test group (2-3 years of age) mated between March and April and a non-pregnant control group (5-6 years of age) was followed. The worm burdens acquired by worm-free 'tracer' lambs were also followed on the same pasture from March 1988 to February 1989. There was a significant difference (P less than 0.05) in the magnitude of the egg output in the test group compared with the control group. In the test ewes, an initial rise in egg production occurred 2 weeks after lambing and was maintained for five consecutive months. Necropsy worm counts from the 'tracer' lambs revealed that pasture larval levels were directly related to the levels of rainfall. Adult nematodes (Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Trichostrongylus axei, Haemonchus contortus, Oesophagostomum venulosum and Trichuris ovis), and some Moniezia expansa were present in almost all the lambs throughout the year, with the exception of January and February 1989. The absence of immature larvae in these lambs indicates that arrested development is not a feature of the life cycle of these species in Southern Ghana. The occurrence of a periparturient rise of nematode eggs in West African Dwarf ewes, a year-round breeder, means that susceptible lambs could be open to infection throughout the year. Control should, therefore, be conducted by treating ewes after lambing and restricting the breeding season to particular periods of the year.     

Tetrameres americana Cram (1927) populations in chickens infected with different dose levels

Three groups of 20-45 Lohman brown chickens aged 3 weeks were orally infected with doses of 25, 100 and 400 Tetrameres americana, respectively. Fifteen chickens were kept as uninfected controls. Every third week in a period of 12 weeks, 5-15 chickens were slaughtered and the proventriculi were examined for the presence of adult stages of T. americana. From day 21 post-infection, pooled feacal samples were examined for parasite eggs, whereas the weight gain of the chickens was monitored weekly. The parasite established the infection in similar rates in all the three groups, 9.5-15.2%, except on day 84 post-infection, when the establishment rate of the high-dose group was significantly lower (P < 0.005). The average worm burden increased with increasing dosages, though displaying the worm burden of the high-dose group as being roughly halved on day 84 post-infection, thus suggesting an expulsion of worms. Females were more abundant than males. The mean lengths of male and female specimens showed no significant differences between the groups. The egg output was also increased with increasing dosages with the earliest prepatent period of 38 days post-infection found in the high-dose group. Infected chickens exhibited no difference in weight gain in comparison with the controls. This study demonstrated that single infections with varying doses influenced the establishment rate and the worm burden but not the parasites egg excretion, worm size nor the weight gain and mortality of the final host.