The impact on database searching arising from inconsistency in the nomenclature of parasitic diseases

The existing usage of disease names formed from the name of the parasite taxon is characterised by marked heterogeneity. This is largely due to the fact that, for coining disease names, four different suffixes, '-osis', '-iosis', '-asis' and '-iasis', are being used inconsistently. The result is that alternative terms are in use for naming the same disease, e.g. trypanosomosis and trypanosomiasis, fasciolosis and fascioliasis, ascariosis and ascariasis. Inspite of the SNOAPAD/SNOPAD guideline (1988) which proposed the principles of a uniform and standard disease nomenclature, the actual usage depends largely on tradition, educational imprinting and personal preferences, showing great variation. By using alternative disease names as search terms the author investigates in four databases the impact of nomenclatural heterogeneity on information storage and retrieval. It is evident that the existence of alternative disease names in parasitology markedly interferes with the efficacy of online data retrieval. The value of a disease name as a search term was shown to be greatly different in various databases. Until we have to coexist with an inconsistent disease terminology we need to adopt specially structured database-search techniques to ensure a proper level of precision in searching. Such possible techniques are considered.     

Living with transboundary animal diseases (TADs)

Since the mid 1990s the term transboundary animal disease (TAD) has become widely used for a group of major infectious diseases of livestock with important economic impact. This article explains why the term is so appropriate and examines the severe direct and indirect consequences these diseases have when they cross borders. The paper also looks at the control of TADs and how improved control and trade can take place without having to eradicate them.     

氟雷拉纳在动物寄生虫疾病控制中的应用进展

氟雷拉纳是一种新型应用于动物的驱体外寄生虫长效药,属于异噁唑啉类的广谱驱虫药,最早被使用在农业杀虫,新型的高效 GABA 控氯离子通道干扰剂,与环戊二烯类、苯基吡唑类和大环内酯类等杀虫剂的作用靶标类似。氟雷拉纳对蜱目、蚤目、虱目、半翅目和双翅目等昆虫均表现出很好的杀灭效果,并且对哺乳动物无明显的毒性影响。近年来,氟雷拉纳被国内外动物医学和农业科学学者关注,用于动物体外寄生虫病的治疗和预防。本文就氟雷拉纳国内外动物寄生虫方面的研究进展进行了分析。     

Emerging parasitic diseases of sheep

There have been changes in the emergence and inability to control of a number of sheep parasitic infections over the last decade. This review focuses on the more globally important sheep parasites, whose reported changes in epidemiology, occurrence or failure to control are becoming increasingly evident. One of the main perceived driving forces is climate change, which can have profound effects on parasite epidemiology, especially for those parasitic diseases where weather has a direct effect on the development of free-living stages. The emergence of anthelmintic-resistant strains of parasitic nematodes and the increasing reliance placed on anthelmintics for their control, can exert profound changes on the epidemiology of those nematodes causing parasitic gastroenteritis. As a consequence, the effectiveness of existing control strategies presents a major threat to sheep production in many areas around the world. The incidence of the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, is inextricably linked to high rainfall and is particularly prevalent in high rainfall years. Over the last few decades, there have also been increasing reports of other fluke associated diseases, such as dicroceliosis and paramphistomosis, in a number of western European countries, possibly introduced through animal movements, and able to establish with changing climates. External parasite infections, such as myiasis, can cause significant economic loss and presents as a major welfare problem. The range of elevated temperatures predicted by current climate change scenarios, result in an elongated blowfly season with earlier spring emergence and a higher cumulative incidence of fly strike. Additionally, legislative decisions leading to enforced changes in pesticide usage and choices have resulted in increased reports and spread of ectoparasitic infections, particularly mite, lice and tick infestations in sheep. Factors, such as dip disposal and associated environmental concerns, and, perhaps more importantly, product availability have led to a move away from more traditional methods of pesticide application, particularly dipping, to the use of injectable endectocides. This has coincided with increased reports of sheep scab and lice infestations in some countries. Reduction in the use of organophosphate dips appears to have to some extent contributed to reported increased populations of ticks and tick activity, a consequence of which is not only of significance to sheep, but also many other hosts, including increased human zoonotic risks.     

Protection tests against parasitic diseases

The development of parasite immunology during the last decade has been highly beneficial to our understanding of immune processes against parasites, and recent research has been devoted to the target antigens of effector mechanisms, especially those localized on the surfaces of the pathogens. In this context, define antigenic structures have been identified, which induced significant degree of protection. In malaria, circumsporozoite and merozoite proteins, with large repetitive sequences, have been isolated from various species of Plasmodium and cloned. Monoclonal antibodies produced against these antigens inhibited the invasion of host cells by living parasites. Some results have also been obtained in protective immunity against Leishmania and Toxoplasma. In schistosomiasis, the main characteristic of defence processes is the narrow association between cellular and humoral immunity in antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxic mechanisms. Eosinophils, macrophages, and platelets efficiently killed schistosome larvae when activated by specific antibody of anaphylactic classes, especially IgE. Some of the target antigens have been characterized and cloned. The transfer to normal animals of monoclonal antibodies, and, in one case, of an anti-idiotype antibody, has induced a significant protection against challenge infestations. Optimistic perspectives can therefore be opened concerning an efficacious immunoprophylaxis of an increasing number of parasitic diseases. An adequate conjunction between potentially protective antigens and selective immunomodulators and adjuvants should lead to vaccination. Such an aim nowadays appears as more than a hope.     

中国西南区畜禽线虫寄生虫名录(五)

本文汇集了我国西南区(四川、重庆、云南、贵州和西藏)鸡、鸭、鹅、兔、猪、山羊、绵羊、黄牛、水牛、牦牛、奶牛、马、驴、骡、犬、猫寄生的线虫，共有272个虫种、分布于27科94属。     

Genetic aspects of sheep parasitic diseases

There is evidence of genetically determined host resistance mechanisms for most of the sheep parasites evaluated. The mechanisms vary; from no or reduced establishment, early expulsion, to suppression of parasites resulting in reduced size and fecundity. There is a need to integrate breeding for parasite resistance with the genetic improvement of production traits in farm animals, aiming for optimum solutions for potentially conflicting responses. Sustainable parasite control must be based on Integrated Parasite Management utilising an interdisciplinary approach.     

大熊猫寄生虫病综述

在大熊猫的各类疾病中,虽然以消化系统、呼吸系统疾病最为常见,但这类疾病的诊断、治疗也较容易。相反,在不同饲养单位散发或暴发的各种传染性疾病给大熊猫带来了十分严重的危害,其中寄生虫病占有极其重要的位置。     

犬寄生虫病的防治

一、几种犬重要寄生虫病的诊断和治疗 （一）弓形虫病 主要症状是发热、厌食,精神萎靡,虚弱,粘膜苍白,咳嗽,有时伴有剧烈的腹泻。母犬流产或产下畸胎、死胎。     

如何加强动物免疫档案规范化管理

动物免疫档案的建立和规范化管理是确保免疫效果的重要措施.实践证明,规范免疫档案管理是发展畜牧业不可缺少的重要工作.现笔者结合工作实践,将如何强化动物免疫档案规范化管理总结如下.