Mammomonogamus laryngeus (Railliet, 1899) infection in buffaloes in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Parasites of the genus Mammomonogamus affect the respiratory tract of domestic animals. The present study was carried out to determine the presence of Mammomonogamus laryngeus infection and to analyze its lesions in infected buffaloes in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between April and November 1999. The infection rate was 30.5%. In 32 infected buffaloes, the worm pairs collected per animal did not exceed 20. The microscopic diagnosis showed intense polypoid to intramucosal proliferation at the entrance to the pharynx, to which the parasites had adhered, with foci of multifocal hydropic degeneration of the epithelium or individual degeneration of epithelial cells with mild intraepithelial inflammatory infiltrate. The submucosa revealed intense lymphocyte infiltrate extending into the salivary glands. The submucosa also showed formation of structures that resemble lymphoid follicles.     

Fiber digestibility by the orangutan (Pongo abelii): in vitro and in vivo.

Limited nutritional information exists on diets of free-ranging orangutans, Pongo abelii and P. pygmaeus. Although they are classified as frugivores, the chemical composition of their diet and their gastrointestinal anatomy suggest that they rely on fiber fermentation for a substantial portion of energy. However, the extent to which they can ferment fiber is not known. Continuous culture systems, inoculated with orangutan fecal bacteria, were established to determine the fiber-digesting capacity of orangutan hindgut microflora. The cultures received one of four treatments: soybean hulls, ground corncobs, corn starch, or no food. Neither dry matter nor neutral detergent fiber digestibilities differed significantly among treatments. However, neutral detergent fiber digestibilities were high for both the soybean hull (88.4%) and ground corncob (86.1%) treatments, indicating that the microflora had a strong fibrolytic capability. To determine whether the same fiber-degrading capacity occurred in vivo, two adult orangutans and one juvenile were fed four gel-matrix diets containing soybean hulls, ground corncobs, or ground primate biscuits. Neutral detergent fiber concentrations (dry matter basis) of the gel matrices were 52.9% with soybean hulls, 46.8% and 63.7% with ground corncobs, and 31.3% with ground primate biscuits. A fifth diet consisted of primate biscuits with 27.3% neutral detergent fiber (dry matter basis) and was considered the baseline diet. Neutral detergent fiber digestibility (74.5%) was greatest (P < 0.05) for the soybean hull gel diet and least (57.5% and 45.0%, respectively; P < 0.05) for the 63.7% neutral detergent fiber (dry matter basis) corncob gel diet and the baseline primate biscuit diet. Total volatile fatty acid concentrations in orangutan feces were not significantly different among diets; however, molar proportions of acetic, propionic, and butyric acid differed (P < 0.05) among diets. The results from both studies indicated that orangutans are capable of extensive fiber fermentation.     

Surgical repair of an atrial septal defect in a juvenile Sumatran orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus sumatraensis).

A systolic heart murmur was auscultated in a 2-yr-old female Sumatran orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus sumatraensis) with a slower than expected growth rate. Cardiac ultrasound revealed an 11-mm atrial septal defect. Cardiac catheterization confirmed the diagnosis. Surgical repair was performed during cardiopulmonary bypass using a pericardial patch. The bypass pump was primed with human albumin and donor orangutan whole blood of a compatible type. Hematuria occurred shortly after the initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass. Successful repair was immediately confirmed with transesophageal ultrasonography. The animal was extubated shortly after returning to spontaneous ventilation but had to be reintubated 4 hr later due to tachypnea and decreased SpO2. Additional extubation attempts failed, necessitating continuous positive pressure ventilation, monitoring, and intensive care environment. Thoracic radiographs suggested adult respiratory distress syndrome. The animal required 14 days of intensive care before extubation of the trachea was successful. After 4 wk of isolation, the orangutan was successfully reintroduced to its family group.     

Repeat laparotomy for the treatment of septic peritonitis in a Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus)

A 9-yr-old female Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus) presented with a 48-hr history of depression, lethargy, anorexia, and mucoid discharge from the rectum. Clinical, radiographic, and ultrasonographic examination demonstrated the presence of multiple distended loops of intestine, intestinal adhesions, and free gas within the abdomen. During exploratory laparotomy, fibrinopurulent diffuse peritonitis as a result of a ruptured intrapelvic abscess with associated large bowel adhesions was evident. The abdomen was thoroughly lavaged, necrotic debris and abscess wall removed, and fibrinous adhesions disrupted. The orangutan was kept sedated for 48 hr to allow for intensive care. Six months later, when the orangutan presented with similar clinical signs, ultrasonographic examination demonstrated the presence of a pelvic abscess. The previous procedure was repeated with the addition of a hysterectomy. This report is the first documentation of long-term management following surgical intervention for internal abdominal abscessation and septic peritonitis in a great ape.     

Nerve fibre tracing of branches to the coracobrachialis muscle in a Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus)

A detailed anatomical analysis of the left brachial plexus, composed of the fourth cervical to first thoracic spinal nerve roots, was performed in an adult male orangutan obtained from the Osaka Museum of Natural History. Although the medial and posterior cords fused into a common trunk, a nerve fibre analysis revealed that the cords were not actually connected. A superficial branch (Rs) running ventral to the musculocutaneous nerve (MC) and a deep branch (Rp) running dorsal to the MC innervated the coracobrachialis muscle, which was also innervated by coracobrachialis branches (Rmc) from the MC. Koizumi (1989: Acta Anat. Nippon, 64, 18) reported that the Rmc and Rs innervated the superficial region of the coracobrachialis muscle corresponding to superficial coracobrachialis muscle in prosimians, whereas the Rp innervated the deep region. However, the detailed innervation of the coracobrachialis muscle in orangutans was not included in Koizumi and Sakai's (1995: J. Anat. 186, 395) report. Our observations in an orangutan did not seem to support generalisation, because the common trunk of the Rp and Rmc appeared to innervate both the superficial and deep regions of the coracobrachialis muscle. Therefore, a nerve fibre analysis of the common trunk was performed as a detailed examination. The analysis confirmed that the Rp in the orangutan only innervated the deep region of the coracobrachialis muscle, similar to the innervation pattern seen in other apes and humans.     

Further study of Codiostomum struthionis (Horst, 1885) Railliet and Henry, 1911 (Nematoda, Strongylidae) parasite of ostriches (Struthio camelus Linnaeus, 1758) (Aves, Struthioniformes)

Codiostomum struthionis is a nematode parasite of the ostrich caecum. Little is known about its pathology, being considered by many authors as a non-pathogenic parasite. Infections by C. struthionis are sometimes overlooked because its eggs are indistinguishable from another ostrich nematode, Libyostrongylus spp. Fecal cultures and infective larvae identification are necessary for proper identification. The aim of this study is to provide improved morphological characterization of adults and infective larvae of C. struthionis. Ten caeca of adult ostriches were collected and washed in 0.09% saline solution. Male and female nematodes were collected and quantified separately. Nematodes were fixed in A.F.A. for optical microscopy or fixed in Karnovsky solution for scanning electron microscopy. To obtain infective larvae, fecal samples were collected at sites of high concentration of parasites in the caeca and fecal cultured. The resultant larvae were identified and measured with light microscope at 400x. Nine of the 10 slaughtered ostriches were parasitized by C. struthionis. All nematodes were found in the distal third of the caeca. A total of 566 parasites were recovered (234 males and 332 females). All the cultured larvae had characteristics of C. struthionis (rounded cephalic region with a flat extremity, an acute larvae tail termination and a long and filamentous sheath tail). All the adult parasites were characterized as C. struthionis. Through the analysis of the infective larvae it was determined that the morphology of the larvae tail was the best trait to use in the distinction of this species (live bird diagnosis).     

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 identification of Sarcocystis tenella (Railliet, 1886) Moulé, 1886 (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) by PCR in naturally infected sheep from Brazil

Sarcocystis tenella is a dog–sheep protozoan parasite, causing a widespread enzootic muscle parasitosis and neurological disease mainly in lambs. This parasite is pathogenic to sheep and important to the economical production of sheep. The present study was initially aimed to determine Toxoplasma gondii infection and the occurrence of co-infection with other Apicomplexa parasites in 602 Brazilian sheep. Twenty of these sheep were positive with antibodies to T. gondii by MAT and IFAT-IgG tests, positive with PCR-RFLP genotyping at multiple loci, and parasites were isolated from mice infected with sheep tissue samples. Two additional sheep born in Brazil, a 2-year-old female Polwarth (Ideal) sheep, a breed originated from Australia (#1), and a 1-year-old male Corriedale sheep, a breed originated from New Zealand and Australia (#2) were positive to T. gondii antibodies by serum tests, and PCR, but negative for bioassay in mice. In genotyping at 12 loci, sheep #1 sample and #2 presented positive results only for some markers. PCR-RFLP of 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) was performed in all 22 animals to identify the possibility of co-infection of T. gondii with other Apicomplexa parasites, such as S. tenella, Neospora caninum and Hammondia hammondi, resulting in a T. gondii profile for the first 20 animals and a unique genotyping profile for sheep #1 and #2, identical to S. tenella. The 18S rRNA PCR products (310 bp) were sequenced and blasted to GenBank database at NCBI. Both samples were identical to S. tenella 18S rRNA gene (GenBank accession number L24383-1). These results suggest the existence of co-infection of S. tenella with T. gondii in ewes from Brazil.     

Syphacia (Syphacia) maxomyos sp. n. (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) from Maxomys spp. (Rodentia: Muridae) from Sulawesi and Sumatra,Indonesia

The present report describes Syphacia (Syphacia) maxomyos sp. n. (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) from two species of spiny rats, Maxomys musschenbroekii from Sulawesi and M. whiteheadi from Sumatra. It is characterized by a cephalic plate extending laterally with dorsoventral constriction and stumpy eggs with an operculum rim reaching pole. It is readily distinguishable by the former feature from all of hitherto known representatives of this genus in Indonesia, but it resembles parasites in Murini and Hydromyni rodents in continental Asia and Sahul. This is the first Syphacia species distributed in both the Sunda Shelf and Sulawesi with the exception of Syphacia muris, a cosmopolitan pinworm found in rodents of the of genus Rattus. It is surmised that S. maxomyos is specific to Maxomys and that it was introduced to Sulawesi by dispersal of some Maxomys from the Sunda Shelf.     

Molecular species identification and population genetics of chondrichthyans in South Africa: current challenges,priorities and progress

Molecular genetic techniques, such as DNA barcoding and genotyping, are increasingly being used to assist with the conservation and management of chondrichthyans worldwide. Southern Africa is a shark biodiversity hotspot, with a large number of endemic species. According to the IUCN Red List, a quarter of South Africa's chondrichthyans are threatened with extinction. South Africa's commercial shark fisheries have increased over the last decade and there is a need to ensure sustainable utilisation and conservation of this fisheries resource. Here, we give an overview of the molecular techniques that are used to assist in the identification of species, cryptic speciation and possible interspecific hybridisation, as well as the assessment of population structure and reproductive behaviour of endemic and commercially important chondrichthyan species of southern Africa. We discuss the potential application of these techniques for management and conservation of several species affected by South African fisheries. Acquiring baseline barcode data of all chondrichthyans in southern African waters and assessing the population structure of exploited species on a local and greater regional scale are recommended as research priorities. Future prospects should also include high-throughput molecular marker development and investigation of intraspecies functional variation using next generation sequencing technology.     

Neothada hades N.sp. from South Africa,with notes on the genus and a key to the species (Nematoda: Tylenchidae)

Neothada hades n.sp. from South Africa is characterized by the posession of small but distinct stylet knobs, 149-175 body annules intersected by 14 longitudinal lines (incisures), protruding lateral fields marked by four incisures, and an elongate-conoid tail with bluntly rounded tip. Reasons are given why N. canceilata (Thorne 1941) and N. tatra (Thome & Malek 1968) are regarded as two distinct species, and why N. canceilata apud Andrassy, 1982 is regarded as distinct from Thome’s species. Andrassy’s species is renamed N. andrassyi n.sp. A key is presented for the six recognized species of Neothada.     

A new species of Parapharyngodon (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) and other helminths in Typhlosaurus lineatus (Squamata: Scincidae), from southern Africa

Parapharyngodon baueri n. sp. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) from the large intestine of the legless skink, Typhlosaurus lineatus, is described and illustrated. Parapharyngodon baueri is the 42nd species assigned to the genus and differs from other species in the genus by possessing four pairs of caudal papillae, no cloacal lip adornment, and a sharply pointed spicule of 79-98 microm. The cestode, Oochoristica truncata, the nematode, Thubunaea fitzsimonsi, third-stage nematode larvae and acanthocephalan cystacanths were also present.     

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.     

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.     

Failure to detect Salmonella species in a population of wild tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus)

AIM: To assess the prevalence of faecal excretion of Salmonella serovars by wild tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) on Stephens Island, New Zealand. METHODS: One hundred cloacal swabs obtained as part of health-screening for the translocation of adult tuatara from Stephens Island were subjected to general aerobic culture and enrichment, and cultured specifically for Salmonella spp. RESULTS: No Salmonella spp were cultured from any of the cloacal samples, which suggests that, at the 95% confidence interval, the maximum prevalence of tuatara in the island population that were shedding Salmonella spp not detected by our sample size was 1.5%. Mixed bacteria were grown from the 70 cloacal swabs cultured aerobically. A predominant organism was evident in 30 cultures, and these were identified as Hafnia alvei type 1 (n=16) and type 2 (n=7), Corynebacterium spp (n=4), Klebsiella oxytoca (n=2), and Moraxella spp (n=1). CONCLUSIONS: The absence of intestinal carriage of Salmonella spp by the tuatara sampled in this study may indicate either lack of exposure, or an innate resistance to intestinal colonisation in tuatara. The significance of the other bacteria cultured as potential pathogens to the tuatara and as zoonotic risks is also uncertain. Wildlife managers should screen translocated reptiles for Salmonella spp, and thereby avoid exposing wild and managed populations to infection.