A molecular approach for identification of paramphistomes from Africa and Asia

Paramphistomiasis is a disease of domestic and wild ruminants caused by some digenetic trematodes of the superfamily Paramphistomoidea. Human infections with certain species of paramphistomes have been reported. Given their ubiquity and their abundance within hosts, it seems likely that the importance of these worms is underestimated globally. Based on the reported difficulties of morphological identification of paramphistomes, the development of alternative approaches to better delineate species is needed. Paramphistome samples examined during this study were cercariae, rediae from snail hosts and adult flukes obtained from slaughterhouses from Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt and Nepal. The results confirm that ITS2 is a good molecular marker for paramphistome identification and can be used to determine the affiliation of samples among the different taxa of Paramphistomoidea. Our 22 samples include eight species of paramphistomes. Ten samples of paramphistome larvae (cercariae or rediae) yielded seven species and the 12 samples of adult flukes from bovines yielded four, only one of which was not also represented among the larvae. We found three cases in which the sequences for adult worms and larvae matched, thus revealing the hosts involved locally in those particular life cycles. We interpret our specimens to include five species from Kenya, two from Nepal, two from Tanzania and one from Egypt. Bulinus forskalii was found infected with three species of paramphistomes. The results of the present study will help construct a framework to facilitate identification and eventually control of this underestimated cosmopolitan group of digeneans.     

The occurrence of the avian schistosome Allobilharzia visceralis Kolákrová, Rudolfová, Hampl et Skirnisson, 2006 (Schistosomatidae) in the tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (Anatidae), from North America

Twelve tundra swans, Cygnus columbianus (Ord), from Nevada and one from New Mexico were collected and examined for schistosomes. Mature worms, determined as Allobilharzia visceralis, were found in 92% of the swans, in the inferior mesenteric vein of the large intestine and its branches. In 12 cases, there was endophlebitis of the inferior mesenteric vein. The morphology of the worms is consistent with the recently described genus Allobilharzia. Placement in this genus was confirmed also by phylogenetic analysis of nuclear 28S, 18S and, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) ribosomal DNA (rDNA), and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (CO1) sequences. Data further suggest the worms are con-specific with the European A. visceralis, the only described species of the genus and which was found to be the sister taxon to the most diverse avian schistosome genus, Trichobilharzia. This is the first report of a schistosome infection from native swans in North America.     

Mercury Concentrations in Largemouth BASS (Micropterus Salmoides) from Five South Carolina Reservoirs

Mercury concentrations in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) bass were compared among five reservoirs in South Carolina. Three of these reservoirs (Lake Russell, Lake Thurmond, and Lake Marion) are accessible to the public and two (L-Lake and Par Pond) are located on the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (SRS), which is closed to public access. Age-adjusted mercury concentrations were significantly higher in SRS bass compared to the offsite reservoirs. In addition, mercury concentrations were significantly higher in bass from Par Pond compared to L-Lake and in bass from Lakes Russell and Thurmond compared to Lake Marion. No mercury concentrations in excess of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration action level (1.0 mg?kg^?1) were found in any bass from the public-accessible reservoirs. However, the majority of fish from these reservoirs had mercury concentrations that fall into or exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency consumption category of “no more than one per week". In addition, most fish from these reservoirs had mercury levels in excess of those believed to be detrimental to sensitive avian species.     

Di-tri-octahedral smectite for the prevention of post-operative diarrhea in equids with surgical disease of the large intestine: Results of a randomized clinical trial

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a commercially available di-tri-octahedral (DTO) smectite product on clinical signs and prevalence of post-operative diarrhea in horses with colic associated with disease of the large intestine. Sixty-seven horses with surgical disease of the large intestine were randomly assigned to be treated with DTO smectite (n = 37; 0.5 kg via nasogastric intubation every 24 h for 3 days post-operatively) or a placebo (n = 30). The effect of treatment on fecal scores and clinical and hematological parameters, including heart rate, mucous membrane color, temperature, total white blood cell count, total neutrophil count and total plasma protein values, were determined.Horses treated with DTO smectite had a significant reduction in the prevalence of post-operative diarrhea (10.8%), compared with controls (41.4%). A significant improvement in mucous membrane color was observed 72 h post-operatively in horses receiving treatment, compared with placebo. Administration of DTO smectite to colic patients with disease of the large intestine reduced the occurrence of diarrhea in the early post-operative period.     

Ein Vergleich deutscher und schweizerischer Regensimulatoren nach Regenstruktur und kinetischer Energie

Comparison of German and Swiss Rainfall Simulators - Rain Structure and Kinetic Energy The drop size distributions of the investigated rain are significantly different. The rainfall simulators Swanson, Bonn, Basel and Trier culminate in the 2 - 3 mm drop diameter class (～40%) and thus simulate best the drop size distribution of natural heavy rainfall. The structure and the kinetic energy of the rains of eight rainfall simulators have been investigated. The data are compared to those registered during a thunder-shower at the research station of Mertesdorf near Trier/FRG. The results are summarized as follows:

• The impact velocity of artificial raindrops depends on the water pressure within the rainfall simulator, the initial velocity of the raindrops and the fall height. A correction factor to match the kinetic energy of natural rainfall, which is based on the percentage of deviation from the terminal velocity, can be applied only to some extend.
• With respect to various fall velocities of the artificial raindrops all tested rainfall simulators except one yield a rainfall energy between 19 and 27 J/m² per mm of rainfall.
• The actual amount of precipitation measured at the end of the rainfall experiments sometimes differs significantly from the aimed value of 60 mm/h. Due to this variation, the total rainfall energy during the experiments accumulated to 9 - 15 MJ/ha.
• This high variability depends on the used rainfall simulator. But it also demonstrates the importance of precipitation measurements on the plot during simulations in order to exactly calculate the rainfall energy.