Angewandte Parasitologie最新文献

Continuous in vivo observations of the behaviour of multinucleate, multiflagellate forms of Trichomonas vaginalis have been made in a microchamber at 36 degrees C. It has been proven that these forms are initial forms of the multiplication of the parasite by cell division. Serial in vivo shots have been taken in this microchamber of the budding of a young flagellate from a multinucleate, multiflagellate form. In vivo observations have shown that these round forms are multiplicable, living cell forms of the parasite.

This paper reviews a decade of collaborative studies performed between two laboratories in Germany and Australia on the life cycle, pathogenicity and immunology of infections by the cyst-forming sporozoan parasites Sarcocystis spp. in domestic animals. Experimental transmission studies demonstrated that certain parasite species could cause an acute clinical disease in sheep and pigs severely affecting their health, productivity and reproductivity. Despite the high prevalence of infections found in farm animals, few outbreaks of naturally-occurring clinical disease have ever been recorded. Host animals exposed to low levels of infection were found to develop a strong protective immunity against subsequent lethal challenge and clinical disease even though parasites were not completely eliminated nor prevented from further establishment (premunitive immunity rather than sterile immunity). Modern molecular biological techniques are currently being used to examine the parasite antigens and host immune responses involved in the acquisition of the protective immunity.

Trichuris globulosa (Nematoda: Trichuridae) incubated in 10 micrograms/ml and 50 micrograms/ml concentrations of albendazole and fenbendazole in Tyrode's solution were stained for histoenzymic demonstration of various phosphatases and oxidoreductases. The intestine, muscles and bacillary band showed major alterations after the drug treatment. The strong reaction of the various mitochondrial enzymes and ATPase suggests a possible respiratory role of the bacillary band in this species. The most noticeable effect of these two drugs especially the higher concentrations on the intestine was the disruption of its epithelium with the release and scattering of the enzymic activity of the various enzymes such as SDH, GDH (only fenbendazole treatment), NADPH-D and NADH-D. The functional significance of these enzymes has been fully discussed.

During the pasture period in 1990 the snail species Helicella obvia, collected in a dicrocoeliosis area in the east of Brandenburg, was investigated for Dicrocoelium sporocysts. Simultaneously in adult snails the condition of albumen gland was examined. Investigations showed that Dicrocoelium infection in the snail host impairs their reproduction ability and life expectancy. The term "parasite caused sterilisation" is suggested for changes which lead to infertility in the case of parasite infection.

Two types of nematodes were found in the lungs of a Spanish cat in poor condition. One type was identified as the rather common Aelurostrongylus abstrusus. The other, although presenting slight differences in some of its measurements, had the morphologic features and the characteristic location of Oslerus rostratus, a species which apparently has not been previously reported in Europe. It is hypothesized that O. rostratus is a parasite of wild felids, the domestic cat being just an accidental host. No severe pathological changes were related to the presence of O. rostratus.

The concentration of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids in the whole worm, gut, and body musculature of Fasciola gigantica was investigated from worms collected from cattle slaughtered in the Jos abattoir. Protein accounted for the highest concentration of the constituents constituting 62.59 +/- 0.86% of the dry weight of the fluke. This was followed by lipid with 28.15 +/- 0.86% of the dry weight while carbohydrate (glycogen) was 6.29 +/- 0.11% of the dry weight. Thin-layer chromatography revealed the presence of six distinct bands of neutral lipids, namely: monoglycerides, 1,2-diglycerides, 1,3-diglycerides, free fatty acids, triglycerides and sterol esters from both whole worm homogenate and fractions of the gut and muscle tissues. In the case of phospholipids, lysophosphatidyl choline, sphingomyeline, phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl-ethanol amine were recovered. When the free fatty acids were subjected to further fractionation, palmitic, stearic, as well as oleic acids were recovered in appreciable quantities indicating that lipids are being catabolized in these trematodes.

A previous study showed amastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi in the sex organs of male mice 15 days after inoculation. The purpose of the present work was to investigate the sequelae occurring in the male reproductive system during a later phase of Chagas' disease. Depleted germinal epithelium and release of immature germ cells into the tubular lumen were observed in the testis of chronic chagasic mice. The relative weights of the epididymis, vas deferens and seminal vesicle were significantly increased. Histological examination revealed a sharp thinning of the ductal and acinar walls. The results are discussed in terms of a neuromotor disturbance leading to sperm retention.

Out of 373 buffaloes examined in different localities of Dehradun, 60.58% have been found infested with Haematopinus tuberculatus. Incidence of infestation was higher on adults than on youngs. The lice index was highest in January and lowest in June. The adults and nymphs preferred neck, back, ribs, shoulder, belly, thigh, hind, flank, head, hind legs, tail, fore legs and fore flank in this order of decreasing frequency. On the other hand eggs were found most heavily concentrated on neck and back regions.

The comparison and characterization of different populations of Trichinella has become possible through the study of their complex polypeptide profiles. Techniques such as polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and isoelectric focusing (IEF) provide a high capacity of resolution. We used both techniques to compare proteinograms of different Trichinella isolates, in order to characterize an isolate detected in a wild boar captured in Güejar-Sierra (Province of Granada, Spain).