The ubiquity of host–parasite interactions and their potential for substantial representation, in terms of overall biomass, within ecosystems suggests that parasites have the capacity to influence energy flow within an ecosystem. Although the influence of certain parasites on prey behavior has been well documented, parasites could also exert an influence on ecosystem dynamics by influencing predator feeding behavior. The functional response of Tetragoneuria naiads was characterized by presenting naiads with varying abundances of Daphnia magna, after which a subset of the naiads were exposed to cercariae of Haematoloechus floedae, and the feeding trials repeated for both the control and exposed odonates. A type II functional response was chosen as an appropriate model for comparison. An indicator variable approach to nonlinear regression of the functional response data indicated that infected odonate naiads spent significantly more time foraging than they did before infection, whereas there was no significant change in the functional response of the control naiads. Infected odonates also had a slower rate of growth. These results imply a metabolic cost to infection of Tetragoneuria naiads by H. floedae that might be associated with the encapsulating response to the metacercariae that was observed in infected naiads.

Host associations of highly host-specific chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) across multiple avian species remains fairly undocumented in the West African country of Benin. Two hundred and seventeen bird specimens collected from multiple localities across Benin and housed at the Texas A&M University Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections were examined for lice. Lice were identified and genetic data (mitochondrial COI and nuclear EF-1α genes) were obtained and phylogenetically analyzed. In total, we found 15 host associations, 7 of which were new to science. Genetically, most lice from Benin were unique and could represent new species. Based on host associations and unique genetic lineages, we estimate we discovered a minimum of 4 and possibly as many as 8 new chewing louse species. Given the lack of current data on chewing louse species distributions in Benin, this study adds to the knowledge of host associations, geographic distribution, and genetic variability of avian chewing louse species in West Africa.

Haemonchus contortus is one of the most significant strongylid nematodes infecting small ruminants, and it causes great economic losses to the livestock industry worldwide. Accurate diagnosis of H. contortus is crucial to control strategies. Traditional microscopic examinations are the most common methods for the diagnosis of H. contortus, but they are time-consuming and inaccurate. Molecular methods based on PCR are more accurate, but need expensive machines usually only used in the laboratory. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a rapid, simple, specific, and sensitive method that has been widely used to detect viruses, bacteria, and parasites. In the present study, a LAMP method targeting ribosomal ITS-2 gene for detection of the H. contortus in goat fecal samples has been established. The established LAMP method was H. contortus specific, and the sensitivity of LAMP was the same as that of the H. contortus species-specific PCR, with the lowest DNA level detected as being 1 pg. Examination of the clinical samples indicated that the positive rate of LAMP was higher than that of PCR, but no statistical difference was observed between LAMP and PCR (χ² = 17.991, P = 0.053). In conclusion, a LAMP assay with a high specificity and a good sensitivity has been developed to detect H. contortus infection in goats. The established LAMP assay is useful for clinical diagnosis of H. contortus.

There is considerable confusion concerning the identity of macroscopic Sarcocystis species in camels. Currently 2 species, Sarcocystis cameli and Sarcocystis ippeni, are recognized from 1-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius), and sarcocysts of both species are microscopic. Here, we report the identity of macroscopic sarcocysts from the C. dromedarius in Iraq as S. cameli. Five sarcocysts from the muscle of 2 adult camels collected in 1999 and stored in 10% formalin were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Sarcocysts were 1.5–5.0 mm long and 200–400 μm wide. By TEM, all 5 sarcocysts had thin sarcocyst walls. Ultrastructurally, the sarcocyst wall had “type 9j” villar protrusions similar to those of S. cameli. This is the first confirmation of macroscopic sarcocysts from 1-humped camel as S. cameli.

This study compares the helminth faunas between Cope's gray treefrogs (Hyla chrysoscelis) and green treefrogs (Hyla cinerea), in areas where they have recently overlapped due to range expansion by H. cinerea, to determine whether or not 2 species of frogs with a high degree of similarity in many of their life history traits also exhibit similarities in the composition of their helminth assemblages. Results of this study did not find significant differences in helminth species diversity when sympatric and allopatric populations of the same species of frog were compared. There was, however, a significant difference in helminth diversity among sympatric populations of H. chrysoscelis and H. cinerea, and this difference was in large part attributable to the significantly higher abundance of the gastrointestinal nematode Cosmocercoides variabilis among H. chrysoscelis. Additional studies will be required to determine whether the observed patterns are due to differences in arrival time, perch locations within the chorus, or parasite-mediated competition.

This study presents the helminth composition and parameters of infection by several species of nematodes in teiid lizards, Ameiva ameiva ameiva (Linnaeus, 1758), Cnemidophorus cryptus Cole and Dessauer, 1993, and Kentropyx calcarata Spix, 1825 from the Brazilian Amazonian Rainforest. The population of lizards studied were parasitized by 6 species of Phylum Nemata including: Spinicauda spinicauda (Olfers, 1919), Parapharyngodon alvarengai Freitas, 1957, Physaloptera sp. (adults), Physaloptera sp. (larvae), Piratuba digiticauda Lent and Freitas, 1941, and Anisakidae (larvae). The overall prevalence was 66.17% and the mean intensity of infection was 19.40 ± 25.48. The association between the body-length of lizards and the abundance and richness of parasitic nematodes was statistically significant only in Ameiva a. ameiva. A new host record is reported here with 1 specimen of the family Anasakidae in Ameiva a. ameiva. Both S. spinicauda and Physaloptera sp. represent new records from C. cryptus.

Toxocara canis is a common intestinal nematode of young dogs. Puppies contaminate the environment with large numbers of eggs that can embryonate and become infective in less than a month. Embryonated eggs are infectious for humans and other paratenic hosts. Most T. canis infections in humans are asymptomatic; however, migration of T. canis larvae in the eye and in the central nervous system can result in vision loss, blindness, and even death. The eggs of T. canis are highly resistant to harsh environmental conditions and routinely used chemical disinfectants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of full-strength commercial bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution) treatment on development of T. canis eggs and to report our serendipitous finding that T. canis eggs in dog feces can float in passive fecal flotation tests using bleach. We also demonstrated that T. canis eggs could be identified using the McMaster's fecal eggs counting test using 100% bleach. Toxocara canis eggs collected from the feces of naturally infected 4–8 wk old puppies were treated with full-strength bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution) for 15 min, 30 min, 60 min, and 120 min; washed free of bleach smell by centrifugation; and resuspended in 0.1 N sulfuric acid solution to undergo larval development at room temperature for 18 days after exposure to bleach. Motile larvae were observed in T. canis eggs in all groups treated for 15–120 min and eggs continuously exposed to bleach for 18 days. Our results indicate that bleach may not be an appropriate disinfectant for dog kennels, cages, or laboratory utensils and work surfaces. Toxocara canis eggs are resistant to bleach treatment and continue to pose a risk for canine and human infections. Further study is needed to find the most appropriate methods for disinfection and removal of eggs to reduce the risk of transmission of this parasite.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a zoonotic pathogen and the causative agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis in humans and tick-borne fever in various kinds of animals. In the present study, a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for rapid detection of A. phagocytophilum was developed using primers specific to 16S rRNA gene of this organism. The LAMP assay was performed at 65 C for 60 min and terminated at 80 C for 10 min. The optimal reaction conditions under which no cross-reaction was observed with other closely related tick-borne parasites (Anaplasma bovis, Anaplasma ovis, Theileria luwenshuni, Babesia motasi, and Schistosoma japonicum) were established. The assay exhibited much higher sensitivity compared with conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (1 copy vs. 1,000 copies). To evaluate the applicability of the LAMP assay, 94 field samples of sheep blood were analyzed for A. phagocytophilum infection by using LAMP, nested PCR, and conventional PCR assays at the same time. A positive LAMP result was obtained from 53 (56.4%) of the 94 samples, whereas only 12 (12.8%) and 3 (3.2%) tested positive by nested and conventional PCR, respectively. In conclusion, this LAMP assay is a specific, sensitive, and rapid method for the detection of A. phagocytophilum in sheep/goats.