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Microsporidia are intracellular, obligate parasites. They have wide infection range from diverse phyla of invertebrates to vertebrates and also these eukaryotic pathogens parasitize those hosts which themselves are parasites, thus revealing hyperparasitism. The present study describe intracellular pathogen microsporidia which is isolated from a nematode parasite, Ascaridia sp. which itself is a parasite of fowl, Gallus gallus domesticus. The initial detection by optical microscopy represented numerous refractive oval spores in the homogenate samples of nematodes with mean spore length and width of 4.32±0.32μm×1.57±0.26μm (N=10). Giemsa staining exhibited demarcating stages of spore development. Spores developing in sporophorous vesicle, mature spores of considerable size and shape, dividing sporonts and sporoblasts, were clearly noticeable. However, the phases of proliferation (merogony) were indistinguishable. The ultrastructural study by Scanning electron microscopy illustrated intracellular development of microspor-idian spore inside nematode tissues. Xenoma formation as well as spore adherence to the epithelial wall most likely indicated the degradation and auto-infection by the microsporidian spores in the host tissue. A spore infecting host tissue by ejecting its polar tubule was also captured. Thus, the overall study focuses on developing microsporidia as hyperparasite in nematodes, although further classification for determining the genus has been left to be explored.

Background/objectives: Ascaridia galli (Schrank) is a well-known nematode parasite of poultry birds. Heavy infection causes an economic loss to the poultry farmers. Information related to its detailed morphological and anatomical structure is inadequate. A study of ultrastructure has revealed the possibility of differentiating the nematodes. Methodology: Ascaridia galli were collected from the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus) from Lucknow, UP. Scanning electron microscopy was used for the detailed identification of Ascaridia galli. Findings: Scanning electron microscopy exposed that mouth was surrounded with three trilobed lips. Internal rim of each lip was surrounded with fine teeth, and sensory papillae on the outside. Annulations of cuticle occur on the body surface, which is further divided into subannuli. Posterior end of male was pointed and curved having a precloacal sucker and anus. Females had a blunt and straight tail with an anus at ventral side. Caudal papillae and the lateral caudal alae are the tiny outgrowths which surrounds the each side of posterior opening. A sclerotized ring bounded to precloacal sucker was present. These signs of Ascaridia galli attained in the present study could be helpful in the taxonomical studies of nematode worms. Development of control strategies is very essential by understanding the host–parasite relationships. For this purpose, identification of nematode parasite will be very useful. Novelty/ contribution: The present study was designed to understand the morphology of A. galli. Therefore, these markers could be helpful in the taxonomical status of ascaridia nematode worms in domestic fowl. Keywords: Domestic fowl; A galli; Precloacal sucker; Trilobed lips; Caudal papillae; Scanning electron microscopy

Background: The Gangetic plain of Uttar Pradesh is fertile land inhabited by second highest cattle population in India. A study was undertaken from May 2016 to March 2018 on the distribution and abundance of ticks in cattle. Methods: Data was collected from 3 organized farms, 5 Gaushalas and from local farmers. Studied animals were divided into three categories indigenous breeds (n=450), exotic (n=60) and crosses of exotic and local breeds (n=140). The prevalence of tick infestation was studied in the host cattle in the different seasons. Result: Total eight species of ticks were identified. Among the Ixodid ticks, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus was the predominant species (85.28 %) in all seasons. Significantly (p less than 0.05) higher prevalence was recorded in monsoon season as compared to other seasons. Animals aged 1 year of age (50.87%). Sex-wise, the males had higher infestation rate than the females. In the villages, Gaushalas and in unorganized dairy farms tick infestation prevalence was (45%) as compared to minimal prevalence 4% recorded from organized sector. Infestation in exotic cattle was high in fields as compared to crossbred and indigenous cattle breed. Most of the animals under farm management system were infected with single tick species. While multi species tick infestation was observed in the fields. This could be due to the management practices and timely tick treatment adopted by farms.

Objective: The current study was carried out to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of the rhizome extract of Curcuma longa as an alternative source of effective remedies for nematodiasis.Methods: The anthelmintic activity of the C. longa was assessed in vitro against Haemonchus spp., a gastrointestinal (abomasum) parasite of goats. Different concentrations of the extracts (1 mg/mL, 2.5 mg/mL, 5 mg/mL, and 10 mg/mL) in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) were tested, and the results expressed in terms of time of paralysis (minute) and time of death (minute) of the worms. Albendazole (1 mg/mL) was used as a reference (positive control) and PBS as a control group (negative control).Results: The qualitative phytochemical analysis of the methanolic extract (ME) of the plant disclosed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phenol, anthraquinone, and carbohydrates; whereas, the aqueous extract (AE) showed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrate, flavonoids, and saponins. Both ME and AE of the C. longa (rhizome) expressed significant efficacy (p≤0.05) in causing paralysis as well as the death of the worms within 12 h of exposure at all tested concentrations, as compared to the negative control. The rhizome extracts of C. longa showed dose-dependent efficacy in causing paralysis of the worm motility and the final progression to death. The results showed that the ME at 10 mg/mL was significantly more potent (p≤0.05) over the AE.Conclusions: This study concluded that the rhizome extract of C. longa exhibited potent anthelmintic efficacy against the nematode parasite, Haemonchus spp.