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Cestodes of the family Anoplocephalidae parasitize a wide range of usually herbivorous hosts including e.g. rodents, ungulates, primates, elephants and hyraxes. While in some hosts, the epidemiology of the infection is well studied, information is lacking in others. In this study of mountain gorillas in the Virunga Massif, an extensive sample set comprising adult cestodes collected via necropsies, proglottids shed in feces, and finally, fecal samples from both night nests and identified individuals were analysed. Anoplocephala gorillae was the dominant cestode species detected in night nest samples and individually known gorillas, of which only 1 individual hosted a Bertiella sp. It was shown that the 2 species can be distinguished through microscopy based on egg morphology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for diagnostics of both species were provided. Sequences of mitochondrial (cox 1) and nuclear (ITS1, 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA) markers were used to evaluate the phylogenetic position of the 2 cestodes detected in mountain gorillas. Both types of fecal samples, from night nests and from identified individuals, provided comparable information about the prevalence of anoplocephalid cestodes, although the analysis of samples collected from identified gorilla individuals showed significant intra-individual fluctuation of A. gorillae egg shedding within a short period. Therefore, multiple samples should be examined to obtain reliable data for wildlife health management programmes, especially when application of anthelmintic treatment is considered. However, while A. gorillae is apparently a common symbiont of mountain gorillas, it does not seem to impair the health of its host.

Cestodes of the family Anoplocephalidae parasitize a wide range of usually herbivorous hosts including e.g. rodents, ungulates, primates, elephants and hyraxes. While in some hosts, the epidemiology of the infection is well studied, information is lacking in others. In this study of mountain gorillas in the Virunga Massif, an extensive sample set comprising adult cestodes collected via necropsies, proglottids shed in feces, and finally, fecal samples from both night nests and identified individuals were analysed. Anoplocephala gorillae was the dominant cestode species detected in night nest samples and individually known gorillas, of which only 1 individual hosted a Bertiella sp. It was shown that the 2 species can be distinguished through microscopy based on egg morphology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for diagnostics of both species were provided. Sequences of mitochondrial (cox 1) and nuclear (ITS1, 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA) markers were used to evaluate the phylogenetic position of the 2 cestodes detected in mountain gorillas. Both types of fecal samples, from night nests and from identified individuals, provided comparable information about the prevalence of anoplocephalid cestodes, although the analysis of samples collected from identified gorilla individuals showed significant intra-individual fluctuation of A. gorillae egg shedding within a short period. Therefore, multiple samples should be examined to obtain reliable data for wildlife health management programmes, especially when application of anthelmintic treatment is considered. However, while A. gorillae is apparently a common symbiont of mountain gorillas, it does not seem to impair the health of its host.

The systematic position of Quentinia mesovitellinica (Rêgo, 1967) (Cestoda, Cyclophyllidea) from the hystricomorph rodent Galea spixii (Wagler) (Caviidae) in Brazil is reevaluated based on published information. Quentinia mesovitellinica is generally thought to belong to the family Catenotaeniidae, being thus the only catenotaeniid cestode parasitizing hystricomorph rodents and also the only catenotaeniid in South America. However, the present study shows that Q. mesovitellinica differs fundamentally from Catenotaenia Janicki, 1904 sensu lato and other catenotaeniids with respect to several morphologic features, but shares these features with Monoecocestus Beddard, 1914 sensu Beveridge (1994), a genus in the family Anoplocephalidae sensu stricto (i.e. sensu Spasskii, 1951). However, Q. mesovitellinica is not assigned here to Monoecocestus, because the latter is a morphologically heterogeneous genus and will probably be split when subjected to a comprehensive phylogenetic and taxonomic analysis. Instead, Quentinia Spasskii, 1969 is considered a valid genus in the family Anoplocephalidae s. s. The morphologically closely related Monoecocestus eljefe Haverkost & Gardner, 2010 from Galea musteloides Meyen in Bolivia is assigned to Quentinia as Q. eljefe (Haverkost & Gardner, 2010) n. comb. An amended diagnosis is provided for Quentinia.

The mountain hares (Lepus timidus L., 1758) in the Faroe Islands, an archipelago located in the North Atlantic, are known to be commonly infected by tapeworms, the identity of which was unknown. The mountain hare, which now populates 15 of the 18 islands, was introduced from Norway in 1855. In this study, tapeworms collected from four mountain hares from four geographic areas of the Faroe Islands were subjected to molecular identification using the nuclear ribosomal DNA (28S), the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1) genes. The results indicate unambiguously that the tapeworms were Mosgovoyia pectinata (Goeze, 1782) (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae sensu stricto). The phylogenetic position and origin of the Faroese M. pectinata are discussed. Given that the parasite is quite common in Norway, from where the mountain hares were introduced, it is conceivable that co-introduction of M. pectinata from Norway to the Faroe Islands took place. The phylogenetic analyses revealed high similarity of the M. pectinata sequences from three regions and the position of the Faroese isolate as the sister lineage of the isolates from Finland and East Siberia.

The mountain hares (Lepus timidus L., 1758) in the Faroe Islands, an archipelago located in the North Atlantic, are known to be commonly infected by tapeworms, the identity of which was unknown. The mountain hare, which now populates 15 of the 18 islands, was introduced from Norway in 1855. In this study, tapeworms collected from four mountain hares from four geographic areas of the Faroe Islands were subjected to molecular identification using the nuclear ribosomal DNA (28S), the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1) genes. The results indicate unambiguously that the tapeworms were Mosgovoyia pectinata (Goeze, 1782) (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae sensu stricto). The phylogenetic position and origin of the Faroese M. pectinata are discussed. Given that the parasite is quite common in Norway, from where the mountain hares were introduced, it is conceivable that co-introduction of M. pectinata from Norway to the Faroe Islands took place. The phylogenetic analyses revealed high similarity of the M. pectinata sequences from three regions and the position of the Faroese isolate as the sister lineage of the isolates from Finland and East Siberia. [Display omitted] • Little has been known about parasites of mountain hares (Lepus timidus) in the Faroe Islands. • We describe the first application of molecular methods to identify tapeworms from the hares. • This is the first report of Mosgovoyia pectinata from the Faroe Islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Tapeworms of Avitellina spp. are among those gastrointestinal parasitic helminths which infect wild and domestic ruminants worldwide leading to various clinical manifestations in the ruminant hosts, thereby causing considerable economic losses in livestock production. While these worms are among the major constraints in ruminant livestock raising, there is very meagre molecular information available making their identity error-prone. This study aimed to provide insights into the genetic characterization of these economically important tapeworms. Methods: In the present study, we examined 480 guts of slaughtered goats (n = 413) and sheep (n = 67) of which 74 guts were found infected with anoplocephalid cestodes (sheep gut:18; goat gut:56). A total of 27 Avitellina lahorea worms (19 from goat and 8 from sheep) were isolated, fixed, relaxed and stained using Gower's carmine stain. For molecular analyses, the genomic DNA was extracted and fragments of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene, internal transcribed spacer1-5.8S ribosomal RNA (ITS1-5.8S rRNA) gene, and small subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene were amplified and sequenced. Results: Based on snail-shaped paruterine organs and other morphological and morphometric features, the worms were identified as Avitellina lahorea. The phylogenetic analyses, based on our original cox1 gene sequence and those available from NCBI GenBank, showed Avitellina tapeworms as a sister lineage of Thysaniezia with 14 to 17% genetic divergence. Molecular analyses of 18S rRNA gene sequences depicted the present isolate as one of the species of the genus Avitellina clustering with A. centripunctata as a separate species in the phylogenetic tree with 92% homogeneity in sequences. In conjunction with existing data of internal transcribed spacer1-5.8S rRNA (ITS1-5.8S rRNA) gene, the phylogenetic analysis placed the present isolate among the anoplocephalids as one of the species. Conclusion: The present study is the first molecular report on A. lahorea isolated from sheep and goats with the simultaneous use of a morphological approach, and certainly contributes to bridging the existing gaps in the understanding of these economically important parasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tatra chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra tatrica (Blahout 1972)) and Tatra marmot (Marmota marmota latirostris (Kratochvíl 1961)) are significant endemic subspecies of the subalpine and alpine ranges of the Tatra Mountains in Central Europe. In four studied localities in the range of their typical biotopes in Slovakia and Poland, we investigated intestinal parasites of Tatra chamois and Tatra marmots, with an emphasis on anoplocephalid tapeworms. We also studied the occurrence, species diversity, and abundance of oribatid mites as intermediate hosts thereof, and the prevalence of cysticercoid larval stages of anoplocephalid tapeworms in collected oribatids using morphological and molecular methods. Coprological analyses revealed the average positivity of Moniezia spp. in chamois faeces at 23.5% and Ctenotaenia marmotae in marmot samples at 71.1%, with significant differences between the localities under study. Morphological analyses determined the presence of cysticercoids in five oribatid species: Ceratozetes gracilis, Edwardzetes edwardsi, Scheloribates laevigatus, Trichoribates novus, and Tectocepheus velatus sarekensis. This is the first record of T. v. sarekensis as an intermediate host of anoplocephalid tapeworms, as well as the first report of Andrya cuniculi occurrence in the territory of the Tatra Mountains, confirmed also by molecular methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Due to high prevalence of anthelmintic resistance in equine helminths, selective treatment is increasingly promoted and in some countries a positive infection diagnosis is mandatory before treatment. Selective treatment is typically recommended when the number of worm eggs per gram faeces (epg) exceeds a particular threshold. In the present study we compared the semi-quantitative sedimentation/flotation method with the quantitative methods Mini-FLOTAC and FECPAKG2 in terms of precision, sensitivity, inter-rater reliability and correlation of worm egg counts to improve the choice of optimal diagnostic tools. Methods Using sedimentation/flotation (counting raw egg numbers up to 200), we investigated 1067 horse faecal samples using a modified Mini-FLOTAC approach (multiplication factor of 5 to calculate epgs from raw egg counts) and FECPAKG2 (multiplication factor of 45). Results Five independent analyses of the same faecal sample with all three methods revealed that variance was highest for the sedimentation/flotation method while there were no significant differences between methods regarding the coefficient of variance. Sedimentation/flotation detected the highest number of samples positive for strongyle and Parascaris spp. eggs, followed by Mini-FLOTAC and FECPAKG2. Regarding Anoplocephalidae, no significant difference in frequency of positive samples was observed between Mini-FLOTAC and sedimentation/flotation. Cohen’s κ values comparing individual methods with the combined result of all three methods revealed almost perfect agreement (κ ≥ 0.94) for sedimentation/flotation and strong agreement for Mini-FLOTAC (κ ≥ 0.83) for strongyles and Parascaris spp. For FECPAKG2, moderate and weak agreements were found for the detection of strongyle (κ = 0.62) and Parascaris (κ = 0.51) eggs, respectively. Despite higher sensitivity, the Mini-FLOTAC mean epg was significantly lower than that with FECPAKG2 due to samples with > 200 raw egg counts by sedimentation/flotation, while in samples with lower egg shedding epgs were higher with Mini-FLOTAC than with FECPAKG2. Conclusions For the simple detection of parasite eggs, for example, to treat foals infected with Parascaris spp., sedimentation/flotation is sufficient and more sensitive than the other two quantitative investigared in this study. Mini-FLOTAC is predicted to deliver more precise results in faecal egg count reduction tests due to higher raw egg counts. Finally, to identify animals with a strongyle epg above a certain threshold for treatment, FECPAKG2 delivered results comparable to Mini-FLOTAC. Grpahical Abstract

A new species of Mathevotaenia Akumyan, 1946 (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) is described from the Andean tuco-tuco, Ctenomys opimus Wagner 1848 (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae), collected in 1984 on the Altiplano of Bolivia. This is the second species of anoplocephalid cestode recorded from rodents of the genus Ctenomys, the first being Monoecocestus torresi Olsen 1976 from the Maule tuco-tuco, Ctenomys maulinus Philippi 1872, documented in southwestern Argentina. The new species of Mathevotaenia described here has more testes per segment than any other described species of the same genus from South America. The description of a new species from a decades-old specimen highlights the need for continuous examination of museum material as well as the need for collection of new specimens from rapidly disappearing biomes around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cestodes Ctenotaenia marmotae are a widespread parasite of Eurasian ground squirrels. Being the only valid species of its genus, it has been recorded in ten host species from the genera Marmota and Spermophilus. Its definitive hosts live in similar ecological conditions and their area covers a wide geographical territory. Therefore, it remained unclear whether C. marmotae is a single species and how high the level of its genetic variability is. The present study analyzed the variability of two mitochondrial cestode genes from four host species from geographically distant localities. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the newly obtained sequences form a species-level clade with already known sequences from the GenBank. Small genetic distances between the studied sequences indicate low intraspecific genetic variability within the C. marmotae, which may be a consequence of rapid expansion of the cestodes in ground squirrel species inhabiting the flat and mountain steppe landscapes in the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cestodes Paranoplocephala kalelai, which parasitizes in the small intestine of Myodes voles and is distributed in northern Fennoscandia, was found in six habitats in the Asian part of Russia and eastern Kazakhstan, which indicates a wider distribution of P. kalelai on the continent. Analysis of mtDNA showed that P. kalelai is characterized by significant molecular variability in Eurasia. This study complements the data on the distribution of P. kalelai and provides the first molecular data from the territory of Russia and Kazakhstan. The sequence variability of two mitochondrial genes cox1 and nad1 of P. kalelai was studied in two species of voles: gray red-backed Myodes rufocanus and northern red-backed vole Myodes rutilus. Five haplotype groups in the cox1 and nad1 gene networks were identified, and the existence of two mtDNA lines in P. kalelai outside northern Fennoscandia was confirmed. The geographical distribution of the identified haplotypes suggests that the foothills of the Altai-Sayan mountains and southern West Siberia may serve as a refugium for P. kalelai during repeated glaciations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to high prevalence of anthelmintic resistance in equine helminths, selective treatment is increasingly promoted and in some countries a positive infection diagnosis is mandatory before treatment. Selective treatment is typically recommended when the number of worm eggs per gram faeces (epg) exceeds a particular threshold. In the present study we compared the semi-quantitative sedimentation/flotation method with the quantitative methods Mini-FLOTAC and FECPAKG2 in terms of precision, sensitivity, inter-rater reliability and correlation of worm egg counts to improve the choice of optimal diagnostic tools. Methods: Using sedimentation/flotation (counting raw egg numbers up to 200), we investigated 1067 horse faecal samples using a modified Mini-FLOTAC approach (multiplication factor of 5 to calculate epgs from raw egg counts) and FECPAKG2 (multiplication factor of 45). Results: Five independent analyses of the same faecal sample with all three methods revealed that variance was highest for the sedimentation/flotation method while there were no significant differences between methods regarding the coefficient of variance. Sedimentation/flotation detected the highest number of samples positive for strongyle and Parascaris spp. eggs, followed by Mini-FLOTAC and FECPAKG2. Regarding Anoplocephalidae, no significant difference in frequency of positive samples was observed between Mini-FLOTAC and sedimentation/flotation. Cohen's κ values comparing individual methods with the combined result of all three methods revealed almost perfect agreement (κ ≥ 0.94) for sedimentation/flotation and strong agreement for Mini-FLOTAC (κ ≥ 0.83) for strongyles and Parascaris spp. For FECPAKG2, moderate and weak agreements were found for the detection of strongyle (κ = 0.62) and Parascaris (κ = 0.51) eggs, respectively. Despite higher sensitivity, the Mini-FLOTAC mean epg was significantly lower than that with FECPAKG2 due to samples with > 200 raw egg counts by sedimentation/flotation, while in samples with lower egg shedding epgs were higher with Mini-FLOTAC than with FECPAKG2. Conclusions: For the simple detection of parasite eggs, for example, to treat foals infected with Parascaris spp., sedimentation/flotation is sufficient and more sensitive than the other two quantitative investigared in this study. Mini-FLOTAC is predicted to deliver more precise results in faecal egg count reduction tests due to higher raw egg counts. Finally, to identify animals with a strongyle epg above a certain threshold for treatment, FECPAKG2 delivered results comparable to Mini-FLOTAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tatra chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra tatrica (Blahout 1972)) and Tatra marmot (Marmota marmota latirostris (Kratochvíl 1961)) are significant endemic subspecies of the subalpine and alpine ranges of the Tatra Mountains in Central Europe. In four studied localities in the range of their typical biotopes in Slovakia and Poland, we investigated intestinal parasites of Tatra chamois and Tatra marmots, with an emphasis on anoplocephalid tapeworms. We also studied the occurrence, species diversity, and abundance of oribatid mites as intermediate hosts thereof, and the prevalence of cysticercoid larval stages of anoplocephalid tapeworms in collected oribatids using morphological and molecular methods. Coprological analyses revealed the average positivity of Moniezia spp. in chamois faeces at 23.5% and Ctenotaenia marmotae in marmot samples at 71.1%, with significant differences between the localities under study. Morphological analyses determined the presence of cysticercoids in five oribatid species: Ceratozetes gracilis, Edwardzetes edwardsi, Scheloribates laevigatus, Trichoribates novus, and Tectocepheus velatus sarekensis. This is the first record of T. v. sarekensis as an intermediate host of anoplocephalid tapeworms, as well as the first report of Andrya cuniculi occurrence in the territory of the Tatra Mountains, confirmed also by molecular methods.

The present study aims at clarifying the poorly known phylogenetic relationships and systematics of cestodes of the family Davaineidae Braun, 1900 (Cyclophyllidea), primarily the genus Raillietina Fuhrmann, 1920 and of the subfamily Inermicapsiferinae (Anoplocephalidae) from mammals (mostly rodents, 31 new isolates) and birds (eight new isolates). Phylogenetic analyses are based on sequences of the large subunit ribosomal RNA gene (28S) and mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 gene (nad1). The main phylogenetic pattern emerging from the present analysis is the presence of three independent lineages within the main clade of the subfamily Davaineinae, one of which is almost entirely confined to species from rodents and the other two show a mixture of species from birds and mammals. It is suggested that the major diversification of the main clade took place in birds, possibly in galliforms. The subsequent diversification included repeated host shifts from birds to mammals and to other birds, and from rodents to other mammals, showing that colonisation of new host lineages has been the main driver in the diversification of davaineine cestodes. It is also shown that all isolates of Inermicapsifer Janicki, 1910, mainly from rodents, form a monophyletic group positioned among Raillietina spp. in the "rodent lineage", indicating that the genus Inermicapsifer is a member of the family Davaineidae. This means that the subfamily Inermicapsiferinae and the family Inermicapsiferidae should be treated as synonyms of the Davaineidae, specifically the subfamily Davaineinae. Three additional genera generally included in the Inermicapsiferinae, i.e. Metacapsifer Spasskii, 1951, Pericapsifer Spasskii, 1951 and Thysanotaenia Beddard, 1911, are also assigned here to the Davaineidae (subfamily Davaineinae). Raillietina spp. were present in all three main lineages and appeared as multiple independent sublineages from bird and mammalian hosts, verifying the non-monophyly of the genus Raillietina and suggesting a presence of multiple new species and genera.

Objective of research: Evaluation of efficacy of the new phenasal formulation based on supramolecular, nanoscale Drug Delivery Systems for anoplocephalidosis in horses. Materials and methods. Research was conducted on 60 horses, spontaneously infected with Anoplocephala spp. Animals were divided in 5 experimental and one control group, up to 10 heads in each. Horses from different groups received orally samples of supramolecular complex of phenasal with various polymers, including polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), arabinogalactan in the ratio 1: 2, and silicon dioxide in the ratio 1: 5 at a dose of 20 mg a. i. /kg. The basic preparation phenasal at a dose of 100 mg/kg was given to horses of the fifth group. Animals that did not receive the drug served as controls. The efficacy of preparations was estimated in control experiment according to the results of coproscopy using the flotation method before and 14 days after treatment. Results and discussion. 100 % efficacy of supramolecular complex of phenasal with arabinogalactan in the ratio 1: 2 at a dose of 20 mg a.i./kg and basic phenasal at a dose of 100 mg/kg was determined. Efficiency of phenasal complexes with PVP in the ratio 1: 2 and rabinogalactan in the ratio 1: 5 at a dose of 20 mg a.i./kg at a dose of 20 mg a.i./kg against anoplocephalidosis in horses was 87,2 and 80,1%, respectively.

Cestodes Ctenotaenia marmotae are a widespread parasite of Eurasian ground squirrels. Being the only valid species of its genus, it has been recorded in ten host species from the genera Marmota and Spermophilus. Its definitive hosts live in similar ecological conditions and their area covers a wide geographical territory. Therefore, it remained unclear whether C. marmotae is a single species and how high the level of its genetic variability is. The present study analyzed the variability of two mitochondrial cestode genes from four host species from geographically distant localities. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the newly obtained sequences form a species-level clade with already known sequences from the GenBank. Small genetic distances between the studied sequences indicate low intraspecific genetic variability within the C. marmotae, which may be a consequence of rapid expansion of the cestodes in ground squirrel species inhabiting the flat and mountain steppe landscapes in the past.

Cestodes Paranoplocephala kalelai, which parasitizes in the small intestine of Myodes voles and is distributed in northern Fennoscandia, was found in six habitats in the Asian part of Russia and eastern Kazakhstan, which indicates a wider distribution of P. kalelai on the continent. Analysis of mtDNA showed that P. kalelai is characterized by significant molecular variability in Eurasia. This study complements the data on the distribution of P. kalelai and provides the first molecular data from the territory of Russia and Kazakhstan. The sequence variability of two mitochondrial genes cox1 and nad1 of P. kalelai was studied in two species of voles: gray red-backed Myodes rufocanus and northern red-backed vole Myodes rutilus. Five haplotype groups in the cox1 and nad1 gene networks were identified, and the existence of two mtDNA lines in P. kalelai outside northern Fennoscandia was confirmed. The geographical distribution of the identified haplotypes suggests that the foothills of the Altai-Sayan mountains and southern West Siberia may serve as a refugium for P. kalelai during repeated glaciations.

The Italian hare (Lepus corsicanus De Winton, 1898) is endemic to central and southern Italy, where it lives in sympatry with Lepus europaeus in the mainland, while in Sicily L. europaeus is absent. The only report of endoparasites in L. corsicanus in Italy dates back to 2012. After a period of protection, the population density of the Italian hare in Sicily increased. This enabled new parasitological data to be collected on 27 hares which were compared with the data collected on 15 Sicilian hares from a previous study. Trichostrongylus retortaeformis, Paranoplocephala sp. and Cittotaenia (Mosgovoyia) sp. were isolated from the intestine. T. retortaeformis was the most prevalent and abundant parasite. Its abundance was significantly higher in males than in females. No age differences emerged. T. retortaeformis abundance was not related to low body mass and was significantly higher than that calculated from the data of the previous survey. At the same time aggregation, known as a regulatory factor of host-parasite relationship, was also higher in the present study. The possible biases introduced by sampling with different methods prevent any definitive conclusions. However, the relationship between L. corsicanus and its intestinal parasite biocoenosis appears to be stable and has possibly improved, in line with the improved status of the host population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In wildlife, endoparasite burden can be affected by host life history stage, environmental conditions, host abundance, and parasite co-infections. We tested the effects of these factors on gastrointestinal parasite infection in plains zebras (Equus quagga) in the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania, using fecal egg counts of two nematode families (Strongylidae and Ascarididae) and the presence/absence of cestode (Anoplocephalidae) eggs. We predicted higher egg counts of Strongylidae and Ascarididae, and increased likelihood of Anoplocephalidae infection in individuals (1) during energetically costly life history stages when resource allocation to immune processes may decrease and in young zebras after weaning because of increased uptake of infective stages with forage, (2) when climatic conditions facilitate survival of infective stages, (3) when large zebra aggregations increase forage contamination with infective stages, and (4) in individuals co-infected with more than one parasite group as this may indicate reduced immune competence. Strongylidae egg counts were higher, and the occurrence of Anoplocephalidae eggs was more likely in bachelors than in band stallions, whereas Ascarididae egg counts were higher in band stallions. Strongylidae and Ascarididae egg counts were not increased in lactating females. Strongylidae egg counts were higher in subadults than in foals. Regardless of sex and age, Ascarididae infections were more likely under wet conditions. Co-infections did not affect Strongylidae egg counts. Ascarididae egg counts in adult females were higher when individuals were co-infected with Anoplocephalidae. We present evidence that parasite burdens in plains zebras are affected by life history stage, environmental conditions, and co-infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 20 specimens of Tolypeutes matacus (Desmarest, 1804) from the Chaco Region in Argentina were examined. This study revealed the presence of 3 species of the genus Mathevotaenia Akumyan, 1946 (Cestoda Anoplocephalidae), two of them new for science. These species are described, illustrated, and compared with related species. Mathevotaenia chamicalensis n. sp. is characterized by having a small body with 45–65 proglottids; a globose scolex, longer than wide and well delimited from strobila; a long neck; mature and gravid proglottids longer than wide; and 20–35 testes located in a single field. Mathevotaenia yepesi n. sp. is characterized by having a small body with 86–128 proglottids; a rectangular scolex, wider than long and not well delimited from strobila; neck absent; mature and gravid proglottids wider than long; and 23–50 testes located in the medial portion of the proglottid. The finding of Mathevotaenia argentinensis Campbell et al., 2003 parasitizing T. matacus represents the first record in armadillos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about helminth parasites of the Bismarck Archipelago, in either archaeological or modern contexts. This study presents a parasitological analysis of soil samples from Early Lapita habitation layers at Kamgot (3300-3000 BP). Evidence for the presence of pigs and dogs and the timing of their arrival in Early Lapita contexts have been contested in the literature. The finding of parasite eggs in samples from Kamgot supports the presence of pigs and dogs at the site. Six types of helminth eggs were identified: pig nematode Trichuris suis , dog nematode Toxocara canis, and cestode Dipylidium caninum , as well as two unknown trematodes and a possible anoplocephalid cestode, thereby indicating the local presence of other mammals or birds. This study represents the first confirmed record of ancient helminth parasites in tropical Oceania.

Bertiella is a common parasite seen in non-human primates. It is rarely seen in humans. We present the case of a 2-year-old child with bertiellosis. He had recurrent abdominal pain, and worm fragments were found in stool, which were refractory to albendazole therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylogenetic relationships of tapeworms of the genus Moniezia Blanchard, 1891 (Cestoda, Anoplocephalidae) parasitizing the Eurasian elk Alces alces , the moose A. americanus and the reindeer/caribou Rangifer tarandus (Cervidae) were studied using DNA sequences of two mitochondrial genes ( cox1 and nad1 ). Several isolates from domestic ruminants, representing Moniezia expansa (Rudolphi, 1810) sensu lato and M. benedeni (Moniez, 1879) sensu lato, and one unidentified isolate from an African antelope, were also included in the analysis. Both genes identified the same six species of Moniezia , but interspecific phylogenetic relationships were better resolved by the nad1 data. The six species of Moniezia comprised two main clades: clade 1 that originates in bovids, with subsequent colonization of northern cervids in Eurasia, and clade 2 that originates in northern cervids, with subsequent specific divergence within these hosts. Clade 2 has a Holarctic distribution. None of the Moniezia specimens in Alces and Rangifer was conspecific with the species in domestic ruminants, suggesting that the custom of identifying Moniezia spp. in northern cervids either as M. expansa or M. benedeni is incorrect. At least two of the species parasitizing Alces and Rangifer have not been previously recognized. These findings challenge the results of all previous studies concerning the diversity and ecology of Moniezia spp. in northern cervids. The traditional classification into three subgenera ( Moniezia Blanchard, 1891 , Blanchariezia Skrjabin & Schultz, 1937 and Baeriezia Skrjabin & Schultz, 1937), based on the presence and type of interproglottidal glands, conflicts with the currently observed molecular phylogenetic relationships within the genus Moniezia . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 61 specimens of the Red-headed Spiny Lizard Sceloporus pyrocephalus Cope (Phrynosomatidae) collected during the breeding season (June/July 2003, 2004 and 2005) from Western Mexico were examined for helminths. The morphological characterization of the helminths found was made through light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Nine taxa of helminths were identified, two cestodes: Mesocestoides sp. and Oochoristica sp., and seven nematodes: Parapharyngodon ayotzinapaensis Garduño- Montes de Oca, Mata-López & León-Règagnon, 2016, Parapharyngodon tikuinii Garduño-Montes de Oca, Mata-López & León-Règagnon, 2016, Parapharyngodon sp., Physalopterinae gen. sp., Skrjabinoptera scelopori Caballero-Rodríguez, 1971, Strongyluris similis Caballero, 1938 and a new species of Thubunaea Seurat, 1914. Larvae of Mesocestoides sp. and Physalopterinae gen. sp. were found in the body cavity and digestive tract, respectively. Excluding the species of Parapharyngodon Chatterji, 1933, S. pyrocephalus is recorded for the first time as a host of the remaining seven taxa of helminths. Additionally, Thubunaea leonregagnonae sp. n. is described and illustrated as a new nematode species, parasite of S. pyrocephalus from Mexico. This new species can be differentiated from the majority of its congeners by the absence of spicules, the particular pattern of caudal papillae in males and the small ratio of oesophagus length:male total body length (0.1-0.16). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Equine Anoplocephalosis constitute a significant problem in horses worldwide. The aim of this study was to analyse intrinsic (host age and sex) and extrinsic (management type, pasture type and moisture) factors that influence the prevalence and FEC of A. perfoliata infections. Faecal samples were collected from 994 horses managed in studs or individually between 2012 and 2014. The Sedimentation-flotation method was applied for coproscopic analysis, and faecal egg counts were calculated. The overall prevalence was 25.1% (21.4–29.0) with the highest prevalence (36.1% [28.1–44.8]) found in horses 10–20 years old. The individuals kept in studs showed three times higher A. perfoliata prevalence compared to the ones managed individually. The prevalence significantly differed between pasture types, with individuals kept in studs (37.6% [34.3–40.9]) showing four times higher prevalence than horses kept individually (9.2% [4.8–16.5]). More horses kept on watery (42.0% [36.6–47.6]) and semi-watery (35.9% [31.3–40.7]) pastures were infected than those on dry (6.6% [4.6–9.2]) pastures. The overall A. perfoliata FEC in all examined individual was 2.67 and differed within sex, with mares showing 4.3 − times higher FEC of infection than stallions. Horses bred in studs (3.65 ± 0.289) showed higher FEC than these bred individually (1.28 ± 0.198). There was the effect of pasture type on A. perfoliata FEC, with horses kept on joint pastures (4.06 ± 0.29) showing higher FEC than individuals kept individually (0.88 ± 0.23). Pasture moisture significantly affected A. perfoliata FEC with the highest FECs in horses from watery pastures. Horses bred on dry pastures showed 16 times lower FEC than horses bred on watery pastures. Host age also significantly affected A. perfoliata FEC, with the oldest individuals showing the highest mean FEC. The presented analysis of intrinsic and extrinsic factors may help to overcome A. perfoliata infections in horses in different breeding systems. Understanding the role of management and pasture type risk factors that influence this parasitosis may benefit both breeders and veterinary surgeons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present data on the species composition of helminths in brown bears ( Ursus arctos) from the Murmansk Region, Russia. The absence of any information about helminths of brown bear in the region necessitated the conduct of these studies. Samples were collected in 2014 and 2015 in the southern part of the Kola Peninsula from the White Sea coastal habitats. Annually, in the study area, 1-3 bears are legally hunted and biological samples for examination are very difficult to obtain. Therefore, we used fecal samples. We studied 93 feces and identified parasite eggs identified in 43 of them by morphometric criteria. The surveys revealed eggs of the following helminths: Dicrocoelium sp., Diphyllobothrium sp., Anoplocephalidae, Capillariidae, Baylisascaris sp., Strongylida 1, and Strongylida 2. These results represent the first reconnaissance stage, which allowed characterizing the taxonomic diversity and prevalence of parasites of brown bears of the Kola Peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During a biodiversity survey of mammals and their parasites in the Beni, Bolivia in the summer of 2000, several spiny rats, Proechimys simonsi Thomas, 1900, were collected and examined for parasites. Herein we describe Lentiella lamothei n. sp. from one of these hosts. This species is can be distinguished from L. machadoi Rêgo, 1964 by having a greater total length but smaller maximum width, a greater number of segments, a smaller cirrus sac, a smaller scolex diameter, and in the eggs, a larger pyriform apparatus. In addition, we formally validate the genus Lentiella Rêgo, 1964, that had been placed in synonomy with Monoecocestus Beddard, 1914.Como parte del monitoreo de la biodiversidad de Bolivia, varias ratas espinosas (Proechimys simonsi Thomas, 1900) fueron examinadas en busca de parásitos durante el verano boreal del año 2000. En el presente trabajo se describe el céstodo Lentiella lamothei n. sp. recolectado en estos hospederos. Esta especie puede distinguirse de L. machadoi Rêgo, 1964 por tener una mayor longitud total pero menor ancho máximo, mayor número de proglótidos, bolsa del cirro más pequeña, escólex de menor diámetro, y un mayor aparato piriforme en los huevos. Además, se revalida formalmente al género Lentiella Rêgo, 1964, anteriormente sinonimizado con Monoecocestus Beddard, 1914.

Papaya latex has been demonstrated to be an efficacious anthelmintic against murine, porcine, ovine and canine nematode parasites, and even those infecting poultry, and it has some efficacy against rodent cestodes. The active ingredients of papaya latex are known to be cysteine proteinases (CPs). The experiments described in this paper indicate that CPs in papaya latex, and also those in pineapples, are highly efficacious against the equine cestode Anoplocephala perfoliatain vitro, by causing a significant reduction in motility leading to death of the worms. The susceptibility of A. perfoliata to damage by CPs was considerably greater than that of the rodent cestodes Hymenolepis diminuta and H. microstoma. Our results are the first to report anthelmintic efficacy of CPs against an economically important equine helminth. Moreover, they provide further evidence that the spectrum of activity of CPs is not restricted to nematodes and support the idea that these plant-derived enzymes can be developed into useful broad-spectrum anthelmintics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of anoplocephalid cestodes in sheep and goats in Senegal. Intestines of 462 sheep and 48 goats were examined; 47.4% of sheep and 6.2% of goats were infected. The species identified and their prevalence were, among sheep, Avitellina centripunctata 38.7%, Moniezia expansa 15.4%, Stilesia globipunctata 16.7%, and Thysaniezia ovilla 0.4%. Among goats, they were M. expansa 6.2% and T. ovilla 2.1%. The prevalence of all species was not statistically different between dry and rainy seasons. The infections were single or multiple. Indeed, 56.2% of sheep were infected by a single species, 37.4% by two species, and 6.4% by three species. For goats, 66.7% were infected by M. expansa and 33.3% by both M. expansa and T. ovilla. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observations of tapeworms show the general diagnosis characters of these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mature spermatozoon of Thysanotaenia congolensis, an intestinal parasite of black rat Rattus rattus from Cape Verde, is described by means of transmission electron microscopy. The ultrastructural organization of the sperm cell of T. congolensis follows Levron et al.'s type VII of the Eucestoda. It corresponds to a uniflagellate spermatozoon that presents crested bodies, periaxonemal sheath and intracytoplasmic walls, spiralled cortical microtubules and nucleus spiralled around the axoneme. These characteristics are also present in the spermatozoa of other inermicapsiferines and differ from the characters found in species belonging to the remaining subfamilies of anoplocephalids, namely Anoplocephalinae, Linstowiinae and Thysanosomatinae. Several authors consider the family Anoplocephalidae as a polyphyletic group, and its relationships with the Davaineidae are a matter of controversy. The phylogenetic implications of spermatological ultrastructural features present in inermicapsiferines and in the remaining anoplocephalids are discussed, and the available data on anoplocephalids are compared to similar results in davaineids in order to contribute to a better knowledge of relationships between these cyclophyllidean families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Equine tapeworm infection has gained increasing attention over the past few decades and a number of research studies have already been published. These focus primarily on the most common of the 3 tapeworm species, Anoplocephala perfoliata, although some new information has also been generated for the other two species, Anoplocephala magna and Anoplocephaloides mamillana. The preponderance of research studies have focused on development and validation of diagnostic techniques for tapeworm detection and the role of these parasites in equine gastrointestinal disease. Several diagnostic techniques have been found useful for diagnosis of A. perfoliata but each has its strengths and weaknesses. Egg counting techniques have been modified to achieve acceptable to good diagnostic performance but the trade-off is often a more time-consuming method. Validation studies indicate that these methods can reliably detect tapeworm burdens above 10 worms. Several enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) have been developed and made commercially available. These can generate useful information about tapeworm exposure on the herd level but are less reliable for individual diagnosis. Unfortunately, none of the available diagnostic techniques are useful for evaluating anthelmintic treatment efficacy. Coproantigen testing may find use as a future diagnostic modality but further characterisation is required. The large body of scientific evidence supports an association between A. perfoliata infection and certain types of equine colic, although some discrepancy exists between studies. Tapeworm surveillance and control should be considered as part of the overall parasite control strategy. When properly used, the currently available diagnostic tools can guide the veterinarian to make strategic decisions regarding tapeworm control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present molecular systematic and phylogeographic analysis is based on sequences of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) (mtDNA) and 28S ribosomal DNA and includes 59 isolates of cestodes of the genus Anoplocephaloides Baer, 1923 s. s. (Cyclophyllidea, Anoplocephalidae) from arvicoline rodents (lemmings and voles) in the Holarctic region. The emphasis is on Anoplocephaloides lemmi (Rausch 1952) parasitizing Lemmus trimucronatus and Lemmus sibiricus in the northern parts of North America and Arctic coast of Siberia, and Anoplocephaloides kontrimavichusi (Rausch 1976) parasitizing Synaptomys borealis in Alaska and British Columbia. The cox1 data, 28S data and their concatenated data all suggest that A. lemmi and A. kontrimavichusi are both non-monophyletic, each consisting of two separate, well-defined clades, that is independent species. As an example, the sister group of the clade 1 of A. lemmi, evidently representing the 'type clade' of this species, is the clade 1 of A. kontrimavichusi. For A. kontrimavichusi, it is not known which one is the type clade. There is also fairly strong evidence for the non-monophyly of Anoplocephaloides dentata (Galli-Valerio, 1905)-like species, although an earlier phylogeny suggested that this multispecies assemblage may be monophyletic. The results suggest a deep phylogenetic codivergence of Lemmus spp. and A. lemmi, primarily separating the two largely allopatric host and parasite species at the Kolyma River in east Siberia. There are also two allopatric sublineages within each main clade/species of A. lemmi and Lemmus, but the present distributions of the sublineages within the eastern L. trimucronatus and clade 1 of A. lemmi are not concordant. This discrepancy may be most parsimoniously explained by an extensive westward distributional shift of the easternmost parasite subclade. The results further suggest that the clade 1 of A. kontrimavichusi has diverged through a host shift from the precursor of L. trimucronatus to S. borealis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe Paranoplocephala yoccozi n. sp. (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) from the snow vole Chionomys nivalis in Bourg-Saint-Maurice, French Alps, compare it with several related species from rodents, and review the anoplocephalid cestodes of snow voles in Europe. Paranoplocephala yoccozi n. sp. is primarily distinguished from the related species by its large scolex of characteristic shape, robust neck region, and the structure of the cirrus sac, vitellarium and vagina. We show that the anoplocephalid cestodes of snow voles in Europe, representing the genera Anoplocephaloides and Paranoplocephala, include at least seven species. This fauna consists primarily of species that snow voles share with other voles inhabiting the high-mountain areas. Some of the species, including P. yoccozi n. sp., appear to have a very localized distribution, which is assumed to be a consequence of the historical fragmentation of snow vole populations.

With the more recent knowledge, the hypothesis by Joyeux and Baer (1929) is consulted: “... most of rarer species of tapeworms occurring in man are probably parasites of other mammals, specially of Rodentia .....“. In connection with that, the host specificity in several species from the families Hymenolepididae, Anoplocephalidae and Davaineidae is discussed. So far parasites of rodents are concerned, they are the species Rodentolepis straminea, R. fraterna, Hymenolepis diminuta, H. pseudodiminuta, H. hibernia and Inermicapsifer arvicanthidis. So far parasites of man are concerned, they are the species Rodentolepis nana, Hymenolepis flavopunctata and Inermicapsifer madagascariensis. Attention is drawn also to discrepancies in the opinions published on the views of hosts’ specificity or of zoogeographical distribution of several species from the family Davaineidae.

Paranoplocephala etholeni n. sp., parasitizing the meadow vole Microtus pennsylvanicus in Alaska and Wisconsin, USA is described. Paranoplocephala etholeni is morphologically most closely related to the Nearctic Paranoplocephala ondatrae (Rausch, 1948). Available data suggest that P. etholeni is a host-specific, locally rare species that may have a wide but sporadic geographical distribution in North America. The finding of P. ondatrae-like cestodes in Microtus spp. suggests that this poorly known species may actually be a parasite of voles rather than muskrat (type host). A tabular synopsis of all the known species of Paranoplocephala s. l. in the Holarctic region with their main morphological features is presented.