The effect of gastrointestinal parasitism on blood copper and hemoglobin levels in sheep

Endoparasitism is a problem in Trinidad, as it is in most tropical countries. Parasite infection has been suspected to contribute to the pathogenesis of swayback disease (which is also prevalent in Trinidad), but the mode of action has not been clearly defined, although it has been suggested that parasites interfere with the absorption of copper from the gastrointestinal tract. The objectives of the study were to assess the effect of endoparasitism on blood copper levels and hemoglobin (Hb) concentration in sheep in Trinidad. Copper was administered intramuscularly to parasite infected and noninfected animals. The results showed that parasitism has a depressing effect on blood copper and Hb levels, even when administered parenterally. It is concluded that parasitism can aggravate existing hypocupremia and possibly influence the expression of swayback disease.

The prevalence of intestinal nematodes at the Adelphi All-age school in Saint James

A cross-sectional study of these rural school children was done to determine the level of infection in the school, and the types of geohelminths present. Data was collected through the use of one hundred and sixty-six (166) close-ended questionnaires, and the analysis of one hundred and nineteen (119) stool samples, and eighty (80) blood samples. A high prevalence of 22.3 percent was demonstrated in the school's population, with prevalence in the 10-12 age group reaching a high of 44 percent. Trichuris (13.4 percent), Ascaris (8.9 percent), and eosinophilia (6.4 percent), all showed significant prevalence. However, the prevalence of Hookworm (3.6 percent), and anaemia (2.6 percent), were not significant among the group. Infection strongly correlated with the eating of chalk and marl (a type of soil, composed chiefly of clay and limestone). The source of infection was identified as two marl pits located near the school, which are obviously used for indiscriminate defaecation. The construction of more latrines at the school, school health education, and public health education were recommended, to help eradicate worms from the school.(Au)

Gastrointestinal parasitic infection in healthy Jamaican carriers of HTLV-I

A subsample (1.6 percent; n = 13,260) of a healthy Jamaican population of food-handlers, studied by Murphy et al. (1991), who were serologically positive (n = 99) or negative (n = 113) for HTLV-I was investigated for intestinal parasitic infection using coprological methods. Helminth infection included Ascaris lumbricoides (2.8 percent), Trichuris trichiura (7.1 percent) and hookworms (6.1 percent). Entamoeba coli was found in 21.8 percent of samples, while E. hartmanni, Giardia lamblia, Endolimax nana, Iodamoeba butschlii and Chilomastrix mesnili each occurred in less than 10 percent of responders. T. trichiura displayed a higher prevalence (10.6 vs 3 percent (chi 2 = 4.623;p = 0.03) in the HTLV-I negative group. G. lamblia was detected more frequently among HTLV-I carriers compared to controls (9.1 and 3.5 percent respectively), but the association was not statistically significant (chi 2 = 2.825;p = 0.09). Infection with intestinal parasites is likely to occur independent of HTLV-I status: however, possible HTLV-I-induced immunosuppression may lead to higher intensity infections of certain organisms thus facilitating easier detection using parasitological methods. The immunomodulatory potential of HTLV-I infection in the aetiology of non-malignant diseases requires further investigation. (AU)

Eosinophilic meningoencephalitis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis as the cause of death in captive non-human primates

Fatal eosinophilic meningoencephalitis due Angiostrongylus cantonensis is reported in captive non-human primates. A howler monkey (Alouatta caraya) at the Audubon park and Zoological Gardens, New Orleans,LA, died 21 days after initial clinical symptoms. A white-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar) died at the Ardastra Gardens and Zoo, Nassau, Bahamas, 17 days after onset of symptoms. Both had access to free-ranging by A.cantonensis in non-human primates in the western hemisphere. (AU)