ABSTRACT
Coprolites of the seal Pachyphoca volkodavi from the Upper Miocene deposits (Kherson) of the Fortepyanka locality (Republic of Adygea) were studied. Two out of five seal coprolites contained a structure resembling fish muscle tissue and included objects with morphology of trematode metacercariae. Obviously, the larvae of the parasite got into the digestive tract of seals from the fish they ate. Microscopic analysis of the coprolites did not reveal helminth eggs, which indicates possible absence of infection.
Subject(s)
Fish Diseases , Seals, Earless , Trematoda , Trematode Infections , Animals , Metacercariae , Fishes/parasitology , Larva , Trematode Infections/parasitologyABSTRACT
Coprolites of the hyena Pachycrocuta brevirostris from the Lower Pleistocene (Upper Villafranchian) of Taurida Cave (Crimea) were studied. One of the three hyena coprolites contained helminth eggs. These eggs were assigned to Toxocara sp. based on their size and morphology. Toxocariasis was evidently a very common infestation among extinct hyena species. The find of toxocara in P. brevirostris coprolite from the Taurida Cave is the earliest evidence of roundworm infestation in P. brevirostris.
Subject(s)
Hyaenidae , Toxocara , Animals , Caves , FossilsABSTRACT
The article presents the findings of the paleoparasitological analysis of coprolites from the cave bear (Ursus kanivetz Vereshchagin, 1973). The material for research was obtained during excavations in the Ignatievskaya Cave (Southern Urals, Russia; 54°53' N 57°46' E). The deposits with coprolites date back to the middle of the Late Pleistocene (90 000-30 000 years ago). On the basis of the paleoparasitological analysis, eggs of the nematode characteristic of representatives of Ursidae, namely, Baylisascaris transfuga Rudolphi, 1819, have been established to be present in the coprolites. The eggs are well preserved and have not lost their morphological features. The large cave bear was infested by the nematode B. transfuga. This is the first find of the nematode B. transfuga in Pleistocene-aged sediments and the first find of parasites in coprolites of the cave bear.
Subject(s)
Ascaridoidea , Ursidae , Animals , RussiaABSTRACT
The intraabdominal administration of somatic extracts of the cestodes Hydatigera taeniaformis Batsch 1786, Lamarck, 1816 and Diphyllobothrium latum Linnaeus, 1758 and the nematodes Anisakis simplex larva Rudolphi 1809, Toxocara canis Railliet et Henry, 1912 in albino mice proved that these helminths had a karyopathic effect on the bone marrow cells of the animals. The antigenic composition of these extracts was investigated using the agar gel immunodiffusion test. The antigenic composition of the parasites was ascertained to affect their karyopathic properties. The amount of antigens and their foreignness caused a marked karyopathic effect on the bone marrow cells of laboratory animals during intraabdominal administration.
Subject(s)
Anisakis/chemistry , Antigens, Helminth/pharmacology , Bone Marrow Cells/drug effects , Diphyllobothrium/chemistry , Mitosis/drug effects , Toxocara canis/chemistry , Animals , Antigens, Helminth/isolation & purification , Bone Marrow Cells/pathology , Immunodiffusion , Injections, Intraperitoneal , Male , Mice , Mitotic Index , Rabbits , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Above 3,300 cases of human lambliasis have been annually notified in Perm since 2004 as shown by the data of the Board of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection. Serological studies show that 22.29% of the Perm dogs have antibodies against Lamblia intestinalis antigens. Social (domestic and working) dogs have been found to be vectors of Lamblia in the urban population. Excretion of Giardia sp. cysts has been recorded in 0.28% of the domestic dogs. Overall, dogs are of no epidemiological value in spreading human lambliasis.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Protozoan/blood , Antigens, Protozoan/blood , Disease Vectors , Dogs , Giardia lamblia , Giardiasis , Animals , Dogs/blood , Dogs/parasitology , Giardiasis/blood , Giardiasis/transmission , Humans , Russia , Seroepidemiologic StudiesABSTRACT
The study was undertaken to determine the rates of infection with acute and chronic toxoplasmosis among cats in the town of Perm. Fecal tests established the infection of domestic animals with different intestinal parasites: Toxocara cati, Toxascaris leonine, Uncinaria stenocephala, Oslerus osleri, Hydatigera taeniaformis, Blastocystisfelis, and Toxoplasma gondii. Serum tests revealed antibodies to the pathogen of toxoplasmosis in 80% of samples. The highest infection rate was observed among the cats going into the street and having a chance of catching. About 1% of seropositive cats discharged fecal oocysts, i.e. they had acute toxoplasmosis.
