ABSTRACT
Lepeophtheirus acutus Heegaard, 1943 (Caligidae, Siphonostomatoida, Copepoda), was collected from or observed on four of six elasmobranch species held at Burgers' Zoo (Arnhem, The Netherlands). Circumstantial evidence suggested that a zebra shark, Stegostoma fasciatum (Hermann), from the wild carried the infection into the facility, where copepods reproduced and colonized additional hosts. Copepods typically attached on and about the eyes, in the mouth and occasionally about the cloaca and on the claspers. Severe ocular lesions were associated with infections on zebra sharks, a grey reef shark, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos (Bleeker), whitetip reef sharks, Triaenodon obesus (Rüppell), and giant shovelnose ray, Rhinobatos typus Bennett, while blacktip reef sharks, Carcharhinus melanopterus (Quoy & Gaimard), and blacktip sharks, Carcharhinus limbatus (Valenciennes), living in infested aquaria showed no sign of infection. Water treatments using trichlorfon were considered primarily responsible for the eradication of copepods from hosts and infested aquaria. This case is the first report of a copepod infection being closely associated with disease and death of an aquarium-held elasmobranch. Given its ability to infect a wide variety of elasmobranchs and promote life-threatening lesions on some hosts, L. acutus should be considered a dangerous pathogen of captive elasmobranchs.
Subject(s)
Animals, Zoo/parasitology , Copepoda/physiology , Elasmobranchii/parasitology , Fish Diseases/parasitology , Parasitic Diseases, Animal/parasitology , Skin Diseases, Parasitic/veterinary , Animals , Disease Eradication , Female , Fish Diseases/mortality , Fish Diseases/pathology , Fish Diseases/transmission , Male , Netherlands , Parasitic Diseases, Animal/mortality , Parasitic Diseases, Animal/pathology , Parasitic Diseases, Animal/transmission , Skin Diseases, Parasitic/mortality , Skin Diseases, Parasitic/parasitology , Skin Diseases, Parasitic/pathology , Skin Diseases, Parasitic/transmissionABSTRACT
This paper reports five cases of intact adult male crossbreed cats presenting with myiasis caused by Cochliomyia hominivorax. Three were stray animals that died despite treatment due to the severity of lesions while two were client-owned cats previously treated with cryosurgery which completely recovered. Myiasis caused by the New World screwworm fly in cats appears to be more frequent than previously thought, deserving more attention from both veterinary practitioners and owners.
Subject(s)
Cat Diseases/diagnosis , Diptera , Myiasis/veterinary , Screw Worm Infection/veterinary , Skin Diseases, Parasitic/veterinary , Animals , Brazil/epidemiology , Cat Diseases/epidemiology , Cat Diseases/mortality , Cats , Male , Myiasis/diagnosis , Myiasis/epidemiology , Myiasis/mortality , Screw Worm Infection/diagnosis , Screw Worm Infection/epidemiology , Screw Worm Infection/mortality , Skin Diseases, Parasitic/diagnosis , Skin Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology , Skin Diseases, Parasitic/mortalityABSTRACT
Calcein marking and cohabitation challenges have not been investigated in fish parasite research. This study evaluated a cohabitation challenge method in immunization trials against Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich) using calcein, a fluorescent dye, to mark channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque). Fish were marked by calcein immersion at 0, 500, and 1500 mg l(-1), and then challenged with 15 000 theronts fish(-1). No difference was noted in fish infection levels, mortality, and mean days to death (MDD) caused by Ich between unmarked and marked fish or between fish marked with high (1500 mg l(-1)) and low (500 mg l(-1)) concentrations of calcein. After ensuring that calcein marking had no effect on the susceptibility of fish to Ich theronts, 2 immunization trials were conducted to evaluate the cohabitation challenge model using calcein-marked catfish. Fish mortality, relative percent survival (RPS), and MDD were compared between cohabitation-challenged fish and fish challenged by non-cohabitation. No significant difference was observed in RPS for cohabitation-challenged fish and fish challenged by non-cohabitation. A cohabitation challenge can be used as an alternative challenge method in parasite studies, since it closely mimics natural exposure.
Subject(s)
Ciliophora Infections/veterinary , Fish Diseases/transmission , Hymenostomatida/pathogenicity , Ictaluridae/parasitology , Skin Diseases, Parasitic/veterinary , Animals , Aquaculture/methods , Ciliophora Infections/mortality , Ciliophora Infections/transmission , Fish Diseases/mortality , Fish Diseases/parasitology , Fluoresceins/administration & dosage , Fluoresceins/pharmacology , Gills/parasitology , Skin/parasitology , Skin Diseases, Parasitic/mortality , Skin Diseases, Parasitic/transmission , Survival AnalysisABSTRACT
Bites, stings and infestations can be fatal. Anaphylaxis to vespids and bees can be prevented with immunotherapy. Patients should be referred to an allergist. The acute care and prevention of arthropod injury is discussed below.
Subject(s)
Insect Bites and Stings , Scorpion Stings , Skin Diseases, Parasitic , Animals , Ectoparasitic Infestations/drug therapy , Ectoparasitic Infestations/mortality , Humans , Insect Bites and Stings/drug therapy , Insect Bites and Stings/mortality , Scorpion Stings/drug therapy , Scorpion Stings/mortality , Scorpions , Severity of Illness Index , Skin Diseases, Parasitic/mortality , Skin Diseases, Parasitic/therapyABSTRACT
Black fly feeding alone and in concert with Leucocytozoon spp. infection caused mortality in fledgling great horned owls (Bubo virginianus) in the Yukon, Canada 1990 to 1991. These mortalities occurred during a year of food shortage corresponding with a decline in the population of snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), the main prey for great horned owls. We hypothesize an interaction between food availability and the consequences of host-parasite interactions.