Thelazia callipaeda Eyeworms in American Black Bear, Pennsylvania, USA, 2023.

We identified a Thelazia callipaeda eyeworm in an American black bear in Pennsylvania, USA, on the basis of its morphological features and molecular analysis. Our finding highlights emergence of a T. callipaeda worm sylvatic transmission cycle in the United States.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTE OF TRANSMISSION AND HOST SPECIFICITY OF CYRTOSOMUM PENNERI IN FLORIDA'S INVASIVE LIZARDS.

The atractid nematode Cyrtosomum penneri is an autoinfective parasite of several lizard species. Intraspecific transmission between hosts appears to occur exclusively through sexual copulation, yet it is unclear how worms are transferred between different host species. Our research aims to test the possibility of oral transmission of C. penneri using experimental infections. The lizards Anolis sagrei, Leiocephalus carinatus, Hemidactylus mabouia, and Agama picticauda were experimentally exposed to C. penneri in 1 of these groups: (1) oral infection using a feces and saline slurry to approximate host coprophagy, (2) oral infection with a large meal to approximate host predation, and (3) venereal infection using a pipette to confirm sexual transmission. Experimental infections to test venereal transmission were successful in A. sagrei, A. picticauda, and H. mabouia, but were unable to establish infections in L. carinatus. In the predation exposures, A. picticauda, A. sagrei, and H. mabouia hosted infections, whereas L. carinatus were uninfected. Finally, coprophagy experimental infections did not result in infections for any species of host. Our study corroborates venereal transmission of C. penneri in multiple species of lizards and establishes predation as an alternative route of infection. Predation as an oral route of transmission may provide C. penneri an opportunity for interspecific transmission that would otherwise be unlikely during host copulation.

Thubunaea acostai sp. nov. (Nematoda: Physalopteridae) from the lizard Liolaemus gracielae (Squamata: Iguania: Liolaemidae) in Argentina.

Thubunaea acostai sp. nov. is described and illustrated here, based on specimens found in the digestive tract of Liolaemus gracielae in the province of San Juan, Argentina. The new species differs from all other species assigned to Thubunaea by the number of caudal papillae. Thubunaea acostai sp. nov. has 30-31 papillae (12 pedunculated and 18-19 sessile), differing from other Neotropical species such as Thubunaea eleodori with 26 papillae (12 pedunculated and 14 sessile) and Thubunaea parkeri with 20 papillae, all pedunculated. The new species represents the third species for the Neotropics and the second described for Argentina.

Spirocerca lupi draft genome, vaccine and anthelmintic targets.

Spirocerca lupi is a parasitic nematode affecting predominantly domestic dogs. It causes spirocercosis, a disease that is often fatal. The assembled draft genome of S. lupi consists of 13,627 predicted protein-coding genes and is approximately 150 Mb in length. Several known anthelmintic gene targets such as for ß-Tubulin, glutamate, and GABA receptors as well as known vaccine gene targets such as cysteine protease inhibitor and cytokines were identified in S. lupi by comparing orthologs of C. elegans anthelmintic gene targets as well as orthologs to known vaccine candidates. New anthelmintic targets were predicted through an inclusion-exclusion strategy and new vaccine targets were predicted through an immunoinformatics approach. New anthelminthic targets include DNA-directed RNA polymerases, chitin synthase, polymerases, and other enzymes. New vaccine targets include cuticle collagens. These gene targets provide a starting platform for new drug identification and vaccine design.

New host record of Thelazia callipaeda (Nematoda: Spirurida) with a notably wide host range and shared zoonotic lineage in Japan.

Thelazia callipaeda (Nematoda: Spirurida: Thelaziidae) parasitizes the eyes of dogs, cats, humans, and various wild mammals, and is transmitted by drosophilid flies. In Japan, T. callipaeda is considered an emerging parasite that has expanded its endemic region northward. However, reports of its detection in mammals other than domestic animals and humans are scarce. This study reports the detection of T. callipaeda in Japanese red fox (Vulpes vulpes japonica), masked palm civet (Paguma larvata), Japanese badger (Meles anakuma), Japanese black bear (Ursus thibetanus japonicus), raccoon (Procyon lotor), Japanese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes viverrinus), domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris), domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus), and human. Of these, the Japanese red fox, masked palm civet, Japanese badger, and Japanese black bear have been reported as novel host records. Sequence analysis of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene of T. callipaeda revealed two unique lineages specific to Japan, with no regional or host species differences. These results suggest a wide host range for T. callipaeda, highlighting the significant role of wildlife as a reservoir for this parasite in Japan.

First Record of Cosmocephalus obvelatus (Acuariidae) in Common Gulls (Larus canus) from Gangneung, Korea

A nematode species belonging to the genus Cosmocephalus was collected from the stomach of 2 common gulls, Larus canus. The common gulls were found dead on the seaside of Gangneung City, the Republic of Korea. The worms were identified and classified by light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on the basis of important taxonomic characters. The nematodes were characterized by a body length 9.1-9.3 mm (males) and 15.5-15.9 mm (females) and cordons recurrent in anterior direction and anastomosing laterally at about the level of anterior quarter of the buccal cavity. The salient bicuspid deirids were located on the posterior to the cordons. Lateral alae were well-developed, extending from the level just posterior of deirids to the level about middle of the body. LM and SEM observations identified the worms as C. obvelatus. This is the first reported case of C. obvelatus infection in common gulls in Korea.

First Record of Cosmocephalus obvelatus (Acuariidae) in Common Gulls (Larus canus) from Gangneung, Korea

A nematode species belonging to the genus Cosmocephalus was collected from the stomach of 2 common gulls, Larus canus. The common gulls were found dead on the seaside of Gangneung City, the Republic of Korea. The worms were identified and classified by light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on the basis of important taxonomic characters. The nematodes were characterized by a body length 9.1-9.3 mm (males) and 15.5-15.9 mm (females) and cordons recurrent in anterior direction and anastomosing laterally at about the level of anterior quarter of the buccal cavity. The salient bicuspid deirids were located on the posterior to the cordons. Lateral alae were well-developed, extending from the level just posterior of deirids to the level about middle of the body. LM and SEM observations identified the worms as C. obvelatus. This is the first reported case of C. obvelatus infection in common gulls in Korea.

Detection of Gnathostoma spinigerum Third-Stage Larvae in Snakeheads Purchased from a Central Part of Myanmar

To examine the infection status of freshwater fish with Gnathostoma spp. larvae in Myanmar, we purchased 15 snakeheads, Channa striatus, from a local market in a suburban area of Naypyidaw, the new capital city. Two larval gnathostomes were collected using an artificial digestion technique, and observed by a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope. The size of an intact larva was 2.65 mm long and 0.32 mm wide. The characteristic morphology of the larvae included the presence of a long esophagus (0.80 mm long), 2 pairs of cervical sacs (0.43 mm long), and a characteristic head bulb with 4 rows of hooklets. The number of hooklets in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th row was 45, 48, 50, and 52, respectively. Based on these morphological characters, the larvae were identified as the advanced 3rd-stage larvae of Gnathostoma spinigerum. This is the first report of detection of G. spinigerum 3rd-stage larvae in the central part of Myanmar. Our study suggests that intake of raw meat of snakehead fish in Myanmar may result in human gnathostomiasis.

Larval Gnathostoma hispidum detected in the red banded odd-tooth snake, Dinodon rufozonatum rufozonatum, from China

A total of 205 larval gnathostomes were collected from 18 (22.5%) of 80 red banded odd-tooth snakes, Dinodon rufozonatum rufozonatum, which had been smuggled from China and confiscated at Customs in Busan, Republic of Korea. In order to identify the species, some of the larvae were observed by a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The larvae were 2.18 x 0.29 mm in average size, and had a pair of lips at the anterior end, a muscular esophagus, 2 pairs of cervical sacs, and brownish intestines. The head bulb was characteristically equipped with 4 rows of hooklets; the average number of hooklets in each respective row was 38.6, 40.5, 41.5, and 43.7. In SEM views, the mouth evidenced a pair of lateral lips of equal size in a half-moon shape. Each lip featured a couple of labial papillae and a small amphid located between the 2 papillae. The hooklets on the head bulb had single-pointed, posteriorly-curved tips. The cuticular spines were larger and more densely distributed on the anterior part of the body, and decreased gradually in size and number toward the posterior body. On the basis of these morphological characteristics, the larvae were identified as the third stage larvae of Gnathostoma hispidum.

Camallanus cotti Fujita, 1927 (Nematoda, Camallanoidea) in ornamental aquarium fishes: pathology and morphology

The pathology induced by the nematode Camallanus cotti in the aquarium fishes Beta splendens (beta fish) and Poecilia reticulata (guppy) consisted of gross and microscopic lesions, the former characterized by abdominal swelling with reddish parasites protruding from the anus in both fish hosts and the latter, similar in the beta fishes and guppies, by hemorrhage, congestion, edema, a few glandular elements, and extensive erosion areas in the rectum mucosa, with a marked thickening of the wall and absence of inflammatory infiltrate. Lesions were associated with the presence of several worms attached to the wall or free in the rectal lumen. This is the second reference of the parasite in Brazil and the first report of pathological findings related to this nematode species that is also briefly redescribed and illustrated for the first time on the basis of Brazilian samples.

Longevity of musca domestica, diptera muscidae, parasitized by habronema muscae carter nematoda habronematidae

Este trabajo buscó evidenciar la influencia del parásito habronema muscae sobre la longevidad de musca domestica. Larvas de los muscóides de segunda generación, con cerca de 30 h, fueron sometidas a la infección en dieta artificial en la cual se inocularon huevos de H. muscae recuperados de las hembras de los helmintos. Los muscídeos fueron mantenidos en cajas con paredes de tela, manteniendose a 27ºC, 60 ñ 10 por ciento de HR y 14 h de fotofase hasta la formación de las pupas. Los números de muscídeos muertos fueron conferidos diariamente. Posteriormente, estos fueron disecados para ratificación de las larvas infectantes de los nemátodos. La intensidad media de infección fue de 3,11 larvas infectantes por muscídeo (rango: 0-14) en el grupo infectado. Este último grupo mostró reducción significativa de la longevidad cuando se comparó al grupo no expuesto a la infección (25,0 y 32,5 días, respectivamente). No fue evidenciado diferencia entre las longevidades de los muscóides machos y hembras