Paleoparasitology of Merovingian Corpses Buried in Stone Sarcophagi in the Saint-Martin-au-Val Church (Chartres, France).

Paleoparasitological analysis was carried on 4 Merovingian skeletons, dated from the late-5th to the late-9th centuries, and recovered in the church of Saint-Martin-au-Val in Chartres (Center region, France). The corpses were buried in stone sarcophagi, which were still sealed at the time of excavation. Parasite marker extraction was conducted on sediment samples taken from the abdominal and pelvic regions, but also on samples taken from under the head and the feet as control samples. Microscopic observation revealed the presence of 3 gastrointestinal parasites, namely the roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), the whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) and the fish tapeworm (genus Diphyllobothrium). This analysis contributes to a better knowledge of the health status and the lifestyle of ancient medieval populations during the Merovingian period, for which very few paleoparasitological data were available, up until now. It demonstrates the presence of the fish tapeworm for the first time during this period.

Annoying vacation souvenir: Fish tapeworm (Diphyllobothrium sp.) infestation in an Austrian fisherman.

Diphyllobothriosis is infestation with the fish tapeworm. Although the worldwide incidence has decreased in recent decades, increased travel and the new popularity of dishes involving raw fish (e.g. sushi) may provide a higher risk of infestation in formerly low-risk areas. We report an Austrian fisherman who passed a 75 cm tapeworm segment in his stool. Infestation presumably occurred 14 months earlier during a fishing tour in Alaska. At presentation, the patient was asymptomatic, reported no weight loss and showed neither anaemia nor eosinophilia. He was cured with a single dose of 10 mg/kg body weight praziquantel.

[Parasitic helminths infection in Coho salmón, Oncorhynchus kisutch, during their return to Simpson river, Chile]. / Infección por helmintos parásitos en salmón coho, Oncorhynchus kisutch, durante su retorno al río Simpson, Chile.

Between may and july 1994, 17 adult returning salmons, Oncorhynchus kisutch, were collected in the River Simpson, Chile. All fishes showed infection by plerocercoids of Diphyllobothrium sp. in different locations: stomach, spleen, liver, mesenteries and gonads. Infection with larval cestodes of an unidentified species of Phillobothriidae was determined in the intestine of seven (41.2%) salmons and its prevalences of infection showed significant differences between female and male salmons. The 94.4% of total plerocercoids of Diphyllobothrium were isolated from the stomach wall. Prevalence and mean intensity of infection by Diphyllobothrium sp. did not show significant differences between fishes of different sex.

The distribution of F-actin during the development of Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (Cestoda).

The distribution of actin filaments in all developmental stages of the tapeworm Diphyllobothrium dendriticum was studied. It is the first investigation of the placement of microfilaments during the development of a flatworm, and the results show that actin filaments, in all developmental stages, can be found in the subtegument and the flame cells. Muscle fibers possibly corresponding to the longitudinal, transversal, and dorsoventral muscles of the adult and plerocercoid were already detected in the procercoid. Concerning the adult worm, a new set of longitudinal fibers in the peripheral parts of the adult proglottid was found. The ducts of the protonephridial system and the vitellarias were seen to be surrounded by longitudinally oriented actin filaments, while the uterine ducts and the vagina were encircled by microfilaments. Prominent layers of circular muscle fibers surrounded the cirrus and the seminal vesicle, and radial fibers were also detected. Areas faintly stained with TRITC-phalloidin were found in the developing germ cells, the cells of the genital anlage, vitelline cells, the tegument, and the main nerve cords. None of these structures were autofluorescent, which is also true concerning the intensively labeled oncospheral hooks.

[Human diphyllobothriasis in Patagonia, Argentina]. / Difilobotriasis humana en la Patagonia, Argentina.

OBJECTIVE: In view of the amateur fishing practices and the importance of salmonids in the region the study sets out to detect human hosts in the Andean-Patagonian zone. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Information campaigns were carried out by Clinical Analysis Laboratories of Andean Patagonia between 1986 and 1995 to detect diphyllobothriasis more efficiently by means of coproparasitological analysis. RESULTS: Further, forms were prepared for the collection of information about infection, treatment and the characteristics of the human host. During this period 13 new cases were registered either through direct identification of the parasite or through the presence of eggs in the faeces. The characteristics of infection are similar to those described for the genus Diphyllobothrium. CONCLUSIONS: The favourite game fish in Andean Patagonia are salmonids. This fish, often infected with plerocercoids, when eaten insufficiently cooked or cold smoked, constitutes the main source of human infection.

[Operculated eggs of Platyhelminths: description of atypias and attempted explanation of their genesis]. / Les (eufs operculés de Plathelminthes: descriptions d'atypies et essais d'explication de leur genèse.

The authors remind the formation of operculated eggs. Atypical eggs of Clonorchis sinensis, Fasciola hepatica and Diphyllobothrium latum are described: no operculum for the two first species and existence of non-described buttons for the two last species. These anomalies could be explained by the way of formation of these eggs.

[Cytochemical characteristics of the labrocyte-like cells in the capsule of the plerocercoids of Triaenophorus nodulosus (Pallas, 1781) and Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (Nitzsch, 1824) cestodes]. / Tsitokhimicheskaia kharakteristika labrotsitopodobnykh kletok v kapsule plerotserkoidov tsestod Triaenophrus nodelosus (Pallas, 1781), i Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (Nitzsch, 1824).

Out of six fish species examined (Esox lucius, Paracottus kessleri, Perca fluviatilis, Leuciscus leuciscus baicalensis, Coregonus autumnalis migratorius, Thymallus arcticus baicalensis) labrocyte-like cells were detected in Esox lucius, Leuciscus leuciscus baicalensis, Coregonus autumnalis migratotius. The cells contain large metachromatic granules. Histochemical methods revealed in them sulfated and carboxylic acid mucopolysacharides. The amount of labrocyte-like cells in the capsules around plerocercoids of Triaenophrus nodulosis from Esox lucits liver depends on the age of the capsule and that of the plerocercoid. It increases when the connective tissue papsule is forming and decreases again under aging and degeneration of the capsule containing plerocercoid. The amount of labrocyte-like cells in the cestodes capsules of Raillietina increases sharply when they locate in an accidental organ (liver). This demonstrates the acuteness of organ reactivity to a nonspecific helminth.

Studies on cytodifferentiation in the neck region of Diphyllobothrium dendriticum Nitzsch, 1824 (Cestoda, Pseudophyllidea).

Cytodifferentiation in the neck region of adult D. dendriticum was studied. The highly basophilic germinative cells were found to differentiate into glycogen-containing parenchyma cells and three types of muscle cells. The cytodi-ferentiation was followed with the aid of 3H-thymidine. The differentiation potential of the germinative cells is discussed.

Observations on the histogenesis of nervous tissue in Diphyllobothrium dendriticum Nitzsch, 1824 (Cestoda, Pseudophyllidea).

The mode of growth of the populations of cells within and immediately surrounding the main lateral nerve cords in the actively growing, immature Diphyllobothrium dendriticum was studied by the use of 3H-thymidine autoradiography. The population of nerve cells within the nerve cord grows only on account of cell migration from the surrounding parenchyma. No mitotic figures were observed in the nerve cords. The rate of growth is high. Within a period of cultivation for 2 days in hamster 34% of the nerve cells within the nerve cords have arrived from the parenchyma. These cells can be considered as cells at the starting point for differentiation into nerve cells. The protective layer of binding cells around the nerve cords also grows on a-count of cells migrating from the parenchyma. The binding cells actively move from the outer regions of the layer inwards close to t-e nerve cord. As stem cells for these types of cell differentiation serve the highly basophilic, actively dividing germinative cells.