Molecular phylogenetic assessment of host range in five Dermanyssus species.

Given that 14 out of the 25 currently described species of Dermanyssus Dugès, 1834, are morphologically very close to each another, misidentifications may occur and are suspected in at least some records. One of these 14 species is the red fowl mite, D. gallinae (De Geer, 1778), a blood parasite of wild birds, but also a pest in the poultry industry. Using molecular phylogenetic tools we aimed to answer two questions concerning host specificity and synanthropicity: (1) is D. gallinae the only species infesting European layer farms?, and (2) can populations of D. gallinae move from wild to domestic birds and vice versa? Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene sequences were obtained from 73 Dermanyssus populations collected from nests of wild European birds and from poultry farms and these were analyzed using maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference. Mapping of the observed host range on the obtained topology and correlation with behavioural observations revealed that (1) host range is strongly dependent on some ecological parameters (e.g. nest hygiene, exposure to pesticides and predators), that (2) out of five species under test, synanthropic populations were found only in lineages of D. gallinae, and that (3) at least some haplotypes found in wild birds were very close to those found in association with domestic birds.

Delimiting species boundaries within Dermanyssus Dugès, 1834 (Acari:Dermanyssidae) using a total evidence approach.

The genus Dermanyssus is currently composed of 24 hematophagous mite species and includes the Poultry Red Mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, a serious pest in poultry houses. Morphologically, Dermanyssus species fall into two groups corresponding to Moss'gallinae-group and to hirsutus-group+Microdermanyssus. Species of the gallinae-group exhibit high levels of morphological variability, and are nearly impossible to distinguish. Species of the second group display consistent characters and host associations and are easily distinguishable. Species of the gallinae-group tend to be the major problems in poultry houses and it is unknown whether D. gallinae is the only pest, or if there are numerous cryptic species present in the system. Twenty species of Dermanyssus were tested phylogenetically based on 46 morphological characters. A subset of species, mainly of the gallinae-group, represented each by several populations, was sequenced for two mitochondrial and one nuclear gene regions. This allowed testing their specific status and their interrelationships based and on morphological and molecular characters. The molecular data was analysed separately and in combination with morphological characters. As expected, morphology did a poor job resolving relationships. Molecular data proved more informative. The resulting phylogenetic hypotheses brought some information about interrelationships among species of the gallinae-group showing a split into two main clades. The invasion of human managed environments seems to occur only in taxa within one of the two clades. The host spectrum seems to get enlarged in more derived taxa in the same clade. A delineation of six species within the gallinae-group is provided. Additionally, a key for morphological identification of these species is provided. D. gallinae appears to be the only pest in poultry houses, but is composed of several different and more or less strongly isolated lineages. A new species found from the black swift is described.

Incidence of histomonosis in turkeys in France since the bans of dimetridazole and nifursol.

Between April 2003 and March 2005, 113 outbreaks of histomonosis were recorded in standard turkey farms in France, and 15 cases were recorded in turkey breeding centres. Most of the cases were in north-west France, the principal farming area for turkeys. The majority of the cases occurred during the hottest months, from April to September. Large numbers of cases occurred among birds from four to eight weeks of age, but there were some cases in three-week-old birds and some in birds up to 17 weeks of age. In most of the standard turkey flocks the mortality was less than 10 per cent, but it was above 30 per cent in nearly 20 per cent of the outbreaks. In the breeding flocks, the average mortality was 60.2 per cent. The size of the flocks, the sex of the birds and the age at which the first clinical signs appeared did not seem to influence the mortality.

Historical review of the genus Dermanyssus Dugès, 1834 (Acari: Mesostigmata: Dermanyssidae).

A synthetic review of the historical systematics of Dermanyssus Dugès, 1834 (Acari: Mesostigmata: Dermanyssidae) is provided. The classification at the specific level in this early genus has not really been clarified during more than a century despite its economic impact, and the history of the genus is complex and includes various stages. Moreover, Dermanyssus currently includes 23 species, whereas the last review took only 18 species into account. Changes in the species status and position in the genus Dermanyssus from 1834 until today are presented. The evolution of the generic definition is explored and compared with other genera of the group. How the discrimination between the different species evolved in the genus is also examined. Some difficulties in the specific definitions are discussed. A current diagnosis of the genus Dermanyssus is given. A table of the species included in this genus since its first description along with their respective current positions, a list of the currently included species in Dermanyssus with their hosts, and a world map presenting their geographic distribution are provided.

Electron microscopic study on the endogenous development of Eimeria mulardi, Chauve, Reynaud and Gounel, 1994: a coccidium from the mule duck.

An electron microscopic study of the endogenous development of Eimeria mulardi Chauve, Reynaud and Gounel, 1994 was carried out in mule ducks which are hybrids of the domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos) and the muscovy duck (Cairina moschata). All of the endogenous stages were seen within the nucleus of the host cell. Merozoites arose from ectomerogony and three mutually similar merogonies were noted. The asexual stages were found in leukocyte-like cells in the lamina propria of the jejunum, ileum and caecum, while the gamonts developed in glandular epithelial cells in the same part of the intestine.

Administration of toltrazuril during experimental coccidiosis in mule ducks: comparison of the efficacy of a single administration at two different endogenous stages.

An experimental Eimeria mulardi coccidiosis was reproduced in mule ducks. A single dose of toltrazuril (7 mg per kg) was administered at two different endogenous stages: Day 2 (first meronts) or Day 5 (last meronts and gamonts). The efficacy of the drug was assessed on four criteria (body weight, oocyst counts, macroscopic lesions, and presence of the meronts and gamonts). To have a curative effect, a single dose of toltrazuril should be administered early on. However, a single treatment on Day 5 had a prophylactic effect.

Importance in France of the infestation by Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens in dogs.

The presence of Dirofilaria repens has been mentioned in Europe, in Africa and in Asia, in different carnivores (dogs, foxes, cats, lions). In Europe the nematode has been reported in dogs, cats and foxes and the countries concerned by native cases are Italy, Spain, Greece, Yugoslavia and France. In France, until now, D. repens has been described, among animals, only in dogs. The first undoubted report dates back to 1953. Later, the prevalence was studied through widespread surveys (1986-1988-1989), focal surveys within some canine populations (military dogs) and some sporadic and fortuitous descriptions. The prevalence has been mainly assessed by pointing up the microfilariae in the blood and by identifying it after histochemical staining (for demonstration of the somatic distribution of acid phosphatase activity). The infestation rate was higher than 20% in some military dog populations. The cases occurred in nineteen French departments (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Aude, Bouches-du-Rhône, Corrèze, Corse, Dordogne, Gard, Gers, Gironde, Haute-Garonne, Loir-et-Cher, Nièvre, Pyrénées-Orientales, Rhône, Tarnet-Garonne, Var, Vaucluse, Vienne and Region Parisienne). The pathogenicity which is normally denied has to be reconsidered. The pathology of adult worms has not been clearly proved in dogs but the embolized microfilariae can bring about skin troubles. The potential pathogenicity, the necessity of the differentiation with D. immitis and above all, the zoonotic importance of D. repens must lead to search for it more often and to consider it with great interest.

Modifications enzymatiques sanguines chez la canette mularde (Catrina moschata x Anas platyrhynchos) lors d'infection experimentale par Eimeria mulardi.

Les modifications sanguines de phosphatase alcaline (PA), acide aspartique amino-transferase (AsAT), alanine aminotransferase (A1AT), creatine phosphokinase (CPK) et lactate deshydrogenase (LDH) ont ete recherchees chez 48 canards mulards femelles infectes experimentalement a l'age de 11 jours (JO) avec 5 x 10(3), 5 X 10(4) ou 5 X 10(5) oocystes sporules d'Eimeria mulardi: les controles ont ete realises de J - 1 a J25 apres infection et les valeurs comparees a celles d'un lot temoin. La mortalite et la diminution de croissance n'ont ete observees qu'avec 5 x 10(5) oocystes, a partir de J6. La PA est significativement diminuee avec 5 x 10(4 )et 5 x 10(5) oocystes, de facon precoce (J5 et J3 respectivement). Les taux minimaux sont observes a J9: respectivement 83 et 35% des valeurs temoin. Cette chute de la PA pourrait etre utilisee dans un but de diagnostic. Les variations d'AsAT, A1AT, CPK et LDH semblent moins specifiques de l'infection par E. mulardi.

[Pathogenicity of Eimeria mulardi Chauve et al., 1994 in experimentally infected mule-ducks. Precision on pathological stages]. / Pathogenicite d'Eimeria mulardi Chauve et al., 1994 chez le canard mulard apres infection experimentale. Precision des stades pathogenes.

Pathogenicity of Eimeria mulardi Chauve et al., 1994 in experimentally infected mule-ducks. Precision on pathological stages The pathogenicity of Eimeria mulardi has been studied in mule-ducklings orally inoculated with sporulated oocysts. With two dose levels (10(5) or 10(6) oocysts per bird), a significant loss of body-weight was observed, whereas no loss of weight was observed with a dose level of 10(4). With a dose of 10(6) oocysts per bird, inflammatory and haemorrhagic changes associated with obstruction mainly involving the end of the jejunum, the ileum and the caeca were seen from day 5 post-inoculation. Pathogenicity of Eimeria mulardi is due to the last generation of meronts and essentially to gamonts.

[Description of Eimeria mulardi n. sp. from the hybrid duck. Study of the endogenous phase of its developmental cycle with demonstration of intranuclear development]. / Description d'Eimeria mulardi n. sp. chez le canard mulard. Etude de la phase endogène de son cycle évolutif avec mise en évidence du développement intranucléaire.

A new species of coccidium. Eimeria mulardi n. sp., has been described from the mule duck. The endogenous cycle is studied in experimentally infected ducks. A least two generations of meronts were observed, mainly in the lamina propria of jejunum and ileum and the gametogony occurred principally in glandular cells of the intestinal tract, except in duodenum. All the endogenous stages were localized in the nucleus of the cell.

[Experimental infection of the mule duck by Eimeria mulardi sp. nov.: effects on body weight and modifications of different hematologic and biochemical parameters]. / Infection expérimentale du canard mulard par Eimeria mulardi sp nov: effets sur la croissance pondérale et modifications de différents paramètres hématologiques et biochimiques.

Eleven-day-old female Mule ducks (Cairina moschata x Anas platyrhynchos) were individually infected per os with a single inoculation containing 10(4), 10(5) or 10(6) sporulated oocysts of E mulardi, or kept as uninfected controls. No mortality was observed. Growth rate was not modified at lower doses, but was reduced in the other 2 groups, with weight loss on d 7 post inoculation (PI). Blood was detected in feces by chemical characterization of hemoglobin as early as d 3 PI with the highest infecting dose, while oocyst excretion began on d 6 PI in all infected groups. With 10(5) and 10(6) oocysts, the authors observed a significant increase in sedimentation rate and a slight anemia. Total protein and lipid concentrations in the plasma decreased in the 3 infected groups. These results show the pathogenic effect of E mulardi in Mule duckling, with dose-dependent changes. All parameters, except sedimentation rate, showed maximal variations during the acute phase of infection, between d 6 and d 9 PI, and returned to normal values early, in relation to the infecting dose, except that the weight remained lower than in the uninfected group at the final control (d 28 Pl). These perturbations have been described in avian coccidiosis.

Isospora sp from ducks. Infectivity for the goose, four anatids and the domestic fowl.

A coccidium was isolated from mule duck farms, the sporulated oocysts of which most closely resemble that of Isospora anseris, a goose coccidium. By experimental infection, these oocysts were proved to be able to develop in the goose and in several duck species, but unable to develop in the chicken. No pathogenicity was noted in any species.

[Isolation of 2 coccidia of the genus Isospora from ducks in France]. / Isolement de 2 coccidies du genre Isospora chez des canards en France.

The authors isolated 2 Isospora species from ducks: Isospora mandari and Isospora sp. This was the first report of the genus Isospora from the duck in France. One of the 2 isolated species (Isospora sp) has not been described in the duck before.

[Coccidia of mule ducks: preliminary survey in three farms of the south-west region of France]. / Les coccidies du canard mulard. Bilan d'une premiere enquete realisee dans trois elevages du sud-ouest de la France.

Coccidia of mule ducks: preliminary survey in three farms of the south-west region of France A coprological survey carried out on mule duck farms, has revealed seven different coccidian species: Cryptosporidium (1), Tyzzeria (2) and Eimeria (4). Tyzzeria was the most frequent. The four Eimeria species have never been previously noted in France and one of them could be a new species.

[Studies on coccidia of geese in the south-west region of France. Proposed key for the classification differentiation of different species based on the morphology of the sporulated oocyst]. / Contribution a l'etude des coccidies de l'oie dans la region du sud-ouest de la france. Proposition d'une cle de diagnose des differentes especes, basee sur la morphologie de l'ookyste sporule.

Eight coccidian species found in the domestic goose (Anser anser domesticus) in the south-west of France are described. An identification key based on the morphological features of sporulated oocysts is proposed. Of the eight species, two had not, previously, been reported in domestic geese; one of them might be a new species.