Benzimidazole resistance in the ovine Haemonchus contortus from southern Poland - coproscopical and molecular findings.

UNLABELLED: Anthelmintic resistance within nematodes has become a very common issue, however, the data about its occurrence in the gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep in Poland are very limited. This study was carried out in order to evaluate the presence of benzimidazole resistance in highly pathogenic Haemonchus contortus by means of parasitological and molecular techniques. The research represents the first Polish attempt to confirm the presence of a mutation at codon 200 of the ß-tubulin isotype 1 gene in H. contortus by PCR-RFLP. The occurrence of this mutation indicates the risk of ineffective benzimidazole treatment, nowadays commonly used for parasite control in Poland. The resistant parasites were detected by means of FECRT in a sheep flock (30 individuals) from southern Poland. To confirm the resistance on the molecular level, primers designed according to the sequences available in Genebank were used to detect the mutation. Unfortunately, as the PCR product was shorter than required (403 bp), further analyses are needed. The obtained results may indicate the high variability within the parasite population. Hence, it is essential to adapt the reaction conditions to our geographic strain of the nematode - and further analyses are required. KEY WORDS: Haemonchus contortus, benzimidazole resistance, PCR, Poland.

Lungworm (Nematoda: Protostrongylidae) infection in wild and domestic ruminants from Malopolska region of Poland.

The conducted study has focused on domestic, as well as wild ruminant species. The post mortem examination was carried out on 68 animals, including three wild species: roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) (25 indyviduals), red deer (Cervus elaphus) (6), fallow deer (Dama dama) (5) and two domestic: sheep (Ovis aries) (14) and cattle (Bos taurus) (18). Some of the species have also been investigated in the field by the coproscopical analyses. The faecal samples from roe deer (27), fallow deer (20), red deer (36) and moose (Alces alces) (10) were collected from the environment, while from sheep (10) and goat (Capra hircus) (10)--per rectum. Based on the obtained results the following values were calculated: prevalence, mean intensity and intensity range. The post mortem examination did not reveal pulmonary nematodes neither in domestic nor in wild ungulates, however, the larvae of aforementioned parasites were often stated in the stool samples taken from the environment. All wild species, except fallow deer were infected. Consequently, six species of lungworms have been identified. The first stage larvae of Varestrongylus capreoli occurred in 11 samples of roe deer and Varestrongylus alces in one moose. The larvae of Elaphostrongylus cervi were found in 19 red deer and Varestrongylus sagittatus in 3. Furthermore, Elaphostrongylus alces larvae were noted in 6 moose. Within domestic ruminants only one sheep and two goats were infected by Muellerius capillaris.

Estimation of genetic parameters for resistance to gastro-intestinal nematodes in pure blood Arabian horses.

Equine internal parasites, mostly cyathostomins, affect both horse welfare and performance. The appearance of anthelmintic-resistant parasites creates a pressing need for optimising drenching schemes. This optimization may be achieved by identifying genetic markers associated with host susceptibility to infection and then to drench carriers of these markers. The aim of our study was to characterise the genetics of horse resistance to strongyle infection by estimating heritability of this trait in an Arabian pure blood population. A population of 789 Arabian pure blood horses from the Michalów stud farm, Poland were measured for strongyle egg excretion twice a year, over 8 years. Low repeatability values were found for faecal egg counts. Our analyses showed that less than 10% of the observed variation for strongyle faecal egg counts in this population had a genetic origin. However, additional analyses highlighted an age-dependent increase in heritability which was 0.04 (±0.02) in young horses (up to 3 years of age) but 0.21 (±0.04) in older ones. These results suggest that a significant part of the inter-individual variation has a genetic origin. This paves the way to a genomic dissection of horse-nematode interactions which might provide predictive markers of susceptibility, allowing individualised drenching schemes.

Morphometric identification of equid cyathostome (Nematoda: Cyathostominae) infective larvae.

The prevalence of infection with cyathosthomes of horses is high worldwide. Identification of species on infective larvae based on available morphological keys is not fully accurate and the aim of the present study was to provide a reliable identification key of cyathostomes infective larvae. At the abattoir, horse large intestines were examined and the cyathostomes females extracted and identified. The eggs from uteruses of identified cyathostomes females were used for breeding the infective larvae. Morphological parameters of Cyathostominae infective larvae, i.e. the length of the larvae with sheath, length of oesophagus, intestine, end of the intestine to the end of the larvae body, and finally the body breadth measured and the cells arrangement of the intestine cells (A-D) noted. These morphological parameters of the third infective larvae were determined of the following cyathostomes species: Cylicocyclus nassatus, Cylicostephanus goldi, Cyathostomum catinatum, Cylicostephanus longibursatus, Cyathostomum pateratum, Cylicocyclus ashworti, Cylicocyclus insigne, Cylicostephanus calicatus and Coronocyclus coronatus. The qualitative assignment into A, C and D intestinal type and then the combination of morphological measures allows specific identification for most species.

[The communities of cyathostomes (Cyathostominae) in year-old and two-year-old Pure Blood Arabian mares]. / Zgrupowania slupkowców malych (Cyathostominae) u rocz- nych i dwuletnich klaczek czystej krwi arabskiej.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the strongyles species in 34 Pure Blood Arabian Horses: one-year-old mares (n = 12) and two-year old mares (n = 22) from the horse stud in 2005, kept under housed-pastured system and dewormed systematically, twice a year using the ivermectin compounds. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The practical method of in vivo determination of strongyles species in horses is collection of these nematodes from the feaces after treatment. Nematodes were collected 24 hours after deworming from 1000 g sample of feaces, then were classified to appropriate species and relative abundance of strongyles community was determined. RESULTS: In the feaces of horses after treatment 10 species of cyathostomes was determined: Cyathostomum catinatum (CAT), C. pateratum (PAT), Cylicocyclus nassatus (NAS), C. ashworti (ASH), C. leptostomus (LEP), C. insigne (INS), Cylicostephanus longibursatus (LNG), C. goldi (GLD), C. calicatus (CAL) and Coronocyclus coronatus (COR). No large strongyles (Strongylinae) was found. The relative abundance was the highest for following cyathostomes species: NAS (22%), CAT (18.1%), INS (17.7%), PAT (13.8%), LNG (9.1%) and LEP (8.2%). The relative abundance of cyathostomes species was similar in both group of mares. On the other hand CAL (15.8%) was common for the one-year-old mares and INS (25%) for the two-year-old mares. In vivo diagnositic of the infection is important from the perspective of individual small strongyle infections dynamics in horses and because of possible different pathogenicity of individual species of these nematodes.

Occurrence of roundworm (Parascaris equorum) in horses from small farms based on necropsy.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of roundworm infection in working horses slaughtered for meat. In these horses anthelmintics had not been used. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Roundworms were collected post-mortem from small intestines of 83 horses. RESULTS: The mean prevalence of roundworm infection was 12% and intensity--46.7 specimens per horse. Infection was found only in foals; 10 animals were infected (45.4%) among the 22 examined. Due to common occurrence of roundworms (Parascaris equorum) in foals this nematode control should focus particularly on regular anthelmintic treatment of young horses, providing proper hygienic conditions for them and checking the infection level by coproscopical methods.

[Intestinal parasites infection of horses from riding clubs in Kraków area]. / Inwazje pasoiytów jelitowych u koni w klubach jezdzieckich z okolic Krakowa.

The studies were carried out in 2001 and 2002 on horses from riding clubs in Krakow area. On the basis of McMaster method EPG (eggs per gram) and prevalence of infection (%) was evaluated. The most common parasites were strongyles (Strongylidae). In the first year of study in dynamics of strongyles eggs output of horses kept on paddocks two peaks were observed: in May (450 EPG) and January (427 EPG), in comparison with horses under pasture system where the highest level of strongyles eggs output were in May (832 EPG), from August (420 EPG) to October (385 EPG) and in March (482 EPG). In the second year of study seasonal mean prevalence (from April to October) as well as EPG were higher in horses under pasture system (73.9% and 781 EPG) than in horses on paddocks with grass (42.1% and 251 EPG) and horses on paddocks without grass (19.2% and 157 EPG).

[The evaluation of Trichuris vulpis infection of stray dogs in Kraków area]. / Ocena zarazenia wlosoglówka (Trichuris vulpis) psów bezpanskich z rejonu Krakowa.

The evaluation of Trichuris vulpis infection of unwanted dogs in Kraków area. The aim of this work was the estimation of the infection with Trichuris vulpis of dogs in Cracow's Shelter for Stray Animals. A coprologic examination carried out between January and November 1999-2000 showed the prevalence of infection from 6.8% to 15.1% and EPG from 88 to 913.