The jejunal cellular responses in chickens infected with a single dose of Ascaridia galli eggs.

This histopathological study was carried out in order to investigate the cellular response in the jejunum to Ascaridia galli during the first 7 weeks of infection. Fourty-two ISA Brown chickens (7 weeks old) were infected orally with 500 embryonated A. galli eggs each while 28 chickens were left as uninfected controls. Six infected and four control chickens were necropsied at each time point 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28 and 42 days post-infection (dpi). Samples for histopathology were taken from three sites of the jejunoileum. Significantly higher eosinophil counts were seen in infected chickens compared to uninfected at 3, 7, 10, 14 and 28 dpi (P < 0.01). In both groups, the initial number of mast cells was high, but this high level of mast cells remained for a longer period in the infected group compared to the control group. Significantly higher counts were thus found in the infected group at 21 (P < 0.001), 28 (P < 0.01) and 42 dpi (P < 0.05). A. galli infection induced changes in the mucosal thickness as reduced villi length at 7, 10, 14, 21 and 28 dpi and in the degree of general cellular infiltration in the lamina propria of the mucosal layer. No adult worms were seen during the experiment; therefore, A. galli larvae have elicited a moderate cellular response in the lamina propria, mainly consisting of eosinophils in the early phase and later of mast cells.

Prevalence of Ascaridia galli in white leghorn layers and Fayoumi-Rhode Island red crossbred flock at government poultry farm Dina, Punjab, Pakistan.

Poultry farming not only provides high nutritious food but also creates employment opportunity for rural masses. Documented evidences elaborates that helminth parasitism is most deciduous problem of chickens especially in developing world. Ascaridia (A.) galli, a nematode of small intestine, has been considered as the most common and important parasite of chicken. The present study was carried out to investigate prevalence and severity of A. galli in White Leghorn layers (housing type: battery cage and deep litter, 50 each) and Fayoumi-Rhode Island Red crossbred (male and female: 50 each) flock rearing at Government Poultry Farm, Dina, Punjab, Pakistan. Two hundred faecal samples were examined by using standard parasitological and McMaster egg counting technique. The overall prevalence was 24.5% at farm, 13% in White leghorn layer (battery cage=2%, deep litter=24%) and 36% in Fayoumi-Rhode Island Red (male=34%, female=38%). It was also observed that White leghorn layer rearing in deep litter had more severe infection (EPG=1920) of A. galli compare with battery cages birds (EPG=500). Parasite prevalence was significantly related with sex (P<0.05) in Fayoumi-Rhode Island Red and male birds had less number of average parasites (0.34±0.47) as compared to females (0.38±0.490). Additionally, female birds were under serious threat of infection (EPG=2270) compared with its counterpart (EPG=1250). Given the high infection rates, particular attention should be paid to management and provision of feed supplement to White leghorn layer housing in deep litter and female bird of Fayoumi-Rhode Island Red crossbred.

Ascaridia galli infection affects pullets differently when feed is contaminated with the Fusarium toxin deoxynivalenol (DON).

The Fusarium mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is a common contaminant of cereal grains used as animal feed. DON is known for its cytotoxic and anti-proliferative properties and might adversely affect the health of poultry. The prevalence of the intestinal parasitizing roundworm Ascaridia galli is higher in outdoor housing systems and has been associated with maldigestion and malabsorption. It was hypothesized that ingested DON might not only affect the pullet itself but could also act on the nematode parasitizing in the ingesta. To examine these interactions between A. galli infection and DON contamination of feed 4 groups of 9 pullets in each were tested; non-infected groups were fed either an uncontaminated control (CON-) or a Fusarium toxin contaminated and mainly DON-containing diet (FUS-), and the corresponding A. galli inoculated groups were fed accordingly (CON+, FUS+). A. galli infection significantly reduced the jejunal villi height and increased the thickness of the tunica muscularis with the effect being more pronounced when the DON-containing diet was fed (Group FUS+). Only in this group significantly increased weights of jejunal and ileal tissues and of livers were noticed. Moreover, DON was detected in plasma of the pullets at higher frequencies when they were infected suggesting a facilitated absorption of DON. Group FUS+ was characterized by a significantly higher excretion of A. galli eggs and a concomitant lower proportion of pullets with detectable antibodies against a somatic antigen of A. galli while worm burden and worm characteristics were not affected by diet. Other effects of feeding the FUS diet to the infected pullets included an increased mass per length of male worms. In conclusion, infection of pullets with A. galli might increase the susceptibility towards DON as indicated by an increased DON absorption rate and a compromised antibody formation. The effects of DON on fecundity and worm morphology require further examination.

Localization of Ascaridia galli larvae in the jejunum of chickens 3 days post infection.

The normal habitat of the parasitic stages of Ascaridia galli is in the small intestine of poultry but the exact localization is poorly understood. Therefore, a histological study was conducted in order to localize the larvae during the early phase of infection. Six layer pullets seven-week old were infected orally with 20,000 embryonated A. galli eggs each, whereas four chickens were left as un-infected controls. At necropsy 3 days after infection the first half of jejunum/ileum was divided into two equally sized sections (J1 and J2). After taking samples for histology from the middle of J1 and J2 and the junction between these determined JX, the two sections were subjected to parasitological examination. A higher number of A. galli larvae were recovered from section J2 than J1 and the majority of larvae were recovered from the most profound layers. Based on histology 144 larvae were identified and their location was noted. The highest number of larvae was observed in the JX sample as compared to J1 and J2 (P<0.001). Most of them were located in the profound crypt zone of the mucosa (51%) as compared to the other zones (P<0.05). The number of larvae was higher in the lumen (63%) compared to the epithelium (32%) and lamina propria (5%) (P<0.001). A significantly higher number of eosinophils were found in lamina propria of the infected group compared to the control group (P<0.001). This experiment clearly showed that only few larvae had penetrated the epithelium and were positioned in the lamina propria at 3 days post infection. It was far more common that the larvae were localized within the epithelium or in the lumen of the crypts. It is therefore suggested that at least in this early phase "mucosal phase" is a more appropriate term to be used for the A. galli larval localization as compared to the term "histotrophic phase" currently used in many textbooks.

Manejo médico y endoscópico de pancreatitis ascaridiana aguda en niños / Medical and endoscopic managment of acute pancreatitis ascariasis in children

La migración errática de los áscaris hacia vías biliares, vesícula biliar y conducto pancreático puede ocasionar la obstrucción de esas estructuras, manifestándose como cólico biliar, colecistitis alitiásica, colangitis, pancreatitis aguda y absceso hepático. Objetivo: reportar el manejo clínico y endoscópico de pacientes con pancreatitis ascaridiana. Pacientes y Método: estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo, de pacientes con Pancreatitis Aguda, se revisa cuadro clínico, datos epidemiológicos, etiología, exámenes paraclínicos, ultrasonido y terapia médica. Resultados: 10/34 (29,41%) con Pancreatitis Aguda por Áscaris lumbricoides; edad promedio 6,3 años, antecedente de expulsión de vermes por boca (60,00%). El dolor abdominal y vómitos en el 100%, con elevación de amilasa y lipasa. Ecografía abdominal: aumento de volumen de páncreas, vermes en vías biliares y colédoco en 100%, 4/10 (40,00%) absceso hepático y 1/10 (10,00%) pseudoquiste pancreático. Se realizo la remoción de ovillo de áscaris en duodeno por endoscopia a 5/10(50,00%), utilizando pinza de cuerpos extraño y 3/5(60,00%) para vermes impactado en papila, papilotomía mínima con extracción. Se indico Albendazol por 5 días. Conclusión: en todo niño con dolor abdominal y vómitos, se deben realizar pruebas de funcionalismo pancreático y ultrasonido abdominal para descartar pancreatitis. En la pancreatitis ascaridiana el Albendazol resulto ser una terapia satisfactoria.

The migration of Ascaris erratic to bile ducts, gallbladder and pancreatic duct can cause obstruction of these structures, manifesting as biliary colic, acalculous cholecystitis, cholangitis, acute pancreatitis and liver abscesses. Objective: To report the clinical and endoscopic ascariasis pancreatitis. Patients and Methods: A descriptive and retrospective study of patients with acute pancreatitis, we review the clinical, epidemiological, etiology, laboratory test results, ultrasound and medical therapy. Results: 10/34 (29.41%) with acute pancreatitis caused by Ascaris lumbricoides, mean age 6.3 years, history of expulsion of worms by mouth (60.00%). Abdominal pain and vomiting in 100%, with elevation of amylase and lipase. Abdominal ultrasound enlargement of the pancreas, worms in bile ducts and bile duct in 100%,%), 4/10 (40.00%), hepatic abscess and 1/10 (10.00%) pancreatic pseudocyst. Removal was performed ascaris ball of the duodenum by endoscopy at 5/10 (50.00%), using foreign body forceps and 3/5 (60.00%) for worms impacted papilla use papillotomy minimum. Albendazole is indicated for 5 days. Conclusion: In all children with abdominal pain and vomiting, should be performed pancreatic function tests and abdominal ultrasound to rule out pancreatitis. In pancreatitis ascariasis Albendazole therapy was found to be satisfactory.

Ascaridia galli infection of pullets and intestinal viscosity: consequences for nutrient retention and gut morphology.

1. Pullets were given a control diet or a diet supplemented with a non-starch-polysaccharide hydrolysing enzyme preparation (NSP-enzyme) from weeks 6 to 14 of age to induce differences in the viscosity of the small intestinal ingesta. Half of each feeding group (n = 25) was infected with 250 embryonated Ascaridia galli eggs at an age of 6 weeks. 2. At 14 weeks of age, before the pullets were slaughtered, a balance experiment was conducted, to sample ingesta for viscosity measurements. Also, tissue samples of jejunum and ileum were taken for morphometrical and histopathological studies. 3. An infection of pullets with A. galli reduced the viscosity of the jejunal ingesta at high initial levels of viscosity after feeding the NSP-enzyme unsupplemented diet. 4. The faecal A. galli egg output by the pullets expressed as eggs per g excrement (EpG) was significantly reduced in infected pullets given the NSP-enzyme supplemented diet. Also, the number and length of worms was less in these pullets. 5. The tunica muscularis of the jejunum was significantly thickened, this effect being more pronounced at a low intestinal viscosity. 6. NSP-enzyme addition resulted in an increased length of jejunal villus and was paralleled by a decrease in jejunal viscosity. 7. Histopathology of jejunal and ileal sections revealed no pathological alterations. 8. The apparent retention of organic matter was increased after enzyme addition while parasite infection exerted no effect.

Antibody and inflammatory responses in laying hens with experimental primary infections of Ascaridia galli.

Ascaridia galli, an intestinal nematode that affects hens and other domestic and wild birds, causes economic losses in avian exploitations. The present work shows that A. galli stimulates a strong antibody response as well as an intense inflammatory reaction, in the intestinal mucous of experimentally infected Lohmann Brown laying hens. IgG antibodies against soluble extracts of A. galli embrionated eggs and adult worms, were detected in both blood and yolks eggs from infected hens during a period of 105 days after the infection. This indicates that hens transfer to their offspring a part of the IgG antibodies produced when they become infected. The antigens responsible for the stimulation of specific IgG were molecules of 30-34, 44-54 and 58-90 kDa, while in the yolk eggs of infected hens a reactivity directed against antigens of molecular weight (M(w)) lower than 50 kDa was detected. Histology revealed traumatic lesions with leukocyte infiltration, and inflammation of the intestinal wall of the infected hens after 105 days of initial infection. The possible influence of the immune and inflammatory response on the population dynamics of the parasite is discussed.

Influence of Ascaridia galli infections and anthelmintic treatments on the behaviour and social ranks of laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus).

In the present study, the effects of an experimental Ascaridia galli infection and anthelmintic treatment on the behaviour and social status of laying hens of two different lines were studied. Sixty white (Lohmann LSL; LSL) and 60 brown (Lohmann Brown; LB) hens were reared under helminth-free conditions. The hens of each line were divided into four groups. The birds in two of the groups were artificially infected with 250 embryonated A. galli eggs at an age of 27 weeks. The other two groups were kept as uninfected controls. One infection and control group was dewormed at 38 weeks of age and slaughtered 4 weeks later, contemporary with the other animals. Individual faecal Ascaridia egg counts (FEC) were performed 11 weeks post-infection (p.i.). Body weights, laying performance and egg weights were recorded regularly. Blood was taken to measure testosterone levels. The worm burdens established in the intestines were counted in the infected not treated group after slaughtering. In addition, 15 behavioural parameters were recorded by focal animal observation (n=10 per group) of one infection (plus anthelmintic treatment) and one control group, according to the time-sampling method throughout the experiment. All agonistic interactions within the groups were recorded simultaneously on an ongoing basis, thereby allowing the calculation of an individual social rank index. The following results were obtained: Mean FEC and worm burden were higher (p < 0.01) in the LSL hens than in the LB hens, but their performances were not different (p > 0.05) from the controls. Infections with A. galli resulted in significant behavioural changes in both lines as the infected birds showed a higher food intake and lower locomotion activity during the prepatent and patent periods. After anthelmintic treatment, food intake decreased and locomotion increased. Behavioural changes were more pervasive in the infected LSL hens, as these hens also showed changes in ground pecking and nesting activity not only during the prepatent and patent periods, but also after anthelmintic treatment. Social rank did not significantly change as a consequence of A. galli infection, but the infection groups of both lines had a tendency to display more agonistic activity than the non-infected controls. Serum testosterone values only increased significantly in the LSL hens during the patent period compared to the controls. No significant correlations were apparent between serum testosterone level, parasitic parameters, social status and/or aggressiveness in any of the groups. This study showed that even sub-clinical A. galli infections and their anthelmintic treatment can have an impact on animal behaviour.

Consequences of concurrent Ascaridia galli and Escherichia coli infections in chickens.

Three experiments were carried out to examine the consequences of concurrent infections with Ascaridia galli and Escherichia coli in chickens raised for table egg production. Characteristic pathological lesions including airsacculitis, peritonitis and/or polyserositis were seen in all groups infected with E. coli. Furthermore, a trend for increased mortality rates was observed in groups infected with both organisms which, however, could not be confirmed statistically. The mean worm burden was significantly lower in combined infection groups compared to groups infected only with A. galli. It was also shown that combined infections of E. coli and A. galli had an added significant negative impact on weight gain.

The effect of concurrent infections with Pasteurella multocida and Ascaridia galli on free range chickens.

Pasteurella multocida and Ascaridia galli are observed with high prevalences in free range chickens in Denmark, but the impact is unknown. A study was carried out to examine the interaction between A. galli and P. multocida in chickens and the impact on production. Five groups, each with 20 18-week-old Lohmann Brown chickens were infected. Group 1 was orally infected with 1000+/-50 embryonated A. galli eggs. Group 2 received 10(4) cfu P. multocida intratracheally. Group 3 was infected with A. galli and subsequently with P. multocida. Group 4 was infected with P. multocida followed by A. galli. Group 5 was the control. The study ran for 11 weeks where clinical manifestations, weight gain and egg production were recorded. Excretion of P. multocida was determined on individual basis and blood smears were made for differential counts. At the end of the study pathological lesions and the number of adult worms, larvae and eggs in the faeces were recorded. The birds were more severely affected when infected with both pathogens compared to single infections with A. galli or P. multocida, respectively. A lower weight gain and egg production was observed with dual infections. A. galli infection followed by a secondary P. multocida infection resulted in more birds with pathological lesions and continued P. multocida excretion. In conclusion a negative interaction between A. galli and P. multocida was observed and it is postulated that free range chickens are at higher risk of being subjected to outbreaks of fowl cholera when they are infected with A. galli.

Ascarid-associated hepatic foci in turkeys.

Hepatic foci are a serious economic problem for most turkey-producing areas in the United States. Current estimates indicate that as much as 43% of the flocks sent to slaughter may experience condemnations because of hepatic foci. The present experiments were designed to duplicate naturally occurring lesions with Ascaridia dissimilis. Newly hatched poults were placed on fresh litter and given feed containing either 500 embryonated A. dissimilis ova/bird/day (from day of hatch) or no ova, in three experiments. Hepatic foci were reproduced in exposed poults in all three experiments, indicating that A. dissimilis is directly involved in the etiology of hepatic foci.

The effect of excess dietary manganese on uninfected and Ascaridia galli infected chicks.

The effect of dietary manganese from two different sources on chicks (uninfected and infected with Ascaridia galli) was studied. Chick diet was supplemented with 0.9 g Mn2+ kg-1 food either in the form of MnSO4.H2O or 2Gly. MnCl2.2H2O for 20 days. Chicks were divided into six groups: group 0, control; group 1, control + MnSO4.H2O; group 2, control + 2Gly.MnCl2.2H2O; group 3, infected with A. galli; group 4, infected with A. galli + MnSO4.H2O; and group 5, infected with A. galli + 2Gly.MnCl2.2H2O. Body weight, mortality, worn burden, and liver manganese content were investigated. Excess dietary manganese increased weights and manganese level, but mortality and worm burden were unaffected. A greater bioavailability of manganese from 2Gly.MnCl2.2H2O was established.

Ascaridiasis biliar: presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Biliary ascaridiasis: presentation of a case and review of the literature

Los defectos de repleción más comunes en el Sistema Biliar son los cálculos; que pueden ser únicos, múltiples, grandes o pequeños, sin embargo, la infestación por Ascaris puede ir acompañada de la migración de un vermes al colédoco donde causa un defecto de repleción lineal largo y grueso. Presentamos el caso de una Ascaridiasis Biliar en una paciente femenina de 41 años, colecistectomizada y con antecedente de CPRE, con clínica de obstrucción biliar (post-colecistectomía), siendo utilizado como método diagnóstico y de seguimiento ecosonograma y CPRE. Se administró tratamiento sintomático y antihelmíntico, encontrando una evolución clínica, por CPRE y ecosonograma satisfactorio. Proponemos CPRE sólo en casos donde haya obstrución y/o Pancreatitis Biliar como método ideal aplicable en cualquier momento de la enfermedad, rápido, seguro para su diagnóstico seguimiento y tratamiento definitivo. Se revisan los casos en nuestro centro hospitalario desde 1990-1996 y de la Literatura Mundial y Nacional

[Visceral toxocariasis]. / Vistseral'nyi toksokaroz.

A case of the disease in a 6-year-old boy is described. The disease was characterized by a long recurrent course with development of a parasitic gumma in the mediastinum and arrosion of the descending aorta and the left bronchial wall. Pulmonary bleeding was a course of death. Differential diagnosis between toxocariasis and askaridosis is given.

[Ascaridiasis: a rare cause of recurrent abdominal pain. Report of a clinical case documented by ultrastructural study of the intestinal mucosa]. / L'ascaridiasi: una rara causa di dolori addominali ricorrenti. Presentazione di un caso clinico corredato dallo studio ultrastrutturale della mucosa intestinale.

The case of a six-year-old girl suffering from recurrent abdominal pain is reported. On the basis of the laboratory tests and a number of other clinical investigations, the diagnosis of ascaridiasis was made. At scanning electron microscopy the ultrastructural study of the bioptic fragments obtained during endoscopy showed peculiar lesions of the gastric and duodenal mucosa. We speculate that this unusual picture may be due to the ascaris. These lesions, described for the first time in the literature to our knowledge, were represented by the loss of the apical portion of some cells. Differential diagnosis of recurrent abdominal pain is discussed.

[Hepatobiliary ascaridiasis in childhood: echographic diagnosis]. / L'ascaridiasi epatobiliare nell'infanzia: diagnostica ecografica.

Ascaris lumbricoides infestation in the liver and biliary tract causes various clinical manifestations due to the migration of larvae and adult organisms. Parasites in the bile ducts cause obstruction and such complications as cholecystitis, cholangitis and liver abscesses. We report the US findings of biliary ascaridiasis as observed in a series of 13 children over a 3-year period. The patients (6 females and 7 males) presented hepatosplenomegaly, abdominal distension, right subcostal pain; 3 of 13 exhibited subicteric features and fever. The US features of Ascaris lumbricoides infestation are: hyperechoic linear images due to parasites within the dilated bile ducts, target images; mobile hyperechoic linear images within the gallbladder; intrahepatic abscesses with different features and sizes. Microscopic sections of hepatic tissue show inflammatory infiltration around the Ascaris eggs. Emergency surgery is sometimes to be performed. The value of US, as we assessed it, has been already stressed by other authors.

Infeccion natural de Speothos venaticus (Carnivora: Canidae) por estadios adultos de Lagochilascaris sp / Natural infection of Speothos venaticus (Carnivora: Canidae) by adult stages of Lagochilascaris sp

Un ejemplar adulto macho de Speothos venaticus Lund, 1842 fue muerto accidentalmente en una via de penetracion rural, situada en la region Noroeste del Estado Bolivar, Venezuela, en el Municipio donde desde hace 16 años vive una paciente con lagochilascariasis. El animal conservado durante un mes por congelacion y desprovisto de su piel y cabeza fue autopsiado, hallandose en la traquea dos especimenes adultos hembras y gravidos de Lagochilascaris sp., los cuales presentaban algumas caracteristicas morfologicas de sus partes blandas diferentes a Lagochilascaris minor Leiper, 1909; entretanto, distintivos estables como son la forma de los interlabios, la localizacion de la vulva y particularmente el tamano y numero de las depresiones la cascara de los huevos, inclinan a pensar que se trata de aquel parasito, a pesar de no haberse hallado vermes machos que permitiesen el estudio de las espiculas y su ducto eyaculador. Fueron localizadas en cortes histologicos de laringe y traquea profundamente situadas, secciones de formas degeneradas con caracteristicas atribuibles a Lagochilascaris sp.

[Natural infection of Speothos venaticus (Carnivora: Canidae) by adult stages of Lagochilascaris sp]. / Infección natural de Speothos venaticus (Carnivora: Canidae) por estadios adultos de Lagochilascaris sp.

An adult male Speothos venaticus Lund (bush dog) was found killed on a rural road in the Northeast of Bolívar State, in a locality where a patient with lagochilascariasis has lived for the past 16 years. The animal was frozen for 1 month, and after removal of the head and skin, was autopsied. Two adult gravid females of Lagochilascaris sp. were found in the trachea. Certain morphological characteristics of the soft parts differed from the description given for Lagochilascaris minor Leiper, 1909; however, stable characters, such as the form of the interlabials, the location of the vulva, and particularly the size and number of depressions of the egg shell appear to indicate that the worms are of the above mentioned species. Unfortunately, no males were found for study of the spicules and ejaculatory duct. In histological sections of the larynx and the trachea from the deep tissues, parts of degenerated worms were found, with characteristics attributable to Lagochilascaris sp.