A Survey of Coccidia and Nematodes in Pastured Poultry in the State of Georgia.

The aim of this study was to evaluate and quantify the parasitological challenge in pastured poultry production in the state of Georgia. Over the course of 1 yr, fecal samples from six turkey flocks, 10 broiler flocks, and 13 layer flocks were collected on a pastured farm in 2-wk intervals to determine counts of Eimeria oocysts and nematode eggs. Average coccidia counts were 10,198 oocysts per gram of feces (OPG) in broiler flocks, 1470 OPG in layer flocks, and 695 OPG in turkey flocks. The means in broiler and turkey flocks were higher at their first week on pasture. Counts in broilers and layers were significantly higher in spring than in winter and summer. Coccidia counts in broilers were lower than published numbers in conventionally reared poultry, indicating the rotation system of the pastures might effectively reduce the infection pressure. Next-generation sequencing of PCR products showed the presence of most described Eimeria spp. in broilers, layers, and turkeys. In addition, operational taxonomic units (OTUs) x, y, and z were found. The frequency of species was similar for broilers and layers, with the exception that Eimeria praecox and OTU z were more common in layers. In layer flocks, the average count of roundworm eggs per gram of feces (EPG) was 509 EPG with 80% of the samples being positive. The mean counts had no clear pattern related to age. There was an increase of EPG with the increase of temperatures during spring and summer with the peak at midfall. Worm eggs from laying hens were identified as Ascaridia galli. The seasonal differences suggest that higher temperatures might result in an increase of egg survival and sporulation in the environment.

Artículo regular­Muestreo de coccidias y nematodos en aves en pastoreo en el estado de Georgia El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar y cuantificar el desafío parasitológico en la producción avícola en pastoreo en el estado de Georgia. En el transcurso de un año, se recolectaron muestras fecales de seis parvadas de pavos, 10 parvadas de pollos de engorde y 13 parvadas de gallinas de postura en una granja de pastoreo en intervalos de dos semanas para determinar los conteos de ooquistes de Eimeria y huevos de nematodos. Los recuentos promedio de coccidias fueron 10,198 ooquistes por gramo de heces (OPG) en parvadas de pollos de engorde, 1470 ooquistes por gramo de heces en parvadas ponedoras y 695 ooquistes por gramo de heces en parvadas de pavos. Los promedios en las parvadas de pollos de engorde y pavos fueron más altos en su primera semana en pastoreo. Los conteos en pollos de engorde y ponedoras fueron significativamente más altos en primavera que en invierno y verano. Los recuentos de coccidios en pollos de engorde fueron más bajos que los números publicados en aves criadas de manera convencional, lo que indica que el sistema de rotación de pastizales podría reducir efectivamente la presión de infección. La secuenciación de próxima generación de los productos de PCR mostró la presencia de la mayoría de las especies de Eimeria spp descritas en pollos de engorde, gallinas de postura y pavos. Además, se encontraron unidades taxonómicas operativas (OTU) x, y, z. La frecuencia de especies fue similar para pollos de engorde y gallinas de postura, con la excepción de que Eimeria praecox y las unidades taxonómicas operativas z fueron más comunes en gallinas de postura. En las parvadas de gallinas de postura, el recuento promedio de huevos de helmintos intestinales por gramo de heces (EPG) fue de 509 EPG, con el 80% de las muestras positivas. Los recuentos medios no tenían un patrón claro relacionado con la edad. Hubo un aumento de huevos de helmintos intestinales por gramo de heces con el aumento de las temperaturas durante la primavera y el verano con el pico a la mitad del otoño. Los huevos de helmintos de las gallinas de postura se identificaron como Ascaridia galli. Las diferencias estacionales sugieren que las temperaturas más altas podrían resultar en un aumento de la supervivencia de los huevos y su esporulación en el medio ambiente.

Morphological and Molecular Characteristics of the Gastro-Intestinal Nematode Parasite Ascaridia columbae Infecting the Domestic Pigeon Columba livia domestica in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Parasitism is a complex problem that is often ignored in companion animals, including birds, unless it develops into a severe clinical disorder. The present study was, therefore, aimed to investigate the presence of the gastrointestinal nematode infecting the domestic pigeon and provide a complete morphological description and clarify its taxonomic position through phylogenetic analysis of the ITS1-5.8s-ITS2 rDNA gene region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the current study, a total of twenty-six domestic pigeons, Columba livia domestica, were collected and internal organs examined for helminth detection. Using light and scanning electron microscopy, the recovered parasite species are studied. In addition, the selected gene region was obtained and sequenced using appropriate primers that aid in the formation of the phylogenetic dendrogram for the recovered parasite species with others retrieved from GenBank. RESULTS: Morphological examination showed that this nematode parasite belongs to the Ascaridiidae family within the genus Ascaridia. The material was assigned to the previously described Ascaridia columbae by providing all the characteristic features as the presence of a mouth opening surrounded by three tri-lobed lips; each lip has two triangular teeth with a spoon-like structure, cephalic papillae and amphidal pores on lips surface, presence of lateral cuticular alae and pre-cloacal sucker, 10 pairs of caudal papillae, and two equal spicules in male worms. The morphological investigations of this species were supplemented by molecular analysis of ITS1-5.8s-ITS2 rDNA gene region. The data showed that the present A. coulmbae is deeply embedded in the Ascaridia genus with a 74-99% sequence similarity to other species in the Chromadorea class. Ascaridiidae appears as monophyly and represented as a sister group to Heterakidae. The ascaridiid species examined belong to the Ascaridia genus and displaced a close relationship with the previously described A. coulmbae (gb| KF147909.1, gb| AJ001509.1, gb| KC905082.1, gb| JQ995321.1, gb| JX624729.1) as putative sister taxa. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that the species Ascaridia is the first account of this genus as an endoparasite from the domestic pigeon inhabiting Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the combination of morphological and molecular studies helps to identify this species correctly and identified as Ascaridia columbae.

Ascaridia galli Case as a Pseudohelminth in a Human Arm Skin

A 25-year-old male patient, who had terminal stage skin cancer (malignant melanocytic neoplasia) on his skin of arm was infected with white, round, worm parasites in the lesion area of the skin. Parasites were collected with a thin forceps in a petri dish, cleaned in warm physiological saline, fixed by 70% hot ethyl alcohol and clarified in lactophenol, respectively. All 14 female and 7 male nematodes, some of which had partial autolysis, were identified as Ascaridia galli, a chicken nematode. Due to the fact that it is a very rare case in the medical literature, we wish to report it.

Two new species of ascaridoid nematodes in Brazilian Crocodylomorpha from the Upper Cretaceous.

Two new ascaridoid species, Bauruascaris cretacicus n. gen. et n. sp., and Bauruascaris adamantinensis n. gen. et n. sp., are described based on the fossils of eggs preserved in 80-70 million year old phosphatized coprolites of Crocodyliformes, chronologically assigned to the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian/Maastrichtian age), collected from sedimentary rocks of the Bauru Group, Adamantina Formation in the municipality of Santo Anastácio, in the southwestern region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, South America. This paper describes the oldest ascaridoid species ever recorded in Crocodylomorpha. Hence, this article contributes to the body of knowledge about the evolutionary history of this nematode group. It also offers a clue about the composition of the parasite fauna of these reptiles from the Late Cretaceous, which is still unknown despite numerous studies about various aspects of their biology and the pioneering paleoparasitological analysis of animal coprolites by South American researchers.

New record of Ascaridia nymphii (Secernentea: Ascaridiidae) from macaw parrot, Ara chloroptera, in China.

Present study was performed to identify the species of ascarids from macaw parrot, Ara chloroptera, in China. Total 6 ascarids (3 males and 3 females) were collected in the feces of 3 macaws at Guangzhou Zoo in Guangdong Province, China. Their morphological characteristics with dimensions were observed under a light microscope, and their genetic characters were analyzed with the partial 18S rDNA, ITS rDNA and nad4 gene sequences, respectively. Results showed that all worms have no interlabia but male worms have two alate spicules, well-developed precloacal sucker and a tail with ventrolateral caudal alae and 11 pairs of papillae. The partial 18S rDNA, ITS rDNA and nad4 sequences were 831bp, 1015bp and 394bp in length, respectively. They showed the highest similarity of 99.8% (18S rDNA) with Ascaridia nymphii, 93.8% identities (ITS rDNA) with A. columbae and 98.5% to 99.5% identities (nad4) with Ascaridia sp. from infected parrot. All Ascaridia nematodes from the macaws were clustered into one clade and formed monophyletic group of Ascaridia with A. columbae and A. galli in two phylogenetic trees. It is observed that the combining morphological and sequencing data from three loci, the present Ascaridia species was identified as Ascaridia nymphii, which is the first record of A. nymphii from macaw parrot in China.

Ascaridia nymphii n. sp. (Nematoda: Ascaridida) from the alimentary tract of a severely emaciated dead cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus.

This report describes Ascaridia nymphii n. sp., a new species isolated from the alimentary tract of cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus in Japan. More than 63 nematodes were found in the formalin-fixed small intestine, ventriculus, proventriculus and crop of a 48-day-old young cockatiel that died after exhibiting severe emaciation. No nematode eggs were observed in the faecal examination performed while the cockatiel was alive, but Cryptosporidium oocysts were found. The intestinal mucosa was damaged considerably. Male worms had two alate spicules, well-developed precloacal sucker and a tail with ventrolateral caudal alae and mainly 11 pairs of papillae. Nuclear partial (813 bp) 18S ribosomal RNA gene (18S rDNA) sequences obtained from two female samples were mutually identical. They respectively showed 99.1 and 98.6% identities to those from Ascaridia numidae and Ascaridia galli. Phylogenetic analysis using this locus indicated the present nematode as Ascaridia species. The mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 gene (nad2) sequences obtained for four samples were mutually identical. They respectively showed 98.7, 85.7 and 82.2% identities with those from Ascaridia columbae, Ascaridia sp. and A. galli. Combining the morphological and sequencing data from two loci, the present nematode was identified as A. nymphii n. sp., which is closely related with A. columbae. This report is the first of a study examining the distribution of Ascaridia species in captive parrots in Japan. This study also identified the trachea and cloaca, like Cryptosporidium baileyi, as the possible location of Cryptosporidium avian genotype V in avian hosts.

A new ascarid species in cynodont coprolite dated of 240 million years.

Cynodonts represent the transition from reptiles to mammals. They are classified as synapsids, or tetrapod animals with mammalian characteristics. We present here the finding of helminth eggs in a coprolite identified as of cynodont origin dated of nearly 240 million years. Microscopy revealed the presence of very well preserved intestinal parasite eggs. Up to now we identified an ascarid egg by morphological characteristics. Based on a previous description of the new genus Ascarites Poinar Jr and Boucot 2006 in coprolites of iguanodons from Belgium, we propose a new species, Ascarites rufferi n.sp. in cynodonts, a host that inhabited the Southern Region of Brazil in the Triassic period.

Molecular characterization of Ascaridia galli infecting native chickens in Egypt.

Family: Ascaridae as a whole is distributed among Africa and adjacent regions and in many areas of the world. The nematode Ascaridia galli is one of the most pathogenic and economically important parasites of poultry. The adult affect the small intestine of the hosts feeding on digested food materials. Its control costs million dollars annually. The genomic DNA was extracted from nematode parasites, A. galli, from specific host, native chickens. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied to ensure that the DNA content aids in the further studies. Two primers were used in the PCR reactions. The two primers were screened, only the second primer gave total amplified fragment markers 818 bp. The gene sequences obtained from Egyptian A. galli was compared with another one of accession number (AY587609) showing that the sequence was similar in some points from 346 to 1244 sequence, to make a phylogenetic relationships of A. galli with other nematodes on the data base showing that it was to some extent similar to Heterorhabditis spp.

Sequencing of the ß-tubulin genes in the ascarid nematodes Parascaris equorum and Ascaridia galli.

Benzimidazoles (BZ) are used to control infections of the equine roundworm Parascaris equorum and the poultry roundworm Ascaridia galli. There are still no reports of anthelmintic resistance (AR) to BZ in these two nematodes, although AR to BZ is widespread in several other veterinary parasites. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the ß-tubulin genes have been associated with BZ-resistance. In the present study we have sequenced ß-tubulin genes: isotype 1 and isotype 2 of P. equorum and isotype 1 of A. galli. Phylogenetic analysis of all currently known isotypes showed that the Nematoda has more diversity among the ß-tubulin genes than the Vertebrata. In addition, this diversity is arranged in a more complex pattern of isotypes. Phylogenetically, the A. galli sequence and one of the P. equorum sequences clustered with the known Ascaridoidea isotype 1 sequences, while the other P. equorum sequence did not cluster with any other ß-tubulin sequences. We therefore conclude that this is a previously unreported isotype 2. The ß-tubulin gene sequences were used to develop a PCR for genotyping SNP in codons 167, 198 and 200. No SNP was observed despite sequencing 95 and 100 individual adult worms of P. equorum and A. galli, respectively. Given the diversity of isotype patterns among nematodes, it is likely that associations of genetic data with BZ-resistance cannot be generalised from one taxonomic group to another.

Sequence variation in three mitochondrial DNA genes among isolates of Ascaridia galli originating from Guangdong, Hunan and Yunnan provinces, China.

The present study examined sequence variation in three mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genes, namely cytochrome c oxidase subunit 3 (cox3) and NADH dehydrogenase subunits 1 and 4 (nad1 and nad4), among Ascaridia galli isolates from different geographical localities in China. A portion of cox3 (pcox3), nad1 (pnad1) and nad4 (pnad4) genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) separately from adult A. galli individuals and the amplicons were subjected to sequencing from both directions. The length of the sequences of pcox3, pnad1 and pnad4 were 408 bp, 471 bp and 333 bp, respectively. The intraspecific sequence variations within A. galli were 0-1.7% for pcox3, 0-2.8% for pnad1 and 0-3.4% for pnad4. The A+T contents of the sequences were 67.16-67.65% (pcox3), 67.09-67.94% (pnad1) and 69.91-71.77% (pnad4). The interspecific sequence differences among members of the Ascaridida were significantly higher, being 13.2-30.9%, 12.8-29.0% and 15.1-34.1% for pcox3, pnad1 and pnad4, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses using combined sequences of pcox3, pnad1 and pnad4, with three different computational algorithms (Bayesian analysis, maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony), all revealed distinct groups with high statistical support. These findings demonstrated the existence of intraspecific variation in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences among A. galli isolates from different geographical regions in China, and have implications for studying molecular epidemiology and population genetics of A. galli.

Ascaridiasis in peafowl Pavo cristatus (Phasianidae) due to Ascaridia galli Schrank, 1788.

Twelve white peafowl (Pavo cristatus) affected by an outbreak of an intestinal disease were referred for more detailed examination at the Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz-BA, Brazil. During the course of the disease, peachicks were severely affected, with enteric signs such as diarrhea plus dehydration, decreased feed intake and progressive weight loss. After examination, 8 of 12 samples (66.6%) presented single or mixed nematode infection and Ascarid eggs were the most frequent finding on fecal examination. Adult peafowl did not present clinical signs even when positive after fecal exam. Morphological analysis, clinical signs, fecal and gross examinations resulted in a diagnosis of ascaridiasis caused by Ascaridia galli Schrank (1788).

The parasitic communities of the rock pigeon Columba livia from Iraq: component and importance.

OBJECTIVE: The main objectives of the present study were to investigate the rock pigeon parasitic communities from Iraq as well as reporting on the prevalence and intensity of various infections from both sexes. METHODS: An examination of 128 specimens of the live rock pigeon Columba livia from Iraq was undertaken. The samples were obtained from several localities of Iraq. Blood samples were examined for haemoprotozoa, carcasses were investigated for the ectoparasites throughout their body skins and feathers, and the alimentary canal was examined for protozoans and helminths. RESULTS: Twenty-seven species of parasites were identified. They comprised 1 Fungi, Candida sp.; 4 Protozoa, Eimeria labbeana, Trichomonas gallinae, Haemoproteus columbae and Plasmodium sp.; 8 Cestoda, 4 of each of the genera Cotugnia and Raillietina; 4 Nematoda, Ascaridia columbae, A. galli, Capillaria obsignata and Synhimantus spiralis; and 10 Arthropoda, the commonest of which were the wing and tail feather louse Columbicola sp. and the pigeon louse fly Pseudolinchia canariensis. Infection indices are provided for each species and in respect to both sexes of the host. CONCLUSION: The issue of zoonosis is raised, so is the role of the rock pigeons in acting as a reservoir and spreading some of the disease agents associated with other avian populations including poultry. Seven of the species are newly introduced to the parasitological list of Iraq and for this country the rock pigeon is a new host record for another 9 of the endoparasites that were diagnosed.

[Determination of the helminths of wild pigeons (Columba livia Gmelin, 1789 Columbiformes) in the Bursa region]. / Bursa yöresi yabani güvercin (Columba livia Gmelin, 1789 Columbiformes)'lerindeki helmintlerin belirlenmesine yönelik arastirmalar.

The helminth fauna of 113 wild pigeons, (Columba livia Gmelin, 1789), in the Bursa Province was investigated. As a result of the investigation 3 helminth species were detected. These were Capillaria columbae (Gmelin, 1789), Ascaridia columbae (Gmelin, 1790) (Nemathelminthes) and Raillietina echinobothrida (Megnin, 1881) (Cestoda).

Ascaridia numidae (Leiper, 1908; Travassos, 1913) in Rock Partridge (Alectoris chukar) in Turkey.

This report present first case of Ascaridia numidae isolated from three dead rock partridges (Alectoris chukar) with stressing morphological characteristics and its responsiveness to the medical treatment. A. numidae was confirmed by presence of one papilla on the posterior region of the preanal sucker and a total of 10 pairs of the caudal papillae. In necropsy, a total of 680 (282 male and 3,988 female) A. numidae and 289 (147 male and 142 female) Heterakis dispar were isolated from all partridges. Females were 11.20 mm longer and 0.22 mm wider than males. There was no difference in length of oesophagus (2.27 mm). Lengths of the spikules were equals and ranged from 2.08 to 2.93 according to the body size. Vulva was located in medial line and the mean egg size was 0.10 x 0.06 mm. Faecal samples from live birds from the same farm contained Ascaridia spp. and Heterakis spp. eggs. No eggs were encountered 1 week after oral administration of a single dose of levamisole (30 mg/kg), but 3 months post-medication. In conclusion, this is the first case reporting A. numidae in exotic birds in Turkey. A. numidae has unique papillae that are distinguishable from the other ascarids and is responsive to medical treatment as long as hygienic conditions are maintained.

Response of two breeds of chickens to Ascaridia galli infections from two geographic sources.

Comparative resistance to different isolates of Ascaridia galli was investigated in a local chicken breed from Jordan (LC) and in the Lohmann LSL white chicken (LW) strain. In two trials, birds of LC and LW were inoculated orally at 1-day old with 250 embryonated A. galli eggs. In the first trial a German source of A. galli was used, whereas in the second trial, a Jordan source of A. galli was used. At week 7 of infection, infected LC birds harbored significantly (P<0.05) fewer worms and excreted less A. galli eggs than infected LW birds. A. galli isolated from Jordan were less infectious than A. galli from Germany. Results suggest that the variation in genetic background between LC and LW is involved in the resistance to A. galli infection. A. galli isolates from different geographic areas differ in their ability to infect different chicken genotypes.

Brevimulticaecum sp. larvae (Nematoda: Anisakidae) from the frog Hyla minuta Peters in Trinidad

Encapsulated third stage nematode larvae collected from the abdominal cavity of the Trinidadian hylid frog Hyla minuta are referred to the rare anisakid genus Brevimulticaecum. These are the first specimens of Brevimulticaecum from a tropical frog, their presence may reflect the importance of amphibians as intermediate or paratenic hosts of reptilian parasites. (AU)

[Ascaridia platyceri n.sp., a new species of nematode from parrots]. / Ascaridia platyceri n. sp., eine neue Spulwurmart aus Papageien.

A new species of bird parasitic nematode, Ascaridia platyceri n. sp., is described from the small intestine of Platycerus eximius and 8 further species of Psittacidae maintained in Zoological Gardens and private holdings in the GDR. The new species differs from the 3 species of Ascaridia hitherto known from parrots mainly in the shape of the anterior border of the lips as well as in the number and position of the caudal papillae in the male.

Parasites of the relict fauna of Ceylon. V. New species of nematodes from uropeltid snakes.

Two new species of nematodes have been found in endemic snakes of the family Uropeltidae which is restricted to montane regions in India and Sri Lanka. A trichostrongylid, Oswaldocruzia gansi sp. nov., is described from the small intestine of Rhinophis drummondhayi from Watawala (1 075 m) and the Namunukula area (1 200-1 300 m), R. philippinus from Pallatenne (618 m), and Uropeltis melanogaster from Kandy (800 + m). It is distinguished from other species of the genus chiefly by the trifurcate nature of the distal end of its dorsal ray and the number of terminal processes of each spicule. A cosmocercid, Aplectana uropeltidarum sp. nov., is described from the rectum of the same hosts as well as of Uropeltis phillipsi from Gammaduwa (720 m), and Rhinophis blythi from Talawakele (1 016 m). It was also found in the rectum of Teretrurus sanguineus from the Nalumukku Estate, Mandjolai (1 524 m) in S. India. It differs from all other species of the genus, especially in the number and arrangement of the caudal papillae of the male.

Thynnascaris reliquens sp. n. and T. habena (Linton, 1900) (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea) from fishes in the northern Gulf of Mexico and eastern U.S. seaboard.

Thynnascaris reliquens sp. n. is described from the type host, the sheepshead, Archosargus probatocephalus (Walbaum), and other fishes of the northern Gulf of Mexico and southern Florida, including the Gulf toadfish, Opsanus beta (Goode and Bean); the spiny boxfish, Chilomycterus schoepfi (Walbaum); the slippery dick, Halichoeres bivittatus (Bloch); and the Atlantic croaker, Micropogon undulatus (Linnaeus). Its salient characters are: length up to approximately to 12.5 cm; lips broad, with pedunculate pulp and equatorially constricted flanges; esophagus 8 to 12% and spicles 3 to 6% of body length; preanal and postanal papillae up to 33 and 6 pairs, respectively. In the type host, some adults attained a considerably greater size than in other hosts, and their labial morphology changed as the maximum length was approached. Thynnascaris habena is redescribed from the oyster toadfish, Opsanus tau (Linnaeus), its type host, on the basis of examination of specimens collected from Massachusetts, Virginia, and Georgia. Thynnascaris melichthysi (Olsen, 1952) and T. ogcocephali (Olsen, 1952) are transferred from the genus Contracaecum as new combinations.

Some cestodes and nematodes parasitizing gallinaceous and columbi-form birds in Nepal.

The birds from the valley of the Barun Khola River (Great Himalaya, Eastern Nepal), Tetraogallus tibetanus aquilonifer, Ithaginis cruentus cruentus, Lophophorus impejanus, Columba leuconota and Gallus gallus f. dom., were examined for helminths. Ten species of parasitic worms (3 of the class Cestoidea and 7 of the class Nematoda) were found in their digestive tract. One of them, Ascaridia nepalensis, is described as a new species.