Parasitologia, Volume 2, Issue 3 (September 2022) – 7 articles

An adult engorged female of the hard tick Amblyomma ovale was found during a routine examination of a bloodhound dog in a private clinic from a small community in the state of Oaxaca, in Southern Mexico. Previously, this tick species had been identified in dogs from four states in the country, where it has been involved as a carrier of Rickettsia spp. To our knowledge, this is the first time that A. ovale has been detected in Oaxaca. Public and animal health authorities should be aware of this and other tick species that may be acting as vectors of tick-borne pathogens (TBP) to both humans and animals. Full article

Coenurosis due to Taenia multiceps has emerged as a major concern to small ruminant-owning communities in northern Tanzania. Although a high incidence of disease has been reported, gaps still remain in our knowledge of the disease problem across different agro-ecological settings. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of coenurosis in small ruminants and taeniid infection in dogs and identify risk factors for infection. Questionnaire surveys, postmortem examination of small ruminants, and coproscopic examination of dog faeces were used to collect data on reported coenurosis cases and taeniid infections, respectively. The twelve-month period prevalence of coenurosis in small ruminants was 8.4% (95% CI 8.2–8.6). The prevalence of taeniid infection in dogs was 12.5% (95% CI 9.1–17.4). The village-level prevalence of coenurosis in sheep and goats was significantly correlated with taeniid infection prevalence in dogs (r = 0.51, p = 0.029). Multivariable analysis indicated that home slaughter was significantly associated with the livestock owner-reported neurological syndrome due to coenurosis in sheep and goats (OR = 13.3, 95% CI 4.2–42.0, p < 0.001) and the practice of offering discarded brains to dogs was significantly associated with taeniid infection prevalence in dogs (OR = 2.80, 95% CI 0.98–7.98, p = 0.05). Coenurosis is a major disease problem in livestock-keeping communities of northern Tanzania, but there is little awareness of transmission risks associated with home slaughter and dog feeding practices. There is a need for veterinary and animal health services to engage more actively with communities to increase awareness of the transmission cycle of T. multiceps and the preventive measures that can be taken to reduce the impact of disease in livestock-dependent communities. Full article

The concern about the protection of wildlife has been gathering attention from researchers worldwide. Zoos and aquariums have become widely recognized sites for the conservation of wildlife. However, the persistence of the illegal trade of wild animals, such as reptiles, and their use as pets can endanger not only the preservation of the species, but also allow the introduction of new pathogens and zoonotic diseases. It is important to highlight that preventive exams should be carried out prior to introducing these animals into a new facility to guarantee zoological management strategies. There are several reports of parasitism in reptiles, some of them with zoonotic potential, such as the genus Cryptosporidium spp. In Brazil, reports that explore the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis in reptiles are scarce, and very few have used molecular methods for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp., or the genotyping of its species and subtypes. This review aims to help professionals in the area and encourage them to increase their attention to this protozoan, which is usually neglected. Full article

This paper discusses a process of developing the data analysis and modeling of Pasteuria penetrans spore attachment in vitro and in planta, based on the observation that the number of spores attaching to juveniles within a given time increased by increasing the time of exposure to spores and the spores dose. Based on this, the P. penetrans spore attachment in vitro was modeled using the negative binomial distribution which permits decomposing the observation’s variability into three components: randomness, internal differences between individuals, and the presence of other external factors, e.g., the soil type. Additionally, we developed case-detection methods to explain P. penetrans spores’ attachment variability. The statistical methods developed in this paper show that a nematodes invasion is significant limited when second stage juveniles (J2s) are encumbered with seven P. penetrans spores. This research study concludes that the number of spores attached in J2s, the time of exposure of J2s to P. penetrans spores, and the soil texture are important factors affecting the invasion of root-knot nematodes in tomato plants. Full article

Toxoplasmosis and chlamydiosis remain among the primary causes of abortion and fetal loss in small ruminants. Consequently, they are a source of considerable economic losses for farmers. The objectives of this study were to determine the seroprevalence and highlight the risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii and Chlamydophila abortus infection in small ruminants in Cameroon. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 200 small ruminant farms during a period from April to October 2021. A total of 1061 small ruminants were sampled, and the sera obtained were analyzed using the indirect ruminant multi-species ELISA test for specific IgG antibody detection for T. gondii and C. abortus at the National Veterinary Laboratory. A questionnaire was constructed to collect information about flock management and risk factors possibly associated with T. gondii and C. abortus infection in goats and sheep. Overall, 329 small ruminants tested positive for T. gondii-specific IgG antibodies and 45 for C. abortus-specific IgG antibodies with a seroprevalence of 31.1% (95% CI: 28.2–33.8) for T. gondii and 4.2% (95% CI: 3.0–5.5) for C. abortus, respectively. However, a significant co-infection of 1.8% (95% CI: 0.37–3.3) was obtained between T. gondii and C. abortus (p = 0.02). Linear regression model analysis revealed that, the seroprevalence of T. gondii at the flock level was significantly correlated with the region (0.22 CI: 0.17; 0.26) the breeding objectives (0.36 CI: 0.17; 0.56) the level of hygiene (0.11 CI: 0.01; 0.21) and presence abortions (0.55 CI: 0.46; 0.64) on the farms and that of C. abortus was significantly correlated with the regions (0.01 CI: 0.00–0.02) and degree of abortion on the farms (−0.26 CI: −039; −0.14). At the individual level, a significant correlation was observed between the seroprevalence of T. gondii and region (−0.09 CI: −0.14; −0.04), species (0.07 CI: 0.01–0.14), sex (−0.11 CI: −0.18; −0.03), age (0.08 CI: 0.04–0.12) and physiological status (0.21 CI: 0.18; 0.24). For C. abortus seroprevalence, a significant correlation was observed with the regions (0.02 CI: 0.00; 0.03) and breed (0.01 CI: 0.01; 0.02) of small ruminants reared in the northern regions of Cameroon. These results could be used to implement efficient management measures to prevent and control T. gondii and C. abortus infection in goats and sheep in Cameroon. Full article

Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is a potentially blinding infection caused by protozoa found worldwide. The topical application of biguanides and diamidines is the most common anti-amoebic treatment for AK. In this study, we hypothesized that geographical location and socioeconomic status influence the management and treatment of AK. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed case reports and series of Acanthamoeba eye infections from different geographic regions to evaluate the association between diagnosis, treatment, and outcome worldwide. This study looked specifically at case reports of patients with diagnosed AK using bibliographic databases such as PubMed, BioMed Central, and Google Scholar, which were searched between 30 April 1990 and 1 May 2022. The search identified 38 eligible studies that provided data for 60 clinical cases of AK. The results indicated that current standard treatments are effective if the infection is identified early and that delays can lead to clinical symptoms, including permanent visual opacities. There was evidence suggesting an association between the treatment regimen practiced in certain geographic regions and treatment outcome. Patient access to medical facilities and economic background also had an influence on the treatment and outcome of AK. Further analysis of more case reports can expand our understanding of the influence of specific demographic and individual patient characteristics on the effectiveness and accessibility of AK medicines. Additionally, using a living systematic review approach to incorporate emerging evidence will reveal the relative merits of different treatment regimens for AK and outcomes. Full article

Maria Callas’ diet, also known as the tapeworm diet, is a non-food-based hazardous treatment. This study aims to justify whether Maria Callas used this treatment for weight loss. To investigate this, we searched in the ‘white’, ‘grey’, and ‘black’ literature. The historical facts about the use of tapeworm pills seem to be inconsistent and include fake news. In the case of Maria Callas, it has been confirmed by her biography and personal communications that she was diagnosed with a beef tapeworm due to eating uncooked meat. This discredits the hypothesis that she consumed tapeworm pills. Full article