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Animals
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It’s a Nematode World!
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It’s a Nematode World!

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2022) | Viewed by 13617

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Giada D'Errico

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Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II Via Università 100, 80056 Portici (Naples), Italy
Interests: soil nematodes; crop protection
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Maria Paola Maurelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, 80137 Naples, Italy
Interests: epidemiology; diagnosis (with classical and innovative techniques) and control of protozoa; helminths and arthropods of veterinary and human interest
Dr. Francesco Vinale

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Via Federico Delpino 1, I-80137 Naples, Italy
Interests: plant protection; biocontrol; bioactive secondary metabolites; biopesticides; biostimulants; Trichoderma spp.; disease resistance; biofertilizers; host plant resistance; pest management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nematodes are the most abundant metazoa on Earth, and nematode-borne diseases represent a risk for plants, animals, and humans worldwide. Free-living nematodes together with plant, animal, and human parasitic nematodes are the main aim of nematology studies.

Plant-parasitic nematodes cause root rot, cysts, reductions in nutrients uptake and plant growth, and plant death, changing their availability also for animal feeding. Some nematodes can also be vectors of plant viruses. In animals and humans, most nematodes are localized in the gastrointestinal tract, with reduced productivity in livestock and negative health impacts in all the hosts. This situation is further exacerbated by treatment failure due to the escalating spread of anthelmintic resistance (AR) that constrains the control of helminth infections. For this reason, alternative helminth control strategies, based especially on natural products with anthelmintic activity, are being developed. Free-living nematodes are non-parasitic nematodes in soil and/or water, feeding on fungi, bacteria, algae, protozoans or other nematodes. However, the phylogenetic relationship of parasitic nematode groups to free-living species remains problematic.

The management of these parasites represents a huge challenge in different branches (plant protection, entomology, parasitology, animal production, animal nutrition, etc.), and therefore a multidisciplinary approach is necessary.

In this Special Issue, we aim to bring together research articles, reviews, and short communications that investigate all aspects of the phylogenesis, ecology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and control of nematodes.

Dr. Giada D'Errico
Prof. Dr. Maria Paola Maurelli
Dr. Francesco Vinale
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Parasitology
  • Nematodes
  • Phylogenesis
  • Biodiversity
  • Ecology
  • Diagnosis
  • Control
  • Pest management
  • Anthelmintic resistance
  • Metabolic footprints

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 714 KiB  
Article
A Potential Anthelmintic Phytopharmacological Source of Origanum vulgare (L.) Essential Oil against Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Sheep
by Filip Štrbac, Slobodan Krnjajić, Maria Paola Maurelli, Dragica Stojanović, Nataša Simin, Dejan Orčić, Radomir Ratajac, Kosta Petrović, Goran Knežević, Giuseppe Cringoli, Laura Rinaldi and Antonio Bosco
Animals 2023, 13(1), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010045 - 22 Dec 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2707
Abstract
The development of anthelmintic resistance in sheep gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) requires novel strategies for the sustainable control of these parasites. This study aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of the Origanum vulgare (L.) essential oil (EO) against sheep GINs and to evaluate the [...] Read more.
The development of anthelmintic resistance in sheep gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) requires novel strategies for the sustainable control of these parasites. This study aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of the Origanum vulgare (L.) essential oil (EO) against sheep GINs and to evaluate the possibility of its use in control practice. The in vitro egg hatch test was conducted at eight different concentrations (50, 12.5, 3.125, 0.781, 0.195, 0.049, 0.025, and 0.0125 mg/mL) of the tested EO. For the in vivo fecal egg count reduction test, the EO of O. vulgare was administrated orally at a mean single dose of 150 mg/kg to sheep from two farms in Southern Italy, whereby potential toxic effects to the hosts were also evaluated. In the egg hatch test, the inhibition of egg hatchability varied from 71.3% to 93.7%, depending on the concentration used. The high anthelmintic potential was confirmed in the fecal egg count reduction test with an average reduction of nematode eggs in feces of 43.2% and 60.1% on days 7 and 14 after treatment, respectively. In addition, no toxic effects were noticed during the clinical examination of sheep or by observing blood count and liver or kidney function test results. The obtained results suggest the strong activity of the O. vulgare EO against sheep GINs, probably due to a high percentage of carvacrol (76.21%), whereby it can be considered safe for sheep at the dose tested in vivo. Therefore, it is suitable for use in veterinary practice as a part of an integrated strategy for the control of sheep GINs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue It’s a Nematode World!)
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12 pages, 1600 KiB  
Article
Host–Parasite Relationship—Nematode Communities in Populations of Small Mammals
by Milan Miljević, Borislav Čabrilo, Ivana Budinski, Marija Rajičić, Branka Bajić, Olivera Bjelić-Čabrilo and Jelena Blagojević
Animals 2022, 12(19), 2617; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12192617 - 29 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2603
Abstract
Nematode burdens and variation in morphological characteristics were assessed in eighty-eight animals from three host species (Apodemus sylvaticus, Apodemus flavicollis, and Myodes glareolus) from eight localities in Serbia. In total, 15 species of nematodes were identified, and the overall [...] Read more.
Nematode burdens and variation in morphological characteristics were assessed in eighty-eight animals from three host species (Apodemus sylvaticus, Apodemus flavicollis, and Myodes glareolus) from eight localities in Serbia. In total, 15 species of nematodes were identified, and the overall mean parasite species richness (IndPSR) was 1.61 per animal (1.98 in A. flavicollis, 1.43 in M. glareolus, and 0.83 in A. sylvaticus). Furthermore, the studied host species significantly differed in individual parasite load (IndPL) and in the following morphological characters: spleen mass, body condition index (BCI), and body mass. We aimed to analyze the relationship between the burden of intestinal nematodes, on one hand, and the body conditions of the host and its capability to develop immune defends on the other. Spleen mass was considered as a measure of immune response. In all host species, larger animals with a better condition (higher BCI) were infected with more parasites species (IndPSR), while parasite load was not related to BCI. Only in A. flavicollis were males significantly larger, but females of the same sizes were infected with more parasite species. This female-biased parasitism is contrary to the theoretical expectation that males should be more parasitized, being larger, more active, with a wider home range. Although the spleen size was significantly correlated with body condition and body mass, IndPSR was not related to spleen mass in any studied species, but in M. galareolus, we found that a smaller spleen was related to higher infection intensity (IndPL). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue It’s a Nematode World!)
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14 pages, 2501 KiB  
Article
Impact of Super-High Density Olive Orchard Management System on Soil Free-Living and Plant-Parasitic Nematodes in Central and South Italy
by Silvia Landi, Giada d’Errico, Rossella Papini, Ilaria Cutino, Stefania Simoncini, Andrea Rocchini, Giorgio Brandi, Roberto Rizzo, Giovanni Gugliuzza, Giacinto Salvatore Germinara, Salvatore Nucifora, Gaetana Mazzeo and Pio Federico Roversi
Animals 2022, 12(12), 1551; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12121551 - 15 Jun 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1909
Abstract
The soil nematode community plays an important role in ecosystem services. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of Super-high density (SHD) olive orchards on the nematode community in five sites with different soils, climates, and cultivars. At each site, [...] Read more.
The soil nematode community plays an important role in ecosystem services. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of Super-high density (SHD) olive orchards on the nematode community in five sites with different soils, climates, and cultivars. At each site, the SHD management system was compared to the adjacent olive orchard traditional (TRAD) system, in which the same soil management and phytosanitary measures were applied. Soil management was assessed by total organic carbon content (TOC), while the soil nematode community was evaluated using the nematode taxa abundances and soil nematode indicators. TOC was significantly decreased in the SHD olive orchard system compared to TRAD in the sites characterized by conventional tillage and mineral fertilization. The two-way ANOSIM analysis on nematode abundance showed no difference between the two olive management methods, instead showing only a significant difference per site mainly due to variabilities in plant-parasitic nematode assemblage. However, a negative impact of SHD management was evident in environments stressed by summer droughts and conventional tillage: the ratio of obligate plant-parasites to bacterivores and fungivores (Pp/(B+F)) was significantly higher in SHD than in the TRAD olive orchard system, and the prey-to-predator θ mass ratio showed the lowest values in the sites under organic fertilization or green manure. The canonical correspondence analysis showed that the free-living nematodes were only slightly affected by SHD olive orchards; instead, the presence of plant-parasitic nematodes families such as Telotylenchidae, Paratylenchidae, Meloidogynidae, and Criconematidae was favored, in comparison to Longidoridae, Heteroderidae, and Pratylenchidae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue It’s a Nematode World!)
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14 pages, 1609 KiB  
Article
Loline Alkaloid Effects on Gastrointestinal Nematodes
by Kelly Ann Froehlich, Robin McAnulty and Andy Greer
Animals 2022, 12(8), 996; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12080996 - 12 Apr 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1754
Abstract
Loline, an alkaloid with several derivatives, has suggested antimicrobial and anthelmintic properties. Therefore, loline was investigated as a natural anthelmintic against Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Teladorsagia circumcincta, and Haemonchus contortus. Preliminary in vitro studies had reduced L3 T. circumcincta establishment but no [...] Read more.
Loline, an alkaloid with several derivatives, has suggested antimicrobial and anthelmintic properties. Therefore, loline was investigated as a natural anthelmintic against Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Teladorsagia circumcincta, and Haemonchus contortus. Preliminary in vitro studies had reduced L3 T. circumcincta establishment but no effect on L3 T. colubriformis larvae migration or H. contortus establishment. While loline-treated lambs had lower establishment of L4 and adult T. circumcincta and L4 T. colubriformis, L4 and adult H. contortus appeared unaffected. Following preliminary study, an in vivo experiment examined lambs infected with a mix of L4 T. circumcincta, T. colubriformis, and adult H. contortus. These lambs were treated with either a loline seed extract (LOL, n = 7), nothing (CON, n = 7), or a non-loline seed extract (NIL, n = 2). There were no differences in worm burdens, fecal egg counts, weight gain, or feed intake between treatments. However, an average growth efficiency (kg LWG/kg DM intake) was detected (p = 0.01) in CON (0.18) which was less than LOL (0.24) or NIL (0.23). There was limited evidence to support an in vivo anti-parasitic effect of loline despite in vitro studies indicating potential benefits. Discrepancies between in vivo and in vitro studies results were potentially a result of loline contact time with larvae, mode of ingestion or the forms of loline present. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue It’s a Nematode World!)
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17 pages, 5097 KiB  
Article
Characterization and Functional Importance of Two Glycoside Hydrolase Family 16 Genes from the Rice White Tip Nematode Aphelenchoides besseyi
by Hui Feng, Dongmei Zhou, Paul Daly, Xiaoyu Wang and Lihui Wei
Animals 2021, 11(2), 374; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020374 - 2 Feb 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2817
Abstract
The glycoside hydrolase family 16 (GH16) is widely found in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and hydrolyzes the β-1,3(4)-linkages in polysaccharides. Notably, the rice white tip nematode Aphelenchoides besseyi harbors a higher number of GH16s compared with other plant-parasitic nematodes. In this work, two GH16 [...] Read more.
The glycoside hydrolase family 16 (GH16) is widely found in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and hydrolyzes the β-1,3(4)-linkages in polysaccharides. Notably, the rice white tip nematode Aphelenchoides besseyi harbors a higher number of GH16s compared with other plant-parasitic nematodes. In this work, two GH16 genes, namely AbGH16-1 and AbGH16-2, were isolated and characterized from A. besseyi. The deduced amino acid sequences of AbGH16-1 and AbGH16-2 contained an N-terminal signal peptide and a fungal Lam16A glucanase domain. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that AbGH16-1 and AbGH16-2 clustered with ascomycete GH16s, suggesting AbGH16-1 and AbGH16-2 were acquired by horizontal gene transfer from fungi. In situ hybridization showed that both AbGH16-1 and AbGH16-2 were specifically expressed in the nematode gonads, correlating with qPCR analysis that showed the high transcript levels of the two genes in the female nematodes. AbGH16-1 and AbGH16-2 were also significantly induced in nematodes feeding on Botrytis cinerea. Characterization of the recombinant protein showed AbGH16-1 and AbGH16-2 displayed pronounced inhibition of both conidial germination and germ tube elongation of B. cinerea. In addition, silencing of AbGH16-1 and AbGH16-2 by RNA interference significantly decreased the reproduction ability of A. besseyi and had a profound impact on the development process of offspring in this nematode. These findings have firstly proved that GH16s may play important roles in A.besseyi feeding and reproduction on fungi, which thus provides novel insights into the function of GH16s in plant-parasitic nematodes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue It’s a Nematode World!)
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