Summary
Fasciola hepatica is a trematode parasite with a global distribution, which is responsible for considerable disease and production losses in a range of food producing species. It is also identified by WHO as a re-emerging neglected tropical disease associated with endemic and epidemic outbreaks of disease in human populations. In Europe, F. hepatica is mostly associated with disease in sheep, cattle and goats. This study reviews the most recent advances in our understanding of the transmission, diagnosis, epidemiology and the economic impact of fasciolosis. We also focus on the impact of the spread of resistance to anthelmintics used to control F. hepatica and consider how vaccines might be developed and applied in the context of the immune-modulation driven by the parasite. Several major research gaps are identified which, when addressed, will contribute to providing focussed and where possible, bespoke, advice for farmers on how to integrate stock management and diagnosis with vaccination and/or targeted treatment to more effectively control the parasite in the face of increasing the prevalence of infection and spread of anthelmintic resistance that are likely to be exacerbated by climate change.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/tbed.12682

Fasciola and fasciolosis in ruminants in Europe: Identifying research needs

To get an overview of the current state of endoparasite prevalences in stray and not well-cared dogs and cats, faecal samples of 445 stray and foster dogs and 837 stray and foster cats were collected at their arrival at animal shelters in Lower Saxony (Germany). They were investigated for infections with endoparasites by the use of sedimentation–flotation method. Additionally, 341 canine and 584 feline samples were investigated by IDEXX SNAP® Giardia test. Stages of endoparasites were found coproscopically in 9.4 % (n = 42) of the canine samples, 4.0 % were positive for Toxocara canis, 0.9 % for hookworms, 0.4 % for Toxascaris leonina and 0.2 % for Hammondia-like oocysts. Giardia-coproantigen was detected in 11.4 % of the canine samples. In cats, 33.6 % (n = 281) were coproscopically positive for helminths and/or protozoa. Toxocara cati was found in 27.1 %, Isospora spp. in 7.5 %, Capillaria spp. 5.0 %, Taeniidae in 2.0 %, hookworms in 1.1 %, Giardia sp. in 0.7 %, Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in 1.0 % and Toxoplasma-like oocysts in 0.1 %. Coproantigen specific for Giardia sp. was detected in 6.8 % of the feline samples. Dogs and cats up to 1 year of age were more frequently infected with endoparasites than animals over 1 year of age (p < 0.001). Toxocara spp. and Isospora spp. were detected significantly more often in younger dogs and cats, respectively (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001). Stray dogs or cats older than 1 year were significantly more frequently infected with endoparasites than dropped off animals of the same age group (p < 0.05). Using the faecal egg count reduction test, the therapeutic efficacy of some anthelmintics was tested. All tested anthelmintics showed high efficacy and no suspected anthelmintic resistance was found. However, endoparasite-infected stray and free-roaming cats and dogs may contribute considerably to the contamination of public parks, playgrounds and sandpits with zoonotic parasites and therefore have to be considered a public health problem.

Prevalence of endoparasites in stray and fostered dogs and cats in Northern Germany

Summary
1. Testosterone has emerged as an important mechanism linking variation in male reproductive behaviour to parasite infection in vertebrates, and there are numerous pathways by which testosterone can influence infection risk, particularly in free-living animals.

2. The immunocompetence handicap hypothesis posits that the positive effects of testosterone on sexual signalling and behaviour are traded off with negative effects on immune function. While this obligate trade-off may sometimes explain the association between testosterone and parasite infection, testosterone–parasite relationships may also be mediated by correlated changes in stress, condition and exposure to parasites.

3. In this study, we explored associations between testosterone and reproductive behaviour, immune function and parasitism in free-living Grant’s gazelle (Nanger granti). In particular, we examined how stress (glucocorticoids), behaviour and condition might mediate associations between testosterone, immunity and parasitism.

4. We found that variation in endogenous testosterone in male gazelle was correlated with mating behaviour in terms of sexual signal intensity (horn size) and resource-holding potential (territoriality). We also showed that these same levels of testosterone were associated with immunity and parasite infection, but associations between testosterone, immunity and parasitism were complex. Testosterone was negatively associated with adaptive immunity, but positively associated with innate immunity. Relationships between testosterone and parasitism varied for different parasites.

5. Our results suggest that the effects of testosterone on male immunity are not universally suppressive and that immunoenhancement may also occur. In addition, testosterone–parasite relationships vary depending on the parasite, most likely due to the opposing effects of testosterone on different aspects of immunity and indirect effects on parasite exposure mediated by changes in behaviour.

/pdf/unravelling-complex-associations-between-testosterone-and-1ay7clvn57.pdf

Unravelling complex associations between testosterone and parasite infection in the wild

The loss of genetic variation in host populations is thought to increase host susceptibility to parasites. However, few data exist to test this hypothesis in natural populations. Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) populations occasionally suffer disease-induced population declines, allowing us to test for the associations between reduced genetic variation and parasitism in this species. Here, we show that individual mean heterozygosity for 15 microsatellite loci is associated with lungworm abundance (Protostrongylus spp.) in a small, recently bottlenecked population of bighorn sheep (linear regression, r2=0.339, p=0.007). This association remains significant for seven microsatellites located in genes (p=0.010), but not for eight neutral microsatellites (p=0.306). Furthermore, heterozygotes at three of four microsatellites located within disease-related genes had lower lungworm burdens. This study corroborates theoretical findings that increased parasitism and disease may be a consequence of reduced heterozygosity in wild populations, and that certain individual loci influence parasite resistance. The results illustrate the usefulness of using genomic information, strong candidate genes and non-invasive sampling for monitoring both genetic variation and fitness-related traits, such as parasite resistance, in natural populations.

/pdf/candidate-gene-microsatellite-variation-is-associated-with-31k6c2smyw.pdf

Candidate gene microsatellite variation is associated with parasitism in wild bighorn sheep.

Pollen and non-pollen palynomorph indicators of vegetation and highland grazing activities obtained from modern surface and dung datasets in the eastern Pyrenees

Preface. Introduction. Section 1. Diagnostic Parasitology. Section 2. General Parasitology. Section 3. Parasites of Dogs. Section 4. Parasites of Cats. Section 5. Parasites of Cattle, Sheep, and Goats. Section 6. Parasites of Llamas. Section 7. Parasites of Horses. Section 8. Parasites of Pigs. Section 9. Parasites of Birds. Section 10. Parasites of Ratites (Ostriches, Emus, and Cassowaries) Section 11. Parasites of Laboratory Animals. Section 12. Parasites of Wildlife. Section 13. Parasites of Wildlife. Section 13. Parasites of Marine Mammals. Section 14. Parasites of Reptiles. Section 15. Parasites of Humans. Section 16. Common Artifacts in Feces. Section 17. Tables. Index.

Veterinary Parasitology Reference Manual

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Veterinary Parasitology Reference Manual