{"title":"A METHOD FOR ISOLATING AND SEQUENCING TRYPANOSOME CELLS TO INVESTIGATE SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS IN MULTIPLE MORPHOTYPE INFECTIONS.","authors":"Ryan P Shannon, Matthew G Bolek","doi":"10.1645/23-34","DOIUrl":"10.1645/23-34","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Trypanosome infections containing multiple morphologies have been described from all classes of vertebrates, including mammals, birds, non-avian reptiles, amphibians, and fish. These mixed infections make it challenging to evaluate trypanosome diversity, as it is not immediately clear whether the forms present in the bloodstream represent different species or a single pleomorphic species. Amphibians are common hosts for trypanosomes and are often infected by multiple trypanosome morphologies in the bloodstream. Based on morphological observations and life cycle studies, many authors have considered multiple trypanosome morphotypes found infecting the same frogs to be a single pleomorphic species. However, molecular evidence supporting pleomorphic trypanosome species in amphibians is lacking, primarily because linking sequence data to bloodstream trypanosome morphology in mixed infections is extremely challenging. Here we present methods to isolate individual trypanosome cells of 6 morphotypes from frog blood for nested PCR of the 18S rRNA and gGAPDH genes. Single trypanosome cells were isolated by dilution and 3 DNA extraction methods, and 5 nested PCR primer regimes were utilized to optimize amplification from very low starting concentrations. The success rates of extraction methods ranged from 29 to 50% with the use of a Direct PCR kit having the highest success rate. Although the success rate varied in the different combinations of extraction methods and primer regimes, multiple individuals of all 6 trypanosome morphotypes were sequenced for both genes in a novel way that links sequence data to cell morphology by observing isolated cells with a microscope before PCR amplification. All 6 morphologically distinguishable morphotypes coinfecting a frog were genetically distinct. The only other recent molecular study on amphibian trypanosomes also found genetic differences between morphotypes in multiple infections. Together these studies suggest that the occurrence of pleomorphism may be overestimated in amphibian trypanosomes. The methods presented here offer a promising solution to characterize trypanosome diversity within multiple morphotype infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":"109 6","pages":"592-602"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138805280","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bharani Gudla, Sarah A Orlofske, Sara V Brant, Vasyl V Tkach, Shelli Dubay, Lauren Holtz, Tyler J Achatz
{"title":"TAXONOMIC REASSESSMENT AND MORPHOLOGICAL REDESCRIPTION OF NEMATOSTRIGEA SERPENS ANNULATA (DIGENEA: STRIGEIDAE) FROM OSPREY IN NORTH AMERICA.","authors":"Bharani Gudla, Sarah A Orlofske, Sara V Brant, Vasyl V Tkach, Shelli Dubay, Lauren Holtz, Tyler J Achatz","doi":"10.1645/23-41","DOIUrl":"10.1645/23-41","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Digenean trematodes in the strigeid genus Nematostrigea are parasites of various birds, most often ospreys (Pandion haliaetus). Nematostrigea currently contains 2 species, Nematostrigea serpens and Nematostigea hepatica. Nematostrigea serpens is divided into 2 subspecies: N. serpens serpens from the Palearctic and Indomalayan realms and N. serpens annulata from the Nearctic realm. In the present work, we studied the type material of N. serpens annulata and collected new specimens from an osprey in Wisconsin close to the type locality. The original description and illustration of N. serpens annulata were incomplete. Herein we provide a detailed redescription and new illustrations of N. serpens annulata on the basis of the type material as well as newly collected and sequenced specimens. Nematostrigea serpens annulata has a distinct tegumental thickening near the mid-length of the genital cone, which is absent in its congeners. Partial sequences of the large ribosomal subunit (28S) DNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) mitochondrial DNA gene sequences were generated from our specimens of N. serpens annulata. Comparisons with previously published sequences of N. serpens serpens from the Palearctic demonstrated 2.2% difference in 28S and 3.7% in COI. On the basis of morphological and molecular comparisons, we elevate N. serpens annulata to species status and recognize it as Nematostrigea annulata Dubois and Rausch, 1948.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":"109 6","pages":"550-558"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138451727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J P Dubey, Larissa S de Araujo, Aditya Gupta, Oliver C H Kwok, Matthew J Lovallo
{"title":"SARCOCYSTIS AND OTHER PARASITES IN FECES OF BOBCATS (LYNX RUFUS) FROM MISSISSIPPI.","authors":"J P Dubey, Larissa S de Araujo, Aditya Gupta, Oliver C H Kwok, Matthew J Lovallo","doi":"10.1645/23-95","DOIUrl":"10.1645/23-95","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Rectal contents of 56 adult bobcats (Lynx rufus) in 2014 and 2017 from remote areas of Mississippi were examined microscopically for parasite stages after the sugar flotation method. Among the helminths, eggs/larvae found were: Paragonimus sp. in 12, Toxocara cati-like in 16, trichurid-capillarid-like in 3, hookworms in 27, and lungworms in 28. Among the protozoa, oocysts/cysts found were: Cystoisospora felis-like in 2, Cystoisospora rivolta-like in 4, Cryptosporidium sp. in 1, and Giardia sp. in 1. Additionally, numerous Sarcocystis sporocysts were detected in the feces of 12 bobcats; sporocysts were described morphologically. The status of C. felis derived from the bobcat and other wild felids is reviewed and compared with C. felis from the domestic cat. It is the first record of C. rivolta from the bobcat. The presence of eggs of Paragonimus sp. and T. cati in feces of 21.4% and 28.5%, respectively, suggests a role for the bobcat in the dissemination of these zoonotic helminths in the environment in the wild. Taxonomy of coccidia of wild Felidae is discussed and Isospora lyncisLevine and Ivens, 1981 from the Lynx is now regarded as a species inquirenda.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":"109 6","pages":"638-642"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139048867","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"VECTOR COMPATIBILITY OF NEW MEXICO GALBA SPECIES WITH THE CANINE SCHISTOSOME HETEROBILHARZIA AMERICANA, INCLUDING THE FIRST REPORT OF GALBA SCHIRAZENSIS AS A COMPATIBLE HOST.","authors":"Martina R Laidemitt, Eric S Loker","doi":"10.1645/23-50","DOIUrl":"10.1645/23-50","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The indigenous North American mammalian schistosome Heterobilharzia americana has recently attracted attention for causing outbreaks in dogs in states outside of its southeastern U.S. distribution. Although H. americana has yet to be reported in New Mexico, we examined 2 New Mexico isolates of Galba snails to determine their susceptibility to experimental infection with an isolate of H. americana from Utah. One of the Galba isolates from the Rio Grande bosque in the Albuquerque suburb of Corrales was identified as Galba humilis, and like specimens of the same taxon from Utah, proved susceptible to H. americana (27.6% of exposed surviving snails positive). The second Galba isolate sourced from the northern mountains of New Mexico, which surprisingly was revealed to be Galba schirazensis based on cytochrome c oxidase 1, 16S rRNA, and the internal transcribed spacer 2 markers, was also susceptible to H. americana (56.3% of exposed surviving field-derived snails and 46.4% first generation [F1] snails positive). This is the first report of the latter snail being a compatible snail host for H. americana. As G. schirazensis has a wide, albeit spotty, distribution and is considered an invasive species, it provides yet another opportunity for H. americana to expand its known range, potentially including the state of New Mexico as well.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":"109 6","pages":"633-637"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139048868","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Matthew A Walker, Matthew G Bolek, Elliott A Zieman, Gabriel J Langford, Florian B Reyda, F Agustín Jiménez
{"title":"MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF GYRINICOLA BATRACHIENSIS (NEMATODA: OXYUROIDEA) LENDS SUPPORT TO THE MONOPHYLY OF THE GENUS AND THE RESURRECTION OF GYRINICOLINAE.","authors":"Matthew A Walker, Matthew G Bolek, Elliott A Zieman, Gabriel J Langford, Florian B Reyda, F Agustín Jiménez","doi":"10.1645/22-108","DOIUrl":"10.1645/22-108","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Gyrinicola Yamaguti, 1938, includes 6 species of oxyurid found within the intestinal tract of numerous, larval, anuran species in Europe, Asia, South America, and North America. The systematic placement and hierarchical treatment of the genus has shifted at least 5 times since its discovery; the group was first considered as its own family (Gyrinicolidae), then treated as a subfamily (Gyrinicolinae) of Cosmocercidae, then as a member of the Pharyngodonidae, followed by movement back to the Cosmocercidae, and finally a recent proposal suggested the resurrection of the Gyrinicolidae. Species in the genus vary widely in the morphology of the uterine tract, a characteristic often used to indicate membership in the genus, as it is tied to the reproductive mode. However, until recently very few genetic data were available to aid in the placement of this unique group of worms, and before this study to the best of our knowledge none existed for the North American species. To examine the monophyly and placement of the Gyrinicola we sampled populations of Gyrinicola batrachiensis across North America and screened them for genetic diversity using nuclear markers 18S and 28S. Phylogenies suggest at least 3 clades exist among the nematodes from North America and that these clades, alongside Gyrinicola japonica, form a well-supported group within Oxyuroidea. Further representation of Pharyngodonidae from other vertebrate classes may help clarify the relationship of this historical grouping to other members of the Oxyuroidea.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":"109 6","pages":"622-632"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139048866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"PRESENTATION OF THE 2023 ASHTON CUCKLER NEW INVESTIGATOR AWARD TO DR. JAMES P. BERNOT.","authors":"Kristin K Herrmann","doi":"10.1645/23-91","DOIUrl":"10.1645/23-91","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":"109 6","pages":"665"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139074382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aleksandra Ledwoń, Ines Szotowska, Izabella Dolka, Piotr Szeleszczuk
{"title":"MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF ORNITHOSTRONGYLUS QUADRIRADIATUS ISOLATED FROM A RACING PIGEON (COLUMBA LIVIA DOMESTICA).","authors":"Aleksandra Ledwoń, Ines Szotowska, Izabella Dolka, Piotr Szeleszczuk","doi":"10.1645/22-103","DOIUrl":"10.1645/22-103","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>An infestation of Ornithostrongylus quadriradiatus, has been found in a racing pigeon Columba livia domestica). In addition, this individual had a mild infection with Trichomonas spp. and Eimeria spp. The bird showed symptoms of increased appetite; unformed, dark- green feces; and lack of typical male behavior, but the general condition of this pigeon was good. The pigeon was euthanized because of a permanent inability to fly due to an injury to the wing. A postmortem examination revealed the presence of very small dark-pink twisted nematodes with the morphology of O. quadriradiatus in the small intestine, mainly the duodenum. Histopathology showed segmental inflammatory changes in the intestines caused by both blood-sucking nematodes and Eimeria spp. The 5.8S ribosomal ribonucleic acid polymerase chain reaction amplicons from deoxyribonucleic acid extracted from O. quadriradiatus had 82.40% identity with Australostrongylus victoriensis and 81.20% with Travassostrongylus spp. This is the first molecular characterization of O. quadriradiatus-a relatively rare pigeon parasite.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":"109 6","pages":"543-549"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72014569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maria Camila Montes-Montoya, Andrés Gaviria-Mendoza, Maria Mónica Murillo-Muñoz, Jaime Andrés Cardona-Ospina, Jorge Enrique Machado-Alba
{"title":"PRESCRIBING PATTERNS AND THE USE OF ANTHELMINTIC DRUGS IN COLOMBIAN PATIENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.","authors":"Maria Camila Montes-Montoya, Andrés Gaviria-Mendoza, Maria Mónica Murillo-Muñoz, Jaime Andrés Cardona-Ospina, Jorge Enrique Machado-Alba","doi":"10.1645/22-8","DOIUrl":"10.1645/22-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Intestinal parasites continue to be a public health problem in low- and middle-income countries. Broad use of anthelmintics during deworming programs is still necessary in many regions. However, description of the usage of these medications in general medical practice has been limited. The objective of this study was to determine the use of anthelmintic drugs and their indications in a group of Colombian patients. This was a descriptive study from a drug-dispensing database, identifying patients with prescriptions for anthelmintic drugs. A total of 381 cases were randomly selected, and their medical records were reviewed, analyzing sociodemographic, clinical, and pharmacological variables (indication of use). The lack of diagnosis registration or clinical manifestations of parasites was determined as a prescription without indication. In total, 50.9% (n = 194) of patients were female, and 67.4% of all patients were under 18 yr of age. The diagnosis of helminthiases was clearly stated in 114 (29.9%) patients, and only 4.2% (n = 16) of these had microbiological confirmation. The most commonly used anthelmintic drug was albendazole (70.4% of all prescriptions). The use of anthelmintics was not indicated in 266 cases (69.8%). Nutritional supplements or vitamin prescriptions were associated with using anthelmintics without indication (odds ratio: 2.25; 95% confidence interval: 1.26-4.03). A high proportion of patients lacked symptoms or diagnoses in their clinical records that supported the use of anthelmintic drugs.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":"109 6","pages":"537-542"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72014570","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cierra Briggs, Elizabeth Smith, Jordan Vansandt, Brandon Carr, Kelly Loftin, Emily G McDermott
{"title":"PREVALENCE OF EHRLICHIA AND ANAPLASMA SPP. IN TICKS COLLECTED FROM CATTLE AND DEER IN ARKANSAS, USA.","authors":"Cierra Briggs, Elizabeth Smith, Jordan Vansandt, Brandon Carr, Kelly Loftin, Emily G McDermott","doi":"10.1645/23-53","DOIUrl":"10.1645/23-53","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bovine anaplasmosis, caused by Anaplasma marginale, is widespread in cattle in the southeast United States. The pathogen is biologically transmitted by Dermacentor spp. ticks, and mechanically transmitted by biting flies and via fomites. Despite high reported regional seroprevalence, Dermacentor spp. are rare on cattle in the southeast. To identify other putative An. marginale vectors, and to characterize cattle exposure to other tick-borne pathogens, we collected ticks from Arkansas cattle herds in 2020-2022. Recognizing that deer are important hosts for some of the same tick species that parasitize cattle, we also collected ticks from hunter-killed deer in the fall and winter of 2021. Ticks were screened for bacteria in the family Anaplasmataceae using qPCR. Positive samples were further amplified using a PCR assay targeting the groEL gene, and the resulting amplicons were sequenced for identification. A total of 3,794 ticks were collected, the majority of which were Amblyomma americanum. Amblyomma americanum was the most common species on cattle, and Ixodes scapularis was most common on deer. No ticks were positive for An. marginale, though Anaplasma phagocytophilum was detected in deer-collected I. scapularis, as well as in a single engorged Am. americanum from cattle. Amblyomma americanum from cattle were infected with Ehrlichia ewingii, Ehrilichia chaffeensis, and Panola Mountain Ehrlichia. Cattle in Arkansas are exposed to several ehrlichial pathogens and may also be exposed to An. phagocytophilum. The importance of these pathogens, particularly Panola Mountain Ehrlichia, in causing cattle disease in Arkansas deserves further study, as does the importance of mechanical transmission of An. marginale in bovine anaplasmosis epidemiology.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":"109 5","pages":"530-536"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71412666","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}