Folia Parasitologica - Most viewed articles

Diversity and phylogenetic relationships of 'tetraphyllidean' Clade 3 (Cestoda) based on new material from orectolobiform sharks in Australia and Taiwan

Janine N. Caira, K. Jensen

Folia Parasitologica 69:010 (2022) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2022.010  

In an effort to expand knowledge of Clade 3-one of the ten clades that compose the non-monophyletic order 'Tetraphyllidea' all current members of which parasitise orectolobiform sharks-we targeted species of orectolobiform sharks that had not previously been examined for 'tetraphyllidean' cestodes. That work led to the discovery of three new species off Australia and Taiwan. Ambitalveolus gen. n. was erected to accommodate these species. Ambitalveolus costelloae gen. n. et sp. n., Ambitalveolus kempi sp. n., and Ambitalveolus penghuensis sp. n. differ from one another in scolex size, genital pore position, and number of...

Association between toxocariasis seropositivity and serointensity and cognitive function in older U.S. adults

Lance D. Erickson, Dawson Hedges, Allison Stone, Bruce L. Brown, Bradley Embley, Shawn D. Gale

Folia Parasitologica 69:011 (2022) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2022.011  

The nematodes Toxocara canis (Werner, 1782) and Toxocara cati (Schrank, 1788) have been associated with worse human cognitive function in children and middle-aged adults. In this study, we sought to determine the association between Toxocara seropositivity and serointensity determined by detection of IgG antibodies against the Toxocara antigen recombinant Tc-CTL-1 and cognitive function in older adults, including approximately 1,350 observations from the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Mean fluorescence intensity was used to quantify IgG antibodies against the Toxocara recombinant Tc-CTL-1...

Molecular evidence suggests the occurrence of Entamoeba moshkovskii in pigs with zoonotic potential from eastern India

Sanjib K. Sardar, Koushik Das, Maimoon Maruf, Tapas Haldar, Yumiko Saito-Nakano, Seiki Kobayashi, Shanta Dutta, Sandipan Ganguly

Folia Parasitologica 69:012 (2022) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2022.012  

Entamoeba moshkovskii Tshalaia, 1941 is prevalent in developing countries and it is considered to be primarily a free-living amoeba, which is morphologically indistinguishable, but biochemically and genetically different from the human infecting, pathogenic Entamoeba histolytica Schaudinn, 1903. The pathogenic potential of this organism is still under discussion. Entamoeba moshkovskii in human stool samples has been reported in different countries such as the United States, Italy, Australia, Iran, Turkey, Bangladesh, India (Pondicherry), Indonesia, Colombia, Malaysia, Tunisia, Tanzania and Brazil, but no data are available about...

Detection of Dermocystidium anguillae in imported elvers of American eel Anguilla rostrata in China

Dan Li, Pin Nie, Yang Liu

Folia Parasitologica 69:013 (2022) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2022.013  

In recent years, an emerging dermocystidiosis caused by Dermocystidium anguillae Spangenberg, 1975 has been found to pose a threat to the culture of American eel, Anguilla rostrata (Lesueur), as well as Chinese perch, Siniperca chuatsi (Basilewsky), in China. Dermocystidium anguillae was originally described from European eel, Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus), and it is thus important to identify the possible source of this pathogen. In the present study, we compared D. anguillae from European eels cultured in China with those from American eels. Molecular analysis showed that the SSU rDNA of D. anguillae...

Four carangid fish species as new host records for Kudoa trachuri Matsukane, Sato, Tanaka, Kamata et Sugita-Konishi, 2011 (Myxozoa: Multivalvulida), and description of a new species, Kudoa longichorda sp. n., forming pseudocysts in the muscle of Decapterus tabl Berry

Ken Inoue, Akihiro Kasai, Bayanzul Argamjav, Hiroshi Sato

Folia Parasitologica 69:017 (2022) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2022.017  

Multivalvulid myxosporeans of the genera Kudoa Meglitsch, 1947 and Unicapsula Davis, 1924 (Cnidaria: Myxozoa) are often the cause of unsightly cyst formation or postmortem myoliquefaction in the trunk muscle of commercial marine fish, which reduces the market value of infected individuals. Twenty species (18 Kudoa spp. and two Unicapsula spp.) have been recorded from carangid fish, although the majority of them, excluding polyxenous species, such as K. amamiensis Egusa et Nakajima, 1980, K. iwatai Egusa et Shiomitsu, 1983, K. nova Naidenova, 1975, K. quadratum (Thélohan, 1895) and K....

Polarisation of human macrophages towards an M1 subtype triggered by an atypical Brazilian strain of Toxoplasma gondii results in a reduction in parasite burden

Paula Suellen Guimarães Gois, Priscila Silva Franco, Samuel Cota Teixeira, Pâmela Mendonça Guirelli, Thádia Evelyn de Araújo, Deivid William da Fonseca Batistão, Fernanda Chaves de Oliveira, Gabriela Lícia Santos Ferreira, Angelica de Oliveira Gomes, Silvio Favoreto Jr., José Roberto Mineo, Bellisa de Freitas Barbosa, Eloisa Amália Vieira Ferro

Folia Parasitologica 69:020 (2022) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2022.020  

Toxoplasma gondii Nicolle et Manceaux, 1909, the etiologic agent of toxoplasmosis, was considered a clonal population with three distinct genetic lineages (I, II and III); however, sequence analysis of different strains has revealed distinct atypical genotypes. Macrophages are essential for immunity against toxoplasmosis and differential cell regulation may affect the course of the disease. In this context, our study aims to investigate the infection by TgChBrUD2, a highly virulent atypical Brazilian strain of T. gondii, on the activation and polarisation of human macrophages. Human macrophage-like cells obtained from THP-1 cells were...

Morphological description and molecular characterisation of Dactylogyrus matlopong sp. n. (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) from the South African endemic Labeobarbus aeneus (Cyprinidae: Torinae)

Aline A. Acosta, Marliese Truter, Wynand Malherbe, Nico J. Smit

Folia Parasitologica 69:021 (2022) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2022.021  

Dactylogyrus Diesing, 1850 is the most species-rich genus in Platyhelminthes, with over 900 documented species, that are mostly strictly specific to freshwater cyprinoids. The morphological Dactylogyrus groups afrobarbae-type, carpathicus-type, pseudoanchoratus-type, and varicorhini-type are known to occur in Africa. This study describes a new species of Dactylogyrus of the varicorhini-type from the gills of the endemic smallmouth yellowfish Labeobarbus aeneus (Burchell) from the Vaal River, Free State Province, South Africa. Dactylogyrus matlopong sp. n. is unique among its varicorhini-type congeners mainly by the...

Calicophoron daubneyi (Dinnik, 1962) (Digenea) in beef and dairy cattle in the Czech Republic: prevalence and drug efficacy

Anna Baštýřová Brutovská, Pavlína Vogalová, Michael Rost, Bohumil Sak, Martin Kváč

Folia Parasitologica 70:001 (2023) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2023.001  

A total of 1,724 beef and 2,941 dairy cattle older than one year from 66 beef and 67 dairy farms in the Czech Republic were examined for the presence of rumen and liver fluke eggs in 2019-2022. Out of 227 positive animals, all were positive for paramphistome and five for fasciolid eggs. Molecular analysis of the ITS2 rDNA revealed the presence of Calicophoron daubneyi (Dinnik, 1962) and Fasciola hepatica Linnaeus, 1758. Faecal egg count (FEC) showed low infection intensity (12 EPG) in animals infected with F. hepatica and high variability in C. daubneyi infections (2-589 EPG). Efficacy of oxyclozanide, albendazole, ivermectin,...

Additional data on Spinitectus petterae (Nematoda: Rhabditida) from Clarias gariepinus (Siluriformes: Clariidae) in the Vaal River system: conserved morphology or high intraspecific genetic variability?

Lucinda Austin, Quinton Marco Dos Santos, Annemariè Avenant-Oldewage

Folia Parasitologica 70:002 (2023) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2023.002  

Two species of Spinitectus Fourment, 1884 have been recorded from southern Africa, namely Spinitectus polli Campana-Rouget, 1961 and Spinitectus petterae Boomker, 1993, both from the Limpopo River system. Spinitectus petterae was described from North African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), whereas S. polli infects squeakers, Synodontis spp. During parasitological surveys in the Vaal River system (Orange River catchment), Spinitectus specimens were collected from C. gariepinus. These systems are adjacent but not connected. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the specimens collected...

Henneguya (Cnidaria: Myxobolidae) species infecting Oligosarcus jenynsii (Characiformes: Characidae) in a Neotropical shallow lake from Argentina: morphological and molecular characterisation

María Alejandra Rossin, Delfina María Paula Cantatore, Martina Lisnerová, Verónica Taglioretti, Astrid Sibylle Holzer

Folia Parasitologica 71:005 (2024) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2024.005  

Two previously undescribed myxozoan species, Henneguya sardellae sp. n. and H. margaritae sp. n., found infecting connective tissues of the Neotropical characid fish Oligosarcus jenynsii (Günther) from Argentina are morphologically and molecularly characterised. Mature spores of H. sardellae sp. n. are ellipsoid, with two, straight and visibly fused caudal appendages cleaved at its blunt terminal end; measuring 33.5 ± 1.2 (30.9-35.5) μm in total length, spore body 17.5 ± 0.6 (16.3-18.6) µm, 7.8 ± 0.4 (7.0-8.8) µm wide and 6.9 ± 0.2 (6.6-7.2) µm thick, with two elongated, unequally-sized...

Heterocheilus floridensis sp. n. (Nematoda: Heterocheilidae) from the West Indian manatee Trichechus manatus (Trichechidae, Sirenia) in Florida, USA

František Moravec, Micah D. Bakenhaster, Seifu Seyoum, Michael D. Tringali

Folia Parasitologica 71:006 (2024) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2024.006  

Morphological data are used to describe a new nematode species, Heterocheilus floridensis sp. n. (Heterocheilidae) from the digestive tract of the Florida manatee Trichechus manatus latirostris (Harlan) (Trichechidae, Sirenia) from Florida, USA. Examination by light and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the new species differs from the related Heterocheilus tunicatus Diesing, 1839 mainly by having dentigerous ridges on the inner surface of the lips, a median unpaired papilla located anterior to the cloaca, and a considerably larger body size. Sequence data for subunits I and II of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase...

Mapping of intermediate host snails for schistosomiasis in the Democratic Republic of Congo: a systematic review

Germain Kapour Kieng Katsang, Cecilia Wangari Wambui, Joule Madinga, Tine Huyse, Patrick Mitashi

Folia Parasitologica 71:010 (2024) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2024.010  

Schistosomiasis is a snail-borne disease that has a considerable impact on human and animal health, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The intermediate hosts of the schistosome parasites are freshwater snails of the genera Biomphalaria Preston, 1910 and Bulinus Müller, 1781. In order to identify existing gaps in the spread of the disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), this study compiled the available knowledge of the distribution, population dynamics and ecology of the intermediate hosts of schistosomiasis. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase and Scopus for all malacological studies on schistosoma...

Use of the EmsB microsatellite-based next generation sequencing for genotyping of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato in hydatid cyst tissue samples from animals and humans

Suheir Ereqat, Amer Al-Jawabreh, Hanan Al-Jawabreh, Abedelmajeed Nasereddin

Folia Parasitologica 71:014 (2024) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2024.014  

Echinococcus granulosus (Batsch, 1786), a cestode of the Teniidae family, causes human cystic echinococcosis (CE) also known as hydatid disease. Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato includes the G1, G3, G4, G5, G6/7 and G8/10 genotypes which are known to cause human CE. This study aimed to differentiate genotypes of E. granulosus s.l. complex by employing EmsB, a tandemly repeated multilocus microsatellite, using next-generation sequencing (MIC-NGS). Human and animal histopathology-confirmed hydatid cyst tissue samples and reference DNA samples of E. granulosus G1, G3, G4, G5, G6/7 and G10 underwent MIC-NGS assay with custom...

Bertiella anapolytica Baylis, 1934 (Cestoda, Anoplocephalidae) in Rattus spp.: morphology, distribution and evolutionary history

Voitto Haukisalmi, Alexis Ribas, Serge Morand

Folia Parasitologica 72:004 (2025) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2025.004  

The present study describes the morphology and phylogenetic position of two specimens of Bertiella Stiles et Hassall, 1902 (Cestoda, Anoplocephalidae) from Rattus tanezumi (Temminck) (Muridae) from Đồng Tháp Province in southern Vietnam. The phylogenetic analysis was based on sequences of the large subunit ribosomal RNA gene (28S). The specimens were described and shown to be morphologically similar to Bertiella anapolytica Baylis, 1934 from Rattus spp. from Indonesia (Sumatra, type locality) and Australia, except for a few quantitative differences. The identification was confirmed by the phylogenetic analysis, which...

Host-parasite relationships of Zootoca vivipara (Sauria: Lacertidae) in the Pyrenees (North Spain)

Vanessa Sanchis, Juan M. Roig, Miguel A. Carretero, Vicente Roca, Gustavo A. Llorente

Folia Parasitologica 47[2] 118-122 (2000) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2000.024  

The helminths infesting the common lizard, Zootoca vivipara (Jacquin, 1787), were studied with special attention to the relations between the number of nematodes, Oswaldocruzia filiformis (Goeze,1782), and the size, sex and age class of the host. The possible seasonality of the parasite intensity and the relationship with the feeding habits of the host were also tested. Helminth infracommunities of Z. vivipara were depauperate with lizards harbouring only two species, the trematode Plagiorchis molini (Lent et Freitas, 1940) and the nematode O. filiformis. A positive correlation between host size and the number of...

Peculiarities of behaviour of taiga (Ixodes persulcatus) and sheep (Ixodes ricinus) ticks (Acarina: Ixodidae) determined by different methods

Andrey N. Alekseev, Per M. Jensen, Helen V. Dubinina, Lioubov A. Smirnova, Natalia A. Makrouchina, Sergey D. Zharkov

Folia Parasitologica 47[2] 147-153 (2000) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2000.029  

A comparison of the behavioural peculiarities of Ixodes persulcatus Schulze, 1930 (north-western population, Russia) and Ixodes ricinus (L., 1758) from western Russia and Denmark was determined by using two methods. Method 1 involved a sojourn of ticks on vertical plastic sticks and showed that the questing behaviour of I. ricinus nymphs was dependent on temperature and relative humidity (RH). A significantly greater number of nymphs quested at 22°C and 100% RH than at 18°C. When the humidity was reduced to 30% all of the nymphs departed. In the second method, the activity of ticks on an inclined "ticksdrome" was estimated. The...

Myxobolus intrachondrealis sp. n. (Myxosporea: Myxobolidae), a parasite of the gill cartilage of the common carp, Cyprinus carpio

Kálmán Molnár

Folia Parasitologica 47[3] 167-171 (2000) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2000.033  

A species not identifiable with any of the about 23 Myxobolus species recorded from the common carp so far, was detected in the gills of one- and two-summer-old specimens of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) cultured in pond farms in Hungary. The strictly tissue-specific plasmodia of the parasite were located, surrounded by hyaline cartilage cells, in the chondrous substance of the terminal parts of the gill arches and in the cartilage structure ventrally connecting the gill arches. The spores of the parasite described as Myxobolus intrachondrealis sp. n. developed in globular or ellipsoidal plasmodia measuring 300-600 µm....

Morphometrics and seasonal occurrence of metacestodes of Neogryporhynchus cheilancristrotus (Cyclophyllidea: Dilepididae) in the blue bream (Abramis ballerus) from the Oder River (Germany/Poland)

Michael Pietrock, Tomáš Scholz

Folia Parasitologica 47[3] 181-185 (2000) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2000.035  

From May 1993 to April 1995, the seasonal occurrence of metacestodes of Neogryporhynchus cheilancristrotus (Wedl, 1855) (Cyclophyllidea: Dilepididae) in its second intermediate host, the blue bream Abramis ballerus (L.) was studied monthly in the Oder River on the borders of Germany and Poland. Based on the parasite specimens found, detailed data on their morphometrics are presented. The metacestodes occurred in the blue bream intestine throughout the year (overall prevalence 27% and intensity 1-56 (mean 4.8) metacestodes per infected fish). Increased prevalences and mean intensities of infection were noted from March to June and November...

Caryophyllidean tapeworms (Platyhelminthes: Eucestoda) from freshwater fishes in Japan

Tomáš Scholz, Takeshi Shimazu, Peter D. Olson, Kazuya Nagasawa

Folia Parasitologica 48[4] 275-288 (2001) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2001.046  

The following caryophyllidean tapeworms were found in freshwater fishes from Japan (species reported from Japan for the first time marked with an asterisk): family Caryophyllaeidae: Paracaryophyllaeus gotoi (Motomura, 1927) from Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (Cantor); Archigetes sieboldi Leuckart, 1878 from Pseudorasbora parva (Temminck et Schlegel) and Sarcocheilichthys variegatus microoculus Mori (new hosts); family Lytocestidae: *Caryophyllaeides ergensi Scholz, 1990 from Tribolodon hakuensis (Günther), T. ezoe Okada et Ikeda, Hemibarbus barbus (Temminck et Schlegel) and Chaenogobius...

Kudoa dianae sp. n. (Myxosporea: Multivalvulida), a new parasite of bullseye puffer, Sphoeroides annulatus (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae)

Iva Dyková, Emma Josefina Fajer Avila, Ivan Fiala

Folia Parasitologica 49[1] 17-23 (2002) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2002.006  

A new multivalvulid myxosporean species, Kudoa dianae sp. n., is described from bullseye puffer, Sphoeroides annulatus (Jenyns) (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae). Plasmodia develop in extramuscular sites, in the wall of oesophagus and less frequently on mesenteries. Mature spores can reach lumen of the digestive tract directly by disruption of plasmodial wall or via macrophage transport to the oesophageal epithelium. New species is characterised by morphology of spores and by the complete sequence of SSU rRNA gene that differs from all hitherto known sequences of Kudoa species. Spore morphology (moderate-sized, simple non-ornate...

Potential significance of transovarial transmission in the circulation of tick-borne encephalitis virus

Vlasta Danielová, Jaroslava Holubová, Milan Pejčoch, Milan Daniel

Folia Parasitologica 49[4] 323-325 (2002) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2002.060  

Some nematodes of fishes from central China, with the redescription of Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) fulvidraconis (Camallanidae)

František Moravec, Pin Nie, Guitang Wang

Folia Parasitologica 50[3] 220-230 (2003) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2003.039  

The present paper comprises a systematic survey of nematodes based on helminthological examinations of 176 specimens of freshwater fishes, belonging to 22 species, from central China (mostly lakes in Hubei Province) collected during the autumn of 2001. The following six species were recorded: Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) fulvidraconis Li, 1935, Camallanus cotti Fujita, 1927, Dentiphilometra monopteri Moravec et Wang, 2002, Pingus sinensis Hsü, 1933, Proleptinae gen. sp. larv., and Eustrongylides sp. larv. Data on their morphology, morphological variability, host range, prevalence, intensity and distribution...

New data on Myxobolus longisporus (Myxozoa: Myxobolidae), a gill infecting parasite of carp, Cyprinus carpio haematopterus, from Chinese lakes

Iva Dyková, Ivan Fiala, Pin Nie

Folia Parasitologica 50[4] 263-268 (2003) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2003.044  

The original description of Myxobolus longisporus Nie et Li, 1992, the species infecting gills of Cyprinus carpio haematopterus L., is supplemented with new data on the spore morphology and pathogenicity. Spores are elongate pyriform with pointed anterior end, 15.7 (15.5-16.5) µm long, 6.7 (6-8) µm wide and 5.5 µm thick. Sutural ridge is straight and narrow. Mucus envelope is lacking. Two equal-sized elongate pyriform polar capsules are 8.5 µm long and 2.5 µm wide with convergent long axes. Polar filament coiled perpendicularly to the long axis of the capsule makes 9 (8-10) turns. Posterior end of polar capsules...

Modulation of human lymphocyte proliferation by salivary gland extracts of ixodid ticks (Acari: Ixodidae): effect of feeding stage and sex

Terézia Rolníková, Mária Kazimírová, Milan Buc

Folia Parasitologica 50[4] 305-312 (2003) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2003.050  

Ixodid ticks remain attached to their hosts for several days to weeks. During this extended feeding process new proteins involved in the modulation of host immune responses are expressed in tick salivary glands. In our study a stimulatory or inhibitory effect of salivary gland extracts (SGE) of unfed and partially fed female Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus, 1758), female and male Amblyomma variegatum (Fabricius, 1794) and Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Neumann, 1901 ticks on human lymphocyte proliferation induced by Concanavalin A (ConA) and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), respectively, was investigated. SGE of all female ticks examined suppressed...

Some aspects of the taxonomy and biology of dracunculoid nematodes parasitic in fishes: a review

František Moravec

Folia Parasitologica 51[1] 1-13 (2004) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2004.001  

The nematode superfamily Dracunculoidea includes 166 recognized species, of which 150 (90%) are parasitic in about 300 species of freshwater, brackish-water and marine fishes. Fish dracunculoids are placed in 31 genera (86% of all dracunculoid genera) belonging to eight of the nine dracunculoid families: Anguillicolidae, Daniconematidae, Guyanemidae, Lucionematidae, Micropleuridae, Philometridae, Skrjabillanidae, and Tetanonematidae; the genus Lockenloia is considered incertae sedis. Because of difficulties in studying fish dracunculoids, associated with their morphological and biological peculiarities, most species of these largely histozoic...

Histophagous scuticociliatids (Ciliophora) parasitizing turbot Scophthalmus maximus: morphology, in vitro culture and virulence

Pilar Alvarez-Pellitero, Oswaldo Palenzuela, Francesc Padrós, Ariadna Sitjà-Bobadilla, Ana Riaza, Raquel Silva, Javier Arán

Folia Parasitologica 51[2/3] 177-187 (2004) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2004.021  

Systemic ciliatosis caused by histophagous ciliates constitutes a serious disease of cultured turbot. Six ciliate isolates were obtained from parasitized turbot during six epizootics at four different farms located in Spain, France and Portugal. Axenic cultures of the six isolates were obtained by periodical subculturing in ATCC 1651MA or supplemented L-15 media. In basal media or seawater, the parasites could survive starving for long periods with no apparent proliferation. In adequate media, growth kinetics was found to be very similar for isolates A and B, with a clear influence of temperature. Morphological studies demonstrated that all isolates...

Studies on transmission and life cycle of Enteromyxum scophthalmi (Myxozoa), an enteric parasite of turbot Scophthalmus maximus

María J. Redondo, Oswaldo Palenzuela, Pilar Alvarez-Pellitero

Folia Parasitologica 51[2/3] 188-198 (2004) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2004.022  

In order to elucidate the transmission and dispersion routes used by the myxozoan parasite Enteromyxum scophthalmi Palenzuela, Redondo et Alvarez-Pellitero, 2002 within its host (Scophthalmus maximus L.), a detailed study of the course of natural and experimental infections was carried out. Purified stages obtained from infected fish were also used in in vitro assays with explants of uninfected intestinal epithelium. The parasites can contact and penetrate loci in the intestinal epithelium very quickly. From there, they proliferate and spread to the rest of the digestive system, generally in an antero-posterior pattern. The dispersion...

Proliferative renal myxosporidiosis in spawning coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in British Columbia and Washington

Simon Jones, Gina Prosperi-Porta, Sheila Dawe, Janice Blackbourn, Kimberley Taylor, Geoffrey Lowe, Andrea Osborn

Folia Parasitologica 51[2/3] 221-227 (2004) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2004.027  

An unidentified myxosporean parasite (CKX) is described from the kidney of approximately 80% of spawning coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch (Walbaum) in British Columbia, Canada and Washington, United States of America. Morphological features were described using light and electron microscopy. Sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified 18S ribosomal RNA gene and in situ hybridisation were used to further characterise CKX. The parasite occurred with a focal distribution within tubule epithelial cells, the tubule lumen and the interstitium as primary cells containing from one to at least 16 secondary cells. Luminal stages were...

Review of the sequential development of Loma salmonae (Microsporidia) based on experimental infections of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha)

Michael L. Kent, David J. Speare

Folia Parasitologica 52[1/2] 63-68 (2005) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2005.009  

Loma salmonae (Putz, Hoffman et Dunbar, 1965) is a common gill parasite of salmonids, and essentially all species in the genus Oncorhynchus are susceptible. Infections occur in both fresh and salt water. Loma salmonae is directly transmissible by ingestion of spores or infected tissue. The parasite infects the wall of blood vessels of various organs, but the gill is the primary site of infection. Initial infection occurs in the intestine, and xenomas are easily detected in the gills by standard histology at 4-6 wk post-exposure. A few presporogonic stages of the parasite are found in the heart endothelium prior to xenoma formation...

Lyme borreliosis: insights into tick- / host-borrelia relations

Libor Grubhoffer, Maryna Golovchenko, Marie Vancová, Klára Zacharovová-Slavíčková, Nataliia Rudenko, James H. Oliver Jr.

Folia Parasitologica 52[4] 279-294 (2005) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2005.039  

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is a serious infectious disease of humans and some domestic animals in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It is caused by certain spirochetes in the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) species complex. The complex consists of 11 species (genospecies). Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.), Borrelia garinii and Borrelia afzelii are the major agents of human disease. Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. species are transmitted mainly by ticks belonging to the Ixodes ricinus species complex plus a few additional species not currently assigned to the complex. B. burgdorferi infections...