Folia Parasitologica - Most viewed articles

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Folia Parasitologica 20[4] X (1973)

Book reviews, Notes and News

Folia Parasitologica 25[4] X (1978)

Book reviews, Notes and News

Folia Parasitologica 26[1] X (1979)

Book reviews, Notes and News

Folia Parasitologica 27[4] X (1980)

Book reviews, Notes and News

Folia Parasitologica 28[3] X (1981)

Description of Isospora jaracimrmani sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the Yemen chameleon Chamaeleo calyptratus (Sauria: Chamaeleonidae)

D. Modrý and B. Koudela

Folia Parasitologica 42[4] 313-316 (1995)  

Investigation of haematophagous arthropods for borreliae - summarized data, 1988-1996

Hubalek Z, Halouzka J, Juricova Z

Folia Parasitologica 45[1] 67-72 (1998)  

Blood-sucking arthropods, collected in South Moravia, Czech Republic, were examined by darkfield microscopy for borreliae from 1988 to 1996. Among host-seeking ixodid ticks (8481 Ixodes ricinus (L.), 372 Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabr.), 167 Haemaphysalis concinna Koch), borreliae were only observed in adult (23.2%), nymphal (17.2%) and larval (6.3%) 1. ricinus. The prevalence of borreliae in I. ricinus did not vary considerably among habitats except for lower values in agroecosystems, xerothermic oak woods and grasslands. The frequency of intensity of spirochaetal infection (log(10) counts of borreliae per tick) in I. ricinus approximated the negative...

Preference of female rats for the odours of non-parasitised males: the smell of good genes?

Charlene Willis, Robert Poulin

Folia Parasitologica 47[1] 6-10 (2000) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2000.002  

Many animals obtain reliable information about potential mates, including whether they are parasitised or not, mostly from olfactory cues in urine. Previous experiments with rodents have shown that females can detect parasites in males that are potentially transmissible during copulation, so that females can directly avoid infection by discriminating against parasitised males. Here, using choice tests, we examine whether female rats can distinguish males infected with the tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta Rudolphi, 1819, a parasite with a complex life cycle and thus not directly transmissible among rats. Female rats tended to spend more time investigating...

Neopolystoma liewi sp. n. (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) from the eye of the Malayan box turtle (Cuora amboinensis)

Louis H. du Preez, L.H.S. Lim

Folia Parasitologica 47[1] 11-16 (2000) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2000.003  

Neopolystoma liewi sp. n. is described from the conjunctival cavity of the Malayan box turtle Cuora amboinensis (Daudin, 1802), in Peninsular Malaysia. This is the first record of Neopolystoma in Malaysia and the fourth polystomatid species described from C. amboinensis. Of the 27 Malayan box turtles examined, 8 were found to be infected. A maximum of 2 parasites per eye and 4 individuals per host was recorded. N. liewi sp. n. differs from all other members of the genus by possessing few and short genital spines and small marginal hooks. The oncomiracidium has 64 ciliated cells arranged symmetrically about the sagittal...

Comparative infectivity of Fasciola hepatica metacercariae from isolates of the main and secondary reservoir animal host species in the Bolivian Altiplano high human endemic region

María Adela Valero, Santiago Mas-Coma

Folia Parasitologica 47[1] 17-22 (2000) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2000.004  

Fascioliasis due to Fasciola hepatica (Linnaeus, 1758) is an endemic disease on the Northern Bolivian Altiplano, where human prevalences and intensities are the highest known, sheep and cattle are the main reservoir hosts, and pigs and donkeys the secondary ones. Investigations were carried out to study the viability of metacercariae experimentally obtained from eggs shed by naturally infected Altiplanic sheep, cattle, pigs and donkeys. A total of 157 Wistar rats were infected with doses of 5, 10, 20 and 150 metacercariae. Metacercariae aged for different number of weeks were used to analyse the influence of age on their viability. The number...

Morphology of Bertiella studeri (Blanchard, 1891) sensu Stunkard (1940) (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) of human origin and a proposal of criteria for the specific diagnosis of bertiellosis

María Teresa Galán-Puchades, Màrius Vicent Fuentes, Santiago Mas-Coma

Folia Parasitologica 47[1] 23-28 (2000) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2000.005  

Human material of an African specimen of Bertiella studeri (Blanchard, 1891), a typical intestinal cestode of monkeys, is described. Mature, postmature and gravid proglottides, and eggs, previously inadequately figured, are illustrated and photographed. The description of the species agrees with that provided by Stunkard (1940). A comparative study with other descriptions of the species is made in an attempt to clarify previous findings. The morphological differences reported in various earlier descriptions of the species suggest that B. studeri should be regarded as a "B. studeri species complex". Improvements are required in...

Comparison of the protein profiles of salivary gland extracts derived from three species of unfed and partially fed ixodid ticks analysed by SDS-PAGE

Mirko Slovák, Valéria Hajnická, Milan Labuda, Norbert Fuchsberger

Folia Parasitologica 47[1] 67-71 (2000) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2000.013  

Salivary gland extracts (SGE) from unfed and 5 days fed adult female Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus, 1758); Haemaphysalis inermis (Birula, 1895) and Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius, 1794) ticks were prepared. The protein content after feeding increased by 10.6, 8.7 and 6.8 times, respectively. Extracts were equilibrated to the same protein content and submitted to SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by computer analysis of the scanned gels. Relative differences in protein profiles of extracts obtained from unfed and partially fed ticks were found in all species and some of them were similar in all three species used in...

Four species of digeneans, including Allocreadium patagonicum sp. n. (Allocreadiidae), from freshwater fishes of Patagonia, Argentina

Takeshi Shimazu, Shigehiko Urawa, Claudio O. Coria

Folia Parasitologica 47[2] 111-117 (2000) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2000.023  

Four species of adult digeneans are reported from freshwater fishes of two lakes in Neuquén, Patagonia, Argentina. Allocreadium patagonicum sp. n. (Allocreadiidae) is described from the intestine of Percichthys colhuapiensis MacDonagh and Percichthys trucha (Cuvier et Valenciennes) (Percichthyidae) from Lago Aluminé. Three species redescribed are: Acanthostomoides apophalliformis Szidat, 1956 (Acanthostomidae) from the intestine of P. colhuapiensis and P. trucha from Lago Aluminé and of Salmo trutta (Linnaeus) (Salmonidae) from Lago Huechulafquén; Deropegus patagonicus (Szidat, 1956) comb. n....

Digeneans and cestodes parasitic in the white-faced ibis Plegadis chihi (Aves: Threskiornithidae) from Argentina

María Celina Digiani

Folia Parasitologica 47[3] 195-204 (2000) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2000.037  

Some digeneans and cestodes parasitic in a population of the white-faced ibis Plegadis chihi (Vieillot) from Buenos Aires province, Argentina, are presented. The digeneans Dietziella egregia (Dietz, 1909), Patagifer bilobus (Rudolphi, 1819), Ascocotyle (Leighia) hadra Ostrowski de Núñez, 1992 and Posthodiplostomum nanum Dubois, 1937 from the intestine; Prosthogonimus ovatus (Rudolphi, 1803) from the cloaca; Athesmia heterolecithodes (Braun, 1899) from the bile ducts and the cestode Hymenolepis megalops (Nitzsch in Creplin, 1829) from the cloaca, were recorded. The discovery...

Infections of Unicauda clavicauda (Kudo, 1934) (Myxozoa) in the skin of Notropis hudsonius (Cyprinidae) from Montana, with a synopsis of the genus Unicauda Davis, 1944

David K. Cone, Jason S. Melendy

Folia Parasitologica 47[4] 273-278 (2000) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2000.047  

Infections of Unicauda clavicauda (Kudo, 1920) Davis, 1944 (Myxozoa) are described from Notropis hudsonius (Clinton) in Montana. Plasmodia form beneath scales of the body and produced spores within a loosely-defined matrix. Fixed spores are oval in front view, 11-14 µm long and 9-10.5 µm wide, and contain a posterior appendage that is up to 26 µm long. The polar capsules are 4-6 µm long and 2.5-4 µm wide. The study represents the first report of U. clavicauda since the original species description and a new host and geographical record. The taxonomic history of Unicauda Davis, 1944 is summarised...

Colonisation and extinction in relation to competition and resource partitioning in acanthocephalans of freshwater fishes of the British Isles

Alastair R. Lyndon, Clive R. Kennedy

Folia Parasitologica 48[1] 37-46 (2001) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2001.007  

This paper challenges two paradigms long held in relation to the ecology of parasites in freshwater systems: (1) autogenic species are poorer colonisers than allogenic ones; and (2) parasites with direct life cycles are more successful colonisers than those with complex life cycles. Using new and existing data for Acanthocephala in freshwater fish from the British Isles, it is suggested that all six species present have been able to colonise and persist successfully, in spite of the supposed limitations of their autogenic life-style. It is proposed that these parasites have overcome these limitations by a variety of means, which apply equally to all...

Mortality caused by experimental infection with the yeast Candida haemulonii in the adults of Ornithodoros moubata (Acarina: Argasidae)

Gabriela Loosová, Libor Jindrák, Petr Kopáček

Folia Parasitologica 48[2] 149-153 (2001) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2001.023  

A relatively high rate of mortality among engorged females of Ornithodoros moubata (Murray, 1877) was observed in our laboratory colony. The general aim of the study was to identify the causative agent responsible for this mortality. The diagnostic tests were performed by Yeast Identification Service (CBS-Delft, Netherlands) and the pathogen was identified as the yeast Candida haemulonii (van Uden et Kolipinski, 1962) Meyer et Yarrovi, 1978. The artificial infection study was performed by intrahaemocoelic inoculation of yeast suspension, resulting in a mortality of 37%. The maximum mortality of ticks infected per os by contaminated...

The development and fine structure of Lankesterella cf. dicroglossi (Apicomplexa: Lankesterellidae) infecting frogs in Niger, West Africa

Ilan Paperna, Coralie Martin

Folia Parasitologica 48[3] 178-186 (2001) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2001.030  

One of four Hoplobatrachus occipitalis (Günther, 1859) frogs received from Niger, West Africa was heavily infected with Lankesterella blood and pre-erythrocytic stages. Infected blood and tissues from this frog were force-fed to the remaining three frogs. Two survived to necropsy on days 14 and 27 post-feeding and were found to be infected with gamogonic and oogonic stages, respectively. The source of infection is inconclusive, as a natural origin cannot be excluded. Microgamont, macrogamont, oocyst and sporozoite structure and fine structure are described and found to conform in general, but not in detail, to previous descriptions. Gamonts...

Ultrastructure of developmental stages of Hemolivia mariae (Apicomplexa: Haemogregarinidae), natural parasite of the Australian sleepy lizard, in experimentally infected deviant hosts

Ilan Paperna, Catherine J. Smallridge

Folia Parasitologica 48[4] 255-262 (2001) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2001.042  

Mabuya vitatta (Olivier) (Scincidae) and Agama stellio (L.) (Agamidae) were infected with Hemolivia mariae Smallridge et Paperna, 1997 by ingestion of tick viscera from Amblyomma limbatum Neumann, fed as nymphs on naturally infected Australian sleepy lizards, Tiliqua rugosa Gray. The unnatural infection apparently interfered with the developmental schedule of the parasites. Transmission electron microscopic images of merogonic stages were obtained, as well as images of early developing gametocytes. Tissue and intraerythrocytic meronts were bound by a hardened wall. Intraerythrocytic gametocytes were lodged in a parasitophorous...

Preliminary characterisation and extraction of anterior adhesive secretion in monogenean (platyhelminth) parasites

Tamarind E. Hamwood, Bronwen W. Cribb, Judy A. Halliday, Graham C. Kearn, Ian D. Whittington

Folia Parasitologica 49[1] 39-49 (2002) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2002.010  

Secreted anterior adhesives, used for temporary attachment to epithelial surfaces of fishes (skin and gills) by some monogenean (platyhelminth) parasites have been partially characterised. Adhesive is composed of protein. Amino acid composition has been determined for seven monopisthocotylean monogeneans. Six of these belong to the Monocotylidae and one species, Entobdella soleae (van Beneden et Hesse, 1864) Johnston, 1929, is a member of the Capsalidae. Histochemistry shows that the adhesive does not contain polysaccharides, including acid mucins, or lipids. The adhesive before secretion and in its secreted form contains no dihydroxyphenylalanine...

Effect of pulp and paper mill effluent (BKME) on physiological parameters of roach (Rutilus rutilus) infected by the digenean Rhipidocotyle fennica

Zsigmond Jeney, E. Tellervo Valtonen, Galina Jeney, E. Ilmari Jokinen

Folia Parasitologica 49[2] 103-108 (2002) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2002.020  

Physiological parameters were measured after experimental infection of roach (Rutilus rutilus L.) with Rhipidocotyle fennica Gibson, Valtonen et Taskinen, 1992 (Digenea) cercariae. The fish were caught from two lakes: a eutrophic bleached kraft mill effluent (BKME)-contaminated lake and an oligotrophic unpolluted lake. The intensity of infection was followed up to 10 days post infection (p.i.) and physiological parameters indicating non-specific stress responses and the condition of fish were examined simultaneously. The mean abundance, the number of parasites per fish, of R. fennica was significantly higher in the fish from the...

Survey of actinosporean types (Myxozoa) belonging to seven collective groups found in a freshwater salmon farm in Northern Scotland

Ahmet Özer, Rodney Wootten, Andrew P. Shinn

Folia Parasitologica 49[3] 189-210 (2002) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2002.036  

A study of the actinosporean fauna of oligochaetes from a freshwater salmon farm in Northern Scotland was carried out from October 1996 to August 1998. Following the examination of 28,387 oligochaete worms belonging to the families Tubificidae, Lumbriculidae, Naididae and Enchytraeidae, five types of echinactinomyxon (four previously described), six types of raabeia (five previously described), three types of synactinomyxon (all previously described), four types of aurantiactinomyxon (three previously undescribed), one type of triactinomyxon (previously described), one type of neoactinomyxum (previously undescribed) and one type of siedleckiella (previously...

Infection prevalence, seasonality and host specificity of actinosporean types (Myxozoa) in an Atlantic salmon fish farm located in Northern Scotland

Ahmet Özer, Rodney Wootten, Andrew P. Shinn

Folia Parasitologica 49[4] 263-268 (2002) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2002.050  

A total of 28,387 oligochaetes belonging to the families Tubificidae, Lumbriculidae, Naididae and Enchytraeidae were examined at regular intervals for actinosporean infections from October 1996 to August 1998 from a freshwater salmon farm in Northern Scotland. A total of 21 types of actinosporeans belonging to seven collective groups synactinomyxon (three types), aurantiactinomyxon (four types), echinactinomyxon (five types), raabeia (six types), triactinomyxon (one type), neoactinomyxum (one type) and siedleckiella (one type) were found. Synactinomyxon type 1, echinactinomyxon type 1 and raabeia type 4 were most abundant. The overall infection prevalence...

Description of Eimeria arabukosokokensis sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from Telescopus semiannulatus (Serpentes: Colubridae) with notes on eimerian coccidia from snakes of Eastern Kenya

Jan R. Šlapeta, David Modrý, James Ashe, Břetislav Koudela

Folia Parasitologica 50[1] 23-30 (2003) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2003.004  

Parasitological examination of faeces of 26 snakes kept in Bio-Ken Snake Farm, Watamu, Kenya revealed new species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 in Telescopus semiannulatus Smith, 1849. Oocysts of Eimeria arabukosokokensis sp. n. are cylindrical 26.8 (25-29) × 15.1 (14-16) µm with smooth, bilayered oocyst wall and a single polar granule. The broadly ellipsoidal sporocysts average 9.3 (8.5-10) × 7.1 (6.5-7.5) µm and possess single-layered wall composed of two plates joined by longitudinal suture. Caryospora cf. regentensis Daszak et Ball, 2001 is reported from Dendroaspis angusticeps (Smith, 1849) and two additional...

Genotypic, phenotypic, biochemical, physiological and pathogenicity-based categorisation of Acanthamoeba strains

Naveed Ahmed Khan, Noor Khan Tareen

Folia Parasitologica 50[2] 97-104 (2003) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2003.017  

The genus Acanthamoeba includes more than 20 morphological species, but classification is problematical. Recently, the discovery of substantial interstrain differences in ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences has prompted questions about the relatedness of strains of the same species. In this study, therefore, we have investigated relationships between two isolates of A. polyphaga, CCAP 1501/3c and ATCC 30871, using morphological, biochemical, physiological, molecular and cytotoxicity assays. We observed that A. polyphaga ATCC 30871 exhibited up to six arms in endocyst while A. polyphaga CCAP 1501/3c exhibited a maximum of 5 arms...

Acolpenteron australe sp. n. (Dactylogyridae: Dactylogyrinae), a new species from the ureters of Percichthys trucha (Perciformes: Percichthyidae) in Patagonia (Argentina)

Gustavo P. Viozzi, Norma L. Brugni

Folia Parasitologica 50[2] 105-108 (2003) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2003.018  

Acolpenteron australe sp. n. (Dactylogyridae, Dactylogyrinae) is described from ureters and renal tubules of Percichthys trucha (Cuvier et Valenciennes) (Perciformes, Percichthyidae) from Andean Patagonian lakes. The new species has a haptor with 14 hooks, with shanks comprised of two subunits. It has overlapped intercaecal gonads, male copulatory organ as a sclerotized tube with one counterclockwise coil and a J-shaped accessory piece. It differs from the other species of Acolpenteron by having a non-forked accessory piece. This is the first monogenean species described from a percichthyid host in South America.

Chigger mites (Acari: Trombiculidae) new to the fauna of Cuba, with the description of two new species

Milan Daniel, Alexandr A. Stekol'nikov

Folia Parasitologica 50[2] 143-150 (2003) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2003.025  

Two new species of chigger mites, Hyponeocula monocoxalae sp. n. from bats and reptiles, and Perates nudosetosus sp. n. from bats, are described. The first finding of larvae of Tectumpilosum negreai Feider, 1983 in nature is reported from a bat collected at the type locality, and the description of this species is emended. Four species, Perates monops (Brennan et Jones, 1960), Parasecia manueli (Brennan et Jones, 1960), Beamerella acutascuta Brennan, 1958, and Blankaartia sinnamaryi (Floch et Fauran, 1956), are recorded for the first time in Cuba and on new host species.

Four new species of Cichlidogyrus (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalidae), gill parasites of Tilapia cabrae (Teleostei: Cichlidae), with discussion on relative length of haptoral sclerites

Antoine Pariselle, Louis Euzet

Folia Parasitologica 50[3] 195-201 (2003) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2003.035  

Tilapia cabrae Boulenger, 1899, a cichlid fish from coastal lowlands of the Republic of Congo (Africa), was examined for gill parasites. Four new species of the Monogenea were found, all belonging to Cichlidogyrus (Ancyrocephalidae): C. berradae sp. n., C. revesati sp. n., C. legendrei sp. n., and C. lemoallei sp. n. A possible relationship between the relative size of haptoral sclerites (i.e., uncinuli compared to gripi) and microhabitat selection in the studied host-parasite model is discussed.

Haemogregarina bigemina (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Adeleorina) - past, present and future

Angela J. Davies, Nico J. Smit, Polly M. Hayes, Alan M. Seddon, David Wertheim

Folia Parasitologica 51[2/3] 99-108 (2004) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2004.015  

This paper reviews past, current and likely future research on the fish haemogregarine, Haemogregarina bigemina Laveran et Mesnil, 1901. Recorded from 96 species of fishes, across 70 genera and 34 families, this broad distribution for H. bigemina is questioned. In its type hosts and other fishes, the parasite undergoes intraerythrocytic binary fission, finally forming mature paired gamonts. An intraleukocytic phase is also reported, but not from the type hosts. This paper asks whether stages from the white cell series are truly H. bigemina. A future aim should be to compare the molecular constitution of so-called H. bigemina...

Defeating diplostomoid dangers in USA catfish aquaculture

Robin M. Overstreet, Stephen S. Curran

Folia Parasitologica 51[2/3] 153-165 (2004) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2004.019  

Diplostomoid digenean metacercariae have caused widescale mortalities of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), at aquaculture farms in Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas, USA. Originally, based on a tentative diagnosis, the industry considered the primary harmful agent to be an introduced species from Europe, Bolbophorus confusus (Krause, 1914), frequently reported from the American white pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Gmelin. Our group has now shown, using ITS 1-2 plus three more-conservative gene fragments, that two sympatric species of Bolbophorus exist in the American white pelican. One, B. damnificus...