Folia Parasitologica - Most viewed articles

Wenyonia gracilis sp. n. (Cestoda: Caryophyllidea) from Synodontis zambezensis (Siluriformes: Mochokidae): the first native caryophyllidean tapeworm from southern Africa

Bjoern C. Schaeffner, Divan van Rooyen, Ruan Gerber, Tomáš Scholz, Nico J. Smit

Folia Parasitologica 67:035 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.035  

Parasitological examination of freshwater fishes of the Phongolo River in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa resulted in the discovery and morphological and molecular characterisation of a new species of Wenyonia Woodland, 1923 (Cestoda: Caryophyllidea). The new species from the plain squeaker, Synodontis zambezensis Peters (Siluriformes: Mochokidae), is morphologically most similar to Wenyonia acuminata Woodland, 1923, a species reported from three species of Synodontis in north-eastern, western and central Africa (Sudan, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo). Both these species are markedly different from congeners...

A sucker for the job: morphology and functioning of suckers of polystomatid monogeneans

Louis Heyns Du Preez, Maxine Theunissen

Folia Parasitologica 68:006 (2021) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2021.006  

Monogeneans rely on firm attachment to often flexible and uneven surfaces and are renowned for their effective posterior attachment structures in the form of adhesives, clamps, hamuli and suckers. Polystomatids do not secrete adhesives and do not have clamps. While only some have hamuli, all have suckers in the adult form. Three different types of haptoral suckers have been described based on basic morphology but have never been studied in depth. Using enzyme digestion and light (differential interference contrast), confocal and scanning electron microscopy, we examined representatives and propose four sucker types. Haptoral sucker Type I are symmetrical...

Life-history studies on infrapopulations of Mazocraes alosae (Monogenea) parasitising Alosa immaculata (Actinopterygii) in the northern Black and Azov Seas

Mariana P. Plaksina, David I. Gibson, Evgenija V. Dmitrieva

Folia Parasitologica 68:009 (2021) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2021.009  

The life-history of Mazocraes alosae Hermann, 1782 on one of its hosts, the Pontic shad Alosa immaculata Bennett, is described for the first time. This anadromous fish, which occurs off the coast of the Crimea and migrates from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov and into the River Don for spawning, was studied throughout its migration and during all seasons. It is demonstrated that the period of reproduction of this monogenean is significantly longer than that reported for the population in the Caspian Sea, lasting from April to November with a peak in April-May, and continues both in the sea and the river. Experiments showed that water...

The presence of sporogonic stages of Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae in Icelandic salmonids detected using in situ hybridisation

Fjóla Rut Svavarsdóttir, Mark A. Freeman, Þórólfur Antonsson, Friðþjófur Árnason, Árni Kristmundsson

Folia Parasitologica 68:020 (2021) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2021.020  

Proliferative kidney disease (PKD) is a widespread temperature-dependent disease in salmonids caused by the myxozoan parasite, Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae (Canning, Curry, Feist, Longshaw et Okamura, 1999) (Tb). Tb has a two-host life cycle, involving fish as an intermediate host and freshwater bryozoans as the definitive host. Although salmonids are acknowledged as hosts for the parasite, it is less clear which fish species are active hosts in the life cycle of Tb. Differences in infection dynamics have been observed between some fish species, which are thought to be related to the existence of two main Tb-strains,...

Detection of tick-borne pathogens in wild birds and their ticks in Western Siberia and high level of their mismatch

Igor G. Korobitsyn, Nina S. Moskvitina, Oleg Yu. Tyutenkov, Sergey I. Gashkov, Yulia V. Kononova, Sergey S. Moskvitin, Vladimir N. Romanenko, Tamara P. Mikryukova, Elena V. Protopopova, Mikhail Yu. Kartashov, Eugene V. Chausov, Svetlana N. Konovalova, Natalia L. Tupota, Alexandra O. Sementsova, Vladimir A. Ternovoi, Valery B. Loktev

Folia Parasitologica 68:024 (2021) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2021.024  

The Tomsk region located in the south of Western Siberia is one of the most high-risk areas for tick-borne diseases due to elevated incidence of tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease in humans. Wild birds may be considered as one of the reservoirs for tick-borne pathogens and hosts for infected ticks. A high mobility of wild birds leads to unpredictable possibilities for the dissemination of tick-borne pathogens into new geographical regions. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in wild birds and ticks that feed on them as well as to determine the role of different species of birds in maintaining...

Novel distribution records and molecular data for species of Macrogyrodactylus Malmberg, 1957 (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) from Clarias gariepinus (Burchell) (Siluriformes: Clariidae) in southern Africa

Marliese Truter, Aline A. Acosta, Olaf L. F. Weyl, Nico J. Smit

Folia Parasitologica 68:027 (2021) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2021.027  

The viviparous gyrodactylid genus Macrogyrodactylus Malmberg, 1957 is endemic to Africa, composed of nine species from hosts of four freshwater fish families, including catfishes (Siluriformes: Clariidae). Three species, Macrogyrodactylus clarii Gussev, 1961; M. congolensis (Prudhoe, 1957) and M. karibae Douëllou et Chishawa, 1995, are primarily known to parasitise the African sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell) in various African countries. From November 2017 to September 2019, a total of 184 individuals of C. gariepinus were collected from selected localities in southern Africa and their skin,...

Detection and molecular characterisation of intestinal parasites in the South China tiger Panthera tigris amoyensis (Hilzheimer)

Hung-chuan Chiu, Kewei Fan, Xiaoshuang Sun, Kaixiong Lin, Tengteng Chen, Fei Yang, Yunfei Qiu, Dongxia Wei, Cuiqin Huang

Folia Parasitologica 68:029 (2021) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2021.029  

Parasitic infections of the South China tigers in the Meihua Mountains have not been explored previously. Faeces of 22 South China tigers from the China Tiger Park in the Meihua Mountains were examined. Eggs of ascaridoid nematodes and oocysts of coccidia were detected by Mini-FLOTAC assay. Morphological observation and molecular characterisation of the oocysts were carried out. The prevalence of Toxascaris leonina (von Linstow, 1902) was 18% (4/22), and the highest egg per gram (EPG) count in the faeces was 27,150. The prevalence of Cystoisospora sp. was 45% (1 0/22) and the highest oocysts per gram (OPG) in the faeces was 6,000....

Intestinal parasites of buffalo calves from Romania: molecular characterisation of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis, and the first report of Eimeria bareillyi

Diana Ancuța Bărburaș, Vasile Cozma, Angela Monica Ionică, Ibrahim Abbas, Remus Bărburaș, Viorica Mircean, Gianluca D'Amico, Jitender P. Dubey, Adriana Györke

Folia Parasitologica 69:015 (2022) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2022.015  

Buffaloes represent an important economic resource for several regions of the world including Romania. In the present study, we examined 104 faecal samples collected from 38 buffalo calves (2-11 weeks old) from household rearing systems in Romania for gastrointestinal parasites. All samples were tested using the saturated salt flotation, McMaster and modified Ziehl-Nielsen staining methods. PCR coupled with sequencing isolates were used to identify assemblages of Giardia lamblia (Kunstler, 1882) and species of Cryptosporidium Tyzzer, 1907. Overall, 33 out of 38 examined buffalo calves were infected with different gastrointestinal parasites:...

Native species Maxvachonia chabaudi Mawson, 1972 (Nematoda: Cosmocercoidea) found in the invasive marine toad Rhinella marina (Linnaeus) (Anura: Bufonidae) in Australia

Xue-Feng Ni, Diane P. Barton, Hui-Xia Chen, Liang Li

Folia Parasitologica 69:028 (2022) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2022.028  

The genus Maxvachonia Chabaud et Brygoo, 1960 (Ascaridomorpha: Cosmocercidae) is a poorly known group of parasitic nematodes. Species of Maxvachonia are native to Madagascar-Australo-Papuan Region, where they are known to parasitise frogs, snakes and skinks. Unfortunately, most of Maxvachonia species have been inadequately described. In the present study, we report the native species Maxvachonia chabaudi Mawson, 1972 from the intestine of the invasive marine toad Rhinella marina (Linnaeus) in Australia for the first time. We speculate that the marine toads infected with M. chabaudi are likely related to their...

Genotype diversity, phylogenetic analysis and seasonality of isolates of Acanthamoeba spp. in swimming pools in Kafrelsheikh, Egypt

Eman S. El-Wakil, Hanan S. El-Kholy, Rady E. El-Araby, Marwa M.I. Ghallab

Folia Parasitologica 69:029 (2022) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2022.029  

Species of Acanthamoeba Volkonsky, 1931 are the commonest among free-living amoebae that are widespread in different water resources but with lacking phylogenetic data. This study aims at detecting molecular prevalence and genetic diversity of Acanthamoeba isolates in Kafrelsheikh Governorate, Egypt. Forty-eight water samples were collected from 12 swimming pools; four samples during each season over one year. Samples were filtered, cultivated on non-nutrient agar plates and examined microscopically. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence analysis of positive samples targeting diagnostic fragment 3 (DF3) of the small subunit rRNA...

Evidence of transplacental transmission of equine piroplasms Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in an Italian breed mare

Leticia E. Bartolomé del Pino, Aranzazu Meana, Maurizio Zini, Antonella Cersini

Folia Parasitologica 70:005 (2023) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2023.005  

Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a vector borne disease caused by apicomplexans protists Babesia caballi (Nuttal et Strickland, 1910) and Theileria equi (Laveran, 1901). Carrier mares may transmit the infection transplacental resulting in neonatal piroplasmosis or abortions. This event has been described for T. equi by several authors over the world, but no evidence for B. caballi has been reported in Europe. In this study, vertical transmission for both parasites in an Italian breed mare has been confirmed using molecular and microscopic tools. Transplacental transmission is an underestimated problem mainly in endemic areas...

Redescription of Illiosentis cetratus Van Cleave, 1945 (Acanthocephala: Illiosentidae) from Menticirrhus undulatus (Girard) in California, with notes on Illiosentis furcatus from Peru

Omar M. Amin, Anshu Chaudhary, Hridaya S. Singh

Folia Parasitologica 70:018 (2023) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2023.018  

Illiosentis Van Cleave et Lincicome, 1939 initially included two species: Illiosentis furcatus Van Cleave et Lincicome, 1939 found in the West Atlantic from Cape Cod in Massachusetts, USA to northern Argentina and Illiosentis cetratus Van Cleave, 1945 with restricted distribution in the Pacific coast of southern California. We are reporting I. furcatus from Peru for the first time and describe a population of I. cetratus from the California corbina, Menticirrhus undulatus (Girard), from southern California. The proboscis hook formula was 14 longitudinal rows for I. furcatus of 18-23 hooks each...

Book reviews, Notes and News

Folia Parasitologica 15[2] X (1968)

Book reviews, Notes and News

Folia Parasitologica 17[4] X (1970)

Book reviews, Notes and News

Folia Parasitologica 22[3] X (1975)

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Folia Parasitologica 23[3] X (1976)

Book reviews, Notes and News

Folia Parasitologica 23[4] X (1976)

Book reviews, Notes and News

Folia Parasitologica 24[2] X (1977)

Book reviews, Notes and News

Folia Parasitologica 24[3] X (1977)

Book reviews, Notes and News

Folia Parasitologica 24[4] X (1977)

Book reviews, Notes and News

Folia Parasitologica 25[1] X (1978)

Book reviews, Notes and News

Folia Parasitologica 27[1] X (1980)

Book reviews, Notes and News

Folia Parasitologica 27[2] X (1980)

Book reviews, Notes and News

Folia Parasitologica 28[2] X (1981)

Screening of compounds for antimicrosporidial activity in vitro

Elizabeth S. Didier, Joseph A. Maddry, Cecil D. Kwong, Linda C. Green, Karen F. Snowden, John A. Shadduck

Folia Parasitologica 45[2] 129-139 (1998)  

Relatively few effective compounds are available for treating microsporidiosis in humans. In this study, several compounds were assayed for activity against Encephalitozoon intestinalis (Cali, Kotler et Orenstein, 1993) and Vittaforma corneae Shadduck, Meccoli, Davis et Font, 1990 in vitro. Of the benzimidazoles tested, albendazole was most effective and the MIC50 values were 8.0 ng/ml and 55.0 ng/ml for E. intestinalis and V. corneae, respectively. Fumagillin and its analogue, TNP-470 were nearly equally effective against both E. intestinalis and V. corneae. The MIC50 values of fumagillin were 0.52 ng/ml and 0.81 ng/ml, and the MIC50 values of TNP-470...

A study of proteases throughout the life cycle of Trichinella spiralis

Rosa Mª Ros-Moreno, Celia Vázquez-López, Consuelo Giménez-Pardo, Cristina de Armas-Serra, Filomena Rodríguez-Caabeiro

Folia Parasitologica 47[1] 49-54 (2000) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2000.009  

In the present report we study the proteolytic activity of the excretion-secretion and crude extracts of different stages of Trichinella spiralis (Owen, 1835) Railliet, 1895, (muscle-stage larvae, adult worms before and after mating, and newborn larvae) using natural substrates (structural and hematic mammalian proteins). The analysis of the results allow us to set up a certain stage-specificity, as well as an important relationship between the protease patterns throughout the parasite life cycle and how the parasite may overcome both mechanical and humoral barriers within the host. Muscle-stage larvae present a great activity against structural...

Neotropical Monogenoidea 37. Redescription of Gyrodactylus superbus (Szidat, 1973) comb. n. and description of two new species of Gyrodactylus (Gyrodactylidea: Gyrodactylidae) from Corydoras paleatus and C. ehrhardti (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) of Southern Brazil

Flávio Popazoglo, Walter A. Boeger

Folia Parasitologica 47[2] 105-110 (2000) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2000.022  

Two new species of Gyrodactylus (Gyrodactylidae) are described from Corydoras paleatus (Jenyns) and Corydoras ehrhardti Steindachner (Callichthyidae) of Rio Piraquara, Municipality of Piraquara, near Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil: Gyrodactylus anisopharynx sp. n. and Gyrodactylus samirae sp. n. These species are unique among the known Neotropical species of Gyrodactylus by the combination of several characters. Gyrodactylus anisopharynx is characterised by having hooks with point evenly curved, toe moderately pointed, round convex heel, straight sloping shelf, superficial bar with anterolateral projections...

Anuretes grandis sp. n., a caligid copepod (Siphonostomatoida) parasitic on Diagramma pictum (Pisces) in Taiwan, with discussion of Anuretes Heller, 1865

Ju-shey Ho, Ching-Long Lin

Folia Parasitologica 47[3] 227-234 (2000) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2000.041  

A new species of caligid copepod (Siphonostomatoida), Anuretes grandis sp. n., parasitic on the painted sweetlips [Diagramma pictum (Thunberg)] in Taiwan is described. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by having: (1) free margin of cephalothorax not covering fourth pediger, (2) large genital complex longer than 2/3 of the cephalic shield, (3) no maxillary whip, (4) leg 3 with 9 setae on the terminal segment of exopod and 8 plumose setae on the terminal segment of endopod, and (5) armature of I,III on leg 4 exopod. Genus Anuretes Heller, 1865 is reviewed and redefined. Based on the new diagnosis three species (A....

The hyperparasitic microsporidium Amphiacantha longa Caullery et Mesnil, 1914 (Microspora: Metchnikovellidae) - description of the cytology, redescription of the species, emended diagnosis of the genus Amphiacantha and establishment of the new family Amphiacanthidae

J.I. Ronny Larsson

Folia Parasitologica 47[4] 241-256 (2000) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2000.043  

The ultrastructural cytology and reproduction of Amphiacantha longa Caullery et Mesnil, 1914 is described. Merogonial reproduction was not observed. The sporogony follows two lines: free disporoblastic and enveloped, polysporoblastic, involving sporoblast mother cells. The enveloped sporogony is endogenous in spore sacs of sporont origin, daughter cells are formed by vacuolation. Probably all stages have coupled nuclei. Both free and enveloped spores are equipped with an extrusion apparatus composed of a flat polar sac, a straight polar filament of manubrium type, and a posterior globular appendix. Manubrium and appendix are enclosed in a membraneous...

Electron microscopic study of a new microsporean Microsporidium epithelialis sp. n. infecting Tubifex sp. (Oligochaeta)

Mustapha Oumouna, Mansour El-Matbouli, Rudolf W. Hoffmann, Georges Bouix

Folia Parasitologica 47[4] 257-265 (2000) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2000.044  

The cytology of a new microsporean parasite Microsporidium epithelialis sp. n. from the intestinal epithelial cells of the freshwater oligochaete Tubifex sp. (Tubificidae) is described. The microsporean occurred together with an actinosporean of the genus Triactinomyxon, which was found between the epithelial cells. The merogonic and sporogonic stages (mature spores included) of the microsporean parasite are monokaryotic. An individual sporophorous vesicle surrounds each spore. The fixed and stained spore has an average dimension of 1.9-2.5 × 0.9-1.2 µm. The spores are oval with a characteristic surface layer, showing ornamentation-like...