Articles
Volume 5 (2012) - June 2012
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Research
Mermithid nematodes found in adult Kevin C Kobylinski, Massamba Sylla, William Black, Brian D Foy Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:131 (28 June 2012) This study demonstrates that mermithid nematodes naturally occur in several adult Anopheles species in Senegal. Mermithid nematodes could be used as a potential biological control agent of Anopheles mosquitoes to reduce malaria transmission. Image: Mermithid nematode from an adult Anopheles rufipes.
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Li Lee, Tan Chye, Biraj Karmacharya, Suresh Govind Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:130 (28 June 2012) Blastocystis, an organism largely prevalent in humans and animals is known to cause gastrointestinal symptoms in humans with transmission through the fecal-oral route, usually by drinking contaminated water. Image: Blastocystis stained with FITC.
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Social economic factors and malaria transmission in Lower Moshi, Northern Tanzania Asanterabi Lowassa, Humphrey D Mazigo, Aneth M Mahande, Beda J Mwang’onde, Shandala Msangi, Michael J Mahande, Epiphania E Kimaro, Eliapenda Elisante, Eliningaya J Kweka Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:129 (28 June 2012) This study reports the impact of distance to health centres and social economic factors on health-seeking behaviour of the lower Moshi residents. Image: Rice field in lower Moshi on the footslopes of Mount Kilimanjaro.
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Short report
Mixed trichuroid infestation in a dog from Italy Angela Di Cesare, Giuseppe Castagna, Silvana Meloni, Domenico Otranto, Donato Traversa Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:128 (25 June 2012) This article reports the simultaneous occurrence of three trichuroids in a dog, and demonstrates that a careful morphological and morphometric analysis of individual parasitic elements should be performed when these eggs are found in canine faecal samples.
Image: Eggs of three trichuroids simultaneously infecting a dog.
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Roch K Dabiré, Moussa Namountougou, Simon P Sawadogo, Lassina B Yaro, Hyacinthe K Toé, Ali Ouari, Louis-Clément Gouagna, Frédéric Simard, Fabrice Chandre, Thierry Baldet, Chris Bass, Abdoulaye Diabaté Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:127 (21 June 2012) We describe the population dynamics of An. gambiae s.l. in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, where over the last ten years An. arabiensis has replaced other species as the major malaria vector. We found that An. arabiensis populations in this region are resistant to DDT but do not carry the L1014F knock down resistance mutation suggesting that alternative mechanisms underly resistance. The ecological factors that enhance the settlement of this species into peri-urban and urban areas are discussed. Image: An old traditional mosque in Dioulassoba, the central quarter of Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso).
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Stephen W Attwood, E Upatham Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:126 (21 June 2012) Population density trends are estimated for Neotricula aperta; the findings suggest an urgent need for ecological studies and that the impact of Hydropower projects on Mekong schistosomiasis may be more complex than first thought. Image: Neotricula aperta (gamma strain) from the Xe Bang Fai river in Laos.
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CO2 flagging - an improved method for the collection of questing ticks Călin M Gherman, Andrei D Mihalca, Mirabela O Dumitrache, Adriana Györke, Ioan Oroian, Mignon Sandor, Vasile Cozma Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:125 (21 June 2012) This is a report on a new and improved method for tick
collection, where traditional flagging was enhanced by dispersed CO2. The study showed that CO2 increased the ability of I. ricinus to be attracted to the flag blanket. Image: Logo of the Department of
Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural
Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca.
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Research
First report of canine ocular thelaziosis by Lisete Vieira, Filipa T Rodrigues, Álvaro Costa, Duarte Diz-Lopes, João Machado, Teresa Coutinho, Joana Tuna, Maria Latrofa, Luís Cardoso, Domenico Otranto Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:124 (21 June 2012) From July to November 2011, nine dogs with ocular discharge and conjunctivitis were detected with eyeworms, Thelazia callipaeda, at two veterinary clinics in the cities of Chaves and Braganca (northern Portugal). Image: Several Thelazia callipaeda nematodes in the conjunctiva of a dog.
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Andre Borges-Veloso, Leonardo Saboia-Vahia, Patricia Cuervo, Renata C Pires, Constança Britto, Nilma Fernandes, Claudia M d’Avila-Levy, Jose B De Jesus Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:123 (20 June 2012) This paper reports on the biochemical characterization and comparative analysis of multiple, highly active trypsin-like serine peptidases in egg, larval and pupal stages of Culex quinquefasciatus. Pre-imaginal stages express a complex proteolytic profile with optimal activity at alkaline pH and over a wide range of temperature. The comparative approach used here allowed the detection of differences in the expression of active peptidases in the analyzed stages and permitted the assignment of specific trypsin activity to each stage. Image: Trypsin-like serine peptidases' profiles exhibited by egg, larva and pupa of Cx. quinquefasciatus
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A user-friendly software to easily count Anopheles egg batches Ali Mollahosseini, Marie Rossignol, Cédric Pennetier, Anna Cohuet, António dos Anjos, Fabrice Chandre, Hamid Shahbazkia Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:122 (19 June 2012) This article presents a user-friendly multi-platform application for counting eggs of small dimensions (e.g. mosquito eggs), with high accuracy. Image: Identification of eggs and debris.
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Kifaya Azmi, Lionel Schnur, Gabriele Schonian, Abedelmajeed Nasereddin, Francine Pratlong, Fouad El Baidouri, Christophe Ravel, Jean-Pierre Dedet, Suheir Ereqat, Ziad Abdeen Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:121 (18 June 2012) This study describes the Palestinian strains of L. tropica that are assigned to different genetic groups which also differ in their MLEE profiles and their EF types. Image: Map of the West Bank and Jenin District.
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Short report
Tongue nodules in canine leishmaniosis — a case report Carlos Viegas, João Requicha, Carlos Albuquerque, Teresa Sargo, João Machado, Isabel Dias, Maria A Pires, Lenea Campino, Luís Cardoso Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:120 (15 June 2012) A clinical case of tongue soft nodules containing Leishmania amastigotes is described in a 3-year-old neutered female Labrador Retriever dog with a diagnosis of leishmaniosis carried out two years previously. Image: Reddish nodular lesions on the rostral portion of the tongue before treatment.
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Abdulhamid Ahmed, Hesham M Al-Mekhlafi, Abdulelah H Al-Adhroey, Init Ithoi, Awatif M Abdulsalam, Johari Surin Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:119 (15 June 2012) This study showed high prevalence of anaemia and malnutrition among aboriginal schoolchildren in Malaysia, and reported significant improvements in haemoglobin levels after deworming. A sustainable deworming programme is required to improve health and nutritional status of these children. Image: Aboriginal village in the study area.
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Seroprevalence of Gang Duan, Yi-Ming Tian, Bi-Feng Li, Jian-Fa Yang, Zi-Li Liu, Fei-Zhou Yuan, Xing-Quan Zhu, Feng-Cai Zou Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:118 (15 June 2012) This investigation revealed a Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence of 21.6% (132/611) in pet dogs in Kunming, southwest China using the indirect hemagglutination antibody (IHA) test, which has public health implications in this region. Image: Dog, one of the intermediate hosts of T. gondii.
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Abundance and dynamics of anopheline larvae in a highland malarious area of south-central Ethiopia Abebe Animut, Teshome Gebre-Michael, Meshesha Balkew, Bernt Lindtjørn Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:117 (13 June 2012) This study reveals that streams serve as the main breeding sites of anopheline mosquitoes in the Butajira area of south-central Ethiopia. Density of larvae of An. arabiensis, the principal malaria vector in the country, was highest along the Odamo stream (1817 m altitude) and decreased significantly along the streams with increasing altitude. Image: Larval sampling along Odamo stream.
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Adedayo O Oduola, Emmanuel T Idowu, Muyiwa K Oyebola, Adedapo O Adeogun, Judith B Olojede, Olubunmi A Otubanjo, Taiwo S Awolola Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:116 (11 June 2012) This study provides information on the evidence of carbamate resistance in urban populations of A. gambiae from Lagos, Nigeria, previously reported to be resistant to DDT and pyrethroid insecticides. Image: A sprayman preparing his spray pump in preparation for indoor residual spraying (IRS).
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Yan Lu, Bin Xu, Chuan Ju, Xiaojin Mo, Shenbo Chen, Zheng Feng, Xiaoning Wang, Wei Hu Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:115 (11 June 2012) A definite diagnosis of schistosomiasis plays a key role in the control of the disease . The diagnostic targets of circulating antigens in sera of schistosomiasis japonicum patients were analyzed. Image: The mass spectrum of peptide fragment of ribonuclease (CAX70531.1) identified by LC-MS/MS.
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Rungarun Tisgratog, Chatchai Tananchai, Waraporn Juntarajumnong, Siripun Tuntakom, Michael J Bangs, Vincent Corbel, Theeraphap Chareonviriyaphap Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:114 (7 June 2012) Anopheles minimus has a more anthropophilic tendency as relatively more mosquitoes were caught on human-bait than on a cow located outdoors. Information on mosquito behavior is important for choosing the vector control strategies. Image: Anopheles minimus, one of the main malaria vectors in Thailand.
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Luisa Nardini, Riann N Christian, Nanette Coetzer, Hilary Ranson, Maureen Coetzee, Lizette L Koekemoer Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:113 (7 June 2012) An Anopheles gambiae detoxification microarray was used to evaluate the detoxification enzyme profiles of two DDT selected, insecticide resistant colonies of An. arabiensis, one from South Africa and one from Sudan. In addition, synergist assays were performed in order to clarify the roles of over-transcribed detoxification genes in the observed resistance phenotypes. The presence of kdr mutations in the colonies under investigation was also determined. Image: A scanned detoxification microarray.
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The role of Src kinase in the biology and pathogenesis of Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui, Junaid Iqbal, Marie-josée Maugueret, Naveed Khan Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:112 (7 June 2012) This study describes the involvement of Src kinase in Acanthamoeba proliferation, protease secretions and phagocytic properties suggesting its potential role in developing anti-acanthamoebic strategies. Image: Src kinase (domain architecture) and Acanthamoeba.
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Natural infection of João Carlos Carreira, Alba Valéria da Silva, Daniela de Pita Pereira, Reginaldo Brazil Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:111 (7 June 2012) This is the first report of amastigotes in the tissues of Didelphis aurita (Mammalia: Marsupialia) naturally infected with Leishmania infantum in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil. Image: A Brazilian opossum from a print of an English edition of the French naturalist Count de Buffon's Historie Naturelle, Generale et Particliere, c. 1780. Author's collection (RPB).
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Wei Cong, Si-Yang Huang, Dong-Hui Zhou, Min-Jun Xu, Song-Ming Wu, Chao Yan, Quan Zhao, Hui-Qun Song, Xing-Quan Zhu Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:110 (7 June 2012) Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence of 7.26% (30/413), 11.38% (38/334) and 11.86% (37/312) was detected for market-sold chickens, ducks and pigeons, respectively, in Lanzhou, northwest China using the modified agglutination test (MAT). This poses public health concerns in this region. Image: Duck, one of the intermediate hosts of Toxoplasma gondii.
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The life cycle of Lori Peacock, Simon Cook, Vanessa Ferris, Mick Bailey, Wendy Gibson Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:109 (7 June 2012) Morphological changes during the life cycle of Trypanosoma congolense in its tsetse fly vector. Developmental stages in the fly foregut and mouthparts are remarkably different to those of T. brucei. Image: Bloodstream form of Trypanosoma congolense (DNA stained green).
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Abedaziz M Ahmed, Hana Abbas, Fathi A Mansour, Gasim I Gasim, Ishag Adam Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:108 (7 June 2012) There was a significant reduction of Schistosoma haematobium infection 1 year after praziquantel treatment among school children in central Sudan. Image: Praziquantel for the treatment of Schistosoma haematobium in Sudan.
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