Effects of the intestinal flagellate, Cochlosoma anatis, on intestinal mucosal morphology and disaccharidase activity in Muscovy ducklings

Endoparasites of Domesticated Animals That Originated in the Neo-Tropics (New World Tropics)

This review serves to summarize parasites found in Domesticated animals which were found in the Neo-Tropics. Indigenous domesticated Neo-tropical animals include South American camelids, (Lama gunacoa, Lama glama, Lama pacos, Vicuna vicuna), guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera), turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) and ducks (Cairina moschata, Anas platyrhynchos, Dendrocyga autumnalis). These animals were chosen due to their origin of existence (Neo-tropics) and over time these animals became domesticated and were distributed throughout the world. Over eighty (80) references were collected for this review and the papers spanned over eighty (80) years from 1934 to 2018. The gastrointestinal parasites reported for each animal were tabulated and their effects in the animal noted. Parasites reported in domesticated Neo-tropical animals had little to no effect on wild and free ranging animals with a few cases of illness and decreased productivity. The majority of articles viewed these animals as reservoir host which can infect humans and other domesticated livestock. It must also be noted that research done in the past did not focus on the effect these parasites had on these animals but only observed their potential as reservoirs for parasitic diseases.

Intestinal morphology, brush border and digesta enzyme activities of broilers fed on a diet containing Cu2+-loaded montmorillonite

1. A total of 320 1-d-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were used to investigate the effect of Cu(2+)-loaded montmorillonite (CM) on the growth performance, intestinal morphology and activities of brush border enzyme in the intestinal mucosa and digestive enzyme in the intestinal digesta of broilers. 2. The chicks were assigned randomly into 4 groups with 80 chicks per treatment. The 4 dietary treatments were: basal diet only (control group), basal diet + 2 g montmorillonite/kg, basal diet + 1 g CM/kg, and basal diet + 2 g CM/kg. The chicks were raised in cages and feed and water were provided ad libitum for a period of 42 d. 3. The addition of CM to the diet of broilers significantly increased body weight and feed efficiency. Similarly, birds receiving montmorillonite had higher feed efficiency than the control after 42 d of feeding. 4. Data on villus height and crypt depth for duodenum, jejunum and ileum indicated that treating the diet of broilers with either CM or montmorillonite improved the mucosal morphology of the small intestine. 5. The presence of CM in the diet of broilers significantly increased the activities of maltase, aminopeptidase N and alkaline phosphatase in small intestinal mucosa. However, the activities of protease, trypsin, chymotrypsin, amylase and lipase in small intestinal digesta of broilers fed on the CM-supplemented diet were slightly higher than control values.

Identification of new morphological and life-cycle stages of Cochlosoma anatis and experimental transmission using pseudocyst

Cochlosoma anatis is a flagellated intestinal parasite that infects a variety of avian species. C. anatis infections have been associated with decreased weight gain and increased morbidity and mortality. Conditions favoring the growth of this organism in birds are current pathogenic intestinal infections and/or young age. There is little data describing the life cycle of this parasite. In this study, electron microscopy images are presented that document longitudinal binary fission of the trophozoite stage and outline the events of pseudocyst formation, which includes a rounding stage. Evidence provided here indicates that the pseudocyst stage may be a mechanism for transmission of this organism. The observations reported here provide additional evidence of homology between Cochlosoma and members of the trichomonad order.

Experimental Cochlosoma anatis infections in poultry

Cochlosoma anatis [Kotlán, A., 1923. Zentralbl. Bakteriol. Parasitenkd. Infektienskr. Hyg. 90, pp. 24-28] is a flagellated protozoan parasite of birds. We have encountered C. anatis in turkeys with enteritis. Experimental oral inoculations of turkeys with 1 x 10(6) to 10 x 10(6) trophozoites consistently reproduced infections in recipients. Trophozoites were most numerous in the jejunum and ileum but could be observed in the duodenum, ceca, colon, and feces. When 12 naive turkeys were placed on contaminated litter vacated by excreting turkeys only one of 12 became infected. When eight naive turkeys were placed in boxes with birds currently excreting trophozoites, seven of eight became infected. Trophozoites could not survive exposure to water or to freezing. Attempts to culture trophozoites in modified Diamond's medium, Kiester's medium, RPMI 1640 medium with 10% fetal bovine serum, or on cultured bovine turbinate cells were not successful. Four of six bobwhite quail and one of eight chickens orally inoculated with 10 x 10(6) to 20 x 10(6) trophozoites had detectable infections. Trophozoites were observed only in the ilea of bobwhite quail and the ceca of the positive chicken. Trophozoites collected from chickens and bobwhite quail remained infectious for turkeys.

Cochlosoma infections in finches

OBJECTIVE

To survey finches in pet shops for Cochlosoma infection and evaluate the efficacy of antiprotozoal therapy with metronidazole or ronidazole.

DESIGN

A survey of pet shop finches and drug efficacy trials.

PROCEDURE

Finches in pet shops were randomly selected and their faeces examined microscopically for motile Cochlosoma sp trophozoites. Drug trials were carried out on 60 adult finches with naturally occurring infections. Body weight was measured and the faeces of each bird was examined for trophozoites at the beginning and 7 days after the end of treatment. In some birds, additional daily faecal examinations were done until three consecutive negative results were obtained. Metronidazole was administered at various dose rates by crop gavage or in drinking water to eight groups of five to ten finches each. Ronidazole was given in water for 7 days to ten finches. In addition, six finches whose faeces tested positive were necropsied and their tissues collected for histological examination.

RESULTS

Motile flagellates in the faeces were identified as C anatis-like protozoa. Red-headed parrot-finches, Bengalese and Lady Gould finches were found to be most commonly infected. Cochlosoma sp was also found in the blue-faced parrot-finch, zebra finch, painted finch, nutmeg mannikin and double-barred finch. Metronidazole and ronidazole were found to be effective against Cochlosoma sp. Histological findings on infected adult finches were normal, except for the presence of numerous flagellates between the colorectal villi and cloacal mucosal folds.

CONCLUSIONS

Cochlosoma anatis-like organisms can infect several species of finches and in adult finches are confined to the colorectum and cloaca. Infection in adult finches was mostly subclinical and could be treated effectively with metronidazole or ronidazole.