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Ai S, Zhang Z, Wang J, Wang X, Liu C, Duan Z. Prevalence and molecular identification of gastrointestinal nematodes in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China. Vet Med Sci 2023; 9:2693-2702. [PMID: 37882479 PMCID: PMC10650333 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) have seriously affected the production and earnings of animal husbandry in various countries, while some species of GINs infect humans. At present, little is known about the species and prevalence of GINs in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). METHODS In this study, 528 fresh faecal samples were collected from typical areas in different altitudes with seven species of livestock in Qinghai, Tibet, Gansu and Yunnan Provinces. ITS-2 rRNA gene of nematodes was employed to detect by PCR and sequencing analysis. Phylogenetic analysis of related sequences was performed using MEGA 6.0 software. RESULTS The overall prevalence of GINs was 80.3% with 20 species of GINs detected, while Teladorsagia circumcincta was the dominant one, and four of which were zoonotic species such as Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Trichostrongylus axei, Trichostrongylus vitrinus and Oesophagostomum stephanostomum. CONCLUSION The study provided panoptic information on the prevalence and species diversity of GINs in QTP area, which is useful and valuable for reference of measure formulation in livestock husbandry and public health concerns. The parasites of T. circumcincta, Cylicocyclus nassatus, Strongylus edentatus, Cylicostephanus longibursatus, Telephlebia brevicauda, Cyathostomum catinatum, Mecistocirrus digitatus, Cooperia punctata, Cylicodontophorus bicoronatus, Nematodirus oiratianus and Oesophagostomum asperum were firstly reported the presence in QTP area. The study also showed that horse could be infected by T. circumcincta, goat could be infected by C. nassatus, cattle could be infected by S. edentatus and C. bicoronatus,and O. stephanostomum could infect yak, cattle and Mongolian sheep in worldwide. Nevertheless, more investigations are needed, such as microscopic examination, to accurately determine the species in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sitong Ai
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary MedicineCollege of AgricultureEastern Liaoning UniversityDandongChina
| | - Zhichao Zhang
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Jinghan Wang
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Xiaoqi Wang
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Cheng Liu
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Ziyuan Duan
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
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Luginbühl C, Gross J, Wenker C, Hoby S, Basso W, Zanolari P. Reindeer Husbandry in Switzerland-Management, Feeding, and Endoparasite Infections. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13091444. [PMID: 37174481 PMCID: PMC10177455 DOI: 10.3390/ani13091444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present work was to provide an overview of management and feeding practices, and the prevalence of endoparasite infections in captive Swiss reindeer. On two visits to eight farms or zoos, a standardized questionnaire was completed. A total of 67 reindeer were weighed, and fecal samples were collected. The primary management concerns voiced by owners/managers were feeding and successful breeding. All reindeer were fed roughage ad libitum and supplementary feed for reindeer or other browsers, with different compositions in each herd. Males over two years of age weighed from 60 kg up to 127.5 kg, whereas females had a body weight from 53.5 kg to 86.5 kg. The prevalence of gastrointestinal strongyles was 68.6% (46/67), with reindeer in zoos having a lower prevalence (36%; 9/25) than reindeer from private farms (88%; 37/42). Capillaria sp., Strongyloides sp., and Trichuris sp. were detected in lower prevalences (<24%) and were also more frequent in private farms. Intestinal protozoa, as well as fluke and tapeworms, were not detected in any herd. This study provides an overview on husbandry, feeding, and endoparasite prevalence in reindeer in Switzerland and should be of help for breeders and veterinarians dealing with this animal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Luginbühl
- Clinic for Ruminants, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Bremgartenstrasse 109a, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Josef Gross
- Veterinary Physiology, Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Bremgartenstrasse 109a, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Stefan Hoby
- Berne Animal Park, Tierparkweg 1, 3005 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Walter Basso
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Patrik Zanolari
- Clinic for Ruminants, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Bremgartenstrasse 109a, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
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Utaaker KS, Ytrehus B, Davey ML, Fossøy F, Davidson RK, Miller AL, Robertsen PA, Strand O, Rauset GR. Parasite Spillover from Domestic Sheep to Wild Reindeer-The Role of Salt Licks. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020186. [PMID: 36839459 PMCID: PMC9959430 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Attraction sites are important for environmental pathogen transmission and spillover. Yet, their role in wildlife disease dynamics is often poorly substantiated. Herein, we study the role of salt licks as potential attraction sites for the spillover of gastrointestinal parasites from domestic sheep to wild reindeer. Eggs from the introduced sheep nematode Nematodirus battus were found in faecal samples of both species, suggestive of spillover. DNA metabarcoding of soil, collected at salt licks, revealed that N. battus, in addition to Teladorsagia circumcincta, were the most frequently occurring parasitic nematodes, with a significantly higher prevalence of nematodal DNA in salt lick soil compared to soil from control sites nearby. The finding of similar DNA haplotypes of N. battus in sheep, reindeer, and salt lick soil supports the hypothesis of spillover to reindeer via salt licks. More detailed investigation of the genetic diversity of N. battus across these hosts is needed to draw firm conclusions. Infection with these sheep nematodes could potentially explain a recently observed decline in the calf recruitment rate of the Knutshø reindeer herd. This study also supports the hypothesized role of artificial salt licks as hot spots for the transmission of environmentally persistent pathogens and illustrates the importance of knowledge about such attraction points in the study of disease in free-roaming animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kjersti Selstad Utaaker
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Torgarden, P.O. Box 5685, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
- Faculty of Bioscience and Aquaculture, Nord University, 8049 Bodø, Norway
- Correspondence:
| | - Bjørnar Ytrehus
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Torgarden, P.O. Box 5685, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Biomedical Science and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7028, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marie L. Davey
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Torgarden, P.O. Box 5685, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Frode Fossøy
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Torgarden, P.O. Box 5685, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Andrea L. Miller
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Torgarden, P.O. Box 5685, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Applied Ecology and Agricultural Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2480 Koppang, Norway
| | - Per-Anders Robertsen
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Applied Ecology and Agricultural Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2480 Koppang, Norway
| | - Olav Strand
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Torgarden, P.O. Box 5685, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Geir Rune Rauset
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Torgarden, P.O. Box 5685, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
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Idland L, Juul AM, Solevåg EK, Tysnes KR, Robertson LJ, Utaaker KS. Occurrence of faecal endoparasites in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in two grazing areas in northern Norway. Acta Vet Scand 2021; 63:13. [PMID: 33757573 PMCID: PMC7985575 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-021-00578-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Semi-domesticated reindeer represent an important livestock industry and livelihood for a proportion of the human population in northern Fennoscandia. Reindeer husbandry is considered an extensive animal husbandry, where the animals are kept mostly on natural pastures, although sometimes kept in fenced areas for shorter periods. These reindeer may harbour a variety of parasites that may affect animal health and production. The relatively limited close contact between herds and owners gives limited opportunities for diagnosis and treatment of diseases in general. Furthermore, the effects of subclinical parasitism in livestock are commonly expressed as a reduction in productivity rather than clinical disease and mortality. Thus, specific knowledge of endoparasites and parasitic infections in these herds is scarce. This study investigated the occurrence of various endoparasites in reindeer by analysis of a total of 114 faecal samples from winter-slaughtered reindeer from two different grazing areas in Troms and Finnmark, Norway. Results Using a McMaster method, a Baermann technique, and a direct immunofluorescent antibody test, the following parasites were identified in the faecal samples with the occurrence data given as percentages: Strongylid eggs (62%), Nematodirinae spp. eggs (24%), Capillaria sp. eggs (42%) and Moniezia spp. eggs (17%), Dictyocaulus spp. larvae (14%) protostrongylid larvae (40%), Eimera spp. oocysts (23%), and Giardia duodenalis cysts (5%). Cryptosporidium oocysts were not detected. Parasite eggs, oocysts, and cysts were quantified. Molecular analysis revealed G. duodenalis sub-assemblage AI, a potentially zoonotic genotype not previously reported in reindeer from this region. Morphological analyses of Eimeria oocysts identified two species, Eimeria mayeri and Eimeria rangiferis, and molecular analyses of the cytochrome C oxidase I (coi) gene and 18 s rRNA (18SSU) gene of Eimeria confirmed the presence of Eimeria species that are specific to reindeer. Conclusions A high prevalence, but low burden, of endoparasites was detected in samples from these semi-domesticated reindeer. The samples were collected during winter, when adult gastrointestinal parasites usually produce only low numbers of transmission stages. Therefore, together with the low number of samples, detailed and definitive conclusions regarding parasite status of semi-domesticated reindeer are avoided. Nevertheless, these data provide a snapshot overview of parasite occurrence in a semi-domesticated animal group vulnerable to the various environmental changes to which they are exposed.
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Post-Translational Protein Deimination Signatures in Plasma and Plasma EVs of Reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus). BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10030222. [PMID: 33805829 PMCID: PMC7998281 DOI: 10.3390/biology10030222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Reindeer are an important wild and domesticated species of the Arctic, Northern Europe, Siberia and North America. As reindeer have developed various strategies to adapt to extreme environments, this makes them an interesting species for studies into diversity of immune and metabolic functions in the animal kingdom. Importantly, while reindeer carry natural infections caused by viruses (including coronaviruses), bacteria and parasites, they can also act as carriers for transmitting such diseases to other animals and humans, so called zoonosis. Reindeer are also affected by chronic wasting disease, a neuronal disease caused by prions, similar to scrapie in sheep, mad cows disease in cattle and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. The current study assessed a specific protein modification called deimination/citrullination, which can change how proteins function and allow them to take on different roles in health and disease processes. Profiling of deiminated proteins in reindeer showed that many important pathways for immune defenses, prion diseases and metabolism are enriched in deiminated proteins, both in plasma, as well as in plasma extracellular vesicles. This study provides a platform for the development of novel biomarkers to assess wild life health status and factors relating to zoonotic disease. Abstract The reindeer (caribou) Rangifer tarandus is a Cervidae in the order Artiodactyla. Reindeer are sedentary and migratory populations with circumpolar distribution in the Arctic, Northern Europe, Siberia and North America. Reindeer are an important wild and domesticated species, and have developed various adaptive strategies to extreme environments. Importantly, deer have also been identified to be putative zoonotic carriers, including for parasites, prions and coronavirus. Therefore, novel insights into immune-related markers are of considerable interest. Peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs) are a phylogenetically conserved enzyme family which causes post-translational protein deimination by converting arginine into citrulline in target proteins. This affects protein function in health and disease. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) participate in cellular communication, in physiological and pathological processes, via transfer of cargo material, and their release is partly regulated by PADs. This study assessed deiminated protein and EV profile signatures in plasma from sixteen healthy wild female reindeer, collected in Iceland during screening for parasites and chronic wasting disease. Reindeer plasma EV profiles showed a poly-dispersed distribution from 30 to 400 nm and were positive for phylogenetically conserved EV-specific markers. Deiminated proteins were isolated from whole plasma and plasma EVs, identified by proteomic analysis and protein interaction networks assessed by KEGG and GO analysis. This revealed a large number of deimination-enriched pathways for immunity and metabolism, with some differences between whole plasma and EVs. While shared KEGG pathways for whole plasma and plasma EVs included complement and coagulation pathways, KEGG pathways specific for EVs were for protein digestion and absorption, platelet activation, amoebiasis, the AGE–RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, ECM receptor interaction, the relaxin signaling pathway and the estrogen signaling pathway. KEGG pathways specific for whole plasma were pertussis, ferroptosis, SLE, thyroid hormone synthesis, phagosome, Staphylococcus aureus infection, vitamin digestion and absorption, and prion disease. Further differences were also found between molecular function and biological processes GO pathways when comparing functional STRING networks for deiminated proteins in EVs, compared with deiminated proteins in whole plasma. This study highlights deiminated proteins and EVs as candidate biomarkers for reindeer health and may provide information on regulation of immune pathways in physiological and pathological processes, including neurodegenerative (prion) disease and zoonosis.
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Barone CD, Wit J, Hoberg EP, Gilleard JS, Zarlenga DS. Wild ruminants as reservoirs of domestic livestock gastrointestinal nematodes. Vet Parasitol 2020; 279:109041. [PMID: 32160579 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infections in cattle cause appetite suppression which leads to poor feed conversion, reduced weight gain and reduced milk production. Overuse and exclusive reliance on anthelmintic drugs has resulted in widespread resistance in many parasitic nematode species infecting livestock making control increasingly difficult. Wild ruminants are competent hosts of a number of nematode species that typically infect and are best adapted for cattle, sheep, and goats. Thus, the potential exists for wild ruminants to act as reservoirs in the translocation of domestic GIN, including those carrying anthelmintic resistance mutations as well as susceptible genotypes. The potential for parasite exchange is heightened by interfaces or ecotones between managed and wild rangelands, and by perturbations linked to climate warming that can increasingly alter the distributions of wild ungulates and their interactions with domestic and free-ranging ruminants. To investigate the extent to which wild ruminants harbour parasites capable of infecting domestic ruminants we first performed an epidemiological study of feces from wildlife hosts that spanned 16 states and included white-tailed deer (85 % of the samples), pronghorn, elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, moose, cattle, and caribou across the United States. All samples were cultured to third stage larvae and nematode DNA was isolated and PCR amplified. Among the 548 wild ruminant samples received, 33 % (181 samples) were positive for nematode DNA, among which half (84 samples) contained DNA from GIN species commonly found in cattle. DNA from cattle GIN species was detected in 46 % of samples from the Northeast, 42 % from the Southeast, 10 % from the Midwest, 0 % from the Southwest and 11 % from the West. Deep amplicon sequencing of the ITS-2 rDNA indicated that Ostertagia and Trichostrongylus were present in 90 % and 69 % of the nematode DNA positive samples, respectively, whereas Haemonchus, Cooperia and Oesophagostomum were present in 26 %, 2 % and 10 % of the samples, respectively. These data clearly show that wild ruminants commonly harbour multiple parasite species whose primary hosts are domestic cattle, and suggest that further work is warranted to investigate their specific roles in the management of anthelmintic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly D Barone
- Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Building 1180, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA.
| | - Janneke Wit
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Eric P Hoberg
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - John S Gilleard
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Dante S Zarlenga
- Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Building 1180, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA
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Turgeon G, Kutz SJ, Lejeune M, St-Laurent MH, Pelletier F. Parasite prevalence, infection intensity and richness in an endangered population, the Atlantic-Gaspésie caribou. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2018; 7:90-94. [PMID: 29487799 PMCID: PMC5814373 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2018.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Revised: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The Atlantic-Gaspésie caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) population is a small isolated relict herd considered endangered according to the Canadian Species at Risk Act (SARA). This population has low recruitment and survival rates but the potential role of parasites on individual fitness is unknown. In this context, we explored the parasite status of this population with the aim of 1) assessing the occurrence and intensity of parasite infections and the spatial, temporal and individual variations, 2) quantifying parasite richness and investigating factors such as sex and host body condition that may be associated with this variable and 3) evaluating the effects of parasite infections on survival in the Atlantic-Gaspésie caribou population. We examined fecal samples from 32 animals captured in 2013–2014 for eggs, oocysts and larvae of parasites and detected 7 parasite species: dorsal-spined larvae protostrongylids, presumably Parelaphostrongylus andersoni based on PCR identification of a subset, Nematodirus odocoilei and other unidentified Strongyles, Trichuris sp., Capillaria sp., Moniezia sp. and Eimeria sp. For each caribou, mean parasite species richness was 1.8 ± 1.1 (SD). Sex, body condition, year and capture location did not explain parasite prevalence, intensity of infection or richness except for intensity of infection of Capillaria sp. that was positively influenced by body condition. Parasites did not influence survival although mortality was higher for males than for females. We suggest that the relatively low and common gastrointestinal and protostrongylid parasite infections will not be a short-term threat leading to extinction. Fecal pellets from Gaspésie-Atlantic caribou population were examined for parasites. We identified 7 parasite species and mean species richness reached 1.8/caribou. Parelaphostrongylus andersoni was identified using PCR identification. Capillaria sp. were found yet are rare in other wild caribou in Canada. Despite a male-biased mortality, parasite infection did not affect caribou survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geneviève Turgeon
- Canada Research Chair in Evolutionary Demography and Conservation, Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Centre for Northern Studies, 2500 Boul. de l'Université, Sherbrooke, Qc, J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Susan J Kutz
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, and Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Alberta Regional Centre, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Manigandan Lejeune
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, 240 Farrier Road, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
| | - Martin-Hugues St-Laurent
- Université du Québec à Rimouski, Département de Biologie, Chimie et Géographie, Centre for Northern Studies, Centre for Forest Research, 300 Allée des Ursulines, Rimouski, Québec, G5L 3A1 Canada
| | - Fanie Pelletier
- Canada Research Chair in Evolutionary Demography and Conservation, Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Centre for Northern Studies, 2500 Boul. de l'Université, Sherbrooke, Qc, J1K 2R1, Canada
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The reindeer abomasal nematode (Ostertagia gruehneri) is naturally transmitted to sheep when sharing pastures. Parasitol Res 2014; 113:4033-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-4071-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2014] [Accepted: 07/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Domke AVM, Chartier C, Gjerde B, Leine N, Vatn S, Stuen S. Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths, lungworms and liver fluke in sheep and goats in Norway. Vet Parasitol 2012; 194:40-8. [PMID: 23298563 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2012] [Revised: 11/29/2012] [Accepted: 12/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The present study describes the occurrence of various gastrointestinal helminths, lungworms and liver flukes in Norwegian sheep and goats as assessed from faecal samples and post mortem examinations performed between 2007 and 2010. Faecal samples for gastrointestinal nematode egg counts were collected from 77 sheep flocks and 30 dairy goat flocks from three geographical regions in Norway. Additionally, thirty-two lambs and 16 adult goats were euthanized for necropsy examination and for identification of adult gastrointestinal nematodes and tapeworms, lungworms and liver flukes. The survey showed that there was a higher mean excretion of trichostrongyle eggs in sheep than in goats at the individual level (392 EPG vs. 154 EPG, p<0.001). For both host species, the mean prevalence and intensity of excreted trichostrongyle eggs were significantly higher in the southern coastal region compared with the inland and northern regions (p<0.001). Third stage larvae of Trichostrongylus/Teladorsagia, Haemonchus and Nematodirus type were the most prevalent ones in the coprocultures from sheep, whereas larvae of Trichostrongylus/Teladorsagia and Nematodirus type dominated in goats. The most prevalent gastrointestinal nematode species found at necropsy was Teladorsagia circumcincta (75.0 and 81.2% respectively in sheep and goats), while the largest mean worm burdens were recorded for Haemonchus contortus in sheep (724±623) and T. circumcincta in goats (377±529). Other gastrointestinal nematode species were present at low prevalence or in low numbers. Fasciola hepatica was only found in necropsied sheep from the coastal region with a prevalence of 18.8%. The lungworm Mullerius capillaris was found from all regions in necropsied goats (31.2%) and from coastal area in sheep (3.1%). The present study indicates that H. contortus and Nematodirus battus have a wider geographical distribution to the north than expected, and describes to our knowledge the northernmost occurrence of H. contortus in the Nordic countries.
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Parasites in ungulates of Arctic North America and Greenland: a view of contemporary diversity, ecology, and impact in a world under change. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2012; 79:99-252. [PMID: 22726643 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-398457-9.00002-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Parasites play an important role in the structure and function of arctic ecosystems, systems that are currently experiencing an unprecedented rate of change due to various anthropogenic perturbations, including climate change. Ungulates such as muskoxen, caribou, moose and Dall's sheep are also important components of northern ecosystems and are a source of food and income, as well as a focus for maintenance of cultural traditions, for northerners. Parasites of ungulates can influence host health, population dynamics and the quality, quantity and safety of meat and other products of animal origin consumed by people. In this article, we provide a contemporary view of the diversity of nematode, cestode, trematode, protozoan and arthropod parasites of ungulates in arctic and subarctic North America and Greenland. We explore the intricate associations among host and parasite assemblages and identify key issues and gaps in knowledge that emerge in a regime of accelerating environmental transition.
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Obligate larval inhibition of Ostertagia gruehneri in Rangifer tarandus? Causes and consequences in an Arctic system. Parasitology 2012; 139:1339-45. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182012000601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYLarval inhibition is a common strategy of Trichostrongylidae nematodes that may increase survival of larvae during unfavourable periods and concentrate egg production when conditions are favourable for development and transmission. We investigated the propensity for larval inhibition in a population of Ostertagia gruehneri, the most common gastrointestinal Trichostrongylidae nematode of Rangifer tarandus. Initial experimental infections of 4 reindeer with O. gruehneri sourced from the Bathurst caribou herd in Arctic Canada suggested that the propensity for larval inhibition was 100%. In the summer of 2009 we infected 12 additional reindeer with the F1 and F2 generations of O. gruehneri sourced from the previously infected reindeer to further investigate the propensity of larval inhibition. The reindeer were divided into 2 groups and half were infected before the summer solstice (17 June) and half were infected after the solstice (16 July). Reindeer did not shed eggs until March 2010, i.e. 8 and 9 months post-infection. These results suggest obligate larval inhibition for at least 1 population of O. gruehneri, a phenomenon that has not been conclusively shown for any other trichostrongylid species. Obligate inhibition is likely to be an adaptation to both the Arctic environment and to a migratory host and may influence the ability of O. gruehneri to adapt to climate change.
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Hrabok JT, Oksanen A, Nieminen M, Waller PJ. Population dynamics of nematode parasites of reindeer in the sub-arctic. Vet Parasitol 2006; 142:301-11. [PMID: 16934935 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2006] [Revised: 07/11/2006] [Accepted: 07/18/2006] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Nematode parasite infections of semi-domestic reindeer grazing in their natural habitat in northern Finland were monitored for approximately 2 years. This was achieved by monthly faecal egg counts of male and female calves and adult females from an experimental reindeer herd, in addition to estimating the acquisition of nematode infection from pasture using tracer reindeer calves. The most abundant parasite was Ostertagia gruehneri in the worm counts of tracer animals and in faecal egg counts of adult female reindeer. Capillaria sp. eggs were detected in calves and adults, but Nematodirinae eggs were only recovered from calves. Faecal egg counts showed variations between months for each nematode species, with male and female calves shedding similar numbers of eggs. During each year, calves shed more Capillaria sp. eggs than adult female reindeer, but similar numbers of O. gruehneri eggs. Egg counts of O. gruehneri were more abundant in late summer-autumn (July-September), whereas Capillaria sp. and the Nematodirinae dominated the winter months (November-February). The seasonal trends of adult worm burdens of O. gruehneri in the tracers paralleled the egg count patterns. Capillaria sp. was not detected in tracer worm counts. Tracer worm burdens showed that the proportion of inhibited larvae of O. gruehneri and Nematodirinae steadily increased from spring to early winter, followed by a decline and a commensurate increase in the number of adult parasites in the second summer. This investigation showed that parasite transmission occurs continuously throughout the year for nematode parasites of reindeer in northern Finland.
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Affiliation(s)
- J T Hrabok
- Department of Parasitology (SWEPAR), National Veterinary Institute and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-751 89 Uppsala, Sweden.
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Larsson A, Dimander SO, Uggla A, Waller P, Höglund J. Effects of single or concurrent infections with Eimeria alabamensis and gastrointestinal nematodes on the performance of calves on pasture. Parasitol Res 2006; 99:84-9. [PMID: 16496174 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-005-0109-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2005] [Accepted: 12/08/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Twenty-four calves unexposed to pasture were allocated to four groups and inoculated with either two doses of 5 million Eimeria alabamensis oocysts at turn-out (E), 90,000 L3 of Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora divided on six occasions (N) or both oocysts and larvae as above (E + N). A control group was left uninoculated (C). For 10 weeks, the groups grazed in separate uniform paddocks not previously grazed by cattle. By day 5, most calves in groups E and E + N developed clinical coccidiosis that resulted in reduced weight gain compared to C and N. Mean trichostrongylid faecal egg counts in groups N and E + N never exceeded 300 eggs per gram of faeces, and average serum pepsinogen levels were less than 3.8 U tyrosine. This experiment demonstrates the potential impact of E. alabamensis on the performance of previously unexposed calves, whereas no aggravated effects were observed due to concurrent infections with gastrointestinal nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Larsson
- Department of Parasitology (SWEPAR), National Veterinary Institute and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden
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