Seasonal patterns of strongyle infections in grazing sheep under the traditional production system in the region of Trikala, Greece

Seasonal changes of diagnostic potential in the detection of Anoplocephala perfoliata equine infections in the climate of Central Europe

For this study, 724 gastrointestinal tracts of slaughter horses were investigated to determine the prevalence, intensity of Anoplocephala perfoliata and tapeworm development stages over the second, third and fourth quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013. For each positive horse, faecal samples were collected from the rectum or small colon for coproscopic examinations. The samples were analysed using dedicated modified sedimentation-flotation methods. In total, 52 horses were infected with A. perfoliata in the course of the study, with an overall prevalence of 7.2 %. The prevalence changed over the study period; however, not markedly. The overall mean of A. perfoliata abundance was 12.3 (3.23) and did not differ significantly between the quarters. Mean invasion intensity did not differ significantly between the quarters. The quantity of mature tapeworms did not differ significantly over the study period; however, there was a significant difference in the number of immature tapeworms. The highest number of mature tapeworms was found in the first quarter of 2013. The number of detected tapeworm eggs rose significantly over the study period. The total number of tapeworms did not have a significant influence on the presence/absence of detected eggs. However, there was a noticeable difference between the number of mature tapeworms and presence/absence of eggs in faeces. This clearly indicates that the efficacy of the modified sedimentation-flotation method is influenced by seasonality, and therefore the most effective and reliable time for detection of A. perfoliata in equines is the first quarter of the year.

Parasite contamination of soil in households of a Mexican rural community endemic for neurocysticercosis

High neurocysticercosis (NC) prevalence was recently determined by a computed tomography (CT) scan study in the community of Tepetzitzintla, State of Puebla, Mexico. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the magnitude of fecal and parasite contamination by Taenia spp. in the soil of households of this community during the four seasons of the year. The toilet, backyard, kitchen, washboard, water containers and corrals of 14 to 26 households were sampled during each season. High Taenia spp. egg intensity was found in 24.2% of the sampled areas. The highest percentage was detected in Spring and the lowest in Summer. Significantly higher levels of Taenia spp. eggs were present in kitchen soil samples. A significant correlation was found between the presence of Taenia spp. eggs in household soil during the Summer, and NC diagnoses of the inhabitants by CT scan. Coproparasitological examinations and anti-cysticercal antibodies were determined in a cohort of inhabitants of the sampled households. Antibody levels and coproparasitological results were not associated with NC. Overall, these results illustrate the high degree of fecal contamination of potential risk to human health in rural communities and could be of use for control programmes.