The effect of Syphacia muris on nutrient digestibility in laboratory rats

Potential anthelmintic effect of chitosan on Syphacia muris infecting Wistar rats: biochemical, immunological, and histopathological studies

Natural products extracted from animal sources have many biological activities, such as chitosan, which is being researched for its medicinal or therapeutic potential. Syphacia muris is the most well-known intestinal nematode, infecting laboratory rats and influencing their immune systems. In this study, we looked at the anthelminthic activity of chitosan particles against S. muris infection using biochemical, immunological, and histopathological methods. Chitosan particles were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Rats were separated into four groups, each consisting of seven individuals (n = 7). The first group was the control (non-infected), the second group was infected, and both groups received 0.5 ml of 1% glacial acetic acid orally. The third group was the infected group (treated), and the fourth group (normal) received 0.5 ml of 30 mg/kg/day chitosan dissolved in 1% glacial acetic acid for 14 days using gavage. Liver and kidney parameters, oxidative stress markers, serum levels of cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-5, IL-13, IL-33, and IL-10), as well as immunoglobulins (total IgE and IgG), were assessed. Histological examinations of host tissues (intestine, liver, kidney, and spleen) were also performed. Following chitosan treatment, a significant decrease in worm count (P < 0.05) was indicated; this was associated with an enhancement of biochemical and oxidative stress biomarkers, which were altered due to infection. Moreover, immunological analysis revealed a significant drop in INF-γ, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-33 levels and total immunoglobulins (IgE and IgG) as well as an improvement in rat tissues. Conclusively, this study showed the anthelminthic effect of chitosan against S. muris infection.

Exploring the anthelmintic activity of Olea europaea L (Olive) leaves extract and oleuropein in mice naturally infected with Aspiculuris tetraptera

Oxyuriasis, caused by the nematode Enterobius vermicularis, is one of the cosmopolitan intestinal infections of humans. Aspiculuris tetraptera commonly infects mice and it is morphologically similar to E. vermicularis. Parasitic resistance reduces the efficiency of synthetic drugs and poses economic impacts on the dairy sector, thus necessitating novel anthelmintic agents. Olea europaea L. (Olive) is a bioactive plant with potent pharmacological activities. However, its effects on oxyurids are poorly known, and no studies are currently exploring olives' anthelmintic potential. In this study, we investigated the pharmacokinetic behaviors of O. europaea leaves extract (OLE) and its phenolic compound oleuropein in mice infected with A. tetraptera, in comparison with Albendazole (ABZ), a standard drug used to treat parasitic worms. Fecal flotation method was used to identify the infestation with A. tetraptera eggs by examining the stool samples from mice. Infected animals were divided into 7 groups. 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 1000 mg/kg doses of OLE, 5 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg doses of oleuropein, 10 mg/kg of ABZ and tap water were orally administered by gavage for 7 days during treatments. Drug efficacies and statistical differences between the treatments and controls were evaluated. Our results revealed 92.43 % efficacy of ABZ, similar to 92.19 % efficacy of 1000 mg/kg of OLE. At the same time, 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg concentrations of OLE remained 70.03 % and 63.18 % effective in reducing worm counts. Efficacy percentages of 5 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg of oleuropein were 9.27 % and 70.56 %, respectively. Statistical analysis of ABZ was significant compared to 1000 mg/kg of OLE, which was almost equal but insignificant. In general, our results confirm the anthelmintic potential of OLE and oleuropein against mice pinworms and open the way for targeted extraction of bioactive compounds from plants to optimize its use in human and veterinary medicine.

Experience of eradicating parasites of laboratory rats in conventional vivarium

The purpose of the research is to test different dehelminthization schemes of laboratory rats infected with cestodes Rodentolepis nana and nematodes Syphacia muris and evaluate the significance of combined environment disinfection measures. The practical experience of eradication (helminth eradication) in animals in a conventional vivarium was described.Materials and methods. Experiments were conducted to study the efficacy of anthelmintics and administration schemes against cestode and nematode infections in laboratory rats. In the first experiment, praziquantel was used at a dose of 10 mg/kg to treat rats infected with R. nana. In the second experiment, the comparative efficacy of fenbendazole, albendazole, and pyrantel was evaluated against syphaciosis at the recommended dosages of 20, 10, and 12.5 mg/kg, respectively. Each drug was given orally, individually, twice with an interval of 7 days. The third experiment tested different schemes for treating syphaciosis with fenbendazole. One group of rats was given the drug orally individually using an esophageal tube at a dose of 20 mg/kg once a day for 7 consecutive days. Other groups were given fenbendazole daily with food for 7 days (150 mg fenbendazole per 1 kg of food). In all three experiments, all animals were divided into groups, and their cells underwent a complex of additional disinfection measures, and those kept in cages without disinfection.Results and discussion. Praziquantel showed 100% efficacy at a single dose of 10 mg/kg in R. nana therapy. In animals without additional disinfection procedures, cestode eggs were again recorded starting from day 14 after the drug administration. In the group of animals with disinfection measures, pathogens were not detected during the experiment. Double administration of fenbendazole, albendazole and pyrantel in the recommended dosages against syphaciosis did not result in eradicated nematodes in the animals. The disinfection did not affect the obtained results. Fenbendazole administered daily for 7 days ensured helminth eradication in animals. However, on day 7 after the therapy, Syphacia sp. eggs were again found in the groups that received the drug individually intragastrically through a tube, regardless of whether their cells were disinfected. The animals that received fenbendazole with food and were regularly disinfested remained free from nematodes throughout the experiment until the additional disinfection measures were cancelled. In the absence of disinfection, released helminth eggs were recorded on day 14 after therapy.

Helminth parasites in black rats (Rattus rattus) and brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) from different environments in the Netherlands

BACKGROUND

Rattus norvegicus (brown rat) and Rattus rattus (black rat) are known carriers of bacteria, viruses, and parasites of zoonotic and veterinary importance. Moreover, rats may play a role in the transmission of muscle larvae of the zoonotic nematode Trichinella spiralis to farm animals. We aimed to study the intestinal and intramuscular helminths in wild rats from three different environments to assess the relevance of rats as carrier of zoonotic parasites for public health.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Wild brown rats (117 individuals) and black rats (44 individuals) were captured at farms, in suburban and in rural environments in the Netherlands. Intestinal helminths were isolated and identified morphologically. Artificial digestion was used to isolate muscle larvae.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Morphological analysis of rat intestinal contents yielded six nematode species (Syphacia muris, Heterakis spumosa, Aonchotheca murissylvatici, Trichuris muris, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, and Strongyloides sp.), three cestode species (Hymenolepis diminuta, H. nana and Hymenolepis (=Rodentolepis) fraterna), and four trematode species (Plagiorchis muris, Plagiorchis proximus, Echinostoma chloropodis, and Notocotylus imbricatus).Black rats at farms displayed the lowest intestinal helminth species variation (six species) and carried overall on average 0.93 species simultaneously. In comparison, brown rats at farms carried seven helminth species and 1.91 species simultaneously. Brown rats from suburban environments displayed the highest species variation (11 species) at 1.82 simultaneous helminth species. Absence of trematodes from rats at farms may suggest limited exchange of rats between farms and surrounding wet rural environments. We report four species of veterinary (Syphacia muris) or zoonotic relevance (Hymenolepis diminuta, Hymenolepis nana and Plagiorchis muris). We did not find Trichinella muscle larvae, consistent with long-term prevalence in Dutch wild rats.