The seasonal cycle of the cestode Proteocephalus sagittus (Cestoda: Proteocephalidae) was studied for the first time in the stone loach Barbatula barbatula from the Haná River, Czech Republic. A total of 180 loaches were examined monthly from January to December 2001. The parasite occurred in loaches throughout the year but infection parameters differed significantly among seasons, with the highest values of prevalence and abundance from the late winter to the early summer. Parasite recruitment took place in the winter and early spring and the worms sexually matured in the late spring and early summer. In contrast to P. torulosus, the gravid worms of which laid eggs only at the end of the spring/beginning of the summer, gravid worms of P. sagittus were also found, although in low numbers, in the autumn and early winter. The rate of infection of loach with P. sagittus was neither dependent on the sex nor on the size of its fish host.

Two male worms of Camelostrongylus mentulatus were found in one of 84 murciano-granadina goats in Murcia, south-eastern Spain. This is the first report of C. mentulatus in goats in the Iberian peninsula and the possible origin and transmission of this nematode in Spain are discussed.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance T1 and T2 mapping reflects inflammation, fibrosis, and myocardial oedema. However, its application in infants remains uncertain. Herein, we report a three-month-old boy with dilated cardiomyopathy successfully treated with steroids. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance was useful for diagnosis based on the elevated native T1, T2, and extracellular volume and evaluation of response to immunosuppressive therapy in infantile inflammatory dilated cardiomyopathy.

The occurrence, location and sex ratio of Corynosoma strumosum (Acanthoceophala: Polymorphidae) from 26 juvenile grey seals, Halichoerus grypus, by-caught from around the Inishkea Islands, Co. Mayo, from March to June 1997 were recorded. The location of C. strumosum within the seal did not vary, with all worms being found in the small intestine. The prevalence of infection was 100%, with no other acanthocephalan species being recorded. The mean abundance was 416 (range 80–846) C. strumosum per seal. There was no significant change in abundance by month. The sex ratio of mature female to mature male parasites was 1.2:1. The lengths of female and male worms did not differ significantly.

In the serodiagnosis of alveolar echinococcosis, the detection of specific reactions against not only protein but also carbohydrate antigen is useful and both antigens supplement each other. Though recombinant protein antigens have recently advanced, the preparation of carbohydrate antigen still depends on extraction from crude antigens. In the latter case, it is not conventional to obtain carbohydrate antigen as a single component for examination and research. Therefore, chemically synthesized carbohydrate antigens were prepared for serodiagnosis by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Four antigens with the structure of glycosphingolipids from Echinococcus multilocularis were examined and one antigen, Galβ1-6(Fucα1-3)Galβ1-6Galβ1-ceramide, was found to show significant serodiagnostic potential in differentiating alveolar from cystic echinococcosis.

Wild Lymnaea tomentosa snails, recovered from Lake Wanaka, New Zealand, were established in the laboratory. Wild snails, naturally infected with echinostomes, provided metacercariae for infection of laboratory maintained snails. Metacercarial cysts from wild and laboratory snails were then used to attempt infection of definitive host candidates. Laboratory snails provided convenient packaging of known numbers of cysts. Metacercariae excysted in the small intestines of ducklings to mature in 6 days. Worms were expelled as they became gravid. Attempts to establish infections in experimental hosts other than ducklings were not successful. No worms were recovered from mice, white rats, guinea pigs, hamsters or immunosuppressed white rats.

Camelina cake (CAM) is a co-product proposed as an alternative protein source; however, piglet data are still limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different doses of CAM in substitution of soyabean meal on the growth, health and gut health of weaned pigs. At 14 d post-weaning (d0), sixty-four piglets were assigned either to a standard diet or to a diet with 4 %, 8 % or 12 % of CAM. Piglets were weighed weekly. At d7 and d28, faeces were collected for microbiota and polyamine and blood for reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) and thyroxine analysis. At d28, pigs were slaughtered, organs were weighed, pH was recorded on gut, colon was analysed for volatile fatty acids (VFA) and jejunum was used for morphological and gene expression analysis. Data analysis was carried out using a mixed model including diet, pen and litter as factors; linear and quadratic contrasts were tested. CAM linearly reduced the average daily gain from d0–d7, d0–d14, d0–d21 and d0–d28 (P ≤ 0·01). From d0–d7 increasing CAM linearly decreased feed intake (P = 0·04) and increased linearly the feed to gain (P = 0·004). CAM increased linearly the liver weight (P < 0·0001) and affected the cadaverine (P < 0·001). The diet did not affect the ROM, thyroxine, intestinal pH, VFA and morphology. All doses of CAM increased the α diversity indices at d28 (P < 0·05). CAM at 4 % promoted the abundance of Butyricicoccaceae_UCG-008. Feeding with CAM enhanced resilience in the gut microbiome and can be evaluated as a potential alternative protein source with dose-dependent limitations on piglet growth performance.

Relationships between the species diversity of different taxa, the mean number of articles published per year on each taxon, and the mean impact factor of the journals in which they appear, were examined across six taxa of helminths: Nematomorpha, Acanthocephala, Monogenea, Trematoda, Cestoda and Nematoda, the latter including only animal parasitic nematodes. The mean annual output of scientific articles per taxon was not related to the species diversity of these taxa or, at least, not significantly. Thus, the large volume of publications on nematodes is not merely a reflection of their estimated diversity. There were significant differences among taxa in the mean impact factor of the journals in which papers on each taxon appeared, with nematodes having the highest mean score, followed by trematodes and cestodes. In addition, across the six taxa, the mean journal impact factor correlated positively and significantly with the mean annual number of papers published: not only are there more papers published on nematodes and trematodes than on nematomorphs or acanthocephalans, but they are also generally published in higher-ranking journals. These results suggest that there is an increasing gap in the quantity and general importance of the research carried out on different helminth taxa.

In recent years there have been major socio-economic changes within Afghanistan such that the present public health burden of soil-transmitted helminths (STH), especially that within school-aged children, remains to be determined. A baseline parasitological survey was therefore carried out in four defined areas of Afghanistan to better assess the distribution, prevalence and intensity of STH infections prior to a nationwide de-worming campaign beginning within World Food Programme assisted schools. A cross-sectional examination of 1001 children aged between 8 and 15 years old revealed that approximately half (47.2%) were infected with at least one STH. Infections with Ascaris lumbricoides were most widespread (40.9%) and elevated prevalences were detected in urban environments; for example, schoolchildren in Kabul were more likely to be infected (OR=2.2, 95% CI 1.6–3.0) than elsewhere and these infections were often of higher intensity (OR=7.6, 95% CI 4.9–11.8). Trichuris trichiura (9.9%) and hookworms (0.7%), previously unknown from Afghanistan, were encountered. The blood haemoglobin concentration of surveyed children was also assessed: 4% resulted to be anaemic (Hb<11 g dl−1), and 0.4% to be severely anaemic (Hb<7 g dl−1).

Work on the electoral effects of gun violence in the U.S. relying on difference-in-differences designs has produced findings ranging from null to substantively large effects. However, as difference-in-difference designs, on which this research relies, have exploded in popularity, scholars have documented several methodological issues including potential violations of parallel-trends and unaccounted for treatment effect heterogeneity. These pitfalls (and their solutions) have not been fully explored in political science. We apply these advancements to the unresolved debate on gun violence’s effects on U.S. electoral outcomes. We show that studies finding a large positive effect of gun violence on Democratic vote shares are a product of a failure to properly specify difference-in-differences models when underlying assumptions are unlikely to hold. Once these biases are corrected, shootings show little evidence of sparking large electoral change. Our work clarifies an unresolved debate and provides a cautionary guide for scholars currently employing difference-in-differences designs.

Fascioliasis is an important trematode infection of herbivores worldwide with increasing evidence of prevalence as a disease of humans. Vaccination studies with purified native and recombinant Fasciola antigens suggest that this approach to diminished morbidity and mortality and reduced transmission is a realistic goal. Among the major potential vaccine candidates are fatty acid binding protein (FABP), cysteine (cathepsin) proteases, haemoglobulin, leucine aminopeptidase, and a saposin-like protein. In the case of Fasciola hepatica FABP, cross-reaction and cross-protection against Schistosoma mansoni is an important feature. In addition to protective effects with significant worm burden reductions, some vaccine candidates also have anti-fecundity (smaller flukes), anti-pathology (less liver lesions), and anti-embryonation effects. Optimism is tempered by the fact that fascioliasis in humans is an orphan disease and in need of governmental and foundation support.

Stress response and phosphorylation of heat shock proteins (HSPs) 60, 70 and 90 were studied in Trichinella nativa, T. nelsoni, T. pseudospiralis and T. spiralis larvae at 30-min intervals following exposure to 20, 100 and 200 mM H2O2. There was a time- and dose-dependent differential survival for the infective stage larvae (L1) of these four Trichinella species. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that constitutive Hsp60 and Hsp70, but not Hsp90, from test Trichinella species are constitutively phosphorylated on serine/threonine residues as they converted to forms with increased sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) mobility by treatment with alkaline phosphatase. After exposure to H2O2, while there was a time-related occurrence of the three HSPs with decreased SDS–PAGE mobility, these HSPs were insensitive to alkaline phosphatase except in the case of exposure to 20 mM H2O2 for Hsp60 from all Trichinella species and Hsp70 from T. spiralis and T. nelsoni. The synthesis of HSPs forms with decreased SDS–PAGE mobility is a susceptibility signal because the lower concentration of peroxide (20 mM) did not cause a decrease on HSPs SDS–PAGE mobility in T. spiralis and T. nelsoni, the two more resistant selected Trichinella species.

Transmission of the fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, the causative agent of human alveolar echinococcosis, is known to depend on various environmental factors which are subject to human influence. Epidemiological data suggest that in most endemic regions anthropogenic landscape changes (e.g. deforestation and agricultural practices) have led to more favourable conditions for the parasite's animal hosts, especially arvicolid rodents, thereby increasing the risk for parasite transmission and human disease. Examples are the conversion of forests or crop fields into meadows and pastures in Europe, China and North America, and overgrazing of natural grassland in central Asia. Other anthropogenic factors include interference with host population densities by wildlife disease control, changing hunting pressure and provision of new habitats, e.g. in urban areas. Domestic dogs may, under certain conditions, get involved in the otherwise largely wildlife-based transmission, and thereby greatly increase the infection pressure to humans. The introduction of neozootic host species may increase transmission, or even initiate the parasite's life-cycle in previously non-endemic regions. Lastly, the parasite itself may be accidentally introduced into non-endemic areas, if suitable host populations are present (e.g. in northern Japan).

The effect of oral administration of three different nematode-trapping fungi, in aqueous suspension containing either Dactylaria sp. or Arthrobotrys oligospora conidia or Duddingtonia flagrans chlamydospores, on the number of Haemonchus contortus infective larvae in sheep faeces, was evaluated. The three selected species of fungi produce three-dimensional adhesive nets in the presence of nematodes. Sixteen Creole sheep were divided into four groups of four animals each. Groups 1 and 2 were orally drenched with a suspension containing 2×107 conidia of either A. oligospora or Dactylaria sp. Group 3, received a similar treatment, with D. flagrans chlamydospores, instead of conidia, being administered, at the same dose. Group 4 acted as control, without any fungi. Faecal samples were collected directly from the rectum of each sheep and faecal cultures were prepared and incubated at 15 and 21 days. Larvae were recovered from faecal cultures and counted. The highest reduction of the nematode population occurred in the D. flagrans group, reaching reductions of 96.3% and 91.4% in individual samplings in plates incubated for 15 and 21 days, respectively. Arthrobotrys oligospora showed moderate reductions in the faecal larval population, ranging between 25–64% at 15 days incubation. In general, Dactylaria sp., was less efficient in its trapping ability. Despite the inconsistent results with Dactylaria sp., reduction percentages of 73.4% and 80.7% were recorded in individual samplings during the first and second days, in plates incubated for 15 days. Duddingtonia flagrans, was shown to be a potential biological control agent of H. contortus infective larvae.

The success of ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) restocking in Asturias, northern Spain was assessed, and the role of parasites and predators in the mortality of released birds was studied. The experimental release of 56 radio-tagged pheasants showed that 98% of birds died within 12 days. As soon as 72 h after release, 67.5% of males and 55.0% of females were found dead. Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) killed 63% of the birds. The survival of those birds killed by foxes was lower than for birds which died due to other causes, and pheasants depositing eggs of the nematode Eucoleus contortus (Creplin, 1839) survived less than those apparently non-parasitized. No impact of the parasite on the pheasants' condition was found, but foxes preyed upon parasitized birds more than expected by random. The results suggest that: (i) the current pheasant releases in this area are unsuccessful and need to be improved; (ii) this is mainly due to intense predation by red foxes; and (iii) parasites could have some influence on the predation of released birds by foxes. However, the way parasites affect pheasant vulnerability remains unclear.

Dexamethasone, a known immunosuppressant, was administered by bath or injection to Atlantic salmon Salmo salar (Conon stock) to study if this treatment could affect the susceptibility of fish to infections with a Danish strain of Gyrodactylus derjavini (Monogenea). Three groups of S. salar (Conon stock) were immersion treated either with 10, 60 or 240 μg dexamethasone l-1 water, respectively. In addition, one group (positive control) was treated intraperitoneally with 200 μg dexamethasone per fish and one negative control group was kept untreated. A single G. derjavini parasite was placed on the anal fin of each fish and the infection was subsequently monitored weekly for 6 weeks. An increase in parasite populations on the salmon was positively correlated with the amount of immunosuppressant used. Infection levels in the group immersion treated with dexamethasone (240 μg l-1 water) and in the i.p. treated positive control group were significantly higher compared to the untreated control group.

This study tested the hypotheses that ants (Formicidae) function as a first intermediate host of Mesocestoides (Cestoda: Mesocestoididae) and that deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) develop metacestode infections after ingesting cysticercoid or procercoid-infected ants. Field studies were conducted at an island fox (Urocyon littoralis littoralis) breeding facility located on San Miguel Island, California Channel Islands National Park, USA, where >40% of captive foxes were infected with adult Mesocestoides. Eight percent (8%) of deer mice at the fox pen site were infected with Mesocestoides metacestodes while none were infected at a distant site where foxes were absent (campground), thereby indicating the potential localized presence of a first intermediate host. To test whether ants from San Miguel Island contained Mesocestoides DNA, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostic assay was developed using nested primers that could detect a single hexacanth larva within pooled samples of ten ants. Ants (Lasius niger and Tapinoma sessile) collected near the fox breeding facility were tested using the nested-PCR assay. Seven of 223 pooled samples of L. niger (3.1%) and 2 of 84 pooled samples of T. sessile (2.4%) tested positive for Mesocestoides DNA, while none of the ants were positive at the campground site. Positive samples were sequenced and found to match DNA sequences from Mesocestoides obtained from island fox and deer mice. Finally, to determine whether ants function as a first intermediate host for Mesocestoides, colony-raised deer mice (n=47) were fed L. niger (n=3860) or T. sessile (n=339) collected from the San Miguel Island fox breeding facility. No mouse became infected with Mesocestoides metacestodes after ingesting ants. While both L. niger and T. sessile from SMI were positive for Mesocestoides DNA, they were not infective to deer mice in the laboratory.

Knowledge of the morphological phenotypes of the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica (Trematoda: Digenea) is analysed. The influence of parasite age on its dimensions, the adult fluke growth model, variation in a biometric variable versus time, and variation in a biometric variable versus another biometric variable (allometric model) are revised. The most useful allometric model appears to be (y2m]#x2212;y2)/y2=c [(y1m−y1)/y1]b, where y1=body area or body length, y2=one of the measurements analysed, y1m, y2m=maximum values towards which y1 and y2, respectively, tend, and c, b=constants. A method based on material standardization, the measurement proposal and allometric analysis is detailed. A computer image analysis system (CIAS), which includes a colour video-camera connected to a stereomicroscope (for adult studies) and a microscope (for egg studies), facilitates the processing of digital imaging. Examples of its application for the analysis of the influence of different factors on the liver fluke phenotype are shown using material from the Northern Bolivian Altiplano, where human and domestic animal fascioliasis is caused by F. hepatica only. Comparisons between the development of livestock fluke populations from highlands and lowlands are discussed and the relationships between host species and liver fluke morphometric patterns is analysed.

Between November 1998 and October 2000, freshwater snails were collected monthly from the highveld and lowveld areas of Zimbabwe to determine the occurrence of larval trematodes. A total of 13,789 snails, representing ten species, were collected from 21 sites and 916 (6.6%) harboured patent trematode infections. Eight morphologically distinguishable types of cercariae were identified. Bulinus tropicus had the highest overall prevalence of infection (13.1%). The echinostome was the most common type of cercaria recovered, contributing 38.2% of all infections. Schistosoma cercariae were recovered mainly from the highveld and comprised 8.0% of all infections. Amphistome cercariae contributed 37.6% of all infections and were recorded from both the highveld and lowveld areas with a peak prevalence occurring during the post-rainy period (March–May). The main intermediate host for amphistomes was B. tropicus. Infections in B. globosus, B. forskalii and Biomphalaria pfeifferi with amphistome cercariae are new records for Zimbabwe.

Abbreviations of the complex life cycle of trematodes, from three to two hosts, have occurred repeatedly and independently among trematode lineages. This is usually facultative and achieved via progenesis: following encystment in the second intermediate host, the metacercaria develops precociously into an egg-producing adult, bypassing the need to reach a definitive host. Given that it provides relatively cheap insurance against a shortage of definitive hosts, it is not clear why facultative progenesis has only evolved in a few taxa. Here a comparative approach is used to test whether progenetic trematodes are characterized by larger body size and egg volumes, two traits that correlate with other key life history features, than other trematodes. These traits may constrain the evolution of progenesis, because precocious maturation might be impossible when the size difference between the metacercaria and a reproductive adult is too large. First, trematode species belonging to genera in which progenesis has been documented were found not to differ significantly from other trematode species. Second, using within-genus paired comparisons across 19 genera in which progenesis has been reported, progenetic species did not differ, with respect to body size or egg size, from their non-progenetic congeners. Third, using intraspecific paired comparisons in species where progenesis is facultative, no difference was observed in the sizes of eggs produced by worms in both the intermediate and definitive host, suggesting that opting for progenesis does not influence the size of a worm's eggs. Overall, the lack of obvious differences in body or egg size between trematodes with truncated life cycles and those with the normal three-host cycle indicates that basic life history characteristics are not acting as constraints on the evolution of progenesis; trematodes of all sizes can do it. Why facultative progenesis is not more widespread remains a mystery.