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Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024Ballan wrasse () are commonly used as cleaner fish in salmon farms as a biological treatment to mitigate sea lice infestation. Improved welfare for cleaner fish both...
Ballan wrasse () are commonly used as cleaner fish in salmon farms as a biological treatment to mitigate sea lice infestation. Improved welfare for cleaner fish both during production of these fish and when in sea-cages with salmon is crucial for the industry's development. A common operational procedure in ballan wrasse production is transporting juveniles from one land-based farm to another for further on-growing. Episodes of increased mortality have been reported after such transportations. In this study, the relationship between transport stress and post-transport mortality at the on-growing facility was examined. It was also investigated if light sedation with AQUI-S can mitigate stress during transport. Stress was quantified by measuring cortisol release rate to the tank water during transport. This was investigated in 10 commercial live carrier truck transports (6 without AQUI-S sedation and 4 with sedation during loading and transport). The total time of transport varied between 12 and 21 h. In general, mortality was significantly higher (1.0 ± 0.6% day) the first five days post-transport compared to 15-20 days post transport (0.5% day). There was also a strong relationship between fish weight at transport and post-transport mortality, where higher mean weight at transport reduced mortality. In contrast to what was expected, AQUI-S treatment during transport procedures increased cortisol excretion rate, suggesting a stimulating effect of AQUI-S on the stress axis in ballan wrasse. Considering these results, the value of using AQUI-S to reduce stress during transport of juvenile ballan wrasse might be questioned. However, there was no relationship between cortisol release rate during transport and post-transport mortality. Furthermore, this study emphasizes that water cortisol measurements can be used as a none-invasive tool for monitoring stress and can be integrated into the welfare evaluation during commercial fish transports.
PubMed: 38288140
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1347062 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2023Recent reports have shown that wild crabs may be important hosts involved in the transmission and spread of the parasitic in cultured marine crustaceans. Therefore,...
Recent reports have shown that wild crabs may be important hosts involved in the transmission and spread of the parasitic in cultured marine crustaceans. Therefore, monitoring the prevalence of infections in wild crabs is necessary to develop effective strategies for the prevention and control of disease. Here we report a wild crab species, () Manning & Holthuis, 1981, as a new natural host for sp. infection. It is one of the common wild crab species dwelling in the ponds or waterways connected to the polyculture ponds located on the coast of Rizhao or Weifang, Shandong Peninsula, China. According to the results of PCR detection and phylogenetic analysis targeting the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS 1) region, these sp. isolates were identified as and fell into the genotype II category within . A high monthly prevalence of infection was observed during the 2021-2022 field survey, ranging from 33.3% to 90.6% in originating from Weifang (n=304 wild crabs) and from 53.6% to 92.9% in those from Rizhao (n=42 wild crabs). Artificial inoculation infection experiments demonstrated that could be infected by , and massive cells and typical histopathological changes were observed in the hepatopancreas and gill tissues of the infected crabs. To our knowledge, this is the first report of as a new natural host for infection. Results in the present study extend the known host spectrum for this emerging parasite pathogen, and also provide valuable information for epidemic surveillance of the disease as well.
Topics: Animals; Brachyura; Phylogeny; Lice Infestations; China; Genotype
PubMed: 38259966
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1328872 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Jan 2024Despite the large number of studies on rodent ectoparasites-most of them vectors of epidemiologically important pathogens-infestation patterns remain poorly understood...
Despite the large number of studies on rodent ectoparasites-most of them vectors of epidemiologically important pathogens-infestation patterns remain poorly understood in various ecological contexts, such as the highly patchy agricultural landscapes. We aimed to relate the infestation of rodents to temporal, habitat, and host variables. We assessed the difference in parasite prevalence and mean abundance depending on host sex, age, and body weight, season, and land use intensity. Furthermore, we analysed the effect of host species abundance and the differential responses of parasites in main and minor host species. The field survey was conducted in a rural landscape in southern Transylvania (Romania) between June and September 2010-2011. We live-trapped small mammals, collected the ticks and fleas, and recorded the presence of lice and mites. Overall, we found the same infestation patterns largely reported in the literature: higher prevalence and mean abundance in heavier adult males, significant seasonality and differences among host species, and evidence of the dilution effect. The uniqueness of our study system was the negative effect of the land use intensity on the prevalence and mean abundance of parasites, explained by the highly patchy mosaic landscape.
PubMed: 38254473
DOI: 10.3390/ani14020304 -
PeerJ 2024The Chinese mitten crab () is an important commercial species in China. is typically farmed in rice-crab symbiosis, as an important ecological farming model. However,...
The Chinese mitten crab () is an important commercial species in China. is typically farmed in rice-crab symbiosis, as an important ecological farming model. However, is often exposed to a high ammonia environment due to the application of nitrogen fertilizers essential for rice growth. We investigated the molecular mechanisms in the gills of exposed to high ammonia at transcriptional and histological levels. We randomly assigned to two groups (control group, CG; ammonia stress group, AG), and gill samples were excised from the CG and AG groups for histopathological and transcriptome analyses. The histopathological evaluation revealed that ammonia stress damaged the gills of . The transcriptome analysis showed that some essential genes, including (), (), (), (), and () changed significantly during ammonia exposure. These genes are related to ammonia detoxification, the immune response, and apoptosis. This study demonstrated the molecular response mechanism of gills to ammonia stress at the transcriptional and histological levels. This study provides insight for further study on the molecular mechanism of ammonia stress in crustaceans and supplies technical support for rice crab symbiosis.
Topics: Animals; Ammonia; Gills; Lice Infestations; Durable Medical Equipment; Gene Expression Profiling
PubMed: 38250716
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16786 -
Scientific Reports Jan 2024Hemotropic Mycoplasma species are vector-borne bacteria that attach and grow on the surface of erythrocytes in various mammals, yet reports of canine hemoplasmosis in...
Hemotropic Mycoplasma species are vector-borne bacteria that attach and grow on the surface of erythrocytes in various mammals, yet reports of canine hemoplasmosis in Iran are scarce. The aim of this study was molecular detection and identification of hemoplasmas in the blood of dogs (n = 370) from five provinces of Iran and ectoparasites infesting them including Ctenocephalides canis and Pulex irritans fleas, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks, Heterodoxus spiniger lice and Hippobosca longipennis keds. Hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. pathogens were detected using genus-specific conventional PCRs, and subsequently identified using species-specific PCRs for Mycoplasma haemocanis (Mhc), and Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum (CMhp). Sanger sequencing was then performed to confirm the species. Correlation of infection and risk factors (geographical area, keeping condition, body condition, sex, age, ectoparasite infestation) were analyzed. In total, 210 dogs (56.7%) were tested PCR-positive for hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. Species-specific PCR and sequencing revealed infection with Mhc in 17.8%, with CMhp in 7.02% and co-infection in 31.9% of dogs. Flea infestation, poor body condition, and being older than 3-years-old correlated with hemoplasmosis. In ectoparasites, DNA of hemoplasmas were detected only in fleas i.e. Mhc in P. irritans, CMhp in P. irritans and C. canis, and co-infection in C. canis. To our knowledge, this is the first large-scale molecular epidemiology study of canine hemoplasmosis in Iran. Considering the high prevalence of canine hemoplasmosis all over the country including potentially zoonotic CMhp, effective ectoparasite control strategies, regular examination of dogs, successful chemoprophylaxis and public awareness strategies are advocated.
Topics: Animals; Dogs; Canidae; Coinfection; Flea Infestations; Iran; Mycoplasma
PubMed: 38182649
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51173-w -
Turkiye Parazitolojii Dergisi Dec 2023The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence rates of ectoparasites (external parasites) seen in cattle in Muğla, Aydın and İzmir regions.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence rates of ectoparasites (external parasites) seen in cattle in Muğla, Aydın and İzmir regions.
METHODS
For ectoparasite screening, a total of 1,353 cattle breeds from Muğla, Aydın and İzmir regions were included in the study. Ectoparasite samples were collected with the help of hand, forceps, comb and scalpel, brought to the laboratory in plastic containers containing 70% alcohol and examined under a microscope.
RESULTS
In the study, 191 (14.12%) of 1,353 cattle were infested with external parasites. Of the cattle, 138 (72.25%) ticks, 24 (12.57%) lice, 9 (4.71%) tabanid, 8 (4.19%) hippoboscid, 7 (3.66%) fleas and 5 (2.62%) mites were detected. Accordingly, 4 tick species in cattle , 4 lice species ( ), 1 mite species (), 2 flea species (), 1 hippoboscid fly species () ve 3 tabanid fly species () diagnosed.
CONCLUSION
The presence of external parasites varied depending on the frequency of antiparasitic use in cattle.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Prevalence; Anoplura; Flea Infestations; Ticks; Mites; Siphonaptera; Ixodidae; Diptera
PubMed: 38149447
DOI: 10.4274/tpd.galenos.2023.18209 -
Parasitology Feb 2024Lice were collected from 579 hummingbirds, representing 49 species, in 19 locations in Brazil, Costa Rica, Honduras, Paraguay and Peru, at elevations 0–3000 m above...
Lice were collected from 579 hummingbirds, representing 49 species, in 19 locations in Brazil, Costa Rica, Honduras, Paraguay and Peru, at elevations 0–3000 m above sea level. The following variables were included in an ecological analysis (1) host species' mean body mass, sexual size dimorphism, sexual dichromatism, migratory behaviour and dominance behaviour; (2) mean elevation, mean and predictability of temperature, mean and predictability of precipitation of the host species' geographic area; (3) prevalence and mean abundance of species of lice as measures of infestation. Ordination methods were applied to evaluate data structure. Since the traits are expressed at different scales (nominal, interval and ratio), a principal component analysis based on d-correlations for the traits and a principal coordinates analysis based on the Gower index for species were applied. Lice or louse eggs were found on 80 (13.8%) birds of 22 species. A total of 267 lice of 4 genera, , , and , were collected, with a total mean intensity of 4.6. There were positive interactions between migration behaviour and infestation indices, with elevational migrants having a higher prevalence and abundance of lice than resident birds. Further, we found weak negative correlations between host body mass and infestation indices and positive correlations between mean elevation and prevalence and abundance of . Thus, formerly unknown differences in the ecological characteristics and infestation measures of and lice were revealed, which allows a better understanding of these associations and their potential impacts on hummingbirds.
Topics: Animals; Phthiraptera; Insecta; Birds; Brazil; Costa Rica
PubMed: 38116659
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182023001294 -
Marine Pollution Bulletin Jan 2024Chemotherapeutants used to control infestations by sea lice can be released into the marine environment surrounding aquaculture farms. Among these therapeutic agents,...
Chemotherapeutants used to control infestations by sea lice can be released into the marine environment surrounding aquaculture farms. Among these therapeutic agents, emamectin benzoate is extensively utilized even though its impact on non-target taxa has not been thoroughly examined. In this context, we explored the effects of emamectin benzoate on a common Norwegian habitat-forming species: the phosphorescent sea-pen Pennatula phosphorea. Specifically, we examined P. phosphorea metabolic and responses before, during and after exposure to emamectin benzoate. Results indicate that an 8-day emamectin benzoate exposure (0.8 mg/L) did not induce P. phosphorea mortality or significant behavioural or metabolic modifications. However, we highlighted the presence and persistence of emamectin benzoate in exposed P. phosphorea tissue. These results indicate that emamectin benzoate is unlikely to adversely impact P. phosphorea populations in the environment. However, persistence of emamectin benzoate in tissue constitutes a potential for bioaccumulation with repeated treatments and should be examined in further studies.
Topics: Animals; Copepoda; Fish Diseases; Ivermectin; Aquaculture
PubMed: 38091631
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115903 -
Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia 2023
Topics: Humans; Scalp; Lice Infestations; Hair; Eyelashes; Eyelid Diseases
PubMed: 38088669
DOI: 10.5935/0004-2749.2023-0213 -
Actas Dermo-sifiliograficas May 2024Sexually transmitted infections are communicable diseases where the pathogen is transmitted through sexual contact. The Sexually Transmitted Infections Working Group of...
Sexually transmitted infections are communicable diseases where the pathogen is transmitted through sexual contact. The Sexually Transmitted Infections Working Group of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV) is engaged in the drafting of documents to guide dermatologists and health care personnel who treat Spanish patients with these infections. This document analyzes the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic, and control characteristics of 2 sexually transmitted parasitosis: scabies due to Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis, and pubic pediculosis due to Phthirus pubis. Both parasitoses share a sort of mixed spread through sexual and community transmission regardless of the route through which the infection was initially acquired. This specific feature creates particularities in the management and control of the infestation.
Topics: Humans; Scabies; Lice Infestations; Female; Male; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Animals; Phthirus; Spain; Insecticides
PubMed: 38061452
DOI: 10.1016/j.ad.2023.11.007