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OBJECTIVE: To describe the first known case of human Bertiellosis in Paraná (Brazil). CASE DESCRIPTION: A 6-year-old male residing in the Brazilian state of Paraná was suffering from intermittent nonspecific abdominal pain and abdominal distension, associated with expulsion of live tapeworms in his feces for 7 months. He had a history of interaction with monkeys on an island. His first feces analysis was inconclusive, with an initial hypothesis of an atypical Taenia. However, after additional research, the parasitologist identified pregnant proglottids of Bertiella sp. The patient was initially treated with an unknown dosage of albendazole and nitazoxanide, as it was believed he had been infected with Taenia sp. Since the symptoms persisted, praziquantel 10 mg/kg was prescribed without further proglottids elimination. COMMENTS: Human Bertiellosis is a rare zoonosis, with less than one hundred cases reported. However, it is a cause of chronic abdominal pain and should be kept as a differential diagnosis, especially in cases reporting recurrent tapeworm expulsion in feces and refractory treatment with albendazole.

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BACKGROUND: Dipylidium caninum is the causal agent of dipylidiasis affecting mainly cats and dogs worldwide. Human cases of dipylidiasis are rare, and the diagnosis is prevalently based on morphological features of the parasite. Here we report the diagnosis of dipylidiasis through morphological and molecular characterization of D. caninum infecting an 11-month-old boy in Cajicá, Colombia. METHODS: Fresh faecal samples were obtained from the infant, and morphological identification of the parasite was performed through faecal smears. DNA was extracted from proglottids and used in PCR analyses for amplification of a 653-bp fragment of the nuclear ribosomal RNA (rRNA) encoding the 28S rRNA gene. A phylogeny study to better characterize the obtained DNA sequence was inferred using the maximum likelihood method and the Tamura-Nei model. RESULTS: After morphological and molecular analyses, D. caninum was identified as the etiological agent causing the infection in the infant. Results of phylogenetical analyses showed that the obtained sequence clusters within the feline genotype clade. After the diagnosis of the parasite, effective treatment with praziquantel was administered to the infant. CONCLUSIONS: This is the third human case of dipylidiasis reported in Colombia, and the first study in South America to provide a molecular identification of D. caninum.

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Members of the order Trypanorhyncha are cestode parasites that are frequently found infecting the muscles of several marine fish species, affecting fish health and resulting in consumers' rejection. Seventy­five specimens of marine fish were freshly caught from boat landing sites at the Alexandria coast along the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt, including two Carangids, the greater amberjack Seriola dumerili and the gulley jack Pseudocarans dentex; two Serranids, the Haifa grouper Epinephelus haifensis and the mottled grouper Mycteroperca rubra. Forty-five fish were infected; the infection was recorded as blastocysts embedded in fish flesh. Blastocysts were isolated and ruptured; the generated plerocerci were described morphologically, where, four different species were recovered; Callitetrarhynchus gracilis, Callitetrarhynchus speciosus, Protogrillotia zerbiae, and Grillotia brayi. The taxonomic position of these parasites was justified by multiple-sequence alignment and a phylogenetic tree was constructed following maximum likelihood analysis of the 18s rRNA sequences of the recovered worms. The accession numbers MN625168, MN625169, MN611431and MN611432 were respectively assigned to the recovered parasites. The results obtained from the molecular analyses confirmed the morphological records of the recovered parasites. Since metacestodes are found in the musculature of infected fish specimens, it is necessary to remove these areas in the commercialization of fish.(AU)

Os membros da ordem Trypanorhyncha são cestoides parasitos, frequentemente encontrados infectando os músculos de várias espécies de peixes marinhos, afetando a saúde dos peixes e resultando na rejeição por parte dos consumidores. Setenta e cinco espécimes de peixe marinho foram capturados, recentemente, nos locais de desembarque em barcos na costa de Alexandria, ao longo do Mar Mediterrâneo no Egito, incluindo dois Carangídeos, o maior "amberjack" Seriola dumerili e o "gulley jack" Pseudocarans dentex; dois Serranídeos, a garoupa Haifa Epinephelus haifensis e a garoupa mosqueada Mycteroperca rubra. Quarenta e cinco peixes foram infectados e a infecção foi registada como blastocistos embutidos na carne do peixe. Os blastocistos foram isolados e rompidos e os pleurocistos gerados foram descritos morfologicamente, nos quais, quatro espécies diferentes foram recuperadas: Callitetrarhynchus gracilis, Callitetrarhynchus speciosus, Protogrillotia zerbiae, e Grillotia brayi. A posição taxonômica destes parasitos foi justificada pelo alinhamento de sequências múltiplas e foi construída uma árvore filogenética após a análise de máxima probabilidade das sequências de rRNA dos anos 18 dos vermes recuperados. Os números de adesão MN625168, MN625169, MN611431 e MN611432 foram respectivamente atribuídos aos parasitos recuperados. Os resultados obtidos a partir das análises moleculares confirmaram os registos morfológicos dos parasitos recuperados. Uma vez que se encontram metacestodes na musculatura de espécimes de peixe infectados, é necessário remover estas áreas na comercialização de peixe.(AU)

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Parasitism of Colossoma macropomum is of particular concern because it is the most commonly farmed native fish species in Brazil. Nevertheless, the parasitic fauna of this species in the state of Acre has been little studied. For this reason, an evaluation was made of the parasitic fauna of farmed C. macropomum in the municipality of Rio Branco in southwestern Amazon. Four monogenean species were found in the 122 fish examined: Anacanthorus spathulatus, Linguadactyloides brinkmanni, Notozothecium janauachensis and Mymarothecium boegeri. The most prevalent species was A. spathulatus (50%), followed by N. janauachensis (44.3%), M. boegeri (20.5%) and L. brinkmanni (9.0%). These results are the first data on the ecological indices of monogeneans in tambaqui in the state of Acre and will be useful for future comparisons of the influence of environmental factors on the parasite-host relationship.(AU)

O parasitismo em Colossoma macropomum é particularmente preocupante porque é a espécie de peixe nativa mais cultivada no Brasil, no entanto a fauna parasitária dessa espécie no estado do Acre é pouco estudada. Assim, foi avaliada a fauna parasitária de C. macropomum cultivado no município de Rio Branco, no sudoeste da Amazônia. Foram encontradas quatro espécies de monogeneas nos 122 peixes examinados: Anacanthorus spathulatus, Linguadactyloides brinkmanni, Notozothecium janauachensis e Mymarothecium boegeri. As espécies mais prevalentes foram A. spathulatus (50%), seguido de N. janauachensis (44,3%), M. boegeri (20,5%) e L. brinkmanni (9,0%). Esses resultados são os primeiros dados sobre os índices ecológicos dos parasitos monogenéticos em tambaqui no estado do Acre e serão úteis para futuras comparações da influência dos fatores ambientais na relação parasito-hospedeiro.(AU)

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Abstract The capsalid monogenean Neobenedenia melleni is known as a lethal pathogen for captured marine teleost ornamental fish, if left untreated. This study reports the occurrence of N. melleni parasitizing four species of ornamental reef fish imported into Brazil and maintained in quarantine: Arabian angelfish (Pomacanthus asfur ), yellowbar angelfish (Pomacanthus maculosus), regal angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus), and bluecheek butterflyfish (Chaetodon semilarvatus). Ten days after the beginning of quarantine, some fish showed behavioral alterations, such as irritability, and corneal opacity, which were rapidly diagnosed to be caused by monogenean parasites by body surface scraping. The fish from the same batch were treated with two applications of 2 mg L-1 praziquantel each at an interval of four days. Seven days after the first treatment, the mucus surface of the fish was re-examined, which did not reveal the parasites presence being delivered for commercialization.

Resumo Neobenedenia melleni é conhecido como um parasito letal para peixes teleósteos ornamentais marinhos capturados se não tratado. Este estudo relata a ocorrência de N. melleni parasitando quatro espécies de peixes ornamentais importados para o Brazil: Arabian angelfish (Pomacanthus asfur), yellowbar angelfish (Pomacanthus maculosus), regal angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) e bluecheek butterflyfish ( Chaetodon semilarvatus). Dez dias depois do início da quarentena, foram observados irritabilidade e opacidade na córnea dos peixes que, foram diagnosticadas com N. melleni na superfície corporal. Todos os peixes foram tratados com duas aplicações de praziquantel 2 mg L-1 em intervalo de quatro dias. Sete dias após o início do tratamento, um novo exame parasitológico foi realizado o qual não revelou a presença dos parasitos, sendo liberados para comercialização.

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The capsalid monogenean Neobenedenia melleni is known as a lethal pathogen for captured marine teleost ornamental fish, if left untreated. This study reports the occurrence of N. melleni parasitizing four species of ornamental reef fish imported into Brazil and maintained in quarantine: Arabian angelfish (Pomacanthus asfur ), yellowbar angelfish (Pomacanthus maculosus), regal angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus), and bluecheek butterflyfish (Chaetodon semilarvatus). Ten days after the beginning of quarantine, some fish showed behavioral alterations, such as irritability, and corneal opacity, which were rapidly diagnosed to be caused by monogenean parasites by body surface scraping. The fish from the same batch were treated with two applications of 2 mg L-1 praziquantel each at an interval of four days. Seven days after the first treatment, the mucus surface of the fish was re-examined, which did not reveal the parasites presence being delivered for commercialization.

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The aim of the present study was to identify, through morphological and morphometric analyses, the species of trypanorhynch cestodes found as plerocerci in the intestinal serosa of Mugil liza and to determine their parasitic indices. One hundred and fifty specimens of this mullet collected off the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro were necropsied and the trypanorhynch cestodes found were fixed and preserved as whole mounts for morphological analysis. The plerocerci were identified as Callitetrarhynchus gracilis and Pterobothrium crassicole, both with a prevalence of 0.67%, an intensity of 1 and abundance of 0.0067, in single infections. This is the first record of a trypanorhynch cestode parasitizing M. liza in Brazil. Although the parasitic indexes were low, from a hygienic-sanitary perspective the plerocerci of these species are visible to the naked eye, and thus can disgust consumers and make marketing the fish unfeasible.(AU)

O presente estudo objetivou determinar taxonomicamente as espécies de plerocercos de cestoides Trypanorhyncha encontradas na serosa intestinal das tainhas Mugil liza, através do estudo morfológico e morfométrico e indicar seus índices parasitários. Foram coletados 150 espécimes desta espécie de tainha do litoral do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Após as necropsias, os cestoides Trypanorhyncha encontrados foram fixados e preservados em montagens permanentes para permitir a análise de suas estruturas morfológicas. Os plerocercos foram identificados como Callitetrarhynchus gracilis e Pterobothrium crassicole e ambas as espécies apresentaram prevalência de 0,67%, intensidade de 1 e abundância de 0,0067, em infecções únicas. Este é o primeiro registro de cestoides Trypanorhyncha parasitando M. liza no Brasil. Quanto ao aspecto higiênico-sanitário, vale ressaltar que, embora os índices parasitários registrados tenham sido baixos, os plerocercos dessas espécies estavam visíveis a olho nu, podendo causar repugnância ao consumidor e inviabilizar a comercialização do pescado.(AU)

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This study documented the first outbreak of cerebral coenurosis in goats in Salalah, southern Oman. Deaths of 130 (16.6%) adult native goats in a herd (n=780) were reported from January to June 2017. Affected goats showed various nervous signs ended by death. Investigations for thiamine deficiency, polioencephalomalacia, caprine arthritis encephalitis, and listeriosis were negative. Upon necropsy, multiple (1-4) thin-walled cysts 2-3.5 cm in diameter containing clear fluid with numerous clusters of protoscolices in the cerebrum and cerebellum had replaced the brain parenchyma, causing space-occupying lesions. Parasitologically, the recovered cysts were Coenurus cerebralis, based on the arrangement of protoscolices, and the number and size of their hooks. Morphologically, each protoscolex had four suckers and a rostellum with double-crown hooks. The large and small hooks were 157.7±0.5 µm and 115±0.6 µm in length, respectively. Histopathologically, the parasite destroyed the affected tissues associated with multifocal to diffuse lymphocytic, non-suppurative meningoencephalitis; ischemic neuronal necrosis; and malacia. This is the first report of cerebral coenurosis in livestock in Oman, which should alert the local public health authorities for the application of prevention and control measures.(AU)

Este estudo documentou o primeiro surto de coenurose cerebral em cabras em Salalah, Oman. A morte de 130 (16,6%) caprinos adultos nativos (n=780) foi relatada de janeiro a junho de 2017. As cabras afetadas mostraram distúrbios neurológicos, que culminaram em óbito. Investigações para deficiência de tiamina, polioencefalomalácia, encefalite por artrite caprina e listeriose foram negativas. Na necropsia, múltiplos (1-4) cistos de paredes finas com 2-3,5 cm de diâmetro contendo líquido claro com numerosos aglomerados de protoescólices no cérebro e no cerebelo haviam substituído o parênquima cerebral, causando compressão nas estruturas adjacentes. Os cistos recuperados foram identificados como sendo de Coenurus cerebralis, com base no arranjo dos protoescólices, e no número e tamanho de seus ganchos. Morfologicamente, cada protoescólice tinha quatro ventosas e um rostelo com dupla coroa de ganchos. Os ganchos grandes e pequenos tinham 157,7±0,5 µm e 115±0,6 µm de comprimento, respectivamente. Histopatologicamente, o parasita causou a destruição dos tecidos afetados associada à meningoencefalite linfocítica não-supurativa, que variou de multifocal a difusa, necrose neuronal isquêmica e malacia. Este é o primeiro relato de coenurose em ruminantes no Oman, o que deve servir de alerta para as autoridades locais da área de saúde para a aplicação de medidas de prevenção e controle.(AU)

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Mesocestoides corti is a widely used model for the study of cestode biology, and its transition from the larval tetrathyridium (TT) stage to the strobilated, adult worm (ST) stage can be induced and followed in vitro. Here, a proteomic approach was used to describe and compare M. corti TT and ST protein repertories. Overall, 571 proteins were identified, 238 proteins in TT samples and 333 proteins in ST samples. Among the identified proteins, 207 proteins were shared by TTs and STs, while 157 were stage-specific, being 31 exclusive from TTs, and 126 from STs. Functional annotation revealed fundamental metabolic differences between the TT and the ST stages. TTs perform functions related mainly to basic metabolism, responsible for growth and vegetative development by asexual reproduction. STs, in contrast, perform a wider range of functions, including macromolecule biosynthetic processes, gene expression and control pathways, which may be associated to its proglottization/segmentation, sexual differentiation and more complex physiology. Furthermore, the generated results provided an extensive list of cestode proteins of interest for functional studies in M. corti. Many of these proteins are novel candidate diagnostic antigens, and/or potential targets for the development of new and more effective antihelminthic drugs. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Cestodiases are parasitic diseases with serious impact on human and animal health. Efforts to develop more effective strategies for diagnosis, treatment or control of cestodiases are impaired by the still limited knowledge on many aspects of cestode biology, including the complex developmental processes that occur in the life cycles of these parasites. Mesocestoides corti is a good experimental model to study the transition from the larval to the adult stage, called strobilation, which occur in typical cestode life-cycles. The performed proteomics approach provided large-scale identification and quantification of M. corti proteins. Many stage-specific or differentially expressed proteins were detected in the larval tetrathyridium (TT) stage and in the strobilated, adult worm (ST) stage. Functional comparative analyses of the described protein repertoires shed light on function and processes associated to specific features of both stages, such as less differentiation and asexual reproduction in TTs, and proglottization/segmentation and sexual differentiation in ST. Moreover, many of the identified stage-specific proteins are useful as cestode developmental markers, and are potential targets for development of novel diagnostic methods and therapeutic drugs for cestodiases.

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The current study evaluated helminth infections in birds raised in different production systems for different purposes (extensive/dual-purpose, semi-intensive/broiler, semi-intensive/hen, intensive/hen and intensive/broiler) in Brazil. A total of 374 birds was assessed for helminths at necropsy using standard parasitological methods. During the necropsies, organs from the gastrointestinal tract (crop, esophagus, proventriculus, gizzard, small intestine, large intestine and ceca) of each bird were collected and the contents fixed in 70% ethanol. Additionally, the trachea and eyes were assessed for the presence of helminths. The small intestine was examined using a methodology that allowed the recovery of cestode scolices attached to the intestinal mucosa. Stereomicroscopy and optical microscopy were used to detect and identify helminth species based on their morphological characteristics. Fifteen helminth species were found among birds from the different systems. The extensive system presented the highest number of helminth species (six cestodes, seven nematodes and one trematode) and the highest number of parasites (mean helminths/bird), followed by the semi-intensive system (broiler: six cestode and four nematode species; hens: five cestode and three nematode species). Hens from the intensive system were parasitized by five cestode, four nematode and one trematode species. No parasites were detected in broilers raised in the intensive systems. The results obtained in this study highlight the need for special attention and the implementation of biosecurity measures for the prevention of helminth infections in intensive systems (hens) and particularly in extensive and semi-intensive alternative poultry production systems.

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