Parasitology Commons^™

Helmintos Parásitos De Algunos Roedores (Mammalia: Rodentia) En San Miguel De Allende, Tepeapulco, Hidalgo, México, Griselda Pulido-Flores, Scott Monks, Jorge Falcón-Ordaz

Estudios científicos en el estado de Hidalgo y zonas aledañas

Los helmintos son un componente de la biodiversidad, que proveen información sobre la historia natural de los hospederos, y de las relaciones tróficas. El conocimiento de la diversidad de roedores y sus parásitos en Hidalgo es escaso y puntual. Por la amplia distribución de los roedores, su adaptabilidad a los ambientes modificados y por el riesgo zoonótico que representan, es importante conocer la parasitofauna de estos hospederos. El objetivo del este trabajo fue registrar la helmintofauna de algunos roedores en San Miguel de Allende, Tepeapulco, Hidalgo, México. Entre agosto de 2005 y junio de 2007 se colectaron 19 roedores (12 …

Análisis Morfométrico De Glypthelmins Quieta (Stafford, 1900) Stafford, 1905 (Digenea: Macroderoididae) En La Reserva De La Biosfera Barranca De Metztitlán, Hidalgo, México, Francisco Alemán-Muñoz, Griselda Pulido-Flores, Scott Monks, Jorge Falcón-Ordaz

Estudios científicos en el estado de Hidalgo y zonas aledañas

Se evaluó la variación morfológica de 30 ejemplares adultos de la especie Glypthelmins quieta, parásitos de Lithobates spectabilis en localidad de Metznoxtla, en la Reserva de la biosfera Barranca de Metztitlán, Hidalgo. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue contribuir al conocimiento de la variación morfológica de G. quieta, y evaluar si los caracteres de presencia ausencia de glándulas perifaringeas y forma de las glándulas mediales son validos para la asignación de ejemplares a una especie. Se generó una base de datos morfológicos realizando tres análisis de componentes principales (ACP). El primer ACP se realizó con la totalidad de …

Análisis De Metales Pesados En Un Céstodo De La Familia Dilepididae, Jorge Falcón-Ordaz, Scott Monks, Griselda Pulido-Flores, Claudia Romo-Gómez

Estudios científicos en el estado de Hidalgo y zonas aledañas

La concentración de plomo (Pb), cadmio (Cd), zinc (Zn), níquel (Ni), hierro (Fe) y aluminio (Al) fue determinada en un céstodo de la familia Dilepididae, parásito de Peromyscus difficilis colectados en una zona rural del Estado de México; con respecto a trabajos previos se obtuvieron valores altos de concentración para Pb y Zn mientras que para Ni sus valores estuvieron por debajo de los valores reportados y el Cd no fue registrado, en lo que respecta al Fe y Al no existen registros de estos metales en céstodos parásitos de organismos terrestres. Con los datos registrados en el presente trabajo …

Nemátodos Parásitos De Roedores De Huehuetla, Hidalgo, México, Jorge Falcón-Ordaz, Scott Monks, Griselda Pulido-Flores

Estudios científicos en el estado de Hidalgo y zonas aledañas

El estudio de nemátodos parásitos de roedores en el estado de Hidalgo es prácticamente desconocido, solamente se han registrado para la entidad un total de 17 especies. Es por esto que se llevó a cabo una recolecta de roedores silvestres en el municipio de Huehuetla, Hidalgo, con el objetivo de conocer los helmintos que parasitan dichos hospederos. Los hospederos se capturaron con trampas Sherman para su posterior sacrificio y revisión helmintológica. Se registra por primera vez Syphacia sp. en Peromyscus mexicanus (Saussure, 1860) como nuevo hospedero. Se ratifica la identificación de Trichuris fossor Hall, 1916 y Hassalstrongylus aduncus Chandler, 1932; …

Parasites Of Invasive Carp And Native Fish In The Wabash River, Justin Wilcox

Masters Theses

Although the majority of introduced non-native species fail to establish, proliferate and spread to the point of causing observable damage, there are a significant minority that achieve biological successes far beyond what they do in their native ranges. Parasites and pathogens are theorized to play an important role in determining the outcome of invasions by non-native species, both as potential mediators of the population growth of invasive species and as invasive species themselves. This study examines and compares the abundance and species richness of digestive tract helminths in native and non-native fish of the lower Wabash River, a single waterpool …

Ruthenium-Azole Complexes As Chemotherapeutic Agents Against Leishmaniasis, Eva Iniguez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Poor efficacy and high toxicity of the limited treatment options demonstrate the need for the development of new chemotherapeutic agents to treat this disease. In order to respond this concern, the development of novel Ru-azole complexes as chemotherapeutic agents by inhibiting the cytochrome P-450 dependent C14-α-demethylation of lanosterol to ergosterol which is essential for the parasite survival. In addition, Ruthenium would enhance the activity of the parental drug, by helping ketoconazole/clotrimazole to cross the parasite membrane, together presenting low toxicity. The viability and citotoxicity of the Ru-azole compunds was …

Detection Of Antibodies Against Parascaris Equorum Excretory-Secretory Antigens, Steffanie V. Burk

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Parascaris equorum is a nematode parasite that infects young horses, sometimes causing unthriftiness, respiratory signs, or intestinal impaction in severe cases. Infection can be diagnosed by detection of eggs in feces, but this is only possible after the worms are fully mature. The goal of this study was to develop an antibody-based test for prepatent diagnosis of P. equorum infection. To produce western blot (WB) antigen, P. equorum larvae were cultured for collection of excretory-secretory antigens (ESA). Sera from 18 pregnant broodmares, their subsequent foals, and a group of 12 older mares and geldings were analyzed. In order to check …

Validation Of N-Myristoyltransferase As Potential Chemotherapeutic Target In Chagas Disease, Linda Herrera

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease, a problem endemic to Central and South America. In recent years, this neglected infectious disease has become a global health concern. The only clinically available drugs for the chemotherapy of Chagas disease have important disadvantages such as, high toxicity, strain resistance and variable efficacy. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of new antichagasic agents. The enzyme N-myristoyltransferase (NMT) has been characterized in a range of eukaryotes, from Saccharomyces cerevisae to Homo sapiens. Moreover, NMT has been shown to be essential in protozoan parasites, including Leishmania …

Giardia Lamblia: Regulation Of Cyst Production By Glycosphingolipids, Tavis Lyle Mendez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The diplomonad protist, Giardia lamblia, colonizes and replicates in the small intestine of mammals. In humans, Giardia infection (known as giardiasis) can be symptomatic or asymptomatic with the former being associated with fatty stool, abdominal pain, malnutrition, and weight loss. Both cell-mediated and humoral immune responses against Giardia infection are possible, and adaptive responses have been reported to be important for controlling the infection. Non-immune components such as secretory immunoglobulin, intestinal lipids, and bile acids also play significant roles in determining the severity of the infection by Giardia.

Giardia exists in two morphologic forms--trophozoites and cysts--and maintains a simple life …

Mucin Associated Surface Protein Synthetic Peptide As A Novel Vaccine Candidate Against Chagas Disease, Carylinda Serna

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Trypanosoma cruzi is an intracellular protozoan parasite and the etiological agent for Chagas disease. Chagas is endemic in Latin America affecting 18-20 million people. However, currently worldwide increasing numbers of the disease are being seen due to migration and globalization. This neglected disease causes significant morbidity, mortality, and an economic burden. There are no known vaccines and the only currently available drug is Benznidazole, but its effects are controversial. Nonetheless, a therapeutic or prophylactic vaccine is of urgent need to alleviate this disease. In this study we present an experimental approach using a synthetic peptide-based vaccine against T. cruzi. The …

Identification Of Chemotherapeutic Agents Against Leishmaniasis And Chagas' Disease, Miguel Abran Vasquez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Patients with clinical manifestations of leishmaniasis and Chagas' disease rely on few drugs that have limited efficacy and considerable side effects. Expanding the diversity of available chemotherapeutic drugs for these diseases is of extreme medical importance. Enones or á,í¢-unsaturated ketones, initially developed as anti-cancer agents, are a worthy of class of compounds to test for activity against Leishmania major and Trypanosoma cruzi as these eukaryotic parasites share many of the characteristics exhibited by cancer cells. The anti-parasitic activity of a library of á,í¢-unsaturated ketones (136 derivatives) was screened against L. major as well as in mammalian cells. Three compounds (NC901, …

Relationship Between Dysphoric Moods, Risk-Taking Behaviors, And Toxoplasma Gondii Antibody Titers In Female Veterans, Allyson Radford Duffy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The number of female veterans is increasing daily. Previous research conducted on veterans has focused primarily on males or with small samples of females. Depression and suicidality are becoming increasingly evident in returning veterans. Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite that is common in the Middle East and has been reported to cause changes in personality and behavior.

The purpose of the current study was to examine relationships between T. gondii antibody titer and socioeconomic variables, dysphoric moods, and risk-taking behaviors in a sample of 70 female veterans. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for T. gondii antibody titer and …

Understanding Amphibian Decline: The Role Of Pesticides And The Pathogenic Chytrid Fungus On Amphibians And Aquatic Communities, Taegan A. Mcmahon

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Amphibians are the most threatened taxon on the planet. Declines have been associated with over-exploitation, habitat loss, pollution, and pathogenic diseases, but of these factors, pollution and disease have been relatively under-studied. Here, I investigated: 1) the impacts of commonly used pesticides on aquatic communities, 2) the effect of these pesticides on amphibian susceptibility to the pathogenic chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), and 3) whether there are non-amphibian hosts of Bd and 4) how to best quantify the survival of Bd through ontogeny of the host.

In my first research chapter, I quantified the effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of …

Phenotypic And Genotypic Analysis Of In Vitro Selected Miltefosine Resistant Leishmania Donovani, Brian A. Vesely

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasis is a devastating neglected parasitic disease caused by infection with Leishmania donovani. It life cycle has two stages with promastigote (insect stage) and amastigote (animal stage) morphologies. Miltefosine is currently the only commercially available oral drug available to treat leishmaniasis and recent evidence suggests clinical resistance has emerged. Due to the importance of this drug and the scarcity of new drugs in the pipeline, work has been done on understanding the mechanism(s) of miltefosine, yet the mechanism of action for resistance is still not known.

In previous studies investigators generated miltefosine resistance on the insect vector stage …

A Description Of Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) Veropesoi N. Sp. (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) From The Intestine Of The Silver Croaker Fish Plagioscion Squamosissimus (Heckel, 1840) (Osteichthyes: Sciaenidae) Off The East Coast Of Brazil, Francisco Tiago De Vasconcelos Melo, P. A.F.B. Costa, E. G. Giese, Scott Lyell Gardner, J. N. Santos

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Plagioscion squamosissimus (Heckel, 1840) (Osteichthyes: Sciaenidae) is considered piscivorous and is a generalist species endemic to the Amazon region. This fish is an important part of the natural ecosystems in which it occurs and provides basic functional components in the food web. The genus Neoechinorhynchus Stiles & Hassall, 1905 is distributed worldwide and parasitizes fish and turtles, but there are few reports of parasites of this genus in South America, due to the high diversity of fish that can be found in this region. A new species of thorny-headed worm (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) is described from P. squamosissimus from Guajará Bay, …

On The Morphology And Taxonomy Of Griphobilharzia Amoena Platt And Blair, 1991 (Schistosomatoidea), A Dioecious Digenetic Trematode Parasite Of The Freshwater Crocodile, Crocodylus Johnstoni, In Australia [Critical Comment], Thomas R. Platt, Eric P. Hoberg, Leslie A. Chisholm

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Griphobilharzia amoena Platt and Blair, 1991 was originally described was originally described as a dioecious trematode, parasitic in the circulatory system of the Australian freshwater crocodile, Crocodylus johnstoni, with the female completely enclosed in a gynecophoric chamber of the male and the two worms orientated anti-parallel to each other. A recent publication questions the original description, arguing that G. amoena is monoecious and, as a consequence, the species was transferred to Vasotrema Stunkard, 1928 (Spirorchiidae) as Vasotrema amoena n. comb. We provide photomicrographic evidence that the original description of G. amoena is correct and that Griphobilharzia Platt and Blair, …

Worms, Nematoda, Scott Lyell Gardner

Scott L. Gardner Publications

Nematodes are the most speciose phylum of metazoa on earth. Not only do they occur in huge numbers as parasites of all known animal groups, but also they are found in the soils, as parasites of plants, and in large numbers in the most extreme environments, from the Antarctic dry valleys to the benthos of the ocean. They are extremely variable in their morphological characteristics, with each group showing morphological adapta­tions to the environment that they inhabit. Soil-dwelling forms are extremely small; many marine species have long and complex setae; and parasitic species man­ifest amazingly great reproductive potential and large …

A New Species Of Metathelazia (Nematoda: Pneumospiruridae) From The Lungs Of A Nine-Banded Armadillo In Central Mexico = Especie Nueva De Metathelazia (Nematoda: Pneumospiruridae) De Los Pulmones De Un Armadillo Del Centro De México, F. Agustín Jiménez-Ruiz, Rogelio Rosas-Valdez, Scott Lyell Gardner

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Twenty-four worms were collected from the bronchioles in both lungs of a male nine-banded armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus Linnaeus, 1758 captured in Teacalco, Morelos, Mexico. The worms, herein named Metathelazia mexicana n. sp., show a constriction in the esophagus at the level of the nerve ring; males of the species have 7 pairs of papillae, fewer than the other species in the genus. Metathelazia capsulata is the most similar species to Metathelazia mexicana; however, the latter has much shorter spicules. This is the fourth species in the genus known to occur in the New World.

Se recolectó un total de …

First Descriptions Of Dicyemid Mesozoans (Dicyemida: Dicyemidae) From Australian Octopus (Octopodidae) And Cuttlefish (Sepiidae), Including A New Record Of Dicyemennea In Australian Waters, Sarah R. Catalano

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

Three new species of dicyemid mesozoans are described for the first time from Australian octopus and cuttlefish species. Dicyemennea floscephalum sp. n. is described from Octopus berrima Stranks et Norman (southern keeled octopus) collected from Spencer Gulf and Gulf St. Vincent, South Australia, Australia and represents the first description of a species of Dicyemennea Whitman, 1883 from Australian waters. Dicyema papuceum sp. n. and D. furuyi sp. n. are described from Sepia papuensis Hoyle (Papuan cuttlefish) collected from Shark Bay, Western Australia, Australia. Dicyemennea floscephalum sp. n. is a medium to large species that reaches approximately 4.9 mm in …

Dirofilariosis In The Americas: A More Virulent Dirofilaria Immitis?, Filipe Dantas-Torres, Domenico Otranto

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

Dirofilarioses are widespread diseases caused by filarioid nematodes (superfamily Filarioidea) of the genus Dirofilaria, which are transmitted by a plethora of mosquito species. The principal agent of canine dirofilariosis in the Americas is Dirofilaria immitis, which may also occasionally infest humans, resulting in pulmonary nodules that may be confounded with malignant lung tumours. Because human cases of dirofilariosis by D. immitis are relatively frequent in the Americas and rare in Europe and other eastern countries, where Dirofilaria repens is the main causative agent, the existence of a more virulent strain of D. immitis in the Americas …

Paleoparasitology: The Origin Of Human Parasites; Paleoparasitologia: A Origem Dos Parasitas Humanos, Adauto Araújo, Karl Reinhard, Luis Fernando Ferreira, Elisa Pucu, Pedro Paulo Chieffi

Karl Reinhard Publications

Parasitism is composed by three subsystems: the parasite, the host, and the environment. There are no organisms that cannot be parasitized. The relationship between a parasite and its host species most of the time do not result in damage or disease to the host. However, in a parasitic disease the presence of a given parasite is always necessary, at least in a given moment of the infection. Some parasite species that infect humans were inherited from pre-hominids, and were shared with other phylogenetically close host species, but other parasite species were acquired from the environment as humans evolved. Human migration …

Molecular Characterization Of A Tetraspanin From The Human Liver Fluke, Opisthorchis Viverrini, Supawadee Piratae, Smarn Tesana, Malcolm K. Jones, Paul J. Brindley, Alex Loukas, Erica Lovas, Veerachai Eursitthichai, Banchob Sripa, Sirikanda Thanasuwan, Thewarach Laha

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Faculty Publications

Background

The human liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini, is designated as a group 1 carcinogen, and is the major risk factor for cholangiocarcinoma in endemic countries throughout Southeast Asia. Proteins in the excretory-secretory products and tegumental surface membranes of the fluke have been proposed to play pivotal roles in parasite survival in the host, and subsequent pathogenesis. These macromolecules are therefore valid targets for the development of vaccines and new drugs to control the infection. Tetraspanins (TSP) are prominent components of the tegument of blood flukes where they are essential for tegument formation, are directly exposed to the immune system, …

Cues Used By The Black Fly, Simulium Annulus, For Attraction To The Common Loon (Gavia Immer), Meggin L. Weinandt, Michael W. Meyer, R. Mac Strand, Alec R. Lindsay Ph. D.

Faculty Works

The parasitic relationship between a black fly, Simulium annulus, and the common loon (Gavia immer) has been considered one of the most exclusive relationships between any host species and a black fly species. To test the host specificity of this blood-feeding insect, we made a series of bird decoy presentations to black flies on loon-inhabited lakes in northern Wisconsin, U.S.A. To examine the importance of chemical and visual cues for black fly detection of and attraction to hosts, we made decoy presentations with and without chemical cues. Flies attracted to the decoys were collected, identified to species, and quantified. Results …

Molecular Evolution And Phylogenetics Of Rodent Malaria Parasites, Ricardo S. Ramiro, Sarah E. Reece, Darren J. Obbard

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

Background: Over the last 6 decades, rodent Plasmodium species have become key model systems for understanding the basic biology of malaria parasites. Cell and molecular parasitology have made much progress in identifying genes underpinning interactions between malaria parasites, hosts, and vectors. However, little attention has been paid to the evolutionary genetics of parasites, which provides context for identifying potential therapeutic targets and for understanding the selective forces shaping parasites in natural populations. Additionally, understanding the relationships between species, subspecies, and strains, is necessary to maximize the utility of rodent malaria parasites as medically important infectious disease models, and for …

Evolutionary History Of Assassin Bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Reduviidae): Insights From Divergence Dating And Ancestral State Reconstruction, Wei Song Hwang, Christiane Weirauch

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

Assassin bugs are one of the most successful clades of predatory animals based on their species numbers (~ 6,800 spp.) and wide distribution in terrestrial ecosystems. Various novel prey capture strategies and remarkable prey specializations contribute to their appeal as a model to study evolutionary pathways involved in predation. Here, we reconstruct the most comprehensive reduviid phylogeny (178 taxa, 18 subfamilies) to date based on molecular data (5 markers). This phylogeny tests current hypotheses on reduviid relationships emphasizing the polyphyletic Reduviinae and the blood-feeding, diseasevectoring Triatominae, and allows us, for the first time in assassin bugs, to reconstruct ancestral states …

Association Of Environmental Traits With The Geographic Ranges Of Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) Of Medical And Veterinary Importance In The Western Palearctic. A Digital Data Set, A. Estrada-Peña, Robert Farkas, Thomas G.T. Jaenson, Frank Koenen, Maxime Madder, Ilaria Pascucci, Mo Salman, Jordi Tarrés-Call, Frans Jongejan

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

We compiled information on the distribution of ticks in the western Palearctic (11^oW, 45^oE; 29^oN, 71^oN), published during 1970–2010. The literature search was filtered by the tick’s species name and an unambiguous reference to the point of capture. Records from some curated collections were included. We focused on tick species of importance to human and animal health, in particular: Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor marginatus, D. reticulatus, Haemaphysalis punctata, H. sulcata, Hyalomma marginatum, Hy. lusitanicum, Rhipicephalus annulatus, R. bursa, and the R. sanguineus group. A few records of other species (I. canisuga, I. …

Analysis Of Variable Effects On Presence Of Cryptosporidium Oocysts And Giardia Cysts In Effluent Water From Wastewater Treatment Utilities In Florida From 1998 To 2010, Katherine Jane Barkan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The concern of a Cryptosporidium or Giardia waterborne outbreak due to treated wastewater has had water treatment utilities using some of the highest water cleansing technologies available. Cryptosporidiosis and Giardiasis are severe diarrheal diseases which can lead to death, thus it is important that appropriate steps are taken to assure these parasites are not present in the effluent of treated wastewater. This study examined the results of 863 assays for Giardia and Cryptosporidium on the effluent of wastewater treatment facilities and found that county of collection, watershed of collection, and laboratory analyzing the sample have the most significant impact on …

High-Throughput Of Indoline Derivatives Against Leishmania Major And Trypanozoma Cruzi, Joanna A. Olivas, Eva E. Iniguez, Miguel A. Vasquez, Elizabeth Calzada, Katja Michael, Rosa A. Maldonado

COURI Symposium Abstracts, Summer 2012

Leishmania major and Trypanozoma cruzi are obligate intracellular parasites responsible for Leishmaniasis and Chaga’s disease, respectively. These neglected diseases are endemic in many regions such as Africa and South America, and are becoming a serious problem in the blood and tissue banks in the U.S. due to high immigration of people from endemic regions. Current treatments are characterized by their low efficacy against parasites and high toxicity in humans. Therefore, the discovery of new ways to treat these parasitoses has become urgent. Drug Screening of novel compounds serves as a starting point for the design of new therapies and for …

Gastrointestinal Cell Mediated Immunity And The Microsporidia, Magali M. Moretto, Imtiaz A. Khan, Louis M. Weiss

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Germline Transgenesis And Insertional Mutagenesis In Schistosoma Mansoni Mediated By Murine Leukemia Virus, Gabriel Rinaldi, Sabine E. Eckert, Isheng J. Tsai, Suttas Suttiprapa, Kristine J. Kines, Jose F. Tort, Victoria H. Mann, Daniel J. Turner, Matthew Berriman, Paul J. Brindley

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Faculty Publications

Functional studies will facilitate characterization of role and essentiality of newly available genome sequences of the human schistosomes, Schistosoma mansoni, S. japonicum and S. haematobium. To develop transgenesis as a functional approach for these pathogens, we previously demonstrated that pseudotyped murine leukemia virus (MLV) can transduce schistosomes leading to chromosomal integration of reporter transgenes and short hairpin RNA cassettes. Here we investigated vertical transmission of transgenes through the developmental cycle of S. mansoni after introducing transgenes into eggs. Although MLV infection of schistosome eggs from mouse livers was efficient in terms of snail infectivity, >10-fold higher transgene copy …