Wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus L.) as intermediate host for Mesocestoides canislagopodis (Rudolphi, 1810) (Krabbe 1865) in Iceland.

Mesocestoides canislagopodis is a common parasite of the arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) in Iceland. In the past, household dogs (Canis familiaris) and cats (Felis catus) were also reported in Iceland to be infected. Recently, scolices of a non-maturing Mesocestoides sp.

Prey-mimetism in cercariae of Apatemon (Digenea, Strigeidae) in freshwater in northern latitudes.

Cercariae, the free-living larval stages of trematodes, have adopted an amazing variety of transmission strategies. One of them is prey-mimetism, i.e.

Diversity of echinostomes (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) in their snail hosts at high latitudes.

The biodiversity of freshwater ecosystems globally still leaves much to be discovered, not least in the trematode parasite fauna they support. Echinostome trematode parasites have complex, multiple-host life-cycles, often involving migratory bird definitive hosts, thus leading to widespread distributions. Here, we examined the echinostome diversity in freshwater ecosystems at high latitude locations in Iceland, Finland, Ireland and Alaska (USA).

Transatlantic discovery of Notocotylus atlanticus (Digenea: Notocotylidae) based on life cycle data.

Digenean parasites feature a series of stages with a distinct appearance, reproduction mode, and lifestyle that together constitute their well-known, complex life cycle. Species descriptions of Digenea have always been based on one of these stages-the marita, or sexually reproducing adult in the final host. However, in some cases, data on the life cycle are essential for the differential diagnosis of closely related species.

Ashworthius sidemi Schulz, 1933 and Haemonchus contortus (Rudolphi, 1803) in cervids in France: integrative approach for species identification.

Among gastro-intestinal nematodes, the blood-sucking worms belonging to the subfamily of Haemonchinae are considered to be of pathogenic and economic great importance, particularly in small ruminants. Haemonchus contortus, primary found in domestic ruminants and wild bovines (Mouflon, Chamois), is probably the most studied, but occurrence of Ashworthius sidemi has gradually increased over recent years, especially in Cervids and free roaming wild bovid as the European bison in eastern Europe, and some cases of co-infestation were recently observed on five Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and one Red deer (Cervus elaphus) in France. If the diagnosis is possible on the morphological features for adult worms for helminthologists, the identification on some stages (female, subadult, eggs and larvae) is difficult or impossible.

Occurrence of Mesocestoides canislagopodis (Rudolphi, 1810) (Krabbe, 1865) in mammals and birds in Iceland and its molecular discrimination within the Mesocestoides species complex.

The life cycle of Mesocestoides tapeworms (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea: Mesocestoididae) requires three hosts. The first intermediate host is unknown but believed to be an arthropod. The second intermediate host is a vertebrate.

Intermediate hosts of Protostrongylus pulmonalis (Frölich, 1802) and P. oryctolagi Baboš, 1955 under natural conditions in France.

Background: Protostrongylus oryctolagi and P. pulmonalis are causative agents of pulmonary protostrongyliasis in Lagomorphs in France. These nematodes need usually one intermediate host for its life cycle, a terrestrial snail.

Development of 12 novel polymorphic microsatellite markers using a next generation sequencing approach for Spiculopteragia spiculoptera, a nematode parasite of deer.

Twelve novel polymorphic microsatellite markers were produced and characterized for Spiculopteragia spiculoptera (Nematoda, Trichostrongyloidae) a common parasite of abomasum of Roe and Red deer, using next generation sequencing approach, and two multiplexes PCR were developed with these markers. Polymorphism of each locus was tested in 40 individuals of this species from diverse wild populations of cervids, and was tested for crossed-amplification on four other species of nematodes, close to S. spiculoptera among the Trichostrongyloidea: 20 Spiculopteragia houdemeri, 34 Ostertagia leptospicularis, 16 Ashworthius sidemi, and 25 Trichostrongylus spp.

Identification of Chabertiidae (Nematoda, Strongylida) by PCR-RFLP based method: a new diagnostic tool for cross transmission investigation between domestic and wild ruminants in France.

We describe a PCR-RFLP-based method that allows reliable identification of four species of nematode parasites presenting similar infective third-stage larvae (L3) with a flagelliform tail and more than 16 intestinal cells, commonly observed in gastrointestinal tract of ruminants in France. Molecular analysis of the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of ribosomal DNA, considered as a specific marker for Strongylida, revealed four robust monophyletic clades corresponding to species Chabertia ovina, Oesophagostomum sikae, Oesophagostomum radiatum and Oesophagostomum venulosum. One restriction enzyme (DdeI) was used to digest this domain, and we observed four different and clear digestion patterns according to these species (adults or larvae).

Protostrongylus pulmonalis (Frölich, 1802) and P. oryctolagi Baboš, 1955 (Nematoda: Protostrongylidae), parasites of the lungs of European hare (Lepus europaeus L.) in France: morphological and molecular approaches.

Pulmonary protostrongyliasis of hare is a parasitic disease caused by nematodes belonging to the genus Protostrongylus (Nematoda, Protostrongylidae). During survey of wildlife disease in the South-East of France, pathologic examination of lungs from European hares found dead or hunter-killed between 2009 and 2012 was performed. Adult male worms were morphologically characterized and the identification confirmed by molecular biology (D2 domain of the 28S and ITS2 of rDNA).

Characterization of two cryptic species, Culicoides stigma and C.parroti (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), based on barcode regions and morphology.

Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are insect vectors of economically important veterinary diseases such as African horse sickness, bluetongue, and Schmallenberg virus. The identification of Culicoides based on morphological features can be difficult. Three species of biting midges, Culicoides nubeculosus, C.

Trichobilharzia mergi sp. nov. (Trematoda: Digenea: Schistosomatidae), a visceral schistosome of Mergus serrator (L.) (Aves: Anatidae).

Parasitological investigations on red-breasted mergansers (Mergus serrator L.) in Iceland revealed digenean flukes of the family Schistosomatidae. Adult worms were detected in blood vessels of the large intestine and eggs were deposited in the mucosa and surrounded by granulomatous reactions.

Anserobilharzia gen. n. (Digenea, Schistosomatidae) and redescription of A. brantae (Farr & Blankemeyer, 1956) comb. n. (syn. Trichobilharzia brantae), a parasite of geese (Anseriformes).

A new genus, Anserobilharzia, is proposed to accommodate Anserobilharzia brantae n. comb. (syn.

Air sac fluke Circumvitellatrema momota in a captive blue-crowned motmot (Momotus momota) in France.

Postmortem examination of a 4-mo-old captive-born blue-crowned motmot (Momotus momota) at the Montpellier Zoo in France revealed the presence of air sac flukes. Circumvitellatrema momota (Digenea: Cyclocoelidae) was suspected and confirmed by molecular genetic analysis. Digenean metacercariae were extracted from an invasive species of terrestrial snail, the conical periwinkle, Subulina striatella.

Morphological features of the nasal blood fluke Trichobilharzia regenti (Schistosomatidae, Digenea) from naturally infected hosts.

The first author detected the nasal bird schistosome Trichobilharzia regenti in Iceland in Anas platyrhynchos in Landmannalaugar in autumn of 2003. Since then, measurements and morphological studies have been performed on fresh worms (fragments) obtained in the area from naturally infected ducks, A. platyrhynchos and Aythya marila.

Final hosts and variability of Trichobilharzia regenti under natural conditions.

In Europe, despite of intensive work on avian schistosomes in the past, only one representative of nasal schistosomes has been detected so far, Trichobilharzia regenti, a species that remained undescribed to the scientific community until 1998. Since then, however, T. regenti has gained a considerable attention, not only due to the induction of serious lesions concomitant with the migration of the schistosomulae through the central nervous system of their natural hosts (birds) but also due to their implication in cercarial dermatitis and their neurotrophic behaviour in mammals (mice, experimental) where the parasite migrate to the CNS.

Trichobilharzia spp. in natural conditions in Annecy Lake, France.

Annecy Lake is a well-known focus of human cercarial dermatitis in France. Identification of the parasites, however, was not performed in the past. Previous studies suspected two species, Trichobilharzia franki and Trichobilharzia regenti, based on the presence of parasites in mallards and/or morphological identification of snails emitting ocellate furcocercariae.