Prevalence of fleas and gastrointestinal parasites in free-roaming cats in central Mexico.

The prevalence of fleas and gastrointestinal parasites in free-roaming and domestic cats in central Mexico was evaluated. Three hundred and fifty eight cats captured in the street or brought in by owners to the Animal Control Center Unit, a unit of State Government, from June 2010 to May 2011, were included in the study. All cats were examined for the presence of fleas and gastrointestinal worms.

Evaluation of cattle inoculated with Babesia bovis clones adhesive in vitro to bovine brain endothelial cells.

A comparative assessment of the virulence of Babesia bovis clones that adhere or not to bovine brain endothelial cells was done using two clones of B. bovis: (1) a clone phenotypically characterized as virulent (2F8) and (2) a clone of reduced virulence (RAD). Of these subpopulations, we selected those that had adhesive characteristics (a) or nonadhesive characteristics (na) in cultured endothelial cells.

The effect of the 5-chloro-2-methylthio-6-(1-naphtyloxy)-1H-benzimidazole on the tegument of immature Fasciola hepatica in their natural host.

The damage to the tegument of 3-week-old Fasciola hepatica was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) following treatment with the 5-chloro-2-methylthio-6-(1-naphtyloxy)-1H-benzimidazole (called compound alpha) in its natural host. For the present study, flukes were raised in pelibuey sheep infected orally with metacercariae of F. hepatica; the parasites were recovered from the liver of the sacrificed sheep after 6, 12 and 24 h of treatment with compound alpha.

Field challenge of cattle vaccinated with a combined Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina frozen immunogen.

To determine the optimal dose of a combined, frozen immunogen containing in vitro culture-derived strains of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina, twenty-four 14-month-old Bos taurus steers from a Boophilus microplus-free area in Northern Mexico were used in this experiment. Cattle were randomly allocated into six groups with four animals each, and were intramuscularly inoculated as follows: group 1 (control animals) were administered with normal bovine erythrocytes; group 2 received 1 x 10(7) B. bovis- and B.

Tegumental surface changes in adult Fasciola hepatica following treatment in vitro and in vivo with an experimental fasciolicide.

Our objective was to determine by scanning electron microscopy the structural changes in the tegument of adult Fasciola hepatica after treatment with 5-chloro-2-methylthio-6-(1-naphtyloxy)-1 H-benzimidazole, called compound alpha, and its active metabolite sulphoxide, under in vitro and in vivo conditions. For the in vitro studies, flukes from sheep were exposed to 40 mg/l of compound alpha-sulphoxide over different incubation times. Flukes for the in vivo studies were raised in sheep treated orally with compound alpha and killed at different times post-treatment.