Oral myiasis in a child by the reindeer warble fly larva Hypoderma tarandi.

We describe a case of human oral myiasis by a first-stage larva of the reindeer warble fly, Hypoderma (Oedemagena) tarandi (L.) (Diptera: Oestridae), in a 12-year-old girl. In September the patient complained of erythema, swelling and conjunctivitis of the right eyelid.

[Infections with endoparasites in dogs in Dutch animal shelters].

Faecal samples from 224 dogs from 23 animal shelters in the Netherlands were examined for endoparasites. In total 20.5% of the faecal sample were positive for helminth and/or protozoa infections.

[Infections with helminths and/or protozoa in cats in animal shelters in the Netherlands].

To determine the prevalence of infections with helminths and protozoa in cats in animal shelters, faecal samples from 305 cats from 22 animal shelters in the Netherlands were examined, using a centrifugation-sedimentation-flotation-technique. The association between potential risk factors and the occurrence of an infection was also tested. Infections with helminths and/or protozoa were found in 160 samples (52.

The effect of treatment with a 1% injectable formulation of moxidectin during the rainy season and at the beginning of the dry season on gastrointestinal nematodes in cattle from communal areas in Zimbabwe.

The effect of 1% moxidectin/cydectin at 0.2 mg/kg live weight on gastrointestinal nematodes and on the growth of calves, weaners and cows was investigated in five communal areas on the highveld of Zimbabwe. Three field experiments were carried out between March 1996 and June 1997.

[A case of demodicosis on a Dutch dairy farm].

Demodex bovis is a burrowing mite that lives in the hair follicles of cattle, resulting in nodules, granulomatous inflammation, and the formation of scar tissue. Clinical and histopathological changes of a recently diagnosed case of demodicosis on a Dutch dairy farm are presented before and after treatment. Treatment results were disappointing.

Taxonomic reconsideration of the genus Chorioptes Gervais and van Beneden, 1859 (Acari: Psoroptidae).

The present review of the literature on mites of the genus Chorioptes Gervais and Van Beneden, 1859 argues for a support of the validity of C. bovis (Hering, 1845) and C. texanus Hirst, 1924 based on biological, morphological and molecular genetic studies.

Species of the genus Psoroptes (Acari: Psoroptidae): a taxonomic consideration.

The biosystematic status of mite species belonging to the genus Psoroptes Gervais, 1841 is difficult to determine by phenotypic methods and has been subject to taxonomic revisions and ongoing debate. At present, the existence of five species, P cuniculi (Delafond, 1859), P. ovis (Hering, 1838).

The epidemiology of gastrointestinal nematode infections in communal cattle and commercial beef cattle on the highveld of Zimbabwe.

An epidemiological study of gastrointestinal nematode infections of cattle was conducted on the highveld of Zimbabwe from June 1993 to May 1995. The study was carried out in two communal areas, two conventional beef farms and two commercial beef farms with irrigated pastures. On all farms/areas, faecal egg counts were low (< 500 eggs per g faeces) during the dry season.

Bovine humoral immune responses to Haemonchus placei excretory secretory antigens.

The immune response of calves against excretory secretory (ES) products of adult Haemonchus placei was studied. The ES products of adult H. placei comprise at least ten polypeptides with molecular weights ranging from 10 to over 100 kDa.

Immune responses of sheep to microdissected parts of Haemonchus contortus.

Adult specimens of Haemonchus contortus were microdissected into four body fragments: oesophagus, cuticle of oesophagus, gut and cuticle with adjacent muscle layer. The antigenicity of these different body fragments was analysed in comparison to total (whole) worm extracts with immunoblotting and ELISA using sera of H. contortus-infected sheep.

Control of Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis with ivermectin: influence on scratching behaviour of fattening pigs and occurrence of dermatitis at slaughter.

The behaviour of fattening pigs, the occurrence of erythematous papular dermatitis in pigs at slaughter and the effects of treatment for mange with ivermectin at the start of the fattening period were evaluated at ten farms. At each farm, trial pigs were randomly allotted to a control or a treated group. At the start of the trial, the control group was injected intramuscularly with 5 mg kg-1 levamisole, and the treated group was injected subcutaneously with 300 micrograms kg-1 ivermectin.

Isotype-specific serum antibody responses of sheep to Haemonchus contortus antigens.

In total, 19 8-month-old Texel sheep were used to study the isotype-specific serum antibody responses against infective larvae and adult worms of Haemonchus contortus. Group Group 1 sheep (n = 7) were infected with 20,000 L3 larvae (Week 0), treated with ivermectin 6 weeks post-infection and subsequently challenged at Week 10 of the experiment. This challenge consisted of a trickle infection of 10,000 L3 larvae per week for 5 weeks.

Serum antibody responses of Texel sheep experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus.

The primary and secondary serum antibody responses of Texel sheep to infective larvae (L3) and adult worms of Haemonchus contortus were studied. Ten-month-old sheep were infected with 20,000 H contortus L3, treated with ivermectin seven weeks later and, after four weeks, reinfected with 10,000 L3 once a week for six weeks. Faecal egg counts were significantly lower during the secondary infection than during the primary infection, but both infections induced antibody responses, as demonstrated by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Immune responses of Texel sheep to excretory/secretory products of adult Haemonchus contortus.

The excretory/secretory (E/S) products of adult Haemonchus contortus comprise of at least 15 polypeptides with molecular weights ranging from 10 to > 100 kDa. These E/S products induce an immune response in infected Texel sheep, as demonstrated by specific IgG1 levels and a significant lymphocyte proliferation index. Moreover, immunoblotting analysis revealed that sera of primary H.

Humoral responses in rabbits immunized with two fractions of Haemonchus contortus: the antigen specificity of such antibodies.

Humoral responses were examined in rabbits immunized with either 28-40 kDa (Fraction 1) or a 19-24 kDa (Fraction 2) antigenic fraction from soluble antigens (Sol L3 Ag) from infective larvae (L3) of Haemonchus contortus. These fractions were eluted from electrophoretically separated Sol L3 Ag. Immunoblots revealed antibodies to Fraction 1 (fr.

Serum opsonic activity and neutrophil phagocytic capacity of newborn lambs before and 24-36 h after colostrum uptake.

Neutrophil (PMN) counts, immune complex (IC) uptake by PMN, and serum opsonising activity for promoting yeast uptake were used to evaluate infection clearing capacity in 16 lambs prior to colostrum feeding (two lambs fed bovine colostrum, 14 suckled lambs) and at 2 days of age. At 2 days of age lambs had more circulating PMN than they had prior to colostrum uptake (P less than 0.01).

[The nematode Haemonchus contortus: antigenic characterization and immune response in rabbits and sheep].

In the first part of the study, various tissues of L3 larvae and adult Haemonchus contortus were examined by indirect fluorescence to investigate their antigenicity. L3 larvae were studied in immunoblots as well. The following tissues contained antigens: the sheath and cuticle of L3 larvae; and the cuticle, muscles, epithelium and glandular tissue of the oesophagus and sheath of the spicules of adult nematodes.

Recovery of different stages of Dictyocaulus viviparus from cattle lungs by a combination of a perfusion and a Baermann technique.

The lungs of 71 calves used in two grazing studies were examined for lungworms with a perfusion method combined with a modified Baermann method. The numbers of worms recovered from the lungs were 11,630 in total, 7495 adults, 872 juvenile fifth stage larvae (L5) and 3263 inhibited L5. The percentages found after perfusion were 78.

Is there a relationship between haemoglobin genotype and the innate resistance to experimental Haemonchus contortus infection in Merino lambs?

Responses to a single or repeated infection with 7000 infective larvae of Haemonchus contortus were studied in an experiment using a total of 106 3-month-old lambs with AA, AB or BB haemoglobin (Hb) genotypes. Results were assessed by faecal egg counts, adult worm counts, haematocrit values, haemoglobin concentrations, total serum protein and serum antibody IgG1 and IgA ELISA titres. None of these parameters showed a strong relationship to the Hb type.

A Hypoderma diana (Diptera: Hypodermatidae) infection in a horse.

An infection with second-stage larvae of the warble-fly H. diana in a horse is described. The second-stage larvae were incapable of developing into the third stage, because horses are unsuitable hosts and because the infected horse was treated with an insecticide.

The influence of cryopreservation on a benzimidazole-resistant isolate of Haemonchus contortus conditioned for inhibited development.

Larvae of a fenbendazole (FBZ)-selected, benzimidazole-resistant strain of Haemonchus contortus were conditioned for inhibited development during 7 weeks at 15 degrees C. Sheep raised nearly worm-free were infected with nonfrozen larvae (L3). Larvae from the same batch were exsheathed and cryopreserved over liquid nitrogen for 1 year, and another group of sheep was infected with the same dose of these L3 larvae after thawing.

Prevalence of benzimidazole resistance of nematodes in sheep in The Netherlands.

A survey was carried out in The Netherlands to determine the prevalence of benzimidazole resistance in sheep nematodes. It was shown that 47 per cent of the 59 investigated flocks harboured trichostrongylid populations with resistance to benzimidazoles, as demonstrated by an LD50 value of 0.12 micrograms ml-1 thiabendazole or higher in an in vitro egg hatch assay.

[Pros and cons of anthelmintic treatment of lambing ewes].

The advantages, prevention of gastro-intestinal worm infections in lambs, the improvement in the condition of the ewes during lactation, and the disadvantages, the costs, a possible interference with the build-up of immunity and the risks of the occurrence of anthelmintic resistance are discussed. It is concluded that the advantages more than counterbalance the disadvantages. Providing that the dosage of anthelmintics is correct, that is to say that an overdosage is preferable to too low a dosage, and safe pastures are used, post-lambing anthelmintic treatment of ewes is an effective procedure in preventing gastro-intestinal infections in lambs.