Hepatic capillariasis in muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus)

We present the first prevalence data of hepatic capillariasis in muskrats in Pennsylvania and Connecticut (USA). The prevalence of hepatic capillariasis in five groups of muskrats coming from different locations and numbering 81, 229, 11, 19, and 20 animals, was 42%, 78%, 36%, 16%, and 0%, respectively. Liver lesions varied from minimal to severe multifocal granulomatous hepatitis, often containing adult worms or eggs.

[Contributions to the parasite fauna of local hosts. 10. On the endoparasitic fauna of Felis silvestris]

The investigations based on examination of the internal organs of 25 wild cats of the Harz population died from different causes in the period from 1982 to 1989. 22 animals (= 88%) were positive for parasites. The following species were found: Hydatigera taeniaeformis, Taenia crassiceps, T. martis larv. (spurious parasite), Mesocestoides litteratus, Capillaria plica, Capillaria sp. (aerophila?), Toxocara mystax, Cystoisopora felis. Toxocara mystax and Hydatigera taeniaeformis were the most often diagnosed helminths. Their number ranged up to 247 and 30 specimen respectively. The stated parasite fauna is comparable with findings in run wild domestic cats in rural areas. Voles contained in the stomach content of most of the cats play a role in the epizootiology of wild cat endoparasites.

Hepatic capillariasis: first case report in the Republic of Korea

We report a case of massive hepatic infection by Capillaria hepatica in a 14-month-old girl who presented with the symptom triad of persistent fever, hepatomegaly, and leukocytosis with eosinophilia. Twenty-five cases of human infection with this parasite, mostly in children, have been reported in the literature. This is the first case of hepatic capillariasis reported in the Republic of Korea. The diagnosis was made by needle biopsy of the liver. Scanning electron microscopic examination of the biopsy specimen was also performed. Thiabendazole therapy was initiated and the patient developed liver disease-related IgA nephropathy during the therapy. The literature dealing with proven cases of infection with C. hepatica is briefly reviewed.

A case of intestinal capillariasis in the Republic of Korea

In 1991, we observed a Korean man infected by Capillaria philippinensis who had no history of traveling in known endemic areas. He had year-long diarrhea with severe loss of body weight. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and eating raw meat of game animals and fish. An open full-thickness biopsy of the ileum showed flat mucosal surface and sections of the round worm, and fecal examination revealed numerous elliptical helminth eggs. The worms and eggs were consistent with features of C. philippinensis. He was treated with albendazole and was cured. This is the first known case of intestinal capillariasis in the Republic of Korea.

Verminous bronchitis and bronchiolitis in potoroid marsupials associated with a new Capillaria sp

We describe verminous bronchitis and bronchiolitis in potoroid marsupials associated with a new species of Capillaria resident in the epithelial lining of bronchi and bronchioles. The parasites was associated with alveolar oedema and emphysema, and a mixed inflammatory cell exudate within and surrounding the airways.

Intestinal capillariasis (Capillaria philippinensis) acquired in Indonesia: a case report

We report a case of intestinal capillariasis in a 32-year-old Italian man. After he made a trip to Indonesia that lasted approximately one month, he developed heartburn, abdominal pain, irregular bowel movements, headache, fatigue, weight loss, low-grade fever, and severe itching. The diagnosis was provided by the recovery of Capillaria philippinensis eggs in the stool. Treatment with oral albendazole, 200 mg twice a day for 21 days, resulted in clinical and parasitologic cure. This is the first report of C. philippinensis infection acquired in Indonesia.

The geographic distribution and host range of Capillaria hepatica (Bancroft) (Nematoda) in Australia

The geographic distribution, host range and prevalence of Capillaria hepatica were recorded in 4629 house mice, Mus domesticus, 263 black rats, Rattus rattus, and 58 Norway rats, R. norvegicus. The parasite was found at five localities, all in or near large towns along the coast. The two Rattus species appeared to be the primary hosts of C. hepatica in Australia. Published and unpublished data on helminth infections of Australian native mammals from 1162 murids (26 species), 3018 marsupials (67 species) and 99 monotremes (two species) were compiled. Only seven animals from three murid species were infected with C. hepatica; all were from the same rainforest in northern Queensland. C. hepatica was distributed widely, occurring in the house mouse, black rat and Norway rat on a 10,850 ha farm but there was no infection in cattle, sheep or goats (abattoir records). Also, 52 rabbits, four cats and one fox (shot samples) and 27 marsupial mice, Sminthopsis crassicaudata (museum specimens), had no sign of C. hepatica infection. Overall, the results indicate that transmission of C. hepatica to native, domestic and feral mammals is rare, presumably because of ecological constraints on egg embryonation and survival. In the light of these findings, the potential use of C. hepatica as a biological agent to control mouse plagues in Australia is discussed.

Capillariasis philippinensis: a fish-borne parasitic zoonosis

Fish from lagoons in Northern Luzon, Philippines, have been shown experimentally to be intermediate hosts of Capillaria philippinensis. Eggs ingested by the fish hatch in the intestines and the larvae double in size in 3 weeks. When fed to monkeys, Mongolian gerbils and birds, the larvae develop into adults and reproduce. Fish from the lagoons or purchased from the market were fed to gerbils and the animals developed patent infections, demonstrating natural transmission of the parasite. Philippine and Thailand populations have the habit of eating uncooked freshwater and brackish water fish and some have been experimentally infected with C. philippinensis. These countries report the largest number of cases of intestinal capillariasis. Fish-eating birds are now considered natural hosts for the parasite, fish the intermediate hosts, and humans accidentally become infected by eating infected fish.

Prevalence of endoparasites in dog faecal deposits in Jordan

Of 756 dog faecal deposits collected from the road side and public places in five Jordanian Governorates 466 (61.6%) harboured parasite ova, oocysts and/or larvae. Of these, 67.7%, 26.8%, 4.1% and 1.4% revealed one, two, three and four different types of parasite ova, oocysts or larvae in the same sample, respectively. Examination of the infected samples revealed that 44.1% contained taeniid ova, 19.8% Dipylidium caninum, 19% Toxocara canis, 8% Sarcocystis spp. oocysts, 5% hookworm larvae, 1.5% Diphyllobothrium latum, 0.1% Capillaria spp, and 0.1% Trichuri vulpis eggs.

Lung lesions in an opossum (Didelphis virginiana) associated with Capillaria didelphis

An opossum (Didelphis virginiana) live-trapped on Parramore Island, Virginia was infected with the lung parasite Capillaria didelphis. Lung lesions associated with this parasite were extensive and consisted of numerous areas with central necrosis deep within the parenchyma. Necrotic foci were present around airways and consisted of a mixture of inflammatory cells and cellular debris, adult nematodes and many bipolar eggs. This parasite causes severe verminous pneumonia in the opossum.

Intestinal capillariasis: report of a case

Infection with Capillaria philippinensis has not been reported in Taiwan before. It is characterized by chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain and muscle wasting. Because the infection results in a severe disease with a high mortality, early diagnosis is very important. A 58-year-old housewife from Ar-Lien village, Kao-Hsiung County, was admitted to the National Taiwan University Hospital in July 1988, after suffering from diarrhea, lower leg edema and weight loss for one year. The initial symptom was epigastric pain followed by watery diarrhea. Thereafter borborygmus, frequent loose stool passage and weakness persisted. The cause of her malabsorption syndrome went undetected until the ova, larvae and adult worms of C. philippinensis were detected in the direct smear of the patient's stool in August 1988. She received mebendazole 200mg b.i.d. for 20 days. Capillaria ova were no longer detected following the third day of medication. At the second month follow-up, her body weight returned to her pre-morbid state and all laboratory findings returned to normal with the exception of mild anemia. The infection source was not clear.

Capillaria procyonis (Nematoda: Trichuroidea) eggs from the tongue of the raccoon (Procyon lotor)

During an investigation to determine the prevalence and intensity of larvae of Trichinella spiralis in raccoons (Procyon lotor), unembryonated capillariid-type eggs were found routinely in the sediment resulting from 1% pepsin-HCl acid digests of the tongue. The sediment from 36 (90%) of the 40 tongue digests examined contained these capillariid-type eggs. Mean measurements of egg width and length were 25 +/- 2 microns and 62 +/- 2 microns, respectively. In addition, the surface of the egg shell had a pitted appearance. Adult parasites were not found in any of the tongue digests. The egg measurements and surface topography agree with what has been described previously and are tentatively identified as Capillaria procyonis. The detection of C. procyonis eggs in the present report indicates that this parasite inhabits the epithelial lining of the raccoon tongue, in addition to the esophagus, and that eggs expelled by females are deposited in the tracts these parasites create as they migrate.

On a new species of Capillaria (Nematoda) from a bat in Kashmir

Capillaria kashmirensis n. sp. from the stomach of a bat in Kashmir, India, is described. The species is characterized by the presence of a funnel-like bursa in males which is deeply incised ventrally. The bursa is supported by a pair of long papillae. Lateral alae, a single spicule and an unarmed spicule sheath are present. The ratio between anterior and posterior regions of the body is 1:1.2 to 1.57 and the spicule body length ratio is 1:9 to 15. Cloaca is terminal. In females the tail is blunt, the anus sub-terminal, the ulva post-oesophageal, situated on a vulvar appendage.

[Enteroparasites and Capillaria sp. among the Suruí tribe, Parque Indígena Aripuanã, Rondônia]

Este trabalho apresenta dados de enteroparasitas encontradas em índios da comunidade tribal de Suruí, em Rondônia, na Região Amazônica do Brasil. As seguintes espécies foram encontradas: Ascaris lumbricoides (53,3%), Ancilostomidae (43,3%), Strongyloides stercoralis (33,3%), Taenia sp. (5,8%), Trichuris trichiura (5,0%), Hymenolepis nana (4,1%), Giardia lamblia (3,3%), Entamoeba histolytica complex (0,8%) e Enterobius vermicularis (0,1%). O encontro de Capillaria sp. nas fezes de dois individuos é discutido.