Effect of disinfectants on viability of Ascaris suum and Ascaridia galli eggs

Ascaris suum and Ascaridia galli, the large round worm of pigs and poultry, respectively, persist even in intensive management systems, where a high level of hygiene is practiced. It is necessary to control these helminths to minimize production losses and improve animal welfare. Commercial disinfectants are commonly used to clean pens in conventional pig and poultry farms but their efficacy against the thick-shelled nematode eggs has not been sufficiently documented. However, it might be difficult to control these parasites because of their complex thick-shelled eggs, which can resist harsh environmental conditions. Commonly used disinfectants such as Virkon S®, FL-des GA® typically claim efficacy against viruses, bacteria and some fungi, but very few disinfectants (FL-des Allround®) claim to also eliminate parasite eggs

Genetic responses of the marine copepod Acartia tonsa (Dana) to heat shock and epibiont infestation

Expression of stress-related genes was investigated in the marine copepod Acartia tonsa in relation to heat shock at two different salinities (10 and 32‰), and it was furthermore investigated whether experimentally induced epibiont infestation led to elevated expression of stress-related genes. Expression of the genes ferritin, Hsp90 and Hsp70 were analyzed in adult copepods by conducting reverse transcription-quantitative real time PCR (RT-qPCR). The expression of Hsp70 and Hsp90 was significantly up-regulated after heat shock and the expression levels were higher in copepods cultivated at 10‰ salinity seawater than in copepods cultivated at 32‰. Significant up-regulation of ferritin (3.3 fold increase) was observed as a response to infestation with the epibiotic euglenid Colacium vesiculosum. Results suggest that (i) A. tonsa responds more pronounced to thermal shock when cultivated in low salinity seawater (10‰) as compared to optimal salinity seawater (32‰) and (ii) epibiont infestation does cause a measureable physiological response in the host