Invasive forms of canine endoparasites as a potential threat to public health – A review and own studies

Dogs serve as the vectors of serious zoonotic parasitic diseases. In the month of May 2012 – 2014, 339 dog faeces samples from seven public sites in Chełmno, a town in northern Poland, were collected and examined to determine the gastrointestinal parasite fauna of dogs. Each faecal sample was dissected with a needle, checked for tapeworm segments and examined for parasite eggs and oocysts using the flotation and decantation method and a modified Baermann technique. Differences were observed in the degree of parasite species occurrence. The most dominant were Toxocara canis and Ancylostomatidae. The detected species included: T. canis and Toxascaris leonina eggs (23.4% and 10.2%, respectively), as well as eggs from the Ancylostomatidae family (16.2%), Trichuris vulpis eggs (6.6%), Taenia type eggs (4.6%), Dipylidium caninum (5.2%) and Cystoisospora (Isospora) spp. oocysts (10.9%)

Detection of Lotmaria passim and Crithidia mellificae in Selected Bumblebee Species

Bumblebees (Bombus spp.) are an essential element of the ecosystem and the global economy. They are valued pollinators in many countries around the word. Unfortunately, there has been a decline in the bumblebee population, which is attributed to, among others, pathogens and reduced access to food due to the loss of natural nesting sites. Lotmaria passim and Crithidia mellificae, protozoan pathogens of the family Trypanosomatidae, commonly infect bumblebees, including in Poland. In this study, a Polish population of bumblebees was screened for L. passim and C. mellificae. The experiment was performed on 13 adult bumblebees belonging to 4 species: B. lapidarius, B. lucorum, B. pascuorum, and B. terrestris. Protozoa of the family Trypanosomatidae were identified by PCR. Only L. passim was identified in one B. pascuorum individual. Further research is needed to confirm the effect of concurrent pathogens on the decline of bumblebee populations

A parasitological evaluation of edible insects and their role in the transmission of parasitic diseases to humans and animals.

From 1 January 2018 came into force Regulation (EU) 2015/2238 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015, introducing the concept of "novel foods", including insects and their parts. One of the most commonly used species of insects are: mealworms (Tenebrio molitor), house crickets (Acheta domesticus), cockroaches (Blattodea) and migratory locusts (Locusta migrans). In this context, the unfathomable issue is the role of edible insects in transmitting parasitic diseases that can cause significant losses in their breeding and may pose a threat to humans and animals. The aim of this study was to identify and evaluate the developmental forms of parasites colonizing edible insects in household farms and pet stores in Central Europe and to determine the potential risk of parasitic infections for humans and animals. The experimental material comprised samples of live insects (imagines) from 300 household farms and pet stores, including 75 mealworm farms, 75 house cricket farms, 75 Madagascar hissing cockroach farms and 75 migrating locust farms. Parasites were detected in 244 (81.33%) out of 300 (100%) examined insect farms. In 206 (68.67%) of the cases, the identified parasites were pathogenic for insects only; in 106 (35.33%) cases, parasites were potentially parasitic for animals; and in 91 (30.33%) cases, parasites were potentially pathogenic for humans. Edible insects are an underestimated reservoir of human and animal parasites. Our research indicates the important role of these insects in the epidemiology of parasites pathogenic to vertebrates. Conducted parasitological examination suggests that edible insects may be the most important parasite vector for domestic insectivorous animals. According to our studies the future research should focus on the need for constant monitoring of studied insect farms for pathogens, thus increasing food and feed safety

Genetic Characterization of the Poultry Red Mite (<i>Dermanyssus gallinae</i>) in Poland and a Comparison with European and Asian Isolates

(1) Background: The blood-feeding mite Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer 1778) continues to attract wide interest from researchers and bird breeders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity of D. gallinae populations in five commercial laying hen farms in Poland and to determine their similarity with isolates from other countries. The study involved an analysis of a fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI). A total of 38 isolates obtained from Polish farms and 338 sequences deposited in GenBank were analyzed. (2) Results: Haplotype No. 46 was dominant (90%) in Polish isolates and was homologous with the isolates from Great Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Japan, and South Korea. These results are indicative of high genetic homogeneity and common ancestry of the poultry red mite and point to a common source of infestation in the examined farms. (3) Conclusions: The genetic diversity of D. gallinae should be further studied to promote a better understanding of how this parasite is disseminated within and between countries

Controlled Infestation of Honeybee Colonies with Varroa Destructor Females

The development of female Varroa destructor mites in the bee colonies was examined in the apiculture season through a developed research system in which bee colonies were experimentally infested with fifty V. destructor females. Differences in infestation rates were observed between the control group (C) and the infested group (E). The average number of female mites per colony was determined at 513 in group E and 261.6 in group C. Natural daily mortality reached 0.16 mites in group E and 0.09 mites in group C. In group E, the number of V. destructors increased 7.96 to 13.32-fold, subject to colony. The size of V. destructor populations increased at a higher rate in group E than in group C (F= 12.39, P= 0.047). At the end of the experiment, the percentage of infested honey bee workers was determined at 0.97% in group E and 0.46% in group C. The results of this study confirmed that V. destructor mites continue to proliferate rapidly in honey bee colonies, and that the population growth rate in bee colonies and apiaries has to be closely monitored due to growing levels of resistance to acaricides

Lotmaria Passim As Third Parasite Gastrointestinal Tract of Honey Bees Living in Tree Trunk

Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) inhabiting trees in forests are not managed by humans or treated for pathogens; therefore, many researchers and beekeepers believe that viral, bacterial, and parasitic diseases may lead to their decline. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of L. passim and Nosema spp. in feral colonies by real-time PCR. This study was performed on twenty-six samples of honey bees inhabiting tree trunks in north-eastern Poland. One sample consisted of sixty worker bee abdomens collected from hollow trees. Honey bees were sampled only from naturally colonized sites. Amplicons of the three evaluated pathogens were detected in twenty of the twenty-six tested samples. A significant correlation was observed between infection with three pathogens (N. apis, N. ceranae, L. passim) (r = 0.84) compared to infection with only two pathogens (N. apis and N. ceranae) (r = 0.49). N. ceranae was the predominant pathogen, but infections with various severity caused by L. passim were also noted in fourteen of the twenty-six tested samples. In view of the general scarcity of epidemiological data concerning coinfections with Nosema spp. and L. passim in honey bees in tree trunks in other countries, further research is needed to confirm the effect of concurrent pathogenic infections on the decline of bee colonies