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By means of the official meat inspection of domestic pigs, exceptionally high proportions of livers affected by encapsulated nodules containing whitish to light yellow, viscous to pasty material ("microabscesses") were detected. The swine had been raised on four different farms, being located in distinct regions of Germany (Brandenburg, Thuringia, Upper Franconia). Macroscopical and histological examination of 77 samples of livers revealed granulomatous to necrotizing hepatitis with attendance of numerous eosinophils. In 61 % (n = 47) of the lesions, eosinophilic, band-like acellular structures resembling the laminated layer of Echinococcus sp. were visible. Moreover, representative samples (n = 11) showed a positive reaction of these structures with Periodic acid-Schiff. Altogether, the findings were consistent with alveolar echinococcosis. Echinococcus multilocularis DNA could be demonstrated in selected samples (n = 7) by polymerase chain reaction. Epidemiological considerations suggest contamination of the forage with fox tapeworm eggs to be the most likely source of infection on two of the farms, as some of the fodder had been stored in the open, being amenable to infected definitive hosts. On the two other farms, mainly straw litter has to be taken into account regarding the transmission route, since carnivores excreting eggs of E. multilocularis could have gained access to the straw storage. The presented cases show that adequate mechanisms of meat inspection may provide important data for the purposes of surveillance and risk assessment of human alveolar echinococcosis.

In vitro culture of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in HCT-8 cells was combined with immunofluorescent labelling and digital image analysis to quantify the development of the parasite by detecting and measuring the labelled area in the respective cell cultures. The number of inoculated oocysts and the labelled area correlated reliably and significantly (R (2), 0.98-0.99). The effects of various concentrations of halofuginone bromide (0.00039 to 50 microM) and monensin (0.00225 to 0.144 microM) on in vitro parasite development were determined in further trials in cultures inoculated each with 10(5) oocysts. Monensin reduced the detected area in a dose-dependant manner. In comparison to the untreated controls, the area positive for C. parvum in the cultures treated with 0.144 to 0.009 microM monensin reached a maximum of 17%, and inhibition of 40% was observed at 0.0045 microM. Halofuginone bromide also efficiently inhibited parasite in vitro reproduction, albeit at higher concentrations. At 12.5 microM or more, inhibition was at least 90%; 0.05 microM still yielded 80% inhibition, whereas at concentrations below 0.00625 microM, labelled areas abruptly increased. Both drugs appeared efficient under in vitro conditions; the applied system is suited to screen drugs for their anti-cryptosporidial capacity.

Eighty-four stray dogs shot as a part of a governmental rabies control program in two neighboring towns of central Sudan were examined for the presence of Echinococcus spp. and other intestinal helminths. Echinococcus worms were identified to species level by PCR and gene sequencing. For comparative reasons, rectal content of the necropsied dogs was examined for helminth eggs and subjected to copro-PCR for Echinococcus. At necropsy, 51.2% (43/84) of the dogs harbored Echinococcus canadensis (G6/7) worms with worm burdens ranging from 22,000 to 80,000. Dipylidiun caninum was found in 53.6% of the dogs. At coproscopy, taeniid eggs were found in 37 of the 43 dogs which were positive for Echinococcus at necropsy, but none in the 41 necropsy-negative dogs. In addition, 58% of the rectal samples contained eggs of Toxocara spp., 34.5% eggs of Trichuris spp. (34.5%), and 26% eggs of Ancylostoma caninum. Copro-PCR gave positive results for E. canadensis with 97.5% (39/40) of nonhibiting samples from the necropsy positive dogs; the one remaining dog tested positive for E. granulosus sensu stricto (G1), whose partial cox1 and nad1 sequences showed a 100% identity with various reference sequences of the G1 genotype. 100% of 38 non-inhibited samples taken from the necropsy-negative dogs were also negative in copro-PCR. This is the first study which combines prevalence and genetic identification of Echinococcus spp. in dogs of Sudan. Together with a recent report from cattle, it confirms the autochthonous presence, at low level, of E. granulosus sensu stricto in Central Sudan.