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Neorickettsia (Rickettsiales, Anaplasmataceae) is a genus of obligate intracellular bacterial endosymbionts of digeneans (Platyhelminthes, Digenea). Some Neorickettsia are able to invade cells of the digenean's vertebrate host and are known to cause diseases of domestic animals, wildlife, and humans. In this study we report the results of screening digenean samples for Neorickettsia collected from bats in Egypt and Mindoro Island, Philippines, snails and fishes from Thailand, and fishes from Vietnam and the USA. Neorickettsiae were detected using a real-time PCR protocol targeting a 152 bp fragment of the heat shock protein coding gene, GroEL, and verified with nested PCR and sequencing of a 1853 bp long region of the GroESL operon and a 1371 bp long region of 16S rRNA. Eight unique genotypes of Neorickettsia were obtained from digenean samples. Neorickettsia sp. 8 obtained from Lecithodendrium sp. from Egypt; Neorickettsia sp. 9 and 10 obtained from two species of Paralecithodendrium from Mindoro, Philippines; Neorickettsia sp. 11 from Lecithodendrium sp. and Neorickettsia sp. 4 (previously identified from Saccocoelioides lizae, from China) from Thailand; Neorickettsia sp. 12 from Dicrogaster sp. Florida, USA; Neorickettsia sp. 13 and SF agent from Vietnam. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the forms, provisionally named Neorickettsia sp. 8-13, represent new genotypes. We have for the first time detected Neorickettsia in a digenean from Egypt (and the African continent as a whole), the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam based on PCR and sequencing evidence. Our findings suggest that further surveys from the African continent, SE Asia, and the Island countries are likely to reveal new Neorickettsia lineages as well as new digenean host associations.

Stray cats are a common feature roaming the streets and alleys of Kuwait; they could be a source of parasites, including trematodes, that affect humans. A survey was conducted to identify feline trematodes and throw the light on their public health significance in Kuwait. Out of 240 stray cats trapped from different localities of Kuwait from June 2011 to May 2012, 59 (24.6%) were found to be infected with 14 species of trematodes. The most common were trematodes of the genus Heterophyes, particularly H. heterophyes and H. dispar that were found in respectively 15.8% and 10.8% of the cats examined. Other trematodes recorded, with lower prevalences, were Heterophyes nocens (2.9%), Haplorchis taichui (3.8%), Stictodora sawakinensis (2.1%), Stellantchasmus falcatus (1.6%), Echinochasmus japonicus (1.6%), and Mesostephanus dottrensi (1.3%). Centrocestus cuspidatus, Galactosomum fregatae, Ascocotyle sp., Mesostephanus appendiculatus, Haplorchis yokogawai, and Pygidiopsis genata showed the lowest prevalence (0.4%) and intensity. The majority of the trematodes are recorded for the first time in Kuwait and even in the Gulf region. The study reveals that stray cats are good indicators of fish-borne trematodes in the environment. As all trematodes recovered are zoonotic, their significance to public health should be considred.

Fish parasites are of economic and health importance where they cause serious problems in commercial fish farms and it can be transferred to human and animals. Capillaria species are nematodes of serious fish diseases which may be transferred to human.The present study was conducted to detect the in vitro effect of sublethal concentration (LC 90) of albendazole(ABZ) and Allium sativum (garlic) cloves water extract on ultra structure of Capillaria sp. collected from fresh water catfishes, Bagrus docmac and B. bayad using SEM and TEM. The morality rates of the adult Capillaria sp. in vitro exposed to different concentrations of albendazole and Allium sativum water extract was recorded after 24 hours exposure time. A. sativum water extract had higher effect than albendazole where lower concentration of A. sativum extract (18 x10 3 ppm) gave maximum mortality rate (100%) , 24 hours post exposure. SEM studies of the cuticle of adult Capillaria sp. in vitro treated with LC 90 (17.161 x10 3 ppm) of A. sativum water extract for 24 hours revealed that it induced severe changes in the cuticle integrity more than those treated with concentration LC 90 (5.543 x 10 6 ppm) of albendazole. TEM studies revealed deformation of the cuticle, hypodermis, muscles and digestive system in worms treated with LC 90 (17.161 x10 3 ppm) of Allium sativum water extract.