Pathology and first report of natural infections of the eye trematode Philophthalmus lachrymosus Braun, 1902 (Digenea, Philophthalmidae) in a non-human mammalian host

Abstract

The avian eye trematode Philophthalmus lachrymosus Braun, 1902

Ocular disease caused by the trematode <i>Philophthalmus lachrymosus</i> in free-living kelp gulls (<i>Larus dominicanus</i>) of Brazil

“…Overall, the clinical features described in the present study were supportive of previous studies [7,14,19,22,23,[27][28][29].…”

“…Zoonotic human cases of philophthalmosis have been reported in different continents, including Europe (Yugoslavia), Asia (Israel, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Japan) and North America (Mexico, United States) [ 12 , 18 , 20 , 30 , 38 ]. Depending on factors such as worm burden, parasite stage of development, and host species, philophthalmosis can be clinically relevant, causing ocular surface disease such as conjunctivitis [ 5 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 36 , 38 ], keratitis [ 17 , 21 , 36 ] and blepharitis [ 5 , 17 ]. Histological analysis of ocular trematodosis commonly reveals inflammatory infiltrates and the presence of adult parasites attached to the conjunctiva [ 7 , 31 ].…”

Melanoides tuberculata as intermediate host of Philophthalmus gralli in Brazil

“…In Brazil, the possible involvement of M. tuberculata in the transmission of Philophthalmus has been suggested 24,29,36 , however, its occurrence has not been previously verified in nature. In the present study, the participation of M. tuberculata in the biological cycle of P. gralli in Brazil is confirmed, but the natural definitive host of P. gralli in Pampulha dam remains unknown.…”

“…Adult parasites were identified with the aid of taxonomical keys and the earlier descriptions of several authors 1,6,8,11,19,21,24,25,29 . Measurements are given in micrometers (µm).…”

In vitro evaluation of the antihelminthic activity of Praziquantel, Flubendazole and some plant extracts against the adult eye fluke (Philophthalamus palpebrarum) transmitted by the freshwater snail Melanoides tuberculata.

“…Recently, a unique pattern of granulomatous anterior uveitis in rural children swimming in El-Fayoum, Egypt, was attributed to a waterborne helminthic infection (Nadar et al, 2017). It is usually minimally pathogenic in natural hosts; heavy burdens and/or infections inaberrant hosts may be associated with conjunctivitis, epiphora, hemorrhage, and itching/swelling of the eyelids (Pinto et al, 2005 andHeneberg et al, 2018). Despite the increasing number of cases reported in birds and human, studies related to the diagnosis of subclinical philophthalmosis are lacking, and there are no effective therapeutic regimens available (Assis et al, 2018).…”