Studies on monieziasis of sheep I. Prevalence and antihelminthic effects of some plant extracts, a light and electron microscopic study

Abstract

Out of 2,343 examined sheep throughout the whole year, 271 were found to be infected with tapeworms (11.5%). The highest infection rate (22.1%) was recorded in autumn, while the lowest (6%) occurred in summer. Six species of cestodes were identified according to their prevalence: Moniezia expansa (74%), Moniezia denticulata (8.5%), Moniezia benedeni (4.8%), Moniezia trigonophora (2.7%), and Thysaniezia giardi (2.7%), T. giardi was recorded in Egypt for the first time. M. expansa was found throughout the year with two peaks in January (92.3%) and June (88.5%). SEM examination revealed that M. expansa scolex has four triangular suckers guarded by an X-shaped fibrous band that makes them open permanently. Also, there is a Y-shaped apical part at the scolex center which may be an embryonically non-developed rostellum. The whole worm body surface is covered with unidirectional microtriches. TEM showed that the tegument is underlaid by a thick fibrous interstitial layer below which an outer circular and an inner longitudinal muscular layer are arranged. Beneath these structures the subtegumental cells are found which have spherical electron-dense inclusions and various other cell organelles. Moreover, M. expansa has interproglottidal glands which contain secretory vesicles and secretions. For biological control of this parasite, different concentrations of crude plant extract of Artemisia cina were used in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, the results indicated that the plant extract is efficacious at all concentrations tested. Electron microscopic examination showed that many structures of the treated worms were affected. The most affected sites were the scolex and the microtriches of the outer tegumental surface. In vivo, treatment of heavily infected animals showed an antihelminthic effect, since the complete absence of eggs was recorded 9 days after treatment when fecal investigations were done.

Body Surface Changes in Gastrointestinal Helminthes Following in vitro Treatment with Allium sativum Oil

“…Thus, passive diffusion of anthelmintics through the cuticle [9] would probably be responsible for destructive changes and deformation of the nematode body surface [12]. In cestodes, the general body surface acts as an absorptive surface [3]. In the present investigation, the body surface of these helminthes was observed to be affected and altered by ASO.…”

“…The in-direct cost of parasitism is the loss of productivity such as reduced growth and live weight of infected animals, reduced milk production and reductions in wool growth and quality [1]. Small ruminants have numerous internal parasites; two of the most economic significance are the nematode Haemonchus contortus [2] and the cestode Moniezia expansa [3]. These two parasites have more reported cases of anthelmintic resistance around the world than other gastrointestinal parasites as well their prevalence and effects on the host [4].…”

Efficacy of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Peel Extract Against Hymenolepis nana in infections Mice.

“…Therefore, in the last few years, they recommended to use of biological substance instead of chemicals in the dominate on parasites because of that these natural products have potency against different pathogens and mostly are safe to use 14,15 . Moreover, chemotherapeutics costs billions of dollars yearly for control of parasites.…”

The potential of Elephantorrhiza elephantina as an anthelminthic in goats

“…Some reports also indicated similar observations where the anthelminthic efficacy of the plant extracts were comparable to the commercial drug, (Athanasiadou et al 2007) with some performing even better (Akhtar et al 2000;Maphosa and Masika 2011a, b). Bashtar et al (2010) also reported the complete absence of eggs after treatment of sheep with crude extract of Artemisia cina at all concentrations tested. Contrary to the results of the previous study by Maphosa and Masika (2011a), who reported higher efficacy of the plant extracts compared to Valbazen®, in this study results were comparable; this could be due to the fact that animals used in this study were young and had never been dosed before, and the worms probably had no drug resistance.…”