Displaying publications 481 - 500 of 1467 in total

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  1. Chua TH, Manin BO, Daim S, Vythilingam I, Drakeley C
    PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2017 Oct;11(10):e0005991.
    PMID: 28968395 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005991
    BACKGROUND: Anopheles balabacensis of the Leucospyrus group has been confirmed as the primary knowlesi malaria vector in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo for some time now. Presently, knowlesi malaria is the only zoonotic simian malaria in Malaysia with a high prevalence recorded in the states of Sabah and Sarawak.

    METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Anopheles spp. were sampled using human landing catch (HLC) method at Paradason village in Kudat district of Sabah. The collected Anopheles were identified morphologically and then subjected to total DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect Plasmodium parasites in the mosquitoes. Identification of Plasmodium spp. was confirmed by sequencing the SSU rRNA gene with species specific primers. MEGA4 software was then used to analyse the SSU rRNA sequences and bulid the phylogenetic tree for inferring the relationship between simian malaria parasites in Sabah. PCR results showed that only 1.61% (23/1,425) of the screened An. balabacensis were infected with one or two of the five simian Plasmodium spp. found in Sabah, viz. Plasmodium coatneyi, P. inui, P. fieldi, P. cynomolgi and P. knowlesi. Sequence analysis of SSU rRNA of Plasmodium isolates showed high percentage of identity within the same Plasmodium sp. group. The phylogenetic tree based on the consensus sequences of P. knowlesi showed 99.7%-100.0% nucleotide identity among the isolates from An. balabacensis, human patients and a long-tailed macaque from the same locality.

    CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first study showing high molecular identity between the P. knowlesi isolates from An. balabacensis, human patients and a long-tailed macaque in Sabah. The other common simian Plasmodium spp. found in long-tailed macaques and also detected in An. balabacensis were P. coatneyi, P. inui, P. fieldi and P. cynomolgi. The high percentage identity of nucleotide sequences between the P. knowlesi isolates from the long-tailed macaque, An. balabacensis and human patients suggests a close genetic relationship between the parasites from these hosts.

    Matched MeSH terms: Anopheles/parasitology*; Macaca fascicularis/parasitology; Malaria/parasitology; Monkey Diseases/parasitology*; Zoonoses/parasitology
  2. Waugh S
    Parasit Vectors, 2015;8:79.
    PMID: 25651916 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0694-8
    The use of detailed methodologies and legitimate settings justifications in spatial analysis is imperative to locating areas of significance. Studies missing this action may enact interventions in improper areas.
    Matched MeSH terms: Malaria/parasitology
  3. Nissapatorn V, Sawangjaroen N, Lee R, Chandra Parija S
    Biomed Res Int, 2014;2014:780715.
    PMID: 25587540 DOI: 10.1155/2014/780715
    Matched MeSH terms: Parasitic Diseases/parasitology
  4. Takigahira T, Kohyama TI, Suwito A, Kimura MT
    Genetica, 2015 Jun;143(3):279-85.
    PMID: 25663497 DOI: 10.1007/s10709-015-9824-7
    Drosophila bipectinata from Iriomote-jima (IR) is susceptible to the endoparasitoid Leptopilina victoriae from Kota Kinabalu (L. victoriae KK), but D. bipectinata from Kota Kinabalu (KK) and Bogor (BG) is resistant. The cross experiments between the resistant (KK) and susceptible (IR) populations of D. bipectinata suggested that the resistance to this parasitoid is a dominant trait and controlled by a single locus or few linked loci on an autosome. In the AFLP analysis using the IR, KK and BG populations of D. bipectinata and the resistant and susceptible populations derived from a mixed population of these three geographic populations, a DNA fragment almost specific to susceptible flies was detected. It also revealed that genes from the IR population were more frequently maintained in the mixed population compared with those from the KK and BG populations, suggesting that at least a number of genes from the IR population are more advantageous under the laboratory conditions. This explains our previous results that the resistance was lowered in the mixed population although the resistance itself is suggested to incur only low costs; i.e., the resistance gene(s) from the KK and BG populations would have been linked with some genes that are disadvantageous under the laboratory conditions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drosophila/parasitology
  5. Ng PK, Lim PE, Phang SM
    PLoS One, 2014;9(5):e97450.
    PMID: 24820330 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097450
    Congracilaria babae was first reported as a red alga parasitic on the thallus of Gracilaria salicornia based on Japanese materials. It was circumscribed to have deep spermatangial cavities, coloration similar to its host and the absence of rhizoids. We observed a parasitic red alga with morphological and anatomical features suggestive of C. babae on a Hydropuntia species collected from Sabah, East Malaysia. We addressed the taxonomic affinities of the parasite growing on Hydropuntia sp. based on the DNA sequence of molecular markers from the nuclear, mitochondrial and plastid genomes (nuclear ITS region, mitochondrial cox1 gene and plastid rbcL gene). Phylogenetic analyses based on all genetic markers also implied the monophyly of the parasite from Hydropuntia sp. and C. babae, suggesting their conspecificity. The parasite from Hydropuntia sp. has a DNA signature characteristic to C. babae in having plastid rbcL gene sequence identical to G. salicornia. C. babae is likely to have evolved directly from G. salicornia and subsequently radiated onto a secondary host Hydropuntia sp. We also recommend the transfer of C. babae to the genus Gracilaria and propose a new combination, G. babae, based on the anatomical observations and molecular data.
    Matched MeSH terms: Gracilaria/parasitology*
  6. Mutafchiev Y, Mariaux J, Georgiev BB
    Syst Parasitol, 2014 Jun;88(2):103-17.
    PMID: 24832183 DOI: 10.1007/s11230-014-9483-6
    Quazithelazia rostrata n. sp. from Ceyx erithaca (L.) (type-host) and Alcedo euryzona Temminck (Coraciiformes, Alcedinidae) and Q. alata n. sp. from Enicurus ruficapillus Temminck (Passeriformes, Muscicapidae) are described from vicinities of Gombak Biological Station, Selangor, Malaysia; both species are parasitic under the koilin lining of the gizzard. Paratypes of Schistogendra pelargopsis Nandi, De & Majumdar, 1985, a parasite of Pelargopsis capensis (L.) (Alcedinidae) from India, are redescribed and the species is recognised as a junior synonym of the type-species of Quasithelazia, Q. tenuis Maplestone, 1932 (new synonymy), a species originally described from Halcyon smyrnensis (L.) (Alcedinidae) in India. An amended diagnosis of the genus Quasithelazia Maplestone, 1932 is proposed. Currently, this genus includes eight species occurring in the Old World, six of them parasitic in kingfishers (Alcedinidae) and two species parasitic in flycatchers (Muscicapidae). These include, inter alia, Q. halcyoni n. comb. for Viktorocara halcyoni Ryzhikov & Khokhlova, 1964 from Halcyon smyrnensis and H. pileata (Boddaert) in Vietnam and the Russian Far East, Q. microcordonis n. comb. for Rusguniella microcordonis Schmidt & Kuntz, 1971 from Halcyon coromanda major (Temminck & Schlegel) in Taiwan and Q. multipapillata n. comb. for Schistogendra multipapillata Zhang, 1993 from Tarsiger cyanurus (Pallas) (Muscicapidae) in China. Comparative morphological data for Quasithelazia spp. are presented. Schistogendra oligopapillata Zhang & An, 2002 from domestic ducks in China is considered a species incertae sedis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Birds/parasitology*
  7. Al-Harazi T, Ghani MK, Othman H
    J Egypt Soc Parasitol, 2013 Dec;43(3):561-8.
    PMID: 24640856
    The current study determined the prevalence of intestinal protozoan infections among the Orang Asli schoolchildren in Pos Senderut, Pahang, Malaysia. The overall intestinal protozoan infection rate was 85% (261 out of 307). The highest prevalence rates were due to Entamoeba coli (24.4%), Giardia lamblia (21.8%), Blastocystis hominis (21.2%) and Entamoeba histolytica (15.0%). The prevalence of Iodamoeba butschlii was only 2.9%. Among the positive samples, mixed infection with B. hominis and E. histolytica was 3.3%, B. hominis and G. lamblia was 2.9%, G. lamblia and E. histolytica was 2.0% and triple infections (B. hominis, G. lamblia and E. histolytica) was 1.0 %. The prevalence of the infection was high in all age groups (6-14 years old). Thus, we can conclude that intestinal protozoan infections are still representing a serious public health problem in aboriginal communities, especially among children.
    Matched MeSH terms: Protozoan Infections/parasitology*
  8. Kimura MT, Suwito A
    Environ Entomol, 2014 Feb;43(1):123-30.
    PMID: 24472204 DOI: 10.1603/EN13141
    For successful parasitism, parasitoid females must oviposit and the progeny must develop in individual hosts. Here, we investigated the determinants of host acceptance for oviposition and host suitability for larval development of Drosophila parasitoids from Bogor and Kota Kinabalu (≍1,800 km northeast of Bogor), Indonesia, in tropical Asia. Asobara pleuralis (Ashmead) from both localities oviposited frequently (>60%) in all of the drosophilid species tested, except the strain from Kota Kinabalu oviposited rarely (10%) in Drosophila eugracilis Bock & Wheeler. Leptopilina victoriae Nordlander from both localities only oviposited frequently (>77%) in species from the Drosophila melanogaster species group except D. eugracilis (<3.7%), whereas Leptopilina pacifica Novković & Kimura from Bogor oviposited frequently (>85%) only in species from the Drosophila immigrans species group. Thus, host acceptance appeared to be affected by host taxonomy, at least in Leptopilina species. Host suitability varied considerably, even among closely related drosophilid species, which suggests that the host suitability is at least in part independent of host taxonomy and that it has been determined via parasitoid-host coevolutionary interactions (i.e., arms race). Host acceptance did not always coincide with host suitability, i.e., parasitoids sometimes oviposited in unsuitable host species. Geographic origin strongly affected the host acceptance and suitability in the A. pleuralis-D. eugracilis parasitoid-host pair, whereas it only weakly affected the acceptability and suitability in other parasitoid-host combinations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drosophila/parasitology*
  9. Ahmed A, Al-Mekhlafi HM, Azam MN, Ithoi I, Al-Adhroey AH, Abdulsalam AM, et al.
    Parasitology, 2012 May;139(6):802-8.
    PMID: 22310239 DOI: 10.1017/S003118201100237X
    Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH), among the most common neglected tropical diseases, is a major public health problem in Malaysia with a possible impact on the nutritional status and school participation of rural children. This study was carried out among Aboriginal schoolchildren, living in an endemic area for STH in Malaysia, to determine the possible relationship between intestinal helminthiasis and school absenteeism. We also evaluated whether successful treatment of the infection will affect school attendance among the subjects. Stool analysis revealed that more than 90% of the subjects were infected with at least 1 helminth species, with Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura infections being most prevalent. Infection of moderate-to-heavy worm burdens, low level of fathers' education and anaemia were identified as the significant predictors of high absenteeism among the subjects (P<0·05). Following treatment of the infected children, it was found that school absenteeism was reduced significantly (P<0·01). In conclusion, STH continues to have significant impacts on public health, particularly in rural communities with a negatively significant effect on the school participation of Aboriginal children. A school-based de-worming programme should be introduced and incorporated in the current educational assistance targeted towards the Aboriginal communities, under the auspices of the government.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ascariasis/parasitology; Feces/parasitology; Helminthiasis/parasitology; Hookworm Infections/parasitology; Intestinal Diseases/parasitology; Soil/parasitology*; Trichuriasis/parasitology
  10. Shibghatullah AH, Abdullah MK, Pein CJ, Mohamad I
    PMID: 23077807
    Aural tick usually menisfests as intolerable otalgia. The severity of pain makes the patient to seek early treatment. Other uncommon symptoms include inner ear dyfunctions such as vertigo and tinnitus. The diagnosis is established by clinical examinaion either by otoscopic evidence of the tick itself, or its fecal remnant. We report a case of patient with acute labyrinthitis features with concurent otoscopic findings of tick fecal material.
    Matched MeSH terms: Labyrinthitis/parasitology*
  11. Neoh KB, Lee CY
    Environ Entomol, 2010 Jun;39(3):835-40.
    PMID: 20550796 DOI: 10.1603/EN09212
    Misotermes mindeni Disney and Neoh is a solitary endoparasitoid of Macrotermes gilvus (Hagen) (Termitidae: Macrotermitinae), exclusively parasitizing the head of major soldiers. In this study, behavioral and morphological changes in the parasitized termite host were evaluated. We also observed the larval parasitoid emerging from the host. We found that parasitism mainly occurred in termite mounds overgrown with grass and mounds that had been broken up previously for other experiments. The parasitized soldiers showed a significantly lower level of interspecific aggressiveness compared with healthy soldiers (P < 0.05). Parasitized soldiers also changed in habitat preference to one isolated chamber of the nest. This might be an adaptive strategy that facilitates parasitoid dispersal, provides protection to parasitoids, and reduces the risk of parasitism to host colony. An abnormally rounded head capsule and remarkably short mandibles are characteristics of a parasitized soldier. The older larval fly stages were found only in major soldiers. We suggest that parasitization may first start in fourth or even earlier larval termite instars. The fly larva develops in the termite soldier's head capsule and pupates inside the host's body.
    Matched MeSH terms: Isoptera/parasitology*
  12. Beaucournu JC, Wells K
    Parasite, 2009 Dec;16(4):283-7.
    PMID: 20092059
    We report on fleas collected from small mammals in a lower mountane rainforest in the Crocker Range National Park, Sabah, Borneo. Macrostylophora durdeni n. sp., collected from Dremomys everetti and, of minor importance, Tupaia montana, is described. Further records include Gryphopsylla jacobsoni segragata and Lentistivalius vomerus from T. montana.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mammals/parasitology*
  13. Rohela M, Jamaiah I, Hui TT, Mak JW, Ithoi I, Amirah A
    PMID: 19842373
    Human dirofilariasis caused by Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens have been reported in Malaysia. This is the fourth reported case of dirofilariasis caused by D. repens. The patient was a Chinese male from Kuching Sarawak, Malaysia who presented with a one day history of redness and itchiness over the temporal aspect of his left eye. A worm was seen and later removed from beneath the conjunctiva under local anesthesia and based on the morphological characteristics, it was identified as an immature Dirofilaria repens.
    Matched MeSH terms: Eye Infections, Parasitic/parasitology*
  14. Tappe D, Büttner DW
    PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2009;3(2):e320.
    PMID: 19238218 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000320
    Visceral pentastomiasis in humans is caused by the larval stages (nymphs) of the arthropod-related tongue worms Linguatula serrata, Armillifer armillatus, A. moniliformis, A. grandis, and Porocephalus crotali. The majority of cases has been reported from Africa, Malaysia, and the Middle East, where visceral pentastomiasis may be an incidental finding in autopsies, and less often from China and Latin America. In Europe and North America, the disease is only rarely encountered in immigrants and long-term travelers, and the parasitic lesions may be confused with malignancies, leading to a delay in the correct diagnosis. Since clinical symptoms are variable and serological tests are not readily available, the diagnosis often relies on histopathological examinations. This laboratory symposium focuses on the diagnosis of this unusual parasitic disease and presents its risk factors and epidemiology.
    Matched MeSH terms: Parasitic Diseases/parasitology
  15. Cox-Singh J, Singh B
    Trends Parasitol, 2008 Sep;24(9):406-10.
    PMID: 18678527 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2008.06.001
    Several questions on public health impact have arisen from the discovery of a large focus of the simian malaria parasite, Plasmodium knowlesi, in the human population. P. knowlesi malaria is not newly emergent and was overlooked until molecular tools to distinguish between P. knowlesi and the morphologically similar Plasmodium malariae became available. Knowlesi malaria is a zoonosis that is widely distributed in Southeast Asia and can be fatal. Information on knowlesi malaria should be included in medical and public health guidelines to encourage the accurate diagnosis and treatment of patients, and monitor the incidence and distribution of cases. A complete emergence of P. knowlesi into the human population could be overwhelming and, although challenging, the prevention of this situation deserves serious consideration.
    Matched MeSH terms: Malaria/parasitology*
  16. Zhang A, Kuang LF, Maisin N, Karumuru B, Hall DR, Virdiana I, et al.
    Environ Entomol, 2008 Jun;37(3):719-24.
    PMID: 18559177
    The previously identified female sex pheromone of cocoa pod borer, Conopomorpha cramerella, was re-evaluated for its attractive activity in different field conditions. It was found that lures containing 100-mug of synthetic sex pheromone blend, (E,Z,Z)- and (E,E,Z)-4,6,10-hexadecatrienyl acetates, and the corresponding alcohols in a ratio of 40:60:4:6 in a polyethylene vial attracted male C. cramerella moths in Sabah and peninsular Malaysia and in Sumatra and Sulawesi, Indonesia, suggesting that the same pheromone strain existed in a wide stretch of the Indo-Malayan archipelago. Of the three kinds of trap designs tested, the Delta traps were more effective than Pherocon V scale traps. Male captures were not significantly different among traps baited with 100-, 300-, or 1,000-mug doses of sex pheromone. A release rate study of pheromone formulation conducted in the laboratory showed that volatile active ingredients were desorbed from polyethylene vials following first-order kinetics, which indicates a satisfactory "half-life time" of a 100-mug loading is approximately 6 wk under laboratory conditions. A satisfactory attractiveness of the lure with a 100-mug loading was approximately 1-2 mo in the fields.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cacao/parasitology
  17. Sivakumar S
    Acta Cytol., 2007 Sep-Oct;51(5):803-6.
    PMID: 17910352 DOI: 10.1159/000325846
    BACKGROUND: Filariasis is a major public health problem in developing countries, and the diagnosis is conventionally made by demonstrating microfilariae in the peripheral blood smear. However, microfilariae have been incidentally detected in fine needle aspirates of various lesions in clinically unsuspected cases of filariasis with absence of microfilariae in the peripheral blood.

    CASES: In case 1, a 21-year-old woman presented with multiple left axillary lymphadenopathy of 3 months' duration. In case 2, a 32-year-old woman presented with a thyroid nodule of 7 months' duration. Fine needle aspiration smears from both cases showed sheathed microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti. In both cases, microfilariae could not be demonstrated in the peripheral blood smears and the blood eosinophil counts were within normal limits. The histopathologic examination showed neither microfilariae nor adult worm.

    CONCLUSION: Although microfilariae in cytologic material are considered incidental findings, these cases illustrate the value of routine fine needle aspiration cytology in the detection of asymptomatic and clinically unsuspected cases of bancroftian filariasis. Absence of microfilariae in the peripheral blood does not exdude filarial infection.
    Matched MeSH terms: Lymph Nodes/parasitology
  18. Lim LH, Gibson DI
    Syst Parasitol, 2007 Jun;67(2):101-17.
    PMID: 17143570
    Two known and two new species of Diplectanocotyla Yamaguti, 1953 (D. gracilis Yamaguti, 1953, D. megalopis Rakotofiringa & Oliver, 1987, D. langkawiensis n. sp. and D. parva n. sp.) were collected from Megalops cyprinoides (Megalopidae) off Langkawi, Kedah and Matang, Perak, Peninsular Malaysia. All four species possess similar types of sclerotised male and female reproductive structures and similar soft anatomical features. The squamodisc sclerites of all four species have spine-like projections with varying degrees of visibility and shapes (sharp-pointed to triangular). In D. megalopis and D. langkawiensis n. sp. the spines are sharp-pointed and distinct on sclerites from rows 5-6 onwards. In D. gracilis and D. parva n. sp. the sclerite spines are triangular, lightly sclerotised and occur on almost all of the sclerites. D. parva n. sp. has comparatively the smallest set of anchors, bars, squamodiscs and squamodisc suckers. The anchors and bars of the other three species are almost similar in overall size, and the main distinguishing feature is the relative lengths of the inner and outer roots of the ventral anchors. In D. gracilis the outer root is very much smaller than the inner root and they are disposed almost at a right angle to each other. In D. megalopis the outer root is usually about half the length of the inner root and the roots are inclined at c.60 degrees to each other. In D. langkawiensis n. sp. the roots are inclined at c.40 degrees degrees and the outer root is of a similar length or only slightly shorter than the inner root. The openings of the two squamodisc suckers of all four Diplectanocotyla species are surrounded by tiny scale-like spines. Bifid tegumental spines are found in the posterior region of all four species, differing only in their extent: in D. parva n. sp. the tegumental spines are only distributed in the peduncular region and not beyond, whilst in the other three species the tegumental spines extend from the posterior level of the testis to the end of the peduncle. An amended diagnosis of Diplectanocotyla and a key to its species are appended.
    Matched MeSH terms: Perciformes/parasitology*
  19. Jensen K
    Syst Parasitol, 2006 Jun;64(2):117-23.
    PMID: 16612652
    A new lecanicephalidean species of Aberrapex Jensen, 2001 is described from the blue-spotted fantail ray Taeniura lymma (Forsskål) collected off the eastern coast of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo. This is the first record of a lecanicephalidean tapeworm from the island of Borneo and the first record of Aberrapex from this host species. A. manjajiae n. sp. is easily distinguished from its two congeners, A. senticosus Jensen, 2001 and A. arrhynchum (Brooks, Mayes & Thorson, 1981) Jensen, 2001, based on its overall smaller size (928-1,971 vs 1,485-6,333 and up to 3,350 microm long, respectively) and fewer testes (10-19 vs 20-40 and 18-25, respectively). In addition, A. manjajiae n. sp. is readily distinguished from A. senticosus based on a more anteriorly positioned genital pore (76-85 vs 52-72% of proglottid length from posterior end) and its distal bothridial microthrix pattern. A. manjajiae n. sp. can be further distinguished from A. arrhynchum based on its smaller scolex (82-101 x 119-164 vs 177-186 x 233-326 microm). The host distribution of Aberrapex is expanded from the Myliobatidae to include the Dasyatidae.
    Matched MeSH terms: Skates (Fish)/parasitology*
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