A total of 10 species of Baylisascaris, a genus of ascaridoid nematodes, occur worldwide and 6 of them occur in the New World. Most of the Baylisascaris species have a similar life cycle with carnivorous mammals or marsupials serving as definitive hosts and a smaller prey host serving as paratenic (or intermediate) hosts. However, one species in rodents is unique in that it only has one host. C...

background: toxocariasis is a prevalent zoonosis disease caused by the closely related nematode species toxocara canis and toxocara cati which parasitise canidae and felidae respectively. in paratenic hosts, larvae of these worms cause multiple organ damage. however, how these paratenic hosts response to these worms and whether any common biomarker can be applied for diagnosis are still unclear...

Aquatic snails, Pila ampullacea and Pomacea canaliculata were experimentally found to be suitable paratenic hosts for advanced third-stage larvae (L3) of the nematode Gnathostoma spinigerum, the causative parasite of gnathostomiasis in humans. G. spinigerum (L3) were found to be encapsulated in the tissue of the snail's foot and its internal organs. The infection, intensity and survival of thir...

To complete their life cycle, gordiids must make a transition from aquatic to terrestrial environments. However, epibenthic aquatic larvae and their terrestrial definitive hosts do not overlap in habitat. This has led many investigators to suggest that infections are acquired through the ingestion of insects, which become infected as aquatic larvae with gordiid cysts and subsequently carry gord...

Human demands on natural resources result in landscape changes that facilitate the emergence of disease. Most emerging diseases are zoonotic, and some of these pathogens play a role in the decline of vulnerable wildlife species. Baylisascaris procyonis, the common roundworm parasite of raccoons (Procyon lotor), is a well recognized zoonotic infection that has many of the properties associated w...

BACKGROUND Toxocariasis is a prevalent zoonosis disease caused by the closely related nematode species Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati which parasitise Canidae and Felidae respectively. In paratenic hosts, larvae of these worms cause multiple organ damage. However, how these paratenic hosts response to these worms and whether any common biomarker can be applied for diagnosis are still unclear....

Human angiostrongyliasis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis, a rat lungworm, has been reported globally. Human infections are acquired by ingestion of raw or undercooked snails or slugs, paratenic hosts such as prawns, or contaminated vegetables that contain the infective larvae of the worm. So far, at least 2827 cases of the disease have been documented worldwide. During the past few years,...

Gnathostomiasis is a helminthic disease most frequently occurring in Thailand. Human infections are usually found to be caused by Gnathostoma spinigerum, although five species of the genus Gnathostoma exist in Thailand, and three of these are capable of infecting man. In Thailand, 47 species of vertebrates--fish (19), frogs (2), reptiles (11), birds (11) and mammals (4)--have been reported to s...