Objective: The present study was conducted to isolate and identify the Acanthamoeba species from various water sources such as drinking water, tap water, swimming pool, and other recreational water.Materials and methods: During the study period, 57 water samples were collected from various sources such as tap water, drinking water, swimming pool, and recreational water. All samples were processed and cultured on non-nutrient agar medium (NNA) with Escherichia coli overlay for the isolation of Acanthamoeba species. Organism identified based on the microscopic morphology of cyst and trophozoites forms. The pathogenicity of Acanthamoeba was analyzed by thermotolerance and osmotolerance assays.Results: Acanthamoeba were detected in 10 out of 57 (17.5%) examined water samples. The high percentage of positivity was observed in bore well water stored in tanks (37.5%) and in recreational water samples (26.7%). All processed drinking water samples were free from Acanthamoeba. Based on pathogenicity test assays, four (40%) were pathogenic and three (30%) were non-pathogenic. The observed frequency of Acanthamoeba spp. was compared with available literature worldwide.Conclusion: This study is the first report showing the distribution of Acanthamoeba in various water sources in the central region of Saudi Arabia and confirms that the high percentage presence of pathogenic strains in recreational water could threat contact lens wearers. Further research works are required to identify the prevalence of pathogenic Acanthamoeba from various water sources in Saudi Arabia. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2018; 5(4.000): 439-444]

Efficacy of albendazole for treating giardiasis in dogs was assessed in 3 experiments. In experiment 1, Giardia cysts were cleared from feces of 5 of 7 dogs (as determined by the zinc-sulfate concentration technique) after the dogs received a single dose of albendazole (25 mg/kg of body weight, PO), whereas feces of 3 of 7 dogs became clear of cysts without treatment. In experiment 2, feces of 5 of 5 dogs became clear of cysts after albendazole treatment (25 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h for 4 doses); feces of 1 of 5 untreated control dogs became clear. In experiment 3, feces of 18 of 20 dogs became clear of cysts after albendazole 25 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h for 4 doses) was given; none of the 20 control dogs had feces clear of cysts. Signs of toxicosis were not observed in any dog. These results indicate that a single dose of albendazole (25 mg/kg, PO) is not effective for treating giardiasis in dogs. However, 4 doses of albendazole (25 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h) are highly effective and nontoxic for treatment of giardiasis in dogs.

To study the distribution of tissue cysts in porcine tissues, 16 pigs were fed oocysts of 4 strains of Toxoplasma gondii (4 pigs/strain). Pigs were euthanatized between postinoculation days 103 and 875 and portions of 5 to 14 organs were bioassayed in mice and/or cats for T gondii. For bioassays, 50- to 100-g portions of tissue were incubated in acidic pepsin solution to free bradyzoites from cysts in parenchyma, and washed sediment from the digests of each specimen was inoculated SC into mice (6 mice/organ). For bioassays in cats, a 500-g portion or whole organ was fed to Toxoplasma-free cats (1 cat/organ). Toxoplasma gondii was recovered from tissues of 14 of the 16 pigs (from the brains of 12, hearts of 11, tongues of 10, and diaphragms of 6). Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from commerical cuts of meat from 5 infected pigs, from the arm picnic and ham of 3, Boston butt, spareribs, and tenderloin of 2, and bacon and tailbone of 1. Regarding the 4 pigs euthanatized between postinoculation days 759 and 865, cats shed T gondii oocysts after the ingestion of hearts of all 4; tongues of 3; bacons, hams, arm picnics, Boston butts, spareribs, and diaphragms of 2; and livers, kidneys, and tenderloins of 1. Toxoplasma gondii was found to be inconsistently distributed among the organs and muscles, but overall, tongue and heart were more heavily infected than were other tissues. Tissue cysts in pork were rendered nonviable at -12 C for 3 days.

Efficacy of fenbendazole at 2 dosages for treating naturally acquired giardiasis in dogs was assessed. Giardia cysts were not detected in the feces of 6 of 6 group-1 dogs (as determined by use of the zinc sulfate concentration technique) after fenbendazole treatment (50 mg/kg of body weight, PO, q 24 h, for 3 doses). Cysts were not detected in the feces of 6 of 6 group-2 dogs after fenbendazole treatment (50 mg/ kg of body weight, PO, q 8 h, for 3 days). However, cysts were not detected in the feces of only 1 of 6 group-3 (nontreated control) dogs. Signs of toxicosis were not observed in any dog. These results indicate that the current label dosage (for the treatment of Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina, Ancylostoma caninum, Uncinaria stenocephala, Trichuris vulpis, and Taenia pisiformis, but not Giardia spp) of fenbendazole (50 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h, for 3 doses) is also effective for treating giardiasis in dogs.

Many parasitology laboratories practiced the McMaster technique as a method in obtaining the quantitative diagnosis of Strongyle eggs burden in farm animals especially ruminants. The McMaster technique also play a crucial role in faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) for anthelmintic resistance identification. Some laboratoriesrecommend two-chamber counting method while some recommend single chamber counting method. This study focuses on the comparison between single and double counting in McMaster technique fordetection of Strongyle egg count. In this study, it is shown that there is no significant difference between both methods basedon the p-value obtained which is p>0.05 from 127 fresh goat faecal samples. The techniques practised during the study follow the standard established technique. Single chamber counting is suitable for a large number of faecal samples from big herds because it is faster, less laborious and produces sensitive and reliable results in Strongyle egg count. As more commercial farms are set up, there is a need to conduct a fast and efficient test to help farmers evaluate their livestock worm burden.

One hundred and sixteen cattle sera were randomly selected from 17
farms in five different states of Malaysia (Perak, Terengganu, Johor, Melaka and Sabah). All serum samples were tested by Indirect Flourescent Antibody Test (IFAT) using specific conjugates (from MRD). The results showed that only 2.6% were positive for Toxoplasma gondii.