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The association of parasites and diatoms has been previously reported as an important mechanism to control bacteria and parasites to avoid resistance to chemical usage. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between diatoms genus and parasites within the gastrointestinal compartments (GICs) of commercial fish in fisheries of the marine Pacific coast of Colombia (Buenaventura). A total of 104 GICs from marine fish were sampled. The GICs analysis revealed 14 diatom genera (N = 14). The most prevalent were Coscinodiscus spp., which was present in 58/104 samples, 55.8% [95% CI = 37.5–62.1%]; Cyclotella spp., 28/104, 26.9% [95% CI = 0–25%]; Paralia spp., 26/104, 25% [95% CI = 12.5–44.8%]; Gyrosigma spp., 11/104, 10.6% [95% CI = 0–33.3%]; Navicula spp., 11/104, 10.6%, [95% CI = 0–20.7%]. The GICs analysis revealed a diversity of genera parasites. The most prevalent were Ameboid cysts, 25/104, 24% [95% CI = 12.5–48.3%]; Eimeria spp., 11/104, 10.6% [95% CI = 10.3–15.7%]; Anisakis spp., 29/104, 27.1% [95% CI = 27.1 (SD±12.9%)]. This is the first report concerning diatoms and parasites association in fish from the Pacific Coast of Colombia and highlights the relevance of Coscinodiscus spp. and Gyrosigma spp. as important diatoms and potential candidates for studying pharmaceutical action in aquaculture. Further studies about diatoms-parasites association in aquaculture are required.

This study examined the ectoparasites in free-living wild bee colonies in Totoró, Cauca Department, and Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Researchers collected 2116 bee specimens: 620 from Cauca (200 Apis mellifera , 320 Partamona peckolti , and 100 Paratrigona eutaeniata ) and 1496 from Valle del Cauca (Dagua, Tocota, Buga, Cali, Pradera), including 1498 A . mellifera and 48 Tetragonisca angustula . Using microscopic and stereoscopic techniques and a special taxonomic key, the study identified the first recorded presence of Leptus (Leptus) alberti n. sp. (Acari: Erythraeidae) in colonies of free-living Africanized A . mellifera and stingless bees, including P . peckolti , P . eutaeniata , and T . angustula in Cauca and Valle del Cauca. This finding updates the reported species for South America. The presence of L . (L . ) alberti n. sp. was identified in four sample points in the Totoró-Cauca area, with a 75% parasitic prevalence in free-living bee colonies at three of the four localities, specifically in hives located in the wild forest of Totoró. Two Meliponini species were also identified: one in P . peckolti and another in P . eutaeniata . In Cauca, the prevalence was 5% for A . mellifera and 0.3% for Meliponini. In Valle del Cauca, L . alberti n. sp. was observed in five out of 22 localities, resulting in a 23% prevalence in wild A . mellifera . Additionally, a 4.16% prevalence (2/48) of L . alberti n. sp. was found in T . angustula . Six A . mellifera specimens tested positive for L . (L . ) alberti n. sp., as did one P . peckolti and one P . eutaeniata specimen. No other external mites were detected in the collected samples.

The aim of this study was to measure the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites (GI) in domestic animals and children in high mountain populations in the districts of Combia and Toche, Valle del Cauca-Colombia. These communities have been affected by the armed conflict in Colombia and are susceptible to health risk factors related to the Colombian post-conflict. Prevalence and risk factors were measured using Bayesian methods on 45 structured interviews applied to 29 families in Combia and 16 in Toche. This inquire aimed to analyze the socio-economic and demographic factors associated with the presence of parasites. This interview was conducted with 50 children: 40 (80%) from Rita Sabogal school district of Toche, and 10 (20%) from Tablones-Atanasio Girardot schools. 23 faecal samples from asymtomatic children from these schools were collected. Subsequently, 308 animals were characterized through the analysis of 64 faecal samples from asymptomatic individuals (20,8%); 18/41 from dogs (43,9%), 18/175 from poultry (10,3%), 7/13 from cats 56,84%, 6/20 from equines (30%) and from 15/59 cattle (25,43%). The prevalence of intestinal parasites among children under six years was 60% [95% PI = 41%-78%]; Endolimax nana, 24% [95% PI = 9,8%-42%]; Iodamoeba buetschlii, 16% [95% PI = 4,7%-32%]; Entamoeba coli, 35% [95% PI = 18%-55%]; Giardia lamblia, 12% [95% PI = 2,7%-27%]. In Equids the presence of Strongylus spp was 37% [95% PI = 10%-71%]; Parascaris equorum, 37% [95% PI = 10%-71%]; in dogs, Dipylidium caninum was 20% [95% PI = 6%-39%]; Trichuris trichiura, 9% [95% PI = 1,3%-26%]; Toxocara canis, 25% [95% PI = 9%-46%]; in cats, Toxocara cati had a prevalence of 44% [95% PI = 16%-75%]; cyst of Eimeria spp, 15% [95% PI = 3,4%-33%]; in poultry and Eimeria zuernii in cattle, 50% [95% PI = 23%-77%]. There was no association with exposure of humans to animal parasites. However, we conclude that female and children under 6 years of age are more likely OR (6,72-2,3) to get parasites.

This research described the co-infection prevalence of endoparasites in Tremartus ornatus and domestic animals in the rural high mountains of Colombia by copro-parasitological examination. Some parasites have a zoonotic potential in wild endangered species and domestic animals in Colombian regions. T. ornatus had a notable infection with Eimeria spp., Ascaris spp., Ancylostoma spp., and Baylisascaris spp. Cryptosporidium spp., Balantidium coli, Anoplocephala spp., and Acanthamoeba spp. In B. taurus, Eimeria spp. is coinfecting with Cryptosporidium spp. (6.6%) and represents 18% of the total parasitism. In E. caballus and B. taurus. Eimeria spp. coinfecting (34.7%), with the Strongylus spp. (21.9–25%). In T. ornatus, Eimeria spp. is coinfecting with Ancylostoma spp. (36.2%), Cryptosporidium spp., Ascaris spp., Baylisascaris spp., and B. coli.

This study examined the ectoparasites in free-living wild bee colonies in Totoró, Cauca Department, and Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Researchers collected 2116 bee specimens: 620 from Cauca (200 Apis mellifera, 320 Partamona peckolti, and 100 Paratrigona eutaeniata) and 1496 from Valle del Cauca (Dagua, Tocota, Buga, Cali, Pradera), including 1498 A. mellifera and 48 Tetragonisca angustula. Using microscopic and stereoscopic techniques and a special taxonomic key, the study identified the first recorded presence of Leptus (Leptus) alberti n. sp. (Acari: Erythraeidae) in colonies of free-living Africanized A. mellifera and stingless bees, including P. peckolti, P. eutaeniata, and T. angustula in Cauca and Valle del Cauca. This finding updates the reported species for South America. The presence of L. (L.) alberti n. sp. was identified in four sample points in the Totoró-Cauca area, with a 75% parasitic prevalence in free-living bee colonies at three of the four localities, specifically in hives located in the wild forest of Totoró. Two Meliponini species were also identified: one in P. peckolti and another in P. eutaeniata. In Cauca, the prevalence was 5% for A. mellifera and 0.3% for Meliponini. In Valle del Cauca, L. alberti n. sp. was observed in five out of 22 localities, resulting in a 23% prevalence in wild A. mellifera. Additionally, a 4.16% prevalence (2/48) of L. alberti n. sp. was found in T. angustula. Six A. mellifera specimens tested positive for L. (L.) alberti n. sp., as did one P. peckolti and one P. eutaeniata specimen. No other external mites were detected in the collected samples.

Plague is a flea-borne rodent-associated zoonotic disease caused by Yersinia pestis. The disease composes sylvatic cycles defined by epizootics with high rodent mortalities, punctuated by inter-epizootic periods when the bacterium quiescently persists in an unknown reservoir. My research focusses on understanding if free-living amoeba (FLA) can serve as an alternate reservoir host that supports the quiescent life stage of Y. pestis and its subsequent recrudescence to activate plague epizootics. In Chapter One as a proof of principle we investigated the interaction between Y. pestis and a laboratory strain of the ubiquitous soil FLA, Acanthamoeba castellanii. We demonstrated that during co-culture with amoeba, representative Y. pestis strains of epidemic biovars are phagocytized and able to survive within amoeba vacuoles for at least five days. There are two key mechanisms that facilitate the ability of Y. pestis to survive within amoeba. One is the PhoP global stress response transcriptional regulator protein which we demonstrate is essential for survival in amoeba. The other is that Y. pestis subverts intracellular digestion by residing in spacious vacuoles that remain separated from the lysosomal compartment. This evidence for prolonged survival and subversion of intracellular digestion of Y. pestis within a FLA suggest that protozoa may serve as a protective soil reservoir for Y. pestis. In Chapter Two, bacterivorous FLA isolated from prairie dog burrows located at an established plague foci in Colorado USA were tested for the ability to support prolonged survival of Y. pestis. Here FLA were isolated from burrow soils and one isolate was cultured and taxonomically characterized as a novel Acanthamoeba castellanii isolate of the T4 genotype. This new FLA isolate was demonstrated to support Y. pestis survival within distinct vacuoles for up to a maximal testing period of four days. My research sheds new light on how plague may persist during inter-epizootic periods and then re-emerge to cause epizootics. The possibility that amoeba harbor Y. pestis in the environment should likely be considered in conceptualization of improved approaches to understand risk and re-emergence of the plague.