Zuhair S. Amr

Hydatidosis in Jordan: an epidemiological study of 306 cases.

Of the 306 subjects studied, who had had hydatid cysts (Echinococcus granulosus) surgically excised in Jordan, 185 (60%) were female and 121 (40%) male. The liver was the most affected organ (57.8%), followed by the lung (26.4%). The kidneys, spleen, brain, soft tissues of neck, appendix and mesentery were less frequent sites. Multiple-organ infection was seen in 23 patients (7.5%). Over a third of the cases (35.8%) was aged < 21 years and the commonest occupation was housewife, followed by school student. The epidemiology of hydatidosis transmission in Jordan is discussed.

A 12-case outbreak of pharyngeal plague following the consumption of camel meat, in north–eastern Jordan

Abstract Between late January and early February 1997, an outbreak of plague, associated with cervical lymphadenopathy and fever, occurred in the Jordanian village of Azraq ad-Druze, which lies about 50 km west of the border with Saudi Arabia. The 12 cases who presented at hospital were initially assumed to have tularaemia, and all were successfully treated with gentamicin. When, however, their sera were tested for evidence of Yersinia pestis or Francisella tularensis infection (using haemagglutination, enzyme immuno-assays for specific IgM or the F1 antigen of Y. pestis, and micro-agglutination tests), all 12 were found to have anti-Y. pestis IgM. Three dogs shot near the Saudi Arabian border were also found seropositive for antibodies against Y. pestis. Eleven of the 12 patients reported that, 2–4 days before their symptoms appeared, they had eaten the meat cut from the carcass of the same camel, either raw (10 cases) or cooked (one case). All 12 patients were diagnosed as cases of pharyngeal plague (the first cases of plague reported in Jordan for more than 80 years), caused by Y. pestis that most had acquired when they ate raw meat from a camel that was infected with the pathogen.

Ophthalmomyiasis externa caused by Oestrus ovis L. in the Ajloun area of northern Jordan

During the years 1990-1991 17 cases of ophthalmomyiasis externa due to the sheep nasal botfly, Oestrus ovis, were reported from the Ajloun area in northern Jordan. Symptoms included mild to severe conjunctivitis, cellulitis, lacrimation and conjunctival hyperaemia. All cases were among males, and they occurred either from April to July or from September to November.

Quest for the piroplasms in camels: Identification of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in Jordanian dromedaries by PCR

DNA of two species of piroplasmids was detected in dromedaries during a survey of blood protozoans in Jordan between 2007 and 2009. Ten clinically healthy camels (10%) originating from three Jordanian districts were found, using a PCR assay, to harbor Theileria or Babesia species in their blood and no mix infection was determined. Analysis of the partial 18S rRNA gene sequences of these parasites allowed their unambiguous identification as equine piroplasmids Babesia caballi (n=6) and Theileria equi (n=4). In case of latter species, a novel genotype was found in horses. This first molecular-based species determination of piroplasmids from camels further contributes to the growing evidence of low host specificity of piroplasmids.

Movement patterns and habitat use of soft-released translocated spur-thighed tortoises, Testudo graeca

Wildlife translocations, the deliberate movement of animals from one part of their distribution to another, are increasingly used as a conservation method for the reestablishment of rare and endangered species. The objective of this study was to examine the movement patterns and macro- and microhabitat use of translocated and resident spur-thighed tortoises. This translocation was considered a soft-release as the tortoises were forced to be relatively inactive due to their being released at the beginning of the aestivation season. Our results suggest that forced aestivation soft-releases may succeed in reducing dispersal by forcing spur-thighed tortoises to spend time at the release site as the majority of translocated tortoises had similar activity range sizes and movement path tortuosity as resident tortoises. Spur-thighed tortoise conservation will require protecting habitat at multiple scales, with the remaining native forests in the country of Jordan being important to the spur-thighed tortoise during the activity and aestivation/hibernation seasons, as this macrohabitat was used significantly more than the human-modified habitats. Microhabitat structures such as leaf litter and availability of large stones may also be especially important in human-modified landscapes, as these microhabitats may help reduce the effects of habitat degradation.

Stray dogs of northern Jordan as reservoirs of ticks and tick-borne hemopathogens

Dogs are competent reservoir hosts of several hemopathogens including zoonotic agents and can serve as readily available source of nutrition for many blood-feeding arthropods. Three hemopathogens had been detected for the first time in Jordan. The PCR prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Hepatozoon canis, and piroplasmid DNA were 39.5%, 28.9%, and 7.9% (n = 38) respectively. Sequencing of amplicons of PCR with universal primers targeting the 18S rRNA gene of piroplasmids shows the highest similarity to equine piroplasmids species Theileria equi from two dogs and Babesia caballi from a single dog. Ticks of two genera Rhipicephalus and Haemaphysalis, were detected in this study (n = 268). The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus was the most abundant species (95.1%, n = 255), followed by Haemaphysalis erinacei (3%, n = 8) and Haemaphysalis parva (1.9%, n = 5). The two Haemaphysalis species were detected for the first time from dogs in Jordan. Regarding its high prevalence, we expect R. sanguineus being a possible vector of detected pathogens.

Records of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) parasitizing birds (Aves) in Rhode Island, USA.

Abstract Incidental to studies on Lyme disease in Rhode Island, a total of 531 birds represented by 68 species, was collected and examined for the presence of ticks and other ectoparasites. Of these birds, a total of 230, comprising 36 species, harbored ticks in the pre-adult stage. In all 1,174 ticks were collected. Tick burden ranged from 1 to 76 specimens per bird. Ixodes scapularis Say was the species most commonly encountered (n=1,005). Other species included Haemaphysalis leporispalustris (Packard) (n=69), Ixodes muris Bishopp and Smith (n=57), Ixodes dentatus Marx (n=23), Dermacentor variabilis (Say) (n=2), and Ixodes cookei Packard (n=1). Of the 36 species of birds harboring ticks, only 3 species, the Common Yellowthroat Geothylypsis trichas (L.), Veery Catharus fuscescens (Stephens) and Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus (Lathum), served as hosts to 90% of the ticks collected. However, the small number of birds collected for several of the species represented precludes statistical comparison of many species. Dermacentor variabilis nymphs on an American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla L.) and a Mourning Dove [Zenaida macroura (L.)] as well as an I. cookei larva on a Gray Catbird [Dumetella carolinensis (L.)] constitute new host records. This study surveys for the first time avian hosts for ticks within Rhode Island, and demonstrates that birds play an important role in the life cycle of ticks.

Scorpions of southern Syria

Abstract The scorpions of southern Syria were studied. Six species and/or subspecies are recorded for the first time, Compsobuthus werneri werneri, Compsobulhus werneri judaicus, Compsobuthus werneri longipalpis, Compsobuthus werneri carmelitis, Orthochirus sp. and Scorpio maurus palmatus. Ecological notes and distribution are given for each species.

Mammal remains from pellets of the Eagle Owl, Bubo bubo, from Azraq Nature Reserve, Jordan

Abstract A total of 17 pellets from the Eagle Owl, Bubo bubo, from Azraq Nature Reserve, Jordan, was analyzed. The remains of two insectivores (Paraechinus aethiopicus, Crocidura suaveolens), three rodents (Jaculus jaculus vocator, Meriones crassus, and Mus musculus), and one bird (Passer domesticus) were identified.

On the diet of the Barn Owl, Tyto alba, in northern Jordan

Abstract The diet composition of the Barn Owl, Tyto alba, was studied in the area of Al-Sareeh in northern Jordan. With over 55% of all food items, Merlones tristrami was the predominant prey. A comparison with other diet analyses in the Middle East showed that the Barn Owl is an extremely opportunistic feeder, foraging on a wide spectrum of animals as they become available.