Experimental parasitology最新文献

{"title":"Indigenous African chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) lack an anti-Trypanosoma factor and have a prospect for zoonotic transmission of African trypanosomiasis","authors":"Gideon Ibrahim Joseph ,&nbsp;Mohammed Auwal Ibrahim ,&nbsp;Emmanuel Oluwadare Balogun","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>African trypanosomes evade host immune response through antigenic variation and utilize other immune modulatory mechanisms to survive in the immunologically hostile mammalian bloodstream. However, indigenous African chicken (<em>Gallus gallus domesticus</em>) exhibits lower susceptibility to trypanosomes, suggesting unique resistance mechanisms; but the exact factor(s) of resistance remains elusive. This study aims to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the observed resistance of indigenous African chickens to <em>T. brucei brucei</em> infection, and to assess their potential role as cryptic reservoirs in zoonotic transmission. Non-immunosuppressed and immunosuppressed chickens were intravenously inoculated with ∼2.5 × 10⁸ parasites, and parasitemia was monitored using microscopy, xenodiagnosis, and PCR. Rats served as controls and were intraperitoneally infected with 10⁴ parasites. Haematological parameters in both chickens and rats were assessed using standard methods. Furthermore, <em>in vitro</em> anti-<em>Trypanosoma</em> activity of normal and infected chicken blood components was evaluated. The results reveal that chickens displayed no microscopic parasitemia beyond 9 h post-infection (pi) and survived beyond 60 days, whereas rats passaged with over 10⁴-folds less trypanosomes developed parasitemia at day 5, which progressed and killed the rats between days 10–19. Further, while there were no significant haematological alterations over a 4-week observation period in the chicken, infected rats presented significant reductions in packed cell volume, haemoglobin, and red blood cell counts at peak infection, indicating anaemia sequelae. Additionally, infected rats exhibited neutropenia, lymphocytosis, increased hemolysis and mortality. Intriguingly, despite the observed trypanosomes suppression in chickens, incubation of trypanosomes with chicken blood, serum, or plasma revealed no intrinsic anti-<em>Trypanosoma</em> activity. But blood collected from infected chickens at 1- and 7-days post-infection successfully initiated infection in rats through xenodiagnosis, confirming transmissibility despite the absence of detectable parasitemia in chickens revealing a covert but potentially infectious state. Similarly, PCR detection at 7 dpi, indicated covert/suppressed infection. These findings suggest that indigenous African chickens, while resistant to overt trypanosomiasis, may act as cryptic reservoirs for <em>Trypanosoma</em> spp., potentially facilitating parasite zoonotic transmission.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"276 ","pages":"Article 109002"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144892912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Laparoscopic surgical treatment of liver echinococcosis in Uzbekistan: Outcomes and implementation challenges of minimally invasive surgery","authors":"Sapaev Duschan Shukhratovich ,&nbsp;Yakubov Farkhod Radjabovich ,&nbsp;Ruzibaev Rashid Yusupovich ,&nbsp;Babajanov Kudratbek Bakhtiyarovich ,&nbsp;Ruzmetov Navruzbek Alisherovich ,&nbsp;Rakhimov Dadakhon Djalaladinovich ,&nbsp;Matkurbonov Navruz Odilbek ogli ,&nbsp;Khayitboeva Komila Khujayazovna ,&nbsp;Sharipova Aziza Umarovna","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Liver echinococcosis, caused by Echinococcus granulosus, remains a significant public health concern in Uzbekistan, particularly in rural agricultural communities. While open surgery has traditionally been the primary treatment, it is associated with prolonged recovery and higher complication rates. This study aims to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and clinical outcomes of laparoscopic surgery in managing liver echinococcosis in Uzbekistan. A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on 120 patients who underwent either laparoscopic (n = 60) or open surgery (n = 60) between 2020 and 2024 at three tertiary medical centers. Key parameters included operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pain (VAS), hospital stay, complication rates, and recurrence. The laparoscopic group demonstrated significantly shorter operative time (95 vs. 130 min; p &lt; 0.001), reduced blood loss (80 vs. 180 mL; p &lt; 0.001), lower pain scores (3.2 vs. 6.7; p &lt; 0.001), and shorter hospital stays (4.1 vs. 10.3 days; p &lt; 0.001). Complication rates were also significantly lower in the laparoscopic group (6.7 % vs. 18.3 %; p = 0.045), while recurrence rates showed no significant difference after one year (3.3 % vs. 5.0 %; p = 0.65). These findings suggest that laparoscopic surgery offers substantial advantages over open surgery in terms of safety, recovery, and resource utilization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"277 ","pages":"Article 109005"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144925880","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chemical composition and insecticidal activity of the essential oil of Pseudobrickellia brasiliensis (Spreng) R. M. King & H. Rob (Asteraceae) on Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae)","authors":"Sâmia F. Silva ,&nbsp;Fernanda Batista-Santos ,&nbsp;Thiago Santos ,&nbsp;Débora M. Lima ,&nbsp;Raquel MF. Sousa ,&nbsp;Ricardo A. Barata","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In Brazil, <em>Leishmania infantum</em> is transmitted mainly through the bite of the sand fly <em>Lutzomyia longipalpis</em>, the main visceral leishmaniasis (VL) vector. Although the most common vector control strategy is the application of synthetic insecticides, growing resistance to these products has sparked interest in developing new alternatives. In this context, plants emerge as a viable possibility due to the diversity of secondary metabolites with insecticidal potential. This work aimed to chemically characterize the essential oil of <em>Pseudobrickellia brasiliensis</em> and evaluate its toxicity on <em>L. longipalpis</em>. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger apparatus from fresh leaves of <em>P. brasiliensis</em> and chemically analyzed using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). For the bioassay, sand flies were collected in the field and then exposed to different concentrations of the essential oil (2.5, 5.0 and 10 mg mL⁻¹), also being used in the negative and positive control group. The mortality rate was assessed at established times. GC-MS analysis of essential oil of the <em>P. brasiliensis</em> identified 49 compounds with the predominance of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and diterpenes. α-Pinene and isobicyclogermacrenal as the main constituents of the relative peak area of the total ion chromatogram with 17.9 and 13.3 %, respectively. The bioassay showed toxicity of <em>P. brasiliensis</em> essential oil on <em>L. longipalpis</em> at all concentrations evaluated, showing it to be a promising natural insecticide to be used in vector control of VL.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"276 ","pages":"Article 109004"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144885514","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seroprevalence of latent toxoplasmosis and its association with clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke; a case-control study in northeastern Iran","authors":"Amirali Ghahremani ,&nbsp;Hasan Namdar Ahmadabad ,&nbsp;Reza shafiei","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examined the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma <em>gondii</em> (T. <em>gondii</em>), a neurotropic protozoan associated with neuropsychiatric disorders, in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and its influence on clinical outcomes. This case-control study included 100 AIS patients at Imam Hassan Hospital, Bojnourd. Stroke severity was assessed using the NIHSS on days one and seven post-admission. Disability was evaluated three months post-discharge with the mRS. A control group of 100 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals was included. Serum samples were tested for anti-T. <em>gondii</em> IgG and IgM antibodies using indirect ELISA. IgG avidity was measured with modified ELISA using urea treatment. No significant difference was observed in anti-Toxoplasma <em>gondii</em> IgG seroprevalence between AIS patients (48 %) and controls (35 %, <em>P</em> = 0.084), with all subjects seronegative for IgM. However, seropositive AIS patients had significantly higher 3-month mRS scores, indicating greater disability. Anti-T. <em>gondii</em> IgG levels were significantly elevated in the AIS group and correlated with higher 24-h NIHSS scores, reflecting increased stroke severity. No differences in IgG avidity were found. Although our findings do not establish T. <em>gondii</em> infection as a direct risk factor for AIS, they suggest a potential role in disease pathogenesis and outcomes. However, further studies are needed to validate these observations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"276 ","pages":"Article 109003"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144879368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preliminary evaluation of the recombinant Sj14-3-3 protein as an immunodiagnostic antigen for schistosomiasis","authors":"Kevin Austin L. Ona ,&nbsp;Jose Ma M. Angeles ,&nbsp;Elena A. Villacorte ,&nbsp;Katrina Theresa M. Balboa ,&nbsp;Atcharaphan Wanlop ,&nbsp;Adrian Miki C. Macalanda ,&nbsp;Pilarita T. Rivera ,&nbsp;Shin-ichiro Kawazu","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109000","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109000","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Exploring molecular targets for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis has been a key priority in <em>Schistosoma japonicum</em> research. In this study, the antigenicity of recombinant Sj14-3-3 protein (rSj14-3-3) was evaluated using sera from schistosome-infected subjects. rSj14-3-3 was expressed and subsequently analyzed <em>via</em> SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Its antigenicity was then tested with sera from schistosome-infected mice and humans through ELISA. Results showed that rSj14-3-3 had significant antigenicity when tested with infected mice sera (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) and human sera (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) compared to negative controls. These findings suggest that rSj14-3-3 could serve as an alternative diagnostic antigen for schistosomiasis. Nevertheless, further research is needed to fully evaluate its immunodiagnostic potential.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"276 ","pages":"Article 109000"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144810476","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of three Schistosoma mansoni strains: Infection, morphometry and susceptibility to treatment","authors":"Marilia Bergamini Valentini,&nbsp;Tiago Manuel Fernandes Mendes,&nbsp;Silmara Marques Allegretti","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Different <em>Schistosoma mansoni</em> strains exhibit distinct phenotypes, influencing parasite distribution, control strategies, and therapeutic alternatives for schistosomiasis. This study compared three Brazilian strains: Belo Horizonte/MG (SmBH), Ilha das Flores/SE (SmSE), and São José dos Campos/SP (SmSJ). To understand differences in infection, morphometry and response to praziquantel (PZQ) treatment, BALB/c mice were infected with each strain and treated 45 days post-infection (dpi) with praziquantel (PZQ) in different dosages. Egg elimination was monitored weekly from 30 dpi and euthanasia was performed 60 dpi. Untreated groups showed SmBH with the highest infection rates, with a larger number of recovered worms and a greater number of eggs. Morphometric analysis showed that SmSE females were significantly longer, while SmBH eggs were larger. Granuloma size was similar in SmBH- and SmSJ-infected mice, but SmSE-induced granulomas were smaller. SmBH infection resulted in a greater number of granulomas, suggesting higher pathogenicity. PZQ treatment at 150 or 300 mg/kg significantly reduced parasite burden, fecal egg count, and hepatic/intestinal granulomas in SmBH- and SmSJ-infected mice. SmBH infection also showed fewer immature and mature eggs and more dead eggs after treatment. However, SmSE-infected mice exhibited no significant differences between treated and untreated groups, suggesting higher resistance/tolerance to PZQ. These findings highlight phenotypic differences among <em>S</em>. <em>mansoni</em> strains: SmBH produced and retained more eggs, aggravating pathology; SmSJ had the lowest egg production; SmSE showed the highest resistance to PZQ. Understanding strain variability is crucial for improving schistosomiasis control and advancing drug development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"276 ","pages":"Article 109001"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144821002","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Evaluation of β-caryophyllene(1–3) as a potential anti-tick molecule for controlling tick infestations on animals” [Experimental Parasitology 2025, 108969]","authors":"Gajanan M. Chigure ,&nbsp;Anil Kumar Sharma ,&nbsp;K.G. Ajithkumar ,&nbsp;Ashutosh Fular ,&nbsp;Amol B. Tayade ,&nbsp;Rajesh Kumar ,&nbsp;Nitin D. Jadhav ,&nbsp;Sachin Kumar ,&nbsp;Suman Gupta ,&nbsp;Gaurav Nagar ,&nbsp;Reghu Ravindran ,&nbsp;Satyanshu Kumar ,&nbsp;Sanis Julliet ,&nbsp;Muthu Sankar ,&nbsp;Srikanta Ghosh","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.108989","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.108989","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"275 ","pages":"Article 108989"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144625683","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A dual In vitro and In silico approach to evaluate 1,4-naphthoquinone-1,2,3-triazole hybrids against atovaquone-resistant malaria","authors":"Priyanka Agarwal ,&nbsp;David D. N’Da ,&nbsp;C. Johan van der Westhuizen ,&nbsp;Robyn L. van Zyl","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.108991","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.108991","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Malaria continues to pose a major global health burden affecting millions annually. Despite advancements in treatment, the emergence of drug-resistant <em>Plasmodium</em> strains has undermined current treatment strategies, including atovaquone. Atovaquone is a key mitochondrial inhibitor targeting the cytochrome <em>bc</em>₁ (cyt <em>bc</em>₁) complex, with resistance primarily driven by mutation in the cytochrome <em>b</em> gene. Moreover, atovaquone's reliance on a single target site and its pharmacokinetic limitations further underscore the urgent need for alternative drugs. To address these challenges, this dual <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in silico</em> study evaluated ten 1,4-naphthoquinone-1,2,3-triazole hybrids targeting atovaquone-resistant (FCR3) <em>P. falciparum</em>. Molecular modelling studies were performed on <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em> (PDB ID <span><span>3CX5</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>), involving the building of a mutant model to simulate the Y279S mutation (equivalent to Y268S mutation in <em>P. falciparum</em>), in order to rationalise the observed results. Additionally, pharmacokinetic properties and drug-likeness of these hybrids were predicted <em>in silico</em>. Hybrids <strong>D12</strong> and <strong>D13</strong> exhibited strong antiplasmodial activities, 61- and 52-fold, respectively, more than atovaquone. Molecular modelling studies indicated a strong correlation between <em>in silico</em> and <em>in vitro</em> activities by displaying binding interactions between the ligand and the mutant model. Structure-activity relationships (SAR) analysis identified key structural features essential for favourable binding interactions with target binding site residues. Furthermore, <em>in silico</em> evaluations of these hybrids suggested good oral bioavailability and high gastrointestinal absorption, with no significant risk of severe toxicity. Hybrids <strong>D12</strong> and <strong>D13</strong> exhibit potential as lead candidates, with their strong <em>in vitro</em> efficacy well-supported by <em>in silico</em> data, warranting further optimisation and development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"276 ","pages":"Article 108991"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144768560","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel colourimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for rapid field-level detection of Theileria orientalis","authors":"Sunkara Prathyusha ,&nbsp;R. Radhika ,&nbsp;Bindu Lakshmanan ,&nbsp;K. Syamala ,&nbsp;Marykutty Thomas ,&nbsp;K. Justin Davis ,&nbsp;K. Devada","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.108983","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.108983","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Theileria orientalis</em>, the causative agent of oriental theileriosis is a globally distributed protozoan parasite affecting livestock. Rapid and accurate parasite detection is crucial for effective disease management and evaluating therapeutic interventions. The high prevalence of <em>T. orientalis</em> in Kerala, a south Indian state demanded the development of a sensitive field tool for specific detection. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a rapid and highly sensitive nucleic acid amplification technique conducted under isothermal conditions. In this study, a LAMP assay was developed targeting the major piroplasm surface protein <em>(MPSP)</em> gene of <em>T. orientalis</em> using colourimetric dyes (both hydroxy naphthol blue (HNB) and phenol red) for improved visual detection of amplification. This assay utilised a set of six specifically designed primers, recognizing eight distinct regions on the target gene. Both wet LAMP assays demonstrated the ability to amplify DNA at levels as low as 10⁻⁴ ng (0.1 pg), corresponding to a parasitaemia level of 0.0012 % and exhibited higher detection abilities than PCR. The assay also demonstrated high specificity, with no amplification observed for DNA template from other haemoprotozoans. Positive LAMP products were identified by a distinct colour change from violet to blue and pink to yellow for HNB and phenol red dyes, respectively. Results were confirmed using agarose gel electrophoresis, showing characteristic ladder patterns. The LAMP assays detected <em>T. orientalis</em> in 62.8 % of samples, outperforming PCR (60 %) and microscopy (52.8 %). With a sensitivity of 100 %, specificity of 93 %, positive predictive value of 95.54 % and negative predictive value of 100 %, the wet LAMP assay demonstrated diagnostic efficacy for <em>T. orientalis</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"276 ","pages":"Article 108983"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144764726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exposure to Bisphenol-A increases susceptibility to Trypanosoma cruzi infection","authors":"Aracely López-Monteon ,&nbsp;Anahí Sosa-Arróniz ,&nbsp;Mariana Colorado-Zuñiga ,&nbsp;Enrique Méndez-Bolaina ,&nbsp;Jesús Torres-Montero ,&nbsp;Angel Ramos-Ligonio","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.108990","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.108990","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bisphenol-A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor, disrupts hormonal and chemical signaling within the body, negatively impacting health. One target of this disruption is the immune system. While BPA has been implicated in increased susceptibility to some pathogen infections, its effects on protozoan parasite infections remain understudied. This work evaluated the effect of BPA exposure on experimental <em>Trypanosoma cruzi</em> parasitemia in BALB/c mice.</div><div>Parasitemia was evaluated in BALB/c mice by counting parasites in a Neubauer chamber. Additionally, ELISA assays were used to identify the presence of antibodies, cytokine gene expression was analyzed by RT-PCR, and liver marker levels were quantified using enzymatic kinetic methods. Both pre- and post-exposure to BPA increased parasitemia during <em>T. cruzi</em> infection and decreased levels of IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b isotypes. Furthermore, BPA modulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in response to infection. In addition, all mice exposed to BPA showed alterations in liver enzymes compared to the control group. These results demonstrate that the immune system during critical periods of <em>T. cruzi</em> infection is highly sensitive to BPA exposure, increasing susceptibility to the parasite.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"275 ","pages":"Article 108990"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144711395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}