Experimental parasitology最新文献

{"title":"Effect of a low-protein diet on the spleen of Swiss Webster mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni","authors":"Joana Bernardo ,&nbsp;Magda Sanches ,&nbsp;Christiane Leal Corrêa ,&nbsp;Luciana Brandão-Bezerra ,&nbsp;José Roberto Machado-Silva ,&nbsp;Renata Heisler Neves","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109085","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109085","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Schistosomiasis is the second most prevalent parasitic disease globally. It is common in tropical and subtropical regions, with transmission dependent on human contact with contaminated water and the presence of an intermediate host. The disease is associated with poverty and coexists with inefficient nutrient consumption among populations lacking basic sanitation. In this study, we performed a histopathological analysis of the spleen in <em>Schistosoma mansoni</em>-infected mice fed a low-protein diet. Mice were divided into four groups (n = 5 animals per group): uninfected, standard diet (US); uninfected, low-protein diet (ULP); infected, standard diet (IS); and infected, low-protein diet (ILP). <em>S. mansoni</em> infection (BH strain, with approximately 100 cercariae via subcutaneous route) occurred at the 4th week of diet administration, and euthanasia was performed after 9 weeks of infection. After euthanasia, the spleen was excised, cleaved, fixed, and then underwent histological processing and staining for the relevant analyses. Splenic alterations were investigated through qualitative and quantitative histological analyses, utilizing white pulp and capsule morphometry, stereology (D36 method), and megakaryocyte quantification. Histopathological analyses of the ILP group revealed a notable increase in hemosiderin and bilirubin pigment deposits, a 100 % increase in the volume density of trabeculae and megakaryocytes (albeit with deficient synthesis), and intense organizational changes in the splenic parenchyma. Therefore, the presented data suggest that protein deficiency exacerbates splenic tissue disorganization, a common condition in schistosomiasis, significantly impacting disease pathogenesis and host response.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"280 ","pages":"Article 109085"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145800049","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":"Infection dynamics of Metarhizium anisopliae in Rhipicephalus microplus and the role of tick traits in susceptibility","authors":"Nurul Fatin Amirah Mohd Azmi ,&nbsp;Samsuddin Ahmad Syazwan ,&nbsp;Ruhil Hayati Hamdan ,&nbsp;Tan Li Peng","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109070","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109070","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) pose a major threat to global livestock production, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions, and their burden is projected to increase worldwide in the coming decades as a result of climate change. In Brazil, tick infestations are responsible for economic losses estimated at about USD 3.24 billion annually. Growing resistance to chemical acaricides necessitates alternative control strategies such as biological agents. This study assessed the pathogenicity of a local strain of <em>Metarhizium anisopliae</em> (PR1) against adult <em>Rhipicephalus microplus</em> ticks using the Adult Immersion Test at conidial concentrations of 10⁷, 10⁸, and 10⁹ conidia/mL, each tested in triplicate alongside positive and negative controls. All concentrations caused complete tick mortality within 14 days, with higher concentrations accelerating tick death and completely inhibiting oviposition and larval hatchability. The estimated LT₅₀ and LT₉₀ values for the 10⁹ conidia/mL treatment were 2.46 [2.09–2.75] days and 3.63 [3.25–4.29] days, respectively. In contrast, untreated ticks exhibited only 6.7 % mortality and laid an average of 1567 ± 314 eggs, of which 84 % hatched. A significant positive correlation was observed between tick weight and the time to death at the highest concentration, suggesting heavier ticks resisted infection longer, potentially due to higher energy reserves or thicker cuticular. These results underline the potent in vitro pathogenic and reproductive-suppressing effects of <em>M. anisopliae</em> strain PR1 under laboratory conditions, while emphasizing the need for further field validation before considering its application in broader vector management programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"280 ","pages":"Article 109070"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145586046","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":"Histopathological changes, dynamics of macrophage polarization and deposition of type I and III collagen along the course of experimental hepatic toxocariasis","authors":"Iman F. Abou-El-Naga ,&nbsp;Eman Dorry Elkerdany ,&nbsp;Rania G. Aly ,&nbsp;Enas Mohammed Mostafa Zaytoun","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109082","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109082","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Toxocariasis is a helminthic infection that predominantly affects the liver and induces significant pathological changes mediated by host immune response. Both M1 and M2 macrophage phenotypes exert opposing yet complementary functions during infection. This study aimed to characterize the sequential immunopathological and fibrogenic events in hepatic toxocariasis over 16 weeks post-infection (wpi) in a murine model. Liver samples were collected from infected mice at different time points, and immunohistochemical (IHC) examination revealed the presence of both macrophage phenotypes up to 8 wpi (group If), indicating mixed immune response. In early stages of infection, macrophage polarization was skewed toward M1 phenotype, with a statistically significant increase in functional M1/M2 macrophage ratio at 2 days post-infection (dpi), followed by a significant decrease in this ratio up to 4 wpi (group Ie) (<em>p &lt; 0.001</em> compared to 2 dpi ). Thereafter, polarization shifted toward M2 phenotype accompanied by a further significant reduction in M1/M2 ratio, whereas at 16 wpi (group Ig), no distinct polarization was observed, although M2 count remained significantly higher than that of the control group (p &lt; 0.001). M1 predominance was associated with a higher grades and elevated liver enzyme levels, while M2 cells were associated with significantly lower inflammation grades but higher stages of fibrosis. Type III collagen fibers predominated in early stages of infection, while type I collagen fibers were dominant in the late stages (<em>p &lt; 0.001</em>), suggesting a progression toward irreversible fibrotic lesions in chronic hepatic toxocariasis. These findings may support the development of stage-specific diagnostic markers and targeted therapeutic strategies throughout the course of hepatic toxocariasis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"280 ","pages":"Article 109082"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145780609","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":"Evaluation of the efficacy of four fasciolicides in naturally infected cattle in Beni-Suef governorate, Egypt: First report of therapeutic failure of triclabendazole","authors":"Mohamed G. Abdelrahman ,&nbsp;Shawky M. Aboelhadid ,&nbsp;Sherin R. Rouby ,&nbsp;Ahmed Zaitoun ,&nbsp;Ahmed M. El-Sherif","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109067","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109067","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The emergence of anthelmintic resistance presents a major threat to the health and productivity of grazing livestock. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of commonly used fasciolicides against <em>Fasciola</em> spp. in naturally infected cattle from Beni-Suef, Egypt—an area where fasciolosis is endemic. Twenty adult female cattle, confirmed by microscopic examination to be infected with <em>Fasciola</em> spp., were selected and divided into three experimental trials to evaluate the efficacy of four commercial fasciolicides: triclabendazole (TCBZ), rafoxanide (RAF), nitroxynil (NIT), and oxyclozanide (OCZ). Experiment I evaluated possible resistance to TCBZ, RAF, and NIT by administering two consecutive doses of each drug. Experiment II investigated potential multidrug resistance by treating animals resistant to RAF and NIT with a single dose of TCBZ. Experiment III examined the efficacy of OCZ as an alternative treatment. The fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) was used as the primary assessment method in all trials. In Experiment I, cattle treated with RAF or NIT showed no reduction in egg counts, even after the second dose. TCBZ treatment resulted in a marked decrease in egg counts at day 7 post-treatment, but counts gradually increased from day 14 onwards, returning to pre-treatment levels by day 56. In Experiment II, animals treated with TCBZ again showed a significant drop in egg counts at day 7, followed by a steady rise to baseline values by day 28. In Experiment III, OCZ achieved complete elimination of eggs by day 7, with 100 % efficacy. This study provides the first documented evidence of triclabendazole (TCBZ) treatment failure in animals in Egypt, highlighting the urgent need for large-scale investigations across the country. In contrast, oxyclozanide (OCZ) showed high efficacy in eliminating <em>Fasciola</em> infections in cattle, emphasizing its potential as a valuable alternative for improving fasciolosis control and management strategies in Egypt.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"280 ","pages":"Article 109067"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145586036","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":"Seaweed-derived nanoparticles for mosquito control: An eco-nanotechnology approach","authors":"Aravinth Annamalai","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109084","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109084","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, and chikungunya remain major global health challenges, further exacerbated by escalating insecticide resistance and ecological risks linked to synthetic agents. This review highlights the potential of seaweed-derived nanoparticles (NPs) as sustainable biopesticides for vector control. While multiple types of seaweed-mediated NPs have been reported, particular emphasis is placed on silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), given their dominance in the literature, with additional coverage of TiO₂, ZnO, and AuNPs for broader context. Synthesized via green chemistry approaches using marine macroalgal metabolites such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and polysaccharides, these NPs exhibit potent larvicidal, adulticidal, and ovicidal effects against major mosquito vectors, including <em>Aedes, Anopheles</em>, and <em>Culex</em> species. Mechanistic studies reveal that seaweed-mediated NPs impair mosquito physiology through midgut epithelial disruption, oxidative stress induction, enzyme inhibition, reproductive interference, and apoptosis. Their nanoscale dimensions and multi-targeted actions reduce the likelihood of resistance development, while low toxicity toward non-target organisms and efficient biodegradability enhance ecological compatibility. Comparative evaluations suggest that seaweed-derived NPs often match or surpass conventional insecticides in efficacy under laboratory settings, with distinct advantages in environmental safety. Nonetheless, limitations persist, including the absence of standardized synthesis protocols, limited field trials, and insufficient data on long-term ecological impacts. Future research should focus on scalable synthesis, comprehensive toxicological evaluation, and integration into existing vector management frameworks. By uniting marine biotechnology with nanoscience, seaweed-derived NPs represent a promising, eco-safe alternative for mosquito control with implications for global health and environmental sustainability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"280 ","pages":"Article 109084"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145787588","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":"Novel anticoagulant proteins identified in the salivary glands of Rhipicephalus sanguineus and their interaction with coagulation factor X","authors":"YaJun Lu ,&nbsp;YaE Zhao ,&nbsp;XingZhi Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109063","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109063","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the salivary glands of the hematophagous arthropod <em>R. sanguineus</em>, a total of 122 protein coding sequences interacting with coagulation factor X (FX) were identified using the yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) technology, including 100 characterized proteins, and 22 uncharacterized. Three proteins, ferritin-like, tyrosine-protein phosphatase Lar-like, and elongation factor 1 alpha, were selected for cloning, demonstrated significant impacts on four key coagulation parameters: prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), and fibrinogen (FIB) levels. They significantly prolonged PT, APTT, and TT, and reduced FIB levels, indicating interactions with both extrinsic and endogenous coagulation pathways and potential interference with fibrinogen synthesis, metabolism, or functional activity. Docking simulations between the proteins and FX provided evidence of stable, specific protein-protein complexes, mediated by hydrophobic forces. The high confidence scores and diverse interaction modes suggested evolutionary refinement for tight, specific binding to FX. The study introduced promising anticoagulant molecules from hematophagous arthropods, rigorously validated their activity, and highlighted their potential for research and therapeutic applications. These findings have implications for the development of new anticoagulant and antithrombotic therapeutics, underscoring the importance of exploring natural sources for new drugs to expand the drug pipeline in cardiovascular medicine.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"279 ","pages":"Article 109063"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145518706","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":"Cyanobacterial secondary metabolites as biocontrol agents: Targeting dengue vector larvae through histological and molecular pathways","authors":"Sanjana Vuppula ,&nbsp;Dhanraj Ganapathy ,&nbsp;Prabhalakshmi Balasubramaniyan ,&nbsp;Anahas Perianaika Matharasi Antonyraj","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109051","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109051","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing resistance of <em>Aedes aegypti</em> to conventional insecticides necessitates the development of eco-friendly alternatives. This study investigates the larvicidal efficacy of <em>Lyngbya</em> sp. SMC 069 extracts, particularly focusing on fatty acid-rich chloroform fractions. Among the solvents tested, the chloroform extract showed the highest activity with 90.58 % mortality at 500 ppm against third-instar larvae. Column chromatography yielded a fast-eluting fraction (FR) with superior potency achieving 98.21 % mortality at 50 ppm and an LC₅₀ of 22.3 ppm. FT-IR analysis confirmed the presence of alkane, alkene, and ester functional groups, while GC-MS identified oleic acid derivatives as major constituents. Histopathological analysis revealed disruption of the larval midgut and cuticle. Molecular docking revealed that oleic acid binds strongly to larval targets, including fatty acid-binding protein (−6.6 kcal/mol) and acetylcholinesterase (−5.6 kcal/mol), suggesting dual mechanisms of metabolic disruption and neurotoxicity. These research findings demonstrate the potential of <em>Lyngbya</em>-derived fatty acids as sustainable larvicides. The bioactive fraction's efficacy at low concentrations supports its candidacy for inclusion in integrated mosquito management programs aimed at mitigating vector-borne diseases like dengue. This research advances SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) by providing a sustainable biological alternative for reducing dengue transmission risk.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"279 ","pages":"Article 109051"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145470887","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":"Isolation of Bacillus altitudinis A7 from Eimeria-immunized chickens and its inhibitory effect on Eimeria tenella","authors":"Zhongchuang Wang ,&nbsp;Peiyao Shang ,&nbsp;Man Lei ,&nbsp;Wenjie Zhang ,&nbsp;Ruiting Zhang ,&nbsp;Qiping Zhao ,&nbsp;Shunhai Zhu ,&nbsp;Hongyu Han ,&nbsp;Hui Dong ,&nbsp;Lili Hao ,&nbsp;Xingju Song","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109048","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109048","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Eimeria</em> spp. are responsible for chicken coccidiosis, the most important enteric protozoan disease in poultry, resulting in significant economic losses for the poultry industry. With the prohibition of antibiotic use in animal husbandry, researchers must find alternative preventive agents. The objective of this study was to isolate <em>Bacillus</em> strains and evaluate the anti-<em>Eimeria tenella</em> effects of <em>B. altitudinis</em> A7. In total, four <em>Bacillus</em> strains (A1, A5, A6, and A7) were isolated from the fresh feces of <em>E. tenella</em>-immunized chickens, and three <em>Bacillus</em> species, <em>B. pumilus</em> T246 (A1), <em>B. altitudinis</em> 41KF2b (A5 and A7), and <em>B. cereus</em> NS26 (A6), were identified with morphological and molecular methods. The consumption of <em>B. altitudinis</em> A7 by chickens significantly reduced oocyst production and the cecal lesion score after infection with <em>E. tenella</em> and significantly increased the expression of tight-junction proteins, interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) relative to those in the <em>E. tenella</em>-infected, non-<em>B. altitudinis</em> A7-fed group (CON). <em>B. altitudinis</em> A7 also significantly increased the relative abundances of <em>Pediococcus, Fournierella, Clostridium sensu stricto</em> 1<em>,</em> CAG:352<em>,</em> and <em>Tuzzerella</em> compared with those in both the CON group and the normal control (N) group. These findings indicate that <em>B. altitudinis</em> A7 isolated from the feces of <em>E. tenella</em>-immunized chickens promoted host resistance to <em>E. tenella</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"279 ","pages":"Article 109048"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145512222","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":"Species diversity, benzimidazole resistance, and phytochemical synergy in gastrointestinal nematode nemabiomes from sheep farms in Portugal","authors":"Natália Faria Campbell ,&nbsp;Helga Waap ,&nbsp;Helder Cortes","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109058","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109058","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) threatens small ruminant production. This study assessed ovicidal activity of eight natural aromatic phytochemicals and interactions with synthetic benzimidazoles (BZs: albendazole [ABZ], thiabendazole [TBZ]) against nemabiome eggs of 14 BZ-resistant sheep farms across Trás-os-Montes, Beira Interior, Estremadura, and Alentejo regions of Portugal. <em>Trans</em>-cinnamaldehyde (TCL), octyl gallate (OGA), carvacrol (CRV), thymol (THY), and salicylaldehyde (SAL) achieved &gt;90 % egg hatch inhibition (EHI) at 250 μg/mL in egg hatch tests (EHTs), unlike <em>trans</em>-cinnamic acid, gentisic acid, and curcumin (&lt;90 % EHI). Effective concentrations (EC₁₀–EC₉₀) were determined for each compound against farm nemabiomes. TCL (EC₉₀ ≈ 27.0 μg/mL) and OGA (≈54.1 μg/mL) showed highest ovicidal efficacy, followed by CRV (≈120.3 μg/mL), THY (≈171.3 μg/mL), and SAL (≈155.2 μg/mL), requiring 25–220-fold higher concentrations than BZs. EC₁₀–EC₇₅ concentrations in checkerboard assays determined fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICIs) to assess interactions. Compound interactions (FICI: 0.20–0.49; all ≤0.5) reduced ABZ mean EC₉₀ by 0.73 μg/mL (89.6 %) and TBZ by 0.72 μg/mL (94.7 %), with TCL and OGA showing strongest effects (FICI ≤0.25). ITS2 metabarcoding identified six GIN species, with <em>Haemonchus contortus</em>, <em>Teladorsagia circumcincta</em>, and <em>Trichostrongylus colubriformis</em> most prevalent. Nemabiome diversity (H': 0.09–1.17) and species prevalence showed no correlation with EHI EC₉₀ values (|r| &lt; 0.418, p &gt; 0.05), suggesting ovicidal efficacy or BZ-phytochemical interactions are not species-driven. Synergistic mechanisms involving aromatic phytochemical-induced eggshell damage, complementing BZ <em>β</em>-tubulin disruption, are discussed. BZ-phytochemical combinations offer a promising strategy for sustainable GIN control, warranting <em>in vivo</em> validation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"279 ","pages":"Article 109058"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145470966","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":"IgG avidity and placenta real-time PCR in detection of active maternal toxoplasmosis: relation to pregnancy outcomes","authors":"Amal Farahat Allam ,&nbsp;Amel Youssef Shehab ,&nbsp;Nashwa Abdelaleem Ahmed ,&nbsp;Amel Gaber Elshereedy ,&nbsp;Hoda Fahmy Farag ,&nbsp;Sarah Mohamed Abdo ,&nbsp;Heba Said Ibrahim","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109065","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109065","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Toxoplasmosis diagnosis during pregnancy is important for the management of pregnant women suspected to have early <em>T. gondii</em> infection. This study aimed to detect <em>T. gondii</em> infection using ELISA and placenta real-time PCR among pregnant women. The study involved 149 women from <strong>El Shatby Hospital, Alexandria University</strong>; 50 experienced spontaneous abortion and 99 delivered normally, among whom four cases were spiramycin treated. Only 83 women agreed to submit blood samples that were ELISA tested for Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies (<strong>ELISA Biokit, Barcelona, Spain</strong>). ELISA IgG positives were re-examined for IgG avidity. Placental samples were collected from all participants (<strong>about 20 g from each</strong>), and DNA was extracted using <strong>the Qiagen DNA kit, Hilden, Germany</strong>. The samples were examined by real-time PCR <strong>targeting the REP-529 gene.</strong> Out of the 83 women, 57 (68.7 %) were IgG positive and only one case was IgM positive. Fifty IgG cases had low IgG avidity and seven had high IgG avidity. Approximately one-third of the 149 placenta samples, 83 serologically examined cases, 57 IgG positives; 50 with low avidity, and 7 with high avidity, tested positive by real-time PCR, with detection rates of 29.5 %, 28.9 %, 31.5 %, 32 %, and 28.6 %, respectively. Moreover, it detected six positives among the IgG negatives, and two of the four spiramycin-treated cases tested positive. No significant difference between abortion and normal delivery rates was observed among <em>T. gondii</em> positive and negative women, either by ELISA IgG and/or real-time PCR. In conclusion, combining IgG avidity and placenta real-time PCR is promising for detecting <em>T. gondii</em> active infection and the probability of fetal infection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"279 ","pages":"Article 109065"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145556531","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}