International journal for parasitology最新文献

{"title":"Immunity against reinfection in pigs following Taenia solium infection and a quantitative dose–response model","authors":"Eloy Gonzales-Gustavson ,&nbsp;Francesco Pizzitutti ,&nbsp;Gabrielle Bonnet ,&nbsp;Claudio Muro ,&nbsp;Ricardo Gamboa ,&nbsp;Javier A. Bustos ,&nbsp;Sarah Gabriël ,&nbsp;William K. Pan ,&nbsp;Héctor H. Garcia ,&nbsp;Seth O'Neal ,&nbsp;for the CWGP","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.08.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.08.010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Taenia solium</em> is a zoonotic parasite causing significant health and economic burdens, with complex transmission dynamics that demand improved control strategies. This study examines how infection and reinfection affect cyst development in pigs and how acquired immunity constrains parasite burden. A total of 116 pigs were purchased from commercial farms in northern Peru and housed under controlled conditions. Of these, 110 pigs were allocated to 18 experimental groups to evaluate the impact of single and repeated infections with varying doses of <em>T. solium</em> eggs and to model the number of live cysts produced based on dose and age at infection. Gravid proglottids collected from human cases were used to prepare viable egg pools. Infections were administered orally via esophageal catheterization, and pigs were necropsied 10 weeks after the final infection to quantify cyst burden. A negative binomial regression model assessed the influence of infection dose, prior infection, age, and other factors. No significant differences in cyst counts were found between singly infected and reinfected pigs, regardless of initial or reinfection doses, highlighting that infection induces strong acquired immunity that prevents subsequent infections. A dose–response analysis indicated that cyst burden follows a power relationship with egg dose. Integrating data from both single and reinfected pigs into a unified model improved prediction precision. Furthermore, incorporating age at infection allowed us to model the combined effects of acquired and innate immunity, reflecting changes in susceptibility over time. These findings demonstrate that a single exposure to <em>T. solium</em> eggs can generate robust protective immunity in pigs. The resulting quantitative model, predicting viable cyst counts based on dose and age, offers valuable insights for integrating immunity dynamics into transmission models, supporting the development of more effective strategies for controlling <em>T. solium.</em></div></div>","PeriodicalId":13725,"journal":{"name":"International journal for parasitology","volume":"56 2","pages":"Article 104722"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144953021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative population genetics of the Antarctic grenadier fish (Macrourus whitsoni) and its parasitic copepod (Lophoura szidati)","authors":"Vahid Sepahvand,&nbsp;Miles D. Lamare,&nbsp;Ceridwen I. Fraser","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.08.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.08.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Large ectoparasitic copepods, nearly as long as the length of their host, are often found on Antarctic fish, yet little is known about their biology. In this study, we investigated the genetic structure and host-parasite relationships in <em>Macrourus whitsoni</em>, a deep-sea fish, and its copepod ectoparasite, <em>Lophoura szidati</em>, using 10,569 biallelic SNPs collected from 38 copepods and 5,009 biallelic SNPs from 35 fish individuals across three populations in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. The Fst, DAPC, and admixture analyses revealed distinct genetic patterns between the two species. For <em>M. whitsoni</em>, our results demonstrated low to moderate genetic differentiation among populations, while <em>L. szidati</em> exhibited strong population structure. Nucleotide diversity (<em>π</em>) differed significantly among both fish host and copepod parasite populations, reflecting contrasting patterns of genetic variation. Tajima’s <em>D</em> values were consistently negative in both hosts and parasites, indicating an excess of rare alleles, which suggests recent population expansion or purifying selection. Analysis of host-parasite coevolution revealed both congruent and discordant patterns. While some host-parasite pairs showed strong congruence, suggesting possible specialized coevolutionary relationships, other associations showed signs of discordance, suggesting host-switching events or ecological divergence. The contrasting genetic patterns and coevolutionary dynamics in our study open new directions for future research to show how life history traits, dispersal capacity, and environmental factors influence the biology and evolution of host-parasite species in the unique and extreme Ross Sea.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13725,"journal":{"name":"International journal for parasitology","volume":"56 2","pages":"Article 104717"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144953026","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Live-attenuated Toxoplasma gondii PruΔpp2a-c mutant elicits protective immunity against toxoplasmosis in mice and cats","authors":"Shi-Chen Xie ,&nbsp;Yi-Han Lv ,&nbsp;Meng Wang ,&nbsp;Xiao-Nan Zheng ,&nbsp;Jin-Lei Wang ,&nbsp;Bao-Quan Fu ,&nbsp;Xing-Quan Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.08.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.08.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> is a zoonotic protozoan pathogen capable of infecting humans and nearly all warm-blooded animals, and causing substantial economic losses to the livestock industry. Developing an effective vaccine against <em>T. gondii</em> remains an urgent priority for controlling the spread of this zoonotic parasite. In this study, we evaluated the protective efficacy of a live-attenuated <em>T. gondii</em> PruΔ<em>pp2a-c</em> mutant in both mice and cats. Immunization with PruΔ<em>pp2a-c</em> elicited strong cellular (IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, and IFN-γ) and humoral (IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a) immune responses in mice, conferring protection against lethal challenge with various <em>T. gondii</em> strains, including highly virulent Type I (RH), mildly virulent ToxoDB#9 (PYS), and less virulent Type II (Pru) strains. While partial protection was observed against virulent strains, almost complete immune protection was achieved against both acute and chronic infections by the less virulent Pru strain, along with a significant reduction in brain cyst burden (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). Notably, vaccination of cats with PruΔ<em>pp2a-c</em> induced high antibody titers and led to a 94.5 % reduction in fecal oocyst shedding (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001) following homologous challenge, thereby significantly decreasing the potential for environmental transmission. These findings demonstrate that PruΔ<em>pp2a-c</em> provides strong cross-protection against various <em>T. gondii</em> strains and substantially limits oocyst shedding. The dual efficacy observed in both intermediate and definitive hosts highlights PruΔ<em>pp2a-c</em> as a promising live-attenuated vaccine candidate for preventing transmission of <em>T. gondii</em> by cats.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13725,"journal":{"name":"International journal for parasitology","volume":"56 2","pages":"Article 104714"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144812013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reclaimed wetlands support rich trematode and host diversity: findings from a four-year survey","authors":"Brooke A. McPhail,&nbsp;Sara Tomusiak,&nbsp;Hannah Veinot,&nbsp;Neill Dodds,&nbsp;Patrick C. Hanington","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.08.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.08.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Snail hosts play a central role in structuring trematode communities. To test how snail hosts shape parasite diversity in central Alberta, we built upon a previous snail–trematode survey conducted at six lakes in central Alberta from 2013 to 2015 that uncovered 79 trematode species. However, analyses suggested that additional species remained to be uncovered. To build on this baseline, we conducted further snail–trematode collections from 2019 to 2022 at eight reclaimed wetland sites in various stages of reclamation, along with one established lake in Alberta. Across the nine sites, we collected 22,397 snails, of which 1981 were infected with digenetic trematodes. We also documented broader biodiversity at these sites using traditional survey techniques. Through DNA barcoding, we identified 74 trematode species infecting five snail species. Among these were 23 trematode species not previously reported in central Alberta and nine provisionally-named lineages with no matches to species in publicly available databases. In addition, we observed several previously unreported snail-trematode interactions. While trematode richness did not vary significantly with the wetland reclamation stage, host identity did influence richness: Physa gyrina hosted significantly more trematode species than Planorbella trivolvis. When combined with data from the earlier survey, sample completeness analyses indicate that we captured 100 % of the dominant species and 99 % of the typical species, but only 63 % of the overall species diversity in central Alberta. These findings underscore that trematode diversity in central Alberta remains incompletely characterized and highlight the continued value of long-term and host-inclusive sampling efforts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13725,"journal":{"name":"International journal for parasitology","volume":"56 2","pages":"Article 104718"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144953075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A dedicated deep learning workflow for automatic Fasciola hepatica and Calicophoron daubneyi egg detection using the Kubic FLOTAC microscope","authors":"Salvatore Capuozzo ,&nbsp;Maria Paola Maurelli ,&nbsp;Stefano Marrone ,&nbsp;Biase Celano ,&nbsp;Giuseppe Martone ,&nbsp;Paola Vitiello ,&nbsp;Ines Hammami ,&nbsp;Antonio Bosco ,&nbsp;Lavinia Ciuca ,&nbsp;Giuseppe Cringoli ,&nbsp;Carlo Sansone ,&nbsp;Laura Rinaldi","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.08.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.08.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Fasciola hepatica</em> and <em>Calicophoron daubneyi</em> are trematodes with significant health and economic impacts on ruminant livestock farms. An effective and reliable diagnosis is essential to control their spread. To improve copromicroscopic diagnosis, the Kubic FLOTAC Microscope (KFM), a portable digital microscope, was designed for both laboratory and field use. It is based on the use of FLOTAC/Mini-FLOTAC techniques and combines their high sensitivity, accuracy and precision with a reliable system based on an Artificial Intelligence (AI) predictive model. It features automated parasite egg detection, powered by an integrated battery, a web interface for microscope control, and a dedicated AI server for image analysis. In this study, the system was optimized to better discriminate between the eggs of these two parasites through additional processing steps and a robust detection model. Two protocols, egg-spiked samples and naturally infected samples, were used to simulate different sample conditions, creating a dataset for model training and evaluation. A second dataset of field samples, with egg counts verified by optical microscopy, was used to assess performance. The detection performance during the evaluation of samples from both protocols was found to be satisfactory. Specifically, the average fecal egg count, obtained through the clinical report generated by the KFM system, exhibited a mean absolute error of only 8 eggs per sample. This result demonstrates that the KFM is a valuable tool for parasitological diagnosis that supports the livestock industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13725,"journal":{"name":"International journal for parasitology","volume":"56 2","pages":"Article 104719"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144953070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tissue stages of Haemoproteus parasites (Haemosporida, Apicomplexa) in Ficedula flycatchers with evidence for phenotypic variation in Haemoproteus balmorali and implications for haemosporidian taxonomy","authors":"Tanja Himmel ,&nbsp;Josef Harl ,&nbsp;Julia Matt ,&nbsp;Nora Nedorost ,&nbsp;Mélanie Duc ,&nbsp;Mélanie Tchoumbou ,&nbsp;Tatjana Iezhova ,&nbsp;Gediminas Valkiūnas ,&nbsp;Herbert Weissenböck","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.07.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.07.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>During exo-erythrocytic merogony, avian <em>Haemoproteus</em> parasites (Apicomplexa, Haemosporida) develop distinct tissue stages: small meronts and large megalomeronts. Recent molecular studies suggest that <em>Haemoproteus</em> species develop either of the two morphotypes in naturally infected birds but earlier research indicates that certain species form both depending on the replicating cycle. Because data on tissue stages are limited to a few described species, patterns and mechanisms of (megalo-)merogony are unclear but required to better understand pathologies during haemoproteosis.</div><div>In this study, we aimed to characterize exo-erythrocytic stages of <em>Haemoproteus</em> species in naturally infected flycatchers (Muscicapidae). Tissue samples of eight <em>Ficedula hypoleuca</em> and two <em>Ficedula parva</em> positive by PCR and blood smear microscopy were subjected to histology and in situ hybridization applying <em>Haemoproteus</em> lineage-specific probes. Additionally, laser capture microdissection was performed to enable molecular identification of individual tissue stages. A phylogenetic analysis based on the parasites’ cytochrome <em>b</em> gene (886 bp) was performed to explore the relationship of meront- and megalomeront-forming species within the genus <em>Haemoproteus</em>.</div><div>In <em>F. hypoleuca</em>, we found meronts and megalomeronts, and molecular data indicate that both belong to <em>Haemoproteus balmorali</em>, suggesting phenotypic variation of this parasite. Phylogenetically, <em>H. balmorali</em> was closely related to <em>Haemoproteus attenuatus</em>, which develops similar meronts but no megalomeronts, suggesting varying phenotypic variation among closely related species. In <em>F. parva</em>, we detected megalomeronts and gametocytes of <em>Haemoproteus majoris</em> hPHSIB1, presenting the first record in that host. By contrast, in <em>F. hypoleuca</em> showing high <em>H. pallidus</em> gametocytaemia, no exo-erythrocytic stages were found, implying that merogony was completed and not coinciding with gametocytaemia. These results demonstrate that exo-erythrocytic development varies considerably between species and patterns of tissue merogony may not be generalized at genus level. Furthermore, we report significant nuclear hypertrophy of the host cell in <em>Haemoproteus</em> megalomeronts, a feature formerly considered unique to <em>Leucocytozoon</em>, challenging it’s use for genus identification.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13725,"journal":{"name":"International journal for parasitology","volume":"56 2","pages":"Article 104711"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144764792","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"“Old hosts die hard”: the return of the grey wolf (Canis lupus) and the re-emerging threat of cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis in northern Italy","authors":"Filippo M. Dini ,&nbsp;Carmela Musto ,&nbsp;Rudy Brogi ,&nbsp;Barbara Moroni ,&nbsp;Laura Fiorentini ,&nbsp;Patrizia Bassi ,&nbsp;Alessandro Bianchi ,&nbsp;Giovanni Pupillo ,&nbsp;Perla Tedesco ,&nbsp;Alessandra Di Donato ,&nbsp;Simona Perulli ,&nbsp;Serena Robetto ,&nbsp;Marco Apollonio ,&nbsp;Marco Gobbi ,&nbsp;Mauro Delogu ,&nbsp;Roberta Galuppi","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.06.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.06.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Over the past decades, the grey wolf (<em>Canis lupus</em>) has expanded its range across Italy, reclaiming historical habitats, including anthropized landscapes. This resurgence raises concerns regarding its potential role in maintaining and spreading pathogens. In this study, we focused on <em>Dirofilaria immitis</em>, the causative agent of canine heartworm disease, investigating its prevalence in wolves and exploring the environmental factors influencing infection risk. A total of 488 wolf carcasses collected from northern and central Italy between 2021 and 2024 were analysed. Morphological identification of adult nematodes was conducted using light and scanning electron microscopy, while molecular analyses of mitochondrial COI and 12S rRNA genes were performed to assess genetic variation. Spatial modelling was applied to evaluate infection risk based on environmental factors. <em>D. immitis</em> was detected in 3.5% of the sampled wolves, with prevalence varying among regions, reaching 5.2% in Emilia-Romagna. Microfilariae were identified in two cases, confirming the wolves’ potential role as competent hosts. Phylogenetic analysis revealed no significant genetic divergence between <em>D. immitis</em> from wolves and those previously recorded in dogs and other hosts. Spatial analysis indicated that infection risk was highest in low-altitude areas of the Po Valley, a historically endemic region for dirofilariosis. These findings suggest that the expanding wolf population may serve as a competent host for <em>D. immitis</em>, potentially influencing local epidemiology and complicating control efforts in domestic dogs. Continued surveillance is necessary to assess the impact of wildlife reservoirs on heartworm transmission and public health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13725,"journal":{"name":"International journal for parasitology","volume":"56 1","pages":"Article 104704"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144336411","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Positive correlation of prevalence of Angiostongylis cantonensis in Parmarion martensi (semi-slug) with higher human neuroangiostrongyliasis (rat lungworm disease) caseloads in east Hawai‘i Island","authors":"S.I. Jarvi ,&nbsp;L.M. Kaluna ,&nbsp;K. Howe ,&nbsp;K.D. Fiedler ,&nbsp;C.T. Vlautin ,&nbsp;M.G. Severino ,&nbsp;J. Botticelli ,&nbsp;R. McHugh","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.06.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.06.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Toward a better understanding of <em>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</em> infection within intermediate gastropod hosts, we evaluated prevalence of <em>A. cantonensis</em> in gastropods from east Hawai‘i Island and Kaua‘i, and used this data to begin to explore how gastropod infection may relate to human neuroangiostrongyliasis patterns in these regions. An overall infection prevalence of 43.3% was found among four of the eight species tested. Of the seven species tested from Kaua‘i (<em>n</em> = 170) 12.9% were positive among three species, and of the two slug species tested from east Hawai‘i island (<em>n</em> = 320) 59.4% tested positive. In east Hawai‘i Island, parasite prevalence was significantly greater in <em>Parmarion martensi</em> (84.4%) than in <em>Veronicella cubensis</em> (10.2%) (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001), however, infection rates in <em>V. cubensis</em> on east Hawai‘i Island did not significantly differ than in <em>V. cubensis</em> tested on Kaua‘i (11.6%) (<em>P</em> = 0.878). Comparing parasite loads among regions within east Hawai‘i Island, parasite loads were significantly greater in <em>P. martensi</em> from Pāhoa than in those from Hilo (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001) and in those from Kea‘au than Hilo (<em>P</em> = 0.004), and significantly differed among these districts (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). Based on zip code tabulation areas (ZCTA) in east Hawai‘i Island, prevalence of infection of slugs collected from ZCTA’s with 1–5 human cases of neuroangiostrongyliasis was 9.5%, in ZCTA’s with 11–15 human cases averaged 65.7%, and in ZCTA’s with 16–31 cases was 67.3%. Slug infection prevalence appears higher in ZCTA’s with higher human neuroangiostrongyliasis caseloads, at least in these regions in east Hawai‘i Island (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13725,"journal":{"name":"International journal for parasitology","volume":"56 1","pages":"Article 104703"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144336414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative genomic analysis of necrophagous and parasitic subspecies of Lucilia cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) provides important insight into their divergent biologies","authors":"Shilpa Kapoor ,&nbsp;Paul V. Hickner ,&nbsp;Allison N. Dickey ,&nbsp;Ezra Bailey ,&nbsp;Leticia Chiara Baldassio de Paula ,&nbsp;Esther J. Belikoff ,&nbsp;Rebecca J. Davis ,&nbsp;Sophie Tandonnet ,&nbsp;Carolina K. Canettieri ,&nbsp;Matthew A. Bertone ,&nbsp;Krzysztof Szpila ,&nbsp;Ross S. Hall ,&nbsp;Neil D. Young ,&nbsp;Pasi K. Korhonen ,&nbsp;Robin B. Gasser ,&nbsp;Trent Perry ,&nbsp;Aaron R. Jex ,&nbsp;Vernon M. Bowles ,&nbsp;Brian M. Wiegmann ,&nbsp;Tatiana T. Torres ,&nbsp;Maxwell J. Scott","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.06.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.06.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Lucilia cuprina</em>, a species of blowfly, consists of two recognized subspecies: <em>L. cuprina cuprina</em> and <em>L. cuprina dorsalis</em>. Although they are morphologically and molecularly similar to each other, they have very different ecological roles. In Australia, <em>L. c. dorsalis</em> is predominantly found in rural areas and is the primary causative agent of sheep myiasis (flystrike), while <em>L. c. cuprina</em> is necrophagous and not a significant pest of livestock in the Americas or elsewhere. Here, we present a chromosome-scale genome assembly for <em>L. c. cuprina</em> and an improved assembly for <em>L. c. dorsalis</em>, enabling comparative genomic analysis between these subspecies. While both genomes share a similar gene content, subspecies-specific genes were identified, which may contribute to their divergent ecological roles —necrophagy in <em>L. c. cuprina</em> and parasitism in <em>L. c. dorsalis</em>. Phylogenetic analyses across target genomic regions reaffirm the close relationship between <em>L. c. cuprina</em> and <em>L. c. dorsalis</em> and position <em>L. sericata</em> as their sister species. Gene mutations linked to diazinon resistance were exclusively observed in <em>L. c. dorsalis</em>, whereas malathion resistance was detected in both subspecies. Additionally, we identified genes with accelerated evolutionary rates in each subspecies, which may underlie their distinct feeding behaviours. We also conducted a detailed analysis of chemosensory genes, revealing that <em>L. c. dorsalis</em> possesses slightly larger repertoires of all four chemosensory gene families studied. In comparison to <em>Drosophila melanogaster</em>, both subspecies exhibit an expanded gustatory receptor clade. Our findings provide valuable insights into the genetic factors underpinning parasitism and insecticide resistance and provide a valuable genetic resource for future research endeavours, including the development of engineered strains aimed at genetic biocontrol strategies. This work enhances our understanding of the evolutionary adaptations for this important blowfly species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13725,"journal":{"name":"International journal for parasitology","volume":"56 1","pages":"Article 104700"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144336413","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"RNA interference as a tool for functional genomics in parasitic helminths","authors":"Sandra Grossi Gava,&nbsp;Marina Moraes Mourão","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.07.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.07.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Helminths including flatworms, tapeworms, flukes, and roundworms are the causal agents of several Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), affecting the health of humans and animals worldwide and resulting in significant economic losses. Given the importance of helminth infections and the complex life cycle of those parasites, often including multiple life stages and/or hosts, it is critical to have a broad understanding of the parasites’ biology to hamper their dissemination. In this context, the RNA interference (RNAi) methodology arose as a research tool in molecular parasitology, enabling the functional characterization of several genes in helminths. Despite the great revolution using CRISPR to interrogate gene function, RNAi has been more widely deployed in diverse parasites. In this review, we will briefly appraise the RNAi mechanistic aspects, describe works that were pioneers in its standardization and application in different helminths species, and extensively explore studies that have successfully used this tool to investigate gene function in helminth parasites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13725,"journal":{"name":"International journal for parasitology","volume":"56 1","pages":"Article 104709"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144617368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}