International journal for parasitology最新文献

{"title":"Mortality associated with Angiostrongylus cantonensis in non-human primates in Europe","authors":"Magdalena Garijo-Toledo ,&nbsp;Pedro María Alarcón-Elbal ,&nbsp;Estefanía Montero ,&nbsp;Daniel Bravo-Barriga ,&nbsp;José Sansano-Maestre ,&nbsp;Ana Elena Ahuir-Baraja ,&nbsp;Agustín Barragán ,&nbsp;David Viana ,&nbsp;M. Dolores Carbonell-Montes ,&nbsp;Jesús Barbero-Moyano ,&nbsp;Remigio Martínez ,&nbsp;Ignacio García-Bocanegra ,&nbsp;Joaquín Ortega","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.04.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.04.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Between December 2020 and March 2022, three cases of fatal meningoencephalitis were documented in two red-fronted brown lemurs (<em>Eulemur rufus</em>) and a ring-tailed lemur (<em>Lemur catta</em>) at the Bioparc in Valencia, eastern Spain. Post-mortem analyses revealed moderate congestion in the meninges of the brain in all cases. Multifocal areas of hemorrhage were observed in one lemur, primarily in the cerebellum and brainstem. Histopathological examination showed mainly acute hemorrhagic and necrotic changes, together with moderate eosinophilic and/or histiocytic meningoencephalitis, with perivascular cuffing, and gliosis. Numerous nematode larvae were found in the meninges, brain, and spinal cord, with or without associated inflammation, hemorrhage, and necrosis. Considering the affected host species, nematode morphology, and its anatomical localization, <em>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</em> (Nematoda: Metastrongylidae) was suspected as the causative agent. Phylogenetic studies based on the internal transcriber spacer 1/cytochrome <em>c</em> oxidase subunit I (ITS1/COI) genes confirmed the initial suspicion of this zoonotic parasite and its relationship to sequences from the Balearic and Canary Islands. This is the first known detection of <em>A. cantonensis</em> in non-human primates in Europe and it represents one of the few occurrences reported in the Palearctic region to date. Further research on this zoonotic parasite is crucial to understanding its spread in Spain, assessing public health risks, and developing effective control measures to mitigate outbreaks and protect human and animal health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13725,"journal":{"name":"International journal for parasitology","volume":"55 8","pages":"Pages 427-434"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143803209","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":"Morphological and autofluorescence assessment of oocysts differentiate live from dead coccidian parasites","authors":"Matthew J. Valente ,&nbsp;Hannah Streett ,&nbsp;Randi Turner ,&nbsp;Celia O'Brien ,&nbsp;Valsin Fournet ,&nbsp;Andrew Jansen ,&nbsp;Jitender P. Dubey ,&nbsp;Benjamin M. Rosenthal ,&nbsp;Mark Jenkins ,&nbsp;Asis Khan","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.04.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.04.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To assess and mitigate foodborne risk, regulatory agencies and produce growers require the means not merely to detect but moreover determine the viability of foodborne eukaryotic pathogens such as <em>Cyclospora cayetanensis.</em> Viability assessment would also aid those employing live attenuated vaccines against coccidiosis, a major problem in poultry production. Therefore, we sought to identify morphological changes differentiating viable from non-viable coccidian oocysts, employing <em>Eimeria acervulina</em> as a tractable model, enabling empirical validation by means of in vivo challenge infections in the natural chicken host. High resolution microscopic examinations identified granular structures that autofluoresce under UV exposure in dead oocysts, greatly intensifying overall autofluorescence in dead oocysts. We harnessed this intensification as a basis to sort live from dead oocysts using a Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) cell sorter, validating their distinction by documenting infectivity in chickens using the former, and minimal shedding with the latter. Our rapid, sensitive, and robust assay holds promise for application to other species of coccidia, including those important to livestock and public health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13725,"journal":{"name":"International journal for parasitology","volume":"55 8","pages":"Pages 475-484"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144016270","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":"Effect of parasite infections on fish body condition: a systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Ryota Hasegawa ,&nbsp;Robert Poulin","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.03.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.03.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Using host body condition indices (BCIs) based on the relationship between host body mass and length is a general and pervasive approach to assess the negative effects of parasites on host health. Although many researchers, especially fish biologists and fisheries managers, commonly utilize BCIs, the overall general patterns among BCI – infection relationships remain unclear. Here, we first systematically reviewed 985 fish BCI – infection relationships from 216 publications and investigated the factors affecting the strength and directionality of effects in BCI – infection relationships. We specifically predicted that the BCI measure used, parasite taxonomic group, and the infection measure used would influence the observed effect size and directionality of BCI – infection relationships. We found that most studies were heavily biased towards specific BCI measures such as Fulton’s BCI and Relative BCI. Furthermore, studies using Fulton’s BCI were more likely to report significant results compared with those using other BCI measures, suggesting that index choice could lead to an overestimation of the negative effects of parasites. Our meta-regressions uncovered that the use of parasite intensity as an infection measure and studies based on experimental rather than natural infections were more likely to report significant negative effects, however there were no differences among parasite taxonomic groups. Surprisingly, many studies, especially field studies, did not report significant negative correlations between BCI and infection, contrary to widespread expectations among researchers that parasites would negatively affect fish health. We discuss potential mechanisms underlying these results. Finally, we make several recommendations for the use of BCI – infection relationships in future studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13725,"journal":{"name":"International journal for parasitology","volume":"55 8","pages":"Pages 417-426"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143964239","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":"Modelling the small spatial scale questing abundance of Hyalomma lusitanicum Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae), vector of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus","authors":"Alfonso Peralbo-Moreno ,&nbsp;Raúl Cuadrado-Matías ,&nbsp;Sara Baz-Flores ,&nbsp;Pelayo Acevedo ,&nbsp;Francisco Ruiz-Fons","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.04.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.04.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Free-living ticks such as <em>Hyalomma lusitanicum</em> pose a risk to their hosts primarily due to their role as vectors of diseases, with Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) being an emerging disease of particular concern in the Iberian Peninsula. This study aims to understand the environmental determinants as well as the host effects that influence the abundance of <em>H. lusitanicum</em> at a small spatial scale. Understanding these factors is essential in identifying areas with a higher risk of tick abundance and, consequently, a greater likelihood of encountering a tick. We conducted 3,840 drags in 32 sampling points in a continental area of the Iberian Peninsula during the peak activity of <em>H. lusitanicum</em>, in May 2021 (1,800 drags in 15 points) and May 2022 (2,040 drags in 17 points). As potential factors influencing <em>H. lusitanicum</em> abundance, we modelled suitability for red deer and we estimated environmental variables that could influence the existence of optimal microhabitats for <em>H. lusitanicum</em>. We modelled <em>H. lusitanicum</em> abundance, performing generalized linear mixed models with a zero-inflated negative binomial distribution, using the abundance per drag as a response variable. We found that a higher local suitability for red deer is the primary determinant of small-scale abundance of <em>H. lusitanicum</em> in our study area. We found other significant factors that affect the abundance of <em>H. lusitanicum</em> which determine the presence of suitable microhabitats, such as adequate vegetation types (suggested by vegetation height), grasslands and mixed vegetation types, and low terrain permeability. This information will significantly aid in the development of more integrated, environmentally friendly, and effective long-term strategies for tick control and the prevention of tick-borne pathogens in regions with climatic and landscape conditions similar to those of our study site.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13725,"journal":{"name":"International journal for parasitology","volume":"55 8","pages":"Pages 435-445"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143979152","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":"Tangled communities: links between predation and parasitism through trophically transmitted digeneans in aquatic communities","authors":"Cristina Llopis-Belenguer ,&nbsp;Isabel Blasco-Costa","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.04.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.04.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Many trophically transmitted digeneans (Platyhelminthes: Trematoda) benefit from prey–predator interactions to complete the last step of their life cycles. These parasites use prey as second intermediate hosts and predators as definitive hosts. We expect a relationship between predation and life-history and community aspects of trophically transmitted digeneans. We hypothesise at species level: (1) host ranges of metacercaria and adult digeneans are positively related; (2) second-intermediate-host range of a digenean relies on prey breadth of its definitive hosts. At community level: (3) digenean species that share second intermediate hosts share definitive hosts; (4) modularity (i.e., community composed of subsets of frequently interacting species) and module affiliation (i.e., tendency of species to share interacting partners across different ecological networks) is high between predator–prey, second intermediate host-metacercaria and definitive host-adult parasite networks. We used data from metacercaria and adult digeneans, their hosts and predation among hosts from nine aquatic locations or replicates. We tested hypotheses (1–3) with richness and Rao diversity dissimilarities (Spearman and Mantel correlations, respectively). For hypothesis (4), we combined the three types of networks to evaluate the multilayer network modularity and module affiliation of the species that participate in different ecological process (predation, metacercaria and/ or adult infection). We found: (1) significant positive correlations between host richness of metacercariae and adults in seven out of nine communities (Spearman correlations p &lt; 0.05). (2) The relationship between the second-intermediate-host range of metacercariae and the diet breadth of their definitive hosts varied between communities and depended on the specialisation degree of the digeneans. (3) Metacercariae sharing second intermediate hosts also shared definitive hosts as adults in seven communities (Mantel correlations p ≤ 0.05). (4) Communities were modular. Module affiliation varied from high to intermediate. Trophic ecology of definitive hosts provides a mechanistic understanding for the second-intermediate-host range and transmission pathways of trophically transmitted parasites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13725,"journal":{"name":"International journal for parasitology","volume":"55 8","pages":"Pages 485-495"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144015052","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":"Development of a ptp2-LAMP assay for the specific and sensitive detection of Nosema apis and its comparison with ptp3-LAMP for the detection of Nosema ceranae, in a region endemic for both microsporidium pathogens of the Western honey bee","authors":"Lucas Lannutti ,&nbsp;Sebastian Gisder ,&nbsp;Mónica Florin-Christensen ,&nbsp;Elke Genersch ,&nbsp;Leonhard Schnittger","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.04.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.04.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Western honey bee plays a pivotal role in global food security as the primary commercial pollinator. The microsporidian pathogens <em>Nosema apis</em> and <em>Nosema ceranae</em> infect the bee midgut, causing nosemosis, a debilitating infectious disease that results in considerable economic losses in apiculture. Traditionally, <em>Nosema</em> spp. infection is diagnosed by microscopic detection and quantification of spores. However, only molecular diagnostics allow differentiation between <em>N. apis</em> and <em>N. ceranae</em>. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a rapid, highly specific, and sensitive DNA detection method. The present study aimed to develop a LAMP protocol for <em>N. apis</em> based on the species-specific single copy polar tube protein 2 (<em>ptp2</em>) gene, and to analyze and compare its diagnostic performance with the previously developed polar tube protein 3 (<em>ptp3</em>) gene-based LAMP protocol for <em>N. ceranae</em>. The <em>ptp2</em>- and <em>ptp3</em>-LAMP assays specifically identified <em>N. apis</em> and <em>N. ceranae</em>, respectively. Their analytical sensitivity was tested using serial dilutions of plasmid and genomic DNA, demonstrating that <em>ptp2</em>- and <em>ptp3</em>-LAMP consistently detected down to 10³ <em>ptp2</em> and 10⁴ <em>ptp3</em>-gene copies, respectively. Amplification was verified by agarose gel electrophoresis (conventional format), and by a change from pink to yellow color after addition of a suitable dye (colorimetric format). The <em>ptp2</em>- and <em>ptp3</em>-LAMP assays and a reference duplex PCR were applied to a panel of field samples (<em>n</em> = 55) from a region endemic for both <em>Nosema</em> spp. Conventional and colorimetric <em>ptp2</em>-LAMP showed an almost perfect test agreement (kappa value &gt; 0.81) compared with duplex PCR. Conventional and colorimetric <em>ptp3</em>-LAMP assays showed a substantial (kappa value &gt; 0.60) and almost perfect test agreement (kappa value &gt; 0.81), respectively. The <em>ptp2</em>- and <em>ptp3</em>-LAMP assays provide excellent performance, ease of implementation, cost savings, and rapid execution, making them ideal choices for molecular detection and differentiation of <em>N. apis</em> and <em>N. ceranae</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13725,"journal":{"name":"International journal for parasitology","volume":"55 8","pages":"Pages 405-416"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143803190","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":"Dirofilaria asiatica sp. nov. (Spirurida: Onchocercidae) – Defined using a combined morphological-molecular approach","authors":"Vito Colella,&nbsp;Neil D. Young,&nbsp;Ralph Manzanell,&nbsp;Ushani Atapattu,&nbsp;Sunita B. Sumanam,&nbsp;Lucas G. Huggins,&nbsp;Anson V. Koehler,&nbsp;Robin B. Gasser","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.04.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.04.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Parasitic nematodes of the family Onchocercidae (superfamily Filarioidea) have evolved alongside vertebrate hosts for millions of years. While morphological methods have played a central role in identifying species, many taxa remain cryptic and are challenging to differentiate, complicating diagnosis and the understanding of their epidemiology. Among the clinically relevant genera are <em>Onchocerca</em> and <em>Dirofilaria</em>, the latter being responsible for illnesses such as heartworm disease in canines and rare zoonotic infections in humans. Despite advances in our knowledge of the canine heartworm (<em>Dirofilaria immitis</em>), substantial gaps remain regarding other <em>Dirofilaria</em> spp. and genotypes, and their impact on both animal and human health. In this study, we conducted the first known comprehensive morphological and molecular characterisation of a novel <em>Dirofilaria</em> sp., <em>Dirofilaria asiatica</em> sp. nov., from <em>Canis lupus familiaris</em> in Sri Lanka. This new species, genetically consistent with a previously identified novel genotype of <em>Dirofilaria</em>, initially found in humans in Hong Kong, was described using a combined morphological and molecular approach. The findings reveal that <em>D. asiatica</em> sp. nov. differs significantly from other known species, including <em>D. repens</em> and <em>D. immitis</em>, and might be responsible for the majority of zoonotic <em>Dirofilaria</em> infections in southern and southeastern Asia. Furthermore, the identification of cryptic <em>Dirofilaria</em> spp. in both canine and human hosts emphasises the importance of molecular tools for specific identification, particularly when morphological information is inadequate. This study provides insights into the taxonomy and zoonotic potential of <em>D. asiatica</em> sp. nov., as well as its relationship with related species of onchocercids. This combined morphological and molecular approach establishes a framework for future investigations of filarioid nematodes, with implications for improving diagnosis and understanding of their epidemiology in both veterinary and medical contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13725,"journal":{"name":"International journal for parasitology","volume":"55 8","pages":"Pages 461-474"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144010468","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":"Bat phylogeny and geographic location, rather than bat individual characteristics, explains the pattern of trypanosome infection in Europe.","authors":"Antoine Perrin, Laura Clément, Tamara Szentiványi, Philippe Théou, Adrià López-Baucells, Laura Bonny, Dino Scaravelli, Olivier Glaizot, Philippe Christe","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.06.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.06.008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Understanding the drivers of parasite susceptibility provides valuable information, such as how parasites spread, what conditions favour their transmission, and what host characteristics make infections more likely. It can also reveal co-evolutionary dynamics and adaptation strategies between hosts and parasites. In this study, we investigated the infection patterns of several bat species across Europe by trypanosome parasites. We used phylogenetic generalised linear mixed models to investigate whether geographic location, individual characteristics (sex, body mass and body size) or species affect trypanosome infection. Additionally, we examined whether infection patterns were influenced by host phylogeny (similar prevalence among genetically close species) and tested for a cophylogenetic signal between bats and trypanosomes. Our results show that individual characteristics were poor predictors of trypanosome infection, whereas host phylogeny and geographic location significantly explained variation in infection. We also found a cophylogenetic congruence between bat species and trypanosome lineages, but this was primarily driven by the association between the bent-winged bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) and its trypanosome lineages. Overall, host phylogeny emerges as the main determinant of trypanosome infection in bats. These findings suggest that the probability of infection is governed by deterministic factors rather than random encounters between bats and their trypanosome parasites. However, the high host specificity and absence of a strong cophylogenetic signal indicate that random host switching, rather than co-speciation, is the dominant mechanism shaping bat-trypanosome associations.</p>","PeriodicalId":13725,"journal":{"name":"International journal for parasitology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144505640","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":"Gyrodactylidae from Fundulus heteroclitus (Fundulidae, Cyprinodontiformes) in South Carolina, USA, and insights on the historical ecology of the gyrodactylids of Fundulidae.","authors":"Juliana Rosa Matias Ciccheto, Emanuel L Razzolini, Isaure de Buron, Walter A Boeger","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.06.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.06.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) hosts a diverse array of parasites, including several species of Gyrodactylidae. We surveyed populations of mummichogs across three estuarine systems in South Carolina, USA, for gyrodactylids and studied their taxonomy, phylogenetics, and evolutionary history. Molecular analysis using concatenated sequences of 18S, ITS, and 5.8S rDNA fragments and morphology support the synonymization of Fundulotrema with Swingleus, as the former was shown paraphyletic. Five species of Gyrodactylidae were encountered. Gyrodactylus kritskyi n. sp. is described and four other species are redescribed: G. stephanus, Swingleus polyclithroides, S. prolongis n. comb., and S. porterense n. comb. Analyses of the phylogeny, tanglegram, and Euler diagram of gyrodactylids of Fundulidae reveal a complex mosaic of historical processes, including ecological fitting, oscillation, taxon pulses, and putative hybridization events driving host-parasite associations observed, fully compatible with the Stockholm Paradigm. These findings underscore the dynamic nature of gyrodactylid evolution within Fundulidae and highlight the utility of this model system for studying host-parasite diversification and evolution of host repertoire.</p>","PeriodicalId":13725,"journal":{"name":"International journal for parasitology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144496147","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":"Global analysis of Toxoplasma gondii prevalence in wild avian hosts: effects of phylogeny, ecology, and detection methods.","authors":"Katherine E Buschang, Jerusha Bennett, Clément Lagrue, Robert Poulin","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.06.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.06.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Toxoplasma gondii is an Apicomplexan protozoan parasite that infects warm-blooded animals, including birds. Birds may play a significant role in the parasite's transmission due to their diverse habitats, diets, dispersal abilities, and potential as prey for predators. However, information on T. gondii infection dynamics in avian hosts is limited globally. To address this, we conducted a systematic review of 82 studies reporting T. gondii prevalence in wild birds. Using generalized linear mixed models, we analyzed global prevalence patterns across avian taxa and explored predictors of prevalence, including bird order, habitat type, trophic level, and lifestyle, in serological and direct (e.g., genetic and histological) detection studies. We also assessed the strength of the phylogenetic signal in T. gondii prevalence among avian lineages. The global distribution of studies was geographically clustered, with direct detection methods more frequently used in Europe and North America. Certain bird orders, particularly Anseriformes, Accipitriformes, and Strigiformes, exhibited higher prevalence rates, suggesting their important roles in T. gondii transmission. Ecological factors, such as habitat characteristics and trophic levels (e.g., omnivores), were significant predictors of infection. Although phylogenetic analysis revealed a weak phylogenetic signal, high prevalence values were observed in hawks, owls, and falcons. These findings consolidate existing knowledge and emphasize the importance of targeted surveillance efforts. They highlight critical gaps in research on T. gondii transmission in avian hosts and provide direction for future studies. Such insights can inform wildlife management strategies and efforts to mitigate zoonotic disease risks associated with T. gondii.</p>","PeriodicalId":13725,"journal":{"name":"International journal for parasitology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144368840","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}