Journal of Parasitology最新文献

{"title":"SEROPREVALENCE OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN ONE-HUMPED CAMELS (CAMELUS DROMEDARIUS) IN QATAR.","authors":"Sonia Boughattas, Hashim Alhussain, Ahmed Gawish, Nahla O Eltai","doi":"10.1645/24-32","DOIUrl":"10.1645/24-32","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Toxoplasma gondiii recognized as one of the most successful zoonotic parasites globally, infecting a wide range of hosts including camelids. This infection can lead to serious outcomes such as abortion, neonatal death, or fetal abnormalities. Camels play a crucial role in the economic, ecological, and social landscapes of various regions, particularly in the Middle East, highlighting the importance of close health monitoring and disease screening. Hence in this study, sera from 409 dromedary camels (39 males and 370 females) were examined for T. gondii IgG antibodies using the Modified Agglutination Test (MAT). Both univariable and multivariable statistical analyses were performed using SPSS to identify the risk factors. A seroprevalence of 32% was found with 74% of the reactive specimens exhibiting a MAT titer ≤ 80. Univariate analysis ruled out sex and season as significant risk factors. Multivariable analysis confirmed age and area as statistically significant factors (P value < 0.05) associated with T. gondii seropositivity in camels. Overall, the finding of the present study confirms that T. gondii is prevalent and widely distributed in camels in suburban areas of Qatar. Given the veterinary and economic implications, there is an urgent need for further investigations into the infection's risk factors and its zoonotic impact.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":"111 1","pages":"70-76"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143408480","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":"NOMENCLATURAL CORRECTIONS AND EMENDATIONS FOR SOME COCCIDIAN PARASITES IN THE APICOMPLEXAN FAMILY ADELEIDAE MESNIL, 1903.","authors":"Elizabeth G Zeldenrust","doi":"10.1645/24-133","DOIUrl":"10.1645/24-133","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This paper provides correct amended names for adeleid coccidia formerly in the genus Adelina Hesse, 1911, that now belong to the genus Obvallatus Özdikmen, 2009, and their new endings if necessary to satisfy the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature Formation and Treatment of Names (Chapter 7, Article 31.2). The morphometric and host data of Adelina castana Ghosh, Choudhury, and Misra, 2000, indicate that it is a junior synonym of Obvallatus (Adelina) tribolii Bhatia, 1937, and has been synonymized. The taxonomic status of an adeleorinid coccidium, \"Adelina bambarooniae,\" from which sequence data (nuclear 18S rDNA-AF494058, AF494059) have been used widely in molecular phylogenetic studies of adeleorinid coccidia and wider apicomplexan taxa has been corrected. A promised species description listed in the GenBank accession associated with this Adelina sp. was never published; consequently, this species name does not satisfy the Criteria of Publication (Chapter 3, Article 8.1) expected by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature and is a nomen nudum. The scientific community should refer to the GenBank entries AF494058 and AF494059 as an unnamed Obvallatus sp. (ex. Dermolepida albohirtum) until a formal species description of the parasite has been published.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":"111 1","pages":"77-83"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143458405","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 RE-EVALUATION OF ZYGOCOTYLE (DIGENEA, PARAMPHISTOMOIDEA) BASED ON NEW GENETIC DATA SUPPORTS ITS SYNONYMIZATION WITH WARDIUS.","authors":"Tyler J Achatz, Dawn W Cleveland, Sarah A Orlofske, Robert C Jadin, Jason Block, Lisa K Belden, Hudson A Pinto, Vasyl V Tkach","doi":"10.1645/24-114","DOIUrl":"10.1645/24-114","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Zygocotylidae Ward, 1917 is a compact family of amphistome digeneans that until now comprised 2 genera, each represented by a single species: Zygocotyle lunata (Diesing, 1836) Stunkard, 1916 and Wardius zibethicus Barker and East, 1915 in Barker 1915. Despite highly similar morphology, these genera are separated based on the presence (Zygocotyle) or absence (Wardius) of posterolateral projections (=lappets) on the ventral sucker and esophageal bulb. In the present study, we generated partial large ribosomal subunit (28S), internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) rDNA, and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) sequences of Z. lunata from several hosts (12 avian and 1 rodent species) throughout North and South America as well as 28S and COI sequences of W. zibethicus from muskrat in North America. The newly generated 28S sequences were used for sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis. The COI sequences were used for species-level comparisons. Our analysis revealed a close relationship and high sequence similarity between Z. lunata and W. zibethicus. Considering the low morphological and genetic differences, we synonymize ZygocotyleStunkard, 1916 with Wardius Barker and East, 1915 in Barker 1915 and transfer Z. lunata to Wardius as Wardius lunatus (Diesing, 1836) n. comb.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":"111 1","pages":"41-47"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143255976","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":"SCOLICIDAL POTENCY OF BILE AGAINST ECHINOCOCCUS GRANULOSUS.","authors":"İsa Caner Aydın, Noyan İlhan, Ahmet Şeker, Cem Batuhan Ofluoğlu, Fırat Mülküt, Nuri Emrah Göret, Kenan Çetin, Erdal Polat, Gökhan Aygün, Hasan Fehmi Kücük","doi":"10.1645/24-111","DOIUrl":"10.1645/24-111","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cysto-biliary fistulas are commonly diagnosed, either before or after surgical intervention, in patients with enlarged or advanced-stage hydatid cysts (HCs). Analysis of cystic contents in these patients shows that diminished scolex vitality is more common in patients with cysto-biliary fistulas. This study aims to demonstrate the scolicidal effects of bile on Echinococcus granulosus (EG) scolices at various bile concentrations and over specific periods. The time- and concentration-based scolicidal potency was analyzed in EG scolex samples obtained from HC patients. The integrity of the cyst wall and the scolicidal effect of the contents were evaluated using a vital staining technique with 0.1% eosin. Bile samples were collected from patients with cholelithiasis who were scheduled for surgery. Scolicidal efficacy of 100% was observed in all samples at the 1/4 bile concentration after 10 min and at the 1/8 concentration after 60 min. At a 1/16 concentration, scolicidal efficacy was 66% at 1 min, 89% at 10 min, 93% at 30 min, and 98% at 60 min. At a 1/32 bile concentration, scolicidal efficacy was 59% at 1 min, 68% at 10 min, 89% at 30 min, and 95% t 60 min. At a 1/64 concentration, the scolicidal efficacy was 53% at 1 min, 58% at 10 min, 77% at 30 min, and 93% at 60 min. After 1 hr, reasonable scolicidal efficacy was determined up to a 1/64 concentration; however, significant decreases in scolicidal efficacy were observed at 1/128 and 1/256 bile concentrations. Theoretically, bile, which is an endogenous secretion, can be used as a suitable and potent scolicidal agent. This study lays the groundwork for future in vivo clinical trials utilizing synthetic bile acids for scolicidal purposes or for studies evaluating the scolicidal effects of bile in patients who develop cysto-biliary fistulas.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":"111 1","pages":"64-69"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143399346","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":"SYNONYMIZATION OF PLACOBDELLA PICTA (VERRILL, 1872) (HIRUDINEA: GLOSSIPHONIIDAE) WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW SPECIES REVEALED BY MOLECULAR SPECIES DELIMITATION.","authors":"Anna J Phillips, Dennis J Richardson, Charlotte I Hammond, Brett C Gonzalez, Eric A Lazo-Wasem, William E Moser","doi":"10.1645/24-89","DOIUrl":"10.1645/24-89","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Species of Placobdella have been the frequent subject of revisionary and alpha-taxonomy in the past 2 decades. Recent molecular analyses introduced uncertainty about the taxonomic status of several broadly distributed and morphologically variable Placobdella species, including Placobdella picta (Verrill 1872), compounded by incomplete original descriptions reliant upon characters that are no longer unique in comparison to modern congeners. We assessed specimens of P. picta to identify any distinct phylogenetic entities that align with our morphological observations of the type series and novel topotype specimens. Using mitochondrial COI and ND1 and nuclear 18S rDNA with Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference, we evaluated species boundaries using species delimitation analyses (ABGD, mPTP, bPTP, and GMYC) and molecular phylogenetics. Our analyses revealed 2 species entities equivalent to 2 non-reciprocal monophyletic clades. Morphological examinations revealed the lectotype was determined to be Placobdella ornata (Verrill 1872), and paralectotypes are other leech species or were poorly preserved and unidentifiable. Due to the problems with the type series, P. picta is now considered a junior synonym of P. ornata. Based on our results, we describe 2 new species: Placobdella unimaculata n. sp. from Connecticut and Placobdella desseri n. sp. from Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":"111 1","pages":"48-63"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143399348","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":"HELMINTH EGGS FROM PACHYCROCUTA BREVIROSTRIS (CARNIVORA, HYAENIDAE) COPROLITES FROM TAURIDA CAVE (EARLY PLEISTOCENE, CRIMEA).","authors":"Tatiana N Sivkova, Daniyar R Khantemirov, Dmitriy O Gimranov, Alexander V Lavrov","doi":"10.1645/24-50","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1645/24-50","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Twenty-seven Pachycrocuta brevirostris coprolites from Taurida Cave (Early Pleistocene) were studied. Eggs of parasitic worms were found in 6 of them (22.2%). Eggs of Trematoda species were identified among them, as were eggs of Taenia, Toxocara, and Capillaria. Toxocara eggs were the most common; they were found in 15% of the coprolites. This is the earliest evidence of P. brevirostris infection by these groups of helminths.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":"111 1","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142950598","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":"DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF GYRINICOLA YAMAGUTI, 1938, FROM THE MONTEZUMA FROG, RANA MONTEZUMAE, IN THE TRANSITION ZONE BETWEEN THE NEARCTIC AND NEOTROPICS.","authors":"Matthew A Walker, Rogelio Aguilar-Aguilar, Virginia León-Règagnon, F Agustín Jiménez","doi":"10.1645/24-83","DOIUrl":"10.1645/24-83","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The present work includes the description of Gyrinicola pilyolcatzin n. sp. (Nematoda: Oxyurida) collected from the large intestine of tadpoles of the Montezuma frog, Rana montezumae. Nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA generated via a combination of Sanger and Next Generation shotgun sequencing were used to reconstruct the species in a phylogenetic context, by including the other 4 recognized species in the genus present in North America, namely, Gyrinicola batrachiensis, Gyrinicola armatus, Gyrinicola gulabrevioris, and Gyrinicola moohsia. The distinctiveness of the species was supported by an analysis of branching patterns using Bayesian Poisson tree processes. We used morphometric evidence to enumerate the diagnostic characters that define members of this unique clade within the genus. The species shares a common ancestor with G. gulabrevioris and G. moohsia; yet it is meristically similar to G. armatus. This is the first species of the genus described in Mexico and the fifth species described in the Nearctic, as it is present in the Transvolcanic Axis of Mexico, which acts as a transition zone between the Nearctic and the Neotropics. A dichotomous key to the species in the Nearctic is offered.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":"111 1","pages":"26-40"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143023897","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":"EXPLORING DIFFERENTIAL GENE EXPRESSION PROFILES OF DERO (ALLODERO) HYLAE IN THEIR PARASITIC AND FREE-LIVING FORMS.","authors":"Claire Bonham, Ashley Roguski, Gabriel J Langford, Jason Macrander","doi":"10.1645/23-18","DOIUrl":"10.1645/23-18","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Parasitism is ubiquitous, yet little is known about the evolutionary mechanisms that lead to a parasitic lifestyle. Facultative parasites can switch between free-living and parasitic lifestyles, which may provide an opportunity for researchers to study the genetic mechanisms underlying a transition to parasitism. The oligochaete Dero (Allodero) hylae is a facultative parasite commonly found within the ureter of various anuran species, such as the Cuban tree frog (Osteopilus septentrionalis). The Dero hylae worm passes into the frog's cloaca, where it then infects the ureter. In the ureter, the worm loses its free-living characteristics such as hair setae, dorsal setae, a digestive tract, and fossa with gills as it transitions to a parasitic lifestyle. The parasite may be expelled from its host during urination, and when this occurs the worm will reacquire its free-living characteristics. The focus of this study was to compare the differential gene expression profiles observed when this rapid morphological change takes place. Specimens of D. hylae were extracted from wild Cuban tree frogs and either flash-frozen to capture the parasitic RNA gene expression profile or cultured for 2 wk and allowed to metamorphose to their free-living stage and then flash-frozen. The extracted RNA was used for de novo transcriptome assembly, and we conducted a differential gene expression analysis using an RNA Tag-Seq approach for both the free-living and parasitic life forms. Based on these results, we identified 213 differentially expressed transcripts between the 2 developmental forms, with 190 of these up-regulated in the free-living life form. Although over half of the differential genes recovered did not result in any significant BLAST hits, many of these genes did provide insight into which molecular signals are potentially used after the parasite transforms into the free-living form. This analysis provides significant insight into differentially expressed transcripts associated with the drastic morphological changes observed in this rare case of oligochaete parasitism by D. hylae encompassing both free-living and parasitic forms.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":"110 6","pages":"690-696"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142864365","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":"THE EFFECTS OF TECHNICAL STEPS USED IN EXISTING SANITATION HELMINTH TEST METHODS ON ASCARIS SUUM EGG RECOVERY FROM PIG FECES.","authors":"D Naidoo, C E Archer","doi":"10.1645/22-59","DOIUrl":"10.1645/22-59","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Many technical aspects are associated with helminth egg isolation and enumeration that affect how efficiently eggs are recovered from samples. This study investigated Ascaris egg recoverability when samples were washed with or without pressure, and from different sample types (water, effluent, ventilated improved pit latrine [VIP], urine diversion dry toilet [UDDT], dried, fatty, and septic tank sludges, and soil) when processed with water, ammonium bicarbonate, and 7X®. We also looked at egg recovery after flotation with zinc sulfate, magnesium sulfate, and sodium nitrate at specific gravities of 1.18, 1.2, and 1.3, at respective centrifugation speeds and times after washing (1,050 and 1,512 g for 5, 10, and 15 min) and after flotation (672 and 1,050 g for 5, 10, and 15 min). We found that samples should be washed under pressure to ensure full dissociation of eggs from the sample matrix and then centrifuged at 1,512 g for 10 min. For sludge samples (or samples with high-fat content), 7X produced the best egg recovery and clearest samples for microscopic analysis, while soil and soil-containing (UDDT sludge) samples were best processed with ammonium bicarbonate. Flotation was optimal with zinc sulfate at a specific gravity of 1.3 after centrifugation at 672 g for 15 min.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":"110 6","pages":"717-724"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142864460","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":"HOST TRAITS EXPLAIN MORE VARIATION IN OCCUPANCY OF GENERALISTS THAN SPECIALISTS DUE TO STRONG HOST PREFERENCES AMONG GENERALISTS.","authors":"Emily M Beasley","doi":"10.1645/23-51","DOIUrl":"10.1645/23-51","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The range of hosts a parasite can successfully occupy is partially determined by the niche breadth, that is, the set of environmental conditions necessary to maintain a stable population. Niche breadth is often quantified using host specificity, which encompasses the number of host species a parasite can exploit and the parasite's distribution among its hosts. Parasites with a wider niche breadth can potentially occupy more host species and are often more evenly distributed among hosts than parasites with a narrower niche breadth. However, parasites interact with potential hosts within the context of a geographic locality and the set of environmental characteristics associated with it. The extent to which environmental filters associated with host individuals and the geographic context explain variation in occupancy of parasites, and the extent to which variation in occupancy is associated with host range and specificity, is poorly understood. Using data from small mammals and ectoparasites in Vermont, I used a multiscale, multispecies occupancy model (MSOM) to (1) estimate ectoparasite occupancy at 10 geographic sites and on individual hosts within each site, (2) quantify the variation in occupancy explained by the site and host levels of the model using Bayesian R2, and (3) evaluate associations between explained variation and host range of ectoparasites. For ectoparasites collected from at least 4 different host species, I calculated structural specificity to determine the distribution of these parasites across the hosts, and β-specificity to evaluate changes in host use across habitats. Host range was significantly associated with host-level Bayesian R2: generalist parasites had more variation in occupancy explained by host-level covariates than specialist parasites. This result may be explained by differences in structural specificity: many generalists disproportionally occurred on a single-host species, suggesting that host characteristics act as habitat filters for these parasites. There were no significant associations between site-level Bayesian R2 and host specificity. However, some generalists demonstrated high β-specificity, suggesting these parasites may \"switch\" hosts, depending on host availability. These results highlight that the terms specialist and generalist are context dependent and may not accurately describe the niche breadth of parasite taxa. Understanding variation in host specificity as it pertains to potential habitat filters may be important for predicting which parasites can bypass host filters and \"jump\" to a novel host, which has implications for the surveillance and management of vector-borne diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":"110 6","pages":"577-589"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142647403","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}