Parasites & Vectors最新文献

{"title":"Taurine potentiates artemisinin efficacy against malaria by modulating the immune response in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice.","authors":"Xin Li, Ning Jiang, Qilong Li, Kexin Zheng, Yiwei Zhang, Xiaoyu Sang, Ying Feng, Ran Chen, Qijun Chen","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06585-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-024-06585-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Artemisinin (ART) is a frontline drug for the treatment of malaria; however, the emergence of ART-resistant Plasmodium strains necessitates increasing ART sensitivity. Given that taurine (TAU) has been shown to have immunomodulatory activity, we investigated the effects of TAU as an adjunct therapy to ART in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Mice infected with P. berghei ANKA strain (P. berghei ANKA) were treated with TAU alone, ART alone or a combination of TAU and ART (TAU + ART), and their survival time and parasitaemia were recorded. The cytotoxic effects of TAU and ART were subsequently assessed. The expression levels of inflammasome-related genes and inflammatory factors in mice infected with P. berghei ANKA were analysed in relation to those in mice treated with TAU alone, ART alone or the TAU + ART combination. The therapeutic effects were further evaluated by histological analysis and measurement of the spleen index.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with the control mice, P. berghei ANKA-infected mice treated with ART in combination with TAU presented significantly lower parasitaemia and prolonged survival. The combined treatment resulted in significant reductions in the expression levels of inflammasome-related genes in the spleen, including absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2), caspase-1, NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (Nlrp3), Nlrp1b, Nlrp1b, NLR family CARD domain containing 4 (Nlrc4), Nlrp6, nucleotide binding oligomerization domain containing 1 (NOD1) and NOD2, and decreases in the levels of inflammatory cytokines in the serum, including interleukin (IL)-12p70, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, IL-10 and IL-6. Histopathological analysis confirmed that TAU + ART combination treatment reduced spleen pathology caused by P. berghei ANKA infection.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings indicate that TAU potentiates ART efficacy by modulating the immune response in P. berghei-infected mice.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"493"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11606117/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142755405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The microneme protein1 (MIC1) of Chinese 1 Toxoplasma regulates pyroptosis through the TLR4/NLRP3 pathway in macrophages.","authors":"Wenze Sun, Fan Zhang, Jinjin Zhu, Yanxia Yu, Yang Wang, Qingli Luo, Li Yu","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06584-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-024-06584-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>TgMIC1, a soluble adhesion protein that typically facilitates parasite invasion, exhibited varying expression levels among distinct virulence strains of Chinese 1 Toxoplasma. This study aims to explore its role in immunological regulation and its association with diverse postinfection outcomes in Toxoplasma infection.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>First, the mic1 knockout strain Wh3Δmic1 was generated and assessed for its virulence and proliferative capacity. Subsequently, the serum inflammation levels were examined in mice infected with Wh3Δmic1, Wh3, and Wh6. Furthermore, rMIC1 and rMIC1-T126A/T220A, which lack binding sites to N-glycan in TLR4, were produced for coculture with bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) to investigate their impact on pyroptosis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our data showed Wh3Δmic1 exhibited a significant reduction in invasion efficiency, limited growth, and attenuated inflammatory responses in mice. Additionally, it displayed a decreased capacity to induce pyroptosis when compared with Wh3-infected BMDMs. Moreover, rMIC1 but not rMIC1-T126A/T220A was found to be able to upregulate NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) and activate GSDMD and caspase-1 in BMDMs but not in TLR4^-/- and NLRP3^-/- BMDMs.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>TgMIC1 is implicated in both parasite invasion and the modulation of macrophage pyroptosis via the TLR4/NLRP3 pathway. This investigation indicates that TgMIC1 serves diverse functions in Toxoplasma gondii infection, thereby enhancing comprehension of the immune regulatory mechanisms of the parasite.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"495"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11607952/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142755408","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"IRF4 regulates myeloid-derived suppressor cells expansion and function in Schistosoma japonicum-infected mice.","authors":"Lu Zhou, Peibin Lin, Guorong Deng, Lengshan Mo, Cansheng Hong, Zhihan Jiang, Yiqiang Zhu, Yi Zhao, Yanwei Qi, Tengfei Hu, Qianlian Wu, Jian Zhang, Qingqing Li, Quan Yang","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06543-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-024-06543-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) is a crucial member of the IRF family of transcription factors and is pivotal in orchestrating the body's defense against tumors and infections by modulating the differentiation and functionality of immune cells. The role of IRF4 in mice during Schistosoma japonicum infection, as well as the effects of IRF4 deficiency on myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), remains inadequately understood.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to evaluate the pathological damage in different organs of mice following infection with S. japonicum. Flow cytometry was employed to study the effect of IRF4 on the proliferation and function of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in S. japonicum-infected mice.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Knockout of IRF4 in myeloid cells significantly mitigated pathological damage to the liver and lungs in mice infected with S. japonicum. Knockout of IRF4 in myeloid cells also inhibited the expansion and functionality of MDSCs by downregulating programmed death ligand 2 (PD-L2) expression and interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α) secretion in mice infected with S. japonicum. Mechanistic studies revealed that IRF4 deficiency inhibited the expansion and function of MDSCs and that this inhibition was mediated by the STAT3 and AKT signaling pathways. Also, IRF4 myeloid knockout promoted the expansion of T cells in S. japonicum-infected mice, but had no significant effect on B cell aggregation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Overall, these findings highlight the importance of IRF4 in regulating MDSCs and their impact on tissue damage during S. japonicum infection, providing valuable insights into potential therapeutic targets for managing the pathological consequences of this parasitic infection.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"492"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11605884/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142751373","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detection of Dirofilaria immitis in golden jackals (Canis aureus L.) but not in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes L.) and European badgers (Meles meles L.) in Croatia.","authors":"Šimun Naletilić, Ema Gagović, Željko Mihaljević, Adam Polkinghorne, Ana Beck, Relja Beck","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06576-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-024-06576-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Dirofilariosis is a parasitic mosquito-borne disease caused by members of the genus Dirofilaria, which includes Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens. Surveillance studies in Europe have revealed that D. immitis can also be detected in a range of wild carnivores, raising questions over the impact of infections on wild carnivore animal health but also whether these populations may act as a reservoir for infection of other species, including domestic dogs and humans.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In the current study, we conducted surveillance for the presence of D. immitis in several wild carnivore species, including golden jackals (Canis aureus; n = 77), red foxes (Vulpes vulpes; n = 326), and European badgers (Meles meles; n = 28), collected during an annual rabies surveillance and control program from across continental and coastal regions of Croatia.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Macroscopic examination of the right chambers of the heart during a post-mortem examination resulted in the detection of filarial parasites in 6.5% (5/77) golden jackal carcasses. Morphological identification, confirmed by molecular screening, classified all parasites as D. immitis. No D. immitis were detected in the red foxes or European badgers examined. All infected golden jackals were adults aged from 2 to 7 years with a parasite load ranging from 2 to 7 nematodes per carcass. One animal was infected with a sexually mature pair, while a second harbored pre-mature parasites; the remaining positive jackals were infected with female parasites only. Notably, histological examination of cardiac and lung tissue revealed proliferative endarteritis in the jackal with the highest parasite burden.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Further studies are required to establish whether golden jackals, as well as other wild carnivore hosts, may serve as competent definitive hosts of D. immitis and act as reservoirs for infection of other species including domestic dogs and humans. Histological changes in the cardiac tissue of at least one positive jackal were suggestive of infection with pathological consequences for the host.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"490"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11600906/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142739752","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transcriptome-wide mapping of internal mRNA N⁷-methylguanosine in sporulated and unsporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella reveals stage-specific signatures.","authors":"Qing-Xin Fan, Zi-Rui Wang, Jin-Long Wang, Yu-Xuan Wang, Ze-Dong Zhang, Lin-Mei Yu, Tao Jia, Xing-Quan Zhu, Qing Liu","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06580-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-024-06580-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Growing evidence indicates that N⁷-methylguanosine (m⁷G) modification plays critical roles in epigenetic regulation. However, no data regarding m⁷G modification are currently available in Eimeria tenella, a highly virulent species causing coccidiosis in chickens.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In the present study, we explore the distribution of internal messenger RNA (mRNA) m⁷G modification in sporulated and unsporulated oocysts of E. tenella as well as its potential biological functions during oocyst development using methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) and mRNA sequencing (mRNA-seq), and the mRNA-seq and MeRIP-seq data were verified by the quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and MeRIP-qPCR, respectively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our data showed that m⁷G peaks were detected throughout the whole mRNA body, and the coding DNA sequence (CDS) region displayed the most methylation modification. Compared with unsporulated oocysts, 7799 hypermethylated peaks and 1945 hypomethylated peaks were identified in sporulated oocysts. Further combined analysis of differentially methylated genes (DMGs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) showed that there was a generally positive correlation between m⁷G modification levels and gene transcript abundance. Unsurprisingly, the mRNA-seq and MeRIP-seq data showed good consistency with the results of the RT-qPCR and MeRIP-qPCR, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs with altered m⁷G-methylated peaks were involved in diverse biological functions and pathways, including DNA replication, RNA transport, spliceosome, autophagy-yeast, and cAMP signaling pathway.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Altogether, our findings revealed the potential significance of internal m⁷G modification in E. tenella oocysts, providing some directions and clues for later in-depth research.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"491"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11603632/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142739723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of chemical snail control on intermediate host snail populations for urogenital schistosomiasis elimination in Pemba, Tanzania: findings of a 3-year intervention study.","authors":"Lydia Trippler, Said Mohammed Ali, Msanif Othman Masoud, Zahor Hamad Mohammed, Amour Khamis Amour, Khamis Rashid Suleiman, Shaali Makame Ame, Fatma Kabole, Jan Hattendorf, Stefanie Knopp","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06565-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-024-06565-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The World Health Organization (WHO) has set the goal of eliminating schistosomiasis as a public health problem globally by 2030 and to interrupt transmission in selected areas. Chemical snail control is one important measure to reduce transmission and achieve local elimination. We aimed to assess the impact of several rounds of chemical snail control on the presence and number of the Schistosoma haematobium intermediate snail host (Bulinus spp.) in water bodies (WBs) on Pemba Island, Tanzania, a setting targeted for elimination of urogenital schistosomiasis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>During the three annual intervention periods of the SchistoBreak study implemented in the north of Pemba from 2020 to 2024, malacological surveys were conducted up to four times per period in WBs of hotspot implementation units (IUs). Present freshwater snail species, vegetation, and WB characteristics were recorded. If Bulinus were found, the snails were inspected for Schistosoma infection and snail control with niclosamide was conducted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Across the three intervention periods, a total of 112 WBs were identified in 8 hotspots IUs. The spatial distribution of WBs with Bulinus per IU was heterogeneous, ranging from 0.0% (0/15) of WBs infested in one IU in 2022 to 80.0% (8/10) of WBs infested in one IU in 2021. Bulinus presence was significantly associated with lower pH values in WBs (odds ratio: 0.2, 95% confidence interval 0.1-0.4). A total of 0.2% (6/2360) of collected Bulinus were shedding Schistosoma cercariae. Following snail control, the number of Bulinus decreased or remained absent in 56.7% (38/67) of visits at WBs when compared with the previous visit in 2021, 54.9% (28/51) in 2022, and 33.3% (32/96) in 2023. In a total of 43.1% (22/55) of initially infested WBs, no Bulinus were found in the survey round conducted a few weeks after the first application of niclosamide. However, 25.4% (14/55) of WBs showed a pattern of recurring Bulinus presence.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The distribution of WBs containing Bulinus was very heterogeneous. The percentage of Bulinus with patent Schistosoma infection in our study area was extremely low. Repeated niclosamide application reduced the number of Bulinus in WBs, but snails often recurred after one or multiple treatments. While chemical mollusciciding can reduce snail numbers, to fully break the S. haematobium transmission cycle, timely diagnosis and treatment of infected humans, access to clean water, sanitation, and health communication remain of prime importance.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>ISRCTN, ISRCTN91431493. Registered 11 February. 2020, https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN91431493.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"489"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11590614/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142731669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rapid and supersensitive allele detection of Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance via a Pyrococcus furiosus argonaute-triggered dual-signal biosensing platform.","authors":"Liying Chen, Wencheng Chen, Huagui Wei, Wenai Lin, Cheng Zhang, Hongfei Hu, Chunfang Wang, Jiangtao Chen, Xueyan Liang, Daiqian Zhu, Junli Wang, Zongyun Lin, Yuxia Wei, Jian Li, Min Lin","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06575-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-024-06575-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Malaria remains a serious public health problem worldwide, particularly in Africa. Resistance to antimalarial drugs is an essential issue for malaria control and elimination. Currently, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) combined with Sanger sequencing is regarded as the gold standard for mutation detection. However, this method fails to meet the requirements of point-of-care testing (POCT) because of its time-consuming, expensive instruments and professional dependence. To support this strategy, we developed a novel diagnostic platform that combines recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) with the Pyrococcus furiosus argonaute (PfAgo) protein and was designed to detect gene mutations related to antimalarial drug resistance. The Pfcrt haplotypes CVMNK and CVIET of chloroquine resistance (CQR) were used as examples and were assessed in this study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>By meticulously designing strategies, RPA primers, guide DNAs, and probes were screened, the reaction was optimized, and the resulting parameters were employed to ascertain the genotype of Pfcrt. The recombinant plasmids pUC57/Pfcrt-CVIET and pUC57/Pfcrt-CVMNK were constructed and diluted for sensitivity detection. The pUC57/Pfcrt-CVIET plasmid mixture was added to the pUC57/Pfcrt-CVMNK plasmid mixture in different additions to configure several specific proportions of mixed plasmid mixtures. The RPA-PfAgo platform was used, and the mixed plasmid was detected simultaneously via nest-PCR (nPCR) and Sanger sequencing. The platform was then evaluated on 85 clinical samples and compared with Sanger sequencing.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The entire process achieves the key mutation Pfcrt-CVMNK/CVIET genotype identification of CQR within 90 min. The platform achieved 1.8 × 10⁴ copies/μL sensitivity and could detect as little as 3% CVIET in mixed plasmids, which is a higher sensitivity than that of Sanger sequencing (5%). Notably, the platform shows 100% concordance with the gold standard method when 85 clinical samples are tested. The sensitivity and specificity were 100% for the 85 clinical samples.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study established an RPA-PfAgo platform for genotyping the key mutation Pfcrt-CVMNK/CVIET of CQR. This method can rapidly produce reliable results and avoid the disadvantages of nPCR with sequencing. This approach has the characteristics of a short operation time, low device dependence, and a good match to the POCT strategy, suggesting that the platform can be easily applied locally or on site.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"488"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11587582/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142710682","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detection of human enteric viral genes in a non-native winter crane fly, Trichocera maculipennis (Diptera) in the sewage treatment facilities at Antarctic stations.","authors":"Sook-Young Lee, Ji Hee Kim, Seunghyun Kang, Kye Chung Park, Sung Mi Cho, Carla Ximena Salinas, Lorena Rebolledo, Hugo A Benítez, Tamara Contador Mejías, Alvaro Soutullo, Eduardo Juri, Sanghee Kim","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06555-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-024-06555-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Antarctic environment is susceptible to the introduction of non-native species due to its unique ecosystem, which has evolved under geographical isolation and extreme climatic conditions over an extended period. The recent introduction of the non-native winter crane fly, Trichocera maculipennis, to maritime Antarctica may pose a potential threat to the Antarctic ecosystem. In this study, we evaluated the possibility of the mechanical transmission of viruses by T. maculipennis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We assessed the potential for the mechanical transmission of viruses using next-generation sequencing (NGS), quantitative PCR (qPCR), and virus isolation methods from T. maculipennis (Tm)-related samples (Tm body-wash fluid and Tm body-ground samples) collected from habitats and sewage treatment facilities located at three research stations in Antarctica.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Virome analysis detected the genomic fragments of human adenovirus (AdV) and human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) in Tm-related samples. These viruses are commonly found in human feces. In addition, plant viruses, such as pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) and cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), both known indicators of enteric viruses, were identified in all Tm-related samples, likely originating from wastewater. However, the low quantities of AdV and HERV genomes detected in Tm-related samples through qPCR, coupled with the non-viability of AdV in virus isolation tests, indicate that T. maculipennis has limited potential for mechanical transmission under the conditions in the studies.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our study represents the first evaluation of the potential risk of non-native species serving as vectors for viral pathogens in Antarctica. Although the viruses detected were in relatively low quantities and non-viable, this study highlights the importance of further evaluating the risks associated with non-native species, particularly as the likelihood of their introduction increases to Antarctica due to climate change and increased human activity.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"485"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11587659/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142710676","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Thelazia leesei Railliet & Henry, 1910 (Spirurida: Thelaziidae) of dromedary camel Camelus dromedarius: further morphological description, molecular characterization, and epidemiology in Iran.","authors":"Javad Khedri, Alireza Sazmand, Soheil Sadr, Mourad Ben Said, Shigehiko Uni, Domenico Otranto, Hassan Borji","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06558-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-024-06558-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In camels, thelaziosis is mainly caused by Thelazia leesei Railliet & Henry, 1910, a little-known eyeworm species. Given the paucity of scientific data, this study aimed to provide new insights into the morphology, molecular characterization, and phylogenetic relationship of T. leesei and its occurrence in camels from Iran, where animals suffer from the high burden of eyeworms.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>From December 2020 to November 2022, slaughtered camels (n = 400) of different sex and age groups were examined in Sistan-va-Baluchestan province in Southeast Iran's local abattoirs. Adult eyeworms were fixed and stored for morphological identification by light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products corresponding to the partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) of eyeworms were Sanger sequenced and analyzed phylogenetically.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 118 (29.5%) camels from all five counties examined were infected with eyeworms, with an abundance of 0.9 and a mean intensity of 3.2 (i.e., up to 18 worms from a single animal). The infection rate was higher in camels older than 4 years of age (P = 0.01901). Lachrymation was associated with infection in animals (P < 0.00001). The morphology of our specimens resembled that of T. leesei, with the exception of the position of the nerve ring and esophagus length. Genetic analysis showed that the cox1 partial sequences of our T. leesei specimens had genetic distances of 8.8% to 13.5% compared with other Thelazia species.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>On the basis of the morphometrics and morphological characteristics, we identified our specimens as T. leesei. In the phylogenetic tree, T. leesei herein isolated formed a monophyletic group together with its congeners, and T. leesei formed a sister clade to T. lacrymalis. In addition, we demonstrated the epidemiology of the infestation of T. leesei in camels in the endemic areas of southeastern Iran. The data presented are crucial for better understanding the pathogenic role of T. leesei and developing effective treatment strategies. In particular, studies on the intermediate host(s) of T. leesei in these regions will support effective control strategies for this parasitosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"486"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11587627/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142710687","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neoliberalism in academia: reflections from a parasitologist.","authors":"Robin B Gasser","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06574-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-024-06574-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article examines the major transformation within the higher education sector, specifically the shift from traditional academia to neoliberal academia, with an emphasis on its impact on academics who entered the field in the 2000s. Many of these individuals may not fully recognise the extensive political and structural changes driven by neoliberalism over the past 2 decades. Published literature shows how the widespread adoption of managerialism in a neoliberal context-particularly in the Anglo-Saxon world-has markedly altered the academic landscape. This shift has led to the marketisation of education, characterised by increased student tuition fees, performance metrics and a change in academic values, including professional autonomy and academic freedom. The present article further explores how these alterations have affected the wellbeing of academics, particularly early- and mid-career scholars, by institutions prioritising economic efficiency over intellectual enquiry, increasing administrative workloads and promoting a consumerist model of education. Drawing on both evidence from the peer-reviewed literature and experiences, the implications of these changes for academic careers, job satisfaction and the broader mission of universities as centres of scholarship and public service are discussed. The article concludes with a call to action for academic leaders and policymakers to recognise and address challenges posed by neoliberalism and managerialism, emphasising the need to support and protect the core values of academia in the face of ongoing changes.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"487"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11587603/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142710678","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}