Parasites & Vectors最新文献

{"title":"Spatial inference of Culex pipiens abundance and biting activity distribution in the Netherlands using citizen science.","authors":"Ayat Abourashed, Catuxa Cerecedo-Iglesias, Martha Dellar, John R B Palmer, Frederic Bartumeus","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06774-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06774-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The expanding geographical spread of mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) has intensified the need for effective mosquito surveillance. Additional surveillance, particularly of species such as Culex pipiens, is essential as this species is a key vector of West Nile and Usutu viruses. Citizen science offers an innovative approach to monitoring Cx. pipiens populations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Our study utilized data from the Mosquito Alert mobile app to model the spatial distribution and abundance of Cx. pipiens and mosquito bites during the summer of 2021 in the Netherlands. Using generalized linear mixed models, climatic and non-climatic factors were analyzed to create two distribution models of adult Cx. pipiens and mosquito bites as outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Population density, income, and agricultural areas (P ≤ 0.007) were identified as key determinants for both models. Blackbird population density, precipitation, and the interaction between artificial surfaces and temperature were also covariates for the Culex model, whereas sand and tree coverage were determinants for the bite model. The study controlled for biases in sampling effort to ensure robust predictions, revealing higher Cx. pipiens abundance in the central eastern areas of the country and widespread mosquito biting activity across the Netherlands.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings underscore the importance of sociodemographic and environmental factors in mosquito distribution and biting dynamics, with citizen science emerging as a valuable tool for enhancing traditional surveillance. Future research integrating longer temporal datasets and human behavioral factors will further improve predictive accuracy and support more effective MBD prevention efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"162"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12042346/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143973057","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":"Insights into the biology of the rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis.","authors":"Chasen D Griffin, Vanessa O Ezenwa, Robert H Cowie","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06790-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06790-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a parasitic nematode with a complex life cycle involving rats as definitive hosts and gastropods as intermediate hosts. The parasite can infect other organisms, including humans, in which it causes neuroangiostrongyliasis, a globally emerging but neglected disease. This primer reviews the biology of A. cantonensis including its life cycle and development in its natural, accidental, and paratenic hosts, as well as its expanding geographic distribution. It then considers recent advances in A. cantonensis research followed by exploring areas that are ripe for further investigation into this fascinating parasite.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"163"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12042383/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144030813","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":"Efficacy of Simparica Trio® against induced infections of Ancylostoma braziliense and Ancylostoma ceylanicum in dogs.","authors":"Raj Packianathan, Andrew Hodge, Natalie Bruellke, Michael Pearce, Frans Selepe, Piyanan Taweethavonsawat, Thomas Geurden","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06758-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06758-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hookworm infections such as Ancylostoma braziliense and A. ceylanicum pose a significant threat to pets and are implicated in causing zoonotic diseases. Despite the availability of preventatives, compliance can be lacking. Increasing pet owner options and combining endo- and ectoparasite treatments might improve this compliance. In four separate studies, we investigated the efficacy of Simparica Trio® (Zoetis Inc., Parsippany, NJ, USA) containing minimum dosages of 1.2 mg/kg sarolaner, 24 µg/kg moxidectin and 5 mg/kg pyrantel against fourth- and fifth-stage larvae (L₄ and L₅, respectively) and adults of A. braziliense and adults of A. ceylanicum in dogs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Four negatively controlled, randomised and blinded laboratory studies were conducted against induced infections of A. braziliense and A. ceylanicum, with the interval between infection and treatment selected to evaluate efficacy against each targeted stage. Each treated dog received a single oral dose of Simparica Trio® at the recommended label dose. Necropsy was conducted for worm recovery on day 7 or 8 post-treatment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>No treatment-related adverse events were recorded in any of the studies. No worms were recovered from any of the Simparica Trio®-treated dogs in all four studies, thus resulting in 100% efficacy (P ≤ 0.0005) of Simparica Trio® against all stages of A. braziliense and the adult stage of A. ceylanicum in dogs.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Simparica Trio® containing sarolaner, moxidectin and pyrantel was highly effective against induced infections of L₄, L₅ and adult stages of A. braziliense and the adult stage of A. ceylanicum in dogs.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"159"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12036228/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143992343","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":"Feline vector-borne pathogens in Iran.","authors":"Alireza Sazmand, Mariaelisa Carbonara, Leili Moradi, Pardis Almasi, Shiva Saruei, Mozhdeh Moradi-Jam, Anahita Akhondi, Parmida Malekzadeh, Soheila Ghaharzade-Mahabadi, Amin Bakhshani, Omid Chashnigir, Baharak Akhtardanesh, Hamidreza Moosavian, Mohammad Ramezani, Darioush Shirani, Livia Perles, Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-Roldan, Zainab Sadeghi-Dehkordi, Reza Nabavi, Fateme Jalousian, Domenico Otranto","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06788-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06788-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Feline vector-borne pathogens (FeVBPs) are common in tropical and subtropical countries, mainly due to favorable climate conditions for arthropod perpetuation coupled with limited preventive measures. However, data regarding the actual burden of these infections among cats are still scarce compared with dogs. The present study aimed to provide an overview of the prevalence of FeVBPs infections in Iran.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>From December 2018 to February 2023, a total of 848 cats of both sexes, different ages, and with outdoor lifestyle living in 7 provinces of Iran were blood sampled and molecularly screened for Hepatozoon spp., Babesia spp., Cytauxzoon spp., Dirofilaria spp., and Leishmania spp.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 5.4% of cats scored positive for at least one VBP, with Hepatozoon spp. being the most common (3.8%), followed by Leishmania spp. (2.5%) and Dirofilaria immitis (0.7%). The Hepatozoon-positive cats lived in localities from the eastern, western, and central-northern regions; most of them (n = 25) were infected by Hepatozoon felis, and the remaining (n = 3) by Hepatozoon canis. Leishmania spp.-infected cats were detected from the east, center, and west of the country, while D. immitis-positive animals lived in central-north areas.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>To our knowledge, this is the first large-scale molecular epidemiology study of vector-borne pathogens in cats in Iran. The circulation of several VBPs, including those with zoonotic potential (i.e., D. immitis and Leishmania spp.) highlights the importance of endo- and ectoparasite control measures in owned cats and suggests that controlling the population of feral animals (e.g., through spaying and neutering campaigns) would contribute to reducing the risk of transmission of VBPs.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"160"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12039143/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144037298","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":"Acaricidal efficacy of fluralaner against Rhipicephalus microplus ticks under laboratory and field conditions in Brazil.","authors":"Daniel de Castro Rodrigues, Gabriel Webert Gomes, Francisca Leticia Vale, Ana Lúcia Coutinho Teixeira, Isabela Santos Silva, Haile Dean Figueiredo Chagas, Tom Strydom, Siddartha Torres, Rafael Paranhos de Mendonça, Fernando de Almeida Borges, Lívio Costa Junior, Lorena Lopes Ferreira, Welber Daniel Zanetti Lopes, Caio Monteiro","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06775-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06775-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The first isoxazoline-based acaricide (fluralaner) for the control of Rhipicephalus microplus was introduced onto the market in 2022, initially in Brazil, followed by other Latin American countries. Therefore, it is important to establish laboratory methods to monitor the susceptibility of populations of R. microplus to this molecule and to determine the relationship between the results of laboratory tests and those from field trials.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A larval immersion test (LIT) was performed on 18 populations of R. microplus. The lethal concentration 50 (concentration causing 50% mortality [LC50]) values were calculated to determine the resistance ratios (RRs) of the populations. The lethal concentration 99 (concentration causing 99% mortality [LC99]) values were calculated to determine the discriminating doses (DDs = 2 × LC99). The DDs were applied in tests with the POA (susceptible) and GYN (resistant) strains, as well as in tests with the population that presented the lowest LC50 value (population 14) and with the two populations that presented the highest LC50 value (populations 10 and 16). Finally, we performed field trials with the population that presented the lowest and two highest LC50 values.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the LIT with fluralaner, the LC50 values ranged from 0.144 to 0.481 µg/mL for the 18 R. microplus populations. The mortality rate was 100% in the tests of the DDs in the five populations tested. In the field trials, the efficacy of fluralaner was similar for the three populations of R. microplus tested (populations 14, 10 and 16), with therapeutic efficacy (until day 21) of 100% and persistent efficacy (between days 28 and 42) > 95%.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We observed natural variability in the susceptibility of larvae from the different populations of R. microplus that had never been treated with this compound. Despite the observed variability in the in vitro results (LC50), a comparable efficacy of > 90% lasting until day 42 was observed in the field trials. Also, based on the results of the laboratory testing (LC50 and DD) and field trials, we can conclude that there was no resistance to fluralaner in the 18 studied tick populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"161"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12039197/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144049544","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":"Interaction of predatory macroinvertebrate communities with malaria vectors in aquatic habitats of three climatic zones in Burkina Faso.","authors":"Judicael Ouedraogo, Simon P Sawadogo, Abdoulaye Niang, Abdoulaye Soulama, Sylvie Yerbanga, Tarwendpanga F X Ouédraogo, Bouraïma Vincent Séré, Charles Guissou, Roch K Dabiré, Ruth Müller, Olivier Gnankine, Abdoulaye Diabaté","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06794-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06794-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In aquatic larval habitats, Anopheles larvae are subject to the predatory activity and competition of macroinvertebrates. These macroinvertebrates may play a key role in the Anopheles population's bioregulation in aquatic habitats and malaria control. There are few studies characterizing macroinvertebrate predators and other macroinvertebrates coexisting with Anopheles larvae in Burkina Faso. This study aimed at characterizing and evaluating the different interactions between anopheline mosquito larvae, predatory macroinvertebrates, and other co-habitants in aquatic habitats in the three climatic zones of Burkina Faso.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A larval survey was performed in the three climatic zones of Burkina Faso (Sahelian, Soudano-Sahelian, and Soudanian zones) from September to November 2022. Mosquito larvae and other macroinvertebrates were sampled using standard dippers or bucket, preserved in Falcon tubes containing 80% ethanol, and transported to the laboratory for morphological identification. Alpha diversity analysis was used to measure macroinvertebrate diversity according to climatic zones and correlation matrix analysis was performed to determine the different interactions between Anopheles and other macroinvertebrates in breeding sites.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the studied larval habitats, Anopheles were found with several aquatic macroinvertebrate predators and other cohabiting macroinvertebrates. The abundance and alpha diversity indices of macroinvertebrate predators and other coexisting macroinvertebrates varied significantly according to climatic zone (P = 0.01). Correlation analyses showed that in the Sahelian zone, Anopheles spp., Corixidae, and Notonectidae shared the same aquatic habitats. In the Soudano-Sahelian zone, Anopheles spp. occupied the same larval habitats with Belostomatidae, Notonectidae, and Achatinidae, and in the Soudanian zone, their presence in larval habitats was correlated with that of Beatidae.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study showed a significant trophic association between Anopheles and predatory and other coexisting macroinvertebrates in larval habitats in Burkina Faso. Our study provides insights and thereby opens new avenues in terms of development of biological control against larvae of Anopheles populations in Burkina Faso.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"158"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12034178/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144037519","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":"Decoding the impact of environmental shifts on snail density dynamics in the Yangtze River basin: a 26-year study.","authors":"Yanfeng Gong, Shiqing Zhang, Dandan Lin, Yu Cai, Shangbiao Lv, Mao Zheng, Benjiao Hu, Xiaolan Lei, Ning Xu, Jiamin Wang, Junhui Huang, Yu Zhou, Liyun Zhu, Yue Chen, Qingwu Jiang, Shizhu Li, Yibiao Zhou","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06782-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06782-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>With the intensification of climate change and human engineering activities, environmental changes have affected schistosome-transmitting snails. This study explored the influence of environmental changes on the evolution of snail populations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data from annual snail surveys and related factors such as hydrology, temperature, vegetation, etc., on nine bottomlands from 1997 to 2022 were collected retrospectively from multiple sources. Interpretable machine learning and the Bayesian spatial-temporal model assessed the relationship between environmental change and snail density.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Between 1997 and 2003, mean snail density was in a high-level fluctuation stage. From 2003 to 2012, it declined significantly from 0.773/0.1 m² to 0.093/0.1 m². However, it increased by 27.6% between 2013 (0.098/0.1 m²) and 2022 (0.125/0.1 m²). Since operation of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) began in 2003, the duration of bottomland flooding decreased from 122 days (1997-2003) to 57 days (2003-2012) and then rebounded in 2012-2022, which was noticeable in the Anhui Section. The ground surface temperature and night light index of the bottomlands increased from 1997 to 2022. After adjusting for confounding factors (e.g. rainfall, temperature, and vegetation), the relative risk (RR) of increased snail density rose with flooding duration of between 20 and 100 days but decreased with flooding duration of > 100 days. Snail density showed an \"L\"-shaped relationship with the night light index, and the RR of increased snail density was lower at a higher night light index. Compared with bottomlands in the first quartile cluster of ground surface temperature, bottomlands in the second, third, and fourth quartile clusters of ground surface temperature had higher snail density RR values of 1.271 (95% CI 1.082-1.493), 1.302 (95% CI 1.146-1.480), and 1.278 (1.048, 1.559), respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The TGD lowered the water level and flooding duration, which were not conducive to snail population growth. However, over time, the inhibitory effect of the TGD on snails may have been weakening, especially in areas far from the TGD. In recent years, the rebound of snail density may have been related to the rise in water levels and the change in the microenvironment. Establishing an efficient monitoring and response system is crucial for precisely controlling snails.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"156"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12032699/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143999634","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":"Global, regional, and national burden of Visceral leishmaniasis, 1990-2021: findings from the global burden of disease study 2021.","authors":"Shun-Xian Zhang, Guo-Bing Yang, Jian-Yong Sun, Yong-Jun Li, Jian Yang, Ji-Chun Wang, Yao Deng","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06796-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06796-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by protozoa of the Leishmania genus; it is transmitted through the bites of infected phlebotomine sandflies. Clinically, it manifests in three primary forms: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Among these, VL represents the most severe form, characterized by high morbidity and mortality, and poses a considerable public health burden, particularly in endemic regions. This study utilizes data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2021 to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the global epidemiological trends and burden of VL from 1990 to 2021, aiming to generate evidence-based insights to inform prevention and control strategies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using GBD 2021 data, this study examined trends in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of VL across 204 countries and territories, stratified by age, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI) levels. Average annual percent change (AAPC) was calculated to describe trends in age-standardized rates and indicator counts from 1990 to 2021.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From 1990 to 2021, the global age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR; AAPC = -0.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.25, -0.24), age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR; AAPC = -0.06, 95% CI -0.06, -0.05), age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR; AAPC = -0.03, 95% CI -0.04, -0.02), and DALY rate (AAPC = -2.38, 95% CI -2.44, -2.33) for VL all showed a declining trend. The ASMR was highest among children under 5 years old and decreased progressively with age. VL remains a critical and under-recognized tropical disease in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>VL disproportionately affects males and presents the highest risk in children under 5 years. Enhanced global collaboration in infectious disease control, with a focus on regions such as Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, is essential to further reduce the burden of VL.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"157"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12032768/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143974792","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":"Assessing Wolbachia circulation in wild populations of phlebotomine sand flies from Spain and Morocco: implications for control of leishmaniasis.","authors":"Andrés Torres-Llamas, Victoriano Díaz-Sáez, Manuel Morales-Yuste, Patricia Ibáñez-De Haro, Arturo Enrique López-López, Victoriano Corpas-López, Francisco Morillas-Márquez, Joaquina Martín-Sánchez","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06771-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06771-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Vector-borne diseases such as leishmaniasis exert a huge burden of morbidity and mortality that are mainly controlled through vector control. The increasing threat of insecticide-resistant vectors entails incorporating more vector control interventions to eliminate these diseases. Introduction of Wolbachia into wild vector populations has been suggested as a potential vector control measure that would require extensive regional knowledge. The aim of this work is to estimate the prevalence of Wolbachia infection and monitor circulating strains in wild sand fly populations from Spain and Morocco, two countries where leishmaniasis is endemic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Wolbachia was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Haplotype diversity was performed by sequencing, and phylogenetic relationships were then established. In silico prediction of the Wolbachia surface protein (WSP) structures was performed. To investigate the relationship between epidemiological variables and the presence of Wolbachia, regression analyses were employed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Wolbachia was detected in 45.8% of the specimens tested (319/697), and similar infection rates were found (P = 0.92) in males (46.1%; 94/204) and females (45.6%; 225/493). Differences in infection were detected among Spanish sand fly species (P < 0.001), being higher for Phlebotomus papatasi (35/52) and Phlebotomus perniciosus (239/384). No infected Phlebotomus sergenti specimens were found in Spain, whereas two different Wolbachia haplotypes were detected in P. sergenti sand flies from Morocco. No significant differences were found between sex, species, or capture sites in specimens captured in Morocco (P > 0.05). Five Wolbachia haplotypes distributed in the known A and B supergroups were identified. Structural analysis showed a nine-amino acid insertion in the fourth loop of a Wolbachia haplotype found in P. sergenti specimens from El Borouj (Morocco).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>We confirmed the circulation of different Wolbachia strains in all sand fly species investigated. All L. infantum proven or suspected vectors shared the same, or a closely related, Wolbachia haplotype. The haplotype bearing the loop insertion was found in the locality undergoing an anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis outbreak. These extracellular loops might have some role in enhancing or inhibiting the development of Leishmania and other pathogens in sand flies. These findings are very promising and highlight the need to further investigate the tripartite interactions between Wolbachia strain, Leishmania species, and sand fly species/lineage.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"155"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12032678/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144041155","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":"Assessing current and future areas of ecological suitability for Lutzomyia shannoni in North America.","authors":"Sydney DeWinter, Grace K Nichol, Christopher Fernandez-Prada, Amy L Greer, J Scott Weese, Katie M Clow","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06781-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06781-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In the Americas, sand flies of the Lutzomyia genus are the vectors of pathogens of human and animal health significance. Lutzomyia shannoni is suspected to transmit vesicular stomatitis virus, along with Leishmania mexicana and Leishmania infantum (causative agents of leishmaniases). Despite the suspected vector potential of Lu. shannoni, significant knowledge gaps remain, including how ongoing climate changes could facilitate their range expansion. The objectives of this study were to predict the current and future ecological suitability of regions across North America for Lu. shannoni and to identify variables driving ecological suitability.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Occurrence records were obtained from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Disease Vectors Database, the National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution) and published literature on Lu. shannoni surveillance and capture. Historical climate data from 1991-2020, along with projection data for Shared Socioeconomic Pathways 2-4.5 and 3-7.0 were obtained. An additional terrestrial ecoregions layer was applied. The ecological niche model was created using maximum entropy (MaxEnt) algorithms to identify regions which currently are or may become ecologically suitable for Lu. shannoni.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Currently, regions in eastern, western and southern Mexico, along with the Midwest, southeastern and eastern regions of the USA are ecologically suitable for Lu. shannoni. In the future, ecological suitability for Lu. shannoni is expected to increase slightly in the northeastern regions of the USA and in Atlantic Canada, and to decrease in the southeastern reaches of Mexico. Degree-days below 0 °C (spring and autumn), precipitation as snow (summer and winter), terrestrial ecoregions, number of frost-free days (summer), Hargreaves climatic moisture deficit (summer), degree-days above 5 °C (autumn) and Hogg's climatic moisture index (summer) were all identified as predictors of ecological suitability.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings from this study identified climate and environmental variables driving the ecological suitability of regions for Lu. shannoni and can be used to inform public health professionals of high-risk regions for exposure at present and into the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"154"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12032769/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144015964","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}