Parasites & Vectors最新文献

{"title":"Treatment of chickens with fluralaner induced mortality in pyrethroid-resistant Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera, Triatominae).","authors":"Mateo Rocha-Bazán, Alejandra Alvedro, Camila Vázquez-Cañás, Santiago Piñero, Delfina Trezza-Neumayer, Claudia Viviana Vassena, Gustavo Fabián Enriquez, María Sol Gaspe, Marta Victoria Cardinal","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-07009-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-07009-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Residual spraying with pyrethroid insecticides is still the main strategy used to prevent vector-borne transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. The emergence of resistance to these insecticides in triatomine populations associated with vector control failure highlights the need to evaluate alternative tools, such as xenointoxication. Chickens serve as important blood meal sources and are positively associated with triatomine abundance. Therefore, several endectocides have been tested in chickens, with fluralaner exhibiting the best results. However, the effect of treating chickens with fluralaner has not been evaluated in pyrethroid-resistant triatomines. Here, we aimed to assess the efficacy and duration of the lethal effect of fluralaner on pyrethroid-resistant and susceptible Triatoma infestans using chickens as treated hosts under semi-experimental conditions with a treated-control design.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Three chickens received two oral doses of Bravecto^® (fluralaner, MSD Animal Health) at 0.5 mg/kg, whereas three other chickens were assigned to the control group, which received only semolina. Third- to fifth-instar nymphs, both susceptible and resistant to pyrethroid insecticides, were exposed to the chickens at five specific times: 0 (pre-treatment), 3, 7, 14, and 28 days post-treatment (DPT). We recorded the degree of triatomine engorgement and assessed feeding success and survival after each exposure. The data were analyzed via logistic regressions and Kaplan‒Meier curves.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Feeding success rates were high, ranging from 95.5% to 100% throughout the trial, and were not affected by treatment or exposure time. The greatest lethal effects of fluralaner on triatomines exposed to treated chickens were observed up to 14 DPT, with cumulative mortality ranging from 76.9% to 87.0%. At 28 DPT, triatomine mortality decreased significantly to 12.8%, similar to the control group means (< 17.9%) and pre-treatment levels (6.8%). No difference in the lethality of fluralaner was detected between susceptible and pyrethroid-resistant triatomines via logistic regression analysis.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>On the basis of these and previous results, chickens are eligible for a field study that addresses the efficacy of simultaneous xenointoxication of various hosts using fluralaner. This approach provides a promising alternative for addressing the challenge of resistance to pyrethroid insecticides in triatomines.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"384"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12462107/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145137571","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":"Deciphering the phosphorylation-based regulatory strategies of Haemaphysalis longicornis in heat stress.","authors":"Xiao-Li Zhang, Ning-Mei Wang, Bo-Fang Zhang, Abolfazl Masoudi, Jia-Xuan Han, Ye-Fei Zhang, Tong Li, Chang-Ying Ding, Zi-Dan Wang, Jing-Ze Liu, Hui Wang","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-07025-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-07025-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Asian hard tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) is an obligate hematophagous ectoparasite belonging to the family Ixodidae (hard ticks). This species serves as a competent vector for numerous highly pathogenic agents. The number of ticks that survive the summer, particularly under high-temperature conditions, exerts immediate and lasting impacts on tick populations and tick-borne disease prevalence. Therefore, it is crucial to study how high temperatures affect ticks, as well as how ticks adopt effective behavioral strategies and physiological adaptations to cope with heat stress. Phosphorylation, a kind of important protein post-translational modification (PTM), is vital for cellular signal transduction, gene expression, and rapid cell cycle regulation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study systematically analyzed phosphorylation changes in proteins from the salivary gland, midgut, ovary, and Malpighian tubules of ticks exposed to different temperatures (26 °C, 36 °C, and 45 °C) using quantitative proteomics. Differentially expressed phosphoproteins were comprehensively assessed using bioinformatics tools, supplemented with ribonucleic acid (RNA) interference and tick survival assays to validate key protein functions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This study reveals a tissue-specific phosphorylation regulatory pattern. It identifies the involvement of kinase families such as CK1, AGC, and CMGC in the heat stress response. Phosphorylation modifications of spliceosome components and upregulated Hsp90 phosphorylation were found to regulate RNA splicing pathway and heat shock response, respectively. Notably, the Hsp90 co-chaperone CDC37 was critical for maintaining GRK stability and ensuring tick survival under high-temperature conditions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The thermal stress response in H. longicornis involves a coordinated network of protein kinases, alternative splicing events, and heat shock proteins along with their co-chaperones. These findings provide a foundation for further deciphering of the molecular regulatory mechanisms of tick tolerance to high temperatures.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"390"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12461959/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145138245","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":"Genetic variation in olfactory pathways associated with host-seeking behavior in natural populations of Anopheles minimus, a primary malaria vector in western Thailand.","authors":"Kanchon Pusawang, Daibin Zhong, Patchara Sriwichai, Yudthana Samung, Atiporn Saeung, Kittipat Aupalee, Pradya Somboon, Anuluck Junkum, Somsakul Pop Wongpalee, Jassada Saingamsook, Jetsumon Sattabongkot, Liwang Cui, Guiyun Yan","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-07029-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-07029-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Malaria transmission hinges on infected Anopheles mosquitoes biting humans, with carbon dioxide (CO₂), host odor, and body heat acting as key attractants. Along the Thai-Myanmar border, Anopheles minimus (the Funestus Group), a primary malaria vector, exhibits a stronger preference for human hosts than species of the Maculatus Group. Elucidating the genetic basis of this feeding behavior is essential for improving malaria control strategies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Wild Anopheles mosquitoes were collected in Tha Song Yang district, Tak province, Thailand, from July 2019 to November 2020, using cow-baited traps, human landing catches, and Center for Disease Control (CDC) light traps. Specimens were identified morphologically and confirmed by Sanger sequencing of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene. We then performed whole-genome sequencing on An. minimus females categorized by host-seeking behavior: cow-baited collection (COW), human landing indoor (HLI), and human landing outdoor (HLO) to investigate the genetic determinants of host preference.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Anopheles minimus females accounted for 25% of total samples (504/1,997). Cox1 sequencing revealed 143 unique haplotypes among 287 specimens, forming two major phylogenetic lineages, A (181 sequences) and B (106 sequences), suggestive of potential cryptic diversity. Whole-genome sequencing of An. minimus Lineage A from COW, HLI, and HLO groups yielded 12,659,785 variants. After filtering, 68,975 non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) remained. Comparing allele frequencies across the three pooled groups (FDR-adjusted p-value < 0.001) yielded 2,629, 2,948, and 4,369 significant nsSNPs, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of genes harboring these nsSNPs showed strong enrichment for olfaction-related terms. The top six nsSNPs with olfactory annotations from each group comparison were selected for validation; Sanger sequencing confirmed their association with host-seeking preference. The VectorBase gene IDs for these candidate nsSNPs are AMIN001807, AMIN001339, AMIN003886, AMIN000912, AMIN003926, AMIN011060, AMIN002342, and AMIN015480.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The observed significant genomic variance in field-collected An. minimus females, categorized by collection methods (reflecting host-seeking behavior), proposes a genetic underpinning for these behavioral variations. Differential nsSNPs within olfactory pathway genes might be functionally linked to host-seeking in this important malaria vector.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"385"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12462203/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145138292","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":"Age at infection as a key predictor of cyst burden in pigs experimentally infected with Taenia solium.","authors":"Eloy Gonzales-Gustavson, Francesco Pizzitutti, Gabrielle Bonnet, Miguel Muro, Mayra Elizalde, Claudio Muro, Ricardo Gamboa, Gianfranco Arroyo, Sarah Gabriël, William K Pan, Héctor H Garcia, Seth O'Neal","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06844-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06844-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Taenia solium cysticercosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease with significant public health implications, particularly in endemic regions of low- and middle-income countries. In pigs, cyst burden varies widely, with most harboring fewer than 10 cysts and only a small fraction carrying high cyst loads. Age has been identified as a key factor influencing infection susceptibility. However, inconsistencies in previous studies have hindered clear characterization of infection patterns and immunity. In this study, we conducted controlled experiments involving the infection of pigs with T. solium eggs to evaluate the relationship between pig age and susceptibility to infection.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 52 pigs from northern Peru, aged 4 to 22 weeks, were experimentally infected with T. solium eggs to examine age-related differences in cyst burden. Pigs were housed individually under controlled conditions and fed commercial pig diets. Infections were administered using an esophageal catheter, delivering 20,000 T. solium eggs in gelatin capsules. Six age groups were studied using a standardized egg pool to ensure consistency across infection rounds. After 10 weeks, necropsies were performed to count cysts in all muscles, the brain, and other organs. Weekly serological tests monitored seroconversion. Statistical models were used to analyze cyst counts and assess the effects of age and other predictors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The number of live, degenerated, and total cysts was overdispersed, making a negative binomial model the most suitable choice to represent the data and their dependence on age at infection. Younger pigs showed low median live cyst count, similar to older pigs, while median cyst burden increased in pigs infected at intermediate ages, around natural weaning age. The negative binomial regression showed that age and a covariate inversely related to age at infection were significantly associated with cyst count at necropsy. Other covariates such as egg pool viability and sex did not significantly affect model performance. Serological tests confirmed seroconversion in all pigs.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our results show that younger pigs display partial protection against the development of cysticerci compared to those infected at the natural weaning age (around 9 to 12 weeks of age). Additionally, infection susceptibility then decreases with age in a way that is consistent with previous literature.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"375"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12462264/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145138268","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":"Holobiont-holobiont interactions across host-ectoparasite systems.","authors":"Štefánia Skičková, Karolína Svobodová, Myriam Kratou, Alexandra Corduneanu, Ana Laura Cano-Argüelles, Justé Aželytė, Miray Tonk-Rügen, Viktória Majláthová, Dasiel Obregon, Elianne Piloto-Sardiñas, Vaidas Palinauskas, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-07026-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-07026-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Holobionts - hosts together with their resident microorganisms - provide a framework for studying life as a network of interdependent partners. Within host-ectoparasite holobionts, the dialogue between the two microbiomes offers powerful clues to ecological balance, disease dynamics and evolution. Because each holobiont is structurally and functionally compartmentalised, microbes exchanged at the interface can elicit highly local, niche-specific effects that ripple through the system. This review synthesises evidence for microbiota-to-microbiota interactions in four models: Varroa mite-honeybee, tick-vertebrate, bat fly-bat and mosquito-vertebrate pairs. In all cases, microbes move passively during feeding or contact, then colonise, replicate and modulate physiology and immunity, exerting a longer-lasting influence than transient biochemical cues. We further introduce the idea of indirect modulation, whereby abiotic or biotic factors act on a recipient holobiont through the intermediary of transferred microbes, underscoring the adaptive plasticity of holobiont networks. Bidirectional cross-talk forms self-reinforcing feedback loops that can redefine a microbe as pathogen, symbiont or immunomodulator, and tune its virulence according to context. These mechanisms shape disease transmission, resistance traits and the overall health of both partners. A deeper grasp of such cross-holobiont dynamics will pave the way for microbiota-based vaccines, targeted microbiome engineering and other innovative tools for human, veterinary and environmental health.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"373"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12462341/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145138305","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 toolbox for mosquito vector research.","authors":"Sebastian Duran-Ahumada, Vivian Petersen, Michael Futo, Mathieu Zamy, Timothy Pereira, Bianca C Burini","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-07008-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-07008-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The work of collecting mosquitoes in the field is essential for improving knowledge about species of known and unknown vector status, their invasion dynamics, and further understanding their involvement in circulating pathogens of medical and veterinary importance. Over the years, different techniques have been developed to capture mosquitoes for entomological, pathogen transmission, and surveillance studies. For entomological and transmission dynamic research to be reliable, it is essential for mosquito specimens to be correctly identified so that their role in pathogen transmission can be appropriately assessed. Currently, modern molecular techniques support traditional morphological taxonomic identification and provide faster and more assertive identification. It is also important to test the susceptibility of potentially relevant mosquitoes or mosquitoes with unknown vector status in the laboratory to identify which species could participate in pathogen transmission. This last step toward fully performing vector incrimination of mosquito species and understanding their interactions with relevant pathogens requires proper handling of live specimens and laboratory colonization under artificial conditions to perform artificial infection studies. In this work, we aim to underscore the significance of the available tools for entomological studies and pathogen transmission research while also offering insights into the principles behind recent technological advancements that enhance the effectiveness and reliability of these studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"389"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12462310/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145138427","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":"Comprehensive developmental somatic proteome atlas of Haemonchus contortus underpinned by a chromosome-scale genome and deep tandem mass spectrometry.","authors":"Tao Wang, Yuanting Zheng, Neil D Young, Ching-Seng Ang, Robin B Gasser","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-07050-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-07050-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Haemonchus contortus is a highly pathogenic, blood-feeding nematode that causes widespread disease and significant economic loss in livestock worldwide. Previous proteomic studies were constrained by incomplete genomic resources and limited analytical sensitivity, impeding comprehensive profiling across life stages.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, we integrated advanced tandem mass spectrometry with a chromosome-scale genome assembly of the Haecon-5 strain to construct the most detailed somatic proteome of H. contortus to date.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified and quantified 7002 proteins across five key developmental stages/sexes-i.e. eggs, third-stage larvae (L3s), fourth-stage larvae (L4s), and adult female (Af) and adult male (Am) worms-tripling the number identified in an earlier study. Comparative analyses revealed pronounced stage-specific expression and functional specialisation, with parasitic stages enriched in proteins linked to metabolism, cellular function and environmental sensing. Fifteen proteins associated with the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) signalling pathway were upregulated in parasitic stages, suggesting a role in adaptation to hypoxia. Additionally, 150 proteases implicated in haemoglobin degradation were characterised, and functional assays confirmed markedly elevated haemoglobinolytic activity in blood-feeding stages.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings offer key insights into H. contortus development and parasitism, and establish a high-resolution proteomic framework to underpin fundamental biological studies and to enable the discovery of molecular targets for novel interventions against this and related nematodes.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"379"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12462265/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145138283","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":"Evaluating the transstadial effects of Bacillus velezensis and pyriproxyfen, alone and in combination, on fitness-related traits of Culex quinquefasciatus.","authors":"Abdullah A Alomar, Barry W Alto","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-07039-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-07039-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Lethal and sublethal effects of exposure to chemical and microbial agents can alter many mosquito life history traits and provide opportunities for integrated mosquito control strategies to reduce the risk of disease transmission. The insect growth regulator pyriproxyfen (PPF) disrupts metamorphosis by mimicking juvenile hormone, which primarily targets mosquitoes during the pupal-adult transformation. Biological agents like Bacillus velezensis (Bv) show larvicidal activity against mosquitoes, which can work in concert with the mode of action of PPF to enhance overall mosquito population suppression.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study investigated how PPF and Bv alone or in combination impact Culex quinquefasciatus performance and population recruitment by assessing both lethal (adult emergence as a proxy for overall immature mortality) and sublethal effects on fitness-related traits (lifespan and reproductive outputs). Experimental bioassays were conducted under laboratory standard conditions to determine mortality, development duration, lifespan, size, and fecundity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Both agents independently reduced adult mosquito emergence, with the combination treatment producing the greatest overall reduction. When applied together, PPF and Bv significantly shortened adult female lifespan and reduced fecundity and hatching success of the offspring compared to individual treatments and the control. The combined treatment produced the most pronounced reductions across these life-history traits, indicating an additive effect.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings highlight the potential of integrating PPF with a natural bacterial biocontrol agent through strong lethal and sublethal effects across multiple life stages of Cx. quinquefasciatus, including reduced adult lifespan and reproduction. Such an integrated approach can enhance the effectiveness of vector control while providing a sustainable and promising strategy to lower the risk of mosquito-borne disease transmission.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"381"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12462018/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145138219","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 larval diet on fitness outcomes of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infected with wAlbB and wMelM.","authors":"Mohd Farihan Md Yatim, Perran A Ross, Xinyue Gu, Ary Anthony Hoffmann","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06978-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06978-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Releases of Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti are being used to effectively control diseases caused by arboviruses, such as dengue. A well-balanced larval diet is essential for producing Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes with optimal fitness for release.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, four diets with varying protein-to-carbohydrate ratios were tested with three Ae. aegypti lines (carrying the wAlbB, wMelM Wolbachia infections or uninfected) to identify optimal diets for larval rearing on the basis of diet allocations ranging from 0.4 to 3.2 mg/larva/day. The diets were selected on the basis of a review of existing literature and are characterized by progressively increasing protein and decreasing carbohydrate content: diet 1 (Pd) was based on plant-based protein (low protein and high carbohydrate), diet 2 (Kd) was based on animal-based protein (moderate protein and high carbohydrate), diet 3 (Fd) involved Hikari fish food (high protein and moderate carbohydrate), and diet 4 (IAEA) followed a widely used very-high-protein and low-carbohydrate diet developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The optimal concentration for each diet was determined using a fitness index that incorporated pupation success, fecundity, hatch proportion and development time.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The optimal dietary allocations for diets 1-4 were 1.6, 1.2, 1.2 and 0.8 mg/larva/day, respectively, regardless of Wolbachia status. There was a consistent significant positive relationship between female wing length and fecundity in wAlbB (r² = 0.881), wMelM (r² = 0.329), and uninfected (r² = 0.886) mosquitoes. Diet 3 (Fd) at optimal food allocation reduced a fitness cost commonly associated with the wAlbB line compared with the uninfected line when provided at the optimal concentration. The wMelM line showed a persistently low fecundity regardless of diet and concentration.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings highlight the importance of an appropriate larval diet and dietary allocations in optimizing mosquito fitness for Wolbachia-based vector control programs. Further research into dietary composition, gut microbial interactions and Wolbachia associations could refine larval nutrition strategies, enhancing the effectiveness of mass-rearing for release programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"386"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12461977/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145138377","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":"Hepatozoon infections in domestic and wild Carnivora: etiology, prevalence, clinical disease, diagnosis and treatment, and redescription of Hepatozoon silvestris, H. martis, and H. ursi.","authors":"Jitender P Dubey, Amer Alić, Adnan Hodžić, Jocelyn Lopez-Flores, Gad Baneth","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06977-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06977-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hepatozoon spp. are common pathogens in dogs and other Carnivora in many parts of the world, especially in the tropics. There is considerable taxonomic debate concerning the Hepatozoon species infecting Carnivora. Morphological descriptions of several Hepatozoon species are inadequate and their validity is questionable. Additionally, different terminology has been used for the description of life cycle stages. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the Hepatozoon species in the Carnivora, using a uniform terminology. Worldwide prevalence of clinical and subclinical Hepatozoon infections for the past century is tabulated and critically evaluated. We also review the epizootiology, clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment of hepatozoonosis in the Carnivora. The morphology and life cycles of seven valid species with known merogonic stages (Hepatozoon americanum, H. canis, H. felis, H. martis, H. rufi, H. silvestris, H. ursi) are summarized in a table using standard terminology. Additional information on H. apri, H. martis, and H. silvestris life cycle stages is provided. Information lacking for H. procyonis, H. luiperdjie and H. ingwe is discussed. The relevance of H. mustelis, H. banethi and H. ewingi is discussed and they are considered as invalid species. For the benefit of future researchers, worldwide reports of prevalence, clinical disease, diagnosis, and treatment of Hepatozoon infections in domestic and wild Carnivora for the past century are summarized in tables alphabetically and chronologically for each country. Co-infections of H. canis, H. americanum, H. felis, and H. silvestris are summarized and discussed. The role of Hepatozoon infections causing clinical illness in wild Carnivora is discussed, particularly for red foxes, coyotes, and mustelids.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"391"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12462345/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145138317","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}