Parasites & Vectors最新文献

{"title":"A novel calreticulin of Psoroptes ovis regulated keratinocyte function resulting in host skin barrier dysfunction: implications for involvement in the pathogenesis of psoroptic mange.","authors":"Yane Li, Guiying Hao, Je Fan, Fangyan Wu, Xiangyue Yao, Youping Liang, Jing Xu, Ran He, Hui Wang, Yue Xie, Xiaobin Gu","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06800-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06800-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Psoroptes ovis, the causative agent of psoroptic mange, affects a wide range of domestic and wild animals, causing substantial economic losses and threatening wildlife survival. However, the underlying pathogenesis of this ectoparasitic disease remains poorly understood.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, we comprehensively characterized the sequence conservation and excretory-secretory properties of P. ovis calreticulin (PsoCRT) using sequence alignment, immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence assays. To investigate the functional impact of recombinant PsoCRT (rPsoCRT), we conducted in vitro studies assessing its effects on keratinocyte proliferation, migration, differentiation, and the expression of immune regulatory factors. In addition, we employed rabbit ear intradermal injections of rPsoCRT to histologically observe tissue changes and confirm alterations in the expression profiles of immune regulatory factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>PsoCRT was expressed across all developmental stages of P. ovis, with peak expression observed in adult males. Notably, PsoCRT was excreted and secreted into the host epidermis, primarily localizing within the stratum granulosum and spinosum. Intriguingly, sera from rabbits infested with P. ovis did not recognize PsoCRT. In vitro studies revealed that rPsoCRT significantly inhibited keratinocyte proliferation and migration, promoted differentiation, and upregulated the expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-36, C-C motif chemokine ligand 27 (CCL27), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in vitro, without altering the levels of interferon (IFN)-γ or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. In vivo, rabbit ear intradermal injections of rPsoCRT induced epidermal cell differentiation, immune cell infiltration, and an upregulation of IL-6, CCL27, and VEGF expression.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>PsoCRT disrupted the physical and immune barriers of keratinocytes, leading to skin dysfunction and facilitating a microenvironment conducive to P. ovis parasitization, thereby highlighting its important role in the pathogenesis of psoroptic mange.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"198"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12125919/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144187540","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":"Evaluation of molecular and serological testing for imported urogenital schistosomiasis screening in a referral tropical medicine centre in Barcelona, Spain.","authors":"Patricia Martínez-Vallejo, Alejandro Mediavilla, Aroa Silgado, Francesc Zarzuela, Lidia Goterris, Carles Rubio Maturana, Nuria Serre-Delcor, Inés Oliveira-Souto, Fernando Salvador, Joan Joseph-Munne, María Luisa Aznar, Diana Pou, Begoña Treviño, Israel Molina, Javier Sotillo, Elena Sulleiro","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06832-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06832-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Schistosomiasis, a major neglected tropical disease, is caused by Schistosoma spp. It is estimated that more than 200 million people are affected worldwide, mostly in Africa. The gold standard diagnosis of urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS) is the microscopic visualisation of Schistosoma haematobium eggs in concentrated urine; however, its sensitivity is low. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of molecular and serological testing for imported UGS screening in asymptomatic sub-Saharan migrants in a non-endemic setting.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective cross-sectional study between November 2021 and December 2022 was conducted by collecting demographic, clinical and laboratory data from the medical records of migrants from endemic areas screened for UGS at the International Health Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, Barcelona, Spain. Urine samples were analysed by real-time PCR for S. haematobium DNA and by microscopy for egg detection. Serum samples were tested using a serological assay based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). UGS was confirmed by a positive result in real-time PCR and/or microscopy, while possible UGS was defined as a case with only a positive serological result.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 604 patients were included in this study; 32 out of 604 (5.3%) urine samples were positive for S. haematobium by real-time PCR and/or microscopy examination (confirmed UGS cases). Schistosoma haematobium DNA was detected in 28/604 (4.6%) urine samples, while eggs were visualised in 24/604 (3.9%), with 12 discordant cases between both techniques. Real-time PCR demonstrated a sensitivity of 83.3%, a specificity of 98.6%, and a kappa value of 0.76. Serology was performed in 529/604 cases and exhibited lower specificity, 70.87% (kappa value 0.26). Other laboratory parameters such as leukocyturia, microhaematuria, eosinophilia and elevated IgE were significantly associated with UGS diagnosis.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Real-time PCR proved to be more sensitive than microscopy for diagnosing imported UGS in non-endemic settings, with minimal discordance between methods. The serological test exhibited very low specificity and high sensitivity rates, suggesting its usefulness as a screening test among high-risk populations in non-endemic settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"196"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12123717/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144187541","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":"Molecular detection and identification of Trichobilharzia: development of a LAMP, qPCR, and multiplex PCR toolkit.","authors":"Jan Procházka, Zikmund Bartoníček, Roman Leontovyč, Petr Horák, Tomáš Macháček","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06822-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06822-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cercarial dermatitis (CD), or swimmer's itch, is a water-borne allergic skin reaction caused by the penetration of the larval stages of bird schistosomes (cercariae) into the skin. Members of the genus Trichobilharzia are the primary causative agents of CD worldwide. Due to the increasing number of cases, CD is regarded as a (re)emerging disease. Outbreaks in recreational waters can significantly impact public health and local economies. Environmental monitoring of Trichobilharzia is crucial for outbreak prediction and public health management. However, conventional methods, such as cercarial shedding and snail dissections, are labour-intensive and lack sensitivity. To overcome these limitations, we present a molecular toolkit that combines loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and multiplex PCR for rapid, sensitive, and accurate detection and identification of Trichobilharzia spp. from various biological samples.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Tricho-LAMP and Tricho-qPCR were designed and optimised for Trichobilharzia DNA detection. A multiplex PCR assay was also developed and optimised to identify the three main species causing CD in Europe (Trichobilharzia franki, T. szidati, and T. regenti).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Tricho-LAMP specifically detected T. regenti and T. franki at 10^-3 ng, and T. szidati at 10^-2 ng per reaction with genomic DNA. Using gBlocks synthetic DNA, Tricho-LAMP achieved 100% amplification at 10,000 copies and 85% amplification at 1000 copies, with decreasing success at lower concentrations. Tricho-qPCR showed the highest sensitivity, detecting all species down to 10^-4 ng per reaction and showing a limit of detection at 10 copies of synthetic DNA in the reaction. Multiplex PCR allowed reliable species differentiation via gel electrophoresis of the PCR products, but the assay had the lowest sensitivity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>We provide a molecular toolkit consisting of LAMP, qPCR, and multiplex PCR. By exhibiting high sensitivity, Tricho-LAMP and Tricho-qPCR assays are potentially suitable for environmental DNA (eDNA)-based environmental monitoring of bird schistosomes, by both researchers and public health authorities. Multiplex PCR can be used for species determination without the need for further sequencing.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"195"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12124058/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144187543","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":"First detection of tick-borne encephalitis virus in Ixodes ricinus ticks in Belgium, May 2024.","authors":"Camille Philippe, Celine De Sterck, Anna Parys, Sarah Denayer, Nick De Regge, Gabrielle Trozzi, Tinne Lernout, Marcella Mori, Bert Devriendt, Eric Cox, Sanne Terryn, Steven Van Gucht, Hein Sprong, François E Dufrasne","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06829-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06829-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most frequent tick-borne viral disease transmitted by ticks in Europe and Asia. In Belgium, autochthonous cases of TBE have been reported, but even though some tick collection was carried out in the past, no TBEV-positive ticks have been found thus far. In this study, questing ticks were collected by flagging at the precise location where a patient was reported to have been bitten by a tick before developing TBE in Belgium in 2020. In total, 350 ticks were pooled by life stage (nymphs, adult females, adult males) and collection date, lysed, and RNA extracted. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed to detect tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and Ixodes 18S rRNA, followed by Oxford nanopore amplicon sequencing. TBEV was detected in all three types of pools. Out of 69 nymph pools, 2 were positive, in adult female pools, 2 out of 16 were positive, and 1 of the 14 adult male pools was positive. A complete sequence was retrieved through sequencing. This sequence shares greater similarity with a strain found in Finland than the neighboring Salland strain (the Netherlands) and the Neudoerfl reference strain. These findings confirm that TBE can be acquired from tick bites within the country. It is therefore necessary to increase awareness of the disease among healthcare professionals.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"197"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12125855/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144187542","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":"DNA barcoding of Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and detection of Leishmania and other trypanosomatids in southern Thailand.","authors":"Piyapat Tepboonrueng, Thanapat Pataradool, Rungfar Boonserm, Luke W Rimmer, Kanok Preativatanyou, Sakone Sunantaraporn, Padet Siriyasatien","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06812-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06812-0","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Biting midges of the genus Culicoides play an important role in the transmission of pathogenic arboviruses and parasites. Thailand has documented more than 100 species of Culicoides; however, several cryptic species complexes remain to be clarified. Recent studies in areas with leishmaniasis indicate that several species of Culicoides might be potential vectors of Leishmania in the subgenus Mundinia, but evidence supporting the hypothesis is still lacking. Therefore, the diversity of Culicoides biting midges and their potential role as vectors of leishmaniasis in southern Thailand remains uncertain.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;Female Culicoides biting midges were collected using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ultraviolet (UV) light traps from four locations within leishmaniasis-affected areas in three provinces of southern Thailand, including Nakhon Si Thammarat, Krabi, and Surat Thani. Culicoides species were identified based on the morphology of wing spot patterns and subsequently confirmed by cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) Sanger sequencing. A potential cryptic species was classified using an integrative taxonomic approach associated with DNA barcoding identification by Barcode of Life Database (BOLD) and Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) searches. Furthermore, three different methods of species delimitation, namely ASAP [Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning], TCS [Templeton, Crandall, and Sing], and PTP [Poisson Tree Processes], were employed to verify the sequences into the molecular operational taxonomic unit (MOTU). Detection of Leishmania and other trypanosomatid parasites was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the ITS1 region and small subunit SSU ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene, followed by Sanger sequencing and haplotype diversity analysis. The identification of host blood sources was carried out using host-specific multiplex PCR.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;A total of 716 unfed midges and 159 blood-fed specimens were morphologically identified into 25 species belonging to five subgenera (Avaritia, Hoffmania, Meijerehelea, Remmia, and Trithecoides) and four species groups (Clavipalpis, Ornatus, Shermani, and Shortti). Two unidentified specimens were classified into two subgenera (Trithecoides and Avaritia). The DNA barcoding identification exhibited an 82.20% success rate. Species delimitation analyses demonstrated the presence of cryptic species complexes, categorized into six species: Culicoides actoni, C. orientalis, C. huffi, C. palpifer, C. clavipalpis, and C. jacobsoni. Furthermore, 6.42% of the Culicoides biting midges tested positive for Leishmania DNA in three sampling sites in Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani provinces (with no positive results in Krabi province). Furthermore, the sympatric infection of Leishmania martiniquensis and Leishmania orientalis was identified in several Culicoides species in Ron Phibun and Phunphin district","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"194"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12121006/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144180104","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":"First molecular confirmation of the presence of Hippobosca longipennis (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) and infestation of sheltered dogs in Morocco.","authors":"Maria Bourquia, Abderrahmane Zahri, Mehdi Ahlamine, Thomas Balenghien, Paula Meyer, Felix Gregor Sauer, Renke Lühken","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06830-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06830-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hippobosca longipennis (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) is an obligate hematophagous ectoparasite that infests a wide range of vertebrate hosts across Africa, Southern Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. It is a potential vector of Acanthocheilonema dracunculoides (Filarioidea: Onchocercidae) and serves as a phoretic host for Cheyletiella yasguri (Acari: Cheyletiellidae), a known causative agent of dermatitis in both dogs and humans. Due to the lack of data on hippoboscids in Morocco, this study aimed to investigate the louse fly fauna of sheltered dogs in the country as well as the filarial nematodes they may harbor.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Between April and November 2022, 230 sheltered dogs from four cities in Central Morocco were randomly examined as part of an entomological and epidemiological study on arthropod vectors and canine vector-borne pathogens. All visible louse flies on the domestic dogs were randomly collected and then morphologically and molecularly identified. DNA was subsequently extracted for screening of filarial nematodes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 30 dogs (13.1%) were infested with 35 H. longipennis louse flies, consisting of 33 adults (10 males, 19 non-gravid females, and four gravid females) and two larvae. Two representative specimens were confirmed through DNA barcoding of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene. All fly pools (gravid females, non-gravid females, males, and larvae) tested negative for filarial nematodes in the 12S rRNA PCR.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study represents the first morphological and molecular characterization of H. longipennis flies in Morocco. Further national-scale investigations are needed to address gaps in the knowledge of unrecorded hippoboscid species and the pathogens of medical and veterinary importance that they may carry.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"193"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12107861/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144161014","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":"Geographic distribution of Orientia tsutsugamushi strains on chigger mites in the Republic of Korea (2021-2023).","authors":"Hyeon Seung Lee, Byung-Eon Noh, Hyunwoo Kim, Heeil Lee","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06839-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06839-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Scrub typhus is caused by the larvae of chigger mites infected with Orientia tsutsugamushi, and many cases are reported globally. The virulence and prevalence of O. tsutsugamushi varies depending on the strain and region. Understanding the geographic distribution of O. tsutsugamushi strains is necessary for the prevention, control, surveillance, and future research on scrub typhus.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Chigger mites were collected from wild rodents at 16 sites across the Republic of Korea (ROK) between 2021 and 2023. Molecular diagnosis of O. tsutsugamushi was performed on half of the collected chigger mites. After confirmation, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were performed. To confirm the geographic distribution of O. tsutsugamushi strains in chigger mites, the ROK was divided into three regions on the basis of latitude and analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 135,204 chigger mites were collected from 1589 wild rodents. Half of the chigger mites were divided into 2928 pools for diagnosis of O. tsutsugamushi infection, of which, 152 pools were positive, resulting in a minimum infection rate of 0.22%. Phylogenetic analysis revealed six types of O. tsutsugamushi strains, including Karp-related (35.5%), Kato-related (17.8%), Boryong (15.8%), Saitama-related (15.1%), Gilliam-related (6.6%), and Simokoshi (1.3%). Additionally, strains exhibit distinct geographical distribution. The Karp-related strains were predominant and mainly distributed in the central region. Gilliam-related and Boryong strains were found in the northern, central, and southern regions, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our results demonstrate that the predominant O. tsutsugamushi strains in the ROK are Karp-related, with each strain being geographically separate. Changes in the geographic distribution, transmission routes, and other aspects of mite-borne diseases due to globalization and climate change will require continued surveillance and further research for prevention and control.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"192"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12107758/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144161016","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":"Effects of latent infection of Toxoplasma gondii strains with different genotypes on mouse behavior and brain transcripts.","authors":"Bei-Bei Zhou, Hong-Jie Dong, Hang Sun, Xiao-Man Xie, Huan-Huan Xie, Wen-Ju Zhu, Ya-Nan Li, Chao Xu, Jian-Ping Cao, Gui-Hua Zhao, Kun Yin","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06819-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06819-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Toxoplasma gondii can cause severe damage to immunodeficient hosts, and also compromise brain structure and function in immunocompetent hosts during latent infection. In China, the two different isolates, Chinese I (ToxoDB#9) and Chinese III are dominant epidemic strains widely spreading in humans and domestic animals and can lead to latent infection in host brain tissues, but the comparison of their manipulation patterns and mechanisms remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Tachyzoites of the TgWh6 (Wh6) strain and the TgCtLHG (LHG) strain were used for establishing in vitro infection models within mouse microglia BV2 cells, and the differences in their invasion and proliferation patterns were observed. C57BL/6 J mice were used to establish in vivo latent infection models. After behavioral tests, the differential expressed transcripts (DETs) of the infected and control animals' cerebral cortex were sequenced by Nanopore RNA-seq. Functional differences of DETs were analyzed by Gene Ontology enrichment analysis (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis (KEGG), and protein-protein interaction (PPI) and cluster analysis. Expression of the key candidates were verified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In our infection models, we found that Wh6 had more vigorous invasion and proliferation abilities in vitro, while LHG had a greater ability to form cysts in vivo. In the latent infection phase, behavioral changes, including spatial working memory, cognitive and motor abilities, and anxiety, were observed in both Wh6 and LHG infected mice; however, the LHG group showed more serious anxiety. Among DETs, genes related to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules were significantly upregulated in the infected mice, while genes related to synaptic transmission and neurodegenerative diseases were downregulated in the infected groups. The downregulated DETs of Sept4, Kcng4, Unc13c, and Prkcg in the WH6 group, which are related to synaptic transmission, and Ndrg2 and Arc in the LHG group, which are related to neurodegenerative diseases, were selected to be the key candidates in the latent infection phase.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Compared with WH6, although LHG has a milder invasion ability, it can cause increased behavioral disorders in hosts. Genes related to synaptic transmission and neurodegenerative diseases may be the main causes of host mental and behavioral disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"190"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12107737/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144151358","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":"Mosquito vector competence for Japanese encephalitis virus: a systematic review and meta-analysis update.","authors":"Stephen Edache, Andrea L Dixon, Ana R S Oliveira, Lee W Cohnstaedt, Dana Mitzel, Chad E Mire, Natalia Cernicchiaro","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06843-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06843-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Japanese encephalitis is an emerging zoonotic disease caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), transmitted primarily by mosquitoes of the Culex species. Amid the recent geographical expansion of JEV into Mainland Australia and the dramatic increase in research output, here we provide an update to our 2018 systematic review and meta-analysis, by appraising the scientific literature published from 2016 through 2023 and quantitatively summarizing the data from this update and the 2018 systematic review meta-analysis on vector competence for JEV.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic review of the literature on JEV vector and host competence, published from 2016 through 2023, was performed. Bibliographic databases, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Armed Forces Pest Management Board website were searched for relevant literature. Records were screened for relevance for vector competence, specifically: infection rate, dissemination rate, and transmission rate. To estimate the overall and subgroup effect sizes for each mosquito species, random-effects meta-analysis models were utilized. Meta-regression models were fit to evaluate the association between a priori variables-such as mosquito subfamily/tribe, routes of JEV administration for mosquito infection, incubation length, incubation temperatures, and diagnostic methods for JEV detection-and the outcomes of interest.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This study update includes 74 new reports, identifying 9-12 additional mosquito species as competent for JEV, depending on the specific outcome assessed. The overall JEV infection, dissemination, and transmission rates across all species and studies were 45.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 35.9-55.2%), 41.2% (95% CI 29.7-53.7%), and 22.7% (95% CI 14.6-33.4%), respectively. Among the subfamilies/tribes, Culicini had the highest infection (51.9%; 95% CI 39.2-64.4%) and transmission (27.8%; 95% CI 16.5-43.1%) rates. Meta-regressions showed mosquito subfamily/tribe was consistently associated with all the outcomes of interest, although the heterogeneity (I²) between studies remained consistently high (I² > 83.47).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The information presented in this study provides a quantitative summary update on vector competence for JEV. Vector competence data are necessary for risk assessment models, the development of mosquito and virus surveillance programs, and effective prevention and control strategies in regions currently affected by JEV and those at risk of incursion.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"191"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12107883/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144151456","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":"Host associations and genetic diversity of bat flies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae and Streblidae) in bats from Thailand.","authors":"Dimas Novianto, Siwaporn Tuangpermsub, Thongchai Ngamprasertwong, Morakot Kaewthamasorn","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06814-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06814-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Bat flies belong to the order Diptera and superfamily Hippoboscoidea. They can be divided into two families, Streblidae and Nycteribiidae, which collectively encompass 239 and 280 species worldwide, respectively. In Thailand, 43 species of Nycteribiidae and 16 species of Streblidae have been documented. Despite their diversity, the molecular characteristics and host-parasite interactions of these ectoparasites remain poorly understood.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>During a bat survey conducted between 2019 and 2022, bat flies were collected across eight sites in three provinces of Thailand. Morphological identification was performed using identification keys and a bat fly checklist endemic to Thailand. DNA barcoding targeted to the mitochondrial Cox1 and nuclear 28S rRNA genes was utilized. Infestation patterns were analyzed in relation to host sex, sampling site, and physiological status. Species identification was confirmed via BLASTN searches, and species delimitation was conducted using the ASAP algorithm under three substitution models. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using Maximum Likelihood methods, while genetic variation was assessed through TCS haplotype network analysis. Tripartite network analysis was employed to examine site-host-parasite associations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 1,042 bats, representing 28 species, were captured during the study, of which 298 individuals (28.59%) were infested with bat flies. In total, 773 bat flies were collected, comprising 737 from the family Streblidae and 36 from Nycteribiidae. Morphological and molecular analyses identified three genera-Raymondia, Brachytarsina, and Nycteribia-along with seven hypothetical species. Phylogenetic reconstruction using mitochondrial (Cox1) and nuclear (28S rRNA) gene markers revealed distinct clades within each genus, underscoring substantial genetic diversity. Haplotype analyses identified 18 haplotypes in Raymondia, six in Brachytarsina, and two in Nycteribia, with evidence of site-specific host-parasite associations. Infestation rates varied by host species, sex, and location, with larger bat populations demonstrating higher infestation intensities. Raymondia sp. 1 is the most frequently encountred species an predominantly infested Hipposideros gentilis.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study provides the first molecular characterization of bat fly diversity in Thailand, revealing their genetic complexity, taxonomy, host specificity, and ecological interactions. The findings establish a crucial foundation for further research concerning the biodiversity, host-parasite dynamics, and zoonotic risks associated with bat flies.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"188"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12103041/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144143251","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}