Parasites & Vectors最新文献

{"title":"Microsporidian infection of mosquito larvae changes the host-associated microbiome towards the synthesis of antimicrobial factors.","authors":"Artur Trzebny, Abigail D Taylor, Jeremy K Herren, Johanna K Björkroth, Sylwia Jedut, Miroslawa Dabert","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06813-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06813-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Microsporidians (Microsporidia) are a group of obligate intracellular parasites that commonly infect mosquitoes. Recently, it has been shown that infection by these parasites can alter the composition and functionality of the mosquito-associated microbiome. The host-associated microbiome of the mosquito can play a pivotal role in various physiological processes of this host, including its vector competence for pathogens. Thus, understanding how microsporidians shape the mosquito microbiome may be crucial for elucidating interactions between these parasites and their mosquito hosts, which are also vectors for other parasites and pathogens.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The effects of microsporidian infection on the microbiome structure and functionality of Culex pipiens and Culex torrentium larvae under semi-natural conditions were examined. The host-associated microbiome of Cx. pipiens (n = 498) and Cx. torrentium (n = 465) larvae, including that of the 97 infected individuals of these samples, was analysed using 16S DNA profiling and functional prediction analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Microbiome network analysis revealed that, in the microsporidian-positive larvae, host microbial communities consistently grouped within a common bacterial module that included Aerococcaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Microbacteriaceae, Myxococcaceae, and Polyangiaceae. Indicator species analysis revealed two strong positive correlations between microsporidian infection and the presence of Weissella cf. viridescens and Wolbachia pipientis. Functional predictions of microbiome content showed enrichment in biosynthetic pathways for ansamycin and vancomycin antibiotic groups in infected larvae. Furthermore, the MexJK-OprM multidrug-resistance module was exclusively present in the infected larvae, while carbapenem- and vancomycin-resistance modules were specific to the microsporidian-free larvae.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our results demonstrate that microsporidian infection alters the microbial community composition in mosquito larvae. Moreover, they show that microsporidian infection can increase the antimicrobial capabilities of the host-associated microbiome. These results provide novel insights into host microbiome-parasite interactions and have potential implications for the vector competencies of mosquitoes.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"178"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12085064/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144094547","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":"A non-randomized, open-label study to assess the impact of rounds of mass drug administration with artemisinin-piperaquine plus primaquine on malaria in São Tomé Island.","authors":"Mingqiang Li, Ruixiang Tan, Peiting Chen, Herodes Sacramento Rampao, Carlos Alberto Bandeira D'almeida, Guoming Li, Jingwen Liu, Guozhuang Shi, Fei Chen, Lei Shu, Xinan Huang, Changsheng Deng, Wenfeng Guo, Jianping Song","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06768-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06768-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The aim of this study was to explore the effect of mass drug administration (MDA) on malaria transmission in low-endemic malaria areas.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Mass drug administration of artemisinin-piperaquine (AP) + primaquine (PMQ) was targeted to 17,438 individuals in the Agua Grande region of São Tomé and Príncipe (STP). The participants were allocated to either a three-round MDA (3-MDA) group or to a two-round MDA (2-MDA) group. The coverage rate, compliance, adverse events and other indicators were evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Mass drug administration coverage rate in the 3-MDA group (20,548 person-times) was 84.23-89.14%, with a compliance of 68.38%. MDA coverage rate in the 2-MDA group (15,365 person-times) was 87.30-93.23%, with a compliance of 80.70%. The rates of MDA-related adverse reactions were low in both the 3-MDA (0.75%) and 2-MDA (0.72%) groups, and no serious adverse reactions were observed. Malaria incidence decreased by 80.47% (z = - 2.35, P = 0.019) and 72.27% (z = - 0.89, P = 0.372) in the 3-MDA and 2-MDA groups, respectively, within 1 year.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Two or three rounds of MDA with AP and PMQ in STP safely and rapidly reduced the prevalence of malaria cases and infections. It is possible that two rounds of MDA in certain districts may achieve the desired outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"177"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12084925/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144086380","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":"Cytauxzoon paradoxurus n. sp., a novel Cytauxzoon species identified in common palm civets in Singapore.","authors":"Stacy Q Y Chong, Darren Yeo, Alaine V V Arceo, Jasmine L Y Ong, Christine H E Lee, Rachael J Y Yeak, Alvin S Z Wee, Petrina Y Z Teo, Moses K J Tay, Amy H J Chan, Charlene Judith Fernandez, Renhui Xie, Anna M S Wong, Choon Beng How, Siow Foong Chang","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06820-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06820-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The common palm civet (Paradoxurus musangus) is a species native to Southeast Asia. Highly adapted to urbanised environments, these civets can often be found in proximity to humans and companion animals, raising the concern of pathogen transmission at the human-wildlife and wildlife-domestic animal interface. Whilst there have been reports of various bacteria and viruses detected in civets, little is known about the protozoa that they may harbour. In this study, we screened the common palm civets in Singapore for tick-borne protozoan parasites known as piroplasms.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Over a 2-year period, blood samples were opportunistically collected from 135 wild common palm civets following a physical examination. The sex and weight of each civet were recorded, and any ectoparasites detected were identified through DNA barcoding. DNA extracts of blood samples were screened using a PCR assay targeting the 18S rRNA gene of piroplasmids.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A novel Cytauxzoon species was detected in 29 civets (21.5%), and a statistically significant association was found between infection and the civet's weight. Two cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) specimens were discovered on two sampled civets; however, Cytauxzoon DNA was not detected in either the flea or the sampled civet. Phylogenetic analysis of the Cytauxzoon 18S rRNA gene sequences from 29 civets revealed that this piroplasmid is most closely related to a Cytauxzoon sp. detected in meerkats in South Africa but molecularly distinct from the six currently described Cytauxzoon species.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This detection documents the first molecular confirmation of Cytauxzoon sp. infection in Southeast Asia and the first report of Cytauxzoon sp. in a viverrid host. Further studies are required to determine the vector involved in the transmission of this novel Cytauxzoon species, as no ticks were found on the sampled civets. The discovery of Cytauxzoon paradoxurus n. sp. highlights the importance of expanded biosurveillance to better understand the diversity of piroplasms harboured by wildlife in the region and its potential for cross-species transmission.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"175"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12079874/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144079310","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected in Iceland.","authors":"Matthias Alfredsson, Kayleigh Hansford, Daniel Carter, Heiða Sigurðardóttir, Þórunn Sóley Björnsdóttir, Hrólfur Smári Pétursson, Guðný Rut Pálsdóttir, Jolyon M Medlock","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06809-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06809-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Ixodes ricinus is the most common tick species throughout Europe; it can transmit various pathogens that can cause diseases in humans and animals. It is the principal vector of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), and there is increasing concern about I. ricinus's potential to transmit pathogens to humans and animals in Iceland. The aim of this research is to determine whether I. ricinus ticks collected in Iceland carry B. burgdorferi (s.l) and, in a limited number of samples, other pathogens to better understand the potential health risks that I. ricinus bites may pose to both humans and animals in Iceland.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Birds were captured and examined for ticks at the South East Iceland Bird Observatory from 2018 to 2019. All ticks were screened for infection with B. burgdorferi (s.l.). Additionally, 133 ticks collected in Iceland prior to 2018, stored in the collection at the Natural Science Institute of Iceland, were screened for the presence of B. burgdorferi (s.l.), TBEV, Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis and Rickettsia spp. Samples positive for Borrelia were sequenced by Genewiz Azenta, Germany, and BLAST (NCBI) analysis was performed on the obtained sequences.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 1209 I. ricinus ticks collected in Iceland were screened for the presence of B. burgdorferi (s.l.); 133 ticks from a museum collection were additionally screened for other pathogens. Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) was detected in 9.9% of the tick samples (86/866). DNA sequencing from 28 positive samples revealed three genospecies. The most frequently detected was Borrelia garinii (82.1%), followed by B. valaisiana (14.3%) and B. afzelii (3.6%). TBEV, C. burnetii, F. tularensis and Rickettsia spp. were not detected in ticks from the collection.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This research confirms the presence of B. burgdorferi (s.l.) in I. ricinus ticks collected in Iceland. Even though Lyme disease is not endemic and I. ricinus ticks are not considered established, the risk of exposure remains. Further research on B. burgdorferi (s.l.) and other pathogens these ticks may carry is essential along with raising public awareness and fostering collaboration between experts to reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases in Iceland.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"176"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12082893/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144079263","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":"Characterization of the transcriptional cellular response in midgut tissue of temephos-resistant Aedes aegypti larvae.","authors":"Elisama Helvecio, Antonio Mauro Rezende, Maria J R Bezerra, Osvaldo Pompílio de-Melo-Neto, Maria Alice Varjal de Melo Santos, Tatiany Patrícia Romão, Constância Flávia Junqueira Ayres","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06675-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06675-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Resistance to organophosphate compounds is a serious concern in dealing with the control of mosquito vectors. Understanding the genetic and molecular basis of resistance is important not only to create strategies aimed at detecting and monitoring resistance in the field but also to implement efficient control measures and support the development of new insecticides. Despite the extensive literature on insecticide resistance, the molecular basis of metabolic resistance is still poorly understood.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To better understand the mechanisms of Aedes aegypti resistance to temephos, we performed high-throughput sequencing of RNA from the midgut tissue of Aedes aegypti larvae from a temephos-resistant laboratory colony, with long-term and continuous exposure to this insecticide (RecR), as well as from a reference, temephos-susceptible, colony (RecL). Bioinformatic analyses were then performed to assess the biological functions of differentially expressed genes, and the sequencing data were validated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The transcriptome analysis mapped 6.084 genes, of which 202 were considered upregulated in RecR, including known and new genes representing many detoxification enzyme families, such as cytochrome-P450 oxidative enzymes, glutathione-S-transferases and glucosyl transferases. Other upregulated genes were mainly involved in the cuticle, carbohydrates and lipid biosynthesis. For the downregulated profiles, we found 106 downregulated genes in the RecR colony, with molecules involved in protein synthesis, immunity and apoptosis process. Furthermore, we observed an enrichment of KEGG metabolic pathways related to resistance mechanisms. The results found in RT-qPCR confirm the findings of the transcriptome data.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In this study, we investigated transcriptome-level changes maintained in a temephos-resistant Ae. aegypti colony under continuous and prolonged selection pressure. Our results indicate that metabolic resistance might involve a larger and more significant number of detoxification enzymes, with different functional roles, than previously shown with other mechanisms, also contributing to the resistance phenotype in the Ae. aegypti RecR colony.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"174"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12076995/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144079305","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":"Functional and sequence-based comparison of Ctenocephalides felis and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato isolates from different geographic regions.","authors":"Carolin Schneider, Heike Williams, Hartmut Zoller, Margaret Werr, Claudia Plehn, Eva Zschiesche, Lea Heinau","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06806-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06806-y","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Current regulatory requirements for European marketing authorization of canine and feline ectoparasiticides include dose confirmation studies conducted with European isolates of each ectoparasite species indicated in the proposed labeling, in addition to any studies conducted against non-European ectoparasite isolates. This regulatory requirement may be deemed unnecessary if no significant differences exist among laboratory ectoparasite isolates obtained from various countries. Between-country interchangeability was examined through various comparative studies by using Ctenocephalides felis fleas and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks sourced from multiple countries. To detect potential alterations that may influence fluralaner binding efficacy, comparative complementary DNA (cDNA) and genomic DNA sequence analyses were performed. These analyses focused on the regions coding for the amino acid residues involved in fluralaner binding in the γ-aminobutyric acid receptor (GABAR, subunits encoded by Rdl) and the glutamate-gated chloride channel (GluCl) of the mentioned parasite isolates. Additionally, their in vitro fluralaner sensitivities were compared.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;Laboratory in vivo-reared C. felis and R. sanguineus isolates were sourced from Australia (fleas only), Europe, and USA (both fleas and ticks). Genomic DNA and cDNA sequences coding for GABAR and GluCl were analyzed for variations that could result in alterations of fluralaner and dieldrin binding. For in vitro testing, three replicates of 20 fleas per isolate were exposed to fluralaner-impregnated filter paper at increasing concentrations. In total, three replicates of ten ticks per concentration were immersed for approximately 5 min in fluralaner dilutions. Untreated control replicates were included for all comparisons. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated to assess the overall similarity of tick/flea mortality and inhibition rates between different isolates.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;No mutation or alteration that could affect the GABAR or GluCl isoxazoline binding efficacy was found in any of three C. felis or two R. sanguineus isolates. The predicted lethal and effective concentrations of all tested isolates fell within a narrow range. High intraclass correlation coefficients confirmed an overall similarity between tick (Europe and USA) and flea isolates (Europe, USA, Australia) in the in vitro fluralaner sensitivity assay, aligning with the expected susceptibility based on the DNA sequence analysis of each isolate.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;There was no evidence of target-related or functional differences in fluralaner sensitivity between either C. felis or R. sanguineus laboratory isolates from different countries. These findings indicate the between-country interchangeability of results of in vivo dose confirmation studies and justify reducing the number of in vivo studies required for Europ","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"170"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12070772/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144037549","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":"Assessment of the transmission of live-attenuated chikungunya virus vaccine VLA1553 by Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.","authors":"Andrea Fritzer, Andreas Suhrbier, Leon E Hugo, Bing Tang, Greg Devine, Sandra Jost, Andreas L Meinke","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06789-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06789-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted, arthritogenic alphavirus that causes sporadic outbreaks of often debilitating rheumatic disease. The recently approved CHIKV vaccine, IXCHIQ, is based on a live-attenuated CHIKV strain (VLA1553), with viraemic vaccine recipients theoretically able to transmit VLA1553 to mosquitoes with ensuing onward transmission. We thus evaluated VLA1553 transmission from artificial blood meals to Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, and onward transmission to mice.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Female A. albopictus mosquitoes were fed on defibrinated sheep blood containing wild-type CHIKV (viral titre: 7.50 log₁₀CCID₅₀/mL) or VLA1553 (viral titres: 7.85, 5.72, 4.58, and 3.79 log₁₀CCID₅₀/mL). Viral titres in mosquito bodies and saliva were determined using CCID₅₀ assays 7-8 days after the blood meal. After providing CHIKV or VLA1553 (viral titres ~ 7-8 log₁₀CCID₅₀/mL) in blood meals to mosquitoes, infected mosquitoes were fed on highly susceptible Irf3/7^-/- mice (n = 3 per group). Data were re-analysed using the same reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) as for an earlier VLA1553 phase 1 clinical trial, to allow correlations between blood meal titres and viraemia in vaccine recipients.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Mosquito body viral titres were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) for CHIKV versus VLA1553-fed mosquitoes at blood meal viral titres of ~ 7-8 log₁₀CCID₅₀/mL. Mosquito body VLA1553 titres decreased with reducing blood meal titres, but there was no dose-dependent effect on saliva viral titres. No dissemination to salivary glands was seen at blood meal titres ≤ 3.875 log₁₀CCID₅₀/mL. CHIKV-fed mosquitoes were able to transmit virus, and induce viraemia in, 3/3 Irf3/7^-/- mice via mosquito bites. In contrast, 0/3 Irf3/7^-/- mice became infected after bites from VLA1553-fed mosquitoes. RT-qPCR comparisons with phase 1 clinical data for VLA1553-vaccinated individuals indicated that VLA1553 viraemia was at or below the aforementioned threshold for transmission.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The evidence presented herein argue that the low viraemia in VLA1553-vaccinated individuals would mitigate against transmission. In addition, replication of VLA1553 in mosquito bodies was also significantly attenuated. Overall, mosquito-borne transmission of VLA1553 from vaccinated individuals to others appears improbable.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"171"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12070702/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143986720","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":"External quality assessment for molecular detection of sand fly-borne phleboviruses circulating in the Mediterranean Basin.","authors":"Nazli Ayhan, Cecile Baronti, Laurence Thrion, Gioia Bongiorno, Carla Maia, Remi N Charrel","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06785-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06785-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sand fly-borne phleboviruses (SbPV) are globally distributed and pose potential public health risks. Despite increased detection in recent decades, detailed knowledge of their ecology, characteristics and clinical relevance remains limited. Many cases of SbPV infection likely go unreported or misdiagnosed due to limited awareness and the lack of standardized screening. The External Quality Assessment (EQA) reported herein was organized within the framework of the European Union CLIMOS (EU Climate Monitoring and Decision Support Framework for Sand Fly-borne Diseases Detection and Mitigation) project. The aim of this EQA was to standardize the detection of phleboviruses in order to provide comparable data to feed mathematical models for the surveillance of the impact of climate changes and environmental parameters on the kinetics and diversity of sand fly species and on sand fly-borne microorganisms.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Nine laboratories from seven countries participated in the EQA. Each laboratory was provided with eight vials, each containing an anonymous sample; two vials of lyophilized primers and probes to be used for the detection of Toscana virus (TOSV) and several Sandfly fever Sicilian virus (SFSV) species with a reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) assay; and one vial of lyophilized primers for the detection of generic phleboviruses with a RT-PCR assay along with the standard operating procedure. The laboratories were instructed to submit their results together with details on the techniques employed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All nine laboratories successfully detected the two TOSV- and the one SFSV-positive samples. Only one laboratory, using a generic phlebovirus assay, detected all of the targeted phleboviruses.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>All participating laboratories successfully identified the two TOSV and one SFSV using the proposed RT-qPCR assays, albeit with some variations in cycle threshold values across laboratories. The detection rate of SbPV was lower with the generic Phlebovirus assay than with the specific real-time RT-qPCR assays. This EQA aimed to assess the SbPV detection capabilities of molecular tools and strengthen their use, thereby supporting the involvement of laboratories in virus discovery and surveillance beyond their core expertise.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"173"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12070498/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144064347","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":"Treatment of giardiasis in dogs: field clinical study to confirm the efficacy, safety, and acceptance of a metronidazole-based flavored oral suspension.","authors":"Sloane Jones, Philippe Briantais, Cristiano Von Simson, Eleonore De Meyrignac, Laure Poincelot, Delphine Rigaut","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06797-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06797-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Giardia duodenalis is a prevalent gastrointestinal parasite in dogs, causing diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss. Metronidazole is a common treatment for this infection. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and acceptance of a flavored liquid metronidazole oral suspension in treating G. duodenalis in naturally infected dogs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A double-masked, vehicle-controlled, randomized, multi-center clinical field trial was conducted. Client-owned dogs with confirmed G. duodenalis infections were enrolled and randomized into AYRADIA-treated and control groups. The AYRADIA group received the metronidazole suspension at 0.2 ml/kg twice daily for 5 days, while the control group received a flavored vehicle suspension without metronidazole. Fecal samples were collected before and after treatment to assess G. duodenalis cyst counts. Clinical examinations and owner assessments were also performed to evaluate safety and treatment acceptance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study enrolled 180 dogs, with 129 included in the efficacy analysis. AYRADIA treatment resulted in a 99.92% reduction in G. duodenalis cyst counts, significantly higher than the reduction in the control group. Adverse events were similar between both groups (10%), mainly consisting of diarrhea and vomiting. The treatment was readily accepted by 99% of dogs.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>AYRADIA, administered at 0.2 ml/kg twice daily for 5 days, is highly effective in treating G. duodenalis infections in dogs. The treatment demonstrated a positive safety profile and excellent acceptance. This flavored oral suspension offers a valuable and convenient option for veterinarians managing giardiasis in dogs.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"169"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12067763/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144023058","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":"Contact between soft tick vectors of African swine fever virus and invasive wild pigs in the southeastern USA.","authors":"Samantha M Wisely, Carson Torhorst, Sebastian Botero-Cañola, Nicholas Canino, Angela M James, Kathleen C O'Hara","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06811-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06811-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>African swine fever virus is a transboundary pathogen of high economic impact to the global pork industry. Florida has multiple factors that contribute to the high risk of introduction of African swine fever virus (ASFV) including high levels of commerce and human migration between Florida and Caribbean nations with ASFV, established backyard swine production, abundant populations of invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa), and the presence of a soft tick species (Ornithodoros turicata americanus) that has been found to be a competent vector of ASFV in laboratory experiments. To better assess the hazard of ASFV vector-borne transmission in Florida, we documented contact between invasive wild pigs and O. t. americanus throughout Florida.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We surveyed gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) burrows throughout Florida and collected O. t. americanus from infested burrows. To identify definitive contact between invasive wild pigs and soft ticks, we used established real time polymerase chain reaction primers and a probe to detect the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of invasive wild pigs in the bloodmeals of O. t. americanus.. To detect potential wild pig-soft tick contact, we surveyed for evidence of pig activity within 5 m of an infested burrow entrance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Across 61 sites, we found that 203 of 591 burrows (34%) were infested with the soft tick, O. t. americanus. Ten burrows across 57 sites (18%) had soft ticks with wild pig DNA in their abdomens. In total, 6 of 591 burrows (1%) had evidence of invasive wild pigs near the entrance. Three infested burrows had evidence of wild pigs near the entrance, one of these burrows also had soft ticks that were positive for wild pig DNA. Including both definitive and potential wild pig-soft tick contact, 12 of 61 sites (20%) had evidence of wild pig-soft tick association.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In Florida, contact between invasive wild pigs, a potential reservoir for ASFV, and O. t. americanus, a competent vector, was measurable and occurred throughout the distribution of the vector. Florida is at risk not only for ASFV emergence but establishment of this pathogen in a sylvatic cycle. In addition to managing invasive wild pigs, future ASFV response planning needs to include plans for surveying and managing vector populations should an outbreak occur.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"172"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12070667/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144023052","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}