Parasites & Vectors最新文献

{"title":"Long-read transcriptomics corrects Trichomonas vaginalis intron annotations and refines transcript-end features.","authors":"Yuan-Ming Yeh, Wei-Hung Cheng, Kuo-Yang Huang, Chi-Ching Lee, Seow-Chin Ong, Hong-Wei Luo, Jhen-Wei Syu, Cheng-Hsun Chiu, Po-Jung Huang, Petrus Tang","doi":"10.1186/s13071-026-07530-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-026-07530-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Trichomonas vaginalis causes the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Despite its large genome (181.5 Mb; 36,310 predicted protein-coding genes in NYU_TvagG3_2), intron annotations remain limited and inconsistently validated. A recent short-read RNA-seq study reported 63 putative active introns, but short reads can misassign splice boundaries and cannot resolve complete transcript structures.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We integrated Oxford Nanopore direct RNA sequencing (DRS), ONT cDNA long-read sequencing, and Illumina RNA-seq to refine intron annotations, transcript-end features, and UTR boundaries in T. vaginalis. Candidate introns were validated by targeted PCR and Sanger sequencing, and representative splicing events were further assessed using public SRA datasets.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Starting from 31 historically annotated introns, motif-guided long-read screening and orthogonal validation identified 17 additional validated introns, increasing the curated set to 48 confirmed introns. Among these 17 events, three were previously unrecognized in the current NYU_TvagG3_2 reference annotation. We also corrected five reported loci, including two false-positive introns, two splice-coordinate misannotations, and one gene-sequence error. DRS further supported transcript termination site mapping, UAAA polyadenylation-signal profiling relative to poly(A) addition sites, and single-molecule poly(A)-tail estimation. StringTie mixed-mode assemblies provided updated UTR boundaries for intron-bearing transcripts and transcripts without curated introns.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study provides a rigorously validated, long-read-refined resource of intron annotations, UTR boundaries, and UAAA-guided transcript-end features for T. vaginalis, together with a reproducible workflow for non-model protists. These refinements improve the current reference annotation and support future studies of functional genomics, parasite biology, pathogenesis, and diagnostic development.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148308911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A descriptive assessment of mitochondrial COI genetic diversity and dengue and chikungunya RNA detection in Aedes aegypti across eight provinces in Thailand.","authors":"Padet Siriyasatien, Proawpilart Intayot, Rungfar Boonserm, Rinnara Ampol, Nataya Sutthanont, Nutticha Silakom, Charuai Suwanbamrung, Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit, Atchara Phumee","doi":"10.1186/s13071-026-07539-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-026-07539-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Aedes aegypti is the principal vector of several medically important arboviruses, including dengue virus (DENV) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV), both of which remain endemic in Thailand. However, studies on arbovirus surveillance and mitochondrial genetic diversity of Ae. aegypti populations across broad geographic scales remain limited. This study aimed to assess the detection of DENV and CHIKV and characterize the mitochondrial genetic diversity of Ae. aegypti across multiple regions of Thailand.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 303 adult Ae. aegypti mosquitoes collected from eight provinces across five geographic regions of Thailand were screened for DENV and CHIKV RNA. Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) genetic diversity was assessed using haplotype network analysis and analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>CHIKV RNA was detected in 51 mosquitoes (16.8%) from four provinces, with the highest detection rates observed in Prachuap Khiri Khan and Bangkok. DENV RNA was not detected in any sample. COI analysis revealed moderate to high mitochondrial haplotype diversity and geographic variation in haplotype distribution among populations. Both widely shared and province-specific haplotypes were identified. AMOVA indicated that most genetic variation occurred within populations (93.19%), with significant genetic differentiation among populations (ΦST = 0.068, P < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>CHIKV RNA was detected in Ae. aegypti populations from multiple regions of Thailand, whereas DENV RNA was not detected. Mitochondrial COI analysis revealed substantial haplotype diversity and geographic variation among populations. These findings contribute to current knowledge of arbovirus occurrence and mosquito genetic diversity in Thailand and provide a foundation for future vector surveillance studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148308918","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Borrelia theileri infection in beef and dairy cattle in Israel: molecular detection and co-infection with bovine piroplasmids.","authors":"Dor Shwartz, Harold Salant, Yaarit Nachum-Biala, Netta Simon, Monica Leszkowicz-Mazuz, Daniel Yasur-Landau, Dan Gleser, Eyal Klement, Nir Rudoler, Elad Eliahoo, Gad Baneth","doi":"10.1186/s13071-026-07527-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-026-07527-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Tick-borne relapsing fever is an infectious disease caused by spirochetes of the genus Borrelia, leading to fever and spirochetemia in humans and animals. Borrelia theileri is the agent of bovine relapsing fever, which is transmitted by ixodid ticks of the genus Rhipicephalus and has been reported to cause mild disease in cattle. It has been infrequently reported in several countries over a broad geographic area; however, it has not been reported in Israel previously.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Blood samples were collected from beef and dairy cattle in 23 locations in Israel. Real-time and conventional PCR were used to detect Borrelia spp. and co-infection with bovine piroplasmids. PCR products were sequenced, and phylogenetic analysis of the B. theileri sequences was performed. Positive cattle were identified in a limited number of locations with no clear spatial clustering.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Borrelia theileri DNA was detected in 6 out of 439 (1.4%) blood samples. Of these, four were from beef and two from dairy cattle. No significant differences were found according to age (P = 0.642) and production type (P = 0.802) among the B. theileri-positive cattle. Phylogenetic analysis showed clustering of the cattle-derived isolate together with B. theileri amplified from ixodid ticks, supporting a potential transmission cycle involving cattle and Rhipicephalus spp. ticks. Theileria annulata and Babesia bigemina DNA was detected in 11 (4.1%) and one (0.4%) of 268 unvaccinated cattle, respectively. Co-infection with Theileria annulata was found in one beef and one dairy cattle.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Tick-borne relapsing fever is present in the cattle population of Israel. Co-infection of B. theileri and bovine piroplasmids may drive clinical disease and financial losses in beef and dairy cattle. This is the first report of B. theileri infection in Israel. Future control programs should address the exposure of both beef and dairy cattle to ticks and tick-borne diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13450520/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148308874","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":"Nationwide seroepidemiology of canine exposure to Ehrlichia canis and Babesia spp. in Portugal (2015-2025): One Health biosentinel surveillance.","authors":"Ricardo Lopes, Lima de Carvalho, Vanessa Silva, Cátia Fernandes, Ana Patrícia Lopes, Elsa Leclerc Duarte, Luís Cardoso, Ana Cláudia Coelho","doi":"10.1186/s13071-026-07522-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-026-07522-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Ehrlichia canis and canine Babesia spp. are widely distributed tick-borne pathogens of veterinary and One Health relevance. Contemporary nationwide data on canine exposure and associated determinants in Portugal are limited. This study aimed to estimate seropositivity proportions and explore epidemiological determinants of exposure to E. canis and Babesia spp. in clinically suspected dogs from Portugal over an 11-year period (2015-2025).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Serum samples from 2960 dogs collected between 2015 and 2025 were analysed using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits to detect immunoglobulin G antibodies to E. canis and Babesia spp. Associations with demographic and geographic variables were assessed using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify potential risk factors (P < 0.05), and model performance was evaluated using the Hosmer-Lemeshow test, Nagelkerke's R², and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall seropositivity was 4.0% (116/2,872) for E. canis and 12.0% (337/2,818) for Babesia spp. Borderline results accounted for 3.0% (88/2,960) and 4.8% (142/2,960), respectively. E. canis seropositivity varied significantly by Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics level 2 region (P < 0.001), with highest values in the Algarve (15.3%; odds ratio [OR] = 4.3, P < 0.001) and Setúbal Peninsula (50.0%; OR = 23.9, P = 0.025). Age was associated with E. canis exposure (P = 0.014), with increased odds in dogs aged 6 to < 11 years and ≥ 11 years (both OR = 2.1, P < 0.05). No significant geographical association was observed for Babesia spp. (P = 0.803), and sex and age were not significant predictors. Seropositivity to Babesia spp. was a risk factor for seropositivity to E. canis (OR = 3.6, P < 0.001). Multivariable models retained no independent predictors (Nagelkerke R² = 0.15; area under the curve = 0.71).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study provides a nationwide, long-term retrospective assessment of serological exposure to E. canis and Babesia spp. among clinically suspect dogs in Portugal. Exposure to E. canis showed marked regional heterogeneity, particularly in southern Portugal, whereas Babesia spp. showed no significant regional association. Co-seropositivity, although uncommon, is consistent with shared tick-borne exposure pathways. These findings support risk-based tick control and continued surveillance within a One Health framework.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13540257/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148302526","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":"Photographic atlas of phlebotomine sand flies collected in north-west and central east Belize.","authors":"Ngwa Niba Rawlings, Mark Stephen Bailey, Bruno Leite Rodrigues, José Dilermando Andrade Filho, Sergio Ibáñez-Bernal, Orin Courtenay","doi":"10.1186/s13071-026-07499-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-026-07499-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Morphological identification of phlebotomine sand flies in Belize has historically relied on greyscale illustrations and taxonomic keys, which can limit identification accuracy and accessibility for non-specialists. Building on our recent investigation of the spatiotemporal distribution of sand flies in the country, we provide a coloured pictorial guide to the species collected.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Sand flies were collected in north-west and central east Belize between 2023 and 2025 and identified morphologically using established taxonomic keys. Representative voucher specimens were deposited in the Coleção de Flebotomíneos (FIOCRUZ/COLFLEB), Belo Horizonte, Brazil.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We present 65 coloured photomicrographs covering 20 species, including 18 previously reported in Belize and two species (Lutzomyia longipalpis and Psathyromyia soccula) recorded in the country for the first time. The guide highlights key diagnostic characters, including male genitalia, spermathecae, cibarium, and other external morphological features, and integrates both coloured and greyscale images. A dichotomous key to the collected species is also provided.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This pictorial guide complements existing taxonomic resources and aims to improve consistency and accessibility of sand fly identification in Belize. The integration of coloured photomicrographs with conventional morphological keys provides a practical resource to support vector surveillance and future taxonomic work.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13539878/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148295917","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":"Emerging and regionally novel voltage-gated sodium channel mutations associated with pyrethroid resistance and altered binding affinity in Aedes albopictus (Skuse) from Northern Peninsular Malaysia.","authors":"Nurul Adilah-Amrannudin, Kenneth Tan JunKai, Ahmad Faisal Mohamad, Abu Hassan Ahmad, Hasber Salim, Ghows Azzam, Nurul Nadia Manap, Shamsudin Rahman, Intan Haslina Ishak","doi":"10.1186/s13071-026-07496-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-026-07496-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The application of synthetic insecticides is the primary means of controlling Aedes mosquitoes in Malaysia, but the efficacy of this method is undermined by the evolution of resistance. Aedes albopictus as one of the dominant and competent arboviral vectors has an elusive insecticide resistance status in different geographical regions of Northern Peninsular Malaysia. This underscores the importance of assessing the diverse types of insecticides used and their association with target-site resistance mechanism in this species, which forms the basis of the present study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>WHO bioassays were performed on Ae. albopictus larvae and adults from four localities (Penang and Perlis), towards 0.034 ppm temephos, 0.25% permethrin, 0.03% deltamethrin, 0.25% pirimiphos-methyl, and 0.1% propoxur. The partial voltage-gated sodium channel (vgsc) gene domain (DIIS6, DIIIS6, and DIVS6) of pyrethroid-exposed samples were subsequently genotyped through direct sequencing for single-nucleotide mutations, together with genetic variations and haplotype networks analysis. The predicted protein structures for the mutated regions and their binding affinities to pyrethroids were also evaluated using in silico docking.</p><p><strong>Results and discussions: </strong>Varying degrees of resistance were observed in all Penang and Perlis strains to all tested insecticides. Moreover, the detection of the F1534L mutation and newly discovered non-synonymous mutations (A1022S/P, E1041K, P1585R, and F1695L) suggest the progression of resistance alleles dissemination in these strains. The analysis of genetic variations, resistance allele distribution patterns, and haplotype networks showed evidence for multiple origins of these mutations. Data also revealed the discovered mutations affect the affinity of vgsc-binding proteins to pyrethroids.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study highlights the genotype-phenotype associations in Ae. albopictus and their genetic links to pyrethroid resistance, offering insights to strengthen vector control strategies in Malaysia.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13449526/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148295885","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":"Projected distributions of 18 mosquito species in the Republic of Korea under climate change scenarios.","authors":"Jihun Ryu, Kwang Shik Choi","doi":"10.1186/s13071-026-07528-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-026-07528-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Climate change is altering mosquito distributions and may reshape the risk of mosquito-borne diseases in the Republic of Korea (ROK). However, nationwide, multi-species projections for medically important mosquitoes remain limited.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We compiled 1,969 spatially filtered occurrence records for 18 mosquito species and developed species distribution models using MaxEnt. Environmental predictors included bioclimatic, topographic, and land cover variables. Future distributions were projected for the 2030s, 2050s, and 2070s under SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5 scenarios using MIROC6 climate data. A Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI) was calculated to compare species-specific range expansion and contraction.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Current habitat suitability patterns grouped the 18 species into nationwide, northern-preferring, southwestern-preferring, and southern-preferring distribution types. Topographic Wetness Index (36.6%), elevation (18.6%), and land cover type (18.4%) contributed more strongly to model performance than climatic variables alone. Under SSP5-8.5 in the 2070s, Aedes albopictus and Culex tritaeniorhynchus were projected to expand suitable habitat by 183.4% and 236.5%, respectively, whereas northern-preferring Anopheles species showed marked habitat contraction. Anopheles pullus and Anopheles belenrae were projected to lose 100.0% of their suitable habitat under the highest-emission scenario. The CCVI classified five species, mainly Anopheles, as highly vulnerable, one species as moderately affected, and 12 species as range-expanding.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings indicate that climate change may substantially reorganize mosquito communities in the ROK, reducing habitat suitability for several malaria vectors while expanding suitable areas for important arbovirus and Japanese encephalitis vectors. Adaptive surveillance and vector management should therefore integrate climate projections with local landscape and hydrological risk factors.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13531818/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148295938","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":"Validation of a duplex real-time PCR (qPCR) in clinically classified dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum before and after specific treatment: preliminary results.","authors":"Clara Gómez-Velasco, Ana Montoya, Rocío Checa, Jaime Heredia-Caldeiro, Juan Pedro Barrera, Efrén Estévez-Sánchez, Juliana Sarquis, Daniela García-Rupérez, Pablo Moraleda, Guadalupe Miró","doi":"10.1186/s13071-026-07490-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-026-07490-2","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Canine leishmaniosis, caused by Leishmania infantum, is a chronic vector-borne zoonosis with variable clinical manifestations, which complicates its diagnosis and monitoring. Although quantitative serology is the primary indirect diagnostic approach, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the most sensitive direct diagnostic method for confirming the infection by detecting Leishmania DNA in biological samples, but its performance varies according to the analysed tissue and molecular assay. This study aimed to validate a duplex real-time PCR assay and compare its diagnostic performance with a nested PCR in six different canine tissues, as well as to define the diagnostic value of non-invasive samples in clinical staging and monitoring in naturally infected dogs before and after specific treatment.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;Leishmania nested PCR and quantitative PCR targeting the small subunit (SSU) ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene were performed on lymph node, blood, oral and conjunctival swabs, urine and hair samples from 66 dogs (20 non-infected, 15 clinically healthy infected and 31 naturally infected sick dogs classified according to LeishVet clinical staging). Sick dogs classified as stage II-III were re-evaluated 30 days after therapy to assess clinical improvement and changes in parasite load during follow-up.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Lymph node samples showed the highest sensitivity and parasite loads, correlating well with clinical severity, IFAT titres and albumin/globulin ratio. Among non-invasive samples, oral swabs showed the best performance, particularly in dogs with clinically relevant disease, while conjunctival swabs showed moderate sensitivity. By contrast, blood showed limited and stage-dependent diagnostic value, while urine and hair demonstrated very low sensitivity. Quantitative PCR showed slightly higher sensitivity than nPCR in most tissues, except for lymph node and blood samples. A C&lt;sub&gt;T&lt;/sub&gt; cut-off of 39.00 was applied to minimise non-specific amplification, which was particularly pronounced in urine qPCR, achieving 100% specificity across all other tissues. The qPCR showed a reaction efficiency of 85.4% (R&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 0.997), with a limit of detection of 0.5 parasite equivalents/reaction. Parasite load increased significantly from stage I to stage II dogs, but did not differ between stages II and III. After treatment, clinical scores and parasite loads decreased significantly in lymph node, oral and conjunctival swab samples.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;PCR performance in canine leishmaniosis is strongly influenced by tissue, technique and clinical stage. nPCR should be the test of choice for diagnostic confirmation, with lymph node as the gold standard sample, while oral swabs represent the most reliable non-invasive alternative, particularly in dogs with clinically relevant disease. For clinical follow-up, qPCR is preferable due to its ability to monitor parasite load c","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13531858/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148295890","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 characterization of thioredoxin peroxidases 1 from Trichinella spiralis and its potential in generating protective immunity.","authors":"Mingwei Tong, Zixin Guo, Mianjing Wang, Yong Yang, Mengxiao Fu, Yuchen Gao, Jie Ren, Zhixin Wang, Peixia Yu, Xin Zhou, Hongli Liu, Hailong Wang, Hairu Wang","doi":"10.1186/s13071-026-07517-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-026-07517-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Trichinella spiralis remains a significant food-borne parasitic threat with no licensed vaccine available. This study evaluated the vaccine potential of T. spiralis thioredoxin peroxidase 1 (Ts-TPx1).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Recombinant Ts-TPx1 (rTs-TPx1) was expressed, purified, and characterized. Mice were immunized intraperitoneally with rTs-TPx1 plus ISA206, ISA206 alone, or PBS, and subsequently challenged orally with T. spiralis larvae. Systemic and intestinal immune reponses, protection efficacy, intestianl barrier function, and pathological changes in the murine intestine and diaphragm muscle were subsequently assessed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ts-TPx1 belongs to the 2-Cys peroxiredoxin  family. Native Ts-TPx1 is expressed across key lifecycle stages, predominantly localizing to the parasite surface and stichosome. rTs-TPx1 immunization elevated serum levels of Ts-TPx1-specific IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a, with IgG1 levels higher than IgG2a, and increased splenocyte secretion of specific INF-γ and IL-4. The vaccine conferred significant protection, reducing intestinal adult worm burden by 65.0% and muscle larval burden by 61.8%. It also enhanced intestinal mucosal immunity, as evidenced by increased sIgA and Muc2 levels, and ameliorated intestinal and diaphragm muscle pathology.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>rTs-TPx1 immunization elicited specific intestinal mucosal immunity and Th2-biased mixed Th1/Th2 systemic protective response, establishing it as a promising vaccine candidate against Trichinella infection.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13531830/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148295945","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-based xenosurveillance reveals circulation of Anaplasma and Neoehrlichia in livestock at a human-wildlife interface in Kenya.","authors":"Dennis Getange, Samson Mukaratirwa, Oscar Esibi, Epaphrus Yuko, James Kabii, Rua Khogali, Jandouwe Villinger","doi":"10.1186/s13071-026-07510-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-026-07510-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Xenosurveillance, which uses blood-feeding insects as biological samplers, is an emerging non-invasive approach for monitoring pathogens circulating among humans, livestock, and wildlife. However, its application to livestock-associated bacterial pathogens at human-animal-wildlife interfaces remains underexplored. We investigated whether mosquito blood meals could be used to detect tick-borne bacterial pathogens circulating in livestock in Kenya.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We collected 4673 mosquitoes, belonging to Culex, Anopheles, Aedes, Mansonia, and Coquillettidia genera around livestock enclosures in Kajiado and Naivasha counties, Kenya, using CO₂-baited CDC miniature light traps. Traps were selected to maximise species diversity, and as light traps capture fewer engorged mosquitoes than resting traps, only 56 blood-fed individuals (1.2%) were collected and processed as whole-specimen homogenates and analysed for vertebrate blood-meal sources using cytochrome b sequencing. In total, 303 mosquito pools, including blood-fed individuals processed as single-mosquito pools, were screened for Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, Theileria, and Babesia using PCR-high-resolution melting analysis and confirmatory sequencing.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All pathogen-positive detections were exclusively from blood-fed individuals. We detected Anaplasma marginale in Culex pipiens (1/150; 0.7%) and Aedes hirsutus (2/11; 18.2%), Anaplasma sp. in Cx. pipiens (2/150; 1.4%) and Ae. hirsutus (1/11; 9.1%), and Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis in Mansonia africana (2/50; 4%). Pathogen detections showed strong host concordance, where A. marginale was associated with cattle-derived blood meals and Anaplasma sp. with goat-derived blood meals, while Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis was detected in Mn. africana that had fed on cattle and on a host that could not be determined.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our results provide preliminary evidence that mosquito-based xenosurveillance can detect tick-borne bacterial pathogens circulating in livestock at human-wildlife interfaces in Kenya. The strong concordance between pathogen identity and vertebrate host in blood-fed mosquitoes supports the biological plausibility of this approach. Notably, detection of Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis represents the first report of this zoonotic pathogen in mosquitoes in Africa, highlighting the One Health relevance of xenosurveillance in identifying settings, where pathogen circulation and cross-interface feeding coincide. Mosquito-derived sampling has potential to complement existing surveillance tools in agro-pastoral systems, where direct host sampling is difficult or costly.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13527995/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148284086","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}