Parasites & Vectors最新文献

{"title":"Uninvited guests: diversity and specificity of Trypanosoma infections in frog-biting midges (Corethrella spp.).","authors":"Maximilian Sigl, Jonas Virgo, Ulmar Grafe, Jonas Henske, Maximilian Schweinsberg, Thomas Eltz","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06993-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06993-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Female frog-biting midges (Corethrella) are hematophagous micropredators that feed on frogs and serve as vectors for trypanosomes (Trypanosoma), unicellular flagellate parasites. Little is known about the infection ecology and host specialization within this tritrophic interaction.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, we explore the prevalence, diversity and specificity of Trypanosoma infections in Corethrella across various localities in tropical America and Borneo by sequencing both midge and trypanosome markers in midge samples.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Bayesian phylogenetic analyses and ASAP species delimitation of Corethrella (cytochrome c oxidase I [COI]) and Trypanosoma (18S, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase [GAPDH]) revealed a previously unknown high diversity of frog-biting midge-associated trypanosomes. Across regions and localities, the infection prevalence in midges caught by acoustic midge traps ranged from 2.9% to 23.5%, suggesting that a notable proportion of midges carried trypanosomes, likely acquired from a previous blood meal. At one locality, La Gamba (Costa Rica), the infection prevalence in trap-caught midges was 10.9%, while it was even higher in midges collected directly from frog hosts (20.7%), in agreement with the hypothesis that midges ingest trypanosomes from infected frogs. Bipartite network analyses revealed high degrees of specialization of Trypanosoma in trap-caught Corethrella, both across all localities (H2' = 0.87) and when analyzed for our most sampled locality (Cahuita, Costa Rica) alone (H2' = 0.94).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our data suggest that most trypanosomes detected in trap-caught midges are established, host-competent (i.e., specialist) parasites in an infective stadium.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"348"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12355796/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144859525","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of levels of parasitemia and antibodies, acute-phase proteins, as well as stays abroad on hematological and biochemical parameters in 342 dogs with acute Babesia canis infection.","authors":"Imke Maretje von Hohnhorst, Andreas Moritz, Clara Marie Eisenecker, Christina Strube, Kezia Eudora Rodjana, Elisabeth Müller, Ingo Schäfer","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06997-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06997-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Babesia canis infections are of rising importance in Germany. This retrospective study aimed to correlate hematological and biochemical parameters with acute-phase proteins, levels of parasitemia and antibodies, as well as stays abroad in dogs with acute B. canis infection.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Dogs in Germany tested PCR-positive for B. canis and negative for Anaplasma phagocytophilum from January 2018 to December 2024 were included if data on hematocrit, leukocytes, and platelets were available. Hematological scoring (HES) was performed by addition of points for mild (+ 1), moderate (+ 2), and marked (+ 3) anemia, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia, as well as for the presence of pancytopenia (+ 3) and leukocytosis (+ 1). Results of biochemical and CRP analysis, Babesia antibody determination, and pathogen quantification were included, if available. P ≤ 0.05 in Spearman's rank correlation was considered statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>342 dogs were included. History of stays abroad was known for 191/342 dogs (55.8%; no stays abroad 113/191 (59.2%), imported 55/191 (28.8%), travel 23/191 (12.0%)). The most common clinicopathologic findings were increased CRP (87.4%), thrombocytopenia (85.1%), anemia (78.7%), hyperbilirubinemia (74.2%), decreased iron levels (51.1%), and leukopenia (49.7%). Dogs without stays abroad showed significantly higher HES (n = 113, median: 6), CRP (n = 60, median: 116.2 mg/l), and levels of parasitemia (n = 92, median: 2916 × 10³ parasites/ml), but lower serum antibody levels (n = 59, median: 1.5 TE) compared with imported dogs (HES: n = 55, median: 2; CRP: n = 23, median: 40.0 mg/l; levels of parasitemia: n = 29, median: 23 × 10³ parasites/ml; antibodies: n = 37, median: 60.6 TE) (P < 0.001 each). Positive correlations were found between CRP and levels of parasitemia (ρ = 0.444), CRP and HES (ρ = 0.406), as well as levels of parasitemia and HES (ρ = 0.348), while negative correlations were observed between levels of antibodies and parasitemia (ρ = -0.666), as well as antibody levels and HES (ρ = -0.652) (P < 0.001 each).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>About 60% of dogs with acute B. canis infection had no history of stays abroad, thus representing autochthonous infections. Most dogs without stays abroad were immunologically naive, in contrast to most imported dogs showing positive and high antibody levels. Dogs with high antibody levels showed less severe clinicopathological alterations and lower levels of parasitemia in the peripheral blood, explained by protective antibody activity.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"347"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12355803/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144859524","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":"Interactions between bacterial vaginosis-associated microbiota and Trichomonas vaginalis modulate parasite-induced pathogenicity and host immune responses.","authors":"Shu-Fang Chiu, Ching-Yun Huang, Chien-Yung Chen, Wei-Jane Hsu, Yuan-Ming Yeh, Ya-Wen Shih, Lichieh Julie Chu, Wei-Ning Lin, Kuo-Yang Huang","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06996-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06996-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Trichomoniasis, caused by Trichomonas vaginalis (Tv), is the most common nonviral sexually transmitted infection (STI). Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is characterized by a reduction in health-associated Lactobacillus and an overgrowth of anaerobes. Both BV-associated bacteria (BVB) and Tv are linked to adverse gynecologic outcomes. Herein, we aimed to investigate whether interactions between vaginal bacterial species and Tv could modulate Tv pathogenicity and Tv-induced host immune responses.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We established a co-culture system to evaluate the interaction between Tv and various vaginal bacteria, including Lactobacillus crispatus, Escherichia coli, Prevotella bivia, and Lactobacillus iners, in the context of polymicrobial infection in ectocervical cells (Ect1). The impact of the interactions between Tv and these bacterial species on Tv adhesion, Tv-induced cytotoxicity in Ect1 cells, and cytokine secretion were assessed. Additionally, the molecular mechanisms governing host inflammation following Tv-bacteria interactions were investigated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our in vitro model showed that specific BVB, particularly P. bivia, enhanced the expression of Tv ap65 gene and promoted Tv adhesion to host cells. Additionally, Tv pretreated with P. bivia increased cytotoxicity and upregulated IL-6, IL-8, CXCL1, and IP-10 secretion in Ect1 cells. Furthermore, Ect1 cells stimulated with Tv pretreated with P. bivia also activated the PI3K, ERK, and p38 MAPK pathways, triggering epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) events. These results demonstrate that this potential pathobiont enhances Tv pathogenicity, highlighting the impact of the vaginal microbiome on host cells during Tv infection.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study significantly advances our understanding of the complex host-bacteria-parasite interactions in the vaginal ecosystem.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"346"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12351803/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144855981","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":"Comparing the performance of OvaCyte and traditional techniques in detecting canine gastrointestinal parasites.","authors":"Nagwa Elghryani, Conor G McAloon, Geetika Lahan, Trish McOwan, Theo de Waal","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06935-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06935-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Companion animals are infected with a range of helminth and protozoan parasites which can have a significant effect on health and welfare. While several diagnostic techniques are available to detect parasitic infection, they all vary in sensitivity and specificity. This study aims to estimate the diagnostic performance of the OvaCyte™ Pet Analyser by comparing it with established benchmarks commonly used in reference laboratories.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 141 canine faecal samples, containing at least one species of parasite after screening using double centrifugation, were tested using four index tests: centrifugal flotation (faeces weighing either 1 g or 2 g), passive flotation, and the OvaCyte™ technique. The true status of each sample was determined on the basis of the initial screening test and the aggregated result of the four index tests. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each of the four index tests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The OvaCyte™ Pet Analyser displayed high sensitivity ranging from 90% to 100% in detecting various parasite species in canines. Its sensitivity for roundworm and hookworm detection differed significantly from centrifugal flotation using 1 g and passive flotation techniques (P < 0.05). The OvaCyte™ demonstrated higher sensitivity in detecting Cystoisospora spp. (90%) and Capillaria spp. (100%) compared to all flotation methods (P < 0.001), though it showed slightly lower specificity than the other techniques.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results highlight the variability in sensitivity across different diagnostic methods, underscoring the importance of selecting the most reliable technique for accurate parasite detection in veterinary practice. However, the OvaCyte™ Pet Analyser exhibits an elevated level of sensitivity compared to other techniques.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"345"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12351915/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144848240","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy of Credelio Quattro^™ (lotilaner, moxidectin, pyrantel, praziquantel) and Credelio^™ (lotilaner) against longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis,-induced infestations on dogs.","authors":"Scott Wiseman, Molly D Savadelis, Riaan Maree, Mandie Momberg, Liezl Whitehead, Lisa Young","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06965-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06965-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Haemaphysalis longicornis, the longhorned tick, is an invasive tick species that has been identified in increasing numbers and regions across the USA. This tick species is a competent vector for various pathogens to dogs, humans, and other species, with heavy infestations documented to lead to exsanguination. Therefore, determination of ectoparasiticides providing adequate treatment and control of H. longicornis is imperative to help reduce vector-borne disease transmission and protect against infestation in dogs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Three laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Credelio Quattro and Credelio for the treatment and control of H. longicornis. A total of 30 dogs per study were randomized to receive either placebo, Credelio Quattro, or Credelio on Day 0 according to a complete block design on the basis of pre-treatment live attached H. longicornis counts, infested on Day -7. To assess efficacy against preexisting infestations, enrolled dogs were infested with 50 unfed adult H. longicornis on Day -2 or -1 prior to treatment. Residual efficacy post-treatment was evaluated with subsequent infestations on Days 5, 12, 19, and 30. All ticks were collected and evaluated as live or dead and free or attached 48 h after treatment or infestation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Adequacy of infestation was achieved in at least two studies for every infestation time point evaluated. Both Credelio Quattro and Credelio provided 100% efficacy against H. longicornis from Day 2 through Day 32, with no live ticks observed on any dogs. A statistically significant number of dead ticks were recovered from both treated groups as compared with control on all assessment days. Post-treatment, treatment-related diarrhea was reported in six dogs receiving Credelio Quattro and one dog receiving Credelio on Day 0, with all dogs recovering on Day 1.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The laboratory studies described confirm the safety and effectiveness of a single dose of Credelio Quattro and Credelio, at the minimum effective dosage of 20 mg/kg lotilaner, 0.02 mg/kg moxidectin, 5 mg/kg praziquantel, 5 mg/kg pyrantel, and 20 mg/kg lotilaner, respectively, for the treatment and control of H. longicornis infestations in dogs for one month.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"344"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12351792/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144848241","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":"Ecological drivers of malaria vector habitat and transmission over 1 year of long-lasting insecticidal net intervention in Côte d'Ivoire.","authors":"Benoit Talbot, Ludovic P Ahoua Alou, Alphonsine A Koffi, Colette Sih, Edouard Dangbenon, Marius G Zoh, Soromane Camara, Serge B Assi, Raphael N'Guessan, Louisa A Messenger, Natacha Protopopoff, Jackie Cook, Manisha A Kulkarni","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06984-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06984-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Malaria is a mosquito-borne parasitic disease that causes significant morbidity and mortality in at-risk populations, especially in children in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite reductions in malaria burden owing to the scale-up of effective interventions, there are concerns that long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) effects may not be sustained owing to widespread insecticide resistance and differential impacts of LLIN on vector species. In this study, we aimed to test the effect of different LLIN products and other environmental factors on the ecological niche of three mosquito vector species using state-of-the-art ecological niche modelling approaches.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study used data from a cluster randomized control trial that took place in Tiébissou, in Central Côte d'Ivoire. Anopheles mosquito density and Plasmodium falciparum vector infection data were available across 33 clusters. We used satellite remote sensing related to land cover, climate, topography and population density across the study area alongside vector species occurrence data to construct ecological niche models for An. coluzzi, An. gambiae s.s. and An. funestus s.s., and for P. falciparum-infected vectors, at baseline and 1-year post-LLIN intervention. We compared the projected habitat and habitat determinants for each species, and assessed the respective contributions of each intervention arm and environmental factors on the probability of species occurrence.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Minimal to considerable overall reductions in suitable habitat across the study area were observed for the three mosquito vector species (less than 1% to more than 60%), and considerable overall reduction was observed for P. falciparum-infected vectors (more than 50%). We did not detect an effect of intervention arm on the probability of occurrence of any vector species, while we found strong significant effects of a combination of land cover, climate, topography and/or population density variables on each of the three mosquito vector species and malaria-infected vectors. Our results suggest environmental factors may have facilitated or restricted changes in the probability of occurrence of vector species and infected vectors in the context of vector control interventions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our study highlights wide ecological differences across malaria vector species and supports the need to consider malaria vector species composition when deploying malaria vector control interventions in endemic settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"343"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12341217/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144837290","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":"Diagnostic performance of a Rapid Tick exposure Test (RaTexT^®) to detect acaricide resistance in cattle ticks in East Africa.","authors":"Frans Jongejan, Yakob Nagagi, Violet Temba, Dennis Muhanguzi, Patrick Vudriko, Joseph Byaruhanga, Maria Tumwebaze, Frank Mwiine, Pierre-Marie Borne, Marie Ducrotoy, Marjorie Bouchier, Laura Berger, Laura Homminga, Iris Hulsebos, Alita Petersen, Guilherme Klafke","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06995-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06995-6","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;The Rapid Tick Exposure Test (RaTexT&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt;) is a new method for detecting acaricide resistance in cattle ticks. This test provides rapid pen-side results based on the exposure of partially engorged adult ticks to a specially designed acaricide-impregnated matrix. RaTexT&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt; has been utilized in Brazil, where it identified resistance to deltamethrin in both laboratory colonies and field strains of Rhipicephalus microplus. The resistance levels in adult ticks tested in Brazil corresponded with those in larvae when using the resistance intensity test (RIT), a modification of the FAO-recommended larval packet test. In this paper, RaTexT&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt; was validated in East Africa using laboratory colonies of cattle ticks from Tanzania and field-collected ticks from Uganda. The resistance levels in adult ticks measured by RaTexT&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt; were compared with those in larvae using the RIT against synthetic pyrethroids, organophosphates, and formamidines.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;The diagnostic validation involved 15,400 adult cattle ticks distributed across 110 RaTexT&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt; boxes and approximately 99,000 larval cattle ticks in 110 RIT tests conducted in Tanzania (n = 45) and Uganda (n = 65). In Tanzania, semi-engorged adult ticks and larvae from two laboratory colonies of R. decoloratus and one strain of R. appendiculatus were tested using RaTexT&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt; and the RIT. In Uganda, semi-engorged adult R. decoloratus ticks were collected from cattle and immediately tested with RaTexT&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt; in the field. The larval progeny of fully engorged ticks, collected simultaneously from the same cattle, were tested six weeks later under laboratory conditions. Statistical analysis consisted of a combination of categorical (Z-test, Kappa) and continuous (Bland-Altman, CCC, regression) agreement analyses between RaTexT&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt; and RIT.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;The results of deltamethrin tests with laboratory ticks in Tanzania and field ticks in Uganda were highly consistent, exhibiting the same high resistance level in adults and larvae after 24 h of exposure. The cypermethrin/chlorpyrifos/PBO tests demonstrated that laboratory tick strains were fully susceptible when the exposure time in RaTexT&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt; was extended to 72 h. In Uganda, field strains demonstrated high resistance to cypermethrin/chlorpyrifos/PBO in RaTexT&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt; while showing low resistance in RIT. The chlorfenvinphos tests revealed that laboratory strains of R. decoloratus were susceptible after 48 h of exposure in RaTexT&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt;. Both tests identified a low resistance level in adults and larvae of the laboratory strain of R. appendiculatus ticks. Resistance to chlorfenvinphos was confirmed in R. decoloratus collected in the field in Uganda, where the resistance level in RaTexT&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt; consistently exceeded that in RIT. Comparisons of both tests with amitraz showed that laboratory R.decoloratus ticks were susce","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"342"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12337526/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144822197","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":"Fluralaner injectable suspension (Bravecto® injectable) for dogs remains effective against Ixodes ricinus infestations for one-year.","authors":"Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna, Christina S Helm, Jürgen Krücken, Eva Zschiesche, Lea Heinau, Ard M Nijhof, Ivo Petersen","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06963-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06963-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Tick-borne pathogens are emerging in many regions worldwide with seasonal transmission often shifting to year-round transmission in temperate climatic zones due to climate change. This situation makes year-round protection against ticks advisable. The objective of the study was to confirm the efficacy of a single injection of fluralaner against Ixodes ricinus ticks for up to 56 weeks.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study was a single-site, blinded, negative controlled, randomized efficacy study conducted with 20 female dogs. Dogs were randomized into two groups based on tick counts at pre-infestation. Dogs were infested with approximately 45 I. ricinus female ticks plus 5 male ticks at 17 time points over a year. Bravecto^® injectable (15 mg fluralaner /kg BW) as Investigational Veterinary Product (IVP) was administered once as a subcutaneous injection 48 h after the first experimental infestation. Female ticks were counted at 48 ± 4 h post-treatment or post-infestation to evaluate immediate and persistent efficacy, respectively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The tick infestation per infestation day recorded from individual dogs in the negative control group ranged from 0 to 58. At each counting time point, at least seven dogs in the negative control group were infested with ≥ 25% of the ticks placed on them, indicating an adequate tick infestation and a sufficient tick challenge at each time point. The IVP was well tolerated in all dogs. Significantly fewer (p < 0.0001) live attached ticks were recorded from the IVP treated group compared to the control group at each time point. Based on arithmetic means of live attached tick counts, the IVP was 94.97% effective 7 days after administration. Persistent efficacy over one year following IVP administration was confirmed. The treatment efficacy after 12 and 13 months was 99.16% and 96.22%, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Based on the significant reduction in mean live attached I. ricinus counts compared to the negative control group, efficacy based on arithmetic mean ≥ 90%, and adequacy of infestation in the control dogs, the IVP was effective against existing and new I. ricinus tick infestations for up to 394 days following administration.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"341"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12335767/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144812221","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":"Trends in the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection in Ethiopia 2000 to 2023: a systematic review.","authors":"Birhan Mengistu, Rosie Maddren, Ben Collyer, Roy M Anderson","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06928-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06928-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are a source of parasitic infections common in Ethiopia and cause stunting of growth and neurodevelopment. The aim of this review was to examine the trends in STH prevalence and intensity in Ethiopia by year, age group, and region over a period of more than two decades.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A comprehensive literature review using predefined terms was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The relevant studies were screened and reviewed, and the data were extracted and recorded in an Excel spreadsheet. A random-effects model was employed to determine the pooled prevalence. Prevalence estimates and their standard errors were extracted for each period, and pairwise comparisons of estimates between consecutive periods were performed, with P-values computed to assess the statistical significance in the changes recorded.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 310 studies published from 2000 to 2023, focused on STHs in Ethiopia, were included in the analysis. Of these, 298 focused on Ascaris lumbricoides, 250 on Trichuris trichiura, and 278 on hookworms. The majority of studies were conducted in the Amhara region (43.5%), followed by Oromia (26.1%). The overall prevalence of A. lumbricoides decreased from 13.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 11.5%, 16.8%) before 2015 to 9.4% (95% CI 6.8%, 13.1%) after 2020, with a notable change observed between 2015 and 2019. In contrast, the prevalence of T. trichiura and hookworms did not show a significant change.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Progress has been made in reducing the prevalence and intensity of A. lumbricoides, but there is still some way to go, which will require higher mass drug administration (MDA) coverage levels plus treatment of the whole community including adults, alongside water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) interventions to prevent persistent reinfection.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"340"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12335801/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144812222","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":"Time-of-day of infection: impact on liver stage malaria parasites in untreated and drug-treated hosts.","authors":"Petra Schneider, Aidan J O'Donnell, Alejandra Herbert-Mainero, Sarah E Reece","doi":"10.1186/s13071-025-06986-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-025-06986-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Circadian clocks are thought to have evolved owing to the benefits of anticipating daily environmental rhythms. Daily environmental rhythms that impact on fitness include interactions between organisms, such as host-pathogen interactions. For example, host susceptibility to infection for taxonomically diverse hosts and pathogens varies across the circadian cycle. We previously revealed that mosquito vectors are less susceptible to malaria (Plasmodium) infection during their active phase (night time), and here we test whether a similar pattern occurs for infection of the mammalian host.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used Plasmodium berghei-infected Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes to infect mice during their rest or active phase, both in untreated and pyrimethamine-treated mice. We assessed the parasites' success in establishing at the first site of replication (in the liver) by quantifying parasite burdens using quantitative PCR (qPCR), adjusted for sporozoite inocula. By independently manipulating the photoschedules of vectors and hosts, we standardise the time-of-day for parasites and mosquitoes used to initiate infections, and thus, directly test the impact of host time-of-day on the parasites' ability to establish an infection.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The three experiments we conducted showed that pyrimethamine treatment reduced parasite liver burdens, but not in a biologically significant manner dependent on host time-of-day (active/rest phase). Furthermore, host time-of-day did not affect parasite liver burdens in untreated hosts.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Understanding the roles of host, parasite, and vector rhythms on malaria transmission is important given that mosquitoes are altering the time of day that they bite. That rhythms, per se, do not affect vector-to-host transmission suggests that the impacts of time-of-day on components of vectorial capacity are more epidemiologically influential than host rhythms.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"18 1","pages":"339"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12329948/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144795028","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}