{"title":"Pathology of fatal Baylisascaris schroederi infection in a wild giant panda.","authors":"Lingling Chang, Danhui Zhang, Yashi Wang, Zun Ren, Yaping Wu, Qiang Zhang, Guanghui Zhao, Guanglin Pan, Xinglong Wang, Xiaomin Zhao, Dewen Tong","doi":"10.1051/parasite/2025026","DOIUrl":"10.1051/parasite/2025026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Baylisascaris schroederi McIntosh, 1939 (Ascarididae), a nematode specific to giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), is a major health threat, particularly to wild populations. A 20-year-old wild adult female giant panda rescued from a Chinese nature reserve died with a 2-month history of emaciation and weakness. Necropsy was performed. Grossly, the giant panda was very thin with minimal fat stores throughout, and marked serous atrophy of fat around the kidneys. Mesenteric edema was very pronounced in the posterior intestine. The abdominal cavity contained approximately 5 L of orange-yellow, translucent, low-viscosity fluid. There were ca. 1,660 robust ascarids occupying the lumen of the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. Microscopically, the intestine showed moderate necrotizing and eosinophilic enteritis with adult nematodes, consistent with an ascarid. PCR and sequencing confirmed that the ascarid species was B. schroederi. This case highlights a fatal B. schroederi infection in a wild giant panda, with malnutrition and possible multiple organ failure identified as the primary causes of death.</p>","PeriodicalId":19796,"journal":{"name":"Parasite","volume":"32 ","pages":"34"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12158236/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144275559","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}
ParasitePub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2025-06-11DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2025029
Yan Tang, Nian-Yu Xue, Yang Gao, Zhen-Qiu Gao, Hong-Di Zhuang, Guang-Rong Bao, Hong-Wei Cao, Jing Liu, Jian-Ming Li, Shuo Liu
{"title":"Prevalence and characterization of Cryptosporidium in sika deer from Northern China.","authors":"Yan Tang, Nian-Yu Xue, Yang Gao, Zhen-Qiu Gao, Hong-Di Zhuang, Guang-Rong Bao, Hong-Wei Cao, Jing Liu, Jian-Ming Li, Shuo Liu","doi":"10.1051/parasite/2025029","DOIUrl":"10.1051/parasite/2025029","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cryptosporidium spp. are important zoonotic parasites that can cause moderate to severe diarrhea in humans and animals. However, the epidemiological data of Cryptosporidium in sika deer in China need to be updated. In this study, a total of 466 fecal samples were collected from sika deer in Shandong, Jilin, Liaoning, and Heilongjiang provinces. Nested PCR was used to amplify the SSU rRNA gene to detect Cryptosporidium spp. The results showed that the overall infection rate of Cryptosporidium spp. was 14.81%, with no significant differences among regions (p = 0.05). The highest infection rate was found in Heilongjiang Province (23.60%) and the lowest in Jilin Province (10.71%). The infection rate in summer (23.61%) seemed higher than that in autumn (13.20%), but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.30). Notably, young sika deer showed a significantly higher infection rate (28.21%) compared to adults (10.32%) (p < 0.0001). Sequence analysis identified two Cryptosporidium species/genotypes: Cryptosporidium deer genotype (98.55%) and Cryptosporidium ubiquitum (1.45%). Subtyping revealed that the C. ubiquitum isolate belonged to the zoonotic XIIa subtype. These findings provide new insights into the prevalence and genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium in sika deer and suggest that sika deer may act as a potential reservoir for zoonotic Cryptosporidium transmission.</p>","PeriodicalId":19796,"journal":{"name":"Parasite","volume":"32 ","pages":"35"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12158220/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144275560","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}
ParasitePub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2025-02-24DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2025010
Yan Tang, Hai-Tao Wang, Xue-Min Li, Zhong-Yuan Li, Qing-Yu Hou, Jing Jiang, Li-Hua Yang, Ya Qin
{"title":"Prevalence of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Blastocystis sp. infection in foxes (Alopex lagopus) in northern China.","authors":"Yan Tang, Hai-Tao Wang, Xue-Min Li, Zhong-Yuan Li, Qing-Yu Hou, Jing Jiang, Li-Hua Yang, Ya Qin","doi":"10.1051/parasite/2025010","DOIUrl":"10.1051/parasite/2025010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To examine the prevalence of E. bieneusi and Blastocystis sp. in foxes in China, this study analyzed the prevalence and distribution of genotypes or subtypes. A total of 352 fresh fecal samples were collected from foxes across five provinces in northern China and analyzed using PCR. The overall prevalences of E. bieneusi and Blastocystis sp. were 48.3% and 2.0%, respectively; the highest prevalences were found in Shandong Province, with 87.1% and 5.4%, respectively. The prevalence rates were influenced by several factors; a breeding scale value <1,500 was related to higher prevalences. Multivariate analysis showed that the region and breeding scale were the main risk factors for E. bieneusi. Eleven genotypes of E. bieneusi were identified, all of which are classified within Group 1. This includes five previously characterized genotypes and six novel genotypes. Among these, CHN-F1 was the predominant genotype, accounting for 67.7% of cases. Blastocystis sp. was detected with only one subtype (ST3), which represents the first report of this genotype in foxes. The identification of E. bieneusi in foxes and the first detection of the ST3 subtypes of Blastocystis sp. contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the epidemiology of these microeukaryotes. These findings suggest a potential pathway for the transmission of microeukaryotes from fox farms to human populations, underscoring the importance of monitoring the public health risks.</p>","PeriodicalId":19796,"journal":{"name":"Parasite","volume":"32 ","pages":"15"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11852784/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143493238","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}
ParasitePub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2025-02-21DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2025005
Zhangzhou Shen, Houqiang Luo
{"title":"The impact of schistosomiasis on the Global Disease Burden: a systematic analysis based on the 2021 Global Burden of Disease study.","authors":"Zhangzhou Shen, Houqiang Luo","doi":"10.1051/parasite/2025005","DOIUrl":"10.1051/parasite/2025005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that causes a significant global burden. The aim of this study was to report the latest estimates of the global, regional, and national schistosomiasis disease burden and forecast changes in schistosomiasis-related disease burden. This work was based on the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. We analyzed the schistosomiasis data by sex, age in years, and Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) region and country, using Age-Standardized Rates (ASR) for comparisons among different groups. The Estimated Annual Percent Changes (EAPC) analysis was used to evaluate the temporal trend of the disease burden, and the Differential Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) and Exponential Smoothing (ES) models were used to predict the disease burden from 2022 to 2046. In the GBD 2021 study, it was reported that compared to 1990, the number of deaths has decreased by 74,350, the prevalence number has increased by 1,482,260, and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) have decreased by 1,770,436. Additionally, the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) has decreased by 0.31 per 100,000 people, with an EAPC of -0.353 (95% CI: -0.361 to -0.344). Similarly, the age-standardized DALYs rate (ASDR) has decreased by 15.45 per 100,000 people (EAPC: -1.56, 95% CI: -1.78 to -1.34), and the age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) has decreased by 559.64 per 100,000 people (EAPC: -0.63, 95% CI: -0.95 to -0.31). The regions and countries with the highest disease burden are mostly concentrated in Africa. Despite a general decline in global schistosomiasis burden indicators, the burden of disease has actually increased in high SDI areas. The ARIMA and ES models forecast results show that female mortality and ASMR will decline in the next 25 years, while male mortality and ASMR will remain stable, and other disease indicators will continue to decline. The global schistosomiasis burden has significantly decreased over the past 30 years, but it remains high in African regions and countries, as well as low-SDI areas. Effective cooperation among countries should be strengthened to improve the disease burden in high-burden areas and countries.</p>","PeriodicalId":19796,"journal":{"name":"Parasite","volume":"32 ","pages":"12"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11843987/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143468782","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}
ParasitePub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2025-02-24DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2025008
Xiao-Hong Gu, Jia-Tong Mu, Hui-Xia Chen, Liang Li
{"title":"Integrated evidence reveals a new subspecies of the genus Seuratascaris (Nematoda: Ascaridomorpha), with characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome.","authors":"Xiao-Hong Gu, Jia-Tong Mu, Hui-Xia Chen, Liang Li","doi":"10.1051/parasite/2025008","DOIUrl":"10.1051/parasite/2025008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Species of Seuratascaris Sprent, 1985 are a rarely reported group of ascaridoid nematodes, parasitising various frogs and toads. In the present study, a new subspecies of Seuratascaris, S. physalis bazhaiensis n. subsp. was described using integrated taxonomic methods, based on specimens collected from Odorrana graminea (Anura: Ranidae) in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Results of the Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning (ASAP) and Bayesian inference based on the mitochondrial cox1, cox2 and rrnS data all supported S. physalis bazhaiensis representing a distinct taxon from the nominate subspecies S. physalis physalis. Supplementary morphometric and genetic data of S. phy. physalis are presented based on newly collected material from Odorrana tiannanensis (Anura: Ranidae) and Rhacophorus sp. (Anura: Rhacophoridae) in Yunnan Province, China. A key to species of Seuratascaris is provided. The complete mitochondrial genome of S. physalis bazhaiensis was sequenced and annotated, and represents the first mitogenomic data for the genus Seuratascaris. This mitogenome has only 13,628 bp (including 12 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNAs, and only 1 non-coding region), and is the smallest of the reported ascaridoid mitogenomes so far.</p>","PeriodicalId":19796,"journal":{"name":"Parasite","volume":"32 ","pages":"14"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11852783/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143493251","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":"Identification of a new fish trypanosome from the large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) and description of its impact on host pathology, blood biochemical parameters and immune responses.","authors":"Xiaoao Yang, Pengzhi Qi, Zhen Tao, Qingwei Zhang, Yanjie Wang, Denghui Zhu, Xiaojun Yan, Peipei Fu, Baoying Guo","doi":"10.1051/parasite/2024078","DOIUrl":"10.1051/parasite/2024078","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The aim of this study was to clarify the taxonomic identification of a hemoflagellate and assess the effect of trypanosome infection on Larimichthys crocea. Giemsa staining showed the presence of three morphotypes of trypomastigotes. The trypanosomes had the following morphological characteristics: a slender body with a long flagellum at the front; body size 12.30-30.90 × 1.13-2.33 μm; elongated oval nucleus situated in the median region; kinetoplast small, oval, located at the posterior end. The parasite had significant morphological differences from Trypanosoma epinepheli Su, Feng, Jiang, Guo, Liu & Xu, 2014 and Trypanosoma carassii (Mitrofanov) Doflein, 1901. The 18S rDNA sequences of the trypanosome from L. crocea had the highest homology (98.4%) with T. carassii. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the parasite clustered with freshwater fish trypanosomes. Based on the differences in morphological characteristics and molecular data, it is considered a new species, Trypanosoma larimichthysi n. sp. Trypanosome infection had no effect on the growth of L. crocea, but significantly increased the concentration of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and induced pathological changes in the gills, liver, spleen and kidney. The pro-inflammatory immune genes, including TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, CXCL8 and iNOS, were significantly upregulated in the L. crocea infected with trypanosomes. These results suggest that the trypanosome has negative impacts on host health.</p>","PeriodicalId":19796,"journal":{"name":"Parasite","volume":"32 ","pages":"1"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11752739/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143009491","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}
ParasitePub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2025-05-12DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2025021
Amit Tripathi, Chawan Matey, Kurt Buchmann, Christoph Hahn
{"title":"Monogeneans on exotic Indian freshwater fish. 7. Results of a national study on ornamental fishes from 2019-2022.","authors":"Amit Tripathi, Chawan Matey, Kurt Buchmann, Christoph Hahn","doi":"10.1051/parasite/2025021","DOIUrl":"10.1051/parasite/2025021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study reports the results of a nationwide parasitological survey that was conducted from 2019 to 2022 to investigate the potential introduction of monogenean parasites into India via the ornamental fish trade. A total of 619 individual exotic ornamental fish representing 27 teleost species from nine families were collected from the country's major aquaria markets and examined for monogeneans. To identify monogeneans at the species level, we employed a morphometric analysis of sclerotised structures (haptoral and reproductive hard parts), as well as a molecular analysis of nuclear 28S rRNA and ITS2 regions. Indian conditions for importing exotic ornamental fish species require a pre-quarantine certificate, quarantine treatment, and post-quarantine follow-up. Despite these restrictions, 26 monogenean species from 12 known genera were detected and identified in 17 of the 27 fishes examined. Dactylogyrus was represented by a maximum of nine species, followed by Gyrodactylus with five. Cyprinidae was the most parasitised fish family (13 species), followed by Cichlidae (three species) and Helostomatidae, Poeciliidae, and Serrasalmidae (two species each). The majority of co-transported parasite species originated from Asia (65.38%, n = 17), followed by South America (23.07%, n = 6), North and Central America (7.69%, n = 2), and Africa (3.5%, n = 1). Three fish species were identified as the first host records for monogenean parasites: Chindongo socolofi for Cichlidogyrus tilapiae Paperna, 1960, Metynnis hypsauchen for Mymarothecium sp., and Betta splendens for Heteronchocleidus sp. In general, exotic populations had fewer parasite species than in their native distribution ranges.</p>","PeriodicalId":19796,"journal":{"name":"Parasite","volume":"32 ","pages":"28"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12068787/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143999760","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}
ParasitePub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2025-06-03DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2025025
Javier Sotillo, Mónica Quinzo, Juan José García, Antonio J Martín-Galiano
{"title":"Reverse vaccinology for hookworms: a rational selection of vaccinable antigens against parasitic nematodes.","authors":"Javier Sotillo, Mónica Quinzo, Juan José García, Antonio J Martín-Galiano","doi":"10.1051/parasite/2025025","DOIUrl":"10.1051/parasite/2025025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Reverse vaccinology is a time- and cost-effective approach to identify potential vaccinable antigens for further in vivo experimental validation. Despite its wide application to multiple organisms, the use of in silico vaccine development tools to parasitic nematodes has been limited. Herein, we have used the rodent hookworm Nippostrongylus brasiliensis as a mouse model for the human hookworm Necator americanus to identify potential vaccine candidates against the latter. Our strategy combined advanced bioinformatic evaluations with knowledge-based criteria. A cumulative rating of antigenic properties was performed resulting in a global prioritization scoring for an updated N. brasiliensis proteome of 22,796 proteins assigned. Evaluation criteria included homology to the human counterpart N. americanus, absence of mammalian homologs, cellular location by computational predictors, as well as mass spectrometry data, proteolytic activity of the evaluated protein within the parasite, presence of conserved domains, predicted humoral epitopes, and MHC class II epitope population coverage. To assign one global score representing these characteristics, cumulative scoring was performed. This analysis provided a group of 56 potential candidates, including 11 proteins associated with parasite survival and establishment. Remarkably, the second highest score was assigned to an aspartic protease homologous of the N. americanus vaccine-candidate Na-APR-1, which supports the relevance of this approach. Allergenicity and toxicity of the selected molecules were also predicted to anticipate side effects of future candidates. This comprehensive approach provides valuable insights for the rational design of new vaccines against N. americanus, the results of which, however, must be validated in vivo.</p>","PeriodicalId":19796,"journal":{"name":"Parasite","volume":"32 ","pages":"32"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12133094/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144216525","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}
ParasitePub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2025-02-17DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2025004
Il-Kwon Kim, Chang-Jun Kim, Jeong-Hwan Choi, Hyun Jun Kang, Moon Bo Choi
{"title":"Stylopization by Xenos spp. (Xenidae, Strepsiptera) in invasive alien hornet, Vespa velutina, in South Korea.","authors":"Il-Kwon Kim, Chang-Jun Kim, Jeong-Hwan Choi, Hyun Jun Kang, Moon Bo Choi","doi":"10.1051/parasite/2025004","DOIUrl":"10.1051/parasite/2025004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The invasive hornet Vespa velutina Lepeletier, which first invaded South Korea in 2003, has spread throughout the country, significantly affecting apiaries, ecosystems, and human health. Xenos spp. (Xenidae, Strepsiptera) are primarily parasitic to social wasps, with V. analis being the only known host in Korea. Until recently, no parasites or parasitoids on V. velutina had been discovered. In 2020, strepsipteran parasites were discovered on 11 hornet workers in Andong City, South Korea. These parasites, comprising four larvae and seven pupae, were all male, except for one individual of an undetermined sex. Molecular analysis and morphological examination identified the parasites as Xenos moutoni (du Buysson, 1903) and X. oxyodontes Nakase & Kato, 2013. This marks the first recorded instance of strepsipteran parasites on V. velutina in regions invaded by this hornet. Although the exact infection rate of these parasites could not be determined, it appears that native strepsipteran parasites have adapted to a non-native Vespa species. Stylopization, the condition caused by these parasites, is known to negatively affect hornet colonies: infected workers do not contribute to nest activities, hindering nest development, and infected reproductive individuals (males and new queens) do not mate, which impedes the establishment of new colonies. However, due to the hornet's high reproductive rate and compensatory mechanisms, the overall control effect of the parasites is likely to be minor.</p>","PeriodicalId":19796,"journal":{"name":"Parasite","volume":"32 ","pages":"10"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11832165/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143441255","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Genetic diversity of Trichomonads from Milu deer (Elaphurus davidianus) in China.","authors":"Yilei Zhang, Zhouchun Li, Xinglong Song, Guodong Xiao, Lingru He, Jiade Bai, Zhenyu Zhong, Lijie Tian, Yan Chang, Zhuang Li, Qingyun Guo, Congshan Yang, Qingxun Zhang","doi":"10.1051/parasite/2025015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2025015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Milu deer, or Père David's deer (Elaphurus davidianus), a rare endemic species in China, represents a case of successful reintroduction of a species previously considered extinct in the wild. Trichomonads, protozoan symbionts capable of infecting vertebrates, are transmitted via the fecal-oral route; they are a subgroup of Parabasalia and include some pathogenic species that pose zoonotic risks. Until now, data on the diversity and prevalence of trichomonads in Chinese Milu deer have not been reported. To better understand the colonization status of trichomonads, fecal samples from 112 Milu deer across five nature reserves in China were collected. The ITS-1/5.8S/ITS-2 sequences were amplified using PCR to investigate the colonization rate of trichomonads and to assess evolutionary relationships and genetic characteristics through phylogenetic analysis. An occurrence of 38.39% was recorded in Milu deer, with sample collection sites (OR = 55.159, 95% CI = 3.166-961.113, p = 0.006), high relative humidity and average annual rainfall (OR = 11.675, 95% CI = 1.747-77.781, p = 0.011) identified as significant risk factors for trichomonads colonization. Undescribed trichomonads from four genera were identified, including Simplicimonas spp., Hypotrichomonas spp., Hexamastix spp., and Tetratrichomonas spp. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report on trichomonads in Milu deer in China. This study aims to enhance understanding of trichomonad colonization and associated risk factors, providing scientific guidance for the ex-situ conservation of Milu deer.</p>","PeriodicalId":19796,"journal":{"name":"Parasite","volume":"32 ","pages":"23"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11987501/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143974799","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}