Parasitology Research最新文献

{"title":"A preliminary survey of feline filarial parasites in Kerala State, India.","authors":"P Preena, Mevin Sabu Mathews, V P Hana, Sachin Manoj, Athira Sajeendran, Anita K Santhosh, Amrutha Anand, Adithya Sasi, K S Athira, Y Ajith, Bindu Lakshmanan, S Ajithkumar, P V Tresamol","doi":"10.1007/s00436-026-08639-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00436-026-08639-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Feline filarial parasites remain among the least investigated in India, despite the well-established endemicity of filariosis in canine and human populations. This study aimed to assess filarial infections in domestic cats in Kerala using both microscopy and molecular techniques, with a focus on evaluating their potential role as reservoir hosts. From September 2023 to February 2024, 300 owned cats presented to the University Veterinary Hospital, Mannuthy, were screened for circulating microfilariae using wet blood film examination. Four cats (1.33%) tested positive, of which three harbored sheathed microfilariae and one unsheathed. PCR amplification targeting the 5.8S–ITS2–28S ribosomal region of ribosomal DNA identified the sheathed forms as Brugia malayi and the unsheathed form as Dirofilaria repens. No co-infections were detected. Phylogenetic analysis of the 5.8S–ITS2–28S ribosomal sequences revealed that the B. malayi isolates clustered with previously reported feline isolates from Thailand, suggesting regional genetic relatedness. The D. repens isolate showed high sequence similarity to other Indian isolates, indicating genetic continuity across local strains. Although the parasitemia was lower than that reported in dogs and in cats from other endemic countries, the detection of zoonotic species in asymptomatic cats supports further investigation of the epidemiological significance of feline infections. Comprehensive, long-term studies involving molecular surveillance and vector ecology are recommended to clarify the epidemiological significance of feline hosts in filarial parasite transmission.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":"125 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12996007/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147468811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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 and functional effect on canie peripheral blood mononuclear cells of phosphoglycerate kinase from Echinococcus granulosus.","authors":"Zhao Jiaxin, Chen Xuke, Huang Juncheng, Wei Linying, Zhang Yuxia, Zhang Yanyan, Sun Yan, Bo Xinwen, Wang Zhengrong","doi":"10.1007/s00436-026-08625-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00436-026-08625-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cystic echinococcosis (CE), a major zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus, poses significant global health challenges. Definitive hosts are crucial for its transmission and control, yet the immune interactions between E. granulosus and these hosts are not well understood. Research indicates that the parasite’s phosphoglycerate kinase might play a role in immune regulation, though the specifics are unclear. To explore this, the gene’s open reading frame was cloned and analyzed with bioinformatics, and the PGK protein was produced using prokaryotic expression technology. The protein’s antigenicity was evaluated using Western blot, and its localization was studied during E. granulosus development. Recombinant Eg-PGK’s effect on PBMCs was analyzed via qPCR. The ORF sequence of the Eg-PGK gene was successfully cloned. Bioinformatics showed the protein lacks transmembrane domains and signal peptides but has multiple B-cell epitopes. Its secondary structure is mainly α-helices (45.06%) and random coils (39.04%). SDS-PAGE confirmed the recombinant protein’s molecular weight as 62 kDa. Western blot showed it elicited a strong immune response in positive canine serum. Eg-PGK expression was much higher in adults than in protoscoleces (P < 0.0001). Western blot showed the recombinant protein was well-recognized by canine serum, indicating a strong immune response. It also boosted canine PBMC proliferation at 10 µg/mL (P < 0.001) and increased NO secretion at 5 µg/mL (P < 0.001). qPCR showed it affected IFN-γ secretion and expression in canine PBMCs. qPCR results demonstrated that higher concentrations of rEg-PGK led to decreased expression of Bcl-2 and GASP1. Combined with the flow cytometric data, these findings confirm that the antigen exerts an anti-apoptotic effect. Meanwhile, the increased expression of IL-18 suggests a pro-pyroptotic role of rEg-PGK. Thus, Eg-PGK inhibits cell apoptosis, promotes pyroptosis, and enhances the secretion of Th1-type cytokines, thereby boosting the host immune response and facilitating parasite clearance. These results provide valuable insights and experimental basis for the development of vaccines targeting the definitive host against echinococcosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12987865/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147444499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Endoparasites of the Imperial Cormorant (Leucocarbo atriceps) in the Falkland Islands: investigation of secondary hosts and detection methods.","authors":"Hannah Métaireau, Carlos Hermosilla, Petra Quillfeldt","doi":"10.1007/s00436-026-08658-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00436-026-08658-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Seabirds are important apex predators and valuable sentinels of marine ecosystem health. Because they integrate signals from multiple trophic levels, their diet provides important insights into marine food-web dynamics, gastrointestinal parasite fauna, and the impacts of human activities. Changes in diet composition can affect seabird reproductive success, health status and parasite load. Many protozoan and helminth parasites depend on predator-prey interactions to complete their life cycles, making dietary analysis a useful tool for understanding parasite transmission and ecology. Here, 82 pellets were collected from an Imperial Cormorant (Leucocarbo atriceps) colony in the Falkland Islands/Malvinas Islands (51°43’S, 61°19’W) in 2020 and 2022. Preys were identified using hard remains and metazoan endoparasites using morphological and genetic identification. Parasitological analysis of pellets was performed using the standard sodium-acetate-formaldehyde method (SAF). The diet primarily consisted of fish, particularly ray-thinned fish species (Patagonotothen spp.), crustaceans [squat lobsters; (Munida spp.)], and to a lesser extent polychaetes and cephalopods. The presence of nematodes of the family Anisakidae, including the genus Contracaecum, was detected using both methods (PCR and SAF). The comparison with the diet suggests that ray-thinned fish (Patagonotothen spp.) likely act as paratenic hosts for Contracaecum (Anisakidae) infections in the Imperial Cormorant. Further, a fish-borne trematode (Heterophyidae) was detected by SAF, which is the first reported in free-ranging Imperial Cormorants. However, no relationship could be demonstrated between this parasite and prey. Further studies are necessary to fill the gaps in our knowledge of parasites’ life cycles and their effects on Imperial Cormorant’s health in the Falklands.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":"125 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12979332/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147434615","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correction to: In vitro development and hatching success of Alaria spp. miracidia (Trematoda: Diplostomidae).","authors":"Zanda Ozoliņa, Sintija Zepa, Gunita Deksne","doi":"10.1007/s00436-026-08661-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00436-026-08661-x","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":"125 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12979254/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147434554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The mitochondrial genome characteristics of Coronocyclus coronatus (Looss, 1900) and comparative analysis with other strongylid nematodes.","authors":"Yan Hao, Yinghao Xia, Liqun Ma, Zhe Hao, Bing Li, Yanzhen Bu","doi":"10.1007/s00436-026-08633-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00436-026-08633-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As important equine parasites, strongylid nematodes can cause severe health impairments and economic losses in the livestock industry. Current control strategies primarily rely on anthelmintic drugs. Therefore, elucidating the characteristics of its mitochondrial genomes not only clarifies the evolutionary mechanisms of strongylid nematodes but also provides a molecular-level theoretical basis for developing environmentally adaptive control strategies. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Coronocyclus coronatus was sequenced and analyzed using next-generation sequencing technology. Results revealed a 13,870 bp circular double-stranded molecule containing 12 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 2 non-coding regions, with a high AT content (74.75%) indicating significant AT bias. Among the 12 protein-coding genes, ATT, TTG, and ATA served as start codons. All genes terminated with complete TAA or TAG stop codons, except for COX3 which used an incomplete T stop codon. Phylogenetic analysis revealed closer affinity of C. coronatus with Cylicocyclus than with other Coronocyclus species. This study enriches mitochondrial genome data for strongylid nematodes, providing a foundation for resolving the taxonomic status and molecular evolution of Strongylidae.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12975830/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147390482","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"First record of natural helminth infection in early larval stages of two Anuran species.","authors":"Maria Luiza Ribeiro Delgado, Murilo de Souza Queiroz, Hudson Alves Pinto, Tiago Leite Pezzuti, Luciano Alves Dos Anjos","doi":"10.1007/s00436-026-08649-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00436-026-08649-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study reports trematode infection in tadpoles at early developmental stages under natural conditions. While most previous records describe infections in more advanced stages, we identified metacercariae of the diplostomid Neodiplostomum sp. in tadpoles of five anuran species at the Gosner stage between 25 and 28. A total of 207 tadpoles from eight species (Families Hylidae and Leptodactylidae) were collected from seasonal water bodies from Brazil, of which 39 were found parasitized with helminths. Within this group of infected tadpoles, 20 were specifically parasitized by trematodes, 12 of them at the earliest stages of tadpole development (Gosner stage 25). This record indicates that tadpole infection with trematodes may occur earlier than previously documented, providing new insights into the infection dynamics of larval trematodes.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":"125 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12971866/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147390497","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Single oral-dose fluralaner treatment against Ophionyssus natricis infestation - a large scale study demostrating long-term efficacy in captive snakes.","authors":"Diego Cattarossi, Erica Marchiori, Federica Marcer, Paolo Zorzi, Elena Frara, Giulia Maria De Benedictis","doi":"10.1007/s00436-026-08657-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00436-026-08657-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The hematophagous mite Ophionyssus natricis, vector of several viral and bacterial diseases in snakes, is one of the most challenging pathogens for snake breeders. The high environmental resistance of its larval stage makes repeated treatment of the animals unavoidable, while eradication of the mites from enclosures requires extensive cleansing and disinfection, often involving chemical products with known toxicity. The use of ectoparasiticides of the family of isoxazoline have recently proved effective against both adult and larvae of O. natricis, nevertheless data for fluralaner remains limited, particularly in large cohorts. In this study, 1579 snakes representing 18 different species were treated orally with a liquid formulation of fluralaner (Exzolt®) at 2.5 mg/kg, administered either by injection into the prey prior to feeding or via gastric gavage. Mite detachment and mortality occurred within 5 h, and no reinfestation was observed during subsequent 6-months follow-up period, despite the absence of environmental treatments. No side effects were reported in any treated animals, and no negative impact was observed on oviposition or hatching rate. The prolonged efficacy observed in this study further supports its suitability as a minimally invasive yet highly effective treatment of O. natricis infestations in snakes, given the long half-life of fluralaner already documented in mammals.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":"125 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12967550/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147373025","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The photodynamic inactivation in the control of the seafood zoonotic parasite, Anisakis sp.","authors":"P Ramos, A S Joaquinito, M M Oliveira, M G P M S Neves, A Almeida, M A F Faustino","doi":"10.1007/s00436-026-08635-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00436-026-08635-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Anisakis spp. L3 larvae commonly found in marine fish species are an important biological hazard when raw or inadequately thermally processed fishery products are consumed with live larvae, highlighting the need for effective control strategies. This study evaluated the efficacy and mechanism of photodynamic inactivation (PDI) of Anisakis L3 larvae, using the cationic photosensitizer (PS) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(1-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin tetraiodide (TMPyP). Larvae were collected from Atlantic horse mackerel and grouped by size: batch A (larvae ≈ 1.5 cm) and batch B (larvae ≈ 2.0 cm). Inactivation assays were performed in microcosms at 50 µM of TMPyP under different conditions: incubation times (15 min to 21 h); incubation temperatures (0.5 and 22 °C); irradiation period (2–8 h) and light irradiance (4, 14 and 67 mW/cm2). Viability and tissue damage of the larvae were assessed at post-treatment. In both batches, 100% of larvae mortality was achieved after 21 h of dark incubation at 22 °C with TMPyP, followed by 6–8 h of white light irradiation at 67 mW/cm2. Similar results were observed in batch B, when the dark incubation was performed at 0.5 °C. Notably, batch B, larvae showed more exuberant cytotoxic effect, including severe damage of the intestinal epithelium, leading to loss of the characteristic triradiate appearance. These findings indicate that PDI using TMPyP is effective in inactivating Anisakis larvae and could be a potential alternative to freezing for ensuring the safety of fishery products in the food industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12975826/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147366273","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Serological investigation on Sarcocystis spp. infection and associated risk factors in South American camelids in Italy.","authors":"Elisa Castaldo, Gastón Moré, Gereon Schares, Francesco Buono, Stefano Scarcelli, Giovanni Sgroi, Farwa Humak, Walter Basso, Vincenzo Veneziano","doi":"10.1007/s00436-026-08655-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00436-026-08655-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Protozoa of the genus Sarcocystis have an obligate two-host-prey-predator life cycle, in which South American Camelids (SAC) are among the intermediate hosts for certain species. Sarcocystis spp. infection has been well documented in SAC in endemic areas of the South America, while data from Europe are absent. This study assessed the seroprevalence of Sarcocystis spp. in SAC in Italy investigating related risk factors. A total of 506 SAC sera (486 alpacas and 20 llamas) from 38 sampling sites were analysed to detect antibodies to Sarcocystis spp. using the Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT). A seropositivity of 15.2% (77/506) was found, corresponding to 14.4% (70/486) in alpacas and 35.0% in llamas (7/20). Risk factor analysis showed that Sarcocystis spp. seropositivity increased with age, while no statistically significant association was found with regard to sex. Access to stables and/or pasture by dogs was identified as a putative risk factor, particularly as the number of dogs increased. Further association was found between seropositivity to Sarcocystis spp. and N. caninum. Although the life cycles of Sarcocystis spp. in SAC are not fully elucidated, these findings highlight the need for further studies to clarify the potential role of dogs as definitive hosts for Sarcocystis species infecting SAC in Europe. This study provides for the first time data on specific antibodies for Sarcocystis spp. in SAC in Europe, highlighting the need of improving the surveillance of this protozoan in camelids, particularly given the growing interest in camelid meat production.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":"125 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12963157/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147355901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phylogenetic and functional niche breadth in two taxa of arthropod ectoparasites: correlations with ecomorphological traits are scale-dependent.","authors":"Boris R Krasnov, Vasily I Grabovsky, Maxim V Vinarski, Natalia P Korallo-Vinarskaya","doi":"10.1007/s00436-026-08656-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00436-026-08656-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We studied the relationships between phylogenetic (PNB) and functional (FNB) niche breadth and abundance and body size in fleas and gamasid mites in multiple regions across the Palearctic. We asked whether (a) PNB or FNB correlated with abundance or body size; (b) the pattern of this correlation differed between the regional (within a region) and the continental (across regions) scales; and (c) the regional PNB and FNB of a parasite was affected by the phylogenetic and functional, respectively, diversity of all hosts in that region. The relationships between abundance and PNB or FNB were mainly manifested on the continental scale, but mostly not on the regional scale, being positive in both taxa. The effect of body size on PNB and FNB was found in only a few regions for fleas and in no regions for mites. On the contrary, continental PNB and FNB did not correlate with flea body size but decreased with an increase in mite body size. Regional PNB and FNB values of some, but not all, flea and mite species were positively associated with the phylogenetic and functional, respectively, diversity of hosts available in a region. We conclude that the relationships between the abundance and body size of an ectoparasite and its PNB or FNB are scale dependent. These relationships may differ from or be similar to the relationships between abundance or body size and niche breadth measured as the size of a host spectrum, depending on spatial scale and ectoparasite taxon.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":"125 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12957141/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147348877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}