Parasitology International最新文献

{"title":"Mapping the epidemiology and intensity of Parascaris equorum infection in equids in Erbil Province, Iraq","authors":"Khalid Jabar Aziz ,&nbsp;Nawzat Aboziad Issa ,&nbsp;Farhad Buzo Mikaeel ,&nbsp;Shameeran Salman Ismael","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103115","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103115","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated the prevalence, intensity, and associated risk factors of <em>Parascaris equorum (P. equorum)</em> infection in equids using both parasitological and molecular methods. Data on age, sex, body condition, and housing conditions were systematically collected to evaluate their influence on infection risk. Fecal samples from 294 equines (148 horses, 47 mules, 63 donkeys, and 36 ponies) were examined microscopically using direct wet-mount and flotation techniques, with infection intensity quantified using the McMaster technique to determine eggs per gram (EPG). Molecular confirmation was conducted via PCR targeting the ITS-2 region of <em>P. equorum</em>, followed by sequencing one PCR-positive sample per species and phylogenetic analysis using MEGA 7 software. The overall prevalence was 28.2 %, with the highest rates observed in donkeys (38.1 %), followed by horses (29.1 %), mules (23.4 %), and ponies (13.9 %). Higher infection rates were significantly associated with younger age, male sex, poor body condition, and outdoor housing. Infection intensity varied by species, with moderate infections more frequent in horses and severe cases predominant in donkeys. Phylogenetic analysis revealed high genetic similarity between local and international <em>P. equorum</em> isolates, indicating low genetic variability. These findings underscore the widespread presence of <em>P. equorum</em> in equids and highlight the importance of combining conventional and molecular diagnostics for effective detection and control. To mitigate infection and improve equine health, the study recommends implementing routine deworming schedules, enhancing stable hygiene and manure management, and providing targeted nutritional support, particularly for animals in poor body condition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"109 ","pages":"Article 103115"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144522537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"First documented case of ectoparasitism in electric eel: Dolops discoidalis (Branchiura: Argulidae) infesting Electrophorus voltai (Teleostei: Gymnotidae)","authors":"João Otávio Santos Silva ,&nbsp;Leandro Sousa ,&nbsp;Eris Amorim de Paula ,&nbsp;Ricardo Massato Takemoto ,&nbsp;Lucélia Nobre Carvalho","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103114","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103114","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Electrophorus voltai</em>, commonly known as poraquê, is a fish species widely distributed in the Amazon Basin. This study presents the first record of parasitism by <em>Dolops discoidalis</em>, an obligate hematophagous ectoparasite, in <em>E. voltai</em> from the Xingu River Basin. Six host specimens were examined (mean total length: 119.5 cm), harboring 41 parasite individuals (19 males and 21 females), with a prevalence of 100 % and a mean intensity of 6.83 ± 2.22. Parasites were attached to specific regions of the host's body. Our findings support the affinity of <em>D. discoidalis</em> for scaleless fish and contribute to the still limited knowledge of the parasitic fauna of poraquê, <em>Electrophorus</em> species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"109 ","pages":"Article 103114"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144529242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ultrastructural and phylogenetic characterization of some trematode cercariae emerging from the freshwater ampullariid snail, Lanistes carinatus (Olivier, 1804)","authors":"Mohammed E. El-Zeiny,&nbsp;Ahmed M. Ghoneim,&nbsp;Ola A. Abu Samak,&nbsp;Abdel Aziz A. Khidr","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103113","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103113","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ampullariid snails act as the first intermediate host for many intestinal parasites, such as Stomylotrmatidae, Phaneropsolidae, and Echinochasmidae. Both the Stomylotrmatidae and Phaneropsolidae families had the xiphidiocercariae type in their life cycle, while the Echinochasmidae had gymnocephalus cercaria type. Freshwater snails (<em>Lanistes carinatus</em>) were collected from Al-<em>Inaniyyah</em>, a village in the Damietta Governorate. The cercaria types were harvested by exposing the naturally infected snails to a strong artificial illumination for 2 h. This study added ultrastructure description and molecular structure of the <em>28S</em> rRNA gene for the emerging cercariae types. This study included two types of cercariae that emerged from the freshwater snail <em>Lanistes carinatus</em> (xiphidiocercariae and gymnocephalus cercaria types). The oral sucker of the first type is armed with xiphoid-spine. While the oral sucker of the second type of cercariae was decorated with non-ciliated sensory papillae and is armed with spiny collar. The phylogenetic positions were inferred by the sequencing the <em>28S</em> rRNA gene. The sequences of the xiphidiocercariae were linked to <em>Stomylotrema pictum</em> (family Stomylotrmatidae) and <em>Phaneropsolus praomidis</em> (family Phaneropsolidae), while, the sequence of the gymnocephalus cercariae was related to the family Echinochasmidae.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"109 ","pages":"Article 103113"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144529243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Malaria control and elimination in Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea: Multidisciplinary and collaborative research with island communities, 1985–2024","authors":"Chim W. Chan ,&nbsp;Akira Kaneko","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103111","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103111","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sustained research and community engagement are essential to effective malaria control and elimination. In this article, we describe our research activities in Oceania since 1985 and highlight their contribution to our understanding of malaria epidemiology and control. Working in close collaboration with the local communities and the Ministries of Health in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, our multidisciplinary projects have employed both field and laboratory methods to cover a wide range of topics including intervention implementation and evaluation, social barriers to adoption of interventions, molecular and population genetics of <em>Plasmodium</em>, <em>Anopheles</em>, and humans, and serological markers of malaria transmission and vector exposure. Findings from these studies have enhanced our knowledge of different facets of malaria and informed control interventions toward elimination not only in Oceania but also other endemic areas where elimination is targeted. Recent resurgences of <em>P. vivax</em> in Vanuatu highlight the need for continuing collaborative research to achieve sustainable freedom from malaria.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"109 ","pages":"Article 103111"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144480817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Method for deletion of variant surface antigen genes at subtelomeric region of Plasmodium falciparum","authors":"Shymaa A. Saeed ,&nbsp;Farahana Kresno Dewayanti ,&nbsp;Yuki Nishimura ,&nbsp;Tetsuya Iida ,&nbsp;Shiroh Iwanaga","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103112","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103112","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Plasmodium falciparum</em> expresses variant surface antigens (VSAs), including PfEMP1, RIFIN, and STEVOR, SURFIN on the surface of infected red blood cells. These antigens interact with host receptors on vascular endothelial and immune cells, contributing to both parasite pathogenicity and immune evasion. VSAs are encoded by large multigene families, comprising dozens to hundreds of genes located primarily in heterochromatic regions such as subtelomeric domains, which are notoriously refractory to genetic manipulation. In addition, since <em>P. falciparum</em> parasites undergo antigenic variation by randomly switching VSA expression, it is challenging to use parasites that stably express target VSAs for experimental purposes. As a result, functional characterization of these VSAs has been limited, despite their well-established clinical significance. Here, we present a novel method for targeted deletion of subtelomeric regions in <em>P. falciparum</em> chromosomes by combining the heterochromatin-accessible AsCas12a-UL nuclease with telomere healing. Using this approach, we successfully deleted both subtelomeric regions of chromosome 2. Furthermore, we achieved simultaneous removal of up to seven subtelomeric regions using tandemly arrayed crRNAs, with an efficiency exceeding 85 %. This method provides a powerful tool for generating VSA-null parasites, facilitating precise genetic dissection of individual VSA gene families and their roles in host–parasite interactions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"109 ","pages":"Article 103112"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144480819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lepocreadioidea (Digenea: Trematoda) of southern Africa, including a new genus and species of Lepidapedidae infecting the galjoen, Dichistius capensis (Cuvier) (Centrarchiformes: Dichistiidae) from off Namibia","authors":"Russell Q-Y. Yong ,&nbsp;Rodney A. Bray ,&nbsp;Jessica Schwelm ,&nbsp;Clarisse Louvard ,&nbsp;Wynand Malherbe ,&nbsp;Nico J. Smit","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103110","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103110","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Investigations into the digenean trematode fauna of southern African marine fishes revealed representatives of three families of the superfamily Lepocreadioidea Odhner, 1905. A new taxon, requiring the proposal of a new genus, <em>Cutmoreia galjoen</em> n. gen. et n. sp., is described from the intestine of the galjoen, <em>Dichistius capensis</em> (Cuvier) (Dichistiidae), collected from off the shore between Langstrand and Swakopmund, Namibia. A combination of morphology and molecular sequence data place this taxon in the Lepidapedidae Yamaguti, 1958, representing the first member of this family to be recorded from the southeastern Atlantic African coast. Examinations of brown mussels, <em>Perna perna</em> (Linnaeus) (Mytilidae) from the Garden Route National Park (Tsitsikamma section), South Africa revealed the presence of metacercariae in the mantle tissue; molecular sequencing of these intermediate stages found these to match those of <em>C</em>. <em>galjoen</em> n. sp. from Namibia. <em>Pseudaephnidiogenes rhabdosargi</em> (Prudhoe, 1956) (Aephnidiogenidae Yamaguti, 1934) was recollected from off South Africa for the first time since 1985; we provide the first molecular sequence data for this species, along with those of a species of <em>Opechona</em> Looss, 1907 (Lepocreadiidae Odhner, 1905), the first record of a species of this genus from South Africa.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"109 ","pages":"Article 103110"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144336728","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pharmacokinetics and efficacy of isometamidium chloride against Trypanosoma vivax in cattle","authors":"Luiz Fellipe Monteiro Couto ,&nbsp;Dina Maria Beltrán Zapa ,&nbsp;Luciana Maffini Heller ,&nbsp;Thiago Souza Azeredo Bastos ,&nbsp;Luis Fernando Vettorato ,&nbsp;Heitor de Oliveira Arriero Amaral ,&nbsp;Rafael Marin Chiummo ,&nbsp;Daniel de Castro Rodrigues ,&nbsp;Vando Edésio Soares ,&nbsp;Lorena Lopes Ferreira ,&nbsp;Welber Daniel Zanetti Lopes","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103109","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103109","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We evaluated the pharmacokinetics (pk), preventive efficacy (PE) and therapeutic efficacy (TE) of isometamidium chloride (ISM) against <em>T. vivax</em>. For the pk study, the animals received ISM 1 mg/kg (1 mL/40 kg) on day 0 and plasma samples were collected at day 0 (immediately before treatment), 1 h, 3 h 6 h, 9 h and 12 h after treatment, D + 1 (24 h and 36 h), D + 2 (48 h), D + 7, D + 14, D + 21, D + 28, D + 42, D + 56 and D + 68 post treatment. Plasma samples were analyzed using mass spectrometry coupled to ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). As result for pk study, the ISM 1 mg/kg reached the highest plasma concentrations 1 h after administration (488.57 ± 208.59 μg/L) and was found in plasma until 24 h. No further detection of ISM in plasma happened beyond 36 h after treatment. For the PE study, twenty-four bovines divided in four groups of six animals each. All groups received ISM 1 mg/kg (1 mL/40 kg) on different days. The T01 group received ISM on day −120, while the T02 animals were treated with ISM on day −90, T03 was treated with ISM on day −60, and the control group (T04) consisted of two animals that received saline solution on day −120, two other animals that received the solution on day −90, and the last two animals that received saline on day −60. In the PE study, the experimental infection with 1 × 10⁶ trypomastigotes of <em>T. vivax</em> of the 24 animals occurred on day 0. Until day 30 after infection, the analysis of <em>T. vivax</em> was performed by the Woo, Brener and cPCR methods, to determine the PE of ISM after 60, 90 and 120 days. As result for the PE study, the PE of ISM against <em>T. vivax</em> was 100 % up to 90 days. For the TE study, 16 animals were experimentally infected with <em>T. vivax</em> trypomastigotes on day −5. On Day 0, the animals were divided into two groups or eight animals each: T01 treated with ISM 0.5 mg/kg (1 mL/80 kg), and T02 treated with saline solution (control). Blood samples after treatment were again analyzed by the Woo, Brener and cPCR methods to determine TE of ISM. Furthermore, in the TE study, to prove that the animals in the treated group were not infected with <em>T. vivax</em>, a biological test was performed on young goats on day +45. As result for the TE study, the TE of ISM 0.5 mg/kg was 100 %, and no young goats were infected. In conclusion, the commercial ISM-based product tested here can be used both preventively and therapeutically against <em>T. vivax</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"109 ","pages":"Article 103109"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144310293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intraventricular Neurocysticercosis: An atypical presentation of a little-known and poorly understood disease – A case report","authors":"Alex Aaron Agallo-Martinez ,&nbsp;Polet Juarez-Ortiz ,&nbsp;Roger Carrillo-Mezo ,&nbsp;Agnès Fleury","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103108","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103108","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Neurocysticercosis (NC) is defined as an infection of the central nervous system by the larvae of <em>Taenia solium</em>. Intraventricular involvement occurs in approximately 7–30 % of cases, with the fourth ventricle being the most frequently affected site. The main complication associated with this form is the development of hydrocephalus, and the optimal therapeutic approach remains under debate. This case report describes a patient with intraventricular NC who achieved a successful outcome with medical management. The case is notable for several uncommon features, including cyst migration, calcification, and subsequent disappearance of the calcified lesion. It provides a valuable opportunity to explore and discuss this rare and poorly understood form of NC.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"109 ","pages":"Article 103108"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144291188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Total-evidence phylogenetic hypothesis of Hexabothriidae Price, 1942","authors":"Kaitlyn M. Dalrymple ,&nbsp;Emanuel L. Razzolini ,&nbsp;Walter A. Boeger","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103107","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103107","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>For the last 3 decades, the most cited phylogenetic hypothesis of the Hexabothriidae is that of Boeger &amp; Kritsky's [1989, International Journal for Parasitology 19, 425–440] and subsequent revisions. This phylogeny was based on morphologic features and excluded two genera due to the lack of available specimens at the time – since then, four additional genera have been proposed. Furthermore, molecular data for specimens of the family were generated subsequently, including sequences from members of <em>Erpocotyle</em> produced in the current study. A phylogenetic hypothesis for the family is proposed using maximum likelihood analyses of available 18S and 28S rDNA sequences obtained from GenBank and produced herein in conjunction with morphological data sensu Boeger &amp; Kritsky, 1989. A thorough literature review was conducted and morphological character states were updated, included in the total-evidence analysis, and discussed. In doing so, we evidenced consistent support for some intrafamily clades and updated the phylogeny by including recently described and previously excluded genera.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"109 ","pages":"Article 103107"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144302714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Myxobolus medusae n. sp., a new species of Myxozoa with dendritic appendages","authors":"Nayana Moraes de Sena ,&nbsp;Jhonata Eduard ,&nbsp;Camila Maria Barbosa Pereira ,&nbsp;José Ledamir Sindeaux Neto ,&nbsp;Michele Velasco","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103106","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103106","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The genus <em>Myxobolus</em>, belonging to the class Myxozoa, is a cnidarian genus characterized by ellipsoidal or rounded myxospores with two polar capsules located in the anterior sutural plane, commonly without caudal projections. However, diverse morphologies have been described in recent studies of myxospores, exhibiting various appendage forms. The present study describes the morphological and molecular characteristics of a new species of <em>Myxobolus</em> in the red piranha <em>Pygocentrus nattereri</em>. In 16 % (3/18) of the fish specimens captured in Lake Sacaizal, Amapá State, whitish cysts containing ovoid myxospores with dendritic caudal appendages were observed in the anterior chamber of the eye. The myxospores measured 17.7 μm long, 15.6 μm wide, and 14.0 μm thick and had two equally sized pyriform polar capsules 9.9 μm long and 4.2 μm wide. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the newly identified species, <em>Myxobolus medusae</em> n. sp., formed a clade with other species of <em>Myxobolus</em> without appendages and <em>Henneguya</em>, which infects Characiformes in Brazil, with a genetic distance above 12 %. These morphological and molecular data provide insights into a new species of the genus <em>Myxobolus</em> in <em>P. nattereri</em>, a fish species of socioeconomic importance in the Amazon region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"109 ","pages":"Article 103106"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144249151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}