Parasitology International最新文献

{"title":"Leveraging machine learning for predicting Opisthorchis viverrini infection in cats: A tool for veterinary epidemiology.","authors":"Petcharat Chompo, Veerasak Punyapornwithaya, Banchob Sripa, Sirikachorn Tangkawattana","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103140","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103140","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Opisthorchis viverrini (Ov) infection is a major public health concern in the Greater Mekong Subregion, with cats as key reservoir hosts. Although machine learning (ML) is widely used in human medicine, its application in veterinary epidemiology remains limited. This study aimed to develop interpretable ML models to predict Ov infection and to identify key risk factors in cats using data from 175 households in endemic areas. Five ML algorithms-Classification Tree, Random Forest, Ridge Logistic Regression (Ridge LR), eXtreme Gradient Boosting, and Support Vector Machine (SVM)-were optimized using feature selection methods, hyperparameter tuning, and SMOTE. The results demonstrated that Ridge LR with Minimum Redundancy Maximum Relevance (mRMR), tuned Ridge LR, and tuned SVM achieved reliable performance, with ROC-AUC values exceeding 0.7. Specifically, default Ridge LR with mRMR achieved strong balanced accuracy (0.722), while tuned Ridge LR attained the highest sensitivity (0.667). Tuned SVM with mRMR yielded a test ROC-AUC of 0.723 and PR-AUC of 0.473, along with a balanced accuracy of 0.682. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis identified key risk factors, including residence in flooded areas, feeding fish scraps to cats, and annual rainfall, emphasizing the role of environmental factors in Ov transmission. These findings highlight the potential of ML in veterinary epidemiology and emphasize the importance of selecting appropriate methods based on data characteristics. The study suggests that targeted, risk-based interventions focusing on these key risk factors are crucial for effective Ov control in endemic regions.</p>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":" ","pages":"103140"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144799907","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":"Congenital malaria in Nigeria: A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Paul Olalekan Odeniran ,&nbsp;Kehinde Foluke Paul-Odeniran ,&nbsp;Isaiah Oluwafemi Ademola","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103147","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103147","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Congenital malaria (CM), a rare condition where malaria parasites are transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy or delivery. The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights the heightened vulnerability of both mothers and neonates in malaria-endemic regions. To assess the prevalence of CM in Nigeria, a systematic review and quality-effects meta-analysis were conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. Study selection, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment were performed independently by two investigators. Literature databases, including PubMed, AJOL, Google Scholar, Malaria Consortium Library and Web of Science, were searched for published data between January 2000 and December 2024 reporting congenital malaria in neonates (0–7 days). From 483 studies identified, 35 studies comprising 9503 neonates met the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of congenital malaria was 12.7 % (95 % CI: 7.3–19.2), with high heterogeneity (<em>I</em>^<em>2</em> = 97.3, <em>Q</em> = 1241.3, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.0001). The average parasite count from neonates with congenital malaria was 56.6/μl. Neonates with both malaria and septicaemia were 4.8 % (3.4–6.7). Subgroup analyses of maternal‑neonate pairings revealed maternal, placental, baby peripheral and cord blood malaria parasitaemia prevalences of 25.5 %, 20.3 %, 12.9 %, and 11.1 %, respectively. The average maternal age of parasitaemic babies was 29.05 ± 4.3 years. These findings emphasise the significant burden of congenital malaria in Nigeria, with potential adverse outcomes for newborn health. CM remains a critical public health concern in endemic regions. Enhanced surveillance and targeted interventions are imperative to reduce CM transmission and improve health outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 103147"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144902405","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":"Unveiling hidden diversity in Cosmetocleithrum (Monogenoidea: Dactylogyridae) from thorny catfishes (Doradidae) endemic to South America: Two new species, morphological variation, and molecular phylogenetic insights","authors":"Geusivam B. Soares ,&nbsp;Edson A. Adriano ,&nbsp;José L. Luque ,&nbsp;Juan A. Balbuena ,&nbsp;Marcus V. Domingues ,&nbsp;Antônio A.M. Maia","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103128","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103128","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The <em>Cosmetocleithrum</em> represents the most diverse group of monogenoids parasitizing Neotropical doradid catfishes. In this study, based on morphological and molecular data, we describe two new species, <em>Cosmetocleithrum guamaensis</em> n. sp. and <em>Cosmetocleithrum taeniophallum</em> n. sp., and assess their phylogenetic relationships within the Dactylogyridae using partial 28S rDNA sequences. Our analyses support the validity of these new taxa and suggest their phylogenetic affinity with <em>Cosmetocleithrum</em> species parasitizing auchenipterid catfishes. Additionally, we confirm the presence of <em>Cosmetocleithrum falsunilatum</em> and <em>Cosmetocleithrum bulbocirrus</em> in <em>Megalodoras uranoscopus</em> and <em>Pterodoras granulosus</em>, respectively, with <em>C. falsunilatum</em> exhibiting notable morphological variation across river basins, possibly influenced by environmental factors. Our phylogenetic results corroborate previous studies indicating two distinct <em>Cosmetocleithrum</em> lineages, one exclusively associated with doradids and another with both doradids and auchenipterids, with weak support for the genus' monophyly. Furthermore, we discuss morphological diversity within <em>Cosmetocleithrum</em>, highlighting significant variation in key diagnostic features, including haptoral structures, copulatory complex morphology, and vaginal opening orientation. These findings reinforce previous hypotheses suggesting that <em>Cosmetocleithrum</em> may not constitute a natural group and that taxonomic revisions are needed. The limited molecular data available for <em>Cosmetocleithrum</em> species (with only 13 out of 31 described species studied) and the disparity between the number of known doradid hosts and those surveyed for monogenoids highlight the urgent need for further integrative taxonomic and phylogenetic studies. This approach will be crucial for providing valuable insights and advancing our understanding of the complex evolutionary puzzle of one of the largest genera of monogenoids parasitizing Neotropical Siluriformes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 103128"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144682921","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 case of clinical canine hepatozoonosis in Ukraine","authors":"Maryna Galat ,&nbsp;Diana Gliga ,&nbsp;Vladyslava Storozhuk ,&nbsp;Oleksandr Paraska ,&nbsp;Olena Semenko ,&nbsp;Sergii Honcharov ,&nbsp;Hans-Peter Fuehrer ,&nbsp;Gaston Moré ,&nbsp;Walter Basso ,&nbsp;Britta Lundström-Stadelmann ,&nbsp;Caroline F. Frey","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103125","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103125","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Canine hepatozoonosis is caused by the tick-borne protozoans <em>Hepatozoon canis</em> and <em>Hepatozoon americanum</em> (Apicomplexa, Hepatozoidae). While <em>H. americanum</em> is widespread in the south-central and south-eastern United States, <em>H. canis</em> is documented in Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America, and is transmitted to dogs by ingesting infected ticks, primarily <em>Rhipicephalus sanguineus</em>. In Europe, this vector is mainly distributed in the Mediterranean region but endemic areas within Central Europe have also been reported, possibly facilitated by climate change.</div><div>A mixed-breed male puppy, ∼3–7 months-old, evacuated from Kherson City, Ukraine, was admitted to a private veterinary clinic in Kyiv in August 2023. There was no information about the owner and history of the animal. Physical examination evidenced fever, anorexia, lethargy, mild dehydration, and pale mucous membranes. Alopecia, purulent skin ulcers, and pruritus were also observed. On day 1 of admission, a 34 % hematocrit and elevated leukocyte counts, particularly granulocytes and lymphocytes, were observed. <em>H. canis</em> gamonts were detected in stained blood smears and confirmed by specific PCR. Treatment was initiated with imidocarb at 6.6 mg/kg i.m. at 15-day intervals for six weeks, and doxycycline 10 mg/kg orally once daily for two weeks. Blood counts improved between towards day 16, with initial increase and subsequent normalization of hematological parameters. <em>Hepatozoon</em>-PCR was still positive on day 16. The dog made a full recovery, and no further tests were done thereafter. The systemic clinical signs were likely parasite-induced. <em>H. canis</em> and its vector <em>R. sanguineus</em> are being increasingly reported in Europe outside of their original geographical distribution, the Mediterranean basin. This case confirms the geographical expansion of this protozoan parasite.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 103125"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144668181","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":"The first molecular phylogenetic analysis of Balanorchis anastrophus (Paramphistomoidea: Balanorchiidae), a rumen fluke found in cattle in South Brazil","authors":"André S. Lopes ,&nbsp;Danimar López-Hernández ,&nbsp;Sean A. Locke ,&nbsp;Hudson A. Pinto","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103117","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103117","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rumen fluke <em>Balanorchis anastrophus</em> Fischoeder, 1901 is a paramphistome found in introduced domestic and native wild ruminants in South America, and the sole member of the family Balanorchiidae. No DNA sequences have been obtained from <em>B. anastrophus</em>, and little is known about the life cycle, distribution, pathology and epidemiology of this species. In this study, paramphistomes found in the rumen of slaughtered cattle from Rio Grande, Southern Brazil, in 2022 were subjected to morphological and molecular analyses. Stained whole and manually cut worms were subjected to morphological and morphometric analyses by light microscopy, which allowed the identification of <em>B. anastrophus</em>. In the molecular analysis, the first genetic data for the species were generated by Sanger [28S (1162 bp), ITS2 (480 bp) and <em>cox</em><em>1</em> (764 bp)] and Next Generation [mt genome (14,259 bp, 22 protein coding genes); rDNA operon (7214 bp)] sequencing, which were used in phylogenetic analyses. In all phylogenetic analyses, <em>B. anastrophus</em> formed a distinct lineage from other paramphistomoid taxa with data available for comparison. Thus, at the current stage, Balanorchiidae is maintained as a distinct family of Paramphistomoidea. In most phylogenies, <em>B. anastrophus</em> was more closely related to New World paramphistomoids than to taxa from the Old World. This finding supports the South American origin of <em>B. anastrophus</em> and suggests that the infection of cattle is probably related to a parasite spillover from wild deer.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 103117"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144659871","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":"Mapping risk factors and spatial clusters of schistosomiasis mansoni in rural communities from Brazil: three cross-sectional studies between 2014 and 2022","authors":"Dharliton Soares Gomes ,&nbsp;Bianca Leal de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Paulo Ricardo Silva Coelho ,&nbsp;Allan de Jesus Mendonça Severino ,&nbsp;Nathália Moreira Teodoro de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Silvana Carvalho Thiengo ,&nbsp;Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara ,&nbsp;Deborah Aparecida Negrão-Corrêa ,&nbsp;Stefan Michael Geiger","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103145","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103145","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to determine the human positivity rate for <em>S. mansoni</em> infection and evaluate the association between socioeconomic factors and behavioral factors, as well as identify risk areas and changes in risk factors over the years 2014, 2015, and 2022 in rural communities in Brazil. We conducted three cross-sectional studies, included parasitological and malacological surveys, as well as risk questionnaires. To identify factors associated with <em>S. mansoni</em> infection, we used binomial generalized linear models. Spatial clusters of high-risk areas for <em>S. mansoni</em> infection were identified using Kernel and Flexible Spatial Scan. After anti-parasitic treatment and educational interventions, we observed a decline in prevalence from 2014 (45.9 %) to 2015 (10.38 %), followed by an increase to 26.03 % in 2022. Proximity to streams (&lt;200 m) and lack of household bathrooms remained significant risk factors in both 2014 and 2022. In 2022, using untreated water also increased the odds of infection. A persistent high-risk cluster was identified in the Tocantins community across all years (relative risk: 2.03–4.18), where residents continue to rely on a contaminated stream due to incomplete water infrastructure projects. These findings reveal the limitations of control strategies based only on diagnosis and treatment. Persistent transmission in vulnerable areas underscores the urgent need for integrated public health actions. Sustainable progress toward schistosomiasis elimination requires not only treatment, but also universal access to clean water, improved sanitation, and targeted health education. High-risk clusters like Tocantins demand prioritized, multisectoral interventions to reduce health disparities and interrupt the cycle of reinfection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 103145"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144863469","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":"Prevalence and genetic diversity of Theileria and Anaplasma species infecting cattle in Paraguay","authors":"Ngigi Noel Muthoni Mumbi ,&nbsp;Claudia Esther Silvera Rojas ,&nbsp;Believe Ahedor ,&nbsp;Yihong Ma ,&nbsp;Maria Fátima Rodríguez Valinotti ,&nbsp;Tomás Javier Acosta ,&nbsp;Thillaiampalam Sivakumar ,&nbsp;Naoaki Yokoyama","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103116","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103116","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bovine theileriosis and anaplasmosis are major tick-borne diseases affecting cattle health and productivity worldwide. Although cattle farming significantly contributes to Paraguay's economy, limited epidemiological data on the causative agents hinder the formulation of disease control measures. To address this challenge, the present study investigated the prevalence, risk factors, and genetic diversity of <em>Theileria annulata</em>, <em>Theileria orientalis</em>, and <em>Anaplasma marginale</em> among cattle populations in Paraguay. Blood DNA samples from 326 cattle in nine departments of Paraguay were screened with the pathogen-specific PCR assays. All three pathogens were detected with <em>A. marginale</em> (18.0 %) being the most prevalent, followed by <em>T. orientalis</em> (2.4 %) and <em>T. annulata</em> (1.5 %). In addition, further screening of <em>A. marginale</em>-negative samples using two PCR assays targeting the 16S rRNA and <em>groEL</em> genes of <em>Anaplasma</em> spp., followed by sequencing, detected an infection with <em>Candidatus</em> Anaplasma cinensis. We observed significantly higher <em>A. marginale</em>-positive rates in the Eastern region, males, and extensively managed cattle, as compared to those in the Western region, females, and semi-intensively managed cattle, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that <em>T. annulata tams1</em> gene sequences were diverse and occurred in multiple clades, while <em>T. orientalis mpsp</em> gene sequences clustered into the genotypes 1, 2, and 3. In contrast, <em>A. marginale msp5</em> gene sequences occurred within a single clade, suggesting a low genetic diversity. In conclusion, the detection of <em>T. annulata</em>, <em>T. orientalis</em> genotype 2, and <em>A. marginale</em> indicates that cattle populations in Paraguay are at risk of clinical theileriosis and anaplasmosis, highlighting the need to develop disease management strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"109 ","pages":"Article 103116"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144604625","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":"Phylogenetic analysis and pyrethroid resistance mutation profiling of Haematopinus tuberculatus in buffaloes from Naqadeh, Iran","authors":"Khadijeh Seydi-Gazafi ,&nbsp;Shahin Seidi ,&nbsp;Aida Ebrahimi Ahmadabad ,&nbsp;Hanène Belkahia ,&nbsp;Mousa Tavassoli ,&nbsp;Mourad Ben Said","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103101","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103101","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Haematopinus tuberculatus</em> is a major ectoparasite of water buffaloes, causing substantial economic losses. Widespread pyrethroid use has driven the emergence of resistance in <em>H. tuberculatus</em> populations, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of the underlying genetic mechanisms. This study examined the genetic diversity and resistance mechanisms of <em>H. tuberculatus</em> from Naqadeh, Iran, analyzing 372 lice samples collected from 71 buffaloes across 10 farms. Molecular identification, based on mitochondrial <em>cox1</em> partial sequence amplification and sequencing, confirmed all samples as <em>H. tuberculatus</em> and revealed close genetic relatedness to populations from China. Phylogenetic analysis of <em>cox1</em> demonstrated its utility as a genetic marker for intra-specific differentiation. Furthermore, sequencing of the voltage-gated sodium channel (<em>VGSC</em>) gene revealed four key amino acid substitutions: T917I, I920F, V929R, and L930M. Notably, the T917I and I920F mutations have been previously linked to pyrethroid resistance in <em>Pediculus humanus capitis</em>, as well as in <em>Bovicola</em> and <em>Haematopinus</em> species. This suggests a similar potential for pyrethroid resistance in the <em>H. tuberculatus</em> populations examined in this study. These findings highlight the urgent need to implement integrated pest management (IPM) strategies that reduce reliance on pyrethroids and emphasize alternative control measures to safeguard buffalo health and productivity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"109 ","pages":"Article 103101"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144192134","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":"Canine intestinal pseudomyiasis by blow flies and first documented case report caused by Lucilia cuprina in Central America","authors":"Sabrina Lazo-Láscarez ,&nbsp;Irene Alvarado-Hidalgo ,&nbsp;Diana Rojas-Araya ,&nbsp;Adriana Troyo ,&nbsp;Olger Calderón-Arguedas","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103084","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103084","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pseudomyiases occur when vertebrates ingest eggs or larvae of flies that survive gastrointestinal passage and may result in pathological reactions, but they are usually unable to continue their life cycle in the host. Many blow fly species (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are associated with facultative cutaneous myiasis in humans and animals; however, very few cases of blow fly pseudomyiasis have been published in animals. In this report, two cases of canine pseudomyiasis caused by blow flies are documented, and <em>Lucilia cuprina</em> Wiedemann was confirmed as the species responsible in one of them. It is likely that cases of pseudomyiasis in dogs are being underestimated, so it is important to consider and identify these events as a differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal disease to prevent recurrences. Recognizing the particularities of blow fly behavior should be a priority for sanitary authorities to establish control strategies and prevent their impact on public health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"109 ","pages":"Article 103084"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143931677","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":"A new gallbladder parasite Ceratomyxa costaecola n. sp. (Cnidaria: Myxosporea) infecting the Goldblotch grouper Epinephelus costae (Serranidae) from Tunisian waters","authors":"Khouloud Bouderbala ,&nbsp;Luis F. Rangel ,&nbsp;Maria J. Santos ,&nbsp;Sihem Bahri","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103094","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103094","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A new species of <em>Ceratomyxa</em> Thélohan, 1892 named <em>Ceratomyxa costaecola</em> n. sp. was recorded in the gallbladder of the <em>Epinephelus costae</em> (Steindachner) fish found in the Gulf of Tunis, Tunisia. Plasmodia of this species were disporic, ellipsoidal in shape and measured between 13 and 16 μm in length and 20–24 μm in width. The mature myxospores were elongated, crescent-shaped with convex anterior and concave posterior angle, measuring 6.3 ± 0.5 (5.8–7.0) μm in length and 24.7 ± 2.3 (22.0–27.0) μm in thickness. Myxospores with two unequal shell valves, the longer one with a rounded end and the shorter one with a pointed end. Polar capsules were pyriform, equal in size, measuring 2.5 ± 0.1 (2.4–2.8) μm in length and 2.2 ± 0.1 (2.1–2.4) μm in width, with 4–5 coils of polar filament measuring 14.7–26.0 μm long after extrusion. The binucleated sporoplasm filled the entire cavity of the myxospore. The phylogenetic analysis showed that <em>C. costaecola</em> n. sp. was closely related to <em>Ceratomyxa</em> species infecting Epinephelidae fishes and also other fishes families from different localities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"109 ","pages":"Article 103094"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144090288","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}