Parasitology International最新文献

{"title":"Systemic infection of Prohemistomum vivax and Cyanodiplostomum encysted metacercariae in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) from a heavily polluted drain at Giza, Egypt: morphological, molecular and histopathological study","authors":"Alaa Eldin Eissa ,&nbsp;Olfat A. Mahdy ,&nbsp;Eman M. Abouelhassan ,&nbsp;Rabia A. El Zlitne ,&nbsp;Abdulsalam Abu Mhara ,&nbsp;Asmaa K. Al-Mokaddem ,&nbsp;Eman H. Rashwan ,&nbsp;Reham H. Ragab ,&nbsp;Nehal A. Younis","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103159","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103159","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aquatic environmental pollution could be a direct trigger of infection through cercarial invasion to skin / gills or indirectly as a predisposing factor that damage the physical barriers of targeted fish resulting in high intensities of EMC infections in all fish vital organs. In the current study, a total of 150 African catfish (<em>Clarias gariepinus</em>) were randomly collected from Mariotteya drain all the way through the Egyptian township of Shabramant located at the historical heart of Giza. Catfish samples were collected in mid-summer during the period from June to July 2024. A well-documented surge in unionized ammonia, water alkalinity, marked decline in dissolved oxygen together with decreased transparency were signaling a chronic case of agricultural and municipal pollution in which all physical mucosal immunological barriers were harshly suppressed. This environmental disruption has resulted in cellular, biological and pathological alterations in which the invasion of digenean cercariae was favored as documented in the histopathological sections made from affected tissues. Parasitological examination revealed the presence of two distinct EMC belonging to <em>Prohemistomum vivax</em> and <em>Cyanodiplostomum</em> spp. which were presumptively identified using the regular morpho-taxonomical methods and confirmed utilizing the sequencing of the ITS2 rDNA gene which is considered good marker in the differentiation between the digenean species and the phylogeny analysis. Histopathological examination of sampled fish tissues has revealed that EMC infection was not only limited to fish musculatures, yet it extends to internal organs including spleen and kidney to present a unique form of systemic EMC infection. EMC were documented within the splenic &amp; renal tissues with remarkable activation of melanomacrophage centers (MMC) denoting the pathophysiological response of hematopoietic tissues to the EMC invasion. The current study sheds light on the growing danger of aquatic pollution and its direct trigger of zoonotic metacercarial spread through the consumption of infected fish flesh.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 103159"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145006450","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":"Observation of Giardia duodenalis infection in Mongolian gerbils: Cysts isolated from bovine feces","authors":"Yifei Li ,&nbsp;Hongsen Yu ,&nbsp;Xiaolin Zeng ,&nbsp;Tianyu Li ,&nbsp;Xuhai Li ,&nbsp;Ting Wu ,&nbsp;Xiangyu Yan ,&nbsp;Qixi Li ,&nbsp;Chenhan Bu ,&nbsp;Qi Sun ,&nbsp;Jingjing Wang ,&nbsp;Ershun Zhou ,&nbsp;Zhengtao Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103151","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103151","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Assemblage E of <em>Giardia duodenalis</em>, primarily infecting ruminants, has been relatively understudied both in vivo and in vitro. Due to unsuccessful attempts at in vitro cultivation, this study focused on establishing an economical, stable, and clinically relevant experimental animal model for Assemblage E infections. Cysts were purified from bovine feces via 33 % zinc sulfate flotation, with Assemblage E identity confirmed by gdh gene sequencing. Nine five – day - old Mongolian gerbils were randomly allocated into control group (PBS), low-dose group (5 × 10⁴cysts), and high-dose group (1 × 10⁵cysts) averagely, Gerbils were received bovine-derived Assemblage E cysts via oral gavage, all infected subjects were undergone of necropsy at 8 days post-infection. Longitudinal monitoring result demonstrated that gerbils in infected groups exhibited growth retardation and excreted soft feces compared with controls. Histopathological examination result revealed that massive trophozoite were colonized on atrophied duodenal villi, meanwhile, enterocyte boundary was effacement in high-dose group. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) detection result were showed that the trophozoite density decline along the intestinal tract: duodenum&gt;jejunum&gt;ileum. That could be confirmed the characteristic of trophozoite duodenal tropism. Encystation dynamics analysis was identified bile acid-mediated morphological transformation in the ileum through SEM, the process of encystation with trophozoite rounding, ventral disc degeneration and cyst wall formation. These results could recapitulate the complete life cycle of Assemblage E in experimental hosts, this study provided a validated model for investigating host-specific about giardiasis pathogenesis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 103151"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145005054","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":"Open defaecation and hygiene practices in relation to Soil-Transmitted Helminths in the advent of Mass Drug Administration in Ona-Ara, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria","authors":"D.A. Oyebamiji,&nbsp;C.Y. Ajayi,&nbsp;B.O. Banwo","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103149","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103149","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STHs) infections are one of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in tropical Africa and have been targeted for possible elimination in the year 2030. This study was conducted between August 2022 and July 2023 in Ona-Ara Local Government Area (LGA), Ibadan, Nigeria, to investigate the effects of Open Defaecation (OD), Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) practices on STHs status in the advent of mass drug administration in the communities. 450 structured questionnaires covering demographics (age, sex), and WASH practices were given to consenting participants. 450 faecal samples from consenting participants and 1350 soil samples from the environment were collected from five different communities: Akanran, Olorunda, Idi-Ose, Amuloko, and Ore-Meji in the LGA. Parasites were extracted from the contaminated soil using floatation and modified Baermann methods while sedimentation method was used to detect parasites in the faecal samples and quantified by Kato-Katz techniques. Data were analyzed using descriptive, regression and ANOVA at α _0.05. 59.8 % of the participants did not have access to potable water while 40.2 % claimed drinking water directly from the tap. Furthermore, 42.2 % had water closet, 41.1 % pit latrine, and 16.7 % practised OD of which 60.8 % are infected with STH. In terms of hygiene practices, 6.7 % reported that they do not wash with soap and water after defaecation, while 43.8 % claimed that they use tissue paper or water occasionally. The parasites prevalence in faecal samples collected from participants was 38 % in Ona Ara and the overall intensity was 265 per gram of faeces. <em>Ascaris</em> had the highest intensity of STH (300epg), followed by hookworm (210epg), <em>Trichuris</em> (50epg), and the least <em>Strongyloides</em> (32epg). The variation in the distribution of parasites was significant at χ² = 75.21, <em>p</em> ≤ 0.05. 52.1 % of the sampled soil had at least one STH parasites and <em>Strongyloides</em> larvae was found to have highest prevalence in soil samples collected in the following locations: Akanran (35.8 %), Olorunda (37.8 %), Amuloko (39.4 %), and Idi-Ose (59.3 %) whereas, hookworm larvae had highest prevalence of 60.7 % in Ore-Meji. There is continuous transmission of STH among the populations living in Ona-Ara and the soil environment owing to OD and the hygiene practices. One Health Approach (animal, environment, and man) studies should be further carried out in the communities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 103149"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144922643","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":"Atypical presentation of Enterobius vermicularis in a cognitively impaired elderly patient: A case report","authors":"Shoichi Shimizu ,&nbsp;Masayuki Kamochi ,&nbsp;Yasuhide Urakami ,&nbsp;Yoshio Osada","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103150","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103150","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Enterobius vermicularis</em> infection (enterobiasis) is a common intestinal parasitosis, typically characterized by perianal pruritus, and is most prevalent in children. Diagnosing enterobiasis in cognitively impaired individuals, who may not report typical symptoms, poses a diagnostic challenge. We report the case of an 86-year-old Japanese woman with cognitive impairment who was admitted for a tibial fracture. During a routine diaper change, several motile, thread-like organisms were incidentally observed in her perianal and perivaginal areas. Microscopic examination identified the organisms as gravid female <em>E. vermicularis</em>. The patient reported no pruritus ani or insomnia, and was successfully treated with a two-dose regimen of pyrantel pamoate. The follow-up adhesive tape tests confirmed clearance of the parasites. This case highlights that enterobiasis can be clinically silent in elderly patients with cognitive impairment, a population at increased risk due to potential difficulties with hygiene and an inability to report symptoms. Clinicians and caregivers should remain alert to enterobiasis in cognitively impaired elderly patients to ensure timely diagnosis and prevent transmission.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 103150"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144922644","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 report of Saccocoelioides nanii (Digenea: Haploporidae) infecting an extremophile host, Jenynsia sulfurica (Cyprinodontiformes: Anablepidae)","authors":"Macarena S. De Martino ,&nbsp;Guillermo E. Teran ,&nbsp;Patricia M.C. Romero ,&nbsp;Felipe Alonso ,&nbsp;Melisa Moncada ,&nbsp;German Reig Cardarella ,&nbsp;Gaston Aguilera ,&nbsp;Martin M. Montes","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103148","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103148","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A species of <em>Saccocoelioides</em> (Haploporidae) is reported from the intestine of the livebearer fish <em>Jenynsia sulfurica</em> (Anablepidae), which inhabits an extremophile environment in northwestern Argentina. This host species lives in a sulfide-rich thermal stream characterized by several extreme environmental conditions, including high temperatures, low oxygen levels, moderate pH, and elevated total dissolved solids. Morphological and molecular analyses indicate that the parasite under study is consistent with <em>Saccocoelioides nanii</em>. Morphological comparisons revealed minor variations in body size and proportions, while molecular analysis based on partial sequences of 28S rDNA, COI and ITS2 regions confirmed its genetic similarity to previously described <em>S. nanii</em> populations. This discovery represents the first record of <em>S. nanii</em> parasitizing a member of the family Anablepidae, and the first occurrence under extremophile conditions. This finding expands the known host range and geographic distribution of the species and highlights the importance of integrative morphological and molecular approaches in understanding the diversity of this group.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 103148"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144903081","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":"2025-08-24","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":"Molecular diversity of cox1 and LSU rDNA sequences of Sarcocystis bertrami (syn. S. fayeri) (Apicomplexa: Eucoccidiorida: Sarcocystidae) in horses","authors":"Junko Toda ,&nbsp;Jiro Miyasaka ,&nbsp;Hideo Osako ,&nbsp;Koichi Murata ,&nbsp;Muchammad Yunus ,&nbsp;Reski Amalia ,&nbsp;Babi Kyi Soe ,&nbsp;Hiroshi Sato","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103144","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103144","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Food poisoning caused by consuming raw horsemeat contaminated with <em>Sarcocystis</em> is a significant public health concern. Two morphotypes of sarcocysts in horsemeat, characterized by upright and folded villar protrusions, are typically identified as <em>Sarcocystis fayeri</em> and <em>S. bertrami</em>, respectively. However, recent molecular studies focusing on the ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) and mitochondrial cytochrome <em>c</em> oxidase subunit I gene (<em>cox1</em>) have indicated a conspecific relationship between these two morphotypes using a limited number of specimens. To explore further genetic diversity in equid sarcocysts, <em>cox1</em> and large-subunit (LSU) rDNA sequences were analyzed in sarcocysts extracted from horsemeat inspected from 150 horses (76 and 41 horses imported from Canada and France, respectively, and 33 horses reared in Japan). Sarcocysts were detected in the muscles of 71, 2, and 3 horses from Canada, France, and Japan, respectively. Fifty-eight sarcocysts underwent <em>cox1</em> and the LSU rDNA sequencing. Newly obtained <em>cox1</em> sequences (<em>n</em> = 53) and sequences labeled as equid <em>S. bertrami</em>, <em>S. fayeri</em> and <em>S. asinus</em> retrieved from GenBank (n = 53) exhibited conspecific relationships. Inter-individual variation in <em>cox1</em> sequences was observed among various sarcocysts, even within a single host animal, although no intra-individual variation was observed. However, nuclear-embedded mitochondrial DNA (NUMT: <em>cox1</em> pseudogene) sequences were obtained using inappropriate techniques using certain primers. The LSU rDNA of sarcocysts (211 cloned sequences from 54 sarcocysts) exhibited inter-individual and robust intra-individual variations, indicating significant intragenomic rRNA array mosaicism in <em>S. bertrami</em>. These findings confirmed the conspecificity of classically defined species without geographical subpopulations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 103144"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144902384","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":"Morphological and molecular characterization of four Ceratomyxa species parasitizing marine fish in Japan including descriptions of three new species","authors":"Reika Oe ,&nbsp;Sho Shirakashi ,&nbsp;Hiroe Ishitani ,&nbsp;Melissa Jayne Carabott ,&nbsp;Nguyen Ngoc Chinh","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103146","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103146","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A parasitological survey in western Japan identified the myxosporean parasites in the bile and gallbladders of four marine fish species: farmed white trevally <em>Pseudocaranx dentex</em> (Bloch &amp; Schneider), Pacific bluefin tuna <em>Thunnus orientalis</em> (Temminck &amp; Schlegel), and red seabream <em>Pagrus major</em> (Temminck &amp; Schlegel), as well as wild false kelpfish <em>Sebastiscus marmoratus</em> (Cuvier). Morphological characterization and molecular analysis of the small subunit rDNA confirmed that these parasites belong to the genus <em>Ceratomyxa</em>. Three novel species were identified: <em>Ceratomyxa shimaaji</em> n. sp. from <em>P. dentex</em> (prevalence 100 %, <em>n</em> = 8 fish), <em>Ceratomyxa kuromaguro</em> n. sp. from <em>T. orientalis</em> (prevalence 100 %, <em>n</em> = 1 fish), and <em>Ceratomyxa gashira</em> n. sp. from <em>S. marmoratus</em> (prevalence 100 %, <em>n</em> = 1 fish). Additionally, <em>Ceratomyxa</em> cf. <em>barnesi</em>, was detected in <em>P. major</em> (prevalence 10 %, <em>n</em> = 10 fish). While the pathological effects of these <em>Ceratomyxa</em> species on their hosts remain to be investigated, this study contributes to a broader understanding of the diversity and geographic distribution of <em>Ceratomyxa</em> spp. in marine fish.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 103146"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144902382","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":"2025-08-17","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, risk factors, diagnosis and outcomes of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnancy: A review","authors":"Williams Walana ,&nbsp;Seth Anang Odai ,&nbsp;Abdelhakam G. Tamomh","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103143","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103143","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Toxoplasmosis, caused by the zoonotic protozoan <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em>, poses substantial risks during pregnancy, including adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This review synthesized global evidence on the prevalence, risk factors, diagnostic methods, and clinical consequences of <em>T. gondii</em> infection in pregnant populations.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Adhering to PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a literature search of Medline/PubMed and ScienceDirect/Scopus databases (up to February 14, 2025), employed Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and keywords such as “<em>Toxoplasma gondii</em>,” “pregnancy,” “congenital toxoplasmosis,” and “seroprevalence.” Eligible studies underwent rigorous screening, yielding 18 articles representing diverse regions in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe, and North America.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Seroprevalence rates varied significantly, from 4.2 % in Mexican cohorts to 71 % in parts of Brazil. Key risk factors included contact with cats, raw/undercooked meat consumption, soil exposure, inadequate hygiene, and unpasteurized milk consumption. Diagnosis primarily relied on serological assays (IgG/IgM ELISA), augmented by molecular techniques (PCR) and IgG avidity testing to identify acute infections. Adverse outcomes such as miscarriage, preterm labour, and congenital toxoplasmosis were consistently reported, though the implications of latent infection remained unclear.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>These findings underscore toxoplasmosis as a critical public health challenge in pregnancy, necessitating enhanced prenatal screening, refined diagnostic protocols, and targeted education to reduce exposure risks. Longitudinal studies are urged to clarify the effects of latent infection and guide evidence-based interventions globally.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 103143"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144860607","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}