Parasitology International最新文献

{"title":"A phylogeographic approach of three species of Clinostomum Leidy, 1856, (Trematoda: Clinostomidae) from the Neotropical region of Mexico, with the description of a new species from Ardea herodias (Ardeidae)","authors":"Ana Lucia Sereno-Uribe ,&nbsp;Alejandra López-Jiménez ,&nbsp;Marcelo Tonatiuh González-García ,&nbsp;Mirza Patricia Ortega-Olivares ,&nbsp;Martín García-Varela","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103067","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103067","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Clinostomum</em> Leidy, 1856 is a globally distributed group of endoparasites that reside attached to the mucosa of the mouth cavity and oesophagus of fish-eating birds (mainly herons) in the adult stage, whereas larvae known as metacercariae (“yellow grubs”) damage freshwater fish and amphibians that serve as secondary intermediate hosts. In the Nearctic and Neotropical regions of Mexico, species of the genus <em>Clinostomum</em> have been intensively studied, revealing seven species that share a common ancestor. In the present study, sequences of the ITS from nuclear ribosomal DNA and <em>cox 1</em> from mitochondrial DNA were generated for <em>C. tataxumui</em>, <em>C. cichlidorum</em>, and an unidentified species identified as lineage 3 sensu Pérez-Ponce de León et al. 2026, which is distributed sympatrically in Mexico and Middle America. The objectives of the present study were to 1) describe a new species of <em>Clinostomum</em>, named herein as <em>Clinostomum chaacci</em> n. sp., which combines morphological and molecular characters; 2) analyse the population genetic structure of two previously described species in addition to <em>C. chaacci</em> n. sp.; and 3) infer phylogeographic patterns using <em>cox 1</em> sequences. The inferred phylogeographic results indicated that the populations of <em>C. tataxumui,</em> and <em>C. cichlidorum</em> lack a geographic structure with high haplotype diversity, low nucleotide diversity, and low Fst values among the populations with negative values on the neutrality test, suggesting that the populations are expanding. In contrast, the populations of <em>C. chaacci</em> n. sp., are less connected and subdivided into smaller populations, leading to slight genetic differentiation, suggesting that the populations have undergone significant demographic changes, such as recent expansion or selection effects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"108 ","pages":"Article 103067"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143692633","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":"Parasitic crustaceans as a potential vector of MDR Vibrio alginolyticus infection among farmed marine fish in some earthen-pond based Egyptian aquaculture facilities: Molecular, epidemiological and pathological evidences","authors":"Islam A.K. El-waziry ,&nbsp;Alaa Eldin Eissa ,&nbsp;Reham M. El-Tarabili ,&nbsp;Eman M. Abouelhassan ,&nbsp;Hanan A. Ghetas ,&nbsp;Eman M. Ismail ,&nbsp;Mahmoud A. Elnakeeb ,&nbsp;Heba A. Abdel Hady ,&nbsp;Hadeer S. Aboelnaga ,&nbsp;Amina A. Dessouki","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103066","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103066","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Parasitic crustaceans affecting cultured marine fish in earthen-pond aquaculture facilities are nasty parasites that trigger cascades of microbial infections with consequent economic losses. In the current study, the role of some parasitic crustaceans in spread and transmission of bacterial infections among cultured marine fishes was investigated utilizing taxonomical, molecular, epidemiological, and pathological assays. A total of 400 marine fish involving <em>Pomadasys stridens, Dicentrarchus labra, Sparus aurata,</em> and <em>Tilapia zilli</em> have been randomly collected from some private earthen pond-based aquaculture facilities. Collected fishes were clinically examined for possible presence of disease symptoms, lesions and/or parasites. Three parasitic crustaceans were identified from gills, skin, and fins of examined marine fish species. The isopod <em>Livoneca redmanii, Caligus,</em> and <em>Lernanthropus</em> species were fully identified. <em>Vibrio alginolyticus</em> was concurrently isolated from both fish and isopod species with 99.76 % similarity between fish and isopod species upon molecular screening utilizing 16SrRNA with sequence alignment. Interestingly, 73.3 % of the isolated bacteria exhibited multi-drug resistance (MDR) with multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR index), values ≥0.2. Further, 56.7 % (17/30) of recovered isolates were resistant to four and five antimicrobials with MAR indices of 0.50 and 0.40. Histopathological examination has revealed remarkable damage of gill filaments and fins of affected fish.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"108 ","pages":"Article 103066"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143597491","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":"Neohexangitrema spp. (Trematoda: Microscaphidiidae) in Indo-West Pacific Acanthuridae: Richness, distribution, diet and contemporary naming issues","authors":"Thomas H. Cribb ,&nbsp;Storm B. Martin ,&nbsp;Scott C. Cutmore","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103033","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103033","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Examination of hundreds of individuals of 32 species of Acanthuridae from the Indo-West Pacific resulted in the collection of trematodes consistent with the genus <em>Neohexangitrema</em> Machida, 1984 from the northern and southern Great Barrier Reef (GBR, Queensland, Australia), Ningaloo Reef (Western Australia), Okinawa (Japan), New Caledonia, and Mo'orea and Rangiroa in French Polynesia. Specimens of <em>Neohexangitrema</em> spp. were primarily collected from two species of <em>Zebrasoma</em>, <em>Z. scopas</em> (Cuvier) and <em>Z. velifer</em> (Bloch), and less frequently from three species of <em>Acanthurus</em>. Specimens from <em>Z. scopas</em> and <em>A. nigricans</em> (Linnaeus) from French Polynesia are morphologically and genetically distinct and here described as <em>N</em>. <em>blairi</em> n. sp. This species appears to represent an unusual case of parasite endemism in French Polynesia. Two other morphotypes occurred, often together, in fishes from at least one of the other localities but not in French Polynesia. The first of these, from Ningaloo Reef, Okinawa, GBR and New Caledonia, is clearly morphologically and genetically distinct and is described as <em>N</em>. <em>phytophagum</em> n. sp. This species frequently has large amounts of undigested algae in the digestive tract and appears to be a herbivore in a herbivore. The second widespread morphotype comprised specimens from <em>Z. scopas</em> and <em>Z. velifer</em> consistent with <em>N</em>. <em>zebrasomatis</em> Machida, 1984 as originally described from <em>Z. velifer</em> from off southern Japan. Molecular analyses (<em>cox</em>1 mtDNA and ITS2 and 28S rDNA) consistently suggest that these new specimens represent two morphologically cryptic species, both infecting <em>Z. scopas</em> and <em>Z. velifer</em>, one only at Ningaloo Reef and the other from the GBR. Neither of these species can presently be positively identified as <em>N. zebrasomatis</em> given the lack of molecular data from the type-locality. We here propose new names for both taxa, <em>N. obscurum</em> n. sp. for the species from the GBR and New Caledonia and <em>N. crypticum</em> n. sp. for the species from Ningaloo Reef. This proposal is made with the explicit understanding that one of the two may well (but will not necessarily) prove a synonym of <em>N. zebrasomatis.</em> This approach draws attention to the developing issue of the management of the names of combinations of cryptic trematode species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"108 ","pages":"Article 103033"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143586662","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cystic echinococcosis in Pakistan: Identification and genotyping of Echinococcus Granulosus Sensu Stricto in human cyst isolates","authors":"Khan Huma ,&nbsp;Bonelli Piero ,&nbsp;Peruzzu Angela ,&nbsp;Farina Francesca ,&nbsp;Masala Giovanna ,&nbsp;Ahmed Haroon ,&nbsp;Santucciu Cinzia","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103056","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103056","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Few studies have analysed the current status of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in Pakistan. The study aimed to molecularly characterise <em>Echinococcus</em> infections in humans in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. A total of 251 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) CE cysts, with the clinical data of patients, were collected from four major hospitals in Peshawar, KP, during 2007–2021. The genomic DNAs (gDNA) containing 106 samples were successfully extracted. A multiplex PCR and a real-time PCR assay were performed to detect <em>Echinococcus</em> species. All 106 samples were confirmed as <em>E. granulosus sensu lato and</em> identified as <em>E. granulosus sensu stricto</em> (<em>s.s.</em>)<em>.</em> Further analysis by using SNP genotyping showed that the G1 (79.3 %) genotype was the most prevalent compared to G3 (20.7 %). The study pointed out that <em>E. granulosus s.s.</em> G1 genotype is the primary cause of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in Peshawar, highlighting sheep as a major transmission source. The findings underscore the persistent zoonotic risk due to human-livestock interactions over 14 years. The limited access to healthcare facilities for early diagnosis and treatment, poor awareness about the disease among the population, and traditional livestock management practices may be possibly considered as the major factors causing the persistence of human disease in this area. To reduce the disease's impact on human health and economic losses in livestock, further epidemiological studies are essential to support effective control programs against this zoonotic disease in Pakistan.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"108 ","pages":"Article 103056"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143563385","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":"Origin and diversification of Dicrocoeliidae (Neodermata, Trematoda) with the description of a new species of Euparadistomum, a parasite of Tropidurus torquatus (Squamata, Tropiduridae) in South America","authors":"Enzo Emmerich ,&nbsp;Julio Cesar Cenci de Aguiar ,&nbsp;Reinaldo José da Silva","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103055","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103055","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A new digenean trematode species, <em>Euparadistomum cisalpinai</em> sp. n., is described parasitizing the gallbladder of <em>Tropidurus torquatus</em> from Brazil. A set of morphological features, including ovary shape, the oral/ventral sucker ratio, and the presence of cuticular papillae, distinguish the new species from other <em>Euparadistomum</em> species. Phylogenetic inferences using 28S rDNA sequences confirmed its placement within the family Dicrocoeliidae. Although some morphological variability was observed, COI sequences support conspecificity among the specimens. The origin of Dicrocoeliidae is estimated to date back to the Late Jurassic, a period marked by the fragmentation of Pangaea, the greatest radiation of insects, and the emergence of modern birds. These paleogeographic events, combined with the ecological traits of the hosts, likely served as key drivers of dicrocoeliid diversification. Additionaly, the opening of the North Atlantic, the dispersal of yangochiropteran bats, and the spread of <em>Turdus</em> birds significantly influenced the evolution of genera such as <em>Lyperosomum</em>, <em>Anenterotrema</em>, <em>Metadelphis</em>, and <em>Lutztrema</em>. This research provides key insights into the evolutionary and biogeographic history of Dicrocoeliidae, highlighting the pivotal role of host-parasite interactions and geographic events in shaping the diversification of these trematodes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"108 ","pages":"Article 103055"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143573616","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":"Amended diagnosis of the genus Provitellotrema (Digenea: Haplosplanchnidae) with description of a new species from vietnamese mullets","authors":"Dmitry M. Atopkin ,&nbsp;Yana I. Ivashko ,&nbsp;Nguyen Van Ha ,&nbsp;Hoang Van Hien ,&nbsp;Vladimir V. Besprozvannykh","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103058","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103058","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Morphological and molecular data for a new representative of the genus <em>Provitellotrema</em> (Haplosplanchnidae) from the mullets of the coastal waters of Vietnam were provided in the present study. Morphologically, the trematodes described here are similar to representatives of <em>Haplosplanchnus</em> and <em>Pseudohaplosplanchnus</em> and demonstrate the most closeness to <em>Haplosplanchnus purii</em> by most of the metric parameters<em>.</em> Results of molecular phylogenetic analysis show that the trematodes we found were closely related to <em>Provitellotrema crenimugilis,</em> and <em>H. purii</em> was in the same clade. Genetic distance values between trematodes from new material and <em>P. crenimugilis</em> were 0.69 ± 0.22 % and 10.78 ± 1.01 % by 28S rDNA and mitochondrial COI gene sequence data, respectively. Morphologically, the adult worms of <em>P. crenimugilis</em> and trematodes from our study can be discriminated by several characters, including the distribution of the vitelline follicles, pharynx, and egg size. Based on the results, we conclude that trematodes from our study belong to the new species of the genus <em>Provitellotrema</em>, <em>P. halongensis</em> n. sp. The difference in vitellaria arrangement between new species and <em>P. crenimugilis</em> can be considered a species-specific characteristic within the genus <em>Provitellotrema</em>. An amended diagnosis for the genus <em>Provitellotrema</em> was provided<em>.</em></div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"107 ","pages":"Article 103058"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143548730","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":"Strongyle nematode fauna in three ruminants in upper northern Thailand","authors":"Thanakorn Rompo ,&nbsp;Naoki Hayashi ,&nbsp;Ernest Teo ,&nbsp;Tawatchai Singhla ,&nbsp;Chakorn Kunkaew ,&nbsp;Duanghatai Sripakdee ,&nbsp;Boondarika Nambooppha ,&nbsp;Saruda Wanganurakkul ,&nbsp;Kanthanis Limwibulpong ,&nbsp;Kanyatip Sangarun ,&nbsp;Napatsorn Suwongsaksri ,&nbsp;Saravalee Suphakarn ,&nbsp;Chanakan Chotiphutthikul ,&nbsp;Yuto Matsui ,&nbsp;Takao Irie ,&nbsp;Ayako Yoshida ,&nbsp;Lerdchai Chintapitaksakul ,&nbsp;Naoaki Misawa ,&nbsp;Nariaki Nonaka ,&nbsp;Ryo Nakao ,&nbsp;Saruda Tiwananthagorn","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103057","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103057","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gastrointestinal parasites, particularly strongyle nematodes, pose a significant threat to the health of ruminants. Due to the technical limitations of microscopic and conventional PCR-based methods, the strongyle parasite fauna has not been well studied even in common livestock animals. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence and diversity of strongyle nematodes in three ruminant species in northern Thailand using a nemabiome approach. Fecal samples were collected from buffaloes, cattle, and goats that were raised for meat and for dairy in four provinces in northern Thailand. Strongyle infections were determined using egg flotation and McMaster techniques followed by DNA metabarcoding for species identification. The results showed high prevalence of strongyles especially in goats raised for meat (88 %), and in goats raised for dairy (72 %). Significantly more goats and cattle raised for meat were strongyle egg-positive compared to their dairy counterparts. Notably, deworming frequency was not significantly associated with strongyle egg-positivity in all ruminant groups apart from dairy goats. Nemabiome analysis identified 11 strongyle species across seven genera. Among the ruminant hosts, beef cattle exhibited the highest strongyle richness. Additionally, the dominance of specific strongyle species influenced the differences observed in diversity indices. This research is the first to apply the nemabiome approach to assess strongyle nematode diversity in northern Thailand, providing valuable insights into nematode community compositions. These findings emphasize the importance of molecular techniques for parasite monitoring and the development of targeted control strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"108 ","pages":"Article 103057"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143567922","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":"In vivo efficacy of novel phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase inhibitors against Haemonchus contortus in a jird (Meriones unguiculatus) model","authors":"Leonor Sicalo Gianechini ,&nbsp;Xuejin Zhang ,&nbsp;Kun Li ,&nbsp;William H. Witola ,&nbsp;Ray M. Kaplan","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103054","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103054","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anthelmintic resistance (AR) presents a significant challenge to the treatment of parasites in veterinary medicine, and is emerging as a growing concern in human medicine. Despite the pressing demand for compounds with novel mechanisms of action, the introduction of new anthelmintics to the market has been scarce. In this study, we investigated the <em>in vivo</em> efficacy of compounds previously demonstrated to be inhibitors of phosphoethanolamine methyltransferases (PMTs), enzymes that are highly conserved among parasitic nematodes and represent a novel drug target. Inhibition of PMT enzymes disrupts phosphocholine biosynthesis, which is crucial for parasite viability. This pathway is essential to nematodes and is not present in mammals, making it an attractive and highly selective drug target. Based on previous results obtained from <em>in vitro</em> screenings against both drug-susceptible and multidrug-resistant (MDR) <em>Haemonchus contortus</em>, three candidate compounds with potent <em>in vitro</em> activity were selected for use in a pilot <em>in vivo</em> study. Here, we employed the jird (<em>Meriones unguiculatus</em>) – <em>H. contortus</em> model. The dosing regimens used were selected based on available toxicological data, but since pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PKPD) profiles of these compounds are not known, dosing regimens were not optimized. As this was a pilot study, small groups of animals were used. Relatively high reductions in worm counts were achieved, ranging from 53.5 to 72.6 %, and for two of the three compounds this reduction was statistically significant (<em>P</em> = 0.008, <em>P</em> = 0.025). These findings further support PMT enzymes as viable drug targets in parasitic nematodes and highlight the need for PKPD studies. Optimizing dosing regimens and exploring synergistic activity could enhance efficacy, advancing the development of novel anthelmintics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"107 ","pages":"Article 103054"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143519576","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":"Evaluating the vector potential of deer keds Lipoptena fortisetosa for selected pathogens in Hokkaido sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis)","authors":"Kotaro Shimizu ,&nbsp;Michito Shimozuru ,&nbsp;Masami Yamanaka ,&nbsp;Genta Ito ,&nbsp;Ryo Nakao ,&nbsp;Toshio Tsubota","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103053","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103053","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Deer keds (<em>Lipoptena fortisetosa</em>) are hematophagous insects that parasitize various ungulates, including Hokkaido sika deer (<em>Cervus nippon yesoensis</em>). Although deer keds are potential vectors for several pathogens, their role in disease transmission in Japan remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of L. <em>fortisetosa</em> as a vector for selected pathogens in sika deer. Blood samples were collected from 32 sika deer and 149 deer keds (64 from deer and 85 from the environment) from the Rusha area of the Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaido, Japan. Nested PCRs and sequencing were performed to detect 18S rRNA gene of <em>Theileria</em> sp. Thrivae, 16S rRNA gene of <em>Anaplasma</em> sp. AP-sd (AP-sd), and flagellin B gene of <em>Borrelia</em> sp. in deer and deer keds. In sika deer, the infection rate was 84 % for <em>Theileria</em> sp. Thrivae, 75 % of AP-sd, and 3 % of <em>Borrelia</em> sp. The prevalence in deer keds collected from deer was 62 % for <em>Theileria</em> sp. Thrivae, 2 % AP-sd, and 1 % <em>Borrelia</em> sp. No pathogens were detected in nonparasitic deer keds captured from the environment. Notably, <em>Theileria</em> sp. Thrivae and AP-sd were detected in deer keds collected from PCR-negative sika deer, suggesting that deer keds acquired pathogens from a previously infested host. The absence of pathogens in non-parasitized deer keds suggests that they do not play as a biological vector for the tested pathogens. This study suggests a potential role for L. <em>fortisetosa</em> as a mechanical vector, emphasizing the need for additional experiments, including infection studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"107 ","pages":"Article 103053"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143483881","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":"Low-density Plasmodium falciparum infection: “Even a parasite will turn”","authors":"Wataru Kagaya","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103052","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103052","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As global malaria control and elimination efforts have resulted in the suppression of <em>Plasmodium falciparum</em> infections, low-density <em>Plasmodium falciparum</em> infections present a significant challenge. These infections, frequently characterized as “submicroscopic” or “asymptomatic”, contribute to the persistent transmission in endemic regions. Recent advancements in molecular diagnostic methodologies have enhanced the detection of these infections and elucidated the nature of previously unrecognized infections. These infections harbor smaller populations of parasites; however, the risk of disease progression and transmission remains substantial. The observed infections could be an alternative survival mechanism of this parasite. Thus, control measures should be redesigned to address these infections, rather than merely expanding the current tools. This review provides an overview of the issues surrounding the detection and monitoring of these infections and their importance for infected individuals and populations, with further emphasis on control measures for malaria elimination.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"107 ","pages":"Article 103052"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143476812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}