Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports最新文献

{"title":"Evaluating efficacy and strongyle egg reappearance period after ivermectin treatment in a Hungarian stud farm","authors":"Kinga Joó ,&nbsp;Lilla Csanádi ,&nbsp;Ágnes Povázsai ,&nbsp;Martin K. Nielsen","doi":"10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101336","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101336","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Horses remain globally at constant risk of strongylid infections, with cyathostomins being particularly prevalent and abundant. It is essential to routinely monitor the efficacy of anthelmintics against equine nematodes. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ivermectin against equine strongyles and estimate the strongyle egg reappearance period (ERP) following ivermectin treatment for the first time in Hungary. Fecal samples were collected from 57 Thoroughbred mares before treatment and at 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 weeks post-treatment at a Hungarian National Stud Farm. Fecal egg counts (FECs) were determined using the Mini-FLOTAC technique. Fecal Egg Count Reduction (FECR) was calculated at two weeks post-treatment to evaluate efficacy using a Bayesian hierarchical model, and ERP was estimated following current guidelines. The FECR calculations did not indicate any evidence of resistance to ivermectin. Data suggested an ERP of 6 weeks, which is a notable reduction from historic data. Evaluation of two defined age groups suggested a longer ERP in the older group (12–20 years old). The decrease in ERP has emerged as a likely consequence of treatment-intensive deworming practices employed worldwide and represents a loss of anthelmintic performance. These findings underscore the need for implementing FEC-based management strategies in Hungary to preserve anthelmintic efficacy and reduce strongylid infection pressure on pastures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23600,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports","volume":"64 ","pages":"Article 101336"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145026993","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rangelia vitalii in naturally infected dogs in southern Brazil: clinical classification of the disease into acute and subacute phases","authors":"Felipe Carniel ,&nbsp;Gustavo Willian Pandolfo ,&nbsp;Paulo E. Ferian ,&nbsp;Julieta Volpato ,&nbsp;Maysa Garlet Nunes Xavier ,&nbsp;Mariângela Lovatel ,&nbsp;Marília Luciani ,&nbsp;Eloiza Zoboli ,&nbsp;João Fabio Soares ,&nbsp;Renata Assis Casagrande","doi":"10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101333","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101333","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Canine rangeliosis, caused by <em>Rangelia vitalii</em>, is an extravascular hemolytic disease. This study aimed to establish a clinical classification of the disease into acute and subacute phases and to describe the clinical, hematological, and pathological findings in naturally infected dogs. Eighteen dogs were included and submitted a complete blood count, serum biochemistry, ear margin blood smear, abdominal ultrasonography, polymerase chain reaction for <em>R. vitalii</em> and <em>Babesia</em> spp., and three dogs were necropsied. All animals were positive for <em>R. vitalii</em> and negative for <em>Babesia</em> spp. The most consistent findings in the acute phase included thrombocytopenia, macrocytosis, Howell-Jolly bodies, coarse hypoechoic splenomegaly, hyperthermia, and tachycardia. In the subacute phase, findings included moderate thrombocytopenia, macrothrombocytes, anisocytosis, and polychromasia, anemia, coarse hypoechoic splenomegaly, hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia, increased urinary gamma-glutamyl transferase levels, lethargy, and anorexia. Thrombocytopenia and splenomegaly were the most frequent alterations, present in all cases. In blood smears, the protozoan was in its free form in 61.1 % of cases. The pathological findings were characteristic of extravascular hemolytic disease, with the most severe tissue parasitism was observed in the intestine, heart, pancreas, and bladder. This study to describe the clinical features of rangeliosis, emphasizing a clinical classification of the disease into to acute and subacute phases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23600,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports","volume":"64 ","pages":"Article 101333"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144886632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lack of efficacy of macrocyclic lactones, albendazole, and levamisole against a field population of Dictyocaulus viviparus in cattle","authors":"Mateus Lotério Coelho ,&nbsp;Dyego Gonçalves Lino Borges ,&nbsp;Ivanise Paula Sobota ,&nbsp;Ricardo Antônio Amaral de Lemos ,&nbsp;Danilo Carloto Gomes ,&nbsp;Fernando de Almeida Borges","doi":"10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101329","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101329","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dictyocaulus viviparus (Strongylida: Dictyocaulidae) is the etiological agent of pulmonary parasitosis in cattle, causing severe respiratory symptoms and, in extreme cases, death. Outbreaks of D. viviparus were recorded on a property in Brazil in the years 2022 and 2023 in an integrated agriculture and livestock system. Treatment failure was observed for levamisole, macrocyclic lactones and benzimidazoles, and only the combination of levamisole (18.8 %) and moxidectin (1 %) was effective according to fecal larvae counting reduction test (FLCRT). The following efficacy rates were observed: albendazole sulfoxide (15 %), 60.10 %; moxidectin (1 %), 60.30 %; ivermectin (0.8 %) + albendazole sulfoxide (10 %), 43.30 %; ivermectin (3.15 %), 9.85; levamisole (18.8 %), 27.40 %; doramectin (3.5 %), 57.30 % in 2022; moxidectin (1 %), 89.20 %; doramectin (1 %), 31.70 %; ivermectin (0.8 %) + albendazole sulfoxide (10 %), 19.10 %; doramectin (1.1 %), 2.22 %; levamisole (18.8 %), 96.30 %; doramectin (3.5 %), 88.40 %; and levamisole (18.8 %) + moxidectin (1 %), 99.70 % in 2023. The present results underscore the importance of monitoring pulmonary parasitosis and the scenario of lack of efficacy found in the studied population of D. viviparus.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23600,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports","volume":"64 ","pages":"Article 101329"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144865008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Relationship between fecal egg count, parasite load, and histopathological findings in the pancreas of cattle naturally infected with Eurytrema coelomaticum","authors":"Andrea Julia Pantiu ,&nbsp;Tomás Häberle ,&nbsp;Agustín Avellaneda-Cáceres ,&nbsp;Leandro Hipólito Olmos ,&nbsp;Álvaro Francisco Ruiz ,&nbsp;Marcelo Signorini ,&nbsp;Juan Francisco Micheloud","doi":"10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101325","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101325","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Eurytrematosis, a disease caused by <em>Eurytrema</em> spp., primarily affects the pancreas of mammals, including cattle. Although common in Africa, Asia and South America, <em>Eurytrema coelomaticum</em> has recently been detected in Argentina. The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between parasite load, fecal egg counts (EPG) using two diagnostic techniques (BST and OST), and histopathological lesions in cattle naturally infected with <em>Eurytrema</em>. A total of 120 cattle from an endemic area were selected for the study, with both pancreatic and fecal samples collected for parasitological and histopathological analysis. Histopathological lesions were classified into three grades based on the severity of pancreatic damage. The results demonstrated a significant difference between the parasitic load and the severity of pancreatic lesions (<em>P</em>= 0.001). Both diagnostic techniques demonstrated a significant difference between parasite presence and lesion severity; however, the OST showed higher sensitivity (88 %) and fewer false negatives (12 %) compared to the BST, which exhibited 65 % sensitivity and 35 % false negatives. Histopathological findings revealed more severe lesions, such as fibrosis and interstitial inflammation, in animals with higher parasite loads. These results emphasize the importance of combining reliable diagnostic techniques like OST with histopathological analysis to improve the understanding and management of eurytrematosis in cattle. The findings provide valuable insights into the disease's impact and suggest strategies for controlling its effects on livestock health and productivity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23600,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports","volume":"64 ","pages":"Article 101325"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144827640","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gastrointestinal parasite occurrence in Slovak horses and factors affecting Strongylidae and Parascaris spp. egg shedding","authors":"Tetiana A. Kuzmina ,&nbsp;Alžbeta Königová ,&nbsp;Ludmila Burcáková ,&nbsp;Yaroslav Syrota ,&nbsp;Michal Babják ,&nbsp;Marián Várady","doi":"10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101328","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101328","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Strongylids and parascarids are the most widespread equine parasites worldwide; however, up-to-date data from Slovakia remain limited. This work bridges that gap by examining the prevalence and level of gastrointestinal helminth infections in Slovak horses. In the study, 392 fecal samples from horses on 24 farms were analyzed using the McMaster method with a sensitivity of 50 eggs per gram (EPG) for detecting nematode eggs and a double-centrifugation/combined sedimentation-flotation protocol for detecting <em>Anoplocephala</em> spp. eggs. Information on the age and breed of horses, management conditions, and parasite control methods was collected to assess the impact of these factors on the level of parasite infection. Overall, 257 fecal samples were found to be positive for strongylids (prevalence = 65.6 %), with EPG counts ranging from 50 to 2800 EPG. The proportion of horses responsible for 80 % of the strongylid egg output was 29.8 %. <em>Parascaris</em> spp. and <em>Anoplocephala</em> spp. eggs were detected in 4.5 % and 0.3 % of horses, respectively; no eggs of other helminths were found. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed that age and stocking density were the meaningful predictors of strongylid infection in horses in eastern Slovakia. In contrast, <em>Parascaris</em> spp. infection was meaningfully influenced solely by horse age.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23600,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports","volume":"64 ","pages":"Article 101328"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144842619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development and field validation of an indirect ELISA for serosurveillance of Ornithodoros lahorensis exposure","authors":"Xiaolin Xu ,&nbsp;Xiangfen Yuan ,&nbsp;Huiyu Wang ,&nbsp;Ailixire Maimaiti ,&nbsp;Yufang Kong ,&nbsp;Jizhou Lv ,&nbsp;Shaoqiang Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101327","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101327","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div><em>Ornithodoros lahorensis</em> is the primary vector of numerous tick-borne diseases. Effective tick surveillance could facilitate the prevention of tick-borne diseases. Direct surveillance methods for tick bites are impractical, the development of an indirect approach to detect specific antibodies against tick salivary proteins in animal samples would provide a more convenient surveillance and diagnostic tool. Previous studies have confirmed that some salivary gland proteins can be used as detection markers for tick bites.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The recombinant BTSP protein of <em>O. lahorensis</em> (r<em>Ol</em>-BTSP) was expressed and purified. r<em>Ol</em>-BTSP was subjected to sequence alignment analysis, and validated as a serological detection target for <em>O. lahorensi</em> exposure by Western blot analysis. Then, a novel ELISA method for detecting <em>O. lahorensis</em> bites in sheep (S-iELISA) was developed by optimizing critical parameters, including antigen coating concentration, serum dilution. The sensitivity and specificity of the S-iELISA method were evaluated. And the S-iELISA were further applied to test 455 sheep serum samples from Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia in China.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Sequence homology analysis revealed that <em>Ol</em>-BTSP exhibited only 30.5 % amino acid identity with its homologs from both hard ticks and soft ticks. And the serum from mice bitten by <em>O. lahorensis</em> exhibited specific immunoreactivity with r<em>Ol</em>-BTSP, while the cross-species antibody tests showed no reactivity, confirming the diagnostic potential of <em>Ol</em>-BTSP for detecting <em>O. lahorensis</em> exposure. The developed S-iELISA exhibited excellent diagnostic accuracy, with a sensitivity of 93.3 % (95 % CI: 70.2–99.7 %) and a specificity of 96.7 % (95 % CI: 82.8–99.9 %) in validation studies. The seroprevalence rate of <em>O. lahorensis</em> exposure in serum samples collected from Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia were 10.45 % and 3.09 %, respectively.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The S-iELISA method established in this study was a reliable tool for detecting and monitoring <em>O. lahorensis</em> exposure in sheep. And the serological diagnostic method based on r<em>Ol</em>-BTSP showed great promise for enhancing the surveillance and management strategies for <em>O. lahorensis</em>-borne diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23600,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports","volume":"64 ","pages":"Article 101327"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144831564","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence and diversity of parasites infecting pet birds in Guelma region (North-East Algeria)","authors":"Zerguine Karima ,&nbsp;Bourenane Imane ,&nbsp;Bendafer Nawel ,&nbsp;Bennacer Manel ,&nbsp;Lmouaci Roumaissa ,&nbsp;Fadel Leila ,&nbsp;Atoussi Sadek","doi":"10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101324","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101324","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The objective of this study was to investigate endoparasites and ectoparasites in 162 cage birds raised in Guelma province. Sampling was conducted on nine bird species from four families: <em>Serinuscanaria</em> (German red canary and Mosaic canaryvarieties), <em>Cardueliscarduelis</em> (European goldfinch), from the family of Fringillidae, <em>Nymphicus hollandicus</em> (Cockatiel lutino, Cockatiel) from the family of Cacatuidae, the passerine <em>Passer domesticus</em> (House sparrow), <em>Melopsittacus undulatus</em> (Budgerigar), <em>Psittacus erithacus</em> (African grey parrot), <em>Agapornis fischeri</em> (lovebird), <em>Poicephalusgulielmi</em> (Red fronted parrot), and <em>Poicephalus senegalus</em> (Senegal parrot) from the family of Psittacidae. The results revealed the presence of a single ectoparasite species, <em>Dermanyssus gallinae</em>, affecting 100 % of the birds in the Fringillidae family. Endoparasitesidentified belonged to the Nematoda and Protozoa phyla, including <em>Syngamus trachea</em>, <em>Strongyloïdes</em> sp., <em>Amidostomum</em> sp., <em>Ascaridia</em> sp., <em>Cooperia</em> sp., <em>Giardia</em> sp., <em>Entamoeba</em> sp., and <em>Isospora</em> sp. The highest rate of digestive parasite infection was observed in the Fringillidae family (86 %), while the lowest was found in the Psittacidae family (36 %). The most common intestinal parasites in cage birds in this region were protozoa, specifically <em>Isospora</em> oocysts (29/162) and <em>Entamoeba</em> cysts (26/162), as well as the nematode <em>Syngamus trachea</em> (20/162).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23600,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports","volume":"64 ","pages":"Article 101324"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144886629","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle owned by smallholders in Southern Chile","authors":"D. Tapia-Escárate,&nbsp;J. Paredes,&nbsp;J. Sanhueza","doi":"10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101320","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101320","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Helminth infections present a significant challenge to rural and indigenous smallholders. In a municipality of Los Lagos Region, Chile, ivermectin has been the preferred method of anthelmintic control in cattle, but its efficacy against gastrointestinal nematodes after years of usage had not been evaluated. In the spring of 2021, 30 smallholder cattle farmers and 128 bovines were selected using a one stage cluster sampling. During the first visit, fecal samples were collected, and animals were treated with subcutaneous ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg). Samples were sent to the Parasitology Laboratory of the Universidad Católica de Temuco. Fourteen days after the first sampling, a second fecal sample was taken from the same animals. Fecal eggs count (FEC) was performed in a Whitlock universal chamber. Animals with initial FECs ≤100 eggs per gram (epg) were excluded from the FEC reduction test (FECRT). The classification of resistance, suspected resistance, or susceptibility was established based on the guidelines provided by Denwood et al. (2023) and the WAAVP (2023). Among the 128 animals sampled and treated in the first sampling, 61 (47.7 %) had FEC ≥100 epg, with 85.2 % being ≤18-month-old. Considering animals with initial FEC ≥100, the mean farm adjusted FECR percentage was 55.0 % (95 % CI 34.3 % - 87.9 %) and the treatment failed to reduce the egg count per gram by more than 95 % in 65.6 % of the animals sampled. Additionally, animals ≥18-month-old had 48 times higher odds of achieving a 95 % FECR percentage than animals &lt;6 month-old. This study provides evidence of gastrointestinal nematode's resistance to subcutaneous ivermectin treatment in smallholders' cattle in a municipality of Los Lagos region, Chile.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23600,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports","volume":"64 ","pages":"Article 101320"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144714387","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fascioloides magna infection in a captive impala (Aepyceros melampus) in Florida, USA","authors":"Braxton Sizemore ,&nbsp;An-Chi Cheng ,&nbsp;Heather D.S. Walden ,&nbsp;Kuttichantran Subramaniam ,&nbsp;Samantha M. Wisely ,&nbsp;Juan M. Campos Krauer","doi":"10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101311","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101311","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Parasitic diseases are associated with diverse clinical signs, and veterinary professionals must be familiar with the presentations of infections in a variety of hosts. As human activity introduces new and exotic host species, expanding our understanding of pathogen effects in new species becomes integral to effective surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment. This article presents the expansion of the known host range of the American liver fluke, <em>Fascioloides magna</em>, with the infection of a farmed impala (<em>Aepyceros melampus</em>) in Marion County, Florida, USA. The gross and histopathological lesions observed are consistent with previous reports of dead-end host infections, particularly black striping across the peritoneum and abdominal viscera, a prominent pseudocyst on the visceral face of the liver, and hepatic fibrosis and biliary hyperplasia associated with tissue taken from that pseudocyst. While no whole or partial fluke was obtained from a field necropsy of the impala, amplification via cPCR and Sanger sequencing of the ITS2 region confirmed the presence of <em>Fascioloides magna</em> DNA in a frozen liver sample. This diagnostic approach was selected following the determination of an absence of fluke eggs in feces, as is characteristic of dead-end and aberrant host infections. While impala likely play little role in determining population-scale epidemiological and ecological dynamics of fluke infections, given their dead-end host status, this report serves as an important reference for managers and veterinary professionals hoping to preserve the health and welfare of exotic bovids that interface with native American cervids, the definitive hosts of <em>Fascioloides magna</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23600,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports","volume":"63 ","pages":"Article 101311"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144653722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sarcocystis infections in bobcats (Lynx rufus) from Minnesota, USA","authors":"Jitender P. Dubey ,&nbsp;Aditya Gupta ,&nbsp;Benjamin M. Rosenthal ,&nbsp;Rafael Calero-Bernal ,&nbsp;Carolin Humpal ,&nbsp;Michelle Carstensen","doi":"10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101319","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101319","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Species of <em>Sarcocystis</em> parasitize a wide range of vertebrate hosts, sometimes causing disease in humans and animals. Here, frozen muscles of 239 bobcats (<em>Lynx rufus</em>) from Minnesota were tested for <em>Sarcocystis</em> infections. After thawing, muscles were examined microscopically by compression preparations of unfixed muscles and histological sections of paraffin embedded tissues. Some sarcocysts were later characterized using electron microscopy and gene sequencing for comparison to other <em>Sarcocystis</em> species in the genus. In the first batch of 50 bobcats trapped in 2014–2015, only tongues were examined histologically and sarcocysts were found in 21 (42 %). In the second batch of 140 bobcats trapped in 2023–2024, tongues and limb muscles were examined by combined methods (histology and compression smears) detected infection in the muscles of 44 (31.4 %). In the third batch of 49 bobcats trapped in 2025, tongues, limb muscles and myocardium were examined histologically, and sarcocysts were found in histological sections of 15 tongues, 7 limb muscles and none in hearts. In two of these most heavily infected bobcats, myositis was found in limb muscles. Overall, sarcocysts were detected in 82 of 239 (34.3 %) bobcats. Based on the character of the sarcocyst walls by light microscopy, three morphologic types of sarcocysts were detected. With transmission electron microscopic examination, one of these sarcocyst types could not be distinguished from <em>Sarcocystis felis</em> (originally described from the bobcat) or <em>Sarcocystis caninum</em> (described from the domestic dog) in this study. Multilocus genotyping confirmed one of the <em>Sarcocystis</em> derived from bobcat tongue samples to be either <em>Sarcocystis arctica</em> or <em>Sarcocystis caninum</em>, with all three gene regions (<em>18S</em> rRNA, <em>28S</em> rRNA, and <em>cox1</em>) showing 98–100 % sequence identity to isolates of <em>S. arctica</em> or <em>S. caninum</em>; <em>S. felis</em> has not been molecularly characterized from the bobcat. Phylogenetic analysis also revealed the clustering of specimens under study with isolates of <em>S. arctica</em> and <em>S. caninum</em> with strong bootstrap support. Results of the study affirm that contrary to assumptions, muscular <em>Sarcocystis</em> infections in bobcats are common, <em>Sarcocystis</em> species may not be host specific in the carnivorous hosts, and some of them cause clinical disease in dogs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23600,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports","volume":"63 ","pages":"Article 101319"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144653720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}