Veterinary parasitology最新文献

{"title":"A national survey of the gastrointestinal nematode control practices used by goat producers in the United States","authors":"Ryan H. Avery , Natalie J. Urie , Matthew A. Branan , Alyson M. Wiedenheft , Elliott Dennis , Katherine L. Marshall , Joan M. Burke , James E. Miller","doi":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110375","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110375","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) parasites are a major constraint to goat production. GIN parasite control has relied primarily on the use of anthelmintic drugs. A major issue in goat operations globally, including in the United States (U.S.), is that GIN populations have developed widespread resistance to current anthelmintic drugs. Widespread anthelmintic resistance is a major concern to U.S. goat producers, but there currently remains limited information on what goat production practices are used nationally to combat GIN infections and prevent anthelmintic resistance. The current practices used by goat producers to control GIN parasites and reduce anthelmintic resistance on their operations were evaluated as part of the 2019 National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) study, which was conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The study aims were to determine GIN parasite burden at both the individual animal- and operation-level, investigate geographic patterns of GIN parasitism, and identify risk factors associated with infection prevalence and intensity. The study covered 24 U.S. states, representing 80.4 % of U.S. goats on operations with ≥ 5 goats and 75.8 % of operations with ≥ 5 goats. Data from fecal samples submitted for fecal egg count (FEC) analysis and individual goat- and operation-level questionnaires were collected from 9879 goats across 623 operations. The estimated, weighted mean operation- and animal-level FEC for goats was 658 and 651 eggs per gram, respectively. Across all goats tested, parasite burden was found to be over-dispersed, with the top 24.1 % of animals contributing to 80 % of the total FEC. Geographically, lungworm prevalence was significantly lower in the Southwest region compared with the Northeast, Northwest, and Southeast regions. For GIN FEC values, the highest operation-level counts were found in the Northeast and Southeast region, and the highest animal-level counts were found in the Southeast region by univariate analysis and the Northeast and Southeast regions by multiple regression analysis. Univariate analysis revealed that primary operation production type, primary land/facility management type, primary grazing/browsing management, FAMACHA© card usage, body condition categorization, and month of sample collection were significant factors impacting mean FEC at both the operation- and animal-level. U.S. regionality, goat type, breed, FAMACHA© score, and browsing schedule were found to be significant at the animal-level. Multiple regression analysis at the operation-level revealed that deworming frequency in the previous 12 months, pasture housing practices, and the interaction between region and sample collection date were significant factors that impacted the mean FEC. Multiple regression analysis at the animal-level revealed that goat type, FAMACHA© score, body condition categorization, primary grazing/browsing management, primary operation production type, the interaction b","PeriodicalId":23716,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology","volume":"334 ","pages":"Article 110375"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142932737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Autoantibodies against phosphatidylserine and DNA during canine Dirofilaria immitis infection","authors":"Victor M. Montenegro ,&nbsp;Mónica Delgado Hernandez ,&nbsp;Alicia Rojas ,&nbsp;Juan Rivera-Correa","doi":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110392","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110392","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Heartworm infection caused by <em>Dirofilaria immitis</em> induces a devastating disease that greatly affects the global canine population. The mechanism leading to heartworm pathology has been attributed to be mostly by mechanical damage of the worm to the dog´s vascular system and immune-mediated, but the latter processes are not completely understood. Autoantibodies targeting host molecules such as lipids and nucleic acids have been described with pathological roles during malaria and COVID-19 and mediating anemia and thrombocytopenia. We hypothesized that autoantibodies could be present and have a pathological role during canine heartworm disease caused by <em>D. immitis.</em> In this study, we analyzed the levels of autoantibodies (IgM and IgG) against membrane lipid phosphatidylserine (PS) and DNA in the serum of 169 canine samples based on <em>D. immitis</em> infection. First, our results found significant levels of anti-PS IgM and IgG autoantibodies that were associated with <em>D. immitis</em>-positive when compared to <em>D. immitis</em>-negative samples. Second, we found that autoantibodies, particularly anti-PS, are correlated with hematological parameters such as low platelet count suggesting an association with pathologies such as thrombocytopenia. Altogether, these findings elucidate the understudied presence and pathological role of autoantibodies during canine heartworm disease by <em>D. immitis</em> with implications as biomarkers of disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23716,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology","volume":"334 ","pages":"Article 110392"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142972373","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of combinations of the essential oils trans-anethole, thymol and carvacrol against larvae of the screwworm fly Cochliomyia hominivorax in vitro","authors":"Monique Taveira Medeiros ,&nbsp;Diefrey Ribeiro Campos ,&nbsp;Jéssica Dávila de Assis ,&nbsp;Gabriela Ferreira de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Thais Paes Ferreira ,&nbsp;Anna Carolina Teixeira de Jesus ,&nbsp;Thais Ribeiro Correia ,&nbsp;Fabio Barbour Scott ,&nbsp;Yara Peluso Cid ,&nbsp;Katherina Coumendouros","doi":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110398","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110398","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated the combined effect of trans-anethole, carvacrol and thymol on third-instar larvae of <em>C. hominivorax.</em> For this experiment, third-stage larvae of <em>C. hominivorax</em> were removed from a laboratory colony to perform an <em>in vitro</em> bioassay. The three volatile compounds used in this study, trans-anethole, carvacrol and thymol. Different dilutions of these volatile compounds were performed with the diluent acetone (99.5 %) to determine the associative effect (synergism, addition or antagonism). Three concentrations below the estimated LC₅₀ were prepared (10, 20 and 100 μg.cm⁻²). These compounds were impregnated in filter paper discs, which were dried and transferred to Petri dishes. Ten larvae were added to each dish and incubated in climate-controlled chambers at 28 ± 1 ºC and 75 ± 10 % relative humidity for 24 and 48 hours. Mortality was assessed based on the absence or change in larval movement, as observed under a stereomicroscope. After 24 hours, trans-anethole (A) caused mortality rates in the range of 23–33.5 %, carvacrol (C) of 9–59 % and thymol (T) of 27–81.5 %, in the three concentrations evaluated. The combination of trans-anethole with carvacrol resulted in mortality rates between 11 % and 50 %, demonstrating antagonistic action. The combination of trans-anethole with thymol caused mortality of 12.5–55.5 %, and the combination of carvacrol with thymol generated mortality of 75.5–99.5 %, indicating synergism. After 48 hours, (A) produced a mortality range of 29–49 %, (C) of 10.5–63 %, and (T) of 37.5–86 % in the three concentrations, maintaining the same relationship of antagonistic and synergistic activity. The combination of trans-anethole with carvacrol resulted in mortality rates between 16 % and 56.5 %, while the combination of trans-anethole with thymol caused mortality of 27.5–62.5 % and the combination of carvacrol with thymol presented mortality between 83 % and 99.5 %. Hence, there was an antagonistic effect when trans-anethole was associated with carvacrol and thymol and a dose-dependent synergistic effect when carvacrol was associated with thymol against third instar larvae of <em>C. hominivorax.</em></div></div>","PeriodicalId":23716,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology","volume":"334 ","pages":"Article 110398"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143029461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antagonistic interactions between spinosad and macrocyclic lactones in combination against larvae of the sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, in vitro","authors":"Andrew C. Kotze ,&nbsp;Aleta G. Knowles","doi":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110389","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110389","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Control of the sheep blowfly relies on insecticides, however resistance is currently impacting on their efficacy. The use of insecticides in combination (mixtures) is considered to be a useful strategy to delay resistance under some circumstances. The present study aimed to examine the combination of spinosad with macrocyclic lactones in order to determine if the two drug classes showed any interactions that would impact on the usefulness of a combination product for flystrike control. We used isobologram analysis to examine drug interactions in <em>in vitro</em> bioassays with the larval stages of the sheep blowfly. In initial single drug assays, ivermectin and abamectin showed similar EC₅₀ against blowfly larvae, while moxidectin and spinosad were 20- and 30-fold less potent, respectively. Combinations of spinosad and each of the macrocyclic lactones showed a pattern of interactions dominated by antagonistic or additive relationships when combined at different ratios. Peaks in antagonism were associated with combinations at ratios equivalent to, or close to, the relative EC₅₀s when used alone. The antagonism was strongest for moxidectin, with combination index values up to 1.82 at the EC₅₀ and 3.2 at the EC₉₀ at a spinosad: moxidectin ratio of 0.78:1. Maximum combination index values for ivermectin and abamectin at the EC₉₀ were 1.61 and 1.42, at ratios of 27:1 and 31:1, respectively, indicating a significant degree of antagonism for both combinations. We suggest that the observed antagonism may be due to interactions at common ion channel receptors, although this requires confirmation. The study highlights the need to examine drug interactions as a component of determining the suitability of specific drug combinations for parasite control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23716,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology","volume":"334 ","pages":"Article 110389"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143182789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antagonistic activity of Pochonia chlamydosporia against three helminth eggs and characterization of its serine protease","authors":"Luyao Hao ,&nbsp;Fengmiao Zhao ,&nbsp;Yuan Guo ,&nbsp;Yuan Ma ,&nbsp;Zhengyi Li ,&nbsp;Wen Wang ,&nbsp;Hongliang Luo ,&nbsp;Rui Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110374","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110374","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To address the economic burden caused by livestock parasitic diseases, particularly gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) and liver flukes, which are exacerbated by growing anthelmintic resistance, researchers are increasingly focusing on biological control strategies as a promising solution. Among these, the fungus <em>Pochonia chlamydosporia</em> has demonstrated promising helminth control properties. This study explored the potential of <em>P. chlamydosporia</em> in controlling helminth infections by examining its effects on helminth eggs. <em>P. chlamydosporia</em> was cultured on 2 % water agar (WA) plates, and the eggs of three parasite species (<em>Fasciola hepatica</em>, <em>Parascaris spp.</em>, and <em>Nematodirus oiratianus</em>) were placed on these plates. The impact of the fungus on the eggs was assessed using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Eggs were introduced into a liquid medium to stimulate <em>P. chlamydosporia</em>’ s predatory activity. The culture filtrate was tested for protease activity and its efficacy against nematode eggs was evaluated. The extracellular alkaline serine protease was purified and characterized through ammonium sulfate precipitation and Sephadex G - 100 chromatography. <em>P. chlamydosporia</em> showed type 1, type 2, and type 3 effects on eggs. (Type 1 effect: physiological and biochemical impact without morphological damage to the eggshell, with visible hyphae adhering to the eggshell; Type 2 effect: lytic effect causing morphological changes in both the embryo and eggshell, without hyphal penetration; Type 3 effect: lytic effect with morphological changes in the embryo and eggshell, along with hyphal penetration and internal egg colonization). Light microscope and SEM observations revealed that <em>P. chlamydosporia</em> destroyed the eggs through mycelial growth, appressoria formation, penetration, and degradation stages. Moreover, the addition of nematode eggs stimulated the secretion of extracellular proteins, including proteases, with induction filtrate showing high ovicidal activity. The molecular mass of the protease was approximately 40 kDa estimated by SDS–PAGE. The optimum activity of the protease was at pH 10 and 60 ℃. The purified protease was highly sensitive to phenylmethyl sulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), indicating it belonged to the serine protease family. The findings suggest that <em>P. chlamydosporia</em> could be an effective biological control agent for helminth diseases in livestock.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23716,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology","volume":"334 ","pages":"Article 110374"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142819466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigation of Cyclospora spp. in farmed fur animals based on PCR-RFLP","authors":"Nian-Yu Xue ,&nbsp;Hai-Tao Wang ,&nbsp;Qing-Yu Hou ,&nbsp;Ya Qin ,&nbsp;Xue-Min Li ,&nbsp;Jing Jiang ,&nbsp;Li-Hua Yang ,&nbsp;Xing Yang ,&nbsp;Yan Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110416","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110416","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Cyclospora</em> spp., foodborne intestinal protozoa with potential zoonotic risk, are distributed across the globe. However, their presence in animals bred for fur has not been extensively studied, raising concerns about zoonotic transmission. To assess the prevalence of <em>Cyclospora</em> spp. in fur animals in China, we collected fresh fecal samples from 862 animals, including 352 blue foxes, 275 minks, and 235 raccoon dogs, across multiple provinces. The small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene of <em>Cyclospora</em> spp. was amplified using nested PCR, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis with the <em>Kpn</em>2I enzyme. We also analyzed geographic location and clinical symptoms, such as diarrhea, as potential risk factors. Our findings showed an overall infection rate of 1.3 % for <em>Cyclospora</em> spp. in fur animals, with 2.3 % in blue foxes, 0.4 % in minks, and 0.9 % in raccoon dogs. Geographic location was a significant infection risk factor in blue foxes (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001), while diarrhea was a risk factor in all fur animals (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). A molecular phylogenetic analysis based on SSU rRNA sequences revealed that two isolates clustered with human-derived <em>Cyclospora cayetanensis</em>, while the remaining isolates grouped with previously reported cattle-derived <em>Cyclospora</em> spp. This study is the first to report <em>Cyclospora</em> spp. infections in fur animals worldwide, underscoring the potential for zoonotic transmission. These findings offer crucial insights for controlling infections in fur animals, other animals, and humans.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23716,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology","volume":"334 ","pages":"Article 110416"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143419796","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing the benzimidazole resistance in equine strongyles by in vitro methods","authors":"Alžbeta Königová ,&nbsp;Michal Babják ,&nbsp;Tetiana A. Kuzmina ,&nbsp;Ľudmila Burcáková ,&nbsp;Yaroslav Syrota ,&nbsp;Marián Várady","doi":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110387","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110387","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study aimed to conduct a survey on the occurrence of benzimidazole (BZ) resistance in strongyles by <em>in vitro</em> egg hatch test (EHT) and larval development test (LDT) and to identify the effective indicators of early resistance detection on horse farms with associated risk factors analysis appraisal. In total, 203 horses from 8 farms underwent the fecal sampling of which 77 horses were selected for <em>in vitro</em> testing. Simultaneously, 18 horses were chosen to analyse the results of <em>in vitro</em> tests compared to the <em>in vivo</em> fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT). The EHT indicated the presence of resistant strongyles in all farms with an exceeded threshold of 0.1 μg/ml thiabendazole (TBZ) in 43 horses (55.84 %). The percent egg hatch at 0.1 μg/ml TBZ in \"resistant parasites\" varies from 39.0 ± 6.0 % to 91.0 ± 1.0 %. The hatching range between 8.5 ± 1.5 % and 50.0 ± 6.0 % at a concentration of 0.1 μg/ml TBZ was detected wherein the recommended threshold was not exceeded. The analysis of the EHT results demonstrated that egg hatching at the 0.1 µg/ml TBZ concentration was identified as the most important predictor of the early detection of BZ resistance. In the LDT, the mean TBZ concentration which interrupted the development of 50 % and 99 % larvae to the infective stage (L3) from all horses was 0.0753 ± 0.0454 and 0.6798 ± 1.9144 μg/ml TBZ, respectively. Only cyathostomin L3 were found at TBZ concentrations ≥ 0.08 μg/ml and only in samples from 81.8 % of horses (36/44). A comparison of LDT results did not show a statistically significant agreement with EHT and FECRT. In conclusion, the <em>in vitro</em> EHT could be implemented as an indicator for early BZ resistance detection and showed that monitoring of hatching at selected concentrations could detect presence and estimate the proportion of the resistant parasite population on the horse farms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23716,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology","volume":"334 ","pages":"Article 110387"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142972372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Role of sex hormones in the reactivation of Toxocara canis larvae in pregnant bitches","authors":"Marco Antonio Muñoz-Guzmán,&nbsp;Fernando Alba-Hurtado","doi":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110393","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110393","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Based on an exhaustive review, a theory was proposed with an immunoendocrine perspective on the reactivation of dormant <em>Toxocara canis</em> larvae in pregnant bitches and their transmission to fetuses through the placenta, or milk and colostrum to puppies. A historical review was carried out on the reactivation of dormant larvae of <em>T. canis</em> in pregnant bitches which suggested that larval reactivation of <em>T. canis</em> is not solely the effect of a single hormone (prolactin) but is the result of a series of events triggered by progesterone, prolactin, and estrogens. In the first third of gestation, progesterone is capable of directly stimulating the reactivation of larvae through hormonal receptors, indirectly downregulating the granulomatous proinflammatory response around dormant <em>T. canis</em> larvae, and directing the response to a Th2 profile with increased levels of antibodies and blood eosinophils. After a time, when progesterone levels decrease, prolactin and estrogen maintain larval stimulation through hormonal receptors and downregulation of Th1 and the granulomatous proinflammatory response. Collectively, these hormones play major roles in the reactivation of <em>T. canis</em> larvae in pregnant bitches. The series of complex events that occur during larval reactivation is a clear example of transregulation, in which host hormones regulate the vital functions of the parasite to positively influence its establishment and/or proliferation. Understanding larval reactivation from an immunoendocrine perspective helps us to comprehensively understand the complex parasite-host relationship of <em>T. canis</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23716,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology","volume":"334 ","pages":"Article 110393"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143012730","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of 5-hydroxytryptamine on expulsion of Trichinella spiralis during the intestinal stage","authors":"Tongxuan Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhiyu Zhu ,&nbsp;Zhiyuan Zhang ,&nbsp;Xueting Wang ,&nbsp;Xuanrui Liu ,&nbsp;Wentao Yang ,&nbsp;Xin Cao ,&nbsp;Yanlong Jiang ,&nbsp;Jianzhong Wang ,&nbsp;Yan Zeng ,&nbsp;Chunwei Shi ,&nbsp;Haibin Huang ,&nbsp;Chunfeng Wang ,&nbsp;Nan Wang ,&nbsp;Guilian Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110396","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110396","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>During the intestinal stage of <em>Trichinella spiralis</em> (<em>T. spiralis</em>) infection, it can stimulate host’s intestinal peristalsis to expulse worms. 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a neurotransmitter which can regulate the contraction of intestinal smooth muscle. IL-33 specifically binds to ST2 receptor to promote the secretion of 5-HT by intestinal enterochromaffin cells. However, it remains unclear whether the host is able to modulate the secretion of 5-HT to expulse worms through the IL-33-ST2 signaling pathway during the intestinal stage of <em>T. spiralis</em> infection. Therefore, ST2 inhibitor iST2 was used in a <em>T. spiralis</em> infected mouse model and MODE-K cells to analyze the role of IL-33-ST2 signaling pathway in the secretion of 5-HT during the intestinal phase of <em>T. spiralis</em> infection. The results indicated that the expression of ST2, IL-33, and TPH1(tryptophan hydroxylase 1, the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of 5-HT) in the small intestine were increased during the intestinal phase of <em>T. spiralis</em> infection. Meanwhile the levels of secretory 5-HT and IL-33 in the small intestine were significantly increased. After iST2 treatment, the level of 5-HT was significantly decreased, resulting in diminished worms expulsion capability. The decrease of 5-HT was observed in MODE-K cells treated with excretory-secretory products of <em>T. spiralis</em> post iST2 treatment. The above results demonstrated that IL-33-ST2 signaling pathway might play a crucial role in promoting the secretion of 5-HT which enhancing the ability of the intestine to expulse worms during the intestinal stage of <em>T. spiralis</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23716,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology","volume":"334 ","pages":"Article 110396"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143012731","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel cross-priming amplification technique combined with lateral flow strips for rapid and visual detection of zoonotic Toxoplasma gondii","authors":"Yao Liang ,&nbsp;Yuan-Hui He ,&nbsp;Shu-Feng Yang ,&nbsp;Shi-Chen Xie ,&nbsp;Yi-Han Lv ,&nbsp;Wei Cong ,&nbsp;Hany M. Elsheikha ,&nbsp;Xing-Quan Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110402","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110402","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Toxoplasma gondii</em>, an obligate intracellular protozoan, infects almost all warm-blooded animals and humans, with felines serving as its sole definitive hosts. Cats release <em>T. gondii</em> oocysts into the environment through feces, contributing to environmental contamination that can lead to toxoplasmosis in humans upon exposure through ingestion of contaminated food, water, or soil. Effective detection of <em>T. gondii</em> in environmental samples is essential for protecting public health and preventing disease transmission. In the present study, we developed a cross-priming amplification (CPA) assay coupled with lateral flow immunoassay strips for the rapid and visual detection of <em>T. gondii</em> in environmental samples. CPA offers simplicity and eliminates the need for complex laboratory equipment. The assay demonstrated high specificity, accurately identifying nine genotypes of <em>T. gondii</em> without cross-reacting with 11 related parasites. Sensitivity testing revealed a detection limit of 1 × 10² copies/μL at the molecular level (plasmid) and 10 oocysts in real-world environmental samples. Furthermore, CPA effectively detected <em>T. gondii</em> in diverse environmental samples, including soil, water, and cat feces, with results consistent with known infection rates. These findings underscore CPA′s potential as a reliable, rapid, and accessible tool for detecting <em>T. gondii</em> in environmental settings, contributing to improved public health surveillance and disease prevention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23716,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology","volume":"334 ","pages":"Article 110402"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143029502","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}