Veterinary parasitology最新文献

{"title":"Development of an optimized culture medium using meso-inositol and mannitol to maximize chlamydospore production of Duddingtonia flagrans","authors":"Manuela Southwell ,&nbsp;Milagros Junco ,&nbsp;Silvina Fernández ,&nbsp;Gisele Bernat ,&nbsp;Sara Zegbi ,&nbsp;Inés Guerrero ,&nbsp;Federica Sagües","doi":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110613","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110613","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biological control using nematophagous fungi such as <em>Duddingtonia flagrans</em> offers a sustainable strategy to reduce gastrointestinal nematode populations in grazing animals. However, large-scale application requires efficient chlamydospore production without compromising fungal viability and efficacy. This study aimed to optimize a solid culture medium enriched with meso-inositol and mannitol to enhance chlamydospore production and assess its impact on nematode predatory capacity for their subsequent use as biological control agent. Different formulations were tested by supplementing Glucose Sabouraud Agar with various concentrations of meso-inositol (1.1–2 %) and mannitol (2–5 %). Cultures were incubated for up to 35 days, and chlamydospores were extracted and quantified under optical microscope at 3, 4, and 5 weeks of culturing. The highest yield – 6.95 × 10⁷ chlamydospores/plate - was obtained using 2 % meso-inositol and 5 % mannitol after 35 days of incubation at 27 ± 0.5 °C and 70 ± 5 % RH. <em>In vitro</em> fungal predatory activity against gastrointestinal nematode larvae from naturally parasitized sheep was maintained across all formulation treatments, with parasite larval reduction exceeding 70 % (p &lt; 0.0001), indicating that the optimized medium did not impair nematophagous efficacy. These findings contribute to the development of scale-up fungal culture strategies for producing commercially-based <em>D. flagrans</em> suitable for its incorporation into integrated control programs of livestock parasites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23716,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology","volume":"340 ","pages":"Article 110613"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145096577","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":"Anthelmintic efficacy and sublethal effects of trichlorfon in pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) naturally infected with Dawestrema cycloancistrium","authors":"Jeffesson de Oliveira-Lima ,&nbsp;Patricia Oliveira Maciel-Honda ,&nbsp;Jayne Barros de Aguiar Silva ,&nbsp;Liana Bezerra Dias de Lima ,&nbsp;Sandro Estevan Moron","doi":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110630","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110630","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Trichlorfon is an organophosphate commonly used to control fish ectoparasites due to its cholinesterase-inhibiting action. Due to recurring issues with monogeneans in pirarucu, this active ingredient has been frequently used in this aquaculture system. The present study aimed to simultaneously evaluate the antiparasitic efficacy and physiological effects of trichlorfon in <em>A. gigas</em> juvenile naturally infected with monogenean <em>Dawestrema cycloancistrium</em>. In the <em>in vitro</em> assay, parasitized gill arches were exposed to trichlorfon (0.1 mg/L - 10 g/L) under controlled conditions, with parasite motility analyzed every 30 min. A 100 % mortality rate was observed after 30 min at 10 g/L and after 3 h at 10 mg/L; concentrations ≤ 1 mg/L caused only a reduction in parasite motility. In the <em>in vivo</em> trial, 96 juveniles were separated into four groups: control, 10 g/L for 30 min, 10 mg/L for 3 h and 10 mg/L for 96 h. The 10 mg/L for 96 h treatment showed the highest efficacy (96.9 %), significantly surpassing the others (49.7 % and 42.3 %; p &lt; 0.05). However, this prolonged exposure induced hypochromic anemia, leukopenia, reduction in ALT and AST levels, and hyperglycemia. It is concluded that trichlorfon short-bath protocols, such as 10 g/L for 30 min or 10 mg/L for 3 h did not cause significant physiological alterations but resulted in only partial efficacy (∼50 %). Prolonged exposures at 10 mg/L for 96 h should not be recommended for <em>A. gigas</em> due to their hematotoxic and hepatotoxic effects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23716,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology","volume":"340 ","pages":"Article 110630"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145318616","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":"Late pregnancy is associated with an increase in regulatory cytokines and a decline in nematode-specific antibody levels in sheep infected with Teladorsagia circumcincta","authors":"Adam D. Hayward ,&nbsp;Andrew W. Greer ,&nbsp;David Frew ,&nbsp;Margaret Oliver ,&nbsp;Alison A. Morrison ,&nbsp;Yvonne Bartley ,&nbsp;Yolanda Corripio-Miyar ,&nbsp;David J. Bartley ,&nbsp;Fiona Kenyon ,&nbsp;Mara Rocchi ,&nbsp;Alasdair J. Nisbet ,&nbsp;Tom N. McNeilly","doi":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110617","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110617","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The gastrointestinal nematode <em>Teladorsagia circumcincta</em> is a prevalent and economically important parasite of sheep. Sheep develop acquired immunity to <em>T. circumcincta</em>, characterised by nematode-specific antibody production and a type 2 T-helper (Th) cell response. During late pregnancy and early lactation, ewes experience increased nematode faecal egg count (FEC) known as the peri-parturient rise (PPR). The PPR is associated with a decline in nematode-specific antibodies, but research on the role of Th cell-mediated immunity in the PPR is limited. Here, we characterised the cellular and humoral immune responses of <em>T. circumcincta</em>-infected ewes fed at two dietary levels during the peri-parturient period. Diet had a limited effect on any trait, likely due to the high body condition of the ewes entering the study, but all ewes experienced a pronounced PPR. The PPR was associated with a decline in nematode-specific IgG, and antigen-dependent declines of IgA and IgE around parturition. Levels of the Th1-associated cytokine IFN-γ and the Th2-associated cytokine IL-4 showed antigen-dependent declines during the peri-parturient period. In contrast, the regulatory cytokine IL-10 increased around parturition in response to a generic mitogen, nematode antigens and Heptavac® vaccine, suggesting a generalised regulatory immune phenotype. Our results provide a comprehensive view of the immunological changes during the PPR and suggest a possible role for regulatory T cell responses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23716,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology","volume":"340 ","pages":"Article 110617"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145159031","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":"Morphological and molecular identification of Eimeria spp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in dairy cattle, Bos taurus from intensive dairy cattle farms in some areas of China","authors":"Jiashu Lang ,&nbsp;Huikai Qin ,&nbsp;Jinfeng Zhao ,&nbsp;Kaihui Zhang ,&nbsp;Zi Yan ,&nbsp;Ziyang Qin ,&nbsp;Junqiang Li ,&nbsp;Yayun Wu ,&nbsp;Yixuan Niu ,&nbsp;Yifan Zhang ,&nbsp;Longxian Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110621","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110621","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coccidiosis is among the most prevalent diseases affecting dairy cattle globally, imposing significant economic losses on the dairy industry annually. To better understand the epidemiology and species distribution of <em>Eimeria</em> spp. in key dairy-producing regions of China, as well as to improve species-level identification, we developed an integrated approach combining morphological characterization with single-oocyst selection technology and multi-locus-nested PCR amplification. This method enables comprehensive genetic profiling of individual oocysts through multi-locus genotyping. A total of 900 fecal samples were collected from the rectums of dairy cattle, the overall prevalence of <em>Eimeria</em> spp. infection was 34.78 % (313/900). Thirteen <em>Eimeria</em> spp. were identified with the following distribution: <em>Eimeria alabamensis</em> (12.46 %, 39/313), <em>E. auburnensis</em> (28.43 %, 89/313), <em>E. bovis</em> (42.81 %, 134/313), <em>E. bukidnonensis</em> (5.75 %,18/313), <em>E. canadensis</em> (27.80 %,87/313), <em>E. cylindrica</em> (30.67 %,96/313), <em>E. ellipsoidalis</em> (37.06 %,116/313), <em>E. pellita</em> (0.30 %,1/313), <em>E. subspherical</em> (28.12 %,88/313), <em>E. zuernii</em> (50.48 %,158/313), <em>E. illinoisensis</em> (25.56 %,80/313), <em>E. wyomingensis</em> (3.83 %,12/313), <em>E. ildefonsoi</em> (1.28 %,4/313). Among these, <em>E. bovis</em> and <em>E. zuernii</em> were the predominant species. Our study contributes new data of <em>Eimeria</em> spp. infection in dairy cattle from key dairy-producing regions of China. We provide updated morphological characterizations for several <em>Eimeria</em> species, for the first time in China, the presence of <em>E. ildefonsoi</em>. Additionally, we performed comparative sequence analysis of the <em>SSU</em> rRNA and COI loci. The results revealed sequence homology ranges of 93.00 %–100.00 % (<em>SSU</em> rRNA) and 83.30 %–98.80 % (COI) among the 13 <em>Eimeria</em> species examined. Phylogenetic analysis based on these two loci effectively differentiated all 13 <em>Eimeria</em> species. This study represents the first report of single-oocyst-derived sequences for <em>Eimeria</em> spp. in dairy cattle at the <em>SSU</em> rRNA and COI loci, establishing a robust method for precise species identification and expanding the genetic database for bovine <em>Eimeria</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23716,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology","volume":"340 ","pages":"Article 110621"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145221486","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":"Virtual screening of FDA-approved drugs identifies amlodipine as a novel anti-Gyrodactylus kobayashii agent with therapeutic potential in aquaculture","authors":"Xiaoping Tan ,&nbsp;Tianqiang Liu ,&nbsp;Gaoxue Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110605","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110605","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Parasitic infestations remain a major challenge in aquaculture, causing substantial economic losses. Current treatments for gyrodactylosis predominantly rely on unapproved chemicals, which often exhibit suboptimal efficacy. In this study, a molecular docking approach was employed to elucidate interactions between FDA-approved drugs and key residues within the active site of <em>Gyrodactylus kobayashii</em> proteins. Using AutoDock Vina, we screened a library of FDA-approved compounds and identified amlodipine and colistin sulfate salt as the most potent candidates against <em>G. kobayashii</em>. The minimum concentrations required to achieve complete parasite eradication within 24 h were 13.0 mg/L for amlodipine and 16.0 mg/L for colistin sulfate salt. Given its lower toxicity to goldfish, amlodipine was selected for further investigation. In vitro assays demonstrated that amlodipine exhibited significant anthelmintic activity, with 18 mg/L eradicating 60.67 % of <em>G. kobayashii</em> within 2 h. Subsequent in vivo trials involving goldfish infected with <em>G. kobayashii</em> revealed that a 24-hour bath treatment with amlodipine reduced the total worm burden, achieving an EC₅₀ value of 10.537 mg/L, and 100 % efficacy at 13.0 mg/L. Acute toxicity assays determined an LC₅₀ of 19.653 mg/L for goldfish following 96 h of exposure to amlodipine. Furthermore, expression analyses of xenobiotic-sensitive genes (<em>cyp1a</em> and <em>hsp70</em>) indicated significant modulation post-treatment, with a gradual return to baseline levels over time. To further elucidate the mechanistic effects of amlodipine, we investigated the expression of key genes within the MAPK signaling pathway, including <em>JNK</em>, <em>P53</em>, <em>SMAD4</em>, <em>JNK3</em>, and <em>C-JUN</em>. Results showed that the expression of these genes was significantly influenced by both the concentration and duration of amlodipine exposure. These findings underscore the potential of virtual screening methodologies for identifying effective anthelmintic agents targeting specific proteins. This approach offers promising implications for the aquaculture industry, which has historically lagged behind other sectors in drug research and development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23716,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology","volume":"340 ","pages":"Article 110605"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145046343","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":"Mitochondrial genome of Strongylus edentatus confirms monophyly of the genus Strongylus within Strongylinae","authors":"Zhonghuai Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhuo Lan ,&nbsp;Yuan Gao ,&nbsp;Hongyu Qiu ,&nbsp;Junfeng Gao ,&nbsp;Chunren Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110607","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110607","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Strongylus vulgaris</em>, <em>Strongylus equinus</em>, <em>Strongylus edentatus</em> and <em>Strongylus asini</em> are important equine nematodes, classified under the genus <em>Strongylus</em> (subfamily Strongylinae). However, this taxonomy is controversial. Thus, the mitochondrial (mt) genome of <em>S. edentatus</em> collected from horses in Heilongjiang Province, China was sequenced and compared with those of closely related species to clarify the classification and phylogenetic relationships of this genus. The circular mt genome of <em>S. edentatus</em> was 14,765 bp long, comprising 12 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and three noncoding regions. All protein-coding genes were transcribed in the same direction and had a type 3 gene arrangement. The genome contained 22 intergenic spacers (1–146 bp) and four overlapping regions (1–14 bp). The A+T content was 78.15 %, reflecting a strong nucleotide and codon usage bias. The mt genome of <em>S. edentatus</em> showed higher similarity with that of <em>S. equinus</em> (96.3 %) than with that of <em>S. vulgaris</em> (76.9 %). Phylogenetic analyses showed that <em>S. edentatus</em> and <em>S. equinus</em> were classified on the same branch, forming a sister branch with <em>S. vulgaris</em> within Strongylinae, with <em>S. edentatus</em> and <em>S. equinus</em> having a closer phylogenetic relationship. Although traditionally assigned to Strongylinae, <em>Strongylus</em> and <em>Triodontophorus</em> did not cluster together. This study provides the first complete mt genome of <em>S. edentatus</em> and confirmed that <em>S. equinus</em>, <em>S. vulgaris,</em> and <em>S. edentatus</em> belong to the genus <em>Strongylus</em>, which is monophyletic, with the subfamilies Strongylinae and Cyathostominae being paraphyletic. Thus, overall, this study provides valuable data for addressing taxonomic ambiguities in the Strongylidae.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23716,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology","volume":"340 ","pages":"Article 110607"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145046352","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":"Smart farming with AI: Enhancing anemia detection in small ruminants","authors":"Sadia Farhana","doi":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110627","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110627","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23716,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology","volume":"340 ","pages":"Article 110627"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145267373","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":"In vitro and in silico studies of GST-inhibitory and larvicidal activities of alkaloids against Rhipicephalus microplus","authors":"Amanda Ponce Morais Cerqueira ,&nbsp;Matheus da Cunha Santos ,&nbsp;Gabriel Lima Soares Rezende ,&nbsp;Manoelito Coelho dos Santos Junior ,&nbsp;Mariana Borges Botura","doi":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110628","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110628","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The resistance of <em>Rhipicephalus microplus</em> to the main commercial acaricides has stimulated research for new antiparasitic agents, including natural products as an alternative to eco-friendly control. Among the main classes of secondary metabolites of plants stand out the alkaloids, which are characterized by a variety of biological activities such as enzymatic inhibition. The enzyme Glutathione-<em>S</em>-transferase (GST) is an important catalyst of xenobiotic detox reactions in arthropods and represents a promising target in the acaricide development. This work aimed to associate <em>in silico</em> and <em>in vitro</em> assays for the identification of alkaloids with inhibitory action against GST from <em>R. microplus</em> (RmGST). The model of RmGST was designed using the SWISS-MODEL online server and validated by molecular dynamics. The molecular affinity of alkaloids with RmGST was assessed using the DOCK 6.9 program and the best molecules were employed in <em>in vitro</em> assays. The <em>in vitro</em> assays performed were enzymatic inhibition and larval immersion tests. Molecular dynamics was run with GROMACS for alkaloid selected from <em>in silico</em> and <em>in vitro</em> analyses. The RmGST model shown to be sterically and energetically acceptable. In molecular dynamics simulations, the 3D structure remains stable with Root Mean Square Deviation = 4.35 Å and Root Mean Square Fluctuation = 2.21 Å. All the 20 alkaloids tested in molecular docking analyses show molecular affinity to the RmGST. Colchicine and papaverine show the best GridScocre: −38.09 and −36.09 kcal/mol, respectively. In <em>in vitro</em> enzymatic evaluation, colchicine exhibited more activity (81.73 %, 0.5 mg/mL) in comparison to papaverine (27.8 %, 0.5 mg/mL). However, these alkaloids did not interfere <em>in vitro</em> with the viability of <em>R. microplus</em> larvae. The colchicine contributed to the stability of the RmGST model in molecular dynamics simulations and presented hydrophobic and hydrogen interactions with residues from the orthosteric site. The association of <em>in silico</em> and <em>in vitro</em> techniques allowed the identification of two potential RmGST inhibitors (colchinine and papaverine) capable of interacting in the active site of the enzyme. RmGST inhibitors can be used in association with acaricides for a more effective control of <em>R. microplus</em> reducing parasite resistance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23716,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology","volume":"340 ","pages":"Article 110628"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145259323","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":"Influence of water quality parameters on lymnaeid snail distribution and their relationship with fasciolosis transmission","authors":"Gisela Neira ,&nbsp;Roberto Mera y Sierra ,&nbsp;Dayana Godoy ,&nbsp;Lorena Logarzo ,&nbsp;Mariana Gonzalez ,&nbsp;Silvana Scarcella","doi":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110611","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110611","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fascioliasis is a globally distributed parasitic disease caused by <em>Fasciola hepatica</em> and <em>Fasciola gigantica,</em> transmitted by freshwater snails of the family Lymnaeidae<em>.</em> Although environmental factors influence the distribution of these intermediate hosts, the role of water physicochemical parameters remains underexplored. This study evaluated the relationship between water quality and lymnaeid snail presence in endemic areas of western Argentina. A total of 53 aquatic sites were surveyed, with lymnaeid snails detected in 33 (62.26 %). Water samples were categorized as positive or negative based on snail presence and <em>F. hepatica</em> detection in livestock from the associated farm. Significant differences were observed in electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, pH, total hardness, calcium, sodium, and sulfate concentrations. Correlation analysis revealed a consistent negative association between lymnaeid presence and most parameters, particularly calcium and total hardness. Notably, snails were found in sites with water temperatures as low as 2.8°C, challenging previous assumptions about thermal limits for survival. Consistently with these environmental findings, coprological analysis of 1936 animals showed a strong association between snail presence and <em>F. hepatica</em> infection: all farms in snail-positive areas tested positive (19/19), while none in snail-negative areas did (0/10) (Fisher’s exact test, p &lt; 0.001). Overall prevalence in snail-positive farms was 36.48 %, with species-specific rates ranging from 25.51 % in cattle to 50.91 % in goats. These findings provide actionable insights for environmental surveillance and fascioliasis control strategies in endemic regions, especially under changing climatic conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23716,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology","volume":"340 ","pages":"Article 110611"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145096576","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":"Dry silica dust-based products for management of ixodids","authors":"Allan T. Showler","doi":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110591","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110591","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ixodids transmit a variety of disease-causing agents that afflict humans, livestock, companion animals, and wildlife, as well as reducing meat and milk yields, reproduction, hide quality, and occasionally inducing death from exsanguination. While the primary control tactic has been application of conventional synthetic acaricides, resistance to many of those products has occurred among various ixodid species. This development has instigated searches for alternative control tactics, such as growth regulators, bioactive animal and botanical substances, vaccines, biological control, and silica-based dusts. Inert silica dust-based substances, including kaolin, silica gel, diatomaceous earths, and perlite are lethal to mobile ixodid life stages. The dusts are largely noninjurious to vertebrates and they have potentially indefinite shelf lives and extended residual potential after application to vegetation and animals that host ixodids, e.g., cattle. Extended residual efficacy may confer prophylactic protection of livestock. Silica-based dusts, particularly diatomaceous earths, are acceptable for use in organically certified production systems and environmentally protected areas. Ixodid resistance is unlikely to occur, and ixodid vulnerability can be maintained by using silica-based dusts formulated with botanical toxins, such as pyrethrins and thyme oil. While silica-based dusts kill immature ixodids before they commence blood-feeding on cattle, the dusts combined with botanical toxins rapidly kill actively feeding ixodids as well. It is possible that commercially available silica-based dust products, and those formulated with botanical toxins, might be amenable to organic production systems and protected habitats.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23716,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology","volume":"340 ","pages":"Article 110591"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144989430","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}