Parasite Epidemiology and Control最新文献

{"title":"Genetic uniformity and occurrence of Bartonella bovis in European cattle: Indications of exophagic transmission","authors":"Iva Hammerbauerová,&nbsp;Kristýna Dulavová,&nbsp;Petr Václavek,&nbsp;Jan Votýpka","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2026.e00532","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2026.e00532","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Bartonella bovis</em> is an intracellular bacterium infecting cattle, with competent vectors yet to be determined. We compared <em>B. bovis</em> prevalence between pasture-raised and indoor-housed cattle to assess potential vector candidates. A total of 548 blood samples from Czech cattle and 48 samples from cattle from southeastern Romania were analyzed using qPCR (<em>ssrA</em> gene) and nested PCR (<em>gltA</em> gene). In pasture herds, 18.39% (64/348) of samples were positive, all but one representing a single <em>B. bovis</em> genotype identical to isolates from Brazil, Guatemala, and France. In Romanian herds, also reared outdoors, prevalence was 12.5% (6/48) mostly matching Czech genotypes. These results indicate low genetic diversity of <em>B. bovis</em> compared to other <em>Bartonella</em> species (e.g., <em>B. schoenbuchensis</em> in red deer), supporting a clonal population structure. In contrast, indoor cattle were completely negative (0/200). The exclusive occurrence of <em>B. bovis</em> in pasture-raised cattle and their exposure to blood-feeding arthropods suggests transmission by exophagic vectors, possibly horn flies (<em>Haematobia irritans</em>) or horseflies (Tabanidae). Overall, our findings, while not demonstrating the competence of a specific vector, provide epidemiological indications that outdoor exposure supports vector-borne transmission and narrows the range of plausible candidate vectors in Europe.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"34 ","pages":"Article e00532"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148770314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detection of Japanese encephalitis virus in Culex tritaeniorhynchus following the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, Japan","authors":"Kota Mochizuki,&nbsp;Yosaburo Oikawa,&nbsp;Manabu Murakami","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2026.e00539","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2026.e00539","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic flavivirus transmitted primarily by <em>Culex</em> (<em>Cx.</em>) <em>tritaeniorhynchus</em> and the risk of JEV transmission is influenced by environmental and ecological conditions. Large-scale natural disasters can substantially alter local environments and mosquito habitats, potentially affecting the circulation of arboviruses. Following the January 1, 2024, Noto earthquake, the surrounding environment in the region changed drastically.</div><div>In this study, we investigated the prevalence and genetic characteristics of JEV in mosquito populations collected before and after an earthquake in the affected areas and its surrounding region. The climatic and environmental conditions during the sampling periods were also compared to assess their potential contribution to changes in JEV positivity.</div><div>Despite the lack of statistical significance, JEV was detected exclusively in post-earthquake mosquito samples, and all the detected strains belonged to genotype Ib (GI-b). A phylogenetic analysis further revealed the presence of distinct clades within GI-b, suggesting that multiple independent introduction events had occurred in the past.</div><div>The detection of multiple sequences of JEV GI-b in mosquitoes collected after an earthquake warrants particular attention, as ongoing post-disaster reconstruction and associated environmental changes may further influence viral circulation, underscoring the need for continued and careful surveillance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"34 ","pages":"Article e00539"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148843573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatial and seasonal dynamics of Simulium damnosum s.l. and entomological indicators of onchocercosis in the provinces of Huambo and Cuanza-Sul in Angola","authors":"Iviti Itshumu,&nbsp;Clémence Kavira Tsongo,&nbsp;Germain Kapour,&nbsp;Luzala Garcia,&nbsp;Simaro Siriki,&nbsp;Lemos Manuel,&nbsp;Cláudio J. Maia","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2026.e00537","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2026.e00537","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Onchocerciasis remains a public health problem in Angola. Despite the implementation of onchocerciasis control programs based on mass treatment with ivermectin, current entomological data remain limited, making it difficult to accurately assess the potential risk of transmission. Our objectives were to analyze the spatial and seasonal dynamics of <em>Simulium damnosum s.l.</em> and the main entomological indicators of onchocerciasis in the provinces of Huambo and Cuanza Sul, Angola, to assess the potential entomological risk of transmission.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We captured black flies using the human bait capture method for 48 days between July and October 2025. Analyses of entomological indicators included abundance, monthly bite rate (MBR), parity, seasonality, daily activity, and monthly transmission potential (MTP). Morphological identification of specimens was performed according to standard taxonomic keys.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 6.038 black flies were captured during the study period, including 3.615 in Huambo and 2.423 in Cuanza Sul. All black flies belonged to species of the savanna group. The average BMR was high (1.890 bites/person/month), with significant seasonal variations. The overall parity rate reached 59%, significantly higher in Cuanza Sul. No black flies infected with <em>Onchocerca volvulus</em> were found, resulting in a zero PMT at all study sites.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Despite high vector density and relatively old black fly populations, the absence of transmission suggests a reduction in onchocerciasis transmission in the studied regions. These results demonstrate the importance of maintaining regular entomological surveillance to prevent potential transmission in an ecological context favorable to the vector.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"34 ","pages":"Article e00537"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148843588","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular prevalence of Ehrlichia canis in dogs examined at the Hospital de Clínicas Veterinárias of Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Southern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil","authors":"Daniel Felipe Buitrago Linares ,&nbsp;Kauê Rodriguez Martins ,&nbsp;Paola Renata Joanol Dallmann ,&nbsp;Sthéphani Alves Branco Camargo ,&nbsp;Oluwagbemiga Ademola Dada ,&nbsp;Éverton Fagonde da Silva ,&nbsp;Fabio Pereira Leivas Leite ,&nbsp;Marlete Brum Cleff ,&nbsp;Rodrigo Casquero Cunha","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2026.e00480","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2026.e00480","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Ehrlichia canis</em> is a pathogen that causes a multisystemic disease in dogs of all ages and sexes and belongs to a genus with zoonotic potential. This study aimed to determine the molecular prevalence of <em>E. canis</em> in a population of dogs with no clinical suspicion of ehrlichiosis, examined at the Hospital de Clínicas Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (HCV, UFPel). Blood samples from 95 dogs were analyzed at the Veterinary Molecular Biology Laboratory (LabMol-Vet) using nested PCR (nPCR) targeting a 16S rDNA fragment. Amplified products were analyzed by electrophoresis on 1.5% agarose gel and visualized under UV light, revealing a molecular prevalence of 16.84% (16/95). Two PCR products were sequenced for phylogenetic analysis, providing complementary confirmation. This study represents one of the few molecular prevalence investigations conducted in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and underscore the need for continuous monitoring and further studies to better understand the dynamics of infection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article e00480"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146122682","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":"Magnitude of intestinal parasites, enteric bacterial infections, antimicrobial susceptibility, and associated factors among street food vendors in Bule Hora town, south Ethiopia","authors":"Tibeso Gemechu ,&nbsp;Alqeer Aliyo ,&nbsp;Wako Dedecha ,&nbsp;Truzer Beyene ,&nbsp;Lachisa Asefa","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2026.e00512","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2026.e00512","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Foodborne illnesses pose a significant global health issue. In Ethiopia, particularly in rapidly expanding urban areas such as Bule Hora Town, the combination of rapid urbanization, inadequate infrastructure, and poor hygiene conditions has created a high-risk environment for the transmission of enteric bacterial infections and intestinal parasites. The widespread consumption of street food in Bule Hora Town contributes substantially to the incidence of foodborne illnesses.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To evaluate the occurrence of enteric bacteria, intestinal parasites, antimicrobial resistance patterns, and its related factors among street food vendors in Bule Hora town.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A community based cross-sectional study was carried out in the town of Bule Hora from April to May 2024. The current study enrolled 230 randomly chosen street food vendors in Bule Hora town. Data were obtained through direct interviews by using a semi-structured questionnaire. Both Stool samples and finger nails were taken from the food vendors for bacteria and parasite identification. Wet mount, formal ether concentration technique, culture and biochemical tests were used to identify enteric bacteria and intestinal parasites. The data were entered and analyzed using Epi-Data 3.1 and SPSS version 25, using logistic regression analysis. A <em>p</em>-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.</div></div><div><h3>Result</h3><div>The general prevalence of enteric bacterial pathogens and intestinal parasites was 7.8% (95% CI: 5.4%–10.2%) and 20.8% (95% CI: 17.35%–24.25%) respectively. Of the identified pathogens <em>Ascaris lumbricoides</em> (41.6%) and <em>Salmonella</em> (7.4%) were the most common parasite and enteric bacterial infections, respectively. Untrimmed fingernails, drinking raw milk, absence of hand washing with soap after the toilet, and eating raw vegetables or fruit were factors linked to prevalence of enteric bacteria and intestinal parasite infections. Further, all the <em>Salmonella</em> and <em>Shigella</em> strains identified displayed complete resistance to the antibiotic ampicillin.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The study identified a significant prevalence of enteric bacteria and intestinal parasites among street food vendors in the current study area. Bule Hora Health Bureau, in collaboration with the town municipality, should provide regular medical checkups and health education for street-food vendors in the town.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article e00512"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147950915","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":"Epidemiological study of gastrointestinal parasites in yaks (Bos grunniens) from the Ganzi Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Sichuan Province, China","authors":"Maqsood Ahmed ,&nbsp;Yao Pan ,&nbsp;Lidan Wang ,&nbsp;Youying Li ,&nbsp;Jiancheng Qi ,&nbsp;Lan Lan ,&nbsp;Zhicai Zuo ,&nbsp;Yue Xie","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2026.e00506","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2026.e00506","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Yaks (<em>Bos grunniens</em>) serve as an indispensable economic pillar of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) of China, especially in the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (GTAP), where they provide milk, meat, and economic security for local communities. Gastrointestinal parasites (GIP) are common in yaks and pose a significant threat to their health and productivity. This study investigated the prevalence and intensity of the yak GIP in ten breeding regions of GTAP in western Sichuan Province, China, from February to April 2024. A total of 326 yak fecal samples were collected for the qualitative and quantitative analyses. Overall, 173 samples were positive for one or multiple parasite taxa, yielding an overall infection rate of 53.07% (95% CI: 47.64%–58.48%). The identified parasites included strongyle-type species (42.94%; 95% CI: 37.57%–48.31%), <em>Toxocara vitulorum</em> (9.82%; 95% CI: 6.59%–13.05%), <em>Nematodirus</em> spp. (1.23%; 95% CI: 0.48%–3.11%), and <em>Eimeria</em> spp. (0.31%; 95% CI: 0.05%–1.71%). The strongyle-type species was the most predominant group, with a peak infection prevalence in high-altitude regions (49.65%; 95% CI: 41.45%–57.85%), suggesting that the altitude might modulate the parasite dynamics, possibly driven by the interplay of climatic envelopes and host physiological stress. Taken together, this study provided the first comprehensive overview of GIP prevalence and taxa distribution of yaks in the Western Sichuan Plateau, highlighting the need for targeted parasite control strategies and increased awareness among yak farmers to improve animal health and productivity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article e00506"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147797368","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":"Applying Machine learning to analyze the utilization of insecticide-treated nets among rural under-five children in East Africa","authors":"Fentahun Bikale Kebede ,&nbsp;Amanuel Worku ,&nbsp;Angwach Abrham Asnake ,&nbsp;Eliyas Addisu Taye ,&nbsp;Kussie Urmale Mare ,&nbsp;Abiy Mergia Bulto ,&nbsp;Abraham Keffale Mengistu ,&nbsp;Tsegereda Abebe Andargie ,&nbsp;Bewuketu Terefe","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2026.e00511","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2026.e00511","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Malaria continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children under the age of five in the sub-Saharan region of Africa. Despite being one of the pillars of prevention, the use of Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) is still low in rural East Africa. This research aimed to forecast the use of ITNs by rural communities with children in this region using machine learning (ML) and identify the most predictive factors.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We analyzed pooled data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) in 11 East African nations between 2011 and 2022. Six ML classification models, K-Nearest Neighbours, Support Vector Classifier (SVC), Random Forest, Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Naïve Bayes, and Logistic Regression, were developed to predict ITN adoption. Model performance was evaluated using Accuracy, Precision, Recall, F1-Score, and ROC-AUC. Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis was used to improve model interpretability and to rank feature importance.</div></div><div><h3>Result</h3><div>In 98,684 weighted household samples, the prevalence of general ITN use was 47.12%. The MLP model generalized best overall, achieving the highest accuracy (91.56%) and ROC-AUC (97.15%), with very high precision (87.95%) and recall (95.24%). While the SVC model had better recall (99.92%), its precision (84.19%) was significantly lower, indicating a higher proportion of false positives. MLP's F1-score of 91.39% restored it as the most balanced classifier in this scenario. SHAP analysis identified the number of children who slept under ITNs and the number of ITNs in the home as the strongest predictors. More community-level wealth, household wealth, and media exposure were also positively associated with ITN use.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Machine learning made accurate predictions of ITN use, with the MLP model having the best and most balanced performance. SHAP allowed us to uncover actionable reasons for the most influential drivers of ITN use. These evidence-based outcomes can inform targeted public health interventions to improve ITN coverage and utilization in high-risk rural settings, ultimately reducing malaria cases and deaths.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article e00511"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147950806","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":"Physical integrity and bioefficacy of long-lasting insecticidal nets 18 months after use among Central African Republic refugees in Gado-Badzere, a high malaria burden camp in Cameroon","authors":"Zidedine Nematchoua Weyou ,&nbsp;Felicite Djemna Djieyep ,&nbsp;Michel Lontsi-Demano ,&nbsp;Idriss Nasser Ngangue-Siewe ,&nbsp;Genevieve Tchigossou ,&nbsp;Rene Ning Teh ,&nbsp;Danahé Adanzounon ,&nbsp;Helen Kuokuo Kimbi ,&nbsp;Irene Ule Ngole Sumbele","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2026.e00509","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2026.e00509","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In Cameroon, long-lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) are widely distributed as a key malaria control strategy. However, the proper use, maintenance and monitoring of their effectiveness remains a major challenge, especially in refugee settings. This study aimed to evaluate the physical condition and bioefficacy of LLINs used in households at the Gado-Badzere refugee camp in Eastern Cameroon.</div><div>A cross-sectional study was conducted 18 months after LLINs distribution using a structured questionnaire to evaluate net usage and care. Physical integrity was assessed based on World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. WHO cone test was conducted to assess bed net efficacy against mosquitoes. <em>Anopheles gambiae</em> sensu lato mosquitoes were identified to species level using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).</div><div>Of the 440 LLINs examined, 60.7% were in good condition, 14.5% acceptable and 24.8% deteriorated. Deteriorated nets were significantly more common among males (32.4% vs. 23.2%) and in households with more than five persons (26.1% vs. 21.9%). Significant associations were found between net deterioration and washing practices, including frequent and no washing (36.5% vs. 7.8%), washing period intervals (1–3 months: 53.4% vs. 11.4% for 4–6 months and 31.6% for &gt;6 months) and the use of detergent, soap and bleach/brush (24.8% and 29.7% vs. 83.3%). All 30 LLINs tested were ineffective against field <em>Anopheles gambiae</em> s.l. populations with overall knock-down and mortality rates of 1.5% and 3.1%, respectively. <em>An. gambiae</em> (86.9%) and <em>An. coluzzii</em> (13.1%) were identified as the malaria vector species present in the study area.</div><div>These findings call for urgent action by humanitarian agencies operating in high-risk settings to strengthen community awareness, with a focus on gender-sensitive approaches to educate CAR refugees on the proper use and care of LLINs. Moreover, given the apparent resistance of <em>An. gambiae</em> s.l. to standard LLIN insecticides, introducing next-generation LLINs and regularly monitoring their physical integrity and bioefficacy are essential to ensure sustained malaria protection in vulnerable refugee populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article e00509"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147950916","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":"In vitro acaricide efficacy evaluation on Ambylomma variegatum and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus ticks infesting cattle in the Gondar Zuria District, Northwest Ethiopia","authors":"Bizuayehu Meskele Tafese ,&nbsp;Moges Maru ,&nbsp;Zewdu Seyoum Tarekegn ,&nbsp;Mohammed Yesuf Adem ,&nbsp;Tsegaw Fentie Kassa","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2026.e00507","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2026.e00507","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ticks are major ectoparasites affecting the health and productivity of livestock in Ethiopia. However, there exists limited information on the current efficacy of widely used acaricides including ivermectin 1% and amitraz 12.5%. Experimental randomized controlled study design was conducted from February 2023 to June 2023 to evaluate in vitro susceptibility of field-collected <em>Amblyomma variegatum (A. variegatum)</em> and <em>Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus (R. decoloratus)</em> in cattle in Gondar Zuria District Northwest Ethiopia to ivermectin1% and amitraz 12.5% at varying concentrations. Collected engorged female ticks (<em>n</em> = 540) were exposed to four concentrations of ivermectin 1% (0.00125, 0.005, 0.01, and 0.025%) for 24 h and three level concentrations of amitraz 12.5% (0.0125, 0.025, and 0.05%) for 48 h. Ivermectin 1% produced rapid and concentration-dependent mortality, with maximum efficacy of 96.66% for <em>A. variegatum</em> and 90% for <em>R. decoloratus</em> at the highest dose (0.025%). Similarly, amitraz 12.5% showed strong dose-dependent activity after 48 h, achieving mortality of up to 80.0 and 90% for <em>A. variegatum</em> and <em>R. decoloratus</em>, respectively.</div><div>Two-way ANOVA confirmed that ivermectin 1% concentration, observation time and their interaction significantly affected mean mortality rate of <em>A. variegatum</em> (F = 3.34, <em>P</em> = 0.0184; F = 12.51, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001; F = 4.94, P &lt; 0.001) and <em>R. decoloratus</em> (F = 21.02, P &lt; 0.001; F = 36.81, P &lt; 0.001; F = 3.45, <em>P</em> = 0.0016), respectively. In addition, amitraz 12.5% concentration and exposure time significantly affected mortality in <em>A. variegatum</em> (F = 26.72, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001; F = 4.20, <em>p</em> = 0.0129) and <em>R. decoloratus</em> (F = 44.41, p &lt; 0.001; F = 12.82, p &lt; 0.001), although the interaction effect was not significant for <em>A. variegatum</em> (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.05) but was significant for <em>R. decoloratus</em> (<em>P</em> <em>&lt; 0.05)</em>. These findings indicate that both acaricides remain effective against adult ticks in the study area, with ivermectin 1% acting more rapidly and amitraz 12.5% demonstrating a clear dose–response relationship. Continued surveillance and integrated tick management are recommended to mitigate the risk of emerging acaricide resistance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article e00507"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147797369","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 associated factors of intestinal parasitic infections in the school children of Sarlahi, Nepal","authors":"Merina Lama ,&nbsp;Janak Raj Subedi ,&nbsp;Rajendra Prasad Parajuli","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2026.e00508","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2026.e00508","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A large proportion of the global population is affected by intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) caused by protozoa and helminths. These infections lead to intestinal inflammation, malabsorption, and nutritional deficiencies, ultimately impairing growth and child health. This study aims to fill the knowledge gap regarding the link between nutritional status and IPIs in children over the age of five. It investigates this relationship among schoolchildren aged 6 to 17 years attending public and private schools in the Sarlahi district of Nepal. Data collection included child and adolescent interviews, anthropometric measurements, and stool sample analysis. The microscopic examination was performed using direct wet mount and concentration techniques. The overall parasitic prevalence was 30.8% (74/239), among which more females (35.3%) were infected than male children (25.2%), though this difference did not reach statistical significance (<em>p</em> = 0.06). The prevalence of parasites was found more in public school (35.8%) than private school (24.5%). <em>Ascaris lumbricoides</em> was the most prevalent with a prevalence of 25.0% followed by <em>Giardia lamblia</em> (5%), <em>Entamoeba histolytica</em> and <em>E. coli</em> (i.e., 1.7 to 1.3%, respectively). Helminth parasites were more frequent (i.e., 25.4%) than protozoan (i.e., 8.3%) parasites. Students from public schools had a significantly higher prevalence of <em>G. lamblia</em> infection and co-infections compared to those from private schools (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05). Barefooted Participants had significantly higher unadjusted odds of infection (cOR = 9.37; 95% CI: 1.03–85.35). Likewise, Janajati and Dalit participants showed increased odds of any IPIs (cOR = 2.10; 95% CI: 1.01–4.34) compared to their reference groups. There was no significant association between IPIs and nutritional status. Despite ongoing mass deworming programs, the relatively high prevalence of IPIs among school-aged children remains concerning. Poor personal hygiene, inadequate sanitation, cohabitation with livestock, and the use of unboiled drinking water may contribute to persistent infections, particularly among females and children from Janajati and Dalit communities with lower socioeconomic status. Targeted school-based health education and hygiene promotion programs are warranted to reduce the infection burden and sustain control efforts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article e00508"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147849640","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}