Food and Waterborne Parasitology最新文献

{"title":"CX3CL1/CX3CR1 involved modulation of microglial activation and eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in angiostrongyliasis","authors":"Shih-Chan Lai ,&nbsp;Yi-Hsin Wang ,&nbsp;Cheng-You Lu ,&nbsp;Shiang-Suo Huang ,&nbsp;An-Chih Chen ,&nbsp;Ke-Min Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00284","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00284","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</em> typically infects humans through the ingestion of contaminated food or water containing the larvae. <em>A. cantonensis</em> is a neurotropic parasitic nematode that causes eosinophilic meningitis in humans. Upon invasion of the CNS, <em>A. cantonensis</em> larvae elicit a pronounced immune response, rapidly activating microglia and triggering the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The CX3CL1/CX3CR1 axis has been implicated in maintaining chronic microglial activation, which could exacerbate neuroinflammation. However, the precise role of this signaling pathway in angiostrongyliasis remains poorly understood. This study aims to elucidate the mechanistic role of CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signaling in microglial activation and neuronal degeneration in CNS infections caused by <em>A. cantonensis.</em> We analyse the expression and downstream regulatory proteins using Western blotting and evaluate neuronal degeneration by Fluoro-Jade C staining in BALB/c mice infected with <em>A. cantonensis</em>. Infected mice showed a marked increase in the expression of Iba-1, CX3CL1, and CX3CR1, indicative of pronounced neuroinflammation. Concurrently, infection led to elevated p-tau accumulation and reduced NeuN expression, suggesting significant neuronal damage. Pharmacological inhibition of CX3CR1 using AZD8797 mitigated these effects by downregulating CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signaling and attenuating neuronal degeneration. Further analysis revealed that the CX3CL1/CX3CR1 axis activates the Nrf2/JNK/HO-1 pathway, contributing to oxidative stress and neuroinflammatory cascades. These findings establish the CX3CL1/CX3CR1 axis as a crucial regulator of microglial activation and neuroinflammation in <em>A. cantonensis</em> infection. Targeting this pathway can offer a viable therapeutic strategy to mitigate inflammation of the CNS and prevent neurodegenerative consequences.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"41 ","pages":"Article e00284"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145159608","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":"Editorial Board Page","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S2405-6766(25)00057-5","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S2405-6766(25)00057-5","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"41 ","pages":"Article e00310"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145797169","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":"High frequency of DNA detection of toxoplasma gondii and zoonotic Sarcocystis spp. in ready-to-eat meat products purchased in Switzerland","authors":"Z. Medici ,&nbsp;N. Marreros ,&nbsp;S. Molteni ,&nbsp;M.C. Ferreira de Sousa ,&nbsp;W. Basso ,&nbsp;G. Moré ,&nbsp;C.F. Frey","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00301","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00301","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> and <em>Sarcocystis</em> spp. are globally distributed, intracellular, cyst-forming coccidian parasites that infect a wide range of animal species, and humans. These protozoan parasites have indirect life cycles and can be transmitted to hosts through food sources, such as infected meat. Resulting infections may pose serious health risks, especially for immunocompromised individuals and developing foetuses. While their prevalence in Switzerland has been studied serologically and molecularly in live animals or after necropsy or slaughter, there are no studies on ready-to-eat (RTE) meat products. This study aimed to assess the presence of these parasites in RTE meat products sourced from Swiss supermarkets, retail stores and local butcher shops. A total of 201 RTE meat products consisting of pork, beef, poultry, game, and equine meat, as well as mixes thereof, were tested. Hundred-gram samples were homogenized, followed by a sequence-specific magnetic capture and real-time PCR for <em>T. gondii</em> DNA, and a crude DNA extraction and PCR – Sanger sequencing for <em>Sarcocystis</em> spp. For two zoonotic species (<em>S. suihominis</em> and <em>S. hominis</em>), additional PCRs were performed. Furthermore, the homogenates were analyzed for <em>Sarcocystis</em> spp. cysts by stereomicroscopy. Variables associated with the presence of these parasites were identified by multivariable LASSO regression. <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> DNA was detected in 14.9 % (30/201) of the samples, while <em>Sarcocystis</em> spp. DNA was present in 58.2 % (117/201). Zoonotic <em>S. suihominis</em> DNA was found in 3.2 % (4/125) of the samples containing pork, and <em>S. hominis</em> DNA in 29.6 % (24/81) of the samples containing beef. No viable cysts were observed in any sample. The presence of <em>T. gondii</em> DNA was associated with the variables pork, salami-like products, and wild boar. <em>Sarcocystis</em> spp. DNA was positively associated with beef and salami-like products, and negatively with chicken and Swiss pork. <em>Sarcocystis hominis</em> was positively associated with Swiss beef. These findings reveal a notable rate of RTE meat products positive for zoonotic parasites, suggesting a potential public health risk. Further research is needed to evaluate their role in transmission to humans.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"41 ","pages":"Article e00301"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145525888","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":"Survival and infectivity of Paragonimus westermani Metacercariae in soy sauce–marinated crayfish","authors":"Eun-Min Kim ,&nbsp;Yan Jin ,&nbsp;Sung-Tae Hong","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00277","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00277","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Paragonimus westermani</em>, a zoonotic lung fluke, causes respiratory symptoms resembling tuberculosis. In Asia, human infections typically occur through the consumption of raw or marinated freshwater crabs or crayfish containing <em>P. westermani</em> metacercariae. With increasing global food trade and occasional exposure during international travel, cases have been reported in non-endemic regions, raising significant food safety concerns. In this study, naturally infected freshwater crayfish (<em>Cambaroides similis</em>) were collected from Haenam, South Korea. Crayfish were marinated in soy sauce containing either 10 % or 20 % sodium chloride (NaCl) and stored at 4 °C for 1–60 days. <em>P. westermani</em> metacercariae were recovered at each time point and morphologically classified as viable, borderline (uncertain viability), or dead. To assess infectivity, 100 <em>P. westermani</em> metacercariae from each group were orally inoculated into beagle dogs (<em>n</em> = 3 per group), and worm recovery was assessed after 12 weeks. After 14 days of marination, the survival rates of <em>P. westermani</em> metacercariae were 83.3 % in 10 % NaCl and 2.0 % in 20 % NaCl soy sauce. Complete inactivation occurred after 60 days in 10 % NaCl and 30 days in 20 % NaCl. Infectivity tests showed worm recovery rates of 82.5 % (viable), 33.7 % (borderline), and 0 % (dead). These findings indicate that even high-salt, cold-storage marination does not guarantee parasite inactivation. Viable <em>P. westermani</em> metacercariae can persist in marinated crayfish under commonly used culinary conditions. These results underscore the risk of foodborne lung fluke infections and emphasize the need for clearer public health guidance regarding the consumption of undercooked or inadequately processed freshwater crustaceans.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article e00277"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144780377","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":"Isolation, genotyping and phenotyping Toxoplasma gondii in Europe – A critical perspective","authors":"Aleksandra Uzelac,&nbsp;Olgica Djurković-Djaković","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00279","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00279","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> is a zoonotic parasite of worldwide distribution which can be transmitted from host to host, by consumption of raw or undercooked meat and vertically, or via the environment to the host. The genus <em>Toxoplasma</em> of the phylum Apicomplexa is represented by just the one species, <em>T. gondii</em>, which encompasses a multitude of genotypes of different virulence phenotypes. Understanding and importantly, the aim to predict the manifestations and outcome of infection in the human host, fueled the effort to isolate and genetically characterize the parasite over several decades. Early genotyping was heavily focused on humans and food animals. Over time and with the implementation of the One Health approach, the entire chain of transmission, which encompasses wildlife and the environment, has been included. Since the 1990s there has been a tremendous increase in knowledge of the parasite's genetic diversity–both at a low and high level of resolution–worldwide. The data has provided a new epidemiological perspective on <em>T. gondii</em> and fostered the development of molecular detection tools with source attribution capabilities, as well as strategies for environmental surveillance and transmission prevention. The genotyping effort in Europe delivered much of the data available today and sophisticated high resolution genotyping methods based on microsatellite (MS) analysis and rapid whole genome sequencing (WGS) were developed. After over two decades of genotyping <em>T. gondii</em> in Europe, we here present an overview of what has been learned and where do we go from here.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article e00279"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144721327","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":"Editorial Board Page","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S2405-6766(25)00032-0","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S2405-6766(25)00032-0","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article e00285"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145046098","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":"Molecular identification and genotyping of Blastocystis in farmed Cattle, Goats, and Pigs from Zhejiang Province, China","authors":"Wei Zhao ,&nbsp;Lijie Sun ,&nbsp;Yanbin Sun ,&nbsp;Xinyi Fu ,&nbsp;Shiyang Ma ,&nbsp;Jiayin Zhang ,&nbsp;Baolong Yan","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00280","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00280","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Blastocystis</em> is a genus of parasitic protozoa that parasitize/colonize humans and animals gastrointestinal tract. The current study performed a molecular survey of <em>Blastocystis</em> in farm cattle (<em>Bos tarurs</em>), goats (<em>Capra hircus</em>), and pigs (<em>Susscrofa domestica</em>) raised in different cities in Zhejiang Province of China to better understand the epidemiology of <em>Blastocystis</em> in the animals of this region. A total of 859 fresh fecal samples were collected from 265 cattle, 386 goats, and 208 pigs. All these samples were screened for the detection of <em>Blastocystis</em> by amplifying the small subunit ribosomal RNA (<em>SSU rRNA</em>) gene <em>via</em> PCR and Sanger sequencing. Of the 859 samples tested, 12.1 % (104) were positive for <em>Blastocystis</em>, with cattle showing a prevalence of 19.6 % (52/265), goats with 11.4 % (44/386), and pigs with 3.8 % (8/208). Eight different subtypes of <em>Blastocystis</em> were found: ST10 (<em>n</em> = 51), ST5 (<em>n</em> = 11), ST12 (<em>n</em> = 9), ST14 (<em>n</em> = 8), ST21 (<em>n</em> = 8), ST23 (<em>n</em> = 7), ST26 (<em>n</em> = 6), and ST4 (<em>n</em> = 4). Cattle carried seven (ST5, ST10, ST12, ST14, ST21, ST23, and ST26), whereas goats harbored eight (ST4, ST5, ST10, ST12, ST14, ST21, ST23, and ST26) subtypes. All pig-derived <em>Blastocystis</em> isolates belonged only to ST5. These results are significant as they indicate that cattle, goats, and pigs in Zhejiang Province, China, harbor various subtypes of <em>Blastocystis</em>, which enhances our understanding of the distribution of <em>Blastocystis</em> among these hosts in China.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article e00280"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144780378","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":"Hyperinfection with Anisakis simplex sensu stricto: observations from a cluster of two cases in France","authors":"Manon Robert ,&nbsp;Maureen Duflot ,&nbsp;Fakhri Jeddi ,&nbsp;Carelle Koudougou ,&nbsp;Louise Durand ,&nbsp;Florent Morio ,&nbsp;Mélanie Gay ,&nbsp;Patrice Le Pape ,&nbsp;Rose-Anne Lavergne","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00282","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00282","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anisakidosis is an infection resulting from the ingestion of raw or undercooked fish products infected by Anisakidae larvae. Most infections are self-limiting in humans. We report a case of a 70-year-old woman who developed gastrointestinal symptoms after consumption of home-made ceviche of hake. Forty larvae of Anisakidae were removed during digestive fibroscopy. Based on a molecular method the larvae were identified as <em>Anisakis simplex s. s.</em> A second family member who had eaten the same meal was also diagnosed with anisakidosis. This cluster of two cases underlines the need to raise awareness of this disease in the general population and highlights the importance of cooking fish or freezing it prior to consumption in raw homemade dishes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article e00282"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144922966","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":"The life cycle of the potentially zoonotic trematode Metagonimus romanicus (Digenea: Heterophyidae): New insights from published and original data","authors":"Mikuláš Oros ,&nbsp;Miroslava Soldánová ,&nbsp;Daniel Barčák ,&nbsp;Petra Kundid ,&nbsp;Caroline Jepkorir Kibet ,&nbsp;Roman Kuchta ,&nbsp;Martina Orosová ,&nbsp;Tomáš Scholz","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00276","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00276","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fish-borne zoonoses are emerging worldwide, and although most human cases remain confined to tropical regions, particularly Southeast and East Asia, a few cases have been reported in Europe. This review summarizes published and new data on the life cycle of <em>Metagonimus romanicus</em> (misidentified as <em>M. yokogawai</em>, a human pathogen common in East Asia), a heterophyid trematode and one of the potentially fish-borne parasites in Europe. <em>Metagonimus romanicus</em> is distributed from the middle Danube in Central Europe (Slovakia) to eastern Ukraine (including the rivers of the Black Sea basin). Its distribution area coincides with that of its first intermediate hosts, the melanopsid snails <em>Microcolpia daudebartii acicularis</em> and <em>Esperiana esperi</em>. While <em>M. romanicus</em> most likely has a strict specificity for its first snail hosts, metacercariae are generalists and have been detected in over 50 freshwater fish species from 18 families, especially leuciscids. Despite its wide distribution and frequent occurrence in freshwater fish, the zoonotic potential of <em>M. romanicus</em> appears to be low. This is probably due to the exclusive localization of the metacercariae in the fish scales rather than musculature, as well as the rare consumption of raw or undercooked fish in Europe. However, some risk remains and a small number of undiagnosed human infections due to accidental ingestion of scales during the preparation and cleaning of fish cannot be ruled out.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article e00276"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144632142","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":"Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Italian water buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis): An exploratory haplotype analysis within Bovidae family in the European context","authors":"Isabel Guadano-Procesi ,&nbsp;Antonio Bosco ,&nbsp;Lavinia Ciuca ,&nbsp;Paola Pepe ,&nbsp;Camilla Sangiovanni ,&nbsp;David Di Cave ,&nbsp;Laura Rinaldi ,&nbsp;Federica Berrilli","doi":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00273","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00273","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microsporidia are an important group of emerging opportunistic parasites in human and non-human animals, with possible zoonotic potential; however, no data are currently available on their presence in commonly farmed species in Italy, particularly regarding <em>Enterocytozoon bieneusi</em> in water buffalo (<em>Bubalus bubalis</em>). This preliminary study investigated the prevalence and genetic variability of <em>E. bieneusi</em> in water buffalo calves in southern Italy. Additionally, given its spread among other members of the Bovidae family, a haplotype-level network analysis was performed using <em>E. bieneusi</em> sequences available in GenBank from two of the most commonly farmed Bovidae species in Europe: cattle (<em>Bos taurus</em>) and water buffalo (<em>B. bubalis</em>). The survey was conducted on four farms between September and December 2023 for a total of 37 buffaloes sampled. DNA extracted from collected faeces was subjected to molecular analysis amplifying ITS region. For the molecular characterization, a phylogenetic analysis was performed by Maximum Likelihood method. For the comparison between our sequences and those available from water buffaloes and cattle from Europe, a haplotype analysis was conducted to obtain a network calculation. Five samples from Italian <em>B. bubalis</em> tested positive for <em>E. bieneusi</em> with an overall prevalence value of 13.5 %. Phylogenetic analysis assigned isolates to three genotypes (YNDCEB-90; A; I) which were shared among different hosts, including humans and clustering in the phylogenetic Group 1 and Group 2. The network analysis identified Hp9 as the most frequently detected haplotype, distributed across multiple countries, including Italy. The second most common haplotype, Hp12, was exclusively found in Italy and Turkey from <em>B. bubalis</em>. The differences in haplotype patterns observed between <em>B. taurus</em> and <em>B. bubalis</em> could shed light on the species-specific interactions of <em>E. bieneusi</em>. The prevalence observed, along with the detection of zoonotic genotypes in water buffaloes, could pose a potential public health concern. The associated risk extends beyond the direct contact with infected animals or their faeces, encompassing possible contamination of the food chain and the environment, including ground and surface water sources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37941,"journal":{"name":"Food and Waterborne Parasitology","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article e00273"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144670874","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}