International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife最新文献

{"title":"Different age, different blood parasites - Acrocephalus species and their haemosporidian parasites during autumn migration in Central Europe","authors":"Nóra Ágh ,&nbsp;Szilvia Pásztory-Kovács ,&nbsp;Viola Prohászka ,&nbsp;Tibor Csörgő ,&nbsp;Eszter Szöllősi","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101085","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101085","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In migratory passerines, the timing of the different phases of the migratory journey is of great importance for the survival prospect of the individuals. Haemosporidian infections could weaken the immune system, decelerate the ability of fat accumulation and potentially influence the migratory behaviour. As a large number of blood parasites is host-generalist there is a potential for cross-species and cross-population transmission with different parasite species during the migratory route of the passerines. In addition, resident birds also interact with different parasite fauna when migratory birds arrive back from their migratory route, therefore, it is important to study what kind of blood parasites migratory birds carry.</div><div>We screened three long-distant migratory <em>Acrocephalus</em> species during autumn migration in two years. We found that in reed and sedge warblers the overall prevalence of blood parasites was significantly higher in adults than in juveniles, and the prevalence of <em>Haemoproteus</em> infections was higher than that of the <em>Plasmodium</em> in adults. In contrast, <em>Plasmodium</em> infections dominated in juveniles in all the three species. The odds of catching infected juvenile individuals increased during the autumn migration, but infections had no significant effect on the actual body mass of the birds. These results could imply age-related differences in the probability of getting infected with different blood parasite genera. Sampling during migration and exploring the potential differences in parasite species composition and their effects on the migratory behaviour in different age groups can provide valuable insight in answering these questions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101085"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144205459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Leishmania infantum and other zoonotic pathogens associated with captive lemurs (Lemur catta) in southern Italy","authors":"Renata Fagundes-Moreira ,&nbsp;Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-Roldan ,&nbsp;Marcos Antonio Bezerra-Santos ,&nbsp;Pietro Laricchiuta ,&nbsp;Matteo Legrottaglie ,&nbsp;Lucas Cafferati Beltrame ,&nbsp;Nikola Pantchev ,&nbsp;Julia Walochnik ,&nbsp;Domenico Otranto","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101094","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101094","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Safari-style zoological collections, particularly walk-in enclosures, offer visitors the unique experience of a close interaction with wildlife. However, these interactions can increase the risk of exposure to zoonotic infectious agents. In this study, we assessed the occurrence of zoonotic pathogens in ring-tailed lemurs (<em>Lemur catta</em>), as well as the presence of <em>Leishmania</em> spp. in phlebotomine sand flies collected in the same zoological park (Fasano, southern Italy). Blood (<em>n</em> = 30), feces (<em>n</em> = 29), and sand flies were collected and analyzed using molecular and serological techniques. In addition, copro-parasitological analysis was performed on fecal samples. Two lemurs tested seropositive for <em>L. infantum</em> using SNAP<em>®</em> Leish 4Dx® (<em>n</em> = 2/30 [6.67 %; 95 % CI: 1.85–21.34]), with one also confirmed positive by qPCR. Sand flies were morphologically identified as <em>Phlebotomus perniciosus</em> (<em>n =</em> 71) and <em>Sergentomyia minuta</em> (<em>n =</em> 1), with one <em>P. perniciosus</em> female positive for <em>L. infantum</em> by qPCR. Fecal samples scored positive at molecular analysis for <em>Giardia duodenalis</em> (assemblage B, sub-assemblage BIV) (<em>n</em> = 13/29 [44.83 %; 95 % CI: 27.63–63.09]; <em>n</em> = 2/29 [6.90 %; 95 % CI: 1.91–22.57]), respectively), <em>Blastocystis</em> sp. (subtype 8) (<em>n</em> = 2/29 [6.90 %; 95 % CI: 1.91–22.57]), and <em>Entamoeba coli</em> (<em>n</em> = 8/29 [27.59 %; 95 % CI: 14.59–45.96]). The detection of <em>L. infantum</em> in lemurs and <em>P. perniciosus</em> suggests that in areas where <em>L. infantum</em> is endemic this animal species may be infected, also demonstrating that SNAP<em>®</em> Leish 4Dx® is effective for screening <em>L. infantum</em> in zoological settings. The identification of <em>G. duodenalis</em> (assemblage BIV), and <em>Blastocystis</em> sp. (ST8) raises concerns about contamination in enclosures, water, and food sources, overall highlighting the importance of sanitary protocols to avoid the risk of infection among animals, zookeepers and visitors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101094"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144205458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nemabiome sequencing reveals seasonal and age associated patterns of strongyle infection and high prevalence of Strongylus vulgaris in Alberta feral horses","authors":"Grace Onyeche Ochigbo ,&nbsp;Sangwook Ahn ,&nbsp;Kobe Albert Belhumeur ,&nbsp;Jocelyn Poissant ,&nbsp;Brielle Vastola Rosa","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101091","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101091","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Unmanaged feral horses, naïve to dewormers, offer a unique opportunity to study natural communities of equine parasites. These communities may include parasites that are rare in managed populations, and these may be transmitted to domestic horses in areas where there is contact between feral and domestic equine populations. There have been only a few studies of gastrointestinal parasite populations in horses, and very few from North American equine populations. This study aimed to gain insights into parasite biology through identification of the strongyle parasite species infecting feral horses in Alberta, Canada, and to test for species-specific infection patterns across season and horse age. Fecal samples (N = 149) were collected from unique individuals in the Sundre Equine Management Zone (EMZ), Alberta, across two years: 2021 (N = 62) and 2022 (N = 87). In 2021, samples were collected in summer (N = 31; 8 foals, 5 subadults, 18 adults) and fall (N = 31; 5 foals, 1 subadult, 25 adults). In 2022, samples were collected in spring (N = 36; 4 subadults, 32 adults), summer (N = 41; 4 foals, 8 subadults, 29 adults), and fall (N = 20; 1 foal, 2 subadults, 17 adults). Fecal egg counts showed that these horses shed high numbers of strongyle eggs relative to domestic horse populations (mean = 1337.01 ± 961.81 epg), and nemabiome analyses identified a total of 34 strongyle species. Species richness and aggregate strongyle FECs were highest in subadults and during the summer, while lowest in foals and during the fall. There was a high prevalence of large strongyle species, especially <em>Strongylus vulgaris</em> (85.91 %), with strongyle species-specific prevalence and FECs strongly associated with age and season. Understanding the factors driving species-specific parasite infection provides important information on strongyle parasite ecology and may aid the development of targeted parasite control strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101091"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144194948","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular detection of Leishmania and other vector-borne agents in free-ranging and captive herpetofauna from Costa Rica","authors":"Mario H. Alves ,&nbsp;Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-Roldan ,&nbsp;Paula Alfaro-Segura ,&nbsp;Mariaelisa Carbonara ,&nbsp;Aarón Gómez ,&nbsp;Natalia Montero Leitón ,&nbsp;Jazmín Arias Ortega ,&nbsp;Alberto Solano-Barquero ,&nbsp;Alicia Rojas ,&nbsp;Domenico Otranto","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101090","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101090","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Vector-borne pathogens in amphibians and reptiles represent an emerging concern in wildlife, with implications for ecosystem dynamics and potential zoonotic risks. In this study, we screened 108 animals from Costa Rica, including 46 captive snakes, 24 free-ranging reptiles, and 38 free-ranging amphibians, for the presence of Trypanosomatidae, Anaplasmataceae, <em>Borrelia</em>, <em>Rickettsia</em>, and <em>Hepatozoon</em> spp. Blood smear analysis revealed protozoa gametocytes in 3.7 % of the animals sampled, and 11.1 % of amphibians and reptiles were molecular positive for at least one pathogen. Specifically, 7.4 % of the samples tested positive for <em>Leishmania</em> spp., 1.85 % for <em>Trypanosoma</em> spp., 0.9 % for <em>Anaplasma</em> spp., and 1.85 % for <em>Hepatozoon</em> spp. Notably, this study reports the first molecular detection of <em>Leishmania</em> in an amphibian species (<em>Rhinella horribilis</em>) and confirms the presence of mammalian pathogenic <em>Leishmania infantum</em> in captive snakes in Central America. The presence of potential zoonotic agents in both captive and free-ranging herpetofauna underscores the importance of screening wildlife species, including understudied host groups such as amphibians, to better understand their role in disease ecology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101090"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144189945","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Two-year longitudinal study of Eimeria uekii and Eimeria raichoi oocyst shedding in Japanese rock ptarmigans (Lagopus muta japonica)","authors":"Nami Masakane ,&nbsp;Mei Harafuji ,&nbsp;Yuki Arakawa ,&nbsp;Tatsuhiko Yamakami ,&nbsp;Naoya Tamura ,&nbsp;Sayaka Tsuchida ,&nbsp;Atsushi Kobayashi ,&nbsp;Tomoyuki Shibahara ,&nbsp;Hiroshi Nakamura ,&nbsp;Kazumi Sasai ,&nbsp;Kazunari Ushida ,&nbsp;Makoto Matsubayashi","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101088","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101088","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Japanese rock ptarmigan (<em>Lagopus muta japonica</em>) is a cold-adapted bird that inhabits only alpine areas of Japan. The birds have been reported to be highly infected with two <em>Eimeria</em> species; however, these <em>Eimeria</em> species including long-term infection dynamics have not yet been well documented. Since surveys requiring access into the mountain areas of the Japanese Alps are prohibited from November to April (winter), the prevalences of eimerian parasites and details on their transmission routes among the wild birds in the habitat in winter remain unknown. As part of <em>ex situ</em> conservation programs for Japanese rock ptarmigans, two families, including the female parent and chicks, were transported to two zoos for breeding in 2021. To examine fluctuations in the infection status of <em>Eimeria</em> species in Japanese rock ptarmigans, we conducted a 2-year longitudinal study of oocyst shedding. We found that all examined birds were continuously infected with two <em>Eimeria</em> species, although oocysts were sometimes not detected in feces. On average, the oocysts per gram (OPG) values were &lt;100; however, those of female parent birds that successfully laid fertilized eggs and/or cared their chicks increased by more than 100 to 1000 before or when the chicks hatched. Subsequently, all of the chicks became infected with the <em>Eimeria</em> species. The OPG values did not drastically change in the female birds that were not paired for breeding or had laid unfertilized eggs, and in the male birds. Although further studies are needed, our findings indicated that the parasites are transmitted from female parents to chicks after hatching, and that the birds may be continuously infected, showing low OPG levels.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101088"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144194832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Is Ornithoctona laticornis (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) expanding its range from Africa into Europe? First confirmed record in Romania","authors":"Jozef Oboňa ,&nbsp;Eva Čisovská Bazsalovicsová ,&nbsp;Ľudmila Juhásová ,&nbsp;Peter Manko ,&nbsp;Laura Mlynárová ,&nbsp;Alexandru-Mihai Pintilioaie ,&nbsp;Laura-Elena Topală ,&nbsp;Ivica Králová-Hromadová ,&nbsp;Martin Hromada","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101089","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101089","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The bird louse fly <em>Ornithoctona laticornis</em> (Diptera: Hippoboscidae), previously known only from Africa, has recently been recorded in Europe (Hungary) for the first time, raising questions about its potential range expansion. In this study, we document the first record of <em>O. laticornis</em> from the Syrian Woodpecker (<em>Dendrocopos syriacus</em>) in 2022 and another from the Great Spotted Woodpecker (<em>Dendrocopos major</em>) in 2023, both in Romania. Morphological description and molecular analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome <em>c</em> oxidase subunit 1 gene confirmed the species identity. The main morphological criteria for the identification of <em>O. laticornis</em> were used in the updated key for the European genera of Hippoboscidae. The recurring presence of <em>O. laticornis</em> in resident European birds suggests either overwintering survival or multiple introductions via migratory hosts. Given the ability of hippoboscid flies to act as vectors of pathogens, this discovery underscores the importance of continued surveillance of avian ectoparasites in Europe. Further studies are needed to assess the distribution of the species, its genetic diversity, host range, and its potential role as a vector.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101089"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144168027","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morphological and phylogenetic comparison of two myxozoan parasites infecting the gills of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca L.): Henneguya gigantea and Henneguya creplini","authors":"Graciela Colunga-Ramírez ,&nbsp;Boglárka Sellyei ,&nbsp;Kálmán Molnár ,&nbsp;Csaba Székely ,&nbsp;Gábor Cech","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101087","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101087","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Henneguya gigantea</em> and <em>Henneguya creplini</em> have been reported as spore-forming plasmodia infecting the gills of pikeperch. However, the latter has been documented to have a broader host range. Some remarkable differences have been observed between both <em>Henneguya</em> species: the shape and size of plasmodia and the length of their caudal appendages. To date, no molecular evidence has been provided for <em>H</em>. <em>gigantea</em>; while for <em>H</em>. <em>creplini</em>, the 18S rDNA has been applied for its classification. In this study, we analysed morphological and molecular data to elucidate the relationship of <em>H</em>. <em>gigantea</em> and <em>H</em>. <em>creplini</em> collected from the gills of the pikeperch. Morphologically, <em>H</em>. gigantea resulted in a cluster of plasmodia-forming cyst bodies, while <em>H</em>. <em>creplini</em> have been mostly reported as small plasmodia. The myxospores of the two species were distinguished by the length of their caudal appendages, which were longer in <em>H</em>. <em>gigantea</em> than in <em>H</em>. <em>creplini</em> (77–100 vs 14.4–40.1 μm). The rest of the spore characters are similar in both species. The 18S and 28S rDNA sequences show low sequence distance ≤0.76 % and 0.97 %, respectively. The data presented in this study, in conjunction with those collected from previous literature, suggests that caudal appendages may exhibit phenotypic plasticity within species, which must be considered before including new members of the <em>Henneguya</em> genus. Furthermore, ribosomal DNA sequences serve as an essential tool for referring the taxonomic classification of myxozoans that exhibit phenotypic plasticity. We propose that <em>H</em>. <em>gigantea</em> be reclassified as <em>H</em>. <em>creplini</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101087"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144146744","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Where there are moose (Alces alces) in Eurasia, there are moose nose botflies: First morphological and molecular identification of Cephenemyia ulrichii (Brauer, 1862) in Kazakhstan","authors":"Christian Bauer ,&nbsp;Rabiga Uakhit ,&nbsp;Ainura Smagulova ,&nbsp;Karina Jazina ,&nbsp;Alexandr Lyalchenko ,&nbsp;Vladimir Kiyan","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101086","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101086","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, the Eurasian moose (<em>Alces alces</em>) population in Kazakhstan has increased significantly. According to 2024 estimates, there are now approximately 8960 individuals, primarily in the northern and eastern regions of the country. However, there is limited information on moose parasites in Kazakhstan. Four of seven moose hunted in the Akmola and Kostanay provinces in July 2023 and May 2024 were found to be infested with 8–12 dipterous fly larvae in the nasopharynx. The larvae were morphologically identified as <em>Cephenemyia ulrichii</em> (Oestridae: Oestrinae) third-instar larvae. Molecular characterization through polymerase chain reaction amplification and partial sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene from the larvae showed that it was 99 % identical to a reference <em>C. ulrichii</em> isolate from Sweden. The gene sequences of the Kazakh isolates clustered in a clade with the reference sample, distinct from other <em>Cephenemyia</em> species. This is the first report of <em>C. ulrichii</em> nasopharyngeal myiasis in moose in Kazakhstan, marking the first such report in Central Asia and expanding the known geographical range of this parasite.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101086"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144107677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"COI barcoding can distinguish bisexual and parthenogenetic populations of Haemaphysalis longicornis in Japan: Revisiting methods with SNP analysis as another possible method","authors":"Mizue Inumaru ,&nbsp;Kentaro Itokawa ,&nbsp;Ryo Matsumura ,&nbsp;Kyoko Sawabe ,&nbsp;Mamoru Watanabe ,&nbsp;Haruhiko Isawa ,&nbsp;Shinji Kasai ,&nbsp;Yukiko Higa","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101083","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101083","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Haemaphysalis longicornis</em>, the Asian long-horned tick, is an important vector for various infectious diseases, such as severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) and Japanese spotted fever. In this species, a triploid parthenogenetic reproductive form occurs along with a diploid bisexual form. Several approaches have been used to distinguish these two groups, including the presence/absence of males in the population, karyotyping, flow cytometry, and most recently, mitochondrial phylogeny. Mitochondrial gene (<em>COI</em>) barcoding has also been casually used, although its validity has not been investigated. In the present study, the validity of <em>COI</em> barcoding, genotyping nuclear markers (SNPs), and morphometrics was evaluated for distinguishing the reproductive forms of <em>H. longicornis</em> in Japan. Ticks were collected using the flagging method at two locations in Hyogo, Japan. DNA was extracted from ticks after photography, which was used for morphometric measurements. The DNA was used for <em>COI</em> barcoding by direct sequencing and genotyping SNPs in the nuclear genome. The resulting <em>COI</em> haplotypes were clustered into two distinct haplogroups, which represented different ploidy levels, corresponding to the different reproductive groups. Genotypes of nuclear SNPs supported that the individuals from each mitochondrial haplogroup belonged to distinct reproductive populations with different ploidy levels. Meanwhile, although significant differences were observed in multiple morphometric characteristics between these reproductive groups, large overlaps were generally evident in the distribution, indicating that morphological identification is not sufficient to distinguish the reproductive groups. This study suggested for the first time that <em>COI</em> barcoding and SNP genotyping are both convenient and reliable methods to distinguish the two reproductive forms of <em>H. longicornis</em> in Japan.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101083"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144072560","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiology and risk factors for endoparasite infection in subtropical feral cattle in Hong Kong","authors":"Tania A. Perroux ,&nbsp;Samantha S.Y. Lie ,&nbsp;Alan G. McElligott ,&nbsp;Danchen A. Yang ,&nbsp;Fraser I. Hill ,&nbsp;George M.W. Hodgson ,&nbsp;Wing S. Wong ,&nbsp;Kate J. Flay","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101082","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101082","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding parasite epidemiology is essential for managing endoparasite infections in free-ranging animals. However, such epidemiological knowledge is limited for feral cattle and is usually derived from farmed populations. We assessed endoparasite infection in a feral cattle population in Hong Kong. This population does not receive any routine care or anthelminthic treatment, although some cattle are provisioned with water and hay by local citizens. We assessed three indices of endoparasite infection (parasite richness, prevalence and fecal egg/oocyst count) and their associated risk factors (season, provisioning, marshland access, group size, sex and body condition) in adult cattle.</div><div>We conducted sedimentation, McMaster and coproculture techniques on 262 samples collected from 177 cattle. We identified eleven taxa of nematodes, two taxa of trematodes, one taxon of protozoan and one taxon of cestode. Median parasite richness was two parasite taxa per individual. Trematode infections were the most prevalent (91.22 %), followed by protozoan (67.17 %), nematode (23.22 %) and cestode (12.97 %) infections. Counts averaged 144.85 oocysts per gram for <em>Eimeria</em> oocysts<em>,</em> 20.61 eggs per gram (EPG) for strongyle-type eggs, 11.83 EPG for <em>Moniezia</em> and 1.91 EPG for <em>Trichuris</em>. Provisioned herds were more likely to be infected with <em>Eimeria</em>, but had lower prevalence of <em>Trichostrongylus</em>. <em>Eimeria</em> prevalence and strongyle-type egg counts were higher in the wet season, while <em>Fasciola</em> eggs, <em>Cooperia</em> and <em>Trichostrongylus</em> larvae were more prevalent in the dry season. Larger herds had higher <em>Eimeria</em> oocyst prevalence but lower <em>Fasciola</em> egg prevalence. Marshland access decreased <em>Fasciola</em> egg prevalence while it increased prevalence of <em>Cooperia</em> larvae. Males were more infected with strongyle-type eggs than female cattle.</div><div>We show that the seasonal dynamics of infection and consequences of provisioning differ between endoparasite taxa. Our findings highlight complex interactions between endoparasites and their hosts, providing new insights into wild ruminants’ health and the impacts of anthropogenic provisioning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101082"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144099759","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}