International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife最新文献

{"title":"Under the scales: Identification of ticks in rehabilitated African pangolins and confiscated scales","authors":"Zwannda Nethavhani ,&nbsp;Thando Radebe ,&nbsp;Catherine Maria Dzerefos ,&nbsp;Essa Suleman ,&nbsp;Raymond Jansen","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101117","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101117","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals globally. Beyond zoonotic concerns related to coronavirus, pangolins serve as hosts for ectoparasites such as ticks, which can be inadvertently transported through illegal wildlife trade and rehabilitation efforts. The transcontinental trafficking of pangolins and their derivatives poses a potential risk of pathogen spillover affecting humans, wildlife, and livestock. Despite these concerns, data on tick infestations in confiscated African pangolins and scales remain scarce. This study aims to identify tick species associated with confiscated pangolins and scales using morphological and molecular approaches. A total of 275 ticks were collected from 17 rehabilitated African pangolins (<em>Smutsia temminckii, Phataginus tricuspis, Phataginus tetradactylus</em>) and nine bags of seized scales. Representative specimens (n = 53) were genetically analyzed by amplifying the 16S rRNA fragment and comparing sequences with publicly available data. Morphological identification revealed five tick species: <em>Amblyomma compressum, A. hebraeum, Ornithodoros compactus, Rhipicephalus theileri,</em> and <em>R. simus.</em> Taxonomic assignments conformed with the DNA-based identification for all species except for ‘<em>O. compactus’</em> which resulted in <em>O. moubata</em>. These discrepancies may be due to overlapping morphological characters between the two <em>Ornithodoros</em> species. Notably, ticks from the three identified genera are known vectors of pathogens causing diseases such as heartwater, <em>anaplasmosis</em>, babesiosis, theileriosis, African swine fever, and human relapsing fever. We provide the first record of <em>A. hebraeum</em> in <em>Phataginus</em> species, and <em>A. compressum</em> in <em>P. tetradactyla,</em> expanding their host range. This study also establishes a baseline for tick diversity in confiscated African pangolins and scales trafficked within Africa and out of Africa. The findings highlight the importance of integrative taxonomic approaches in tick identification and emphasize the need for further research incorporating additional genetic markers and morphometric analyses to enhance species resolution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 101117"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144680264","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":"Hidden diversity of cestodes in wild African carnivores: II. Taeniidae – new findings and an updated checklist","authors":"S. Dumendiak ,&nbsp;A. Halajian ,&nbsp;Y.T. Mekonnen ,&nbsp;O. Aschenborn ,&nbsp;G.J. Camacho ,&nbsp;U. Mackenstedt ,&nbsp;T. Romig ,&nbsp;M. Wassermann","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101116","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101116","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Taeniidae family, comprising the genera <em>Taenia</em>, <em>Hydatigera</em>, <em>Versteria</em>, and <em>Echinococcus</em>, includes cestodes of considerable significance to both human and animal health. However, current knowledge of the diversity of taeniid species in wildlife remains limited. This study examines a sample set of taeniid cestodes from African wildlife using both genetic and morphological approaches and integrates the findings into an updated checklist and definitive host index for Taeniidae documented in Africa. Furthermore, this publication provides a categorisation tool that facilitates the morphological identification of ribbon-like Taeniidae. The taeniids analysed in this study were collected from 52 individual wild definitive and eight intermediate hosts originating from Ethiopia, Namibia, and South Africa. A total of 16 <em>Taenia</em> species and four <em>Hydatigera</em> species were identified in this sample set. Among these, twelve (eleven <em>Taenia</em> spp. and one <em>Hydatigera</em> sp.) represent genetically novel lineages. One species, recovered from three servals and one rodent, was morphologically identified as <em>Hydatigera</em> cf. <em>selousi</em>, with this study presenting the first genetic data for this species. Several genetically novel <em>Taenia</em> lineages were identified in carnivores, including cheetah, African wolf, caracal, spotted hyaena, black-backed jackal, African wild dog, lion, and leopard. These are provisionally designated as <em>Taenia</em> spp. A-K, pending the availability of further material to support detailed morphological assessment and formal species description or assignment. Molecular analysis indicates that <em>Taenia</em> sp. F, isolated from black-backed jackals, is closely related to <em>T. serialis</em> sensu stricto and may possess zoonotic potential.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 101116"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144663082","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":"Novel microfilariae detected in Galápagos passerines","authors":"Diana Carolina Loyola ,&nbsp;Allyson Placko ,&nbsp;Birgit Fessl ,&nbsp;Sabrina M. McNew","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101115","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101115","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Emerging parasites pose a serious risk to the health and survival of wild animal populations, particularly on islands where species often lack prior exposure and evolved defenses. We present the first report of a novel microfilaria infection found in blood from six species of Galápagos passerines in the coastal zone of Santa Cruz Island. Across 13 months, spanning two wet seasons and one dry season, 294 individuals were sampled and evaluated for microfilarial presence through microscopy and/or polymerase chain reaction. We barcoded the mitochondrial Cytochrome <em>c</em> oxidase I (COI) gene to tentatively place this microfilaria in the genus <em>Eufilaria</em>. We found host species level variation in infection, with certain species, like the vegetarian finch (<em>Platyspiza crassirostris</em>) and the common cactus finch (<em>G</em><em>eospiza</em><em>. scandens</em>) having very high prevalence, while others, like the Galápagos mockingbird (<em>Mimus parvulus</em>) and small tree finch (<em>Camarhynchus parvulus</em>) showing significantly lower prevalence. We investigated leukocyte counts, H/L ratios and body condition to evaluate the potential effects of infection on birds and found no relationship between infection status and these health indices. We also tested to see if seasonality could predict the infection trends found in our data and found a relationship with monthly rainfall, where more rain predicts higher microfilarial prevalence. Although we cannot confirm exactly when this parasite established in the Galápagos, our study highlights the importance of continued disease surveillance in endemic systems and underscores the need for species-level COI barcodes to improve microfilaria identification and phylogenetics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 101115"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144657126","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":"Sarcocystis spp. and Toxoplasma gondii in muscles from wild boars (Sus scrofa) consumed in Switzerland","authors":"Moré Gastón ,&nbsp;Filippini Carlotta ,&nbsp;Andreas W. Oehm ,&nbsp;Ruetten Maja ,&nbsp;Hemphill Andrew ,&nbsp;Caroline F. Frey ,&nbsp;Basso Walter","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101114","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101114","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Sarcocystis</em> spp. and <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> are heteroxenous protozoan parasites, which form cysts in muscle tissue of intermediate hosts (IH) and oocysts in the intestinal mucosa of definitive hosts (DH). Wild boars (<em>Sus scrofa</em>) are IH for <em>Sarcocystis miescheriana</em> (with wild and domestic canids as DH), <em>S. suihominis</em> (with humans and non-human primates as DH) and <em>T. gondii</em> (with felids as DH). The aim of this study was to identify and characterize <em>Sarcocystis</em> spp. and <em>T. gondii</em> in the muscle tissue of wild boars hunted and/or consumed in Switzerland. DNA was extracted from muscle samples of 286 wild boars and tested by PCRs targeting the <em>18S rRNA</em> gene of <em>Sarcocystis</em> spp., the mitochondrial cytochrome <em>c</em> oxidase (<em>cox1</em>) gene of <em>S. suihominis</em> and by a qPCR targeting a 529 bp genomic repeat of <em>T</em>. <em>gondii</em>. Besides, 225 samples were processed by homogenization and direct microscopic examination and 42 samples by histopathology. Sarcocysts were detected microscopically in 89.3 % (201/225) and 35.7 % (15/42) of the samples, respectively. The <em>18S rRNA</em> PCR detected parasite DNA in 91.3 % (261/286) of the samples, and all 62 sequences obtained were 100 % identical, and also with GenBank sequences reported as <em>S. miescheriana,</em> suggesting a high environmental contamination with canid faeces. The <em>S. suihominis-cox1</em> PCR was positive in 1.75 % of the samples (5/286), and the six <em>cox1</em> sequences (772 bp primers trimmed) obtained were 97.3–99.6 % similar among them and 97.7–100 % identical with a sequence reported as <em>S. suihominis</em>. Despite the identity differences, all these sequences were grouped together in a phylogenetic tree, in a sister clade of <em>S. miescheriana</em> sequences. All samples tested negative for <em>T. gondii</em> by qPCR. This study revealed for the first time the presence of <em>S. suihominis</em> in wild boars hunted in Switzerland.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101114"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144597012","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":"Microorganisms in wild European reptiles: bridging gaps in neglected conditions to inform disease ecology research","authors":"Matteo Riccardo Di Nicola ,&nbsp;Selene Rubiola ,&nbsp;Anna Cerullo ,&nbsp;Andrea Basciu ,&nbsp;Claudia Massone ,&nbsp;Thomas Zabbia ,&nbsp;Jean Lou CM Dorne ,&nbsp;Pier Luigi Acutis ,&nbsp;Daniele Marini","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101113","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101113","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In Europe, reptiles remain among the vertebrates least addressed by conservation actions, despite being significantly impacted by human activities and environmental changes. Pathogenic microorganisms represent an additional yet poorly investigated threat to these animals, largely due to limited veterinary interest, which traditionally prioritises captive species over wild populations. Consequently, comprehensive studies on the pathogens affecting European wild reptiles remain sparse and fragmented, providing limited guidance for conservation strategies or health risk assessments.</div><div>This review synthesises the current knowledge on potentially pathogenic microorganisms (namely bacteria, fungi, protozoa <em>sensu lato</em> and viruses) in wild, non-marine reptiles across Europe. We analysed 123 peer-reviewed studies from major scientific databases. Results indicate a marked increase in publications over the last two decades, although geographical and research focus biases persist. Southern European countries, notably Spain, Italy and Portugal, dominate the research landscape, while significant gaps exist in Northern and Eastern Europe. Lizards emerge as the most frequently studied hosts, especially in relation to apicomplexan parasites, followed by snakes and turtles. Among microorganisms, protozoa (particularly apicomplexans such as haemogregarines <em>sensu lato</em>) are the most frequently documented, whereas bacteria, fungi and viruses are less commonly reported, but significant from conservation and/or zoonotic perspectives. Within the latter, taxa such as <em>Salmonella</em>, <em>Ophidiomyces</em> and members of the Iridoviridae are relatively well represented. Molecular diagnostics have increasingly supplanted traditional microscopy, yet crucial tools such as culture-based methods and serology remain underutilised, limiting certain aspects of microorganism and disease characterisation.</div><div>Bipartite host-microorganism network analysis revealed a specialised, modular structure promoted by specific microbial communities within particular hosts, themselves influenced by potential co-evolutionary dynamics or uneven sampling efforts.</div><div>These findings underline the importance of integrating reptile disease ecology into wildlife conservation and public health frameworks, emphasising the urgent need to expand surveillance, particularly in underrepresented taxa and regions, to effectively address emerging disease threats under a One Health approach.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101113"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144589157","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":"Rodent malaria parasites detected in the invasive Rattus rattus in Gabon","authors":"Clark Mbou-Boutambe ,&nbsp;Larson Boundenga ,&nbsp;Fanny Degrugillier ,&nbsp;Philippe Gauthier ,&nbsp;Céline Arnathau ,&nbsp;Ana Rivero ,&nbsp;Laurent Granjon ,&nbsp;Virginie Rougeron ,&nbsp;Franck Prugnolle","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101112","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101112","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Invasive species are increasingly recognized for their role in reshaping host–parasite dynamics. This study reports the first molecular detection of <em>Plasmodium yoelii</em> in the invasive black rat (<em>Rattus rattus</em>) in Gabon, based on a systematic molecular screening of 527 rodents captured in rural villages between 2021 and 2022. Two <em>R. rattus</em> individuals tested positive for <em>P. yoelii</em>, with phylogenetic analysis confirming identity with strains previously isolated from native rodents in the region. These findings challenge the traditional view that rodent malaria parasites are restricted to native hosts and highlight <em>R. rattus</em> as a potential, albeit likely incidental, host within local <em>Plasmodium</em> transmission networks. Despite a low infection prevalence (0.38 %), this result raises important questions about the capacity of invasive rodents to integrate into local parasite cycles and influence disease dynamics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101112"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144581304","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":"Arthropod-borne pathogens in European bison Bison bonasus (Linnaeus, 1758)","authors":"Grzegorz Karbowiak ,&nbsp;Daniel Klich ,&nbsp;Joanna Werszko ,&nbsp;Magdalena Świsłocka-Cutter ,&nbsp;Kateryna Slivinska ,&nbsp;Marlena Wojciechowska ,&nbsp;Marta Kloch ,&nbsp;Marek Asman ,&nbsp;Wanda Olech","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101110","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101110","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The prevalence of vector-borne pathogens in 81 European bison (<em>Bison bonasus</em>) was determined by nested PCR and DNA sequencing. <em>Trypanosoma</em> sp. Infections were detected in blood from 66.67 % of the studied animals, with the highest prevalence in Knyszyn Forest (82.67 %). <em>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</em> infections were found in 38.27 % of cases, with the highest prevalence in Białowieża Forest (45.45 %). <em>Anaplasma</em> infection rates were influenced by location and age, with older animals showing lower prevalence. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that <em>Trypanosoma</em> sequences obtained from European bison were closely related to <em>T. theileri</em>, suggesting <em>T. wrublewskii</em> may be a synonym. This study provides new insights into the distribution of vector-borne pathogens in European bison, emphasizing their high prevalence in free-ranging populations. These findings contribute to a better understanding of European bison health and potential disease transmission risks in European ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101110"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144597013","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":"New identification traits of Tracheliastes maculatus (Copepoda: Lernaeopodidae), a parasite of bream, Abramis brama (Cyprinidae)","authors":"Wojciech Piasecki ,&nbsp;Geoffrey A. Boxshall ,&nbsp;Remigiusz Panicz ,&nbsp;Piotr Eljasik","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101108","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101108","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The parasitic copepod <em>Tracheliastes maculatus</em> Kollar, 1835, infects the freshwater bream, <em>Abramis brama</em>, a key species in European freshwater ecosystems. Despite its widespread occurrence and potential to cause skin hemorrhages, scale erosion and perforation, and fish mortality, species-level identification within the genus <em>Tracheliastes</em> has been problematic due to insufficient diagnostic traits. This study refines identification criteria by integrating morphological and genetic approaches. We present the first DNA barcode (<em>COI</em> gene sequence) for <em>Tracheliastes maculaus</em>, providing a molecular basis for taxonomic clarification. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals novel morphological details, including the number and distribution pattern of secondary denticles on endopodal Claw 1 of the antenna and structural differences in endopodal and exopodal side denticles of the antenna, both of which, may serve as new diagnostic features within the genus. Furthermore, we regard <em>Tracheliastes mourkii</em> as a nomen nudum because it was not morphologically diagnosed, and no museum specimen is extant. These findings improve species discrimination and set a benchmark for future taxonomic revisions of <em>Tracheliastes</em>, facilitating more precise ecological and parasitological assessments. A mini-review of the genus is also provided.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101108"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144570877","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":"A new species of louse fly, Ornithomya Latreille, 1802 (Diptera: Hippoboscidae), from the Russian far East","authors":"Aleksandra Yatsuk ,&nbsp;Emilia Nartshuk ,&nbsp;Tatiana Triseleva ,&nbsp;Valeriy Shokhrin ,&nbsp;Oleg Tolstenkov ,&nbsp;Andrey Safonkin ,&nbsp;Alexandr Matyukhin","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101111","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101111","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Louse flies (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) are specialized ectoparasites of birds, influencing host health and potentially acting as vectors of pathogens. A new species of the genus <em>Ornithomya</em> Latreille, 1802 (Diptera: Hippoboscidae), <em>Ornithomya panovi</em> <strong>sp. n.</strong>, is described from specimens collected in Lazovsky Nature Reserve (Russia). <em>O. panovi</em> <strong>sp. n.</strong> belongs to the <em>avicularia</em> species-group and is distinguished from other known Ornithomya species inhabiting Russia and Japan by several morphological features: reduction of tergite 4, wing length, ratio of costal vein sections between junctions R1 and R2+3 and between junctions R2+3 and R4+5 and arrangement of wing microtrichia as well as by genetic distances. This discovery expands our knowledge of the region's parasite biodiversity and highlights the need for continued faunistic surveys in the Russian Far East.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101111"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144614345","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":"Insight into tick and flea species infesting the North African Hedgehog Atelerix algirus in Tunisia","authors":"Ghofrane Balti ,&nbsp;Hajer Aounallah ,&nbsp;Ahmed Ouni ,&nbsp;Moufida Derghal ,&nbsp;Adel Rhim ,&nbsp;Jomaa Chemkhi ,&nbsp;Ikram Guizani ,&nbsp;Ali Bouattour ,&nbsp;Souheila Guerbouj ,&nbsp;Youmna M'ghirbi","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101109","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101109","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hedgehogs are small wild mammals known to host various ectoparasites, including hard ticks and fleas, which can transmit vector-borne pathogens to humans and animals. We investigated the ectoparasites infesting 10 hedgehogs (<em>Atelerix algirus</em>) captured in northern Tunisia and found both ticks and fleas. Ectoparasite species were identified based on their morphological characteristics as well as using molecular methods via the partial amplification of the 16 S rRNA, the mitochondrial Cytochrome C Oxidase subunit I, and the 18 S rRNA genes. Four tick species were identified: <em>Haemaphysalis erinacei</em>, followed by <em>Rhipicephalus sanguineus</em>, <em>Ixodes ventalloi</em>, and <em>Hyalomma aegyptium</em>. Molecular analysis confirmed the presence of the subspecies <em>Haemaphysalis erinacei turanica</em>, with phylogenetic clustering suggesting a genetic relationship with tick populations in Algeria, Turkey, and China. Two additional flea species were identified: <em>Archaeopsylla erinacei</em>, the hedgehog flea, and <em>Ctenocephalides felis</em>, the cat flea, both known to be vectors of pathogens. We confirmed that hedgehogs were infested with <em>Archaeopsylla erinacei maura</em>, with the obtained sequences clustering closely with those previously reported in Spain. This genetic similarity may suggest a shared origin and indicate a wider geographic distribution for this subspecies. Our study underscores the importance of understanding the interactions between hedgehogs, ectoparasites, and their environments. Our findings may inform public health strategies and wildlife management, aiming to control ectoparasite populations and reduce the risk of the emergence of zoonotic diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101109"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144563736","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}