International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife最新文献

{"title":"Parasite-Driven host manipulation: The case of trematodes in Neotropical tadpoles","authors":"Paula Maria Rosa ,&nbsp;Murilo de Souza Queiroz ,&nbsp;Rodolfo Mei Pelinson ,&nbsp;Luciano A. Anjos ,&nbsp;Denise de Cerqueira Rossa-Feres","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101023","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101023","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Parasites can impact tadpole survival in both lethal and sublethal ways. Sublethal effects include alterations in morphology and behavior, reduced competitive ability, and increased vulnerability to predation, while lethal effects result in direct mortality. These impacts can have significant consequences at both individual and population levels, especially given that amphibians host various parasites and pathogens, which may contribute to population declines. This study investigated the influence of digenetic trematodes, specifically <em>Lophosicyadiplostomum</em> sp. and Echinostomatidae metacercariae – larval stages found in second intermediate hosts, on the development and behavior of <em>Physalaemus cuvieri</em> tadpoles. Behavioral experiments assessed tadpole activity (time and movement number), water column use, and food consumption rates using video recordings and image analysis. Swimming performance was evaluated through predation simulations, and tadpole morphology (i.e. body size and mass) was measured post-experimentally. Infections by these digenetic trematodes resulted in a notable reduction in tadpole activity. A negative correlation was observed between <em>Lophosicyadiplostomum</em> sp. parasite load and both tadpole activity duration and movement frequency, indicating a common response to trematode infection. This study underscores the need for further research on digenetic trematodes to determine whether these behavioral modifications represent host manipulation by the parasites, potentially optimizing their transmission to the final host.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 101023"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142745511","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morphological vs. molecular identification of trematode species infecting the edible cockle Cerastoderma edule across Europe","authors":"Leslie Stout ,&nbsp;Guillemine Daffe ,&nbsp;Aurélie Chambouvet ,&nbsp;Simão Correia ,&nbsp;Sarah Culloty ,&nbsp;Rosa Freitas ,&nbsp;David Iglesias ,&nbsp;K. Thomas Jensen ,&nbsp;Sandra Joaquim ,&nbsp;Sharon Lynch ,&nbsp;Luisa Magalhães ,&nbsp;Kate Mahony ,&nbsp;Shelagh K. Malham ,&nbsp;Domitilia Matias ,&nbsp;Mélanie Rocroy ,&nbsp;David W. Thieltges ,&nbsp;Xavier de Montaudouin","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101019","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101019","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Identifying marine trematode parasites in host tissue can be complicated when there is limited morphological differentiation between species infecting the same host species. This poses a challenge for regular surveys of the parasite communities in species of socio-economic and ecological importance. Our study focused on identifying digenean trematode species infecting the marine bivalve <em>Cerastoderma edule</em> across Europe by comparing morphological and molecular species identification methods. Cockles were sampled from ten locations to observe the trematode parasites under a stereomicroscope (morphological identification) and to isolate individuals for phylogenetic analyses using two gene markers, the small sub-unit ribosomal (18S) RNA gene (SSU rDNA) and the mitochondrial cytochrome <em>c</em> oxidase subunit 1 (cox1). For the first time, we compared both morphological identification and phylogenetic analyses for each of the 13 originally identified species. First, we identified a group of five species for which morphological identification matched molecular results (<em>Bucephalus minimus</em>, <em>Monorchis parvus</em>, <em>Renicola parvicaudatus</em>, <em>Psilostomum brevicolle</em>, <em>Himasthla interrupta</em>). Second, we identified a group of six species for which molecular results revealed either misidentifications or cryptic diversity (<em>Gymnophallus choledochus</em>, <em>Diphterostomum brusinae</em>, <em>Curtuteria arguinae</em>, <em>Himasthla quissetensis</em>, <em>H. elongata</em>, <em>H</em>. <em>continua</em>). Third, our analyses showed that all sequences of two expected species, <em>Gymnophallus minutus</em> and <em>G. fossarum</em>, matched between the two, strongly suggesting that only <em>G. minutus</em> is present in the studied area. Our study clearly demonstrates that molecular tools are necessary to validate the trematode species composition. However, with 17 distinct genetic lineages detected, some of which are not fully identified, future studies are needed to clarify the identity and status (regular <em>vs.</em> accidental infection) of some of these cryptic trematode species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 101019"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142745513","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Liver fluke and schistosome cross-infection risk between livestock and wild mammals in Western Uganda, a One Health approach","authors":"Daisy Namirembe ,&nbsp;Tine Huyse ,&nbsp;Rapheal Wangalwa ,&nbsp;Julius Tumusiime ,&nbsp;Casim Umba Tolo","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101022","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101022","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Trematodiases strongly reduce the welfare of humans and animals causing a great decline in health and productivity. Insufficient data on the extent of trematode infection in definitive hosts and associated risk factors remain a great threat to its control. A cross-sectional study was conducted to establish the; prevalence of liver flukes and schistosomes in livestock and wild mammals and the socio-ecological risk factors associated with their spread. Fresh dung samples were collected opportunistically (n = 865) and examined using formal ether sedimentation and microscopy for parasite eggs. Twelve abattoir visits were conducted to examine the livers of animals killed for mature flukes. Key informants (n = 110) including farmers, butchers, game rangers, and herders were interviewed to document the socio-ecological risk factors. In the abattoirs, 57.1%(CI 0.422–0.712) of cattle were infected with <em>Fasciola</em> flukes and not sheep and goats. Cattle dung had the highest prevalence (56% CI 0.518–0.604) of <em>Fasciola</em> eggs, followed by sheep (50%, CI 0.319–0.681) and goats (28.2%, CI 0.218–0.353). Among wild mammals, hippos' dung (66%; 95% CI 0.53–0.777) had the highest prevalence of <em>Fasciola</em> followed by warthogs (8%; 95% CI 0.002–0.385) and baboons (6.7%; CI 0.002–0.319). No <em>Fasciola</em> eggs were observed in elephant dung (n = 21) and monkeys (n = 2). <em>Schistosoma bovis</em> was found in cattle dung from Mpeefu (2.6%; 95% CI 0.007–0.066) and Ndaiga (4.3%; 95% CI 0.022–0.075) while <em>S. mattheei</em> in goats’ (1.4%; 95% CI 0.00–0.075) and cattle (0.39%; 95% CI 0.00–0.021) dung samples from Ndaiga. Key informants had moderate knowledge of fasciolosis (62.7%), highest among butchers (89.7%), and lowest among herders (31.8%). Only veterinary officers knew about schistosomiasis in animals. Free-range grazing and unsafe water sources for livestock, shared with wild animals, were the risky practices by most farmers (66–100%). <em>Fasciola</em> was prevalent in livestock and wild mammals, while <em>Schistosoma</em> in cattle and goats.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 101022"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142745512","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Invasive Fascioloides magna infections impact gut microbiota in a definitive host in Europe","authors":"Ramona Fleischer ,&nbsp;Marc Velling ,&nbsp;Wibke Peters ,&nbsp;Tomáš Peterka ,&nbsp;Frederik Franke ,&nbsp;Pavla Jůnková Vymyslická ,&nbsp;Steffen Rehbein ,&nbsp;Marco Heurich ,&nbsp;Simone Sommer","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101024","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101024","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Invasive parasites that expand their natural range can be a threat to wildlife biodiversity and may pose a health risk to non-adapted, naive host species. The invasive giant liver fluke, <em>Fascioloides magna</em>, native to North America, has extended its range in Europe and uses mainly red deer (<em>Cervus elaphus</em>) as definitive hosts. The penetration of the intestinal barrier by the young flukes to reach the liver via the abdominal cavity as well as the release of fluke metabolism products and excreta with the bile and/or changes in the microbial community of the biliary system may enable the translocation of intestinal bacteria across the intestinal barrier and, in turn, could be associated with inflammation and changes in the intestinal bacterial community. The gut commensal community plays a key role in host nutrition and interacts with cells of the immune system to maintain host health. For this study, the gut bacterial community of red deer infected with <em>F. magna</em> and of non-infected red deer from one of the largest forest ecosystems in Central Europe, located on the border between the Czech Republic and Germany, was investigated. The individual fluke burden was associated with changes in the gut microbial composition of the gut of infected individuals, whereas the diversity and composition of the gut bacteria were only slightly different between fluke-infected and uninfected deer. Several bacterial taxa at the genus level were unique to individuals carrying either one or many liver flukes. Our results suggest that the microbiota of red deer is stable to perturbation by low numbers of <em>F. magna</em>. However, a larger parasite burden may cause changes in the gut microbial composition in definitive hosts implying that non-invasive fecal microbiome assessments could serve as indicator for wildlife health monitoring.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 101024"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142757462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Description of a new species of <i>Icosta</i> Speiser , 1905 (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) from Southern Vietnam with the updated key to the subgenus <i>Icosta</i>.","authors":"Aleksandra Yatsuk, Emilia Nartshuk, Andrey Bushuev, Anvar Kerimov, Nguyễn Văn Linh, Oleg Tolstenkov, Alexandr Matyukhin","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101026","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The family Hippoboscidae, commonly known as \"louse flies,\" comprises pupiparous Diptera that are ectoparasites of birds and mammals, with significant impacts on their hosts and epidemiological importance. The louse fly fauna of Vietnam is relatively understudied compared to other countries in the Southeast Asia region. In this study, we describe a new species of the genus <i>Icosta</i> Speiser, 1905 (Diptera: Hippoboscidae), <i>Icosta korzuni</i> <b>sp. n.</b>, collected from the lesser coucal <i>Centropus bengalensis</i> (Gmelin, JF, 1788) in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam. This new species is distinguished from other <i>Icosta</i> species by the morphology of laterite 3, wing length, arrangement of wing microtrichia, body coloration, and its geographical distribution. Additionally, we provide an updated key to the subgenus <i>Icosta</i> Speiser, 1905.</p>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"101026"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11652956/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142856398","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Redefining infections with trypanosomatids in Neotropical primates: Case study of the white-footed tamarin (Oedipomidas leucopus)","authors":"Juliana Tabares-Medina ,&nbsp;Katherinne García-Blandón ,&nbsp;Gisela M. García-Montoya ,&nbsp;Iván Darío Soto-Calderón","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101021","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101021","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Trypanosomes are blood parasites capable of infecting nearly any vertebrate. Many Neotropical primates frequently host trypanosomes and are considered potential reservoirs for <em>Trypanosoma cruzi</em> and other human-pathogenic trypanosomatids. However, diagnostic methods originally developed for detecting these trypanosomatids in humans and domestic species must be validated to reliably diagnose infections in non-human primates. Without such validation, taxonomic biases and incorrect assignments of wildlife reservoirs can occur. The white-footed tamarin (<em>Oedipomidas leucopus</em>), a primate endemic to northwestern Colombia, is classified by the World Health Organization as a reservoir of <em>T. cruzi</em>. However, this classification is based on studies with small sample sizes, ambiguous diagnostic methods, and questionable geographic records. In this study, the 18S ribosomal RNA gene was amplified via PCR and sequenced to estimate trypanosome infection rates and identify species in natural populations of <em>O. leucopus</em> across a wide geographic range, as well as in (<em>ex situ</em>) specimens. This molecular approach was also compared with traditional microscopy diagnosis using blood smears. The molecular diagnosis revealed that over 60% of the tested specimens were infected, whereas traditional microscopy resulted in 58% false negatives compared to the molecular method. A Bayesian phylogeny of the 18S gene identified <em>T. minasense</em> as the sole trypanosomatid species present in <em>O. leucopus</em>, with no detections of <em>T. cruzi</em> or other trypanosomatids of concern to human or domestic animal health. This study highlights the risk of overestimating the presence of human-infecting trypanosomes, such as <em>T. cruzi</em>, in tamarins and other vertebrates, and underscores the importance of validating diagnostic methods to accurately assess the zoonotic potential of wild species. Accurate identification of wildlife reservoirs is essential for understanding parasite life cycles and implementing effective management and conservation strategies for primates and other potential reservoirs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 101021"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142697224","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A new genus and a new species of microcotylids (Polyopisthocotyla, Platyhelminthes), gill parasite of the pink dentex Dentex gibbosus (Teleostei, Sparidae) off Tunisia and notes on Polyopisthocotyla and Monopisthocotyla from Dentex spp.","authors":"Ilhem Hamdi ,&nbsp;Bouchra Benmansour ,&nbsp;Mohammed Ahmed ,&nbsp;Mehreen Gulsher ,&nbsp;Chahinez Bouguerche","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101016","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101016","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study of the polyopisthocotylan parasites of marine fishes in the western Mediterranean is carried on using an integrative approach combining morphology and DNA barcodes. <em>Ktarius patrickbrueli</em> n. gen. n. sp (Polyopisthocotyla, Microcotylidae), from the gills of the pink dentex <em>Dentex gibbosus</em> (Teleostei, Sparidae) from the western Mediterranean Sea off Tunisia, is described. Anatomical and morphological features of the new genus are described, and the molecular barcodes for nuclear and mitochondrial markers (28S rRNA and <em>cox</em>1) are generated. The new genus is closely related to <em>Microcotyle</em> by sharing a symmetrical haptor, inverted question mark-shaped ovary and unarmed vagina. However, <em>Ktarius</em> n. gen. can be distinguished from <em>Microcotyle</em> and other Microcotylinae taxa by an unarmed male copulatory organ, formed by a long muscular cirrus, a basal layer of concentric muscles, and an elongated thick-walled ejaculatory bulb. A partial 28S rDNA sequence of <em>K. patrickbrueli</em> n. gen. n. sp<em>.</em> was obtained and found to be distinct from all known microcotylid sequences, with a <em>p</em>-distance of 5–13%. A phylogenetic tree constructed from available microcotylid sequences revealed that <em>K. patrickbrueli</em> n. gen. n. sp. clustered in a strongly supported clade of Microcotylinae, containing species of <em>Omanicotyle</em>, <em>Bivagina,</em> and <em>Microcotyle</em> confirming its belonging to the Microcotylinae subfamily. The <em>cox</em>1 sequences of <em>K. patrickbrueli</em> n. gen. n. sp. were highly divergent from the closely related genus <em>Pauciconfibula</em> and confirmed its distinction. This new genus is the third polyopisthocotylan genus to be described from sparids of <em>Dentex</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 101016"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142723782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Year after year: Recurrent Toxocara vitulorum infections in American bison (Bison bison) calves in a zoo","authors":"David Ebmer ,&nbsp;Maria Sophia Unterköfler ,&nbsp;Zoë Tess Lara Lindhorst ,&nbsp;Perrine Keiser ,&nbsp;Simone Haderthauer ,&nbsp;Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck ,&nbsp;Anja Joachim","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101018","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101018","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Toxocara vitulorum</em> (Nematoda: Ascaridida) is a common parasite of cattle and buffaloes in tropical and subtropical regions and the causative agent of toxocarosis in calves. In Europe, sporadic infections have been reported in cattle, but also in bovines held at zoological gardens. Here, we report <em>T. vitulorum</em> infections in a herd of American bison (<em>Bison bison</em>) kept at the Vienna Zoo, Austria, which occurred in 2023 and 2024. After the first case in a seven-week-old calf in July 2023, another case in a five-week-old calf was diagnosed in May 2024, both of them detected by coproscopy and fecal discharge of adult worms after anthelminthic treatment. The calves originated from two different mothers imported to the zoo in 2014 from the Czech Republic and 2012 from Germany respectively. Both calves showed diarrhea and fecal soiling of the anal region prior to fecal analysis. Two intramuscular administrations of ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg bodyweight, two-week interval) caused the passing of up to 39 cm long gravid female worms, resulted in the cessation of egg shedding and improved fecal consistency. Morphological and molecular identification confirmed infections with <em>T. vitulorum</em>. Additionally, another calf, born in May 2024 from the mother of the calf that was <em>T. vitulorum</em>-positive in 2023, showed periods of diarrhea. Due to difficulties in taking individual samples, no definitive diagnosis of <em>T. vitulorum</em> infection could be made, however, the animal was also treated and clinically improved afterwards. Besides <em>T. vitulorum</em>, <em>Eimeria</em> spp. were detected in all samples and <em>Giardia duodenalis</em> genotype E in two samples in 2024. This case series highlights the possibility of unnoticed parasite introductions into zoological gardens via animals infected with resting parasite stages, and demonstrates the importance of regular individual parasitological analysis in bovine zoo animals during the first weeks after birth.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 101018"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142697272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Inactivated Toxoplasma gondii nanovaccine boosts T-cell memory response in a seropositive yellow-footed rock wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus) – A case report from Copenhagen Zoo","authors":"Daniela Ogonczyk-Makowska ,&nbsp;François Fasquelle ,&nbsp;Anaïs-Camille Vreulx ,&nbsp;Angelo Scuotto ,&nbsp;Amélie Degraeve ,&nbsp;Bryan Thiroux ,&nbsp;Louise Françoise Martin ,&nbsp;Stamatios Alan Tahas ,&nbsp;Jeanne Toft Jakobsen ,&nbsp;Gregers Jungersen ,&nbsp;Didier Betbeder","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101017","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101017","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> is a ubiquitous parasite causing significant mortality in captive wildlife, especially marsupials. Historically, treatment has been unrewarding and no vaccine was available. An intranasal vaccine based on purified inactivated <em>T. gondii</em> was developed for toxoplasmosis prevention. A vaccination campaign started in early 2017 and was successful in preventing toxoplasma-related mortality in marsupials in many European and South American zoos. Amongst the vaccinated wallabies, about 30% were T. gondii seropositive before the vaccination, and no toxoplasma-related deaths were observed since the administration of the vaccine. The objective of this case study was to assess the potential effect of the vaccination on a seropositive wallaby. It is important to note that this vaccine doesn't induce any humoral response in sheep, and squirrel monkeys but induces a strong T-cell response. A <em>T. gondii</em> seropositive Yellow-footed rock wallaby (<em>Petrogale xanthopus</em>) from Copenhagen Zoo received two doses of the aforementioned intranasal vaccine. Blood samples were collected before each vaccination and used for peripheral blood mononuclear cell isolation. The impact of the vaccination on the lymphocyte phenotype was characterized by flow cytometry. Cell size, represented by forward scatter, and granularity, represented by side scatter parameters were analyzed. Two doses of the vaccine induced a respective 30.1 and 25.6% increase in cell size and granularity in lymphocytes stimulated with <em>T. gondii</em> antigens, as assessed by flow cytometry. These changes were likely correlated with T-cell activation, which indicates that two doses of the vaccine might have boosted the already-existing T-cell memory response against <em>T. gondii</em> in a seropositive animal. No morphological changes were observed in lymphocytes from an unvaccinated seronegative wallaby. This is the first documented case of boosting an already-existing cellular immune response against toxoplasmosis by the vaccine in a seropositive Yellow-footed rock wallaby.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 101017"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142655750","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of individual characteristics and seasonality and their interaction on ectoparasite load of Daurian ground squirrels in Inner Mongolia, China","authors":"Xiaoxu Wang ,&nbsp;Meng Shang ,&nbsp;Zihao Wang ,&nbsp;Haoqiang Ji ,&nbsp;Zhenxu Wang ,&nbsp;Guangju Mo ,&nbsp;Qiyong Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101014","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101014","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding the drivers of parasite distribution is vital for ecosystem health, disease management, and vector monitoring. While studies note the impact of host sex, size, behavior, and season on parasite load, concurrent assessments of these factors and their interactions are limited. During the spring, summer and autumn seasons from 2021 to 2023, we trapped Daurian ground squirrel (<em>Spermophilus dauricus</em>), a small rodent species that inhabits eastern Asian grasslands in Inner Mongolia and collected their ectoparasites. Using machine learning Lasso regression, we pinpointed factors affecting tick and flea abundance on <em>S. dauricus</em>. We then analyzed these factors and their seasonal interactions with a mixed negative binomial generalized linear model. Our study revealed significant but inconsistent seasonal effects on the load of ectoparasites. The tick load was significantly higher in spring and summer compared to autumn, while the flea load was higher in summer and autumn but lacked statistical significance. Furthermore, individual factors that influence the flea and tick load were moderated by seasonal effects, with a male bias in flea parasitism observed in spring. Significant interactions were also found among seasonality, sex, and body weight. The load of male squirrel fleas was positively correlated with body weight, with the highest increase observed in spring. On the contrary, the flea load of female squirrels showed a negative correlation with body weight, significantly decreasing in the autumn with increasing weight. Significant interactions were observed between season and survival status, with hosts exhibiting higher tick load during autumn survival. Our findings underscore the importance of considering seasonal variation in parasitism and the interactions between seasonal dynamics and host biological traits in shaping parasite distributions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 101014"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142587265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}