International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife最新文献

{"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":"New host-parasite associations and ectoparasite diversity of Erinaceus roumanicus in Romania","authors":"Oana Cristiana Vasiliu ,&nbsp;Ioan Liviu Mitrea ,&nbsp;Viorel Dumitru Gavril ,&nbsp;Mariana Ionita","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101084","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101084","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The northern white-breasted hedgehog (<em>Erinaceus roumanicus</em>) is a widely distributed species in Romania, inhabiting diverse environments, including urban areas where contact with humans and domestic animals may facilitate zoonotic pathogen circulation. Despite its ecological significance, data on its ectoparasitic fauna in Romania remain scarce. This study assessed the diversity, prevalence, and infestation patterns of ectoparasites in <em>E. roumanicus</em>, considering habitat type, biogeographical region, and seasonality. A total of 222 hedgehogs from the “Visul Luanei” Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre were examined for ectoparasites. Of these, 53 were included in parasitological analyses, while an additional 15 opportunistic samples contributed to faunistic assessments. Among the 68 tick-infested hedgehogs, 1793 ixodid ticks from 12 species across five genera were identified. The most abundant species were <em>Ixodes ricinus</em> (n = 1289; 71.91 %), <em>I. redikorzevi</em> (8.87 %), <em>Rhipicephalus turanicus</em> (8.81 %), and <em>R. sanguineus</em> (4.69 %). Tick prevalence was 23.87 % (95 % CI: 18.74–29.90 %), peaking in the Steppic region (38.10 %), with highest intensity in natural habitats (77.67 ± 118.08 ticks/host). Peak tick activity occurred in spring (32.63 %). Other identified ectoparasites included fleas (<em>Ctenocephalides canis</em>, <em>Archaeopsylla erinacei</em> s.l.) and mites (<em>Neotrombicula autumnalis</em>, <em>Caparinia tripilis</em>, <em>Demodex erinacei</em>). Notably, three new host–parasite associations were recorded in Romania: <em>R. turanicus</em>, <em>C. tripilis</em>, and <em>D. erinacei</em>. This study provides the first comprehensive characterization of the ectoparasite fauna of <em>E. roumanicus</em> in Romania, emphasizing its role as a reservoir of ectoparasites relevant to veterinary and public health. These findings support using <em>E. roumanicus</em> as a sentinel species for monitoring ectoparasite diversity and zoonotic risks in changing environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101084"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144329776","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}

{"title":"Fatal babesiosis in a free-ranging iberian wolf co-infected with Hepatozoon canis and Leishmania infantum: Epidemiological implications for the cantabrian wolf population","authors":"Manena Fayos ,&nbsp;Natalia Sastre ,&nbsp;Ana M. Palomar ,&nbsp;Carlos Sacristán ,&nbsp;Irene Sacristán ,&nbsp;Ana Carolina Ewbank ,&nbsp;Emmanuel Serrano ,&nbsp;Roser Velarde","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101080","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101080","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Health surveillance of large carnivores, such as the Iberian wolf (<em>Canis lupus signatus</em>), allows the early detection of emerging and established pathogens in natural environments, due to their position in the top of the food chain. In 2022, the carcass of a wild wolf was found in Cantabria, Northwest Spain. A complete post-mortem investigation, including full necropsy, histopathological and molecular analysis concluded that the cause of death was a systemic hemolytic disease caused by <em>Babesia canis</em>. Furthermore, the wolf was co-infected with <em>Hepatozoon canis</em> and <em>Leishmania infantum</em>. Consequently, a molecular investigation of <em>Babesia</em> spp., <em>Hepatozoon</em> spp., <em>Leishmania</em> spp., <em>Ehrlichia</em> spp., <em>Anaplasma</em> spp., and <em>Rickettsia</em> spp. was performed in the Cantabrian wolf population (n = 91). The prevalences found were 6.3 % (5/79) for <em>B. canis</em>, 96.3 % (78/81) for <em>H. canis</em>, and 23.8 % (21/88) for <em>L. infantum</em>. None of the wolves were positive to <em>Ehrlichia</em> spp., <em>Anaplasma</em> spp., or <em>Rickettsia</em> spp. The co-infection prevalences were also investigated. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a fatal babesiosis in a wild wolf, as well as the first detection of <em>B. canis</em> and <em>H. canis</em> infection in the Iberian wolf population. We have found a low <em>B. canis</em> prevalence, while the <em>H. canis</em> prevalence is the highest recorded so far. The detection of <em>L. infantum</em> highlights the circulation of this zoonotic pathogen in a non-endemic region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101080"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144116312","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":"Host-related genetic differentiation of a polyxenic avian ectoparasite, Ornithomya avicularia (Hippoboscidae)","authors":"Aleksandra Janiszewska ,&nbsp;Tomasz Rewicz ,&nbsp;Piotr Minias ,&nbsp;Radosław Włodarczyk ,&nbsp;Maciej Kamiński ,&nbsp;Patryk Fiutek ,&nbsp;Dariusz Jakubas ,&nbsp;Jan Rapczyński ,&nbsp;Magdalena Remisiewicz ,&nbsp;Hanna Sztwiertnia ,&nbsp;Maciej Bartos","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101081","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101081","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ectoparasites play a key role in ecosystems, affecting the health, behaviour, and reproductive success of their hosts. The parasite-host relationships are complex and dynamic, and selective pressures exerted by the hosts can lead to local adaptations and changes in the genetic structure of the parasite population. Our aim was to investigate how parasitism on a diverse range of avian hosts with varying ecology and habitat preferences shapes the genetic variation of the parasite. For this purpose, we quantified the genetic structure and differentiation of host-related populations of a common polyxenic avian ectoparasite <em>Ornithomya avicularia</em> (Hippoboscidae, Ornithomyinae), a louse fly species parasitizing various bird species occupying diverse ecological niches. Using 20 polymorphic microsatellite markers, we genotyped louse flies collected from four phylogenetically (passerine and non-passerine) and ecologically (wetland vs. forest) divergent avian hosts caught during autumn migration. Despite the ecological and phylogenetic differences among hosts, the genetic differentiation among louse fly populations was modest, indicating ongoing gene flow. Bayesian clustering and discriminant analysis identified two genetic clusters with relatively weak barriers to gene flow, but this clustering reflected neither phylogenetic nor ecological differences between hosts. We suggest that the high dispersal abilities and the specific reproductive strategy of <em>O. avicularia</em> likely contribute to the genetic homogeneity of its populations across ecologically and phylogenetically distant hosts. This study provides novel insights into the population genetics of an understudied ectoparasite, with implications for understanding host-parasite interactions and disease transmission in avian systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101081"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143942476","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":"The epidemiology of a novel Leucocytozoon parasite in an endangered population of marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) on the Oregon coast","authors":"Miranda Michlanski ,&nbsp;Jonathan Dachenhaus ,&nbsp;Jennifer Johns ,&nbsp;S. Kim Nelson ,&nbsp;Shannon Phelps ,&nbsp;James W. Rivers ,&nbsp;Daniel D. Roby ,&nbsp;Ethan Woodis ,&nbsp;Kelsey Ryan ,&nbsp;Lindsay J. Adrean ,&nbsp;Justin L. Sanders ,&nbsp;Brianna R. Beechler","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101078","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101078","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Parasitism is a known cause of morbidity and mortality in wildlife species and may exacerbate population declines in species threatened by changing landscapes. The marbled murrelet (<em>Brachyramphus marmoratus</em>) is an unusual seabird that forages in the ocean but uses trees in old growth and late successional forests for nesting. Populations have declined in some areas due to both changing ocean conditions and reduction in breeding habitat, making it important to consider the impacts of other factors, such as parasites and pathogens, on murrelet health and reproduction. In this study we describe a novel blood parasite (<em>Leucocytozoon marmoratus</em> sp. nov.<em>)</em> found in a murrelet population on the Oregon coast, USA and quantify its prevalence and burden in 374 individuals along the Oregon coast over a 6-year period. Genetic sequencing revealed that the species of <em>Leucocytozoon</em> we identified has a mitochondrial lineage most closely related to a <em>Leucocytozoon</em> found in yellow-eyed penguins (<em>Megadyptes antipodes</em>) of New Zealand. The prevalence of <em>Leucocytozoon</em> in murrelets was 62 % (233/374) and within an infected individual the mean burden of parasitism was 7.1 parasites/100 white blood cells, with substantial variation between individuals (from 1 to 113 parasites/100 white blood cells). Both parasite prevalence and burden varied across years and were higher in years of poorer ocean conditions suggesting that birds experiencing poor conditions may have had reduced ability to fight infection. Male murrelets had significantly lower parasite burdens than females, which may be due to energetic constraints of egg production in breeding females. Importantly, murrelets that did not attempt a nest were associated with higher parasite burdens at the time of capture, perhaps due to correlations between parasitism and systemic health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 101078"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144070703","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}