International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife最新文献

{"title":"Tick–small mammal relationships in urban and forest environments in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan: First confirmation of the establishment of southern tick species in northern Japan","authors":"Hirotaka Komine ,&nbsp;Shinya Ishikawa","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101227","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101227","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Small mammals are prominent hosts for ticks that transmit various infectious diseases to humans and other animals. Despite the widespread presence of ticks and small mammals worldwide and the fact that climate change is a global phenomenon, tick–small mammal relationships and the potential expansion of southern tick species have been investigated only in limited regions. To understand the global risk of tick-borne diseases, examining tick–small mammal relationships in northern regions is essential. In Japan, several tick-borne diseases have emerged, and multiple studies have reported adult and nymphal stages of southern tick species in northern areas. However, whether these species have successfully established in the north can be determined only through the detection of larval stages. Therefore, we examined tick infestation in small mammals captured from forest and urban environments in Yamagata Prefecture, northern Japan. A total of 55 individuals representing seven species were captured across the forest and urban environments. The predominant small mammal in both environments was the large Japanese wood mouse (<em>Apodemus speciosus</em>). Ticks were recovered only from <em>A. speciosus</em> captured in the forest environment. Among the recovered ticks, 29 were <em>Dermacentor bellulus</em> larvae, 13 were <em>D. bellulus</em> nymphs, and 1 was an <em>Ixodes ovatus</em> nymph. These results provide the first verification of the establishment of the southern tick species <em>D. bellulus</em> in northern Japan, and indicate that <em>A. speciosus</em> serves as an immature host for <em>D. bellulus</em> in the forest environment. Future studies are required to clarify tick burden across seasons and years, as well as the potential effects of host traits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101227"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147612502","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 molecular characterisation of an intestinal trematode from the marbled lungfish Protopterus aethiopicus in Kenya reveals a new species of Heterorchis (Digenea: incertae sedis)","authors":"Nehemiah M. Rindoria ,&nbsp;José C. Dumbo ,&nbsp;Felix O. Olonde ,&nbsp;Iva Přikrylová ,&nbsp;Willem J. Smit ,&nbsp;Wilmien J. Luus-Powell","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101182","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101182","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Heterorchis</em> Baylis, 1915, is a poorly reported genus of parasitic digeneans with ambiguous phylogenetic affinities. Four members of this genus have been described exclusively from Africa, although two of these taxa are regarded as <em>species inquirenda</em>. The material for this study was collected from the intestine of Marbled lungfish, <em>Protopterus aethiopicus</em> Heckel, 1851, in Lake Kanyaboli, Kenya, between May and October 2023. An integrated approach of light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and molecular techniques was employed in the study of the trematode. Morphological analysis revealed a new species characterised by distinctive features, including the extent of the intestinal caeca in the post-excretory vesicle field, a large excretory pore located posterior to the testes, and the cirrus-sac reaching the level of the seminal receptacle. Phylogenetic trees from Bayesian Inference and maximum-likelihood analyses of the <em>28S</em> rDNA dataset formed a separate clade comprising sequences of <em>Heterorchis</em> spp. The interspecific distance of 2 % (25 bp) was calculated between the present sequence and those available on GenBank, MW586924, for <em>Heterorchis</em> cf. <em>crumenifer</em> Baylis, 1915. The infection indices were recorded as prevalence (P) = 46.7 %, mean intensity (MI) = 1.25, and mean abundance (MA) = 0.58.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101182"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145884908","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 vector-borne and hemotropic pathogens in raccoons (Procyon lotor) from a tropical ecotourism area in Costa Rica","authors":"Jennifer Calderón-Bailey ,&nbsp;Ernesto Rojas-Sánchez ,&nbsp;María Mata-Masís ,&nbsp;Mauricio Jiménez-Soto ,&nbsp;Antony Solorzano-Morales ,&nbsp;María José Zuniga-Moya ,&nbsp;Javier Varela-Amador ,&nbsp;Karen Vega-Benavides ,&nbsp;Gaby Dolz","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101187","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101187","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Interactions between wildlife, domestic animals, and humans in ecotourism settings could facilitate the circulation of pathogens with zoonotic potential. Raccoons (<em>Procyon lotor</em>), due to their synanthropic behavior and adaptability, may serve as hosts for several infectious agents at these interfaces. This study aimed to investigate the presence of vector-borne and hemotropic pathogens in free-ranging raccoons inhabiting Manuel Antonio National Park (MANP) and its surrounding communities, a major tourist destination in Costa Rica. Between 2021 and 2022, nineteen raccoons were captured using Tomahawk traps, anesthetized, clinically examined, and sampled for hematological and molecular analyses. DNA extracted from blood was screened using real-time and conventional PCR assays targeting <em>Anaplasma</em> spp., <em>Ehrlichia</em> spp., <em>Rickettsia</em> spp., <em>Trypanosoma</em> spp., <em>Mycoplasma</em> spp., and canine protoparvovirus 1 (CPPV-1). Of the individuals tested, 6/19 (31.6 %) were positive for <em>Anaplasmataceae</em>, 4/14 (28.6 %) for <em>Mycoplasma</em> spp., and 6/14 (42.9 %) for CPPV-1. One raccoon was confirmed to carry <em>Mycoplasma haemocanis</em> (99 % nucleotide identity with GenBank accession MN294708), representing the first molecular identification of this species in raccoons worldwide. Coinfections were detected in five animals. No raccoons tested positive for <em>Rickettsia</em> spp. or <em>Trypanosoma</em> spp. Hematological profiles were largely within reference ranges; however, mild leukogram variations and occasional hyperglobulinemia were observed, with no consistent infection-associated pattern. These findings provide molecular evidence of pathogen presence in raccoons from a high-tourism area and highlight their potential epidemiological relevance at the wildlife-human interface. The results underscore the need for sustained One Health surveillance to better assess pathogen transmission risks in tropical ecotourism settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101187"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926426","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 molecular characterization of Contracaecum jorgei (Nematoda: Anisakidae) in five Neotropical freshwater fish species in Colombia","authors":"Astrid Rave ,&nbsp;Manuel Uribe ,&nbsp;Sara López-Osorio ,&nbsp;Carlos Hermosilla ,&nbsp;Jenny J. Chaparro-Gutiérrez","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101218","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101218","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Larvae of the family Anisakidae occur in numerous freshwater and marine fish species. Although nematodes of the genus <em>Contracaecum</em> are widely distributed, little is known about their occurrence in fish in South America, particularly in Colombia. In this study, 257 specimens representing five Neotropical freshwater fish species—<em>Andinoacara latifrons</em>, <em>Astyanax</em> sp., <em>Brycon henni</em>, <em>Parachromis friedrichsthalii</em>, and <em>Rhamdia guatemalensis</em>—from the Porce River basin (Colombia) were examined for <em>Contracaecum</em> infection. Infective third-stage larvae (L3) of <em>Contracaecum jorgei</em> were identified using both morphological characteristics and molecular analysis targeting the mitochondrial <em>cytochrome c oxidase subunit II</em> (<em>cox</em>2) gene. Infection frequencies were <em>A. latifrons</em> (28.6%; 2/7), <em>Astyanax</em> sp. (38.3%; 23/60), <em>B. henni</em> (13%; 22/170), <em>P. friedrichsthalii</em> (21.1%; 4/19), and <em>R. guatemalensis</em> (100%; 1/1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of infective <em>C. jorgei</em> L3 in edible, commercially important freshwater fish species from Colombia. These findings contribute to the understanding of the parasitic fauna in Colombia and highlight the potential risks that this nematode may pose to aquatic biodiversity in the Porce River basin, which harbors 238 endemic fish species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101218"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147612460","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":"Babesia vulpes and Babesia banethi infections in red foxes: molecular and morphological detection with clinical and cytological findings","authors":"Mariaelisa Carbonara ,&nbsp;Mario H. Alves ,&nbsp;Filipe Dantas-Torres ,&nbsp;Antonio Camarda ,&nbsp;Michela Prioletti ,&nbsp;Valentina Giordano ,&nbsp;Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-Roldan ,&nbsp;Adriana Lo Giudice ,&nbsp;Jan Šlapeta ,&nbsp;Gad Baneth ,&nbsp;Domenico Otranto","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101193","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101193","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Red foxes are widespread carnivorans acting as reservoirs of <em>Babesia vulpes</em><em>,</em> which is highly prevalent in foxes, yet its clinical impact remains poorly understood. The description of <em>Babesia banethi</em> raised knowledge gaps regarding pathogenicity and life cycle. This study investigated the occurrence of <em>Babesia</em> spp. in red foxes from southern Italy. Overall, 54 red foxes were clinically examined, sampled for hemato-biochemical analyses, and screened for <em>Babesia</em> spp. using microscopy and PCR. Necropsies were performed on 20 animals. Ticks were collected, identified, and dissected for cytological detection of <em>Babesia</em> spp., as well as by PCR. Overall, 46.3 % of foxes tested positive for <em>Babesia</em> spp., with <em>B. vulpes</em> (42.6 %) predominating and <em>B. banethi</em> detected in two animals. Blood smear concordance with PCR was high, and morphometric differences between <em>B. vulpes</em> and <em>B. banethi</em> were evident. Most infected foxes were young and had clinico-pathological alterations, although trauma-related comorbidities limited interpretation. Two <em>B. banethi</em>–positive foxes had clinical babesiosis, suggesting pathogenic potential. In necropsied foxes, <em>Babesia</em> DNA was most frequently detected in the brain and merozoites were observed in cerebral capillaries. Of 67 ticks collected, five species were identified, including <em>Ixodes kaiseri</em>, firstly reported in Italy. No <em>Babesia</em> stages were observed in tick organs, but <em>B. banethi</em> DNA was detected in one <em>I. kaiseri</em>. This study documents a high rate of <em>B. vulpes</em> infection and the sympatric presence of <em>B. banethi</em> in southern Italy. It represents the first clinico-epidemiological, hematological, cytological and molecular examination of <em>Babesia</em> spp. in live foxes. The detection of <em>B</em>. <em>vulpes</em> in brain enhances our understanding of parasite tropism, while the presence of <em>B. banethi</em> in <em>I. kaiseri</em> raises questions about transmission routes. These findings highlight the importance of surveilling fox populations and ticks, given the increasing reports of <em>B. vulpes</em> infection in dogs and the potential spillover at the wildlife–domestic interface.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101193"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038101","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":"Parasitofauna of commercial fish species of the Northern (Small) Aral Sea","authors":"Salika Berdiakhmetkyzy ,&nbsp;Аigerim А. Abdibayeva ,&nbsp;Ainur А. Zhaksylykova ,&nbsp;Bekzhan I. Barbol ,&nbsp;Еrzhan Zh Kidiraliyev ,&nbsp;Eleonora A. Aryssova ,&nbsp;Saltanat A. Kenessary ,&nbsp;Alexandr B. Shevtsov ,&nbsp;Dinara K. Kamalova ,&nbsp;Tynysbek T. Barakbayev ,&nbsp;Nurlan S. Sambayev ,&nbsp;Aida M. Abdybekova","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101225","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101225","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The catastrophic desiccation of the Aral Sea and subsequent hydrological changes have profoundly altered the region's ecosystem, leading to the restructuring of both fish communities and their associated parasite assemblages. Despite these changes, data on the current parasite fauna of fish in the Northern (Small) Aral Sea remain extremely limited. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of metazoan parasites infecting commercial fish species in this region. A total of 424 individuals representing 13 fish species were examined, revealing 18 parasite species belonging to seven taxonomic classes: Digenea, Monopisthocotylea, Polyopisthocotylea, Chromadorea, Cestoda, Ichthyostraca, and Copepoda. Overall prevalence was 50%, with intensity ranging from 1 to 100 specimens and mean abundance ranging from 0.03 to 26.5. The highest prevalence and species richness were recorded in <em>Sander lucioperca</em> (83.7%, five species), <em>Abramis brama</em> (68.9%, three species), and <em>Silurus glanis</em> (65%, five species). <em>Ergasilus briani</em> is reported for the first time in the Aral Sea. Dominant species posing the greatest threat to fish health included <em>Diplostomum</em> spp., <em>Tylodelphys clavata</em>, and <em>Achtheres percarum</em>. Molecular analysis confirmed the phylogenetic placement of six parasite species using <em>18S rRNA</em> sequences (97.4–100% identity), while <em>COX1</em> data were available for only one species, indicating intraspecific variability and limited reference sequences for some taxa. Comparative analysis with historical data indicates a sharp reduction in metazoan parasite species richness (from 70 to 18 species), while infection levels in key commercial fish remain high. These findings reflect ongoing ecological restructuring and underscore the need for regular monitoring.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101225"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147612500","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 characterization of Moniezia expansa (Rudolphi, 1810) (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) from a captive common eland (Tragelaphus oryx) in Taiwan","authors":"Peihang Hong ,&nbsp;Sijia Yu ,&nbsp;Tsung-Ching Liu ,&nbsp;Jia-Ling Ke ,&nbsp;Yu-Ting Hsiao ,&nbsp;Po-Yu Liu ,&nbsp;Chao-Min Wang ,&nbsp;Cheng-Hung Lai ,&nbsp;Shyun Chou ,&nbsp;Toshihiro Tokiwa","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101220","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101220","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The genus <em>Moniezia</em> comprises globally distributed parasitic cestodes that cause significant economic losses in domestic ruminants, yet its molecular characterization in wildlife remains limited. This study provides the first molecular confirmation of <em>M. expansa</em> in zoo animals in Taiwan. Specimens were obtained from a captive-born common eland (<em>Tragelaphus oryx</em>) and a domestic goat (<em>Capra hircus</em>); those from the eland underwent morphological examination of gravid proglottids, while all samples were analyzed genetically. Using the 18S ribosomal RNA, 28S ribosomal RNA, cytochrome <em>c</em> oxidase subunit 1, and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (<em>nad1</em>) gene regions, we found identical strains of <em>M. expansa</em> in both the common eland and domestic goat in Taiwan, suggesting a local infection event. Notably, the eland-derived sequences clustered within lineages predominantly reported from Caprinae hosts, providing preliminary evidence of a potential spillover event, which aligns with the known broad host specificity of <em>M. expansa</em>. Haplotype network analysis further identified a novel <em>nad1</em> haplotype within our sampled dataset and revealed high genetic diversity, which may support the hypothesis of complex expansion history of <em>M. expansa</em>. These findings underscore the value of molecular tools in clarifying parasite ecology in mixed wildlife-livestock settings and highlight the need for ongoing surveillance in zoological institutions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101220"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147612505","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":"Detection of Hexametra angusticaecoides (Nematoda: Ascarididae) in Italian bats: a squamate-associated nematode in mammals","authors":"Renata Fagundes-Moreira ,&nbsp;Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-Roldan ,&nbsp;Emiliano Mori ,&nbsp;Leonardo Ancillotto ,&nbsp;Simone Vergari ,&nbsp;Gianna Dondini ,&nbsp;Claudia Chini ,&nbsp;Riccardo Paolo Lia ,&nbsp;Domenico Otranto","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101184","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101184","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Hexametra angusticaecoides</em> (Nematoda: Ascarididae) is a nematode typically associated with squamate reptiles, particularly lizards (Family Chamaeleonidae, Agamidae, Diplodactylidae). In reptilian hosts, it localizes primarily in the respiratory tract or coelomic cavity and may induce granulomatous lesions, especially under captive conditions. Its life cycle is presumed to be indirect, involving arthropods as paratenic hosts, yet it remains scarcely understood. Despite its broad reptile host range, natural infections in mammals have not been documented to date. Here, we describe the infection by <em>H. angusticaecoides</em> in mammalian hosts. Overall, ten filiform nematodes were recovered from the subcutaneous connective tissue and abdominal cavity of one Kuhl's pipistrelle <em>Pipistrellus kuhlii</em> and one Savi's pipistrelle <em>Hypsugo savii</em> from urban areas in Italy. Molecular analysis of the mitochondrial <em>cox</em>1 gene revealed 100 % identity with <em>H. angusticaecoides</em> sequence from panther chameleons (<em>Furcifer pardalis</em>). This unprecedented finding suggests a potential case of parasite cross-class, dead-end infection event, likely resulting from the ingestion of infected arthropods in ecotones shared by reptiles and bats. It highlights the exposure beyond traditional host boundaries without indicating a breakdown of host specificity in ascaridoid nematodes and emphasizes the need for further investigations into the biology, transmission routes, and ecological interfaces that may facilitate cross-class events.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101184"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926427","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":"Impact of group size and habitat disturbance on parasitic infection in free-ranging proboscis monkeys","authors":"Muhammad Nur Fitri-Suhaimi ,&nbsp;Liesbeth Frias ,&nbsp;Elke Zimmermann ,&nbsp;Primus Lambut ,&nbsp;Joseph Tangah ,&nbsp;Henry Bernard ,&nbsp;Vijay Subbiah Kumar ,&nbsp;Ikki Matsuda","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101221","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101221","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Group-living primates experience the benefits and costs associated with sociality, including an elevated risk of parasite transmission. However, the relative influence of group type (i.e., social structure), group size, and habitat disturbance on parasitic infection remains unclear, particularly in Southeast Asian primates. In this study, the abundance of intestinal parasites in proboscis monkeys (<em>Nasalis larvatus</em>) inhabiting a riverine forest along the Menanggul River, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, was investigated. Fecal samples (n = 160) were collected from one-male-multifemale and all-male groups in areas with varying levels of anthropogenic disturbance, with efforts made to ensure that each sample originated from a different individual. In addition, the effects of group type, group size, and sampling location on parasite abundance were evaluated using fecal egg counts and Bayesian models. Three dominant parasite species groups (<em>Trichuris</em> sp., <em>Strongyloides fuelleborni</em>, and <em>Oesophagostomum aculeatum</em>) with an overall infection prevalence of 81.25% were identified. Results showed that group type did not significantly affect parasite abundance. However, group size showed a positive correlation with the abundance of <em>Trichuris</em> sp. and a negative correlation with <em>S. fuelleborni</em> and <em>O. aculeatum</em>. In addition, our models revealed that the infection load of <em>Trichuris</em> sp. decreased with increasing distance from the river mouth, which was used as a proxy for a disturbance gradient, whereas <em>O. aculeatum</em> exhibited higher infection load at greater distances, indicating lower prevalence in more disturbed downstream areas. Thus, parasite abundance in proboscis monkeys may be shaped by social and environmental factors, with taxa-specific responses likely reflecting differences in environmental persistence and transmission ecology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101221"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147656874","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":"Balancing Varroa management and honey bee resilience: Behavioral and physiological consequences of temporarily high mite pressure","authors":"Lioba Hilsmann ,&nbsp;Markus Krischke ,&nbsp;Martin J. Mueller ,&nbsp;Sarah Manzer ,&nbsp;Ricarda Scheiner","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101137","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101137","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pollinators are essential for global agriculture and ecosystem stability, yet many populations are declining due to parasites and pathogens. Among these, the ectoparasitic mite <em>Varroa destructor</em> is one of the most critical challenges to honey bees (<em>Apis mellifera</em>). Conventional treatment approaches use frequent interventions to keep mite levels as low as possible, whereas other approaches aim to promote natural selection by omitting treatments. A possible compromise lies in reducing treatments while maintaining colony survival through targeted interventions. This approach may allow adaptive responses under temporary mite pressure. In this study, we compared two beekeeping strategies: 1) Conventional beekeeping practice involving regular drone brood removal during mating season, formic acid treatment in summer, and oxalic acid treatment in winter. 2) An innovative approach where drone brood is left in the colony and a summer brood interruption is induced, followed by an oxalic acid treatment. Winter treatment is only applied if <em>Varroa</em> pressure exceeds three naturally dropped mites per day shortly before winter treatment. We investigated <em>Varroa</em> infestation and its consequences for honey bee foraging behavior, homing ability, juvenile hormone III levels, pollen protein content, and honey yield. Bees from innovatively managed colonies started foraging earlier and had elevated juvenile hormone levels at young ages. Orientation ability was unaffected, but these bees performed longer foraging trips and collected pollen with higher protein content. They also stopped foraging earlier, likely reflecting a reduced lifespan due to increased <em>Varroa</em> pressure. Nevertheless, colony productivity did not differ between the two beekeeping approaches. Our findings suggest that reduced <em>Varroa</em> treatments and temporarily high mite pressure do not have negative effects on colony performance. Such approaches may offer a potential middle ground between intensive conventional management and selection-based strategies, balancing colony vitality and the possibility of fostering resistance traits through controlled exposure of parasite and host.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 101137"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145095031","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}