International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife最新文献

{"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 species of isosporoid coccidium from captive green tree frogs, Ranoidea caerulea (Anura: Hylidae)","authors":"Toshihiro Tokiwa ,&nbsp;Riona Morizane ,&nbsp;Shyun Chou ,&nbsp;Donald W. Duszynski","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101020","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101020","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A new genus and a new species of isosporoid coccidium (Apicomplexa: Conoidasida: Eimeriorina) are described and illustrated from green tree frogs (<em>Ranoidea caerulea</em>) (Anura: Hylidae) imported from Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. The described species has disporocystic and tetrasporozoic oocysts without a Stieda body. Nine species originally belonging to the genus <em>Isospora</em> Schneider, 1881 in the family Eimeriidae Minchin, 1903 described from Anura are recognized as members of the new genus and new combinations of the species names are proposed. The phylogenetic analyses of partial gene fragments of 18S rRNA and mitochondrial cytochrome <em>c</em> oxidase subunit 1 genes from isosporoid oocysts from green tree frogs suggested that isosporoid oocysts without Stieda bodies from anurans should be placed in the Sarcocystidae and no longer belong in the Eimeriidae.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 101020"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11699739/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142933548","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}

{"title":"Survey for Babesia spp. in wildlife in the eastern United States","authors":"Eliza Baker ,&nbsp;Michelle Dennis ,&nbsp;Alex Jensen ,&nbsp;Kayla Buck Garrett ,&nbsp;Christopher A. Cleveland ,&nbsp;Michael J. Yabsley ,&nbsp;Justin D. Brown ,&nbsp;Kyle Van Why ,&nbsp;Richard Gerhold","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101015","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101015","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Babesia</em> is a diverse genus of piroplasms that parasitize the red blood cells of a wide variety of mammals and avian species, including humans. There is a lack of knowledge on the <em>Babesia</em> species of carnivores and mesomammals in the eastern United States and the potential impacts of these species on the health of humans and domestic animals. We surveyed 786 wild mammals in the eastern United States by testing blood, spleen, and heart samples with PCR targeting the 18S rRNA region of apicomplexan parasites. We also performed PCR targeting the cytochrome <em>c</em> oxidase subunit 1 (<em>cox1)</em> region of each unique clade identified with 18S rRNA sequencing. We found a high positivity of <em>Babesia</em> spp. infection in raccoons (<em>Procyon lotor</em>), foxes (<em>Vulpes vulpes</em> and <em>Urocyon cinereoargenteus</em>), and striped skunks (<em>Mephitis mephitis</em>), and low positivity in Virginia opossums (<em>Didelphis virginiana</em>). No <em>Babesia</em> infections were detected in coyotes (<em>Canis latrans</em>), black bears (<em>Ursus americanus</em>), groundhogs (<em>Marmota monax</em>), muskrats (<em>Ondatra zibethicus</em>), or mink (<em>Neovison vison</em>). Skunks carried a diverse number of strains including a potential novel species of <em>Babesia</em> related to <em>B. gibsoni,</em> a strain closely related to a <em>B. microti-</em>like species known to cause disease in river otters, as well as a separate <em>B. microti</em>-like strain. Raccoons primarily carried <em>B. microti</em>-like strains, though there was a high diversity of sequences including <em>Babesia lotori, Babesia</em> sensu stricto MA230, and <em>Babesia</em> sp. ‘Coco.’ Foxes exclusively carried <em>B. vulpes.</em> In addition to <em>Babesia</em> spp., a high positivity of <em>Hepatozoon</em> spp. infection was found in mink, while low positivity was found in raccoons and muskrats. Wildlife in the eastern United States carry a diverse range of <em>Babesia</em> species including several novel strains of unknown clinical significance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 101015"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142571812","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":"Prevalence and local transmission of haemosporidian (Haemosporida) parasites in nestlings of birds of prey (Aves, Accipitriformes) in the temperate forests in Lithuania","authors":"Dovilė Bukauskaitė,&nbsp;Carolina Romeiro Fernandes Chagas,&nbsp;Mélanie Duc,&nbsp;Margarita Kazak,&nbsp;Rimgaudas Treinys","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101013","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101013","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wild birds of prey (Accipitriformes) are infected with haemosporidian (Haemosporida) parasites worldwide, and it is known that these parasites can negatively affect their health. These birds are less studied due to their low densities in ecosystems, conservation status, and difficulty of accessing them in the wild. Therefore, in this study, we focused on nestlings of birds of prey that are accessible in their nests during late breeding stages in temperate forests in Lithuania. Investigating haemosporidian parasites in nestlings is crucial for understanding local parasite transmission. To identify the haemosporidian parasite species transmitted in Lithuania, we sampled nestlings of the white-tailed eagles (<em>Haliaeetus albicilla</em>), lesser spotted eagles (<em>Clanga pomarina</em>), and common buzzards (<em>Buteo buteo</em>) in 2019–2022. Blood samples were collected from the nestlings, and molecular methods were employed to sequence a fragment of the parasite's cytochrome <em>b</em> (cyt <em>b</em>) gene using specific primers (Plas1F/HaemNR3 and 3760F/HaemJR4). In addition to molecular techniques, microscopy was used to examine blood smears for the presence of parasites. Our results revealed that nestlings of birds of prey were infected only with <em>Leucocytozoon</em> spp., with an overall prevalence of 30.5%. The prevalence was similar between years, but it was significantly species-dependent. The common buzzard nestlings had the highest prevalence (80%), followed by the lesser spotted eagle (29.2%) and the white-tailed eagle (13.2%). A total of nine genetic lineages were identified, with five of them being novel. Our study demonstrates that <em>Leucocytozoon</em> parasites are actively transmitted to nestlings of birds of prey in Lithuania, with a high prevalence.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 101013"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142572301","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":"Gastrointestinal parasite prevalence, diversity and association in free-ranging Chacma baboon troops in a semi-arid savanna ecosystem of Zimbabwe","authors":"Annabel Banda ,&nbsp;Doreen Z. Moyo ,&nbsp;Nokubonga Ncube ,&nbsp;Edmore Utete ,&nbsp;James Machingura ,&nbsp;Tapiwa Gumbo ,&nbsp;Edson Gandiwa","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101012","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Free-ranging Chacma baboon species are known to harbour a wide range of zoonotic parasites, and their frequent close interactions with humans pose a risk of transmission of zoonotic parasites between the two species. This research study focused on understanding parasite dynamics in free-ranging baboon populations that inhabit human-wildlife interface areas, a case of Gwanda State University's Epoch Mine campus in Filabusi at Insiza district. A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional design was used to investigate the prevalence, diversity and association of gastrointestinal parasites among three baboon troops found at the Epoch Mine campus. One hundred and twenty (120) fresh faecal samples were collected from the three troops between February and September 2023. The centrifugal floatation technique was used to process and analyse faecal samples, and parasite ova and cysts were identified using morphological features like shape and size. The prevalence of the parasite taxa and a chi-squared multiple comparison test was computed. Results showed significant differences among most parasite taxa except <em>Coccidia</em> spp and <em>Entamoeba</em> spp among the three troops. The Shannon–Wiener (H′) index was used to calculate diversity and graphs were utilized to present the association. The Kruskal-Wallis tests showed no significant difference in parasite diversity among the three troops. Although troop-parasite association showed different parasite species for each troop, helminths <em>Strongylid</em> spp. and <em>Schistosoma</em> spp. were highly common across all three troops. Troop 1 and 3 were associated with four parasite taxa, whereas Troop 2 had only three. The study reveals the presence of gastro-intestinal parasites of public health concern, as they are capable of causing diseases in humans and domestic animals. The study, therefore, underscores the importance of understanding parasite-host dynamics in mitigating zoonotic disease transmission and suggests the need to generate baseline data for mitigating zoonotic diseases and maintaining a healthy ecosystem.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 101012"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142554970","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":"Endoparasite survey in Amazonian manatees (Trichechus inunguis) under rehabilitation in the Peruvian Amazon","authors":"Philipp Sziderics ,&nbsp;Alessandra R. Medrano Zavala ,&nbsp;Edmundo Guadalupe Parada Lopez ,&nbsp;E. Leonardo Davila Panduro ,&nbsp;Juan J.E. Sanchez Babilonia ,&nbsp;Maria S. Unterköfler ,&nbsp;David Ebmer ,&nbsp;Emmanouil A. Koumantakis ,&nbsp;Jim W. Ruiz Pezo ,&nbsp;Franco I. Macedo Tafur ,&nbsp;Luis A. Gomez-Puerta ,&nbsp;Hans-Peter Fuehrer","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Manatee populations are declining worldwide, and all currently existing species are considered vulnerable by the IUCN. The most common problems during nurturing young Amazonian manatees, <em>Trichechus inunguis,</em> in rescue centres are of gastrointestinal nature leading to inappetence, diarrhoea, cachexia and even death. Endoparasites play an important role in the well-being of wildlife in captivity as well as in the wild, though information about relevant protozoan and metazoan endoparasites in Amazonian manatees is still scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to find endoparasites in <em>T. inunguis</em> by analyzing faecal samples from 23 Amazonian manatees which were kept in rescue centres in the Peruvian Amazon. The samples were screened for protozoan and metazoan parasites using coproscopical analysis and molecular tools. Out of twenty juvenile animals eleven were positive for at least one Eimeriidae. Two morphologically different, not yet genetically described <em>Eimeria</em> species were identified. One of them seems to be <em>Eimeria trichechi</em> which has only been described once in 1984 in Amazonian manatees from Brazil. It was not found to lead to clinical symptoms of coccidiosis in this study. The second, <em>Eimeria</em> sp. Type B was associated with clinical coccidiosis in a young Amazonian manatee, which showed gastrointestinal symptoms including diarrhoea, inappetence and cachexia. No other protozoan or metazoan parasite were detected in any of the samples. The present study is the first to investigate endoparasites in Amazonian manatees using molecular tools and is the first to identify an Eimeria species that could be associated with clinical symptoms in <em>T. inunguis</em>. With information from our study rescue centres can improve monitoring of parasites more effectively to reduce morbidity and mortality rates among rehabilitated manatees as well as improve the health status and fitness of animals for a successful release back into the wild.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 101011"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142554969","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}