Helminthologia最新文献

{"title":"Coprological assessment of gastrointestinal helminths in Arabian Thoroughbred horses housed in a stable in the Constantine region, Algeria.","authors":"N Zeghilet, L Boultif, S Djemai, B Bouchoucha","doi":"10.2478/helm-2026-0019","DOIUrl":"10.2478/helm-2026-0019","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study assesses the gastrointestinal parasitological status of Arabian Thoroughbred horses at the Eastern Equestrian Club in Constantine (Algeria). In this semi-arid region, epidemiological data on equine parasitoses are lacking. Twenty fecal samples were analyzed using qualitative (flotation) and quantitative (McMaster) methods, complemented by morphological identification of parasitic eggs. The results reveal an overall prevalence of 50 %, with species diversity dominated by strongyles (60 % of positive cases), followed by <i>Strongyloides westeri</i> (40 %), <i>Habronema</i> spp. (30 %), <i>Eimeria leuckarti</i> (20 %), and <i>Parascaris</i> spp. (10 %). The excretion intensity, assessed through eggs per gram of feces (EPG), was predominantly low (<200 EPG for 80 % of samples), although two horses exhibited light burdens (200 - 380 EPG). The detection of <i>E. leuckarti</i>, a protozoan that can be pathogenic to foals, and the persistence of strongyles despite prophylactic measures highlight the challenges of parasite management in this breeding system. These findings suggest overall control of infestations, likely due to existing sanitary protocols, but also reveal residual risks related to parasite diversity and the potential emergence of anthelmintic resistance.</p>","PeriodicalId":55061,"journal":{"name":"Helminthologia","volume":"63 2","pages":"167-173"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13563610/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148957472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"First record of <i>Diplotriaena obtusa</i> () from the Eurasian nuthatch (<i>Sitta europaea</i> Linnaeus, 1758).","authors":"M Jentzsch, C Delling, K-H Siebenrock, S Gawlowska, J Hintzen","doi":"10.2478/helm-2026-0014","DOIUrl":"10.2478/helm-2026-0014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The nematode <i>Diplotriaena obtusa</i> (Rudolphi, 1802) Henry & Ozoux, 1909 was found in a nuthatch (<i>Sitta europaea</i> Linnaeus, 1758) from Wangen im Allgäu, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and was examined using light microscopy and DNA analysis, and compared with GenBank sequences. The sequence obtained herein showed 99.75 % identity with other isolates of <i>D. obtusa</i>. This is the first detection of this nematode species in this bird species, expanding the known host range in Europe. An overview of the known host records for <i>D. obtusa</i> is given.</p>","PeriodicalId":55061,"journal":{"name":"Helminthologia","volume":"63 2","pages":"126-133"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13561123/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148946176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Occurrence and distribution of plant-parasitic nematodes associated with rice in the south-eastern Agro-climatic Zone (IIIA) of Bihar, India.","authors":"B Hatzade, Satyendra, T Ranjan, S K Sharma, R Vishwakarma, R Kumari, K S Rao, S N Chavan","doi":"10.2478/helm-2026-0016","DOIUrl":"10.2478/helm-2026-0016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.) is a major staple cereal crop that sustains nearly two-thirds of the global population, particularly in Asia. India is one of the leading producers and consumers of rice, with the state of Bihar playing a significant role in national rice production. However, rice productivity is constrained by several biotic and abiotic factors, among which plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) represent an important yet often overlooked limitation. Rice grown under waterlogged conditions is vulnerable to infestation by various PPNs, resulting in substantial yield losses. The present study was conducted to assess the occurrence, distribution, and community structure of PPN's associated with rice cropping systems across six districts of agro-climatic zone IIIA of Bihar. Nematodes were extracted from both root and soil samples and analyzed for population density and community parameters. The results revealed that <i>Meloidogyne</i> spp. were the pre-dominant nematodes in both root and soil samples. Community analysis further demonstrated that the frequency, density, and dominance of the root-knot nematode (<i>Meloidogyne</i> spp.) were significantly higher than those of other PPNs in the rice ecosystem. These findings highlight the widespread prevalence of <i>Meloidogyne</i> spp. in rice fields of Bihar and provide a scientific basis for developing region-specific nematode management strategies to enhance rice productivity.</p>","PeriodicalId":55061,"journal":{"name":"Helminthologia","volume":"63 2","pages":"152-159"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13561119/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148946201","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) barcoding reveals species differentiation and evolutionary lineages of Trypanorhyncha (Cestoda) in teleosts imported to Jordan from the Mediterranean and Red Seas.","authors":"E Al-Khlifeh, A Hassanat, Y Al-Abdallat, M Maghaireh, M Al-Rahahleh","doi":"10.2478/helm-2026-0015","DOIUrl":"10.2478/helm-2026-0015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fish-borne trypanorhynch cestodes are socio-economically important marine parasites with veterinary and public health relevance, yet integrated molecular data from the eastern Mediterranean-Red Sea trans-boundary trading corridors remain scarce. This study utilized internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA barcoding to characterize trypanorhynch larvae infecting commercial teleosts imported to Jordan from Egyptian marine fisheries. Larvae were isolated from 36 examined fish spanning five species: <i>Solea aegyptiaca</i> Chabanaud, 1927, <i>Thunnus</i> spp. South, 1845, and <i>Xiphias gladius</i> Linnaeus, 1758 from the Mediterranean Sea, alongside <i>Plectropomus areolatus</i> (Rüppell, 1830) and <i>Epinephelus tauvina</i> (Forsskål, 1775) from the Red Sea. The core ribosomal ITS cassette was PCR-amplified and sequenced, yielding 20 high-quality operational sequences that were evaluated alongside 101 global GenBank reference entries. Evolutionary and structural dynamics were resolved using distance-based Neighbor-Joining phylogeny, alignment-free 4-mer composition analysis, hierarchical Ward's clustering, and SHAP-based machine-learning classification. Seventeen plerocercoid isolates demonstrated clear genetic homology (>96.3% identity) to global <i>Callitetrarhynchus gracilis</i> references across both marine basins. Six isolates recovered from <i>X. gladius</i> displayed host-driven sub-clustering in the hierarchical dendrogram, positioning close to reference <i>Molicola</i> sequences while verified as <i>C. gracilis</i> via identity metrics. This result highlighting structural population patterns dictated by apex predatory hosts. Crucially, three highly divergent isolates (PV917196-PV917198) derived exclusively from <i>S. aegyptiaca</i> yielded a maximum BLASTN identity of only (~81.5%) to any public sequence, resolving as an independent basal group near the order Lecanicephalidea. Alignment-free machine-learning frameworks achieved perfect binary discrimination (1.000) accuracy) for these three isolates, unmasking systematic oligonucleotide shifts including significant enrichments in TGTG (1.87×) and CTGT (2.72×) motifs, confirming their status as a putative novel species. These findings demonstrate that combining ITS barcoding with alignment-free compositional profiling reliably unmasks host-driven population structures and flags cryptic lines within the Eucestoda, while providing new host and geographical distribution records for the region.</p>","PeriodicalId":55061,"journal":{"name":"Helminthologia","volume":"63 2","pages":"134-151"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13561120/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148931621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>Dirofilaria immitis</i> in Panama City: first molecular detection with public health implications.","authors":"K González, A Pérez, C Aguilar, A Valderrama","doi":"10.2478/helm-2026-0017","DOIUrl":"10.2478/helm-2026-0017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This report details a fatal case of canine dirofilariasis with concomitant <i>Ehrlichia canis</i> infection, emphasizing the role of molecular diagnostics and highlighting diagnostic and epidemiological gaps in Panama, particularly regarding stray dogs as key foci of infection. An 8-year-old mixed-breed dog presented with severe clinical signs, including adult nematode expectoration, lymphocytosis, eosinopenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Rapid immunochromatographic tests confirmed co-infection with <i>Dirofilaria immitis and Ehrlichia canis</i>, with abundant microfilariae on blood smear. Echocardiography revealed severe right ventricular dilation, tricuspid regurgitation, and <i>D. immitis</i> adults in the heart and pulmonary artery. Necropsy confirmed severe right atrial rupture with hemopericardium and extensive parasitic burden, identified as <i>D. immitis</i> by molecular analysis (453 bp 16S rRNA product). This case underscores the advanced pathology of dirofilariasis and the aggravating role of co-infection, highlighting Panama's significant epidemiological challenges, including vector prevalence, stray-dog reservoirs, and limited access to therapy. These findings highlight the need for molecular diagnostics, comprehensive control strategies, and robust surveillance programs, especially for stray dog populations, to mitigate impacts on animal and public health.</p>","PeriodicalId":55061,"journal":{"name":"Helminthologia","volume":"63 2","pages":"160-166"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13561122/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148931581","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>Ascaris lumbricoides</i> infection (Ascariasis) exhibits varying prevalence but similar intensity across major socio-demographic groups in Aguleri, Anambra State, Nigeria.","authors":"C M Egbuche, G N Chidozie, C O Amoke, A U Okeke, F G Egbuche, O J Obi, M C Chimezie","doi":"10.2478/helm-2026-0010","DOIUrl":"10.2478/helm-2026-0010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Soil-transmitted helminths, especially <i>Ascaris lumbricoides</i>, have remained a significant public health concern in Nigeria, particularly in rural communities. This study assessed the prevalence and intensity of Ascariasis among residents of Aguleri in the Anambra East Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria. The study employed a cross-sectional design and a community-based approach. A total of 362 participants were selected using stratified and convenient sampling methods. Stool specimens collected were examined using direct wet mount and Kato-Katz techniques. The overall prevalence of <i>A. lumbricoides</i> infection was 38.1 %. Males had a higher prevalence (43.7 %) than females (33.0 %) (P = 0.036). Prevalence by age was highest (49.0 %) in children <5 years and lowest (25.4 %) in participants aged 16 - 25 years (P = 0.013). By education, nursery-level participants had the highest prevalence (46.4 %), while those with secondary education had the lowest (26.0 %) (P = 0.002). Occupational variation was significant (P = 0.002), with farmers (55.9 %) the most affected and students the least (15.1 %). Infection intensity was generally light to moderate (range = 24 to 3000 EPG; mean egg count = 192.5 ± 71.1 EPG), though with no significant difference among categories of the variables investigated (P > 0.05). These research findings demonstrate that <i>A. lumbricoides</i> infection occurred at varying prevalences but with similar intensities among groups of infected individuals. This reflects gaps in intervention coverage and compliance. There is therefore a need for further investigation into STH control practices in the study area to ascertain which aspects of the control strategies require improvement.</p>","PeriodicalId":55061,"journal":{"name":"Helminthologia","volume":"63 2","pages":"87-98"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13550970/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148914462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence and risk factors analysis of fasciolid trematodes with phylogenetic analysis of <i>Fasciola gigantica</i> in small ruminants of Malakand Division, Pakistan.","authors":"A U Khan, W Khan, M I Khan, A Akbar, A Ullah, M Siraj, J Jamil, A B Ismael, A A Swelum","doi":"10.2478/helm-2026-0012","DOIUrl":"10.2478/helm-2026-0012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fasciolosis infects small ruminants, reduces productivity, and causes considerable economic losses to livestock producers. Despite its economic and veterinary importance, there is a lack of comprehensive studies on fasciolosis in the Malakand Division, Pakistan. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors associated with fasciolosis in small ruminants in Malakand Division. A total of 1307 rectal fecal samples of sheep and 1274 of goats were collected randomly. The collected fecal samples were examined for Fasciolid eggs using the standard sedimentation technique, followed by microscopic identification based on egg morphology and operculum characteristics. The overall prevalence of fasciolosis in sheep and goats was 3.9 % and 2.04 %, respectively. The present study showed significant differences based on the Chi-square test (P < 0.05) in the prevalence of fasciolosis among animals of different ages, health conditions, drinking water sources, treatment status, and across the four seasons of the study year. Fasciolosis was observed to be significantly higher in young sheep and goats (7.08 %, 2.88 %), in untreated (4.45 %, 2.27 %), emaciated (5.88 %, 5.15 %), stream water drinking (5.41 %, 2.51 %), and during the summer season (6.48 %, 2.98 %), respectively. Microscopic examination revealed the presence of two <i>Fasciola</i> species, <i>Fasciola hepatica</i> and <i>Fasciola gigantica</i>, in fecal samples. However, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene amplification and sequencing were performed for <i>Fasciola gigantica</i> to confirm the species identity and explore genetic relationships. Phylogenetic analysis based on the ITS gene, using a neighbor-joining method implemented in MEGA 11 software, revealed a close genetic relationship between isolates from the Malakand Division and those from Egypt, Iran, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia. The present study highlights the occurrence of <i>Fasciola</i> species in the area, underscoring age, health status, and treatment practices as key risk factors. These findings provide a foundation for the development of effective control strategies against fasciolosis in small ruminants in the Malakand Division.</p>","PeriodicalId":55061,"journal":{"name":"Helminthologia","volume":"63 2","pages":"109-117"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13551075/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148914472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular detection and COX1-based phylogenetic placement of <i>Dipylidium</i> caninum <i>caninum</i> in stray dogs from Iğdır Province, eastern Türkiye.","authors":"F E Oğuz, A Ayan, H Öztürk, A H Kirmizigül","doi":"10.2478/helm-2026-0011","DOIUrl":"10.2478/helm-2026-0011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Dipylidium caninum</i> is a globally distributed zoonotic cestode commonly found in dogs and cats. Recent molecular studies have shown that the <i>D. caninum</i> complex includes largely host-associated canine and feline lineages, but molecular data from many endemic regions remain limited. In Türkiye, most prior reports have relied on conventional parasitological methods, and COX1-based data from dogs remain scarce. In this study, D. caninum from dogs in Iğdır Province, eastern Türkiye, was characterized using a partial mitochondrial <i>COX1</i> marker. Of 100 dog fecal samples examined, 8 were positive, yielding a molecular prevalence of 8 %. All positive samples shared the same <i>COX1</i> haplotype, which was deposited in GenBank under accession number PZ299077.1. BLASTn analysis showed that <i>D. caninum</i> GenBank entries with identity values above 90 % were primarily dog-derived, whereas cat-associated sequences generally showed lower identity values. In the phylogenetic analysis, the Iğdır sequence was placed within the broader <i>D. caninum</i> assemblage. It showed affinity with dog-derived sequences from Türkiye, Ghana, the USA, Croatia and China, as well as bush dog-derived sequences from Colombia. However, dog- and cat-associated lineages were not completely separated in the analyzed dataset, and the placement was interpreted as molecular affinity rather than a definitive genotype-level assignment. This study provides one of the first <i>COX1</i>-based molecular records of <i>D. caninum</i> from dogs in Iğdır Province and adds new mitochondrial data from an underrepresented region. Broader sampling and the inclusion of additional mitochondrial and nuclear markers will be important for clarifying the genetic diversity, transmission dynamics and zoonotic relevance of <i>D. caninum</i> in Türkiye.</p>","PeriodicalId":55061,"journal":{"name":"Helminthologia","volume":"63 2","pages":"99-108"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13550969/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148914432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Organic extracts from <i>Luffa aegyptiaca</i> (Mill) and <i>Prosopis laevigata</i> (Humb. et Bonpl. ex Willd) M.C. Johnst fruits exhibit <i>in vitro</i> larvicidal activity against <i>Haemonchus contortus</i>.","authors":"A Olmedo-Juárez, M A Gruintal-Santos, E J Delgado-Núñez, M Espinosa-Rodríguez, C Sotelo-Leyva, E Toledo-Hernández, A Y Ocampo-Gutiérrez, P Mendoza-De Gives","doi":"10.2478/helm-2026-0013","DOIUrl":"10.2478/helm-2026-0013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Haemonchus contortus</i> is the most harmful nematode responsible for severe anemia and mortality in lambs. Conventional control strategies rely heavily on synthetic anthelmintics; however, this approach promotes the generation of anthelmintic (AH) resistance. Plants with AH properties offer a natural alternative for sustainable control. This study evaluated the <i>in vitro</i> nematocidal activity (NA) of hydroalcoholic extracts (E-HOH) obtained from the fruits of <i>Luffa aegyptiaca</i> (sponge gourd) and <i>Prosopis laevigata</i> (mesquite). Qualitative phytochemical analyses were performed to identify secondary compounds in both extracts. The extracts were tested against exsheathed third-stage larvae (L3) of <i>Haemonchus contortus</i> at concentrations of 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 mg/mL. Distilled water and ivermectin (5 mg/mL) were used as controls. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, followed by Tukey's post hoc test (P< 0.05), and lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC90) were determined using PROBIT analysis. Both extracts exhibited NA, achieving ~80% mortality at 100 mg/mL, while concentrations of 50 mg/mL reached >50% mortality (P<0.05). PROBIT analysis confirmed concentration-dependent effects, with LC50 values of 30.78 mg/mL for <i>L. aegyptiaca</i> and 33.96 mg/mL for <i>P. laevigata</i>. Phytochemical identification included alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins, tannins, triterpenes/sterols, and saponins. These findings suggest that <i>L. aegyptiaca</i> and <i>P. laevigata</i> fruit extracts contain compounds with potent <i>in vitro</i> AH effects against <i>H. contortus</i> L3, highlighting their potential use for controlling haemonchosis in sheep.</p>","PeriodicalId":55061,"journal":{"name":"Helminthologia","volume":"63 2","pages":"118-125"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13551074/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148914455","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biological activity of <i>Juglans regia</i> leaf extract and <i>in silico</i> evaluation of its phytochemicals against <i>Plasmodium berghei</i> target proteins.","authors":"H M Alharbi, M Dkhil, S Santourlidis, M Albeshr, E M Al-Shaebi, R Abdel-Gaber","doi":"10.2478/helm-2026-0009","DOIUrl":"10.2478/helm-2026-0009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Parasitic infections remain a major global health challenge, with helminthiasis causing significant morbidity and economic losses. Limitations of synthetic anthelmintics, such as resistance and toxicity, have encouraged the search for natural plant-based alternatives. <i>Juglans regia</i> (walnut) leaves are rich in bioactive phytochemicals with potential antiparasitic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of the methanolic leaf extract of <i>J. regia</i> (JRLE) against <i>Eisenia fetida</i> and to assess, through molecular docking, the potential interactions of its phytochemicals with selected <i>Plasmodium berghei</i> proteins. Fresh <i>J. regia</i> leaves were extracted with 70 % methanol using a maceration technique for 48 h at room temperature to obtain the crude extract. Adult <i>E. fetida</i> worms were treated with JRLE at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 mg/ml, using mebendazole (10 mg/ml) as a reference and distilled water as a control. Paralysis and death times were recorded, and histological examinations were conducted to assess structural alterations in the worm cuticle. Phytochemicals identified in JRLE were docked against <i>P berghei</i> target proteins (Profilin, L-lactate dehydrogenase, Cytochrome c oxidase, Cytochrome b, and Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate synthase subunit) using Schrodinger Glide XP. JRLE exhibited significant dose-dependent anthelmintic activity, with the 200 mg/ml concentration inducing paralysis and death faster than mebendazole. Histological findings revealed cuticular erosion, epidermal vacuolization, and partial detachment of the cuticle from underlying tissues in treated worms. Molecular docking analysis revealed favorable binding interactions of compounds such as γ-sitosterol, stigmasterol, 3-O-methyl-D-glucose, and 4H-pyran-4-one derivatives with <i>P. berghei</i> target proteins, with docking scores ranging from approximately -4.494 to -9.799 kcal/mol, indicating stable ligand-protein complexes and suggesting potential antiplasmodial activity based on the <i>in silico</i> analysis. These findings demonstrate that JRLE exhibits promising anthelmintic activity and shows <i>in silico</i> evidence of potential antiplasmodial effects; however, further <i>in vitro</i> and in vivo investigations are necessary to validate the efficacy of its phytochemicals against <i>Plasmodium</i> species.</p>","PeriodicalId":55061,"journal":{"name":"Helminthologia","volume":"63 1","pages":"48-60"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13268667/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148267119","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}