Acta Parasitologica最新文献

{"title":"Immune and Iron Metabolism Responses During the Acute Phase of Experimental Hookworm Infection in the Ancylostoma ceylanicum-Hamster Model","authors":"William Pereira Alves,&nbsp;Vivian Jordania da Silva,&nbsp;Élida Mara Leite Rabelo,&nbsp;Luis Fernando Viana Furtado","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01267-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01267-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Hookworm infections continue to impose a substantial burden on human and animal health, but the early host responses that influence parasite establishment are not fully characterized. Experimental models that reproduce key features of hookworm biology and host-parasite interactions remain essential for advancing translational research. In this study, we examined hematological, biochemical, immunological, and parasitological parameters during the acute phase of experimental hookworm infection using the <i>Ancylostoma ceylanicum</i>-<i>Mesocricetus auratus</i> model, a small-animal system widely employed for mechanistic studies of hookworm infection. Animals were evaluated at 7 and 20 days post-infection. Hematological indices and serum iron concentrations did not differ between infected and control groups during the acute phase. In contrast, infected animals showed increased splenic mass at 20 days post-infection, indicating immunological activation. Hepatic hepcidin expression was markedly reduced, suggesting an early alteration in systemic iron regulation. Analysis of inflammatory mediators revealed selective modulation of cytokine expression, with reduced interleukin-6 transcript levels at 20 days post-infection, whereas tumor necrosis factor alpha expression remained unchanged. Parasitological analyses demonstrated progressive parasite establishment, with fecal egg output detected from 14 days post-infection and reaching approximately 300 eggs per gram by day 18, consistent with the onset of patency. Taken together, these data indicate that acute hookworm infection induces coordinated changes in immune responses and iron metabolism before the development of overt hematological alterations.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11686-026-01267-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147809119","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dynamics of Th17-Associated Cytokine Responses During the Intestinal-Dwelling Protozoan Parasite Giardia duodenalis Infection in Mice and Human Subjects","authors":"Sucheta Guleria,&nbsp;Sumeeta Khurana,&nbsp;Alka Bhatia,&nbsp;Abhishek Mewara,&nbsp;Amit Arora,&nbsp;Mamta Thakur,&nbsp;Usha Dutta","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01282-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01282-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>G<i>iardia duodenalis</i> is a major intestinal protozoan parasite responsible for over 200 million infections annually worldwide. The gut microbiota influences parasite colonization, disease outcome, and host immune responses. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate Th17-associated cytokine levels during <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> infection.</p><h3>Objectives</h3><p>This study evaluated the influence of gut microbiota modulation during <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> infection by analyzing Th17-related cytokines (IL-17 A, IL-17 F, IL-22, IL-23, and IL-10) in antibiotic pre-treated, <i>Lactobacillus</i> pre-treated, and untreated <i>Giardia</i>-infected mice. Serum cytokine profiles were also assessed in <i>Giardia</i>-infected patients to examine their association with clinical severity.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Mice were divided into antibiotic pre-treated, probiotic (<i>Lactobacillus</i>) pre-treated, and untreated groups prior to <i>Giardia</i> infection. Animals were sacrificed on day 0 and on days 3, 7, and 14 post-infection. Th17 cytokines were quantified by ELISA, parasite burden was determined by RT-PCR, and intestinal pathology was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Additionally, 60 <i>Giardia</i> positive patients were clinically evaluated using the Vesikari scoring system and classified as mild and moderate to severe symptoms. Serum Th17 cytokines were measured by ELISA.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Giardiasis increased both pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines in untreated mice and antibiotic pre-treatment exacerbated giardiasis, resulting in increased parasite load, heightened inflammatory cytokine responses, and severe intestinal mucosal damage. In contrast, probiotic pre-treatment induced an early and regulated cytokine response, reduced parasite burden, promoted mucosal healing, and facilitated faster recovery. Clinically, patients with moderate to severe disease exhibited elevated IL-17 A, IL-17 F, IL-23, and IL-10 levels, whereas higher IL-22 levels were associated with mild symptoms, suggesting a protective role.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Antibiotic-induced dysbiosis aggravates giardiasis, while probiotic modulation of gut microbiota enhances protective immunity and reduces disease severity, highlighting probiotics as potential preventive and therapeutic agents.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147809114","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"First Detection and Molecular Characterization of Entamoeba spp. in Pet Mongolian Gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) and Fat-Tailed Gerbils (Pachyuromys duprasi) in China","authors":"Chaochao Lv,&nbsp;Yaqi Chen,&nbsp;Lintong Wei,&nbsp;Weifeng Qian","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01284-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01284-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p><i>Entamoeba</i> spp. are anaerobic protists primarily inhabiting vertebrate digestive tracts, some of which are pathogenic or zoonotic. However, genetic information on <i>Entamoeba</i> spp. in rodents, including gerbils, is scarce. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and molecular characterization of <i>Entamoeba</i> in two pet gerbil species in China.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>A total of 120 fecal samples were collected from pet Mongolian gerbils and fat-tailed gerbils (60 each) purchased from six pet shops in three provinces. Microscopy, PCR, and sequence analysis of small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene were used for detection and identification.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The overall <i>Entamoeba</i> infection rate was 10.0%, with 11.7% (7/60) in Mongolian gerbils and 8.3% (5/60) in fat-tailed gerbils. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses identified <i>E. muris</i> (<i>n</i> = 10) and a novel conditional lineage designated <i>Entamoeba</i> CL-FTG (<i>n</i> = 2). Three <i>E. muris</i> sequence types were detected (88.6%–100% similarity), all closely related to the reference sequence AB445018 from a Mongolian gerbil, with 90.02% to 100% similarities. <i>Entamoeba</i> CL-FTG from two fat-tailed gerbils was most closely related to <i>Entamoeba</i> RL11 from a field vole, with 86.44% similarity. Cysts of <i>E. muris</i> from both gerbil species were morphologically similar, differing only slightly in size. No zoonotic <i>E. histolytica</i>/<i>E. dispar</i> DNA was detected.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This study provides the first molecular characterization of eight-nucleated <i>Entamoeba</i> in pet gerbils in China and the first report of <i>E. muris</i> cysts and their partial SSU rDNA sequences from fat-tailed gerbils, enriching our understanding of <i>Entamoeba</i> genetic diversity.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796460","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sympathetic and Vagal Distribution in Hepatic Alveolar Echinococcosis and Its Clinical Correlation","authors":"Rongdong He,&nbsp;Zongding Wang,&nbsp;Zhihao Song,&nbsp;Lijiao Li,&nbsp;Li Sun,&nbsp;Hao Wen","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01261-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01261-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><p>To explore the distribution characteristics of sympathetic and vagal nerves in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE). By analyzing pathological specimens from patients, we focused on the differential distribution of nerves in lesions, perilesional zones, and normal liver tissues and revealed their correlation with clinical local staging, hepatic fibrosis and regenerative processes.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Pathological specimens from 74 patients diagnosed with hepatic AE were analyzed. The differential distribution of sympathetic and vagal nerves was examined in three distinct tissue regions: the central lesion, the perilesional zone, and distal normal liver tissue. The correlation between the percentage of sympathetic nerve positivity and clinical local stage, fibrosis, and cell proliferation was statistically analyzed.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The analysis revealed a marked hyperplasia of sympathetic nerves specifically within the lesion and the perilesional zone, whereas no significant changes were observed in the normal liver tissues. The distribution of vagal nerves showed no significant variation across all regions. The density of sympathetic nerves demonstrated a positive correlation with the clinical local staging of the disease. Histopathological examination confirmed multiple round lesions with fibrous encapsulation and prominent inflammatory cell infiltration in the perilesional zone. Furthermore, sympathetic nerve hyperplasia was significantly correlated with the degree of fibrosis in both the lesion and perilesional zone. The density of sympathetic nerves in the perilesional zone was also positively associated with local inflammatory cell proliferation.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Sympathetic nerves, but not vagal nerves, exhibit significant hyperplasia within and around hepatic AE lesions. The density of these sympathetic nerves is strongly correlated with disease progression, the extent of fibrosis, and local cellular proliferation. These findings suggest that sympathetic nerves may play a key role in the pathological remodeling and progression of hepatic AE.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11686-026-01261-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Toxoplasma GRA72 is Involved in Membrane-Associated Functions and Metabolic Homeostasis Revealed by Transcriptomic Analysis","authors":"Xin-Sheng Lu,&nbsp;Xing Tian,&nbsp;Jing Li,&nbsp;Chen-Ran Tian,&nbsp;Xing-Quan Zhu,&nbsp;Xiao-Nan Zheng","doi":"10.1007/s11686-025-01190-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-025-01190-0","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Background&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Toxoplasma gondii&lt;/i&gt; is a widely disseminated obligate intracellular parasite, infecting approximately one-third of the world human population. While infections in healthy individuals are typically asymptomatic or mild, the parasite poses a serious threat to specific populations. Immunocompromised individuals (such as AIDS patients and organ transplant recipients) risk life-threatening toxoplasmic encephalitis, and congenital infection during pregnancy can lead to fetal loss or severe neurological and ocular defects in newborns. GRA72, one of the dense granule proteins secreted by &lt;i&gt;T. gondii&lt;/i&gt;, is known to localize to the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) and parasitophorous vacuole (PV). Though important for PVM permeability, PV morphology, tachyzoite growth, and virulence, GRA72’s imapct on the global parasite transcription and its potential interacting or compensatory proteins remains unclear.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Method&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;High-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on the pre-constructed &lt;i&gt;T. gondii&lt;/i&gt; GRA72 gene knockout strain (PruΔ&lt;i&gt;gra72&lt;/i&gt;) and wild-type Pru strain to compare differences in global gene expression. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and subjected to functional annotation and pathway enrichment analysis. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis were conducted based on GO annotation and the standard classification system. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database was utilized to identify major metabolic and signaling pathways associated with these DEGs. RNA-seq results were verified by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;RNA-seq analysis identified 858 DEGs in PruΔ&lt;i&gt;gra72&lt;/i&gt; strain compared to the wild-type strain, comprising 550 upregulated and 308 downregulated. Upregulation of bradyzoite associated genes were observed in PruΔ&lt;i&gt;gra72&lt;/i&gt;, while expression of dense granule proteins (GRAs) exhibited bidirectional regulation. RT-qPCR analysis validated the RNA-seq data. GO enrichment analysis revealed significantly enrichment of DEGs in membrane-related functional categories. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that the DEGs were significantly enriched in key metabolic pathways, including fatty acid, carbon and amino acid metabolism.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;This study provide a new perspective for studying the pathogenic mechanisms of &lt;i&gt;T. gondii&lt;/i&gt;, revealing that GRA72 modulates membrane-associated functions and metabolic homeostasis. The observed transcriptional changes, particularly the upregulation of bradyzoite genes and altered expression of GRAs, suggest that GRA72 may play an important role in parasite development. Further investigation of the compensatory or interacting upstream/downstream genes associated with membrane function and reprogrammed metabolism (fatty acid, carbon, amino acid) will elucidate GRA72’s molecular mechanisms and could facilitate the development of novel","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrated Experimental and Computational Evaluation of Naringenin and Zerumbone as Antiparasitic Agents Targeting Toxoplasma gondii and Leishmania major: Molecular Docking, Dynamics Simulations, and ADME Profiling","authors":"Siddig Ibrahim Abdelwahab,&nbsp;Duaa Aqaili,&nbsp;Manal Mohamed Elhassan Taha,&nbsp;Saeed Alshahrani,&nbsp;Marwa Qadri,&nbsp;Heyam Mohamed Ali Sid Ahmed,&nbsp;Ibrahim S. Al Nasr,&nbsp;Waleed S. Koko,&nbsp;Tariq A. Khan,&nbsp;Amani E. Alharbi,&nbsp;Dina Abdulrahman Ismail Albadawi","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01275-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01275-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Toxoplasmosis and <i>Leishmania</i>sis represent significant global health burdens with limited treatment options and emerging drug resistance. Pteridine reductase 1 (PTR1), essential for folate metabolism in <i>Leishmania</i> parasites, constitutes a validated therapeutic target. This study evaluated the antiparasitic potential of naringenin and zerumbone through integrated experimental–computational approaches.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Antiparasitic activities against <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> and <i>Leishmania major</i> were assessed using standardized MTT-based assays, with cytotoxicity evaluated against Vero and macrophage cells. Molecular docking employed Flare Cresset to investigate PTR1 binding interactions (PDB ID: 1E92). Molecular dynamics simulations utilized GROMACS for complex stability assessment. SwissADME predicted drug-likeness and pharmacokinetic properties.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Zerumbone demonstrated antitoxoplasma activity (IC₅₀ = 3.9 ± 0.5 µg/mL) compared to naringenin (IC₅₀ = 11.2 ± 1.8 µg/mL), though both exhibited low selectivity indices (SI = 2.6 and &gt; 2.2, respectively). Against <i>L. major</i> amastigotes, zerumbone showed moderate activity (IC₅₀ = 14.7 ± 2.3 µg/mL, SI = 1.4), while neither compound inhibited promastigotes. Molecular docking and MD simulation revealed naringenin's PTR1 binding affinity (− 8.5 kcal/mol), occupying the substrate site through hydrogen bonds with Arg17, and ASN109. Zerumbone showed non-significant binding score. Both compounds exhibited favorable ADME profiles with no Lipinski violations, high gastrointestinal absorption, and no PAINS alerts, however, naringenin is predictable to be a P-gp substrate.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Naringenin and zerumbone represent lead antiparasitic scaffolds requiring structural optimization to enhance selectivity, providing mechanistic insights for rational PTR1 inhibitor design.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796608","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morpho-molecular Delineation of Odonaticola nonapetalis n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinida: Actinocephalidae) Parasitising Brachythemis contaminata (Fabricius, 1793) from West Bengal, India, Including Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Odonaticola","authors":"Susobhan Mondal,&nbsp;Biplob Kr. Modak","doi":"10.1007/s11686-025-01192-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-025-01192-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Septate gregarines are widespread in insects but remain largely unexplored in odonates, with only ~ 1% of odonate species investigated and minimal molecular or ultrastructural data available. The present study characterises a septate gregarine parasitising <i>Brachythemis contaminata</i> using modern microscopy and phylogenetic analysis to clarify its taxonomic placement and improve understanding of the genus <i>Odonaticola</i>.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Fixation was performed using Schaudinn’s solution, followed by staining with Heidenhain’s haematoxylin; SEM involved glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide fixation. SSU rDNA was amplified, sequenced, and analysed using the neighbour-joining method.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Trophozoites are elongated (321.12 ± 50.63 μm). Epimerite complex (111.58 ± 18.24 μm) comprising an umbrella-shaped epimerite proper bearing nine petaloid spines and a cylindrical diamerite. Gamonts are solitary and elongated (362.13 ± 65.91 μm), with a broadly obpanduriform protomerite featuring an elevated apical zone and a narrowly ovoid deutomerite. Nucleus broadly orbicular to elliptoid (45.48 ± 5.38 μm × 35.06 ± 5.51 μm), containing multiple karyosomes. Both stages exhibit longitudinal epicytic folds (~ 5–6 folds/µm), except the epimerite proper, which has undulating ridges and grooves. Gametocysts are orbicular (360.78 ± 31.32 μm), surrounded by a thick ectocyst, and dehisce by simple rupture. Oocysts are tetrahedral (7.13–8.82 μm), with projections bearing terminal sucker-like structure. Phylogenetic analysis places <i>Odonaticola nonapetalis</i> n. sp. as an independently branching lineage within Actinocephalidae (bootstrap = 88%), with a long terminal branch (0.050), indicating strong divergence.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Combined morphological and molecular data support the recognition of <i>Odonaticola nonapetalis</i> n. sp. as a novel species and justify an emended diagnosis of the genus <i>Odonaticola</i>.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796474","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predictors of Concomitant Pulmonary Involvement in Hepatic Cystic Echinococcosis: A Clinical Risk Stratification Model","authors":"Oğuzhan Taş,&nbsp;Mehmet Ali Eryazğan","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01291-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01291-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Hepatopulmonary hydatidosis (HPH) is a clinically relevant presentation of hepatic cystic echinococcosis (CE) in which pulmonary involvement is present at the time of diagnosis. Reliable identification of patients at risk remains challenging, and indiscriminate thoracic imaging may lead to unnecessary investigations. This study aimed to identify hepatic predictors associated with concomitant pulmonary involvement and to develop a simple risk stratification model to support selective thoracic imaging.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with confirmed hepatic CE followed at a single tertiary center. Cyst activity was classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) staging system, and anatomical distribution was assessed using a segment-based classification. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of HPH. A point-based clinical risk score (HepatoMAP) was derived by combining cyst activity and anatomical distribution. Model discrimination and calibration were assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, bootstrap validation, and calibration plots.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Among 292 patients, 23 (7.8%) had hepatopulmonary hydatidosis (HPH) at initial diagnosis. Active cysts (WHO CE1–2) were strongly associated with HPH (91.3% in HPH vs. 33.2% in hepatic-only disease, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and remained the only independent predictor in multivariable analysis. The HepatoMAP score demonstrated good discrimination (AUC 0.83) with good calibration (bootstrap-corrected slope 0.97). No cases of HPH were observed in patients with low-risk scores (0–1 points), whereas HPH occurred predominantly in patients with scores ≥ 3.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>In hepatic CE, concomitant pulmonary involvement at baseline was strongly associated with cyst activity and showed a structured but non-independent relationship with segmental topography. The HepatoMAP score showed promising rule-out characteristics in this cohort and may support more selective use of thoracic imaging. Prospective external validation is required before routine clinical implementation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11686-026-01291-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796473","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correction: Morphological Examination and Molecular Characterization of Theileria spp. From Dairy Cattle in Lingwu, Ningxia, China","authors":"Xinrui Hou,&nbsp;Shinuo Liu,&nbsp;Mengfan Xu,&nbsp;Junke Song,&nbsp;Xin Yang,&nbsp;Guanghui Zhao,&nbsp;Yingying Fan","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01298-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01298-x","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796609","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"New Species of Urocleidoides (Dactylogyridae) from Hoplias malabaricus (Osteichthyes: Erithrynidae) from the Amazonas River, Peru","authors":"Germán Augusto Murrieta Morey,&nbsp;Hilmer Angelica Dávila Pizango,&nbsp;Roger Fernando Chuquipiondo Sánchez,&nbsp;Mariam Alejandra Vivanco Ruiz,&nbsp;Piero Armando Banderia Ramirez,&nbsp;Jefferson Yunis Aguinaga","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01285-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01285-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><p>Parasitological studies in <i>Hoplias malabaricus</i> (Bloch), with emphasis on the identification of monopisthocotyls have reported 17 species, but only one has been documented from Peru. Thus, the main objective of the present study was to record the dactylogyrids that parasitize <i>H. malabaricus</i> acquired in the Peruvian Amazon.</p><h3>Material and methods</h3><p>Twenty <i>H. malabaricus</i> were collected in Zungaro Cocha market, in Iquitos, Loreto, Peru. Parasites were removed from gills or sediment with dissection needles, and specimens were cleared in Hoyer’s medium to study sclerotized structures.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Two new species were registered; <i>Urocleidoides fasacoi</i> <b>n. sp</b>. that resembles <i>U. vanini</i> Santos-Neto &amp; Domingues, 2023 in the morphology of the MCO, but it differs mainly by the number of rings (five and a half vs. three and a half), additionally in presence of a sclerotized vaginal sclerite and <i>Urocleidoides chuquipiondoi</i> <b>n. sp</b>. <i>Urocleidoides chuquipiondoi</i> <b>n. sp.</b> resembles <i>U. macrosoma</i> Santos-Neto &amp; Domingues, 2023 in the morphology of the MCO that is a sclerotized tube with one counterclockwise ring, but it differs mainly by the absence of vaginal sclerite, additionally presents longer anchors with straight point.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The discovery and description of two new species of <i>Urocleidoides</i> increases the number of valid species to 87, highlighting the first two species of this genus described from Peruvian Amazon.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796471","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}