Acta Parasitologica最新文献

{"title":"First Report of Choleoeimeria sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the Burton’s Carpet Viper Echis pyramidum (Reptilia: Viperidae) in Egypt with a Taxonomic Revision on Choleoeimeria spp. from Vipers of the World","authors":"Reda M. Mansour","doi":"10.1007/s11686-025-01191-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-025-01191-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p> The genus <i>Choleoeimeria</i> was established in 1989 to accommodate tetrasporocystic, dizoic coccidians characterized by ellipsoidal oocysts with a shape index exceeding 1.4 that specifically parasitize the biliary epithelium of various reptilian hosts.The current study provides the first record of Choleoeimeria sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the gall bladder and intestinal contents of Burton's carpet viper, Echis pyramidum (Reptilia: Viperidae), collected from the Bahariya Oases in the Western Desert of Egypt.</p><h3>Method</h3><p>Ten specimens of the viper <i>Echis pyramidum</i> were collected from the Western Desert of Egypt and subjected to parasitological screening via direct microscopic examination of fecal suspensions and bile fluid to identify coccidian oocysts. Heavily infected individuals were humanely euthanized with isoflurane to facilitate morphometric analysis of the oocysts and sporocysts. Subsequently, internal organs—including the gall bladder, liver, and intestines—were fixed in Bouin’s solution and processed for histological examination using hematoxylin and eosin (H&amp;E) staining to characterize the endogenous developmental stages.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Sporulated oocysts measured 35.9–42.9 × 21.3–24.0 µm (40.9 ± 2.5 × 22.7 ± 1.0 µm) with length/width ratio of 1.6–2.0 (1.8 ± 0.1). Micropyle, polar granules, and oocyst residuum were absent. Oocyst wall was smooth, bilayered,and measured 1.0–1.4 µm (1.2 ± 0.2 µm). Sporocysts were subspherical to slightly ellipsoidal with a bivalve single-layered wall, measuring 11.3–12.2 × 9.5–10.3 µm (11.8 ± 0.3 × 9.8 ± 0.3 µm). Endogenous stages were observed withinthe apical cytoplasm of epithelial cells lining the gall bladder and bile ducts.Mature meronts measured 16.8–20.8 × 15.7–18.6 µm (18.6 ± 2.0 × 17.2 ± 1.3 µm) and contained up to 16 crescent-shaped merozoites, while mature macrogamont were round, measured 22.4–24.6 × 22.0–23.9 µm (23.2 ± 1.2 × 22.9 ± 0.8 µm), and developed distinct wall-formingbodies.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This study provide a new perspective for studying the pathogenic mechanisms of <i>T. gondii</i>, revealing that GRA72 modulThe present study documents the first record of <i>Choleoeimeria sp.</i> infecting <i>Echis pyramidum</i> in Egypt and proposes the formal description of a new species, <i>Choleoeimeria echisi</i>. The research provides a comprehensive morphological and morphometric characterization of both exogenous and endogenous stages localized within the gall bladder and intestinal tract. These findings contribute significantly to the taxonomic revision of the genus <i>Choleoeimeria</i> and establish a critical baseline for assessing the pathogenicity and ecological implications of coccidian infections in reptilian hosts. Keywords:<i>Choleoeimeria</i>, Viperidae, Apicomplexa, oocysts, gall bladder</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":"147796604","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 Molecular Detection of Echinococcus granulosus Sensu Stricto in Dogs from Istanbul’s Anatolian Side: A Multi-methodological Approach","authors":"Mesut Akil,&nbsp;Mehmet Karakus,&nbsp;Sena Erkinay,&nbsp;Mehmet Aykur,&nbsp;Hakki Seckin Cetin,&nbsp;Muhammet Karakavuk,&nbsp;Tuncer Ozekinci,&nbsp;Esra Kocoglu","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01283-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01283-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic disease caused by the larval stage of <i>Echinococcus granulosus</i> sensu lato (s.l.). Istanbul’s large stray dog population represents a significant risk for human CE transmission. However, prevalence and genotype studies about <i>E. granulosus</i> s.l. in dogs remain limited. This study aimed to determine the presence and genotypes of <i>E. granulosus</i> s.l. in stray dogs on the Anatolian side of Istanbul using microscopy, Copro-Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (Copro-ELISA), and molecular diagnostic methods.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Fecal samples (<i>n</i> = 110) were collected from stray dogs in seven districts. Samples were examined using modified formalin–ethyl acetate sedimentation (mFEAS). Coproantigens were detected using a commercial ELISA kit. Genomic DNA was extracted for PCR targeting the mitochondrial CO1 gene, and positive amplicons were sequenced and evaluated phylogenetically.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Microscopy revealed Taeniid-type eggs in 2 samples (1.8%) and these were confirmed molecularly. Copro-ELISA detected 7 positive samples (6.4%); however, none of these were confirmed by molecular and microscopy. Sequencing analysis revealed <i>E. granulosus</i> sensu stricto (s.s.) (G1 genotype) in 2 dogs from Sultanbeyli and Beykoz. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated both isolates clustered within the <i>E. granulosus</i> s.s. (G1–G3) clade.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>This study provides the first molecular confirmation of <i>E. granulosus</i> s.s. in stray dogs on Istanbul’s Anatolian side, showing active zoonotic transmission potential in this highly populated region. The discrepancy between Copro-ELISA and molecular/microscopic findings highlights the requirement for multi-methodological approach. Continuing prevalence studies and molecular surveillance within a One Health framework are essential to reduce the public health threat posed by CE.</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/s11686-026-01283-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796389","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":"Serological Evidence of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in Gray Wolves (Canis lupus) in Poland","authors":"Katarzyna Goździk,&nbsp;Robert W. Mysłajek,&nbsp;Aleksandra Kornacka-Stackonis,&nbsp;Sabina Nowak","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01277-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01277-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>The gray wolf (<i>Canis lupus</i>) has been protected throughout Poland since 1998, which has allowed for the rapid recovery of the species across the country. Wolves are often exposed to viral and bacterial pathogens through contact with peridomestic and domestic host species. Additionally, they may serve as hosts for a wide range of parasites due to the consumption of infected prey and exposure to environmental contamination. This investigation aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of two closely related protozoan parasites, <i>Neospora caninum</i> and <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>, among gray wolves based on serological methods.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Muscle samples were obtained from nineteen animals that were either roadkill or found dead in forests across various regions of Poland over four years. Antibodies to <i>N. caninum</i> and antibodies to <i>T. gondii</i> were tested in meat juice collected from frozen muscle samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Antibodies to <i>N. caninum</i> were detected in two out of 19 tested samples, and antibodies to <i>T. gondii</i> in four of the 19 samples; co-infection with two protozoan parasite species was not noted. To our knowledge, this is the first serological evidence of <i>N. caninum</i> and <i>T. gondii</i> in gray wolves in Poland.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The detection of antibodies to <i>N. caninum</i> and <i>T. gondii</i> confirms the presence of these parasites in the environment and suggests their potential transmission among free-living gray wolves in Poland.</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":"147796387","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":"Leakage-Safe ITS1 Identification of Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica with Reverse-Complement-Invariant CNN Inference","authors":"Esraa Sabeeh,&nbsp;Mohammed Zuhair Al-Taie","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01295-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01295-0","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Background&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;Accurate discrimination between Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica is essential for surveillance and control of fascioliasis in endemic areas. ITS1 (internal transcribed spacer 1) is a widely used molecular marker, but computational approaches to ITS-based identification must account for data quality issues in public repositories and ensure reliable decision support.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Purpose&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;We developed a leakage-safe, decision-oriented pipeline for ITS1-based species identification. A curated GenBank dataset of 527 ITS1 sequences was standardized to 1,000 bp, sanitized (A/C/G/T/N only), and clustered to identify near-duplicates. Cluster-aware train/validation/test splits prevented similarity leakage. We implemented ITSformer-RC, a compact reverse-complement-invariant 1D convolutional neural network paired with a lightweight ensemble, and compared it against BLAST and k-mer logistic regression baselines. Reliability evaluation included post-hoc calibration, robustness testing under realistic perturbations (substitutions, indels, masked spans), and conformal prediction for principled abstention.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;We developed a leakage-safe, decision-oriented pipeline for ITS1-based species identification. A curated GenBank dataset of 527 ITS1 sequences was standardized to 1,000 bp, sanitized (A/C/G/T/N only), and clustered to identify near-duplicates. Cluster-aware train/validation/test splits prevented similarity leakage. We implemented ITSformer-RC, a compact reverse-complement-invariant 1D convolutional neural network paired with a lightweight ensemble, and compared it against BLAST and k-mer logistic regression baselines. Reliability evaluation included post-hoc calibration, robustness testing under realistic perturbations (substitutions, indels, masked spans), and conformal prediction for principled abstention.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;Both ITSformer-RC and k-mer logistic regression achieved 100% accuracy (95% Wilson CI 0.953–1.000) on the held-out cluster-aware test split (n=78), with ROC-AUC and average precision of 1.00. Forced BLAST achieved 97.4% accuracy, while strict BLAST achieved 35.9% coverage with 100% conditional accuracy among non-abstention cases. Vector/classwise temperature scaling improved probability calibration (NLL 0.00399, ECE 1.6×10⁻⁸). Under controlled perturbations, the ensemble demonstrated robust performance across substitutions (AURC 0.9981), indels (AURC 1.0000), and masked spans (AURC 0.9902). Interpretability analysis identified five localized ITS1 windows with concentrated species-discriminative signals.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;The pipeline provides a reproducible, leakage-aware framework for reliable ITS1-based Fasciola identification emphasizing decision readiness and robustness over raw accuracy alone. Both deep learning and simple statistical baselines saturate accuracy on the curated benchmark, indicating strong ITS1 separability under leakage controls. Calibrated probabili","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":"147796459","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":"Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Entamoeba spp. in Pigs in Shanxi Province, North China","authors":"Ze-Dong Zhang,&nbsp;Han-Dan Xiao,&nbsp;Dong-Yang Wang,&nbsp;Zi-Rui Wang,&nbsp;Xun-Zhi Liu,&nbsp;Nan Su,&nbsp;Xing-Quan Zhu,&nbsp;Qing Liu,&nbsp;Wen-Wei Gao","doi":"10.1007/s11686-025-01193-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-025-01193-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The genus <i>Entamoeba</i> contains a group of parasitic organisms found in humans and other animals including pigs. Pathogenic species within this genus can lead to intestinal or extra-intestinal disease, thereby constituting a major threat to animal husbandry and public health. Pig farming is an important part of animal husbandry in Shanxi Province, north China; however, no information on the prevalence of <i>Entamoeba</i> spp. in pigs in Shanxi Province exists.</p><h3>Method</h3><p>To understand the <i>Entamoeba</i> spp. infection in pigs in Shanxi Province, 362 fecal samples collected from pigs in Shanxi Province (north China) were screened by PCR for the presence of <i>Entamoeba</i> spp., and the statistical analysis software SPSS version 26.0 was used for revealing the statistical significance by the chi-square test.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Examination of the fecal samples revealed that 80.4% of the examined pigs were positive for <i>Entamoeba</i> spp. The age, region and altitude were considered as risk factors for <i>Entamoeba</i> spp. infection in pigs. Two species, <i>Entamoeba suis</i> and <i>Entamoeba polecki</i>, were detected, with the latter being the predominant species. Subtype analysis revealed the presence of two known subtypes (ST1 and ST3), of which ST1 was the most frequently detected. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the obtained sequences of <i>E. polecki</i> subtypes ST1 and ST3, as well as those of <i>E. suis</i>, clustered with their respective reference sequences; <i>E. polecki</i> ST1 is a protozoan parasite with potential zoonotic implications.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This study reported, for the first time, the prevalence and species/subtype distribution of <i>Entamoeba</i> in pigs in Shanxi Province, providing baseline data for evaluating the zoonotic transmission of <i>Entamoeba</i> spp. to humans.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147759299","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":"Viability of Trypanosoma cruzi in Triatoma pallidipennis Post-mortem","authors":"Nancy Rivas,&nbsp;Alberto Antonio-Campos,&nbsp;Keity J. Farfán-Pira,&nbsp;Yessenia Montes-Vergara,&nbsp;Ricardo Alejandre-Aguilar","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01268-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01268-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Given that contact with the feces of dead triatomine bugs poses a risk of <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> infection, this study evaluated parasite viability and infectious potential in dead triatomines across various post-mortem times and temperatures.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Three groups of nine of 5th-instar <i>Triatoma pallidipennis</i> nymphs (<i>n</i> = 27) were euthanized via insecticide 30 days post-infection (Ninoa strain). Nymphs were maintained at room temperature (10 –23 °C), refrigeration (4 °C), and incubation (27 °C). Fecal parasite concentration was assessed at 24 h and at 2, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 days post-mortem. To evaluate infectivity, two CD1 mice were inoculated with intestinal contents from other two bugs kept for 30 days under each condition (<i>n</i> = 6), and parasitemia curves were generated.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>An increase in parasite counts in the feces of dead triatomines kept at room temperature was observed starting on day 15 post-mortem. This contrasted with the refrigeration and incubation groups, where parasite counts declined at days 5 and 7, respectively. Only mice inoculated with intestinal contents from the room temperature group showed positive parasitemia from day 20 onward.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Dead triatomines represent a potential infection source for <i>T. cruzi</i>, with storage temperature serving as a determining factor for parasite survival.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147720931","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":"Genetic Analysis of Cutaneous Leishmania in Ramadi: Species Identification and Report of a Local Genetic Polymorphism","authors":"Jinan Mahmood Saad,&nbsp;Intisar Ghanim Abdulwahhab,&nbsp;Muthana Badeea Farhan","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01280-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01280-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Cutaneous <i>Leishmania</i>sis (CL) poses a persistent public health threat in Ramadi, Iraq, where post-conflict environmental degradation and population displacement have altered vector habitats. Accurate species identification remains challenging with traditional diagnostic methods, often hindering effective control in this hyper-endemic setting. This study aimed to characterize the molecular profile of <i>Leishmania</i>species circulating in Ramadi using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) targeting the Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS1) region and to assess local epidemiological determinants. Clinical samples were obtained from 60 patients with active ulcerative lesions, from which 38 samples were randomly selected for genomic DNA extraction. The ITS1 region was amplified via PCR, and the resulting products underwent Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analysis to determine genotypic identities. Statistical analysis revealed a highly significant prevalence of urban infections (66.67%; <i>P</i> ≤ 0.01) compared to rural cases, with peak incidence occurring in February. Clinically, single ulcers were the most common presentation (43.33%). Molecular assays successfully validated diagnoses through specific 300–350 bp amplicons. Significantly, sequencing identified a distinct genetic variant harboring unique local mutations, which was subsequently cataloged in GenBank under accession number PV951494.1. These findings affirm a shift in Ramadi to urban peri-domestic transmission cycles. This study highlights the emergence of a new variant, which increases genetic diversity due to intricate ecological and anthropogenic factors, and molecular surveillance should be integrated as an essential part of intervention strategies in the province of Anbar.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147720876","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":"Helminthological Survey of the European Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus) in Türkiye, with A Note on Haplotype and Network Analyses of Dicrocoelium dendriticum and Passalurus ambiguus","authors":"Kadir Kalkan,&nbsp;Ufuk Erol,&nbsp;Omer Faruk Sahin,&nbsp;Husnu Furkan Sakar,&nbsp;Kursat Altay","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01278-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01278-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Several studies have been conducted to determine the prevalence and presence of helminth species in European brown hare populations in various parts of its geographical range. However, there are limited data on helminth species circulating among European brown hare populations in Türkiye. The aim of this study is to investigate the presence and prevalence of helminth species in European brown hares in Türkiye, to perform phylogenetic analyses of the identified species, and to determine haplotype diversity and network properties of <i>Dicrocoelium dendriticum</i> and <i>Passalurus ambiguus.</i></p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Internal organs from 109 European brown hares were collected and examined for the presence of helminth species. The helminths detected were identified based on their morphological properties. DNA extraction was performed from a randomly selected sample of each species, and the <i>COI</i> gene region was amplified by PCR. Bidirectional DNA sequence analysis was done, and the obtained nucleotide sequences were uploaded to GenBank. Phylogenetic analyses of helminth species were performed, and their genetic characteristics were revealed. Additionally, haplotype diversity and network properties of <i>D. dendriticum</i> and <i>P. ambiguus</i> were determined.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>It has been determined that 70.64% (77/109) of animals were infected with at least one helminth species. While 35.78% (39/109) of the animals were infected with one helminth species, 34.84% (38/109) were infected with two or more helminth species. Six helminth species, <i>Dicrocoelium dendriticum</i>,<i> Andrya rhopalocephala</i>,<i> Mosgovoyia pectinata</i>,<i> Trichuris leporis</i>,<i> Passalurus ambiguus</i>, and <i>Nematodirus leporis</i>, were identified. <i>Andrya rhopalocephala</i> was detected for the first time in Türkiye. Phylogenetic analyses of the <i>COI</i> gene of these helminth species, except for <i>T. leporis</i>, were performed, and all obtained nucleotide sequences were deposited to GenBank. Furthermore, haplotype and network analyses of <i>D. dendriticum</i> and <i>P. ambiguus</i> isolates were done, and it was determined that 11 <i>D. dendriticum</i> haplotypes and five <i>P. ambiguus</i> haplotypes were found to be circulating among hosts in different parts of the world.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This study is the first to perform microscopic and molecular detection of helminth species in European brown hares in Türkiye. The study determined that helminth prevalence is quite high in this animal in the country. It is considered that the data obtained within the aim of the study will contribute to understanding the epidemiology and genetic characteristics of helminth species circulating in wild animals.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11686-026-01278-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147720927","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":"Multilocus Characterization of Human Ascaris in Pakistan Indicates Ongoing Introgression and Shared Global Haplotypes","authors":"Amjad Ullah Khan,&nbsp;Tayyaba Shan,&nbsp;Mashal Khalid,&nbsp;Sabika Firasat,&nbsp;Kiran Afshan","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01281-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01281-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Understanding the molecular epidemiology of <i>Ascaris</i> is essential for clarifying species boundaries and transmission dynamics within regions where human-animal interfaces may influence parasite dispersal. This study provides a comprehensive multilocus characterization of <i>Ascaris</i> populations in Pakistan using nuclear (partial 5.8 S, ITS2, partial 28 S) and mitochondrial (<i>cox1</i>) markers.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>A total of 1675 children were enrolled across six districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and expelled adult worms were collected following single-dose anthelmintic treatment; genomic DNA from morphologically confirmed specimens was analysed using standard rDNA and <i>cox1</i> sequencing workflows.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Nuclear rDNA analysis revealed extremely low intraspecific variation among Pakistani <i>Ascaris</i> isolates, with only a few variable sites detected across the partial 5.8 S, ITS2, and partial 28 S regions. Most sequences (Pk_01, Pk_02, Pk_04, Pk_05) were nearly identical, while Pk_03 and Pk_06 showed slightly higher but still limited divergence, clustering within mixed <i>A. lumbricoides/A. suum</i> lineages. The haplotype network placed Pk_01 in the dominant global ITS2 haplotype, with Pk_02 and Pk_06 only one mutational step away, indicating strong global connectivity. Mitochondrial <i>cox1</i> sequences showed similarly shallow divergence (&lt; 1%), with PK_03 and PK_04 identical and PK_06 exhibiting the greatest but still modest variation. Phylogenetic analysis positioned all Pakistani cox1 haplotypes within a well-supported monophyletic <i>Ascaris</i> clade (bootstrap = 100%) showing intermixing of both species, consistent with incomplete lineage sorting and historical introgression. The <i>cox1</i> haplotype network identified multiple maternal lineages, including globally common types and one divergent Pakistani haplotype (PK_06).</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The intermixing of <i>A. lumbricoides</i>–<i>A. suum</i> sequences supports the concept of a genetically interconnected species complex rather than clearly separated species. The presence of slightly divergent haplotypes further indicates ongoing microevolutionary processes within Pakistani <i>Ascaris</i> populations.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147720928","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":"Endemic Hippobosca equina (Diptera, Hippoboscidae) Louse Fly Infestation of Cattle During Summer Grazing in the Alps of Austria","authors":"Steffen Rehbein,&nbsp;Martin Visser,&nbsp;Eva Kühnert,&nbsp;Axel Kühnert","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01287-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01287-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Although <i>Hippobosca equina</i> is considered widespread in the Palearctic region, it appears to have been a rare louse fly species in most parts of central Europe for decades, currently occurring in larger numbers only in a few geographical locations and rarely parasitizing livestock. This paper reports on the monitoring of cattle infested with <i>H. equina</i> during summer grazing in the Salzburg Alps, Austria.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>During two consecutive grazing seasons, each lasting from about mid-May to mid-September, cattle were inspected in intervals of approximately two to three weeks to estimate prevalence and intensity of infestation with <i>H. equina</i>. Due to animal husbandry practices, the number of cattle on pasture fluctuated, so that between 31 and 57 animals were examined per occasion in 2016 and 2017.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Infestation of the cattle with <i>H. equina</i> began shortly after pasture turnout and was present throughout the mountain grazing season. The infestation pattern of <i>H. equina</i> on the animals was broadly similar in both years, with prevalence and intensity reaching maximum values in August and then declining significantly until the end of September. The individual <i>H. equina</i> burden was low (range, 1 to 8), and at the peak of infestation, approximately one-third of the cattle were infested and harbored an average of 2.8 louse flies. According to the statements of the farmers and the observations made during the inspection of the animals, the cattle seemed to be accustomed to the exposure to <i>H. equina</i>, and the existing low infestation apparently caused little or no discomfort.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This is the first report indicating the presence of an apparently stable local breeding population of <i>H. equina</i> in central Europe, which is primarily maintained on cattle. <i>H. equina</i> appears to be a summer species, producing one generation per year.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147720929","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}