Acta Parasitologica最新文献

{"title":"Revisiting the Sequenced Sand Fly Phlebotomus Papatasi Proteome","authors":"Soumi Chowdhury,&nbsp;Shubhankar Avinash Pawar,&nbsp;Nalini Mishra,&nbsp;Harsh Pawar","doi":"10.1007/s11686-025-01116-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-025-01116-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Leishmaniasis, caused by kinetoplastid parasites of the genus <i>Leishmania</i>, is transmitted by sand flies of the genus <i>Phlebotomus</i> in the Old World. We previously analysed the proteome of <i>Phlebotomus papatasi</i> using a comparative proteogenomic strategy. With the release of <i>P. papatasi</i> and <i>Lutzomyia longipalpis</i> whole genomes in 2023, this provided us a valuable opportunity to reanalyse our mass spectrometry dataset using a genome-informed approach. This current analysis led to the identification of 1,342 high-confidence proteins in <i>P. papatasi</i>, which includes 620 newly identified proteins compared to our previous comparative proteogenomic analysis of <i>P. papatasi</i>. Technical improvements, such as accurate peptide mapping and reduced false positives, enabled deeper proteome coverage. Key enriched categories included cytoskeletal remodelling, vesicle-mediated transport, and immune modulation. Compared to other sand fly datasets, such as that of <i>L. longipalpis</i>, this study represents one of the most comprehensive proteomic resources available for <i>P. papatasi</i> till date. The refined dataset not only enhances our understanding of sand fly biology but also reveals several previously unannotated proteins with predicted roles in secretion and other molecular functions.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144797928","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":"Physiological and Behavioral Effects of Onchocerca ochengi Infection in Gerbils: Implications for Onchocerciasis-Associated Epilepsy Research","authors":"Rene Bilingwe Ayiseh,&nbsp;Fobang Ulrick Anangafack,&nbsp;Judith Christine Etaka,&nbsp;Gamua Stanley Dobgima,&nbsp;Chrysantus Njobinkir Bimela,&nbsp;Stephen Mbigha Ghogomu,&nbsp;Fidelis Cho-Ngwa","doi":"10.1007/s11686-025-01105-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-025-01105-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <span>AbstractSection</span>\u0000 Purpose\u0000 <p>This study aimed to investigate whether <i>Onchocerca ochengi</i> infection directly causes epilepsy. Although <i>O. ochengi</i>—a cattle parasite phylogenetically related to <i>O. volvulus</i>—shares biological similarities with its human counterpart, it has not been epidemiologically linked to epilepsy in bovines, unlike <i>O. volvulus</i>, which has been associated with onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy in humans. No prior experimental studies have established a causal relationship between onchocerciasis and epilepsy.</p>\u0000 \u0000 <span>AbstractSection</span>\u0000 Methods\u0000 <p>Gerbils were surgically implanted with <i>O. ochengi</i> worm masses (test group) or underwent sham operations (control group) to assess the infection’s effects. Survival rates were monitored post-implantation, and behavioral assessments were conducted on days 15–19 using the elevated plus maze, open-field, object recognition, and hanging wire tests. On day 21, the gerbils were sacrificed, and their body and organ weights were recorded, along with an analysis of worm mass survival.</p>\u0000 \u0000 <span>AbstractSection</span>\u0000 Results\u0000 <p>Implantation of 15 worm masses resulted in 100% mortality in the test group. When 10 worm masses were implanted, 53.3% of gerbils died, while all control gerbils survived. By day 21, an average of 1.4 out of 10 implanted worm masses remained viable, with a viability score of 93.3%. Test gerbils exhibited significant reductions in overall body weight and increased spleen weight compared to controls. However, behavioral tests revealed no significant differences between the two groups.</p>\u0000 \u0000 <span>AbstractSection</span>\u0000 Conclusion\u0000 <p>While <i>O. ochengi</i> worm masses caused notable physical effects, including increased mortality and altered body and organ weights, no conclusive evidence was found linking the infection to behavioral changes indicative of epilepsy. Further research is necessary to explore the potential association between onchocerciasis and epilepsy development.</p>\u0000 \u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144797927","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":"Molecular Characterization, Haemato-Biochemical Profile and Risk Factor of Hepatozoon Canis Infection in Dogs From, Haryana, India","authors":"Jai Bhagwan,&nbsp;Yudhbir Singh,&nbsp;Ricky Jhambh,&nbsp;Parveen Kumar,&nbsp;Maneesh Sharma,&nbsp;Aman Kumar,&nbsp;Yogesh Banger","doi":"10.1007/s11686-025-01103-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-025-01103-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The present study aimed to genetically characterize <i>Hepatozoon canis</i>, identify associated risk factors, and evaluate the haematological and biochemical profiles of affected dogs to improve its management. One hundred twenty dogs were screened by PCR for various haemoprotozoan disease, of which 24 dogs confirmed positive for <i>H. canis</i> and negative for <i>Ehrlichia canis</i>, <i>Babesia vogeli</i>, and <i>B. gibsoni</i> were included in this study. Phylogenetic analysis of the 18 S rRNA region from four isolates revealed genetic relatedness to <i>H. canis</i> strains reported from Iran, Malaysia, Canada, Israel, Turkey, Iraq, China, and India. Common clinical signs included pyrexia (83.33%), inappetence to anorexia (75.00%), pale (58.33%) to congested (41.66%) mucous membranes, lethargy (37.50%), and weight loss (25.00%). Hematological analysis revealed microcytic hypochromic anemia, normal to elevated leucocyte count with normal to elevated lymphocyte count and thrombocytopenia. The serum biochemical profile revealed normal to decreased total protein, hypoalbuminemia, decreased Albumin-to-Globulin (A: G) ratio, elevated gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and normal to elevated creatinine level in affected dogs. Age (0–6 months) (<i>p</i> = 0.05) and the summer season (<i>p</i> = 0.03) were identified as significant risk factors for infection. These findings provide valuable diagnostic and epidemiological insights to aid in presumptive diagnosis, preventive measures, and therapeutic management of <i>H. canis</i> infection in dogs.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144797926","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":"The Impact of Environmental Factors and Host Migration on Avian Haemosporidians Prevalence: A Molecular Survey in Southern Iran","authors":"Vajiheh Ghaemitalab,&nbsp;Mansour Aliabadian,&nbsp;Omid Mirshamsi","doi":"10.1007/s11686-025-01106-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-025-01106-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Haemosporidian parasites of birds such as <i>Plasmodium</i>, <i>Haemoproteus</i>, and <i>Leucocytozoon</i> have complex life cycles involving two types of hosts: Vertebrates and invertebrates. The prevalence of these parasites is influenced by the interactions between these hosts and the environment. Birds infected with avian haemosporidians serve as a valuable model for studying the effects of environmental factors on the spread of endemic pathogens.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>In our study in southern Iran, which is known for its mild winters and hot summers, 237 blood samples from 41 bird species were analyzed. Each sample was analyzed using nested PCR for the <i>cytb</i> gene associated with the genera <i>Haemoproteus</i>, <i>Plasmodium</i>, and <i>Leucocytozoon</i>.</p><h3>Result</h3><p>The results showed a high infection rate (55. 69%) of parasites, with the Passeridae family having the highest rate (43. 18%). Wind speed, latitude and altitude were the key factors for the prevalence of <i>Haemoproteus</i>, <i>Plasmodium</i> and <i>Leucocytozoon</i>, while longitude, annual precipitation, relative humidity, NDVI index and distance to water were other influencing factors. The migratory status of the host birds had no effect on the prevalence or diversity of the parasites.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The study identifies wind speed, latitude and altitude as key factors in the prevalence of <i>Haemoproteus</i>, <i>Leucocytozoon</i> and <i>Plasmodium</i>, but other diverse environmental factors also play a role. Further research on avian communities and dipteran vectors in southern Iran is needed to fully understand the environmental factors influencing parasite prevalence.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144797931","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":"In Silico Identification of Antigenic Peptides and multi-epitope Vaccine Design against Trichomonas Vaginalis","authors":"Essebbar Ikram,&nbsp;Cuneyd Yavas,&nbsp;Nermin Akcali,&nbsp;Lutfiye Karcioglu Batur,&nbsp;Sajjad Eslamkhah,&nbsp;Ahmet Efe Koseoglu,&nbsp;Elif Sibel Aslan","doi":"10.1007/s11686-025-01111-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-025-01111-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p><i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> is the etiological agent of trichomoniasis, the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide. The increasing resistance to metronidazole, currently the only FDA-approved treatment, necessitates the development of a novel vaccine to prevent and control this infection.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>In this study, an in silico immunoinformatics pipeline was employed to identify antigenic peptides and construct a multi-epitope vaccine candidate targeting <i>T. vaginalis</i>. Surface and secretory proteins were retrieved and analyzed for antigenicity, allergenicity, and toxicity. B-cell and T-cell epitopes were predicted using IEDB tools and evaluated based on their binding affinity to common MHC class I and II alleles. Suitable linkers (GPGPG, AAY, EAAAK) and an HBHA adjuvant were incorporated to enhance immunogenicity.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The final vaccine construct consisted of 1081 amino acids and demonstrated high antigenicity, non-allergenicity, and non-toxicity. Structural predictions revealed favorable solubility and stability characteristics. Immune simulations indicated strong humoral and cellular immune responses. Population coverage analysis showed broad global applicability, particularly in European populations.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This in silico designed multi-epitope vaccine shows strong potential as a preventive strategy against <i>T. vaginalis</i>. Further experimental validation through in vitro and in vivo studies is necessary to confirm its immunogenicity and protective efficacy.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144797924","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":"Larvicidal and Pupicidal Activity of Neonicotinoid Insecticide Imidacloprid against Southern House Mosquito, Culex Quinquefasciatus (Say) (Diptera: Culicidae)","authors":"Suvam Acharya,&nbsp;Tapan Kumar Barik","doi":"10.1007/s11686-025-01112-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-025-01112-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Mosquitoes, known as one of the deadliest creatures on the planet, pose significant risks to the health of humans and animals worldwide by transmitting diseases like malaria, dengue, lymphatic filariasis, West Nile fever, and Zika virus. As mosquito-borne diseases continue to pose a significant threat to global public health, the development and enhancement of effective vector control strategies have become increasingly critical. Among the promising approaches is the use of insecticides such as imidacloprid, a systemic neonicotinoid known for its potent insecticidal properties.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>This study aims to observe the larvicidal and pupicidal activity of Imidacloprid against <i>Culex quinquefasciatus</i> as per the guidelines of World Health Organisation (WHO). The mortality data were analysed for the determination of LC₅₀ and LC₉₀.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>In this study, the LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values for <i>Cx. quinquefasciatus</i> larvae were determined to be 0.049 mL/L and 0.137 mL/L, while for pupae, the values were 0.264 mL/L and 0.480 mL/L respectively.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The obtained results signifies the considerable efficacy of Imidacloprid that could be used as a potential mosquitocide.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144797925","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":"Effectiveness of Anthelmintic Therapy and Determinants of Ascaris lumbricoides Infection among School-Aged Children: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Rural Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan","authors":"Amjad Ullah Khan,&nbsp;Shahzad Hussain,&nbsp;Majid Khan,&nbsp;Ali Said,&nbsp;Aqsa Bibi,&nbsp;Talha Khan,&nbsp;Sabika Firasat,&nbsp;Umer Chaudhry,&nbsp;Kiran Afshan","doi":"10.1007/s11686-025-01109-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-025-01109-9","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Background&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;Human ascariasis a soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) is still considered a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization continues to pose a serious public health concern, particularly in developing nations with poor sanitation, hygiene, and health awareness. Unlike prior prevalence studies relying solely on fecal analysis, this study utilized an innovative strategy to assess drug efficacy. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of anthelmintic therapy and identify risk factors associated with &lt;i&gt;Ascaris lumbricoides&lt;/i&gt; infection among school-aged children in rural Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;This was a prospective, community-based interventional study in which 1,675 school-aged children were randomly allocated to receive one of three anthelmintic drugs: pyrantel pamoate (&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 592), mebendazole (&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 553), or albendazole (&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 530). The primary outcome, deworming efficacy, was measured by the post-treatment expulsion and identification of &lt;i&gt;Ascaris lumbricoides&lt;/i&gt; worms in stool samples collected within 1–2 days. A well-structured questionnaire was administrated to evaluate key environmental, behavioral, and socioeconomic risk factors contributing to ascariasis.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;The overall prevalence of &lt;i&gt;A. lumbricoides&lt;/i&gt; infection was found to be 15.1%, univariate logistic regression analysis identified several statistically significant predictors of &lt;i&gt;Ascaris lumbricoides&lt;/i&gt; infection. Age was a significant factor, individuals aged 8–14 years had lower odds (OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.42–0.80, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001) and those ≥ 14 years had higher odds (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.04–2.06, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.03) than children aged 0–7 years. Drug regimen was the most influential factor: children treated with Pyrantel pamoate exhibited markedly elevated odds (OR = 6.76; 95% CI: 4.49–10.18; &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001), followed by those receiving Mebendazole (OR = 1.50; &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.03), relative to Albendazole. Significant district-level differences exist, with Mardan (OR = 0.06, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001) and Swabi (OR = 0.04, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001) having significantly lower risk of ascariasis than Abbottabad. Battagram had comparable odds to Abbottabad, indicating no significant difference (OR = 1.01 &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.98). Key protective factors included wearing footwear (OR = 0.32; &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001), clean fingernails (OR = 0.54; &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001), access to a washroom (OR = 0.47; &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001), and drinking tap water (OR = 0.44; &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.01). Conversely, middle household income (OR = 2.26; &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001) and participation in deworming programmes (OR = 5.75; &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.03) were associated with increased infection risk, possibly reflecting selection bias and high-risk areas. Similarly, Multivariable logistic regression model revealed independent effects of age ≥ 14 years (AOR = 6.64; &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001), middle income (AOR = 1.79; &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001), ","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144797923","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":"Clarifying the Taxonomy of the Finch Louse Fly Ornithomya Fringillina (Curtis) (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) – An Analysis of Morphotypes","authors":"Denise C. Wawman,&nbsp;Abigail S. Bailey,&nbsp;Steven R. Fiddaman,&nbsp;Ben P. Jones,&nbsp;Nicholas Johnson,&nbsp;Adrian L. Smith","doi":"10.1007/s11686-025-01113-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-025-01113-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The louse flies in the genus <i>Ornithomya</i> Latreille are avian ectoparasites. The patterns of alar microtrichia on the wings of the Ornithomyae are commonly used to help distinguish the various species, with the patterns in most species found to be constant between individuals. The Finch Louse Fly <i>Ornithomya fringillina</i> (Curtis) in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Isle of Man, is unusual in that the several patterns have been described. Consequently it has a complicated taxonomic history and there is some confusion about species identification.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Louse flies were collected by licensed bird ringers and an analysis of the simple morphological features, phenology and geographical distribution of these traits was performed.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>No significant differences were found between the three main types, and it was concluded that the differences were not due to sexual dimorphism and did not provide evidence that the different forms were separate species. Analysis of COX1 DNA sequences confirmed this result and proved that these are indeed morphotypes and not distinct species. There was no geographical separation between COX1 sequences from the United Kingdom and those from flies sampled in other parts of the world. The molecular analysis also suggested that <i>Ornithomya bequaerti</i> (Maa) and <i>Ornithomya candida</i> (Maa) may not be valid species, but represent morphotypes of <i>O. fringillina</i>.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The three patterns of alar microtrichia are morphotypes of a single species, Ornithomya fringillina. Further research is necessary to determine the status of some other species in the genus <i>Ornithomya</i>.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12334518/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144797922","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":"Genetic Characteristics of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Cattle from Hebei Province, China","authors":"Yuxin Sun,&nbsp;Jing Zhang,&nbsp;Yan Cui,&nbsp;Yan Zhao,&nbsp;Xin Yang,&nbsp;Huizhu Nan,&nbsp;Lei Ma","doi":"10.1007/s11686-025-01114-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-025-01114-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Enterocytozoon bieneusi (E. bieneusi) is a microsporidium that causes intestinal disease in animals and humans, and transmits\u0000person to person and/or animals to people. A survey was conducted to determine the prevalence and genetic diversity E. bieneusi\u0000infection in cattle in Hebei Province, China.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>A total of 2,746 cattle fecal samples were collected from 11 cities in Hebei Province. PCR amplification targeting the ITS gene of E.\u0000bieneusi was performed to detect infections. The subtypes, sequence signatures, pairwise genetic distances, and genetic diversity\u0000indices were analyzed using MEGA, PhyloSuite, and PopART.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The overall prevalence of E. bieneusi in cattle was 4.70% (129/2746). The infection rate varied significantly by region, age, breeding\u0000mode, and cattle type: higher in southern Hebei, cattle under one year old, intensively raised cattle, and dairy cattle. Six genotypes\u0000were identified (CHG3, SX1, BEB4, BEB6, BEB8, and J), with BEB6 being the dominant genotype. Sequence analysis revealed 260\u0000polymorphic and conserved sites, including 41 variable sites (15.77% of total nucleotides). The nucleotide diversity index (Pi) was\u00000.06472, and the haplotype diversity index (Hd) was 1.000.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This study provides the first comprehensive epidemiological data on E. bieneusi infection in cattle in Hebei Province and highlights its\u0000rich genetic diversity. These findings offer insights into the potential risk of zoonotic transmission and serve as a reference for further\u0000control and prevention strategies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144793198","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":"Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Equids: A Global Systematic Review and Meta-analysis","authors":"Tong Ye,&nbsp;Xue-Min Li,&nbsp;Wen-Xu Tan,&nbsp;Chuan-Long Wang,&nbsp;Jing Jiang,&nbsp;Quan Zhao","doi":"10.1007/s11686-025-01108-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-025-01108-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by <i>T. gondii</i>, a widely distributed obligate intracellular parasite. It has received widespread attention because it can infect a large number of domestic and wild animals, thereby posing a threat to public health and the economy on a global scale. Among them, equine animals are critical intermediate hosts. However, studies on <i>T. gondii</i> infection in equine animals are currently not systematic on a global scale. For this purpose, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>This study searched for relevant studies in six significant databases (PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Wanfang database, VIP database and CNKI database). From 1099 articles, we selected 30 articles from 17 countries published from the database creation to July 1, 2023, and used a random-effects model to estimate the <i>T. gondii</i> infection rate in equids.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The global infection rate of <i>T. gondii</i> in equids was estimated at 15.0% (2539/15,882, 95% CI 14.0–15.0%). The infection rate was highest in Africa (25.5%) and lowest in North America (8.4%). The infection rate after 2016 (24.0%) was higher than that before 2016 (14.6%). The infection rate was highest in equids aged 5–10 years (20.3%). Among equids, donkeys had the highest overall infection rate at 23.4%, which was higher than that of horses (15.8%) and mules (16.8%). The infection rate among female equine animals (17.5%) is higher than that among males (13.9%). These data indicate that <i>T. gondii</i> is widespread among equine animals globally, posing a potential infection risk to humans. Therefore, continuous monitoring of toxoplasmosis infection rates and control of <i>T. gondii</i> transmission are of great significance for both economic and public health.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"70 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144793199","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}