Acta Parasitologica最新文献

{"title":"Biological Diversity and Parasitological Peculiarities of Myxosporea (Cnidaria, Myxozoa) Infecting Merluccius Merluccius (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Sea of Marmara","authors":"Derya Yadak,&nbsp;Cem Tolga Gürkanli,&nbsp;Sevilay Okkay,&nbsp;Yılmaz Çİftçİ,&nbsp;Ahmet Özer","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01232-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01232-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>This study aimed to investigate the biodiversity and parasitological peculiarities of myxozoan parasites infecting European hake, <i>Merluccius merluccius</i>, one of the most commercially important demersal fish species, in the Sea of Marmara, Türkiye.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>A total of 47 <i>M. merluccius</i> specimens were collected from the eastern coasts of the Sea of Marmara and examined for myxozoan infections. Morphological observations, morphometric measurements, and phylogenetic analyses based on 18 S rDNA sequences were conducted to identify the parasites.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Of the 47 fish specimens examined, 12 were infected by two distinct myxozoan species. One was identified as <i>Pseudalataspora vanderlingeni</i> based on morphology, morphometry, and molecular data. The second species, <i>Ceratomyxa</i> sp., which could be identified to the genus level based solely on spore morphology, was consistently found co-infecting fish hosts of the previously identified parasite species. Notably, its spore morphology differed from that of the six <i>Ceratomyxa</i> species previously recorded in Turkish marine waters.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This study presents the second global record of <i>Pseudalataspora vanderlingeni</i> since its original description, representing the first report of both the species and the genus <i>Pseudalataspora</i> in Turkish waters. Additionally, a new <i>Ceratomyxa</i> taxon from the same region in Turkish waters was also documented. Together with the previous reports, the results in this study suggest that <i>P. vanderlingeni</i> is a common myxozoan parasite of <i>Merluccius</i> species along the southern Atlantic coasts of Africa, with its range extending into the Mediterranean Sea and surrounding waters. Additionally, this study also presents <i>Ceratomyxa</i> as one of the possible common myxozoan parasites of <i>Merluccius</i> species in the Mediterranean and adjacent seas.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13013176/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147508628","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":"Further Description and First Genetic Characterization of Oswaldofilaria bacillaris (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) Infecting the Pantanal Caiman (Caiman yacare), with Insights into the Phylogeny of Oswaldofilaria","authors":"Glória M. C. Lacerda,&nbsp;Gustavo M. do Carmo,&nbsp;Lorena G. Ailán-Choke,&nbsp;Fernando Paiva,&nbsp;Luiz E. R. Tavares,&nbsp;João A. de Araújo-Filho,&nbsp;Samuel C. Ribeiro,&nbsp;Felipe B. Pereira","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01264-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01264-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose </h3><p><i>Oswaldofilaria bacillaris</i> is the type species of the genus, but its morphology remains little known and partially contradictory. Moreover, there are no genetic data and scanning electron microscopical observations on the species, like in most <i>Oswaldofilaria</i> spp. The phylogenetic relationships among <i>Oswaldofilaria</i> spp. are practically unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the detailed morphology of <i>O</i>. <i>bacillaris</i>, provide its first genetic characterization, and discuss the phylogenetic relationships within <i>Oswaldofilaria</i>.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Parasites infecting the body cavity of <i>Caiman yacare</i> in Pantanal wetlands, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, were collected and processed for morphological studies using light and scanning electron microscopy. Genetic characterization was based on partial sequences of 18S and 28S rDNA. A phylogeny was reconstructed based on 28S sequences including all <i>Oswaldofilaria</i> available.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Nematodes were assigned to <i>O</i>. <i>bacillaris</i> mainly based on the oral opening markedly displaced ventrally. Males had seven pairs of caudal papillae encircling the cloaca, and their two most posterior pairs were hardly visible, which is also characteristic in other congeners. Moreover, a delicate area rugosa previously unreported in the species was observed. <i>Oswaldofilaria bacillaris</i> formed a monophyletic assemblage with the congeners, being sister to <i>O</i>. <i>chabaudi</i>, and <i>O</i>. <i>petersi</i> was basal, these last two parasites of lizards.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The present findings strengthened the specific diagnosis of <i>O</i>. <i>bacillaris</i> and elucidated the morphological contradictions. The phylogeny reinforced the hypotheses that <i>Oswaldofilaria</i> emerged in lizards and colonized crocodilians by host switch, and reduction in number of caudal papillae in males is a derived feature.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13013316/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147508608","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":"New Gyrodactylus Species (Monopisthocotyla: Gyrodactylidae) on Freshwater Goby Rhinogobius giurinus (Perciformes: Gobiidae) in China","authors":"Hongbo Nie,&nbsp;Zhiyu Lin,&nbsp;Zhizhen Liu,&nbsp;Jia Cai,&nbsp;Kwaku Amoah,&nbsp;Xiao Jin,&nbsp;Jichang Jian","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01258-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01258-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Monogeneans of the genus <i>Gyrodactylus</i> von Nordmann, 1832 are common parasites of fish. In this study, we describe a new species from the goby <i>Rhinogobius giurinus</i> in China, based on morphological and molecular data.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Gyrodactylids were collected from <i>R. giurinus</i> in three provinces (Hubei, Hunan and Yunnan) of China, stained and examined under light microscopy. Morphological descriptions were prepared and compared with the related species through detailed drawings and precise point-to-point measurements. The ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS; ITS1–5.8 S–ITS2), 18 S rDNA and mitochondrial <i>cox</i>1 markers were sequenced for interspecific and intraspecific comparison and phylogenetic analysis.</p><h3>Results</h3><p><i>Gyrodactylus xiaehu</i> n. sp., is characterized by its opisthaptoral hard parts morphology, including a broad heel with a thin-pointed marginal hook sickle, a long ventral bar process, and a heavily curved hamulus root. These features are consistent with the <i>G. orecchiae</i> group species parasitizing a broad range of fishes in marine environments, evidenced by the ITS rDNA phylogenetic analyses.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The new species is a broadly distributed freshwater species that maintains a close evolutionary relationship with marine lineages, suggesting the marine-to-freshwater history of its host.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147508583","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":"Multitarget Anticoccidial Activity of Olive Seed Phenolic Compounds Against Eimeria spp.: Insights from Molecular Docking and In Vitro Validation","authors":"Nedjima Debbou-Iouknane,&nbsp;Rachida Amokrane-Aidat,&nbsp;Sonia Oukhmanou-Bensidhoum,&nbsp;Meriem Amrane-Abider,&nbsp;Tassadit Zemouri,&nbsp;Sid Ali Zaidi,&nbsp;Fatiha Brahmi","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01242-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01242-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>The present investigation evaluates the anticoccidial potential of olive (<i>Olea europaea</i> L. var. Chemlal) seed ethanolic extract through in vitro assays and complementary in silico analyses against <i>Eimeria</i> spp.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>The extract’s inhibitory effect was assessed on <i>Eimeria spp.</i> sporulated oocysts through microscopic and morphological evaluation of structural damage after 24 h of incubation, while molecular docking simulations were performed to predict the interactions of eight phenolic constituents identified by HPLC–ESI–MS with three <i>Eimeria</i> spp. target proteins including calcium-dependent protein kinase (PDB ID:4YSM), Extracellular Solute-Binding Protein Family 1 (PDB ID: 5IXP), and hexokinase (PDB ID: 6KSR).</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The in vitro results revealed that the explored extract significantly (p ≤ 0.05) disrupted the integrity of <i>Eimeria</i> oocysts at a concentration of 330 μg/mL, causing damage to their surface integrity and cell fragmentation after 24 h of incubation. Among the phenolics studied, four exhibited high binding affinities (-7.0 kcal/mol to -9.6 kcal/mol) for major parasitic targets. Three compounds demonstrated a notable multi-target profile. In this regard, 2,3 dihydro-amentoflavone interacted with the three proteins; isorhamnetin, oleuropein and 3-<i>p</i>-coumaryolquinic acid had affinity against two targets. This multitarget interaction pattern demonstrates olive seed chemicals' ability to affect multiple antiparasitic pathways simultaneously.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This integrated experimental and computational approach highlights the value of olive seed derivatives in developing alternative antiparasitic strategies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147484103","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":"Trypanosomatids in Costa Rican Bats: First Molecular Evidence of the Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis Complex and Evidence of a Broader Host Association for Trypanosoma minasense","authors":"Randall Rubí-Chacón,&nbsp;Andrea Urbina-Villalobos,&nbsp;Karen Daniela Sibaja-Morales,&nbsp;María José Zuniga-Moya,&nbsp;Gaby Dolz","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01257-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01257-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Molecular data on wildlife trypanosomatids in Central America remain limited, constraining our understanding of host associations and sylvatic transmission cycles in the region. We characterized <i>Leishmania</i> and <i>Trypanosoma</i> infections in Costa Rican bats and assessed contemporary circulation of <i>Trypanosoma minasense</i> in howler monkeys within a comparative phylogenetic framework.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Whole blood from 98 bats across 11 Costa Rican localities (2013–2014) was screened by PCR for <i>Leishmania</i> kDNA (120 bp), ITS-1 (~ 330 bp), and <i>Trypanosoma</i> 18 S SSU rRNA (nested PCR) with species-level identification based on sequence-confirmed amplicons. ITS-1 and 18 S amplicons were Sanger-sequenced and assigned by BLAST. For context, 18 S sequences from howler monkeys (<i>Alouatta palliata</i>) sampled in Costa Rica (2011–2025), including 20 animals from 2025, were included in phylogenetic analyses.</p><h3>Results</h3><p><i>Leishmania</i> kDNA was detected in 4/98 bats (4.1%), but only one (<i>Sturnira parvidens</i>) yielded ITS-1 and clustered within the <i>Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis</i> complex. <i>Trypanosoma</i> DNA was detected in 9/98 bats (9.2%): <i>T. cruzi</i> (<i>n</i> = 3), <i>T. minasense</i> (<i>n</i> = 3), and undetermined <i>Trypanosoma</i> spp. (<i>n</i> = 3). In 2025, 17/20 howler monkeys were PCR-positive for <i>T. minasense</i>; two were successfully sequenced and clustered within the Costa Rican <i>T. minasense</i> clade alongside bat-derived sequences.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>We report the first ITS-1- confirmed molecular evidence of the <i>L. (V.) guyanensis</i> complex in Costa Rican bats, supporting evidence of a broader host association and long-term local persistence of <i>T. minasense</i> across bats and primates.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13002664/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147484127","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":"High Seroprevalence Rates of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in Dogs in the Pantanal Region of Mato Grosso, Brazil","authors":"Gabriel Lucas Artiaga-Silva,&nbsp;Álvaro Felipe de Lima Ruy Dias,&nbsp;Matheus Roberto Carvalho,&nbsp;Kamilla Silva Melo,&nbsp;Arleana do Bom Parto Ferreira de Almeida,&nbsp;João Luis Garcia,&nbsp;Richard de Campos Pacheco,&nbsp;Valéria Régia Franco Sousa","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01241-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01241-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p><i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> and <i>Neospora caninum</i> are protozoan that infect animals worldwide. Dogs act as sentinels of these infections, indicating potential risks to human health, particularly in the case of <i>T. gondii</i> due to its zoonotic nature. Therefore, we aimed to determine the seroprevalence and associated factors for <i>T. gondii</i> and <i>N. caninum</i> infections in dogs living in the Pantanal biome, Brazil.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>This study evaluated the seroprevalence in 743 serum samples from dogs in Barão de Melgaço and Nossa Senhora do Livramento, municipalities endemic for canine visceral leishmaniasis located in the Pantanal biome of Mato Grosso, Brazil, by Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Overall, 66.4% (<i>n</i> = 493) were positive for <i>T. gondii</i> and 12.4% (<i>n</i> = 92) for <i>N. caninum</i>. Seropositivity was associated with dogs older than 3 years (<i>T. gondii</i>—<i>p</i> = 0.001; OR = 2.579; <i>N. caninum</i>—<i>p</i> = 0.004; OR = 7.621), living together with other dogs and/or cats (<i>T. gondii</i>—<i>p</i> = 0.04; <i>N. caninum</i>—<i>p</i> = 0.005), and absence of a public sewage system at home (<i>T. gondii</i>—<i>p</i> = 0.044; OR = 4.730; <i>N. caninum</i>—<i>p</i> = 0.035; OR = 1.376). For <i>T. gondii</i>, additional associations were found with street access (<i>p</i> = 0.015; OR = 3.966), contact with rodents (<i>p</i> = 0.025; OR = 1.539), and a diet including leftover food (<i>p</i> = 0.025; OR = 2.405). Infection by <i>N. caninum</i> was more frequent in rural dogs (<i>p</i> = 0.011; OR = 4.857) and in those coinfected with <i>Leishmania infantum</i> (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001; OR = 6.407).</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The investigated regions are endemic for <i>T. gondii</i> and <i>N. caninum</i>, with increased risk associated with environmental conditions and dog management practices. Furthermore, dogs infected with <i>L. infantum</i> showed a higher likelihood of coinfection with <i>N. caninum</i>.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12995943/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147472265","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":"Estudo Abrangente do Resveratrol Associado à Sulfadiazina em Linfócitos Infectados com Toxoplasma gondii: Envolvimento da Sinalização Purinérgica na Resposta Imunológica","authors":"Nathieli Bianchin Bottari,&nbsp;Priscila Marquezan Copetti,&nbsp;Bianca Fagan Bissacotti,&nbsp;Taís Vidal,&nbsp;Anielen Dutra Da Silva,&nbsp;Mateus Fracasso,&nbsp;Karine Paula Reichert,&nbsp;Jelson Nauderer,&nbsp;Vera Maria Melchiors Morsch,&nbsp;Cinthia Melazzo,&nbsp;Aleksandro Schafer Da Silva,&nbsp;Maria Rosa Chitolina Schetinger","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01252-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01252-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><i>Toxoplasma </i><i>gondii </i>is a highly successful intracellular pathogen. Its success is largely achieved by the parasite’s ability to avoid the host immune response. During <i> T. gondii</i> infection lymphocytes play an active role in host defense and purinergic signaling has been shown to contribute to parasite control. Several studies have demonstrated the importance of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) signaling via purinergic receptor, as a component of the inflammatory response against <i> T. gondii</i>. Here, we hypothesized whether RSV, a natural polyphenol, could be involved in <i> T. gondii</i> control triggered by purinergic signaling, during acute infection in lymphocytes. Thus, the outcomes of this study were lymphocyte viability, modulation of ectonucleotidase activity, purinergic receptor expression and inflammatory mediators.<i> T. gondii</i> infection diminished lymphocytes viability 24h after RH-tachyzoites exposition. RSV treatment promote an increment of ATP, ADP hydrolysis by NTPDase (CD39) and adenosine deamination by ADA enzyme in infected lymphocytes. In addition, RSV upregulated P1 and P2 receptors in T. gondii-infected lymphocytes. There is an involvement of P2X₇ receptor and proinflammatory cytokines in activated lymphocytes leading to ROS generation and nitrite production. However, the excessive damage is controlled by anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of RSV thought adenosine receptors and anti-inflammatory cytokine production. Together, our results suggest RSV isolate or combinate to sulfamethoxazole trimethoprim (choice drug for toxoplasmosis) could upregulate purinergic signaling during <i> T. gondii</i> infection suggesting a therapeutical candidate target in toxoplasmosis.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12995952/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147472335","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":"Rapid Nutritional Screening and Short-Term Prognosis in Advanced Schistosomiasis: A Prospective Cohort Study","authors":"Honglin Jiang,&nbsp;Xinting Cai,&nbsp;Mao Zheng,&nbsp;Benjiao Hu,&nbsp;Meng Xia,&nbsp;Qingwu Jiang,&nbsp;Yibiao Zhou","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01262-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01262-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>To identify an appropriate rapid nutritional screening tool for bedside use, and to determine whether early nutritional risk provide clinically meaningful prognostic information in advanced schistosomiasis.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>This prospective single-center cohort enrolled 436 patients with advanced schistosomiasis. Anthropometric indicators and four nutritional screening and assessment tools (NRS-2002, RFH-NPT, LDUST, and SGA) were applied. Agreement between tools was evaluated using Kappa statistics. Short-term prognosis was defined as adverse outcomes within 4 months. Multivariable and penalized logistic regression models identified prognostic nutritional indicators. Model performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration, decision curve analysis, and net reclassification improvement. Clinical nomograms were developed.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The mean age was 63.19 ± 11.19 years and 54.6% were male. Using SGA as reference, LDUST showed the highest sensitivity (100%) and demonstrated favorable screening performance. SGA identified malnutrition in 14.2% of patients, while LDUST classified 50.0% as at nutritional risk. Triceps skinfold thickness (TSF), LDUST-defined risk, and SGA-defined malnutrition were relatively informative nutritional predictors. Models incorporating these measures demonstrated higher prognostic discrimination (AUC = 0.786, 95% CI 0.709–0.862) compared with clinical variables alone (AUC = 0.739, 95% CI 0.655–0.823). Higher TSF was associated with a lower risk of poor outcomes (OR = 0.945, 95% CI 0.895–0.998). Nomograms indicated TSF contributed the greatest prognostic weight among nutritional variables.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>LDUST offers a feasible and sensitive tool for rapid bedside nutritional screening in advanced schistosomiasis. Nutrition-based assessments may provide modest additional prognostic information beyond clinical variables, supporting early risk stratification and targeted nutritional management, particularly in resource-limited settings where disease burden is high.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147472325","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":"A Highly Sensitive 18 S rRNA Gene Based Nested PCR Assay for Detection of Calodium Hepaticum in Human and Animals","authors":"Gokula Kannan Ragavan,&nbsp;Azhahianambi Palavesam,&nbsp;Purushothaman Selvaraj,&nbsp;Archudhan Lakshmipathy,&nbsp;Ravipati Venu,&nbsp;Tirumurugaan Krishnaswamy Gopalan,&nbsp;Michael Mawlong,&nbsp;Nagendra R. Hegde,&nbsp;G. Taru Sharma","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01237-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01237-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p><i>Calodium hepaticum</i> is a neglected zoonotic parasite of rodents, primarily affecting rats. Highly sensitive molecular assays such as nested PCR are not available to screen the parasite in rat, man and dog.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>In the present study, parasite specific nested PCR primers were designed to amplify 171 bp partial <i>18 S rRNA</i> gene of <i>C. hepaticum</i> and compared with an existing semi nested PCR.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Both nested PCR and semi nested PCR assays were sensitive enough to detect at least 10 <i>C. hepaticum</i> eggs in rat liver samples. The limit of detection of nested PCR assay was 420 zM, and it was 35-fold more sensitive than that of semi nested PCR assay. The nested and semi nested PCR assays specifically amplified <i>C. hepaticum</i> egg DNA from human and dog DNA samples spiked with parasite DNA. The molecular prevalence of <i>C. hepaticum</i> in household rats in Chennai was 41.81% based on nested PCR assay.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This study suggests that the <i>18 S rRNA</i> gene based nested PCR assay could be a more sensitive detection system for molecular screening of <i>C. hepaticum</i> in rat liver samples and highly suitable for epidemiological studies. Further, both the <i>18 S rRNA</i> gene based nested and semi nested PCR assays can potentially used for detection of <i>C. hepaticum</i> infection in man and dog.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147441606","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":"Green Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles as a Promising Adjuvant to Albendazole in the Management of Hydatid Cyst Disease: Molecular and Biochemical Insights","authors":"Aishah Alatawi,&nbsp;Abdullah D. Alanazi","doi":"10.1007/s11686-026-01254-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11686-026-01254-9","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Background&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;This research focused on the green production and characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNOP), as well as assessing their potential to manage hydatidosis infection in mice through affecting hydatid cysts, inflammatory factors, oxidative stress markers, apoptosis-related genes, as well as its hepatoprotective effects.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;ZNOP was green synthesized using &lt;i&gt;Ferula macrecolea&lt;/i&gt; extract. To induce experimental hydatidosis, mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with 1,500 viable &lt;i&gt;Echinococcus granulosus&lt;/i&gt; protoscoleces. The experimental framework comprised eight distinct treatment groups, wherein infected mice received daily oral administrations of ZNOP at dosages of 5 or 10 mg/kg, albendazole (ALZ) at 100 and 200 mg/kg, or a combination of both agents. Treatment efficacy was determined by measuring cyst (number, size, and weight), the tissue levels of inflammatory markers [(interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and nuclear factor-kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65)], apoptosis-related genes, oxidative stress, and liver functional enzymes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;ZNOP had a spherical morphology and a compact surface structure with the average particle size was found to be 45 nm. The findings indicate that ZNOP treatment, particularly when combined with ALZ, significantly reduces cyst-related parameters such as count, size, and weight (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001). The group receiving ZNOP 5 mg/kg + ALZ 100 mg/kg exhibited IL-1β, TNF-α, and NF-κB p65 levels of 2.36, 3.64, and 1.43 pg/mL (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.01), respectively. The combination of ZNOP 10 mg/kg with ALZ 100 mg/kg further improved the results, with values of 1.93, 3.29, and 0.912 pg/mL (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.01), which were nearly comparable to the non-infected control. The most impressive outcomes (&lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001) were observed in the combination therapy groups (ALZ 100 mg/kg + ZNOP 5 and 10 mg/kg), where MDA and NO levels were significantly reduced and nearly matched those of the non-infected group. The combination of 5 mg/kg ZNOP and 100 mg/kg ALZ led to a 3.71-fold increase in Caspase-3 (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001), 3.43-fold in BAX (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001), and a 2.59-fold decrease in BCL-2 (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001). In the group receiving 10 mg/kg ZNOP + 100 mg/kg ALZ, the fold changes were even more pronounced: 4.35-fold for Caspase-3 (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001), 3.79-fold for BAX (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001), and a 2.77-fold reduction in BCL-2 (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001). The administration of ZNOP mainly the combination of ZNOP (5 and 10 mg/kg) with ALZ (100 mg/kg) yielded the most favorable results and moderated the level of liver enzymes, provided liver protection (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;The study showed that ZNOP, especially with ALZ, effectively reduced hydatid cysts in terms of number, size, and mass. It also lowered inflammation and oxidative stress, showing strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. At the molecular","PeriodicalId":6932,"journal":{"name":"Acta Parasitologica","volume":"71 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147441533","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}