Acta tropica最新文献

{"title":"Intraspecific and interspecific comparison among bacterial communities in salivary glands and gut of five Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), vectors of bluetongue virus","authors":"Ankita Sarkar,&nbsp;Paramita Banerjee,&nbsp;Abhijit Mazumdar","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107778","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107778","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bacteria within the vector species can impact various physiological traits, including likely digestion, nutrition, survivability, and fecundity. Bacterial communities within insects vary across tissues and alter depending on diet regime, host taxa, and parity. Salivary glands and the gut are two significant organs for pathogen replication and dissemination. Despite various records on viruses, protozoa, and nematodes, data on bacterial communities within salivary glands (SG) and gut (GT) are lacking within the five vectors of bluetongue virus (BTV), <em>Culicoides actoni</em> Smith, <em>C. fulvus</em> Sen &amp; Das Gupta, <em>C. imicola</em> Kieffer, <em>C. jacobsoni</em> Macfie and <em>C. orientalis</em> Macfie. It is well documented that certain bacteria can impact on vectorial capacity of viruses of biting midges. The culturable bacterial composition is investigated in SG and GT across sexes and age-graded females of five field-collected species to unveil interspecific and intraspecific variation among the bacteria associated with vector species across sexes and different organs. Bacterial colonies were identified by biochemical tests and Sanger sequencing of the partial 16S rRNA gene. A total of 114 bacterial isolates, of which 61 and 53 isolates were retrieved from SG and GT of five species, respectively. The isolates belonged to the phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. <em>Bacillus</em> spp. was the most abundant, followed by <em>Lysinibacillus</em> spp. The relative abundances of bacterial genera identified from five species across sexes and organs are as follows: SG- i) <em>C. actoni: Bacillus</em> (11.47 %), <em>Lysinibacillus</em> (1.63 %), <em>Paenibacillus</em> (4.91 %), <em>Enterococcus</em> (1.63 %), <em>Serratia</em> (1.63 %); ii) <em>C. fulvus: Bacillus</em> (11.47 %), <em>Enterococcus</em> (3.27 %); iii) <em>C. imicola: Bacillus</em> (13.11 %), <em>Brevibacillus</em> (1.63 %), <em>Paenibacillus</em> (3.27 %), <em>Enterococcus</em> (3.27 %); iv) <em>C. jacobsoni: Bacillus</em> (11.47 %), <em>Paenibacillus</em> (1.63 %), <em>Enterococcus</em> (4.91 %) and v) <em>C. orientalis: Bacillus</em> (13.11 %), <em>Paenibacillus</em> (3.77 %), <em>Pseudomonas</em> (1.88 %) and GT- i) <em>C. actoni: Bacillus</em> (7.54 %), <em>Lysinibacillus</em> (9.43 %), <em>Paenibacillus</em> (1.88 %), <em>Serratia</em> (1.88 %); ii) <em>C. fulvus: Bacillus</em> (9.43 %), <em>Lysinibacillus</em> (1.88 %), <em>Cytobacillus</em> (1.88 %), <em>Pseudomonas</em> (1.88 %); iii) <em>C. imicola: Bacillus</em> (16.98 %), <em>Lysinibacillus</em> (5.66 %), <em>Brevibacillus</em> (1.88 %); iv) <em>C. jacobsoni: Bacillus</em> (15.09 %) and v) <em>C. orientalis: Bacillus</em> (18.86 %), <em>Brevibacillus</em> (3.77 %), <em>Pseudomonas</em> (1.88 %). The bacteria exhibiting beta haemolytic activities were: 5 <em>Bacillus</em> spp., 3 <em>Lysinibacillus</em> spp., <em>Cytobacillus kochii, Brevibacillus parabrevis, E. faecium, Paenibacillus lautus, S. marcescens, ","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"270 ","pages":"Article 107778"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144815509","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nanosuspensions of fenbendazole and ivermectin induce parasite death and low inflammatory response in experimental neurocysticercosis","authors":"Pedro Ormond Yarzon ,&nbsp;Waylla Silva Nunes ,&nbsp;Guaraciara de Andrade Picanço ,&nbsp;Anna Clara Lopes de Moura ,&nbsp;Ana Isabella Coimbra Rodovalho ,&nbsp;Jéssica Yonara de Souza ,&nbsp;Geovana Batista de Campos ,&nbsp;Ruy de Souza Lino Junior ,&nbsp;Giselle Bedogni ,&nbsp;Claudio Javier Salomon ,&nbsp;Marina Clare Vinaud","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107776","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107776","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common preventable infectious disease of the central nervous system (CNS) worldwide. Its treatment is performed with anthelmintics, albendazole, or praziquantel, associated with corticosteroids due to the intense inflammatory response after the parasite’s death. Also, the current treatment does not achieve full parasitic clearance and as it is used for over 40 years, there are a few reports on parisitic resistance and drug refractoriness. Other anthelminthic drugs in their commercial or nanoformulation form may present important activity against cysticerci and may present a therapeutic alternative to the current treatment. This study aimed the histopathologic evaluation of fenbendazole (FBZ), ivermectin (IVM), and their nanoformulations against an experimental model of NCC. Balb/c mice were intracranially inoculated with <em>Taenia crassiceps</em> cysticerci and treated with FBZ and FBZ nanoformulated (60mg/kg), IVM and IVM nanoformulated (0.2 mg/kg), albendazole (ABZ) (40 mg/kg) and 0.9 % NaCl (control group). After the animal’s euthanasia, the brains were removed and histopathologically analyzed. It was possible to observe the degradation of the parasite in all groups treated with anthelminthic drugs, however, the inflammatory response was significantly lower in the groups treated with FBZ, IVM, and their nanoformulations in comparison to Albendazole and control groups. In agreement with these results, nanosuspensions might allow better penetration across the blood-brain barrier and more consistent drug delivery to cystic regions in the CNS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"270 ","pages":"Article 107776"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144811545","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Structural insights into Leishmania donovani mevalonate kinase and its interaction with toll-like receptors during early infection","authors":"Manas Ranjan Dikhit ,&nbsp;Chayanika roy ,&nbsp;Pratanu Kayet ,&nbsp;Surajit Basak ,&nbsp;Sandipan Ganguly ,&nbsp;Pradeep Das","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107774","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107774","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Leishmania donovani</em> mevalonate kinase (<em>Ld</em>MVK) is crucial for isoprenoid and sterol biosynthesis, making it a potential target for both drugs and vaccines. Structural and immunological studies revealed its stability (pI 9.22, aliphatic index 89.54, instability index 31.42) and suitability for in vivo use. Negative GRAVY score and positive charge favor TLR-4 interaction. Conserved GHMP motifs validate enzymatic activity, while balanced secondary structures (42.55% helices, 42.25% coils) indicate structural flexibility and stability. The 3D model predicted the structure to retain its integrity, and the refined structure from a Ramachandran plot confirmed 99.3% of residues in favored regions with further support from an ERRAT quality score of 95.23.Molecular docking experiments revealed specific and stable interactions of <em>Ld</em>MVK with TLR-2 and TLR-4, including important electrostatic and hydrogen bonding residues. Molecular dynamics simulations for 100 ns validated the structural stability of <em>Ld</em>MVK and its receptor complexes, with RMSD, Rg, and RMSF analyses confirming conformational flexibility. The TLR-2–<em>Ld</em>MVK complex had a larger number of stable hydrogen bonds (8–16) than the TLR-4 complex (5–12), suggesting greater interaction. Immune simulations by C-ImmSim showed intense activation of macrophages, B cells, and dendritic cells and the induction of antigen-specific memory responses. Overall, these data affirm <em>Ld</em>MVK's potential as an immunogen and a new vaccine candidate for <em>Leishmania donovani</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"270 ","pages":"Article 107774"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144811546","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Elevated anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibody levels among slaughterhouse workers in Paraíba, Brazil: Implications for occupational health","authors":"Jordania Oliveira Silva ,&nbsp;Samira Pereira Batista ,&nbsp;Thais Souza Matos ,&nbsp;Ividy Bison ,&nbsp;Roberta Nunes Parentoni ,&nbsp;José Rômulo Soares Santos ,&nbsp;Arthur Willian Lima Brasil ,&nbsp;Thais Ferreira Feitosa ,&nbsp;Vinícius Longo Ribeiro Vilela","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107773","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107773","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The objective was to assess the prevalence of anti-<em>T. gondii</em> antibodies in slaughterhouse workers in the state of Paraíba and the possible factors associated with infection by this protozoan. Blood samples were collected from 170 slaughterhouse workers from six municipalities in the state, and an epidemiological questionnaire was applied to the study participants during sample collection. The blood samples were identified, refrigerated, and sent for serological analysis using the Immunofluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT). The prevalence of anti-<em>T. gondii</em> IgG among workers was 77.6% (132/170; 95% CI: ±0.752), with titers ranging from 1:16 to 1:8192. Factors associated and possible consequences with infection included low education level: illiterate (PR 1.512; 95% CI 1.083–2.111); elementary education (PR 1.46; 95% CI 1.092–1.953); and difficulties in conceiving children (PR 1.23, 95% CI 1.061–1.426). We concluded that there is a high prevalence of <em>T. gondii</em> among slaughterhouse workers in Paraíba, and the work environment may pose a higher risk as they are directly exposed to contaminated tissues. The association between low education levels and T. gondii seropositivity reinforces the need for preventive measures and health education in the workplace.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"270 ","pages":"Article 107773"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144811614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification with lateral flow dipstick (LAMP-LFD) assay for the detection of Dactylogyrus monogeneans in goldfish (Carassius auratus)","authors":"Awika Raksaman ,&nbsp;Thanawan Tejangkura ,&nbsp;Watchariya Purivirojkul ,&nbsp;Thapana Chontananarth","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107768","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107768","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The monogenetic trematode, genus <em>Dactylogyrus</em>, is an important group of ectoparasites that causes disease in fish, which can result in economic losses, particularly in the ornamental fish market. <em>Dactylogyrus</em> monogeneans attach to the host’s gills, causing respiratory disorders and potentially leading to fish morbidity and mortality. In this study, we developed a detection method for <em>Dactylogyrus</em> spp. infection in goldfish (<em>Carassius auratus</em>) using a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay coupled with a lateral flow dipstick (LFD). The LAMP-LFD assay, which targets the <em>28S rDNA</em> gene, could be completed in 75 min (60 min for LAMP and 15 min for LFD) under isothermal conditions at 65 °C. It showed high specificity with no cross-amplification with related parasites or the definitive host’s DNA. The sensitivity of the LAMP-LFD assay was 3 pg/µL for the 3 identified <em>Dactylogyrus</em> species: <em>D. vastator, D. formosus</em>, and <em>D. baueri</em>. Clinical sample examination (<em>n</em> = 30) showed that the LAMP-LFD results were consistent with those of microscopy, indicating 100% agreement in this sample set. In summary, the LAMP-LFD assay we developed could be used as a rapid and convenient method for detecting <em>Dactylogyrus</em> spp. in goldfish. This could further aid parasite detection, support outbreak surveillance, and reduce veterinary health issues in ornamental fish aquaculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"270 ","pages":"Article 107768"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144797947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of emergency departments in the treatment of imported severe and uncomplicated malaria – a retrospective monocentric observational study in a German university hospital","authors":"Markus Wörnle","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107766","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107766","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Malaria is the most important parasitic disease worldwide, and the first cause of fever in returning travelers. There is insufficient knowledge about the specific healthcare structures where patients with imported malaria are treated. It is presumed that emergency departments (ED) play a significant role in the diagnosis and treatment of malaria. More precise data on how many patients with malaria present to the ED are currently very limited. It is also unknown how severely these patients are affected, how many of them need to be admitted for inpatient care, what therapy is initiated, and how their condition progresses. We conducted a monocentric retrospective study on adult emergency patients treated in the ED of the LMU University Hospital Munich, Germany between January 2019 and December 2023. 24 patients were treated in our ED with imported malaria. In 22 patients, an infection with <em>Plasmodium (P.) falciparum</em> was identified, while 1 patient had an infection with <em>P. ovale</em>, and another patient had an infection with <em>P. vivax</em>. 19 patients had uncomplicated malaria, and 5 patients developed severe malaria. 20 patients received inpatient treatment, with 15 having uncomplicated and 5 having severe malaria. There were no fatalities in the patient cohort during hospital stay. ED play a crucial role in the care of patients with malaria. Our work presents for the first time extensive and detailed data on diagnosis, patient characteristics, laboratory and clinical parameters, therapy, and outcomes of these patients in the ED of a large German university hospital.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"270 ","pages":"Article 107766"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144803196","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mitochondrial genome characterization and phylogenetic position of a putative taeniid tapeworm (Taenia sp. QH-2023) isolated from Pseudois nayaur","authors":"Guodong Dai ,&nbsp;Yan Su ,&nbsp;Li Li ,&nbsp;Weigang Chen ,&nbsp;Le Li ,&nbsp;Fuyun Chen ,&nbsp;Guanying Ni ,&nbsp;Gang Wang ,&nbsp;Wanchao Xue ,&nbsp;Pengxia Bai ,&nbsp;Guocai Li ,&nbsp;Bin Wei ,&nbsp;Wenling Ma ,&nbsp;Guiqin Zhang ,&nbsp;Chunmei Song ,&nbsp;Baoping Li ,&nbsp;Qiqi Wang ,&nbsp;Sen Zhao ,&nbsp;Qixin Huang ,&nbsp;Xuejun Ji ,&nbsp;Hongbin Yan","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107762","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107762","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Pseudois nayaur</em> (blue sheep), a second-class nationally protected species in China, inhabits the western regions of the country. During a cause-of-death investigation of <em>P. nayaur,</em> an unidentified cysticercus was discovered in the lung of a deceased <em>P. nayaur</em>. Using molecular and bioinformatics approaches, the mitochondrial (mt) genome and phylogenetic position of the parasite were characterized. The mt genome comprises 13,507 bp and encodes 12 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNAs, and 2 rRNAs. Sequence analysis revealed a strong AT bias and codon usage preference typical of taeniid cestodes. These mitochondrial features may serve as valuable resources for molecular taxonomy and diagnostic marker development. Phylogenetic analyses based on complete mitochondrial genomes and <em>cox</em>1 sequences showed that the parasite clusters closely with <em>Taenia regis</em> and <em>T. hydatigena</em>. Based on sequence similarity and gene order collinearity, the parasite was tentatively designated as <em>Taenia</em> sp. QH-2023, with its PCGs exhibiting purifying selection consistent with other <em>Taenia</em> species. This study provides the first mt genome of a putative <em>Taenia</em> species infecting <em>P. nayaur</em>, providing useful reference data for future taxonomic, epidemiological, and conservation studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"269 ","pages":"Article 107762"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144764292","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intermediate forest cover and malaria risk in an Amazon deforestation frontier","authors":"Gabriel Z. Laporta ,&nbsp;Denis Valle ,&nbsp;Paula R. Prist ,&nbsp;Roberto C. Ilacqua ,&nbsp;Thais C. Santos ,&nbsp;Fernanda P. Madeira ,&nbsp;Glauco M. Silva ,&nbsp;Andreia F. Brilhante ,&nbsp;Melissa S. Nolan ,&nbsp;Marcia A. Sperança","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107757","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107757","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Malaria exposure risk, measured by anopheline infection rates, appears highest in Amazonian landscapes with approximately 50 % remaining forest cover, a common condition across the region. However, the effects of landscape configuration on the density of infected vectors and human malaria incidence remain poorly understood. A pilot natural experiment was carried out across 40 sites in a deforestation frontier in Acre state, Brazilian Amazon, where malaria is endemic. Sites were selected to represent a gradient of forest cover and deforestation levels under controlled conditions. We collected data on mosquito vectors (abundance and infection rates) and human malaria infections to assess how landscape structure influences transmission. Sites with intermediate forest cover, often associated with high fragmentation, exhibited higher <em>Nyssorhynchus</em> mosquito abundance and greater anopheline infection rates, leading to increased risk of <em>Plasmodium vivax</em> and <em>P. falciparum</em> infections. All human infections detected were asymptomatic (<em>n</em> = 16), representing a persistent reservoir for transmission and a major obstacle to malaria elimination. Our findings suggest that malaria transmission may persist where intermediate forest cover dominates, even with antimalarial drug-based interventions. Elimination strategies should integrate radical cure treatments with alternative vector control approaches, especially for outdoor-biting <em>Nyssorhynchus</em> anophelines. Depending on the amount of existing forest cover, landscape-based strategies (forest conservation/restoration payments) may help naturally regulate vector populations and support both malaria elimination and Amazon rainforest preservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"269 ","pages":"Article 107757"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144764347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of fifteen adjuvants for compatibility with Beauveria bassiana and their synergistic efficacy against Rhipicephalus microplus Ticks","authors":"Ghirmay Zeina,&nbsp;Mark Laing","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107760","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107760","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The compatibility of adjuvants with entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs) is a critical determinant of biopesticide efficacy. This study evaluated the effects of fifteen commercial adjuvants on the viability and virulence of <em>Beauveria bassiana</em> isolate Bb-41, as a potential biological control agent against the cattle tick <em>Rhipicephalus microplus</em>. Using three concentrations (0.025 %, 0.05 %, and 0.1 %), colony-forming unit (CFU) counts were used to assess conidial viability at two inoculum levels (10³ and 10⁴ conidia·mL⁻¹). In addition larval mortality was measured at 10⁶ conidia·mL⁻¹. The results demonstrated that adjuvant effects were both concentration- and dose-dependent. Adjuvants such as Designer®, Bond®, Summit Super®, Aquawet®, and Tronic® significantly inhibited fungal viability across all concentrations, likely due to the presence of fungitoxic components. In contrast, non-ionic surfactants like Tween® 80, Ballista®, Break-thru®, Silwet <span>l</span>-77®, and Tween® 20 maintained or enhanced conidial viability, particularly at 0.025 %. Virulence assays revealed that only a subset of adjuvants that promoted viability also enhanced pathogenicity. It was suggested that, Break-thru®, Tween® 20, and Ballista® enhanced conidial adhesion and penetration, as they improved larval mortality at 0.025 %. These findings highlight the importance of comprehensive compatibility screening in EPFs formulation development and identify several promising adjuvants for field deployment against <em>R. microplus</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"269 ","pages":"Article 107760"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144756751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimizing laboratory blood feeding success of Anopheles maculatus: Effects of pre-feeding preparation and cues","authors":"Siriporn Phasomkusolsil,&nbsp;Alongkot Ponlawat,&nbsp;Nattaphol Pathawong,&nbsp;Jaruwan Tawong,&nbsp;Tanaporn Kornkan,&nbsp;Thanin Jitbantrengphan,&nbsp;Alyssa N Mann,&nbsp;Erica J Lindroth","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107758","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107758","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Anopheles maculatus</em>, a primary malaria vector in Thailand’s forested and foothill regions, is challenging to propagate in the laboratory due to low blood-feeding success with artificial membrane systems. This study systematically evaluated methods to enhance blood-feeding success in <em>An. maculatus</em> females by assessing the effects of sugar deprivation duration (2, 8,and 16 h), membrane type (bovine intestine, sausage casing, chicken skin, and live mice),and attractant cues (black light and BG-Lure). Results showed that 16-hour sugar deprivation significantly increased feeding success (42.3 %) compared to shorter deprivation periods (15.3 % at 8 h, 14 % at 2 h, and 15.5 % with continuous sugar access; <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). Among feeding options, live mice yielded the highest feeding success (59.3 %), followed by bovine intestine (35.3 %), sausage casing (24.7 %), and chicken skin (10.7 %). The combination of black light and BG-Lure attractants further boosted feeding success to 82 %. These findings provide a foundation for improved laboratory rearing of <em>An. maculatus</em>, supporting future malaria vector research and control strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"269 ","pages":"Article 107758"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144726362","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}