Frontiers in parasitology最新文献

{"title":"A multi-site laboratory evaluation of the MEDSCAN application for automated POC-CCA interpretation.","authors":"Thomas F Scherr, Pytsje T Hoekstra, Theresia Abdoel, Carson P Moore, Austin Hardcastle, Matthew Boisse, Boaz Mulonga, Kennedy Andiego, George Ogara, Gladys Odhiambo, Fredrick Rawago, Nicholas Spurlock, Alexandrea A Howard, Megan E Pask, Eline M van Dam, Govert J van Dam, Chris Ho, Goylette F Chami, Frederick Haselton, Maurice R Odiere, David Wright","doi":"10.3389/fpara.2026.1837310","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpara.2026.1837310","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Control efforts against schistosomiasis are hampered by the subjective interpretation of the point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA) urine test, which limits diagnostic consistency. We developed MEDSCAN (Mobile-Enabled Diagnostics for Schistosomiasis Control Analytics), a mobile application that uses smartphone imaging and computer vision to automate POC-CCA interpretation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In a multi-site laboratory evaluation across the USA, the Netherlands, and Kenya, we compared MEDSCAN to visual G-Score interpretation and a benchtop lateral flow reader (LFR).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All three methods produced clear concentration-response relationships, with normalized machine-based metrics achieving AUROC ≥ 0.90. MEDSCAN demonstrated excellent inter-user reproducibility (intra-class correlation coefficients exceeding 0.94) and substantial agreement with both visual and LFR interpretations across sites. Some device-to-device variability was observed, attributable to differences in smartphone camera hardware and image processing; however, binary diagnostic outcomes remained robust across a heterogeneous set of smartphones.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>These results establish operational positivity thresholds for MEDSCAN-based on test-line signal alone or normalized metrics-suitable for direct implementation in field surveillance workflows. A large-scale field study is underway to evaluate MEDSCAN under routine POC-CCA surveillance conditions in endemic settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":73098,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in parasitology","volume":"5 ","pages":"1837310"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13329796/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148392671","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cross-species comparisons in a unified medium suggest broadly stable glycosome-linked enzyme levels under nutrient and oxygen variation.","authors":"Hina Durrani, James A Bjork, Aaron B Clarke, Jackson T Steinbach, Sara L Zimmer","doi":"10.3389/fpara.2026.1823935","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpara.2026.1823935","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Kinetoplastids are one of two groups of euglenozoans that have compartmentalized the enzymes of metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, into a peroxisome-derived organelle called a glycosome. Several ideas have emerged regarding the evolutionary pressures that drove and are maintaining compartmentalization of these typically cytosolic enzymes. For example, their compartmentalization might result in superior efficiency in remodeling enzyme relative abundances in response to changing environmental conditions. We wished to empirically test the merits of this explanation. We began with the presumption that the abundances of glycosome-compartmentalized enzymes are broadly affected by changes in extracellular environment, similar to how they vary between life stages of the model kinetoplastid <i>Trypanosoma brucei</i>. Our hypothesis was that abundances of glycosome-localized enzymes in multiple kinetoplastids would alter as a result of their extracellular environment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Six different kinetoplastid species, including both dixenous and monoxenous parasites, were evaluated in culture for their response to extracellular nutrient and oxygen availability in terms of their expression of glycosome-localized enzymes. We analyzed their growth rates and utilized immunoblotting to measure abundances of glycosome-localized or partially-localized enzymes and cytosolic enolase in the different culture conditions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found the tested enzyme abundances to be largely consistent. Oxygen availability and slow removal of nutrients from the extracellular environment resulted in only minor changes in enzyme abundance. Only abrupt replenishment of culture nutrients resulted in enzyme abundance responses - typically a modest decrease in both cytosolic enolase and the glycosome-localized enzymes.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Results suggest that there is little evidence that parasites respond to external nutrient or oxygen availability through alterations in relevant enzyme abundances, at least absent life cycle transitions. Thus, our study does not provide support for the idea that efficient and coordinated remodeling of ratios of metabolic enzymes was an evolutionary driver of metabolic enzymes' compartmentalization in the glycosome. Further, it suggests that it may be relevant to test whether posttranslational modifications and/or changes to enzyme localization are mechanisms trypanosome utilize to adjust specific metabolic activity when needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":73098,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in parasitology","volume":"5 ","pages":"1823935"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13311094/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148354907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular detection of <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> and the absence of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. in owned dogs from Central Vietnam.","authors":"Vy Thi Tuong Le, Minh-Trang Thi Hoang, Van-Phuong Ngo, Dinh Ng-Nguyen, Tawin Inpankaew","doi":"10.3389/fpara.2026.1860216","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpara.2026.1860216","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong><i>Giardia duodenalis</i> and <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. are ubiquitous enteric protozoans of significant public health and veterinary concern. Despite their global importance, molecular epidemiological data concerning companion animals in Vietnam remain limited.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence, investigated the specific <i>Giardia</i> assemblages and <i>Cryptosporidium</i> species, and identified risk factors associated with these parasites in 362 owned dogs in Dak Lak province, Central Vietnam. Genomic DNA extracted from fecal samples was screened using nested PCR targeting the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) locus, followed by sequencing of positive amplicons. Epidemiological risk factors were assessed using multivariable logistic regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The overall prevalence of <i>G. duodenalis</i> was 8.0% (29/362; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.6-11.3%), whereas <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. DNA was not detected. Sequencing of 18 <i>Giardia</i>-positive isolates exclusively identified the canine-specific assemblage D. Multivariable analysis revealed that direct contact with other dogs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 7.55; 95% CI: 1.69-33.82; P = 0.008) and unbathed status (aOR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.11-0.83; P = 0.021) were significant predictors of infection. Host demographics, location, outdoor access, and deworming history had no significant association with <i>Giardia</i> positivity.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The exclusive detection of assemblage D indicates that dogs in this rural setting currently pose a minimal direct zoonotic risk to the local human population. These findings emphasize the importance of improving canine management practices, particularly through proper hygiene and the restriction of uncontrolled interactions between dogs, to mitigate transmission risks.</p>","PeriodicalId":73098,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in parasitology","volume":"5 ","pages":"1860216"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13269053/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148273441","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification of <i>Fasciola hepatica</i> gut-associated glycoproteins as potential vaccine candidates by lectin-affinity chromatography, flukicidal monoclonal antibodies, and affinity-enrichment mass spectrometry.","authors":"Sonja G Rechsteiner, Sina Hasler, Peter Gehrig, Peter Deplazes, Ramon M Eichenberger","doi":"10.3389/fpara.2026.1746419","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpara.2026.1746419","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A significant economic impact to the agriculture and declining drug efficacy due to anthelmintic resistance lead to the search for novel intervention approaches against the zoonotic liver fluke <i>Fasciola hepatica</i>. A cost-effective strategy is to induce protective immunity by vaccination. However, adaptation of the parasite to evade the host immune response hampers classical vaccine development. Therefore, an ideal protective epitope would not be subjected to this evolutionary selection. Antigens, which are not exposed to the host's immune system during a natural parasite infection, but which could be attacked by vaccine antibodies, have been shown to be valid candidates, especially those expressed in the gut of blood-feeding and tissue-dwelling helminths. Overall, helminth gut-associated glycoproteins-including hidden antigens-serve as a rich source for novel anthelminthic vaccine candidates. Here, we purified <i>F. hepatica</i> gut-associated glycoproteins assisted by lectin-affinity chromatography and specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). The protective capacity was demonstrated <i>in vitro</i> by feeding the mAbs to cultured <i>F. hepatica</i>, which impaired fluke survival assessed by reduced motility, fecundity, and reduced active secretion. Furthermore, we could demonstrate a binding of different mAbs to <i>F. hepatica</i> gut structures, indicating that liver flukes dine from their environment. Characterisation of the complex gut-associated glycoproteins by a quantitative affinity-enrichment proteomics approach revealed a list of 36 proteins with potential for further vaccine development. Given a conservation of many of these candidates in different <i>F. hepatica</i> life stages indicated by available transcriptomic data, such parasite gut-associated glycoproteins serve as a rich source for novel vaccines, directed also against early developmental stages responsible for pathological liver damage.</p>","PeriodicalId":73098,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in parasitology","volume":"5 ","pages":"1746419"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13260064/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148254727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transgenesis and targeted mutagenesis in the human-parasitic nematode <i>Strongyloides stercoralis</i>.","authors":"Matthew S Moser, Elissa A Hallem","doi":"10.3389/fpara.2026.1830920","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpara.2026.1830920","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Strongyloides stercoralis</i> is a soil-transmitted helminth that is responsible for an estimated 300-600 million human infections worldwide, mostly in impoverished areas of tropical and sub-tropical countries. To date, <i>S. stercoralis</i> is also the only human-parasitic nematode that is amenable to the generation of stable transgenic or mutant lines that can be maintained indefinitely by passage through a laboratory host, the Mongolian gerbil. Because of its health significance and ease of genetic manipulation, <i>S. stercoralis</i> has rapidly emerged as a model system for understanding the molecular and cellular basis of nematode parasitism. In this mini-review, we discuss the approaches used to generate transgenic and mutant <i>S. stercoralis</i>, with an emphasis on approaches for generating stable transgenic or knockout lines. We also discuss how these approaches are enabling new insights into the basic biology of these highly pathogenic, and sometimes deadly, human parasites.</p>","PeriodicalId":73098,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in parasitology","volume":"5 ","pages":"1830920"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13190404/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148019206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Case Report: Neurological and pulmonary angiostrongylosis in a Ryukyu long-furred rat (<i>Diplothrix legata</i>) on Amami-Oshima Island, Japan.","authors":"So Shinya, Toshihiro Tokiwa, Keita Sakashita, Hisashi Yoshimura, Ryotaro Suzuki, Ryouta Torimoto, Yukinori Muraoka, Masami Yamamoto","doi":"10.3389/fpara.2026.1797945","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpara.2026.1797945","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A Ryukyu long-furred rat (<i>Diplothrix legata</i>) rescued on Amami-Oshima Island, located in the southwestern Japan, exhibited neurological signs, including nystagmus and ataxia, and died six days after supportive treatment. Gross and histopathological examinations revealed nematodes in the brain, lungs, and heart. In the meninges, immature worm sections were associated with marked inflammatory thickening. Pulmonary lesions included adult worms, eggs, and larvae accompanied by hemorrhage, edema, thrombosis, and extensive necrosis with concurrent <i>Aspergillus</i> infection. Mitochondrial cytochrome <i>c</i> oxidase 1 sequences obtained from the nematodes identified the ac1 lineage of <i>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</i>, a haplotype previously reported from mainland Japan and Amami-Oshima Island, but distinct from the lineage common on the neighboring islands of Okinawajima and Tokunoshima. This case supports the occurrence of angiostrongylosis in the Ryukyu long-furred rat and suggests that this species may manifest both neurological and respiratory disease manifestations. Further epidemiological investigations targeting invasive rodents of the genus <i>Rattus</i>, intermediate host, namely terrestrial gastropods (e.g., snails and slugs), and potential paratenic hosts (e.g., amphibians and reptiles), are warranted to clarify the transmission dynamics of <i>A. cantonensis</i> within the Amami Islands and to assess its potential impact on this endangered endemic rodent.</p>","PeriodicalId":73098,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in parasitology","volume":"5 ","pages":"1797945"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13107638/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147791034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular taxonomic characterisation of <i>Ancylostoma</i> spp. and <i>Strongyloides</i> spp. in three protected areas in Ghana.","authors":"Sandra S Gyarteng Mensah, John Asiedu Larbi, Adrian Streit","doi":"10.3389/fpara.2026.1798958","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpara.2026.1798958","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) continue to affect millions of people worldwide, but the role of animals in sustaining transmission remains poorly understood. This study examined the diversity and zoonotic potential of hookworms and <i>Strongyloides</i> across humans, dogs, and nonhuman primates (NHPs) in three different study areas located in three ecological zones in Ghana, where humans live in close contact with domestic dogs and free-ranging nonhuman primates, creating opportunities for cross-species parasite exchange.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Stool samples from humans, dogs, and nonhuman primates were analysed using the Baermann technique after faecal culture. Single larvae and young adult worms were genotyped at the nuclear small subunit (<i>SSU</i>) Hypervariable Regions (HVR) I and IV, ITS-2 and the mitochondrial <i>cox</i>-1 markers. Species identities and genetic relationships were explored using Neighbour-joining and Maximum-likelihood phylogenies in MEGA 12 and a Median-joining haplotype network in POpART.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Two major clusters of hookworms were detected in our study area, both belonging to the genus <i>Ancylostoma</i>. One cluster is closely related to a species group containing <i>A. caninum, A. duodenale, A. ceylanicum</i>, and <i>A. tubaeform</i>e. The other cluster appears to belong to the species <i>A. braziliense</i>. Several haplotypes in both clusters were shared between humans and dogs, indicating active zoonotic transmission. For <i>Strongyloides</i>, humans carried <i>S. stercoralis</i>, monkeys carried <i>S. fuelleborni</i>, and in dogs we found a <i>Strongyloides</i> that appeared closely related to <i>S. papillosus</i>.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings reveal substantial hookworm diversity but no evidence for host specificity, which suggests zoonotic transmission at the human-dog interface. The, based on previous literature, unexpected recovery of <i>A. braziliense</i> larvae from human stool suggests that the zoonotic potential of this species may be greater than previously assumed. In contrast to several recent studies in Asia, we found no overlap between <i>Strongyloides</i> spp. in humans and animals but the number of <i>Strongylodies</i> spp. infected hosts was very small. Our results reinforce the need for including animals that live in close proximity to humans in STH studies and control considerations, following a One Health approach.</p>","PeriodicalId":73098,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in parasitology","volume":"5 ","pages":"1798958"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13106583/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147790959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Haplotype diversity of <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> circumsporozoite protein prior to malaria vaccine implementation in Kaelé Health District, Cameroon, 2022-2023.","authors":"Innocent M Ali, Brenda Vasquez Martinez, Valery P K Tchuenkam, Jacob M Sadler, Catherine C Gorman, Sandrine E Nsango, Voundi Voundi Junior, Joel Marcellin Ateba, Grace Yimga Wanda, Jeffrey A Bailey, Rhoel R Dinglasan, Jessica T Lin, Jonathan J Juliano","doi":"10.3389/fpara.2026.1749169","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpara.2026.1749169","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Malaria remains a major public health concern in Cameroon, with <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> responsible for most morbidity and mortality, particularly among children under five. In response to rising cases, Cameroon began implementing the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine in early 2024. Given the vaccine's strain-specific efficacy, understanding haplotypic diversity is critical for evaluating long-term impact. We analyzed 100 <i>P. falciparum</i>-positive dried blood spots collected in Mapoussere, Kaele Health District (2022-2023). Using the 4CAST amplicon sequencing assay, we targeted four genes: <i>csp</i> (circumsporozoite protein), <i>ama1</i> (apical membrane antigen 1), <i>sera2</i> (serine repeat antigen 2), and <i>trap</i> (thrombospondin-related anonymous protein). Haplotypes were identified using SeekDeep, and diversity metrics including heterozygosity (He), nucleotide diversity (π), and selection statistics (Tajima's <i>D</i>, Fu and Li's <i>D*</i>, <i>F*</i>) were computed. We successfully genotyped <i>csp</i> in 35% of samples, identifying 22 haplotypes (He = 0.908; π = 0.021). The vaccine-matched haplotype was present in 20% of genotyped infections. The T cell TH2 and TH3 epitopes of <i>csp</i> showed signs consistent with balancing selection. Both <i>ama1</i> and <i>sera2</i> exhibited higher genotyping success and diversity, with <i>ama</i> showing significant Tajima's <i>D</i> values. Within-participant haplotype counts were highest for <i>ama1</i> (mean = 2.8), followed by <i>sera2</i> (2.1), <i>csp</i> (1.3), and <i>trap</i> (1.2). This study provides a baseline of <i>P. falciparum</i> haplotype diversity in a vaccine-targeted region. The presence of vaccine-matched strains and high diversity in TH2/TH3 epitopes in <i>csp</i> may influence vaccine efficacy. Continued molecular surveillance is essential to monitor antigenic shifts and guide future strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":73098,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in parasitology","volume":"5 ","pages":"1749169"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13097004/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147791010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Onchocerciasis overview: pathogenesis, clinical spectrum, and therapeutic challenges of a neglected tropical disease.","authors":"Charity N Njeshi, Alan P Robertson, Richard J Martin","doi":"10.3389/fpara.2026.1690973","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpara.2026.1690973","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Onchocerciasis is still a major health burden in sub-Saharan Africa and Yemen, where many cases occur as control efforts face persistent obstacles, while smaller, well-defined transmission foci remain in Brazil and Venezuela. Caused by the filarial nematode <i>Onchocerca volvulus</i> and transmitted by blackflies, the disease causes progressive disability, economic loss, and hampers community development. Despite decades of mass drug administration with ivermectin, the inability of the drug to kill adult worms, increasing concerns over resistance, and the lack of effective vaccines continue to hinder elimination strategies. This review provides an overview of the disease, discussing its transmission dynamics, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment. It also examines the immune-mediated responses that drive tissue damage and chronic morbidity, with an emphasis on skin and ocular complications. We highlight the need for rapid, non-invasive, and cost-effective diagnostic tools to enhance disease surveillance and assessment of treatment. Finally, we discuss the limitations of current therapies and recent progress in vaccine development, particularly subunit and multi-epitope vaccine candidates identified through reverse vaccinology approaches. Together, these insights reinforce the need for integrated strategies, combining improved diagnostics, novel treatments, and vaccines, to drive progress toward onchocerciasis elimination.</p>","PeriodicalId":73098,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in parasitology","volume":"5 ","pages":"1690973"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13021665/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147576861","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Field evaluation of a topical combination of ivermectin, imidacloprid, and praziquantel for flea control in cats under routine clinical.","authors":"Camilo Romero-Núñez, Ariadna Flores-Ortega, Rafael Heredia-Cárdenas, Enrique Salazar-Grosskelwing","doi":"10.3389/fpara.2026.1755999","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpara.2026.1755999","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Flea infestation remains a major clinical and public health concern in cats due to its negative impact on animal welfare and its role in the transmission of zoonotic pathogens. Effective flea control under routine field conditions is essential for integrated parasite management in companion animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance of a topical formulation combining ivermectin, imidacloprid, and praziquantel for flea control in domestic cats under field conditions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 142 naturally infested cats of varying ages, sexes, and body conditions were included in the study. All animals received a single topical application of the evaluated formulation. Clinical and parasitological assessments were performed on Days 0, 1, 7, 14, and 30 post-treatment using standardized flea counts, pruritus scores, and dermatological lesion scores. Treatment effectiveness was assessed using within-subject pre-post comparisons. Effective flea control was defined as a marked reduction in the proportion of flea-positive cats relative to baseline, accompanied by concurrent clinical improvement.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The proportion of cats free of detectable fleas exceeded 91% by Day 7 and approached 95% by Day 30 post-treatment. Significant clinical improvement was observed during the first two weeks, including reductions in pruritus intensity and dermatological lesion scores. Treatment response did not differ according to sex or age, indicating consistent clinical performance across diverse feline subpopulations. No adverse effects were reported throughout the study period.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The findings indicate that the evaluated topical combination provides consistent and clinically meaningful flea control in domestic cats under routine field conditions, supporting its use as part of integrated parasite management strategies in companion animals. However, the absence of a negative control or active comparator group represents a limitation of the study; therefore, treatment effectiveness was assessed using within-subject comparisons rather than established regulatory efficacy benchmarks.</p>","PeriodicalId":73098,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in parasitology","volume":"5 ","pages":"1755999"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12976887/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147446335","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}