{"title":"Ocular myiasis due to Oestrus ovis in young patients from urban settings in the Himalayan region: An indicator of human-environment conflict?","authors":"Manish Jain, Rakesh Sehgal, Deepika Lohani, Yashik Bansal","doi":"10.17420/ap72.551","DOIUrl":"10.17420/ap72.551","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ocular myiasis is a relatively rare clinical entity that mainly affects the old and debilitated people with poor hygiene in rural settings and has a strong occupational predisposition. Presented here are two unusual cases of ocular myiasis caused by O. ovis after exposure to dust in young individuals with no history of contact with animals in the Garhwal region of the Himalayas. Although early presentation meant a mild illness and early resolution, the reporting of the cases from this region may be an indicator of human-environment conflicts.</p>","PeriodicalId":7987,"journal":{"name":"Annals of parasitology","volume":"72 ","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147508835","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Iqra Safdar, Sarfaraz Ur Rehman, Ume Roman, Sana Ashiq, Ibrahim Sohail, Khalid Abdul Majeed, Shehla Gul Bokhari, Haroon Akbar, Muhammad Imran Rashid
{"title":"Serological and molecular detection of Dirofilaria immitis in pet dogs of Lahore, Pakistan.","authors":"Iqra Safdar, Sarfaraz Ur Rehman, Ume Roman, Sana Ashiq, Ibrahim Sohail, Khalid Abdul Majeed, Shehla Gul Bokhari, Haroon Akbar, Muhammad Imran Rashid","doi":"10.17420/ap72.549","DOIUrl":"10.17420/ap72.549","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Heartworms, parasitic nematodes, are responsible to cause a potentially life threatening condition, heartworm disease in mammals particularly dogs and cats. The disease is prevalent in warm, humid areas with mosquitoes as intermediate hosts, increases the chances of transmission. This study aimed to investigate heartworm infection (Dirofilaria immitis) in pet dogs for the first time in Lahore using morphological, serological and molecular techniques including microscopy, PCR and rapid diagnostic kit tests. Blood samples were tested for antigens, with positive cases further analyzed using microscopy, Polymerase Chain Reaction, X-ray imaging, and echocardiography to detect heart-related changes. Modified Knott's Test, remained a valuable tool for detecting and differentiating microfilariae, particularly when used alongside other diagnostic techniques. The microfilariae was confirmed morphologically through wet mount method but had low sensitivity and requires expertise, while microscopy showed high sensitivity but yielded more false positives compared to PCR. Thoracic radiography revealed characteristic signs of D. immitis infection, but may not show early-stage changes. PCR detected D. immitis in 10% of samples, with positive bands (at 203 bp for specific primers and 450 bp for general primers) observed for both species-specific and general primers. Using these diagnostic techniques improves early detection and treatment of heartworm disease in dogs, setting a new standard for veterinary care in Pakistan.</p>","PeriodicalId":7987,"journal":{"name":"Annals of parasitology","volume":"72 ","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147508805","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sylwia Koczanowicz, Anna Kocoń, Marek Asman, Magdalena Nowak-Chmura
{"title":"Tourist attractions of southern Poland – risk of tick infestation and exposure to tick-borne diseases.","authors":"Sylwia Koczanowicz, Anna Kocoń, Marek Asman, Magdalena Nowak-Chmura","doi":"10.17420/ap72.550","DOIUrl":"10.17420/ap72.550","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The southern region of Poland, rich in natural and tourist attractions, encourages outdoor recreation and spending time in nature. Ongoing climate change, including global warming, has contributed to an increased abundance of ticks and an extended period of their seasonal activity. Consequently, the number of tick-borne disease cases continues to rise, and their diagnosis and treatment are often challenging and prolonged. The aim of this study is to summarize current knowledge on the occurrence of ticks in tourist areas of southern Poland and to raise public health awareness among individuals engaged in tourism and recreation, particularly regarding tick presence and the tick-borne diseases they transmit. To achieve the above goal, a review of available scientific and review articles on tick fauna and their role in the transmission of tick-borne disease pathogens in southern Poland was conducted. Electronic databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar were used in the literature analysis. The presence of ticks belonging to the family Ixodidae (Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes vespertilionis), Amblyommidae (Dermacentor reticulatus), and Argasidae (Argas reflexus, Argas polonicus) has been confirmed. In ticks collected from vegetation and humans in southern Poland, the presence of the following pathogens has been confirmed: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti, Toxoplasma gondii, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Ehrlichia chaffeensis/Ehrlichia muris, Rickettsia spp., and Coxiella burnetii, as well as various coinfections. Knowledge of tick distribution and the pathogens they transmit plays a key role in assessing the risk of human and animal exposure to tick-borne diseases. Equally important is the dissemination of information on preventive strategies and protective measures against tick bites. The presence of ticks in recreational and tourist areas underscores the need for ongoing educational activities concerning ticks and tickborne diseases in southern Poland.</p>","PeriodicalId":7987,"journal":{"name":"Annals of parasitology","volume":"72 ","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147508785","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites of buffaloes brought to slaughterhouse in Bhaktapur, Nepal.","authors":"Janak Raj Subedi, Anju Karmacharya","doi":"10.17420/ap71.548","DOIUrl":"10.17420/ap71.548","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Livestock farming has significant economic importance to the Nepalese society. Gastrointestinal helminth parasitism in buffaloes possess a warning for poor growth, milk production and, development. Thus this study aimed to study the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites in slaughtered buffaloes in Bhaktapur Municipality. Faecal samples (100) and visceral organs (100) i.e. small intestine, large intestine, rumen, and abomasums of 100 slaughtered buffaloes were collected and preserved in 2.5% potassium dichromate and 70% alcohol, respectively. Faecal samples were processed via direct and concentration techniques whereas organs were examined macroscopically for adults. The result showed an overall prevalence of 51% of helminth parasites. Paramphistomum sp. from the rumen and Oesophagostomum sp. from the large intestine were collected from the macroscopic examination. Altogether ten genera of helminth parasites were reported and among them, Paramphistomum sp. (18%) was found to be the dominant parasite in faecal examination followed by Fasciola sp. (16%), Oesophagostomum sp. (11%), Strongyloides sp. (7%), Haemonchus sp. (5%), Schistosoma sp. (3%), Capillaria sp. (2%), Cooperia sp. (2%), Trichostrongylus sp. (1%) and Syngamus sp. (1%). Single infection was prevalent in comparison to multiple infections in both examinations. Buffaloes were imported from Nepalgunj, Birgunj, and Jitpur whereas the location-wise prevalence showed no significant difference. Furthermore, awareness programs among butchers and farmers of farming places from where buffaloes were brought were involved to reduce parasitic loads among slaughtered buffaloes.</p>","PeriodicalId":7987,"journal":{"name":"Annals of parasitology","volume":"72 ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147324401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bartosz Kaszubski, Aleksandra Sędzikowska, Oskar Szymański
{"title":"Warm-region parasites invasion in temperate climate countries.","authors":"Bartosz Kaszubski, Aleksandra Sędzikowska, Oskar Szymański","doi":"10.17420/ap71.555","DOIUrl":"10.17420/ap71.555","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Long-term changes in weather conditions on Earth have a significant impact on the world around us. These include not only increasingly extreme weather events such as droughts and heatwaves. These effects can be felt throughout the natural environment, influencing the spread of parasites and the diseases they transmit. Climate change can alter the range and life cycles of parasites, and accelerate and lengthen the activity period of vectors. Four species are described in this manuscript: Balamuthia mandrillaris, Naegleria fowleri, Trypanosoma cruzi and Strongyloides stercoralis. Balamuthia mandrillaris is a species of an opportunistic cyst-forming free-living amoeba. The main habitat is moist soil and freshwater reservoirs. It could be pathogenic to humans. The amoeba consumes cutaneous tissue and excretes enzymes leading to an immune response of the host. Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba that might cause primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) whose mortality rate reaches as much as 98%. Trophozoites enter the body through the nasal cavity while underwater. Most often cases of PAM include immunocompetent children and young adults. Trypanosoma cruzi is a flagellate protozoan with life cycle between hematophagous insects of the Triatominae subfamily and various mammal species including human. Trypanosoma cruzi causes the Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis). Strongyloidiasis, caused by the parasite Strongyloides stercoralis, is a neglected tropical disease (NTD). Infection starts when the host walks barefoot on soil contaminated with filariform larvae that penetrate the skin. Immunosuppression in infected patients can lead to hiperinfection and death.</p>","PeriodicalId":7987,"journal":{"name":"Annals of parasitology","volume":"71 ","pages":"127-143"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145861764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The interplay between Blastocystis and human gut microbiota.","authors":"Małgorzata Lepczyńska","doi":"10.17420/ap71.557","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17420/ap71.557","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Gut microbiota, consisting of multiple beneficial microorganisms, significantly impacts host health. Recent investigations have revealed that the gut microbiota influences the pathogenicity of eukaryotes such as Blastocystis, and conversely, the protist can impact the composition of the bacterial community. This review focuses on both, beneficial and adverse interactions between Blastocystis and human gut microbiota communities. Blastocystis can modulate both the structure and composition of the gut microbiota. Research has demonstrated that Blastocystis colonization is associated with increased gut microbiota diversity, a higher abundance of beneficial bacteria like Firmicutes and Clostridiales, and reduced Bacteroides, indicating a potential beneficial relation. However, its exact role is still unknown, and it may be associated with dysbiosis in some gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Moreover, some researchers presented the contradictory study results of interactions between specific Blastocystis subtypes and gut bacteria. The bidirectional influence between microorganisms is complex, with distinct subtypes that can display varying effects on the microbiota. These discrepant findings might reflect variations in the host factors, microbial environment, or strain-level diversity.</p>","PeriodicalId":7987,"journal":{"name":"Annals of parasitology","volume":"71 ","pages":"171-184"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145853278","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jędrzej Janc, Natalia Feliniak, Filip Bielec, Katarzyna Góralska, Ewa Brzeziańska-Lasota, Dorota Pastuszak-Lewandoska
{"title":"Medical case reports of Candidozyma auris (syn. Candida auris) infections in Europe - a systematic review.","authors":"Jędrzej Janc, Natalia Feliniak, Filip Bielec, Katarzyna Góralska, Ewa Brzeziańska-Lasota, Dorota Pastuszak-Lewandoska","doi":"10.17420/ap71.560","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17420/ap71.560","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Candidozyma auris (syn. Candida auris) is a hazardous multi-drug resistant yeast that causes severe infections in hospitalized patients. Many uncertainties exist around its antifungal resistance, clinical presentation, dominant clade, and isolation sites in the European setting. Therefore, to properly assess these characteristics, we systematically reviewed case reports in Europe between the first case described in 2009 and January 2023.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted this systematic review according to the PRISMA guidelines. Cases of both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients have been included. We extracted patients' demographics, C. auris isolation site, identified clade, clinical presentation, clinical outcome, as well as treatment. The case reports have been assessed for quality using standardized tools.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 251 identified articles, 12 reports from 10 European countries describing 15 cases are included In the review. The youngest affected person was an infant and the oldest was 74 years old. Blood was the most common isolation site, reported in 26% of reported cases. The fatality rate could not have been reported due to the high number of asymptomatic patients and comorbidities or other infections in symptomatic patients. About 91% of reported isolates were resistant to fluconazole, 18% to amphotericin B and none was resistant to echinocandins. The quality assessment revealed that about 33% of case reports had a high risk of bias.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our results show that any age group can be affected. The antimicrobials of choice in the European setting seem to be the echinocandins, although proper standardized susceptibility breakpoints are needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":7987,"journal":{"name":"Annals of parasitology","volume":"71 ","pages":"157-169"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145846227","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Changing parasite landscapes in captive primates: methodological advances and findings from the Wrocław Zoo.","authors":"Weronika Helena Hildebrand, Grzegorz Zaleśny","doi":"10.17420/ap71.556","DOIUrl":"10.17420/ap71.556","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Long-term parasitological studies of non-human primates (NHPs) kept in zoological gardens offer valuable insights into host-parasite relationships in controlled settings. Despite regular veterinary supervision and preventative measures, many surveys have shown that captive primates often harbour diverse intestinal parasites, including species of zoonotic importance. This work summarises the historical and current parasitological research conducted on primates at Wrocław Zoological Garden, Poland, and highlights changes in diagnostic techniques, parasite diversity, and infection patterns over time. Early studies, employing classical coproscopic methods such as direct smear, decantation, and flotation, reported an overall parasite prevalence of around 40%, mainly nematodes. Later investigations expanded sampling strategies, enabling assessment of anthelmintic efficacy and resistance in specific taxa. Environmental and managerial factors - including close contact with caretakers and visitors, limited enclosure space, and inadequate pest control - were identified as key contributors to transmission. Over the past twenty years, the use of molecular diagnostic tools has considerably improved detection sensitivity, particularly for intestinal protozoa that were often missed by traditional microscopy. A notable shift in the parasite community composition has been observed: helminth prevalence has decreased, while protozoan infections have become more frequent. Whether these changes are due to methodological advancements or actual alterations in parasite ecology remains uncertain. Overall, the findings indicate that enhancements in husbandry, enclosure hygiene, and veterinary care have effectively reduced helminth transmission, yet protozoan infections continue to be common. Ongoing monitoring with molecular methods, alongside comparative studies across European zoological institutions, is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the long-term dynamics of primate parasitism in captivity.</p>","PeriodicalId":7987,"journal":{"name":"Annals of parasitology","volume":"71 ","pages":"145-156"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145846169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Infectivity of gastrointestinal nematode parasites of sika deer (Cervus nippon) for calves and lambs.","authors":"Steffen Rehbein, Martin Visser","doi":"10.17420/ap71.554","DOIUrl":"10.17420/ap71.554","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sika deer, mainly of Japanese origin, have been introduced into the British Isles and central Europe and established free-ranging populations, expanding in several countries. Introduction of the sika deer was associated with the transfer of Spiculopteragia houdemeri which has been reported for the first time in 2003 from Germany and thereafter from sika deer and other cervid species in some countries in Europe. Surveys of livestock parasites have shown that cervid-specific gastrointestinal nematodes of native deer occur in natural infections in cattle and sheep, usually at low level, and infections were experimentally transferred. However, to date there is no such information for sika deer-specific nematodes to livestock. To investigate the establishment of sika deer-derived gastrointestinal nematodes in domestic ruminants, three calves and two lambs were challenged with mixed burdens of infective larvae (~90% ostertagids, ~10% Oesophagostomum) cultured from the faeces of free-ranging sika deer; calves received 20,000 or 30,000 larvae, lambs 12,000 or 13,000. Establishment rate of ostertagids varied from 0.4% to 3.1% in the calves and was 1.3% and 8.4% in the lambs. Spiculopteragia houdemeri, index ostertagid of Japanese sika deer, was the dominant species, recovered from all animals. In addition, Ostertagia leptospicularis and Spiculopteragia boehmi, index ostertagids of native roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus), respectively, were isolated from calf and lamb and Cooperia pectinata from one lamb. Oesophagostomum venulosum established in the lambs at ~6% but no Oesophagostomum was found in any calf. This investigation indicates that both calves and lambs are permissive to the sika deer-specific S. houdemeri and other deer-derived nematodes which reached maturity, but susceptibility to infections was apparently low.</p>","PeriodicalId":7987,"journal":{"name":"Annals of parasitology","volume":"71 ","pages":"117-124"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145802893","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ultrasonic cavitation and decasan irrigation for residual cavity management in liver cystic echinococcosis: a retrospective comparative study from an endemic region.","authors":"Duschan Shukhratovich Sapaev, Farkhod Radjabovich Yakubov, Daniyar Shamuratovich Xodjiev, Kudratbek Bakhtiyarovich Babajanov, Nizamaddin Daniyar Ogli Sultan Zada, Navruz Odilbek Ogli Matkurbonov, Jasurbek Islombekovich Shonazarov, Komila Khujayazovna Khayitboeva","doi":"10.17420/ap71.552","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17420/ap71.552","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Most often, Echinococcus parasitizes in the liver, causing the need for surgical treatment, the results of which currently do not meet expert expectations due to the high frequency of postoperative complications and the risk of relapse. The aim of the study is to improve the results of surgical treatment of liver echinococcosis by improving the tactical aspects of treatment and elimination of the residual cavity after echinococcectomy to prevent the development of purulent-septic complications. The object of the study was 442 patients with liver echinococcosis treated in the abdominal surgery of the Khorezm Regional Multidisciplinary Medical Center for the period from 2010 to 2023. To achieve the research goal and address the objectives, the following methods were used: general clinical, biochemical, instrumental and statistical methods. When determining the tactics and volume of surgical intervention, we recommend using the proposed method for treating the residual cavity using ultrasonic cavitation and a 0.02% Decasan solution, which minimized the development of purulent-septic complications in the immediate and long-term period after surgery. The new approach significantly reduced postoperative drainage needs (63.8% vs 36.6%, P < 0.001), complications (12.5% vs 5.4%, P < 0.001), and increased uncomplicated recovery (93.1% vs 80.0%). Drainage duration decreased from 11.3% to 3.5% in the long-term follow-up.</p>","PeriodicalId":7987,"journal":{"name":"Annals of parasitology","volume":"71 ","pages":"99-111"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145740665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}