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Simple Summary: Heartworm disease is a severe and neglected cardiovascular condition in domestic ferrets. Isolated cases of natural infection have been previously reported. However, knowledge of the disease is still considered poor. An unsterilized 2-year-old domestic male ferret was diagnosed using a heartworm antigen test. The animal was asymptomatic and had a good physical appearance. A surgical transvenous extraction was performed, and two worms (one female and one male) were removed. The patient evolved favorably, and repeated diagnostic tests 35 days after surgery showed improvement in the parameters previously evaluated. This clinical case was the first in which it was possible to extract all the parasites from a ferret by endovascular therapy and improves the knowledge of the management of heartworm disease in ferrets. Heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis is a serious and underdiagnosed cardiovascular condition in domestic ferrets. Hemodynamic changes caused by parasitization in ferrets cause a potentially fatal syndrome, but its clinical findings and treatment have not yet been standardized. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical case of a successful surgical extraction in a ferret infected by D. immitis. The patient was a 2-year-old, 1.5 kg asymptomatic male domestic ferret. The infection was diagnosed using a commercial test for the detection of D. immitis antigens. Subsequently, their clinical status was evaluated using serological and imaging diagnostic tests, and it was finally decided to perform surgical extraction of the adult worms. The ferret was anesthetized and placed in the left lateral decubitus position to perform a venotomy in the right jugular vein. Endoscopic extraction basket-shaped devices were used in the right atrial cavity under fluoroscopic guidance following the Seldinger endovascular surgery technique. With careful handling, two adult parasites were manually removed. A transthoracic echocardiogram performed after the procedure confirmed the absence of heartworms. The ferret recovered without complications and was discharged within 24 h. In the clinical review, 30 days after surgery, no notable alterations or symptoms were observed. This case report describes the first complete surgical removal of adult D. immitis parasites in a naturally infected ferret. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heartworm infection is a chronic disease with clinical signs and effects ranging from an asymptomatic condition to severe disease and death. The prevalence of heartworm disease in the state of Rio de Janeiro has been reported to be high (21.3%). The present study was conducted to evaluate the seroprevalence and risk factors of heartworm infection for the canine population with access to veterinary services in different areas of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A total of 1787 canine blood samples were obtained from 135 practices across 8 different areas of Rio de Janeiro state (Rio de Janeiro municipality, São Gonçalo municipality, Niterói municipality, Baixada Fluminense, and the northern, southern, eastern, and mountainous areas) and tested for the presence of Dirofilaria immitis antigens and antibodies against several tick-borne disease pathogens using a commercial immunochromatography technique (Vetscan® Flex 4 Rapid Test; Zoetis; NJ USA). Pet owners reported living conditions, physical characteristics, demographics, and clinical signs for evaluation of risk factors for heartworm infection. Only two evaluated risk factors were shown to enhance the risk for D. immitis infection, including having a short hair coat vs. having a medium or long hair coat (OR 2.62) or positive for antibodies to tick-borne disease parasites (OR 3.83). Clinical signs reported for dogs with heartworm disease were typical for that condition. The overall prevalence of heartworm disease in the state was 8.2%, ranging from 2.4% in the mountainous region to 29.4% in the eastern area. It could not be determined if veterinarians were not diligent about dispensing heartworm preventatives or if poor levels of compliance by dog owners were responsible for higher infection rates in some areas of the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Veterinary parasitology is study of parasitic diseases, treatment and prevention. It is a major component of animal health courses due to impacts parasites have on production and companion animals. Extant tertiary education in parasitology typically involves theory sessions coupled with practical experience. In this study we propose tertiary parasitology teaching would be enhanced through adoption of immersive Virtual Reality (I-VR) as an intrinsically motivating learning tool to complement their studies. To evaluate this adoption, a custom I-VR parasitology game was developed that tertiary veterinary science students experienced (n = 109), with feedback assessed using the Hedonic-Motivation System Adoption Model (HMSAM). HMSAM proved appropriate for measuring student’s hedonistic and utilitarian perspectives of I-VR experience with perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, joy, ability to control, immersion levels and intention to use displaying significant positive relationships in derived model. However, in a departure from similar studies, the curiosity construct was not a useful predictor of intention to use in this context of a scaffolded, instructional application. This study highlights suitability of I-VR and provides a statistically robust evaluation method using a modified HMSAM to evaluate acceptance, usefulness, and ease of use of I-VR in tertiary education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabarcoding‐based methods for identification of host‐associated eukaryotes have the potential to revolutionize parasitology and microbial ecology, yet significant technical challenges remain. In particular, highly abundant host reads can mask the presence of less‐abundant target organisms, especially for sample types rich in host DNA (e.g., blood and tissues). Here, we present a new CRISPR‐Cas9‐mediated approach designed to reduce host signal by selective amplicon digestion, thus enriching clinical samples for eukaryotic endosymbiont sequences during metabarcoding. Our method achieves a nearly 76% increased efficiency in host signal reduction compared with no treatment and a nearly 60% increased efficiency in host signal reduction compared with the most commonly used published method. Furthermore, the application of our method to clinical samples allows for the detection of parasite infections that would otherwise have been missed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clonorchis sinensis is a significant zoonotic food-borne parasite that causes a range of hepatobiliary diseases, which in severe cases can even lead to cholangiocarcinoma. To explore new diagnostic and treatment strategies, the dynamic RNA regulatory processes across different developmental stages of C. sinensis were analyzed by using whole-transcriptome sequencing. The chromosomal-level genome of C. sinensis was used for sequence alignment and annotation. In this study, we identified a total of 59,103 RNAs in the whole genome, including 2,384 miRNAs, 25,459 mRNAs, 27,564 lncRNAs and 3,696 circRNAs. Differential expression analysis identified 6,556 differentially expressed mRNAs, 2,231 lncRNAs, 877 miRNAs and 20 circRNAs at different developmental stages. Functional enrichment analysis highlighted the critical role of microtubule-related biological processes in the growth and development of C. sinensis. And coexpression analysis revealed 97 lncRNAs and 85 circRNAs that were coexpressed with 42 differentially expressed mRNAs that associated with microtubules at different developmental stages of C. sinensis. The expression of the microtubule-related genes dynein light chain 2 (DLC2) and dynein light chain 4 (DLC4) increased with C. sinensis development, and DLC2/4 could be inhibited by albendazole. Finally, by constructing competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks, the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA and circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory relationships were constructed, and the ceRNA networks of MSTRG.14258.5-novel_miR_2287-newGene_28215 and MSTRG.14258.5-novel_miR_2216-CSKR_109340 were verified. This study suggests, through whole transcriptome sequencing, that the context of microtubule regulation may play an essential role in the development and growth of C. sinensis. Author summary: This study is the first to comprehensively elucidate the entire transcriptome of Clonorchis sinensis by exploring the expression and regulatory dynamics of noncoding RNAs and mRNAs at different developmental stages in its life cycle. By using next-generation sequencing technology, this research demonstrated new mRNAs, miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs, and established valuable resources for future parasitic research. Compared with mRNAs, lncRNAs have shorter gene lengths, lower expression levels, fewer exons and fewer isoforms. Differential expression analysis demonstrated stage-specific patterns of noncoding RNAs and mRNAs in C. sinensis during its life cycle, thus providing crucial insights into the role of noncoding RNAs in parasite growth and development. Furthermore, the construction of ceRNA regulatory networks revealed that microtubule-related lncRNAs and circRNAs in C. sinensis may play an important role in its growth and development. This study advances our understanding of the entire transcriptome of C. sinensis and introduces novel perspectives for future parasitic infection treatment strategies. In summary, this study establishes a foundation for in-depth investigations into the interplay between noncoding RNAs and parasites, as well as the associated biological processes, thus demonstrating broad research and therapeutic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

My path to becoming a scientist has taken many twists and turns. This is perhaps not unusual to hear. Indeed, in discussions with my colleagues it seems that for many of us the path was never a straight one. Certainly, for me there have been moments when my whole world was encompassed by science and at other times, I have felt strongly that my time in science was up. I like to think that as scientists we ask a lot of questions and, for many of us, those questions extend to our very purpose as a scientist. My intention with this article is not to document my career path in detail or to provide very specific advice. Rather, I hope to describe how questions have defined my journey and to inspire others to occasionally pause and ask themselves what a career in science means to them. Today, I am an Assistant Professor at a major Canadian university, and here are the questions I asked along the way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Rare coexistence of disease or pathology Background: Leishmaniasis is a zoonosis with worldwide prevalence that causes dermal lesions and can be serious in humans. This report presents a case of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) that was apparently associated with a zoonotic transmission in a peri-urban area of the city of Portoviejo, Ecuador, close to mountainous and forested sites. Case Report: For 37 years, we have studied transmission of leishmaniasis in Ecuador, and have seen a wide variety of clinical presentations of the disease caused by different strains of the parasite Leishmania in patients, including pregnant women, without marked difference among them. CL without complications causes painless lesions of different clinical aspect. The present study reports a case of a 25-year-old woman presenting with severely inflamed, disseminated, and painful lesions of CL. The patient was not given antimonial treatment; however, local cryotherapy was given, together with topical anti-inflammatory and antibiotic ointment. All the lesions were observed to heal, and no amastigotes were found in smear stains after clinical healing. Since there was no reactivation after 1.5 years of follow-up, conventional antileishmanial treatment with meglumine antimoniate was not given to the patient. Conclusions: This report shows the importance of a properly done epidemiological and clinical presumtive diagnosis, followed by parasitological confirmation, and the benefit of using an alternative treatment for vulnerable patients, such as this pregnant woman, for whom the therapy with pentavalent antimonials is not indicated. All observed lesions healed and no amastigotes were found in the smears after clinical healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Careful observation of parasites, masters of camouflage, reveals an ingenious and fascinating world. However, students often perceive parasitology as impenetrable. What if a flamboyant flea circus director passionately introduced the multidimensional contexts of this discipline? Will role-play capture the imagination of students and guide them in their future learning? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Battery poultry houses are subject to infestations by pests, such as the ectoparasitic mites Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778) and Ornithonyssus bursa (Berlese, 1888) which are hematophagous and can cause skin lesions, stress, and even death of hens, leading to significant economic losses. Recent European studies have shown that these mites can also work as vectors of pathogenic microorganisms. Therefore, due to the absence of records on the association between D. gallinae and O. bursa and pathogenic microorganisms in Brazil, the present study aimed to identify pathogenic bacteria through a metagenomics analysis associated with mites collected from a poultry house located in a rural area of the state of Rio Grande do Sul and direct from a skin' person that lives in a farm in the interior of the state of São Paulo (Brazil). For the material collected in Rio Grande do Sul, a higher predominance of endosymbiotic bacteria, and different species of the pathogenic bacteria species Bartonella was observed. On the other hand, some enterobacteria were identified from O. bursa samples, but the amount was not high enough to identify the species. Additionally, the endosymbiotic Wolbachia spp. was identified in both O. bursa samples (pooled and individuals). Besides the detection of Wolbachia, in the individual O. bursa microbiome, we detected Spiroplasma spp. and 'Candidatus Cardinium'. This is the first time that a microbiome study has been made for the species D. gallinae and O. bursa in Brazil, as well as the first time that Wolbachia, Spiroplasma and 'Candidatus Cardinium' was detected in O. bursa samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Parasitic nematodes, significant pathogens for humans, animals, and plants, depend on diverse organ systems for intra-host survival. Understanding the cellular diversity and molecular variations underlying these functions holds promise for developing novel therapeutics, with specific emphasis on the neuromuscular system’s functional diversity. The nematode intestine, crucial for anthelmintic therapies, exhibits diverse cellular phenotypes, and unraveling this diversity at the single-cell level is essential for advancing knowledge in anthelmintic research across various organ systems. Results Here, using novel single-cell transcriptomics datasets, we delineate cellular diversity within the intestine of adult female Ascaris suum, a parasitic nematode species that infects animals and people. Gene transcripts expressed in individual nuclei of untreated intestinal cells resolved three phenotypic clusters, while lower stringency resolved additional subclusters and more potential diversity. Clusters 1 and 3 phenotypes displayed variable congruence with scRNA phenotypes of C. elegans intestinal cells, whereas the A. suum cluster 2 phenotype was markedly unique. Distinct functional pathway enrichment characterized each A. suum intestinal cell cluster. Cluster 2 was distinctly enriched for Clade III-associated genes, suggesting it evolved within clade III nematodes. Clusters also demonstrated differential transcriptional responsiveness to nematode intestinal toxic treatments, with Cluster 2 displaying the least responses to short-term intra-pseudocoelomic nematode intestinal toxin treatments. Conclusions This investigation presents advances in knowledge related to biological differences among major cell populations of adult A. suum intestinal cells. For the first time, diverse nematode intestinal cell populations were characterized, and associated biological markers of these cells were identified to support tracking of constituent cells under experimental conditions. These advances will promote better understanding of this and other parasitic nematodes of global importance, and will help to guide future anthelmintic treatments.

Chemoprophylactic prevention of veterinary heartworm disease in companion animals, caused by the vector-borne nematode parasite Dirofilaria immitis, is a multi-billion-dollar global market. Experimental use of cats and dogs in preclinical heartworm drug testing is increasing due to evolving drug-resistance to frontline macrocyclic lactones and renewed investment in alternative preventative drug research. We and others recently published data demonstrating proof-of-concept of utilising lymphopenic severe-combined immunodeficient (SCID) or Recombination Activating Gene (RAG)2 deficient mice with additional knockout of the IL-2/7 receptor gamma chain (γc) as alternative preventative drug screening research models of dirofilariasis. Here we summarise the current knowledge of candidate immunodeficient mouse models tested, including a comparison of susceptibility using different background strains of mice, different D. immitis isolates, following use of anti-inflammatory treatments to further suppress residual innate immunity, and efficacies achieved against different reference anthelmintics. We supplement this precis with new data on treatment response to the veterinary anthelmintic, oxfendazole, and initial evaluation of D. immitis susceptibility in CB.17 SCID and C57BL/6 RAG2 -/-γc -/- mice. We conclude that in addition to NSG and NXG mice, RAG2 -/-γc -/- mice on either a BALB/c or C57BL/6 background offer an alternative screening model option, widening access to academic and commercial laboratories wishing to pursue initial rapid in vivo drug screening whilst avoiding potentially unnecessary cat or dog testing.

Fasciolosis caused by Fasciola hepatica is a major public health and economic problem worldwide. Due to the lack of a successful vaccine and emerging resistance to the drug triclabendazole, alternative phytotherapeutic approaches are being investigated. This study investigated the in vitro anthelmintic activity of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) essential oils (EOs) against F. hepatica. The in vitro study was based on an egg hatch assay (EHA), adult motility inhibition assays, DNA damage, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level along with several oxidative stress biomarkers including glutathione peroxidase (GSH), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). To this end, different concentrations of L. angustifolia and C. siliqua EOs (1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 mg/mL) were used to assess anthelmintic effects on different life stages including egg, and adults of F. hepatica for 24 hrs. The results indicated that these EOs play a significant role as anthelminthics, and the effect was dependent on time and concentration. The in vitro treatment of F. hepatica worms with both L. angustifolia and C. siliqua EOs increased DNA damage, ROS production and induction of oxidative stress (decreased SOD, GST and GSH, and increased MDA), significantly compared to control. Therefore, it can be concluded that L. angustifolia and C. siliqua EOs have the potential to be used as novel agents for the control and treatment of F. hepatica infections. Further studies are required to investigate their pharmacological potential and effectiveness in vivo for the treatment of parasitic infections. Author summary: Fasciolosis is a disease caused by a leaf-shaped trematode called Fasciola hepatica. This disease is becoming increasingly common in humans and has been reported on five continents. F. hepatica primarily infects the bile ducts of cattle, sheep and goats, causing significant economic losses to the global livestock industry. Unfortunately, this disease has been neglected and there is currently no commercially viable vaccine to prevent it. The main treatment for this disease is chemotherapy, with triclabendazole (TCBZ) being the drug of choice for controlling these parasites. However, there is growing concern about the increase in reports of drug resistance to TCBZ in parasites. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find alternative treatment methods. Natural herbal products give great hope as they contain a large reservoir of medicinal ingredients that are effectively used against various parasitic diseases. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the in vitro effect of essential oils of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) on F. hepatica. According to the findings of this study, L. angustifolia and C. siliqua essential oils (EOs) have significant effects as anthelmintics. The use of L. angustifolia and C. siliqua EOs in vitro significantly increased DNA damage, ROS production, and oxidative stress in F. hepatica worms. Therefore, it can be concluded that these EOs have the potential to be used as novel agents for the control and treatment of F. hepatica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID - 19 significantly caused impact in the academic performance of the students. Thus, this study was conducted to design a pedagogical model for the college Science Students with Microbiology and Parasitology in Flexible Learning Modality in selected Tertiary Education Institutions of Region 12. A Quantitative Evaluative Research Design was employed to provide a clear and concise overview of data patterns and distribution. A validated achievement test with the employment of KR20 used to evaluate the performance level of the respondents. An indepth interview of the selected participants on their experiences in Flexible Learning Modality was also performed. Findings of the study showed that the performance levels of Students in the content areas and cognitive skills were less mastered and found to be significantly different. These implied that the students' performance levels across the content areas and cognitive skills needed improvement with pedagogical adjustment. Hence, the MErick pedagogical model proposed to enhance teachers' pedagogy in College Microbiology and Parasitology in Flexible Learning Modality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Host contact zone dynamics can be influenced by parasites. • Luscinia nightingales have significantly different haemosporidian prevalence. • Differential prevalence did not change in sympatry versus allopatry. • Community structure was significantly different between hosts, even in sympatry. • Parasites are unlikely to drive contact zone dynamics in nightingales. Parasites are a key driving force behind many ecological and evolutionary processes. Prevalence and diversity of parasites, as well as their effects on hosts, are not uniform across host species. As such, the potential parasite spillover between species can significantly influence outcomes of interspecific interactions. We screened two species of Luscinia nightingales for haemosporidian blood parasites (Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon and Haemoproteus) along an approximately 3000 km transect in Europe, incorporating areas of host distant allopatry, close allopatry and sympatry. We found significant differences in infection rates between the two host species, with common nightingales having much lower parasite prevalence than thrush nightingales (36.7% versus 83.8%). This disparity was mostly driven by Haemoproteus prevalence, which was significantly higher in thrush nightingales while common nightingales had a small, but significantly higher, Plasmodium prevalence. Furthermore, we found no effect of proximity to the contact zone on infection rate in either host species. Despite having lower infection prevalence, common nightingales were infected with a significantly higher diversity of parasite lineages than thrush nightingales, and lineage assemblages differed considerably between the two species, even in sympatry. This pattern was mostly driven by the large diversity of comparatively rare lineages, while the most abundant lineages were shared between the two host species. This suggests that, despite the close evolutionary relationships between the two nightingales, there are significant differences in parasite prevalence and diversity, regardless of the distance from the contact zone. This suggests that spillover of haemosporidian blood parasites is unlikely to contribute towards interspecific interactions in this system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This case report offers a comprehensive analysis of the clinical symptoms, radiological findings, and postmortem examinations of three green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) investigated for spirorchiidiasis. These findings highlight the complexity and severity of the disease, emphasizing the presence of systemic, granulomatous inflammation, and its impact on the overall health of sea turtles. This study advocates for continuous research and conservation efforts to mitigate the impact of spirorchiidiasis on marine turtles. Despite the precarious state of marine turtles as a highly endangered species, our understanding of their diseases remains limited. This case report presents a detailed pathological investigation of spirorchiidiasis, a blood fluke infection that poses a substantial threat to marine turtles. This retrospective study examined three cases of spirorchiid-infected sea turtles, specifically, green sea turtles stranded on Jeju Island, South Korea. Premortem examination of the three spirorchiid-infected green sea turtles demonstrated nonspecific clinical symptoms; blood analysis revealed dehydration, malnutrition, and anemia. Computed tomography scans provided insights into severe pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations, including the mass present in the joint region. Post-mortem examinations consistently indicated severe lung lesions and systemic manifestations, with histopathological examination confirming the presence of spirorchiid ova across various organs. Despite the global prevalence of spirorchiidiasis in sea turtles, disease severity varies regionally. This report provides a detailed demonstration of the pathology of spirorchiidiasis in sea turtles from Northeast Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasites are ubiquitous, diverse, and have close interactions with humans and other animals. Despite this, they have not garnered significant interest from forensic scientists, and their utility as indicators in criminal investigations has been largely overlooked. To foster the development of forensic parasitology we explore the utility of parasites as forensic indicators in five broad areas: (i) wildlife trafficking and exploitation, (ii) biological attacks, (iii) sex crimes, (iv) criminal neglect of humans and other animals, and (v) indicators of movement and travel. To encourage the development and growth of forensic parasitology as a field, we lay out a four-step roadmap to increase the use and utility of parasites in criminal investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Filariasis is recognised as a global public health threat, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. It is caused by infection with a nematode parasite of the superfamily Filarioidea, including Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, Onchocerca volvulus, and Onchocerca lupi. Three main types of filariasis have been classified: lymphatic filariasis, subcutaneous filariasis, and serous cavity filariasis. The symptoms exhibited by individuals afflicted with filariasis are diverse and contingent upon several variables, including the species of parasite, the host's health and immune response, and the stage of infection. While many classical parasitological techniques are considered indispensable tools for the diagnosis of parasitic infections in humans, alternative methods are being sought due to their limitations. Novel tests based on host–parasite interactions offer a rapid, simple, sensitive, and specific diagnostic tool in comparison to traditional parasitological methods. This article presents methods developed in the 21st century for the diagnosis of filariasis caused by invasion from W. bancrofti, B. malayi, O. volvulus, and O. lupi, as well as techniques that are currently in use. The development of modern diagnostic methods based on molecular biology constitutes a significant advancement in the fight against filariasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To better construct teaching resources, enhance real-time interaction and feedback between teachers and students in and out of class, and improve the teaching quality of parasitology, our team set up a WeChat public account I love Parasitology. METHODS: The data sources were mainly from original pictures and multimedia materials of different parasites collected and produced by our team, as well as related materials collected from traditional publications and digital media. With the instant interactive platform, course schedules and corresponding teaching contents were sent by push notifications, case-based learning was carried out, and 2-way communication between students and teachers was achieved. Teaching effectiveness was assessed using a self-evaluation questionnaire. RESULTS: A WeChat public account suitable for our daily teaching of parasitology was established. The second recursion and implementation of the learning resources allowed students to conduct in-depth reading and get unrestricted access to high-quality resources through the public account. In addition, all contents were in digital forms and made the original resources reborn, which would make up for our current and future shortage of physical teaching specimens. Moreover, the results from the questionnaire indicated that all these actions encouraged students to master theoretical knowledge, improved their abilities of case analysis and communication, and increased their knowledge of academic progress. CONCLUSION: Our WeChat public account can provide excellent learning materials for students and is a good supplement to the routine education of human parasitology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leishmania, the dixenous trypanosomatid parasites, are the causative agents of leishmaniasis currently divided into four subgenera: Leishmania, Viannia, Sauroleishmania, and the recently described Mundinia, consisting of six species distributed sporadically all over the world infecting humans and/or animals. These parasites infect various mammalian species and also cause serious human diseases, but their reservoirs are unknown. Thus, adequate laboratory models are needed to enable proper research of Mundinia parasites. In this complex study, we compared experimental infections of five Mundinia species (L. enriettii, L. macropodum, L. chancei, L. orientalis, and four strains of L. martiniquensis) in three rodent species: BALB/c mouse, Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus) and steppe lemming (Lagurus lagurus). Culture-derived parasites were inoculated intradermally into the ear pinnae and progress of infection was monitored for 20 weeks, when the tissues and organs of animals were screened for the presence and quantity of Leishmania. Xenodiagnoses with Phlebotomus duboscqi were performed at weeks 5, 10, 15 and 20 post-infection to test the infectiousness of the animals throughout the experiment. BALB/c mice showed no signs of infection and were not infectious to sand flies, while Chinese hamsters and steppe lemmings proved susceptible to all five species of Mundinia tested, showing a wide spectrum of disease signs ranging from asymptomatic to visceral. Mundinia induced significantly higher infection rates in steppe lemmings compared to Chinese hamsters, and consequently steppe lemmings were more infectious to sand flies: In all groups tested, they were infectious from the 5th to the 20th week post infection. In conclusion, we identified two rodent species, Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus) and steppe lemming (Lagurus lagurus), as candidates for laboratory models for Mundinia allowing detailed studies of these enigmatic parasites. Furthermore, the long-term survival of all Mundinia species in steppe lemmings and their infectiousness to vectors support the hypothesis that some rodents have the potential to serve as reservoir hosts for Mundinia. Author summary: Leishmania parasites of the subgenus Mundinia are an emerging health and veterinary problem that should not be ignored. Being the most recent of all Leishmania described, many aspects of Mundinia biology are enigmatic. We have very scarce data on their life cycles and biology, thus proper laboratory research must be done to enable their better understanding. One of the most crucial parts of the life cycle of Leishmania is the development in the mammalian host. In the past, we worked on establishment of other laboratory models for the subgenus, but neither Arvicanthis, Mastomys, nor guinea pigs proved to be a good choice. Other authors performed experiments with BALB/c mice using various inoculation techniques, but they also failed. Here we describe the establishment of two new potential laboratory model species, Chinese hamsters and steppe lemmings, which proved to be susceptible to Mundinia and such findings will enable other scientists to continue in research of these parasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ichthyophthirius multifiliis , the causative agent of white spot disease, is a ciliated protozoan parasite that infects freshwater fish and induces high mortality. Outbreaks occur both in natural and production sites. The aim of the present study was to describe the lesions caused by chronic infection by I. multifiliis in goldfish (Carassius auratus) from an ornamental fish farm, highlighting important ultrastructural aspects of this protozoan. Damaged skin and gills, collected from fish with white or ulcerative skin lesions, were routinely processed for histological analysis and transmission electron microscopy. The parasitic forms present in the skin were associated with an inflammatory infiltrate consisting of macrophages, lymphocytes and other polymorphonuclear cells. The lesions associated with the presence of the parasite were organized in the form of granulomas, with macrophages in the layers closest to the parasites. A trophont-thickened membrane and induction of granulomatous inflammation were identified in this study as mechanisms for evasion of the immune response. We concluded that the presence of I. multifiliis trophonts resulted in the formation of granulomatous inflammation, whether associated or not with pathogen lysis, suggesting that the parasite can use an inflammatory response to evade the immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a significant protozoan pathogen among food animals. Despite the threat to public health by T. gondii infections, there's limited understanding of its seroprevalence and trends in food animals across mainland China. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infections among swine, sheep, goats, chickens, and cattle in mainland China from 2010 to 2023. Methods: We searched cross-sectional studies published between 2010 and 2023 that reported the prevalence of T. gondii in food animals from databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China Biology Medicine Disc (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang data, and the China Science and Technology Journal Database (CQVIP). We performed subgroup analyses to explore the impact of different factors on the seroprevalence of T. gondii. Pooled estimates of T. gondii seroprevalence were calculated with a random-effectsmodel. Results: An analysis of 184 studies involving 211985 animals revealed a T. gondii overall seroprevalence of 15.3% (95% CI: 13.1-17.8). Although the seroprevalence of food animals across mainland China was relatively stable from 2010 to 2023, notable variations were observed across different animal types and regions (P < 0.01), along with changes in geographical distribution. Sample type, detection method, animal age, and history of abortion were identified as key risk factors for T. gondii seroprevalence. Conclusion: The study conducted a meta-analysis on the seroprevalence of T. gondii in mainland China's Food Animals from 2010 to 2023, and identified key risk factors. These findings advance our understanding of T. gondii infection dynamics, offering critical insights for developing control strategies and guiding public health policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parasitic nematodes, significant pathogens for humans, animals, and plants, depend on diverse organ systems for intra-host survival. Understanding the cellular diversity and molecular variations underlying these functions holds promise for developing novel therapeutics, with specific emphasis on the neuromuscular system's functional diversity. The nematode intestine, crucial for anthelmintic therapies, exhibits diverse cellular phenotypes, and unraveling this diversity at the single-cell level is essential for advancing knowledge in anthelmintic research across various organ systems. Results: Here, using novel single-cell transcriptomics datasets, we delineate cellular diversity within the intestine of adult female Ascaris suum, a parasitic nematode species that infects animals and people. Gene transcripts expressed in individual nuclei of untreated intestinal cells resolved three phenotypic clusters, while lower stringency resolved additional subclusters and more potential diversity. Clusters 1 and 3 phenotypes displayed variable congruence with scRNA phenotypes of C. elegans intestinal cells, whereas the A. suum cluster 2 phenotype was markedly unique. Distinct functional pathway enrichment characterized each A. suum intestinal cell cluster. Cluster 2 was distinctly enriched for Clade III-associated genes, suggesting it evolved within clade III nematodes. Clusters also demonstrated differential transcriptional responsiveness to nematode intestinal toxic treatments, with Cluster 2 displaying the least responses to short-term intra-pseudocoelomic nematode intestinal toxin treatments. Conclusions: This investigation presents advances in knowledge related to biological differences among major cell populations of adult A. suum intestinal cells. For the first time, diverse nematode intestinal cell populations were characterized, and associated biological markers of these cells were identified to support tracking of constituent cells under experimental conditions. These advances will promote better understanding of this and other parasitic nematodes of global importance, and will help to guide future anthelmintic treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With growing use of parasitological tests to detect malaria and decreasing incidence of the disease in Africa; it becomes necessary to increase the understanding of causes of non-malaria acute febrile illness (NMAFI) towards providing appropriate case management. This research investigates causes of NMAFI in pediatric out-patients in rural Guinea-Bissau. Methods: Children 0-5 years presenting acute fever (≥38°) or history of fever, negative malaria rapid diagnostic test (mRDT) and no signs of specific disease were recruited at the out-patient clinic of 3 health facilities in Bafatá province during 54 consecutive weeks (dry and rainy season). Medical history was recorded and blood, nasopharyngeal, stool and urine samples were collected and tested for the presence of 38 different potential aetiological causes of fever. Results: Samples from 741 children were analysed, the protocol was successful in determining a probable aetiological cause of acute fever in 544 (73.61%) cases. Respiratory viruses were the most frequently identified pathogens, present in the nasopharynx samples of 435 (58.86%) cases, followed by bacteria detected in 167 (22.60%) samples. Despite presenting negative mRDTs, P. falciparum was identified in samples of 24 (3.25%) patients. Conclusions: This research provides a description of the aetiological causes of NMAFI in West African context. Evidence of viral infections were more commonly found than bacteria or parasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Decreasing antiparasitic efficacy of triclabendazole for controlling Fasciola hepatica in dairy cows in the Cajamarca Valley (Peru) has been reported. Objective: To determine the efficacy of four anthelmintic agents across a broader area of Cajamarca province. Methods: Four livestock farms were selected from three provinces in the Cajamarca region. Within each farm, 60 female cattle naturally infected with F. hepatica were chosen. Each farm was divided into four homogeneous groups based on individual animals and parasite burden. The groups were: triclabendazole (12 mg/kg of BW, VO), clorsulon/ivermectin (2 mg/kg and 0.2 mg/kg of BW, SC, respectively), closantel (10 mg/kg of BW, VO), and nitroxynil (10 mg/kg of BW, SC). Efficacy was determined following WAAVP guidelines by measuring the reduction in trematode egg shedding on day 30 post-dosing. Results: Triclabendazole demonstrated insufficient activity through FERCT and CPCR assessments across all four farms. The clorsulon/ivermectin and closantel groups exhibited high efficacy in all farms, while nitroxynil showed varying efficacy results in both types of analysis. Conclusions: Triclabendazole exhibited insufficient activity against F. hepatica. Clorsulon/ivermectin, closantel, and nitroxynil are viable alternatives with promising outcomes for controlling this trematode in the evaluated provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Straelensia cynotis is a trombidioid mite that causes painful, usually nonpruritic nodular dermatitis mainly in the dorsal region of dogs. This case report describes the first observation of feline straelensiosis in Europe with clinicopathological findings. Molecular characterisation of the parasite was performed and compared with mites collected from dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Summa, Animali da Reddito is the property of Point Veterinaire Italie s.r.l. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Summa, Animali da Reddito is the property of Point Veterinaire Italie s.r.l. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In both humans and mice, natural killer (NK) cells are important lymphocytes of the innate immune system. They are often considered pro-inflammatory effector cells but may also have a regulatory or pro-resolving function by switching their cytokine profile towards the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β, and by killing pro-inflammatory immune cells. Here, the role of NK cells in the resolution of malaria lung pathology was studied. Malaria complications, such as malaria-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (MA-ARDS), are often lethal despite the rapid and efficient killing of Plasmodium parasites with antimalarial drugs. Hence, studying the resolution and healing mechanisms involved in the recovery from these complications could be useful to develop adjunctive treatments. Treatment of Plasmodium berghei NK65-infected C57BL/6 mice with a combination of artesunate and chloroquine starting at the appearance of symptoms was used as a model to study the resolution of MA-ARDS. The role of NK cells was studied using anti-NK1.1 depletion antibodies and NK cell-deficient mice. Using both methods, NK cells were found to be dispensable in the development of MA-ARDS, as shown previously. In contrast, NK cells were crucial in the initiation of resolution upon antimalarial treatment, as survival was significantly decreased in the absence of NK cells. Considerably increased IL-10 expression by NK cells suggested an anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving phenotype. Despite the increase in Il10 expression in the NK cells, inhibition of the IL-10/IL-10R axis using anti-IL10R antibodies had no effect on the resolution for MA-ARDS, suggesting that the pro-resolving effect of NK cells cannot solely be attributed to their IL-10 production. In conclusion, NK cells contribute to the resolution of experimental MA-ARDS.

Chemoprophylactic prevention of veterinary heartworm disease in companion animals, caused by the vector-borne nematode parasite Dirofilaria immitis, is a multi-billion-dollar global market. Experimental use of cats and dogs in preclinical heartworm drug testing is increasing due to evolving drug-resistance to frontline macrocyclic lactones and renewed investment in alternative preventative drug research. We and others recently published data demonstrating proof-of-concept of utilising lymphopenic severe-combined immunodeficient (SCID) or Recombination Activating Gene (RAG)2 deficient mice with additional knockout of the IL-2/7 receptor gamma chain (γc) as alternative preventative drug screening research models of dirofilariasis. Here we summarise the current knowledge of candidate immunodeficient mouse models tested, including a comparison of susceptibility using different background strains of mice, different D. immitis isolates, following use of anti-inflammatory treatments to further suppress residual innate immunity, and efficacies achieved against different reference anthelmintics. We supplement this precis with new data on treatment response to the veterinary anthelmintic, oxfendazole, and initial evaluation of D. immitis susceptibility in CB.17 SCID and C57BL/6 RAG2-/-γc-/- mice. We conclude that in addition to NSG and NXG mice, RAG2-/-γc-/- mice on either a BALB/c or C57BL/6 background offer an alternative screening model option, widening access to academic and commercial laboratories wishing to pursue initial rapid in vivo drug screening whilst avoiding potentially unnecessary cat or dog testing.

Summary: In this study, we assessed the quality of de novo genome assemblies for three species of parasitic nematodes (Brugia malayi, Trichuris trichiura, and Ancylostoma caninum) generated using only Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION data. Assemblies were compared to current reference genomes and against additional assemblies that were supplemented with short-read Illumina data through polishing or hybrid assembly approaches. For each species, assemblies generated using only MinION data had similar or superior measures of contiguity, completeness, and gene content. In terms of gene composition, depending on the species, between 88.9 and 97.6% of complete coding sequences predicted in MinION data only assemblies were identical to those predicted in assemblies polished with Illumina data. Polishing MinION data only assemblies with Illumina data therefore improved gene-level accuracy to a degree. Furthermore, modified DNA extraction and library preparation protocols produced sufficient genomic DNA from B. malayi and T. trichiura to generate de novo assemblies from individual specimens.

ABSTRACT Diarrheal diseases with infectious etiology remain a major cause of death globally, particularly in low-income countries. Entamoeba histolytica is a pathogenic protozoan parasite that is the causative agent of amebiasis. Amebiasis has a wide presentation in clinical severity with many factors, including the bacterial microbiota, contributing to this variation. The innate immune response also plays a critical role in regulating the severity of E. histolytica infection, with neutrophils reported to have a protective role. Despite this, the precise mechanism of how neutrophils mediate amebic killing is poorly understood. Thus, modern platforms that allow for inquiry of granulocyte–ameba interactions will increase our understanding of this disease. Herein, we describe an assay for neutrophil killing of E. histolytica by utilizing high-dimensional spectral flow cytometry. Neutrophils were isolated from wild-type 5-week-old C57BL/6 mice and co-cultured with E. histolytica at various multiplicity of infections (MOIs). After co-culture, neutrophils and E. histolytica were stained for spectral flow cytometry. Cell populations were identified using surface markers and fluorescence minus one (FMO) controls. We have previously shown that animals colonized with a component of the human microbiota, Clostridium scindens, were protected from E. histolytica. This protection was associated with elevated neutrophil count. Here, we explored amebic killing capacity and observed that neutrophils from animals with C. scindens possessed heightened amebic killing compared with controls. Thus, this study establishes a novel platform that can provide an in-depth analysis of granulocyte–parasite interactions in various contexts, including during alteration of the intestinal microbiota.IMPORTANCEThe tools for studying host immune cell–E. histolytica interactions are limited. Factors, such as parasite heterogeneity, infectivity, and difficulties with culture systems and animal models, make interrogation of these interactions challenging. Thus, Entamoeba researchers can benefit from next-generation models that allow for the analysis of both host and parasite cells. Here, we demonstrate the use of a novel platform that allows for the determination of parasite–host cell interactions and customizable high-dimensional phenotyping of both populations. Indeed, spectral flow cytometry can approach >40 markers on a single panel and can be paired with custom-developed parasite antibodies that can be conjugated to fluorochromes via commercially available kits. This platform affords researchers the capability to test highly precise hypotheses regarding host–parasite interactions.

This document is an editorial from the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science titled "Wildlife parasitology: emerging diseases and neglected parasites." The editorial highlights the importance of research in the field of wildlife parasitology and provides a summary of the articles included in the research topic. The articles cover a wide range of parasitic infections in various wildlife species from different regions of the world. The editorial emphasizes the need for One Health approaches to address these parasitic infections and acknowledges the contributions of wildlife parasitologists in advancing knowledge in this field. [Extracted from the article]

For endoparasitic infestations of dogs, drugs based on levamisole hydrochloride are used. That is why the purpose of the work was to conduct a field study to evaluate the effectiveness of the studied drug “Levamizole O.L.KAR 10 %” and the reference drug “Levamizole-plus 10 %” against endoparasitic infestations of dogs of different breeds, ages, and sexes. According to the results of a parasitological examination of the dogs of the experimental and control groups, endoparasites established spontaneous damage, the causative agents of nematodes of the alimentary canal: species Toxocara canis with an intensity of invasion (II) from 110 to 180 eggs in one gram of feces (EGF) with an average intensity of invasion of 149.0 ± 5.62 EGF, species Toxascaris leonina with an intensity of invasion from 75 to 131 EGF with an average intensity of invasion of 104.4 ± 4.85 EGF and the species Ancylostoma caninum with an intensity of invasion from 48 to 92 EGF with an average intensity of invasion of 69.9 ± 3.71 EGF. Clinically, nematodes of the alimentary canal in dogs were manifested by poor appetite, depressed state, pallor of mucous membranes, mild diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss observed in some animals. Based on the obtained results, it was established that the studied drug “Levamizol O.L.KAR 10 %” and the reference drug “Levamizol-plus 10 %” when deworming dogs have a pronounced nematodocidal effect against endoparasites of the alimentary canal, which are caused by the following species: Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonine, Ancylostoma caninum. Thus, the effectiveness of the studied drug “Levamizol O.L.KAR 10 %” for spontaneous toxocariasis infestation in dogs on the seventh day after deworming was 93 %. The reference drug “Levamizol-plus 10 %” was 91 %, and on the 14th day after deworming the animals, the effectiveness of the drugs was 100 %. For spontaneous toxascarosis infestation in dogs, the efficacy of the studied drug “Levamizol O.L.KAR 10 %” on the seventh day after deworming was 95 %. The reference drug “Levamizol-plus 10 %” was 94.4%, and on the 14th day after deworming the animals, the effectiveness of the drugs was 100 %. Helminthological studies have established that for spontaneous hookworm infestation in dogs on the 7th and 14th day after deworming with the study drug and the comparison drug in the recommended doses, the effectiveness of veterinary drugs was 100 %. Field tests showed that the studied drug “Levamizol O.L.KAR 10 %” and the reference drug “Levamizol-plus 10 %” when administered once orally in the recommended doses of the manufacturer, are well tolerated by animals regardless of breed, age, sex, and body weight, not have a toxic effect on the body of animals and are effective against nematodes of the alimentary canal in dogs.

Introduction: Specialized training is the most crucial turning point of education in obtaining the professions related to medical sciences. Peer learning has advantages, including saving time and eliminating the limitations of traditional education. The purpose of current educational program during the COVID19 pandemic was to reduce students’ stress and more accepted in the parasitology PhD exam. Method: Faculty members and MsC Students in the Department of Medical Parasitology, Yazd medical university, performed the present developmental study based on the reference books and curriculum. First, a training virtual platform was designe using a topic, picture, video of a parasite or parasitic diseases between the learners under the supervision of all the scientific members. Learners designed questions and their answers for each title in the virtual platform. In the end, to help the students to participate in the PhD exam, two virtual pre-exams were also designed. Finally, the satisfaction level of faculty members and students, as wll as their stress level's was evaluate using Excel software. Results: Of 25 student participants, six succeeded in the first stage and finally, three of them were accepted in the second stage of the parasitology Ph.D. exam in the 2021-2022 academic years. Implementation of this peer learning method was also effective in reducing the stress level of students in the Ph.D. exam. Conclusion: Considering the success of the peer learning program using virtual learning in current study and more passing in the Ph.D. exam, it suggests that this plan will be implemented in other educational groups with postgraduate education.

Lophomonas are flagellated protozoa that have been increasingly associated with upper and lower airway infection in humans. The prevalence and characterization of this disease in the critically ill remains poorly understood. We present a series of eleven ICU patients with confirmed Lophomonas spp. identification in respiratory samples.

Chemoprophylactic prevention of veterinary heartworm disease in companion animals, caused by the vector-borne nematode parasite Dirofilaria immitis, is a multi-billion-dollar global market. Experimental use of cats and dogs in preclinical heartworm drug testing is increasing due to evolving drug-resistance to frontline macrocyclic lactones and renewed investment in alternative preventative drug research. We and others recently published data demonstrating proof-of-concept of utilising lymphopenic severe-combined immunodeficient (SCID) or Recombination Activating Gene (RAG)2 deficient mice with additional knockout of the IL-2/7 receptor gamma chain (γc) as alternative preventative drug screening research models of dirofilariasis. Here we summarise the current knowledge of candidate immunodeficient mouse models tested, including a comparison of susceptibility using different background strains of mice, different D. immitis isolates, following use of anti-inflammatory treatments to further suppress residual innate immunity, and efficacies achieved against different reference anthelmintics. We supplement this precis with new data on treatment response to the veterinary anthelmintic, oxfendazole, and initial evaluation of D. immitis susceptibility in CB.17 SCID and C57BL/6 RAG2 -/-γc -/- mice. We conclude that in addition to NSG and NXG mice, RAG2 -/-γc -/- mice on either a BALB/c or C57BL/6 background offer an alternative screening model option, widening access to academic and commercial laboratories wishing to pursue initial rapid in vivo drug screening whilst avoiding potentially unnecessary cat or dog testing.

The aim of this study was to investigate how the activity of cattle under natural grazing conditions is related to their individual parasite contribution (IPC). Potentially, the individuals contributing the most to the contamination of the pasture with gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) could then be identified and selectively treated based on sensor data thresholds. A total of 58 steers of the dairy breeds Swedish Red (SR, n = 19) and Swedish Holstein (SH, n = 39) were used for sensor-based data collection that lasted for a total of 10 weeks from 4 May to 13 July 2022. All steers were inoculated with a priming dose of nematode larvae and weighed in conjunction with the pasture release. The animals were then divided into four experimental groups and treated with ivermectin (IVM PO, Boehringer Ingelheim, 0.5 mg/kg BW) at different intervals to obtain an exposure contrast (Group A was left untreated, Group B/IVM PO-4w was treated after 4 weeks, Group C/IVM PO-8w was treated after 8 weeks, and Group D/IVM PO-4&8w was treated after 4 weeks and then after 8 weeks). The steers were weighed on four further occasions, during which faecal samples were also taken for parasite testing. Activity data were collected using leg-mounted IceQube sensors and body weight data and faecal samples were collected bi-weekly. The new threshold metric (IPC) was proposed for individuals with different faecal egg count (FEC) levels [NO (no contribution) <20 EPG, LO (low contribution) = 20–150 EPG, ME (medium contribution) = 150–250 EPG, and HI (high contribution) ≥250 EPG] The effects of IPC on activity patterns were analysed stepwise using a Generalised Estimating Equations model implemented in Python programming language. Results showed significant effects of different IPC values on motion index and number of steps taken (adjusted p-value of 0.008, 0.018, 0.041, and 0.001 for individuals with NO, LO, ME, and HI IPC values, respectively). There were some breed effects on the average number of steps and minutes spent lying. The results also provide alternative threshold methods aimed at finding more sustainable ways of using anthelmintics and integrating individual data into future parasite control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild terrestrial carnivores play a crucial role as reservoir, maintenance, and spillover hosts for a wide parasite variety. They may harbor, shed, and transmit zoonotic parasites and parasites of veterinary importance for domestic hosts. Although wild carnivores are globally distributed and comprise many different species, some living in close proximity to human settlements, only a few studies have investigated parasites of wild terrestrial carnivores using non-specific techniques. Access to samples of wild carnivores may be challenging as some species are protected, and others are secretive, possibly explaining the data paucity. Considering the importance of wild carnivores' health and ecological role, combined with the lack of specific diagnostic methodologies, this review aims to offer an overview of the diagnostic methods for parasite investigation in wild terrestrial carnivores, providing the precise techniques for collection and analysis of fecal, blood, and tissue samples, the environmental impact on said samples, and the limitations researchers currently face in analyzing samples of wild terrestrial carnivores. In addition, this paper offers some crucial information on how different environmental factors affect parasite detection postmortem and how insects can be used to estimate the time of death with a specific highlight on insect larvae. The paper contains a literature review of available procedures and emphasizes the need for diagnostic method standardization in wild terrestrial carnivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathogen genomic epidemiology has the potential to provide a deep understanding of population dynamics, facilitating strategic planning of interventions, monitoring their impact, and enabling timely responses, and thereby supporting control and elimination efforts of parasitic tropical diseases. Plasmodium vivax, responsible for most malaria cases outside Africa, shows high genetic diversity at the population level, driven by factors like sub‐patent infections, a hidden reservoir of hypnozoites, and early transmission to mosquitoes. While Latin America has made significant progress in controlling Plasmodium falciparum, it faces challenges with residual P. vivax. To characterize genetic diversity and population structure and dynamics, we have analyzed the largest collection of P. vivax genomes to date, including 1474 high‐quality genomes from 31 countries across Asia, Africa, Oceania, and America. While P. vivax shows high genetic diversity globally, Latin American isolates form a distinctive population, which is further divided into sub‐populations and occasional clonal pockets. Genetic diversity within the continent was associated with the intensity of transmission. Population differentiation exists between Central America and the North Coast of South America, vs. the Amazon Basin, with significant gene flow within the Amazon Basin, but limited connectivity between the Northwest Coast and the Amazon Basin. Shared genomic regions in these parasite populations indicate adaptive evolution, particularly in genes related to DNA replication, RNA processing, invasion, and motility – crucial for the parasite's survival in diverse environments. Understanding these population‐level adaptations is crucial for effective control efforts, offering insights into potential mechanisms behind drug resistance, immune evasion, and transmission dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) have received increased attention in the sciences, with increasing expectation that students will receive formal training in this area. However, compared with other biosciences, little guidance has been produced for parasitology educators. Therefore, this article presents the contents and evaluation of pilot training designed for postgraduates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Erinaceus is commonly found in rescue centres across the European continent despite the reported decline in some countries. Parasite infections are frequently detected in rescued hedgehogs, leading to increased morbidity and mortality and consequently conditioning their recovery. Some of the most frequent parasites include respiratory nematodes, such as Crenosoma striatum and Capillaria spp., which may lead to important pneumonia. Moreover, some of these agents have zoonotic potential, such as Cryptosporidium spp., Sarcoptes spp., and several species of ticks and fleas, which may transmit different vector-borne pathogens. This review provides a brief guide on hedgehogs' internal and external parasitology, as well as some suggestions for diagnosis and treatment that are relevant for wildlife veterinarians, biologists and other researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The life history of a parasite describes its partitioning of assimilated resources into growth, reproduction, and transmission effort, and its precise timing of developmental events. The life cycle, in contrast, charts the sequence of morphological stages from feeding to the transmission forms. Phenotypic plasticity in life history traits can reveal how parasites confront variable environments within hosts. Within the protist phylum Apicomplexa major clades include the malaria parasites, coccidians, and most diverse, the gregarines (with likely millions of species). Studies on life history variation of gregarines are rare. Therefore, life history traits were examined for the gregarine Monocystis perplexa in its host, the invasive earthworm Amynthas agrestis at three sites in northern Vermont, United States of America. An important value of this system is the short life-span of the hosts, with only seven months from hatching to mass mortality; we were thus able to examine life history variation during the entire life cycle of both host and parasite. Earthworms were collected (N = 968 over 33 sample periods during one host season), then parasites of all life stages were counted, and sexual and transmission stages measured, for each earthworm. All traits varied substantially among individual earthworm hosts and across the sites. Across sites, timing of first appearance of infected earthworms, date when transmission stage (oocysts packed within gametocysts) appeared, date when number of both feeding (trophic) cells and gametocysts were at maximum, and date when 100% of earthworms were infected differed from 2-8 weeks, surprising variation for a short season available for parasite development. The maximal size of mating cells varied among hosts and across sites and this is reflected in the number of oocysts produced by the gametocyst. A negative trade-off was observed for the number of oocysts and their size. Several patterns were striking: (1) Prevalence reached 100% at all sites by mid season, only one to three weeks after parasites first appeared in the earthworms. (2) The number of parasites per host was large, reaching 300 × 10³ cells in some hosts, and such high numbers were present even when parasites first appeared in the host. (3) At one site, few infected earthworms produced any oocysts. (4) The transmission rate to reach such high density of parasites in hosts needed to be very high for a microbe, from >0.33% to >34.3% across the three sites. Monocystis was one of the first protist parasites to have its life cycle described (early 19th century), but these results suggest the long-accepted life cycle of Monocystis could be incomplete, such that the parasites may be transmitted vertically (within the earthworm's eggs) as well as horizontally (leading to 100% prevalence) and merogony (asexual replication) could be present, not recognized for Monocystis, leading to high parasitemia even very early in the host's season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ascariasis caused by the helminth Ascaris suum is the most common parasitosis of swine worldwide and it may involve all age categories of pigs. The present study reports an unusual localization of A.suum worms in the biliary system of a piglet slaughtered for human consumption. Methods: The liver was subjected to ultrasound scan and pathological examination. The isolated worms were morphologically examined and the DNA was extracted for the molecular identification of the species involved. Results: A total of 43 preadult nematodes were found within the gallbladder and the bile ducts. Parasites were morphologically identified as belonging to the genus Ascaris and molecularly as A. suum. At gross examination, the liver was moderately enlarged, with the bile ducts severely dilated. A chronic inflammatory infiltrate was noted, often centered around ectatic bile ducts (up to 5 mm in diameter), lined by hyperplastic epithelium and filled with sections of nematodes. The worm sections showed smooth cuticle, coelomyarian musculature, and an intestinal tract lined by columnar, uninucleated cells within a pseudocoelom. The ex vivo ultrasonographic examination of the liver allowed the visualization of several nematodes in the bile duct lumen and could be suggested for in vivo diagnosis. Unfortunately, the absence of the intestine did not allow to define the pathogenesis of the infection. Conclusion: Although, given the unusual nature of this finding, it is difficult to identify predisposing factors for this A. suum localization, it suggests that ascariasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pigs with hepatobiliary disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many zoonotic parasitic diseases, including Toxocara cati, may be spread by stray cat populations. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of parasites by performing parasitological and histopathological examinations on stray cats in Shiraz, Iran. A total of 106 stray cats from different geographical areas of Shiraz, southern Iran, were examined for the presence of parasites. The overall prevalence was found to be 83.02% (88/106), and eight parasites were found. The parasites included three genera of cestodes [Joyeuxiella echinorhynoides (52.83%), Taenia taeniaeformis (21.70%), and Dipylidium caninum (1.89%)], three nematodes [Physaloptera praeputialis (23.59%), Toxocara cati (15.09%), and Rictularia sp. (1.89%)], one protozoa [Isospora spp. (6.60%)], and one arthropod [Ctenocephalides felis (5.66%)]. The prevalence did not significantly differ between males and females. It did appear, nevertheless, that the age of cats may be regarded as a risk factor for these parasitic infections. Histopathological examination revealed some parasite-induced lesions in the intestine and stomach, including hyperemia, hemorrhage, mucosal destruction and inflammation. The lung tissues showed some histopathological lesions such as hemorrhage, edema, emphysema and mild inflammation, and dormant larvae were found in one tongue sample. The results of the present study showed that parasitic infections and, more importantly, T. cati are relatively prevalent in stray cats, and the people living in this area are at serious risk of this zoonotic disease. The cats in this region need to be monitored, and specific preventive measures should be developed by public health officials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A weak dromedary calf with signs of prematurity was born in April of 2023 to a healthy multiparous camel with a good body condition. The calf was diagnosed strongly positive to Trypanosoma evansi by haematocrit centrifugation technique (immediately after birth). The mother at that time was asymptomatic and negative by haematocrit centrifugation technique and PCR of blood. Indirect ELISA of the calf's serum before colostrum ingestion showed negligible levels of antibodies. However, 12 hours after colostrum ingestion and without any treatment, the levels of antibodies increased significantly, which coincided with negative haematocrit centrifugation technique. This indicates a possible role of colostral antibodies in neutralising the trypanosomes in the calf's blood. Examination of the placenta showed placentitis, and PCR confirmed a positive result for Trypanosoma nucleic acid. The importance of vertical transmission in maintaining the infection in a herd is discussed, as well as the role of colostrum in decreasing calf mortalities due to trypanosomosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ParSCo (Parasitology Summer Course) is an intense, 1-week-long summer course organized by the Parasitology Unit of the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Italy, with the support of the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP), the European Veterinary Parasitology College (EVPC) and Parasites and Vectors. The course, which is conducted in southern Italy, is planned for parasitologists and post-graduate students working in the field of parasitology. The course consists of theoretical and practical lessons, which include the collection, identification and diagnosis of parasites of pets, livestock and wildlife. The participants in ParSCo are afforded the opportunity to be involved in clinical examination and sample collection for the diagnosis of parasitic diseases (e.g. leishmaniosis, thelaziosis and many tick-borne diseases) present in the Mediterranean Basin. The course is conducted at Casa di Caccia, a hunting lodge situated in the Gallipoli Cognato Forest near the Basento River in the Basilicata region in southern Italy. In addition to the training purpose, ParSCo is a great opportunity for sharing knowledge and expertise while becoming part of the parasitology community in a pleasant environment. In this editorial, we share some information and celebrate 10 years of ParSCo, looking forward to forthcoming sessions of this unique parasitology summer course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]