Pub Date : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2026.103243
Nguyen Thi Thu Hang , Vo Quang Vinh , Nguyen Dac Dai , Nguyen Thi Quynh , Nguyen Manh Hung , Nguyen Thi Hong Nhung , Sho Shirakashi , Nguyen Ngoc Chinh
During a survey of myxosporean parasites infecting freshwater fishes in the Mekong River Delta, Vietnam, myxospores of the genus Henneguya were discovered in the gills of the giant gourami Osphronemus goramy Lacepède (Anabantiformes: Osphronemidae). White, spherical plasmodia were found within the gill lamellae of 10 out of 25 examined fish (40% prevalence) and measured 650–950 μm in diameter. Mature myxospores are elongate with two equal caudal appendages, and measure 68.5 ± 3.4 (64.8–79.4) μm in total length. The spore body measures 16.3 ± 0.9 (15.0–18.1) μm in length, 5.6 ± 0.3 (5.1–6.0) μm in width, and 4.8 ± 0.2 (4.5–5.0) μm in thickness. Each caudal appendage is 51.6 ± 3.3 (46.5–58.9) μm in length. The spore wall is smooth, and two equal ovoid nematocysts, each 6.1 ± 0.3 (5.6–6.6) μm long and 1.6 ± 0.2 (1.3–1.8) μm wide, are located anteriorly. Histological sections revealed no inflammatory response but showed local deformation of the gill lamellae at infection sites. Phylogenetic analysis of the SSU rDNA sequences placed this species in a distinct clade closely related to Myxobolus neurophilus, Myxobolus pharyngeus, and Henneguya voronini. Based on morphological and molecular evidence, the parasite is described herein as a new species, Henneguya luci n. sp.
{"title":"A new species of the genus Henneguya Thélohan, 1892 (Myxozoa: Myxobolidae) parasitizing the gill lamellae of the giant gourami Osphronemus goramy Lacepède (Anabantiformes: Osphronemidae) from the Mekong River Delta, Vietnam","authors":"Nguyen Thi Thu Hang , Vo Quang Vinh , Nguyen Dac Dai , Nguyen Thi Quynh , Nguyen Manh Hung , Nguyen Thi Hong Nhung , Sho Shirakashi , Nguyen Ngoc Chinh","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2026.103243","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2026.103243","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>During a survey of myxosporean parasites infecting freshwater fishes in the Mekong River Delta, Vietnam, myxospores of the genus <em>Henneguya</em> were discovered in the gills of the giant gourami <em>Osphronemus goramy</em> Lacepède (Anabantiformes: Osphronemidae). White, spherical plasmodia were found within the gill lamellae of 10 out of 25 examined fish (40% prevalence) and measured 650–950 μm in diameter. Mature myxospores are elongate with two equal caudal appendages, and measure 68.5 ± 3.4 (64.8–79.4) μm in total length. The spore body measures 16.3 ± 0.9 (15.0–18.1) μm in length, 5.6 ± 0.3 (5.1–6.0) μm in width, and 4.8 ± 0.2 (4.5–5.0) μm in thickness. Each caudal appendage is 51.6 ± 3.3 (46.5–58.9) μm in length. The spore wall is smooth, and two equal ovoid nematocysts, each 6.1 ± 0.3 (5.6–6.6) μm long and 1.6 ± 0.2 (1.3–1.8) μm wide, are located anteriorly. Histological sections revealed no inflammatory response but showed local deformation of the gill lamellae at infection sites. Phylogenetic analysis of the SSU rDNA sequences placed this species in a distinct clade closely related to <em>Myxobolus neurophilus</em>, <em>Myxobolus pharyngeus</em>, and <em>Henneguya voronini</em>. Based on morphological and molecular evidence, the parasite is described herein as a new species, <em>Henneguya luci</em> n. sp.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"113 ","pages":"Article 103243"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145990300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2026.103231
Cemal Çiçek , Elif Tuğçe Güner , Rasime Pelin Kavak , Ayfer Bakır , Murat Aral
Hydatid disease (HD) is a zoonotic parasitic infection caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. It remains a major public health issue in many countries, including Türkiye. Diagnosis relies on clinical findings, serological tests, and radiological methods. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the indirect hemagglutination (IHA) test and radiological imaging in suspected HD cases. In this retrospective study, patients with suspected HD between July 2023 and June 2024 were included. Serum samples were tested using the IHA method, and ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed within 15 days for seropositive patients. The association between IHA titers and cyst size, localization, and the number of affected organs was analyzed. The study included 1289 cases, and seropositivity was detected in 147 (11.4%) of these cases. Seropositivity was higher in men (12.3%) than in women (10.7%). The majority of cases were in the 41–60 age group (43.5%). US was the most frequently used radiological imaging method, and the most common cyst location was the liver (91.95%). Although descriptive differences in cyst diameters were observed across different IHA titer levels, no statistically significant correlation was identified. These results indicate that IHA titers do not reliably reflect cyst size, disease extent, or radiological severity. Therefore, serological findings should not be interpreted as indicators of disease burden and must be evaluated strictly in conjunction with radiological imaging in the diagnosis, staging, and follow-up of hydatid disease.
{"title":"Correlation between serological tests and radiological imaging in the diagnosis of hydatid disease","authors":"Cemal Çiçek , Elif Tuğçe Güner , Rasime Pelin Kavak , Ayfer Bakır , Murat Aral","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2026.103231","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2026.103231","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hydatid disease (HD) is a zoonotic parasitic infection caused by the larval stage of <em>Echinococcus granulosus</em>. It remains a major public health issue in many countries, including Türkiye. Diagnosis relies on clinical findings, serological tests, and radiological methods. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the indirect hemagglutination (IHA) test and radiological imaging in suspected HD cases. In this retrospective study, patients with suspected HD between July 2023 and June 2024 were included. Serum samples were tested using the IHA method, and ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed within 15 days for seropositive patients. The association between IHA titers and cyst size, localization, and the number of affected organs was analyzed. The study included 1289 cases, and seropositivity was detected in 147 (11.4%) of these cases. Seropositivity was higher in men (12.3%) than in women (10.7%). The majority of cases were in the 41–60 age group (43.5%). US was the most frequently used radiological imaging method, and the most common cyst location was the liver (91.95%). Although descriptive differences in cyst diameters were observed across different IHA titer levels, no statistically significant correlation was identified. These results indicate that IHA titers do not reliably reflect cyst size, disease extent, or radiological severity. Therefore, serological findings should not be interpreted as indicators of disease burden and must be evaluated strictly in conjunction with radiological imaging in the diagnosis, staging, and follow-up of hydatid disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"113 ","pages":"Article 103231"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145957774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2026.103233
Kaito Seki , Ryota Kawanishi , Atsushi Sogabe
The ability to recognize and successfully infest an appropriate host during its early life is under strong natural selection in parasitic organisms, as it directly affects the parasite's fitness. Although many cymothoid isopods that parasitize fishes exhibit high host specificity at the species level, it remains unclear whether the manca (i.e., infective early-life stage) can actively recognize and selectively infest an appropriate host species. We conducted controlled aquarium experiments in which mancae were simultaneously presented with their primary host and a non-primary host species to assess host-selection behavior in the cymothoid isopod Mothocya parvostis, a gill-dwelling species that primarily parasitizes the Japanese halfbeak Hyporhamphus sajori but has also been found at immature stages on several non-primary host fishes. When given a choice between the primary host H. sajori and the non-primary host blackhead seabream Acanthopagrus schlegelii, M. parvostis mancae infested H. sajori significantly more often. When presented with H. sajori and another non-primary host, the largescale blackfish Girella punctata, all infestations occurred exclusively on H. sajori. In contrast, when the two offered host species were non-primary, manca infestation was rare and showed no clear preference between the two fishes. Notably, predation on mancae by non-primary host fishes occurred in a substantial number of trials, whereas no predation by the primary host H. sajori was observed. These findings demonstrate strong host specificity in mancae of M. parvostis toward H. sajori, suggesting that host choice occurs at this early life stage, which likely contributes to enhancing the infestation efficiency.
{"title":"Host preference of an obligate fish parasitic isopod, Mothocya parvostis","authors":"Kaito Seki , Ryota Kawanishi , Atsushi Sogabe","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2026.103233","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2026.103233","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The ability to recognize and successfully infest an appropriate host during its early life is under strong natural selection in parasitic organisms, as it directly affects the parasite's fitness. Although many cymothoid isopods that parasitize fishes exhibit high host specificity at the species level, it remains unclear whether the manca (i.e., infective early-life stage) can actively recognize and selectively infest an appropriate host species. We conducted controlled aquarium experiments in which mancae were simultaneously presented with their primary host and a non-primary host species to assess host-selection behavior in the cymothoid isopod <em>Mothocya parvostis</em>, a gill-dwelling species that primarily parasitizes the Japanese halfbeak <em>Hyporhamphus sajori</em> but has also been found at immature stages on several non-primary host fishes. When given a choice between the primary host <em>H. sajori</em> and the non-primary host blackhead seabream <em>Acanthopagrus schlegelii</em>, <em>M. parvostis</em> mancae infested <em>H. sajori</em> significantly more often. When presented with <em>H. sajori</em> and another non-primary host, the largescale blackfish <em>Girella punctata</em>, all infestations occurred exclusively on <em>H. sajori</em>. In contrast, when the two offered host species were non-primary, manca infestation was rare and showed no clear preference between the two fishes. Notably, predation on mancae by non-primary host fishes occurred in a substantial number of trials, whereas no predation by the primary host <em>H. sajori</em> was observed. These findings demonstrate strong host specificity in mancae of <em>M. parvostis</em> toward <em>H. sajori</em>, suggesting that host choice occurs at this early life stage, which likely contributes to enhancing the infestation efficiency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 103233"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145948874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Leishmaniasis remains a major public health concern in Sri Lanka, as emphasized in the first National Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of Leishmaniasis. The lack of a systematic surveillance plan was identified as one of the key challenges to implementing a control programme. Therefore, this study evaluated the efficacy of different entomological techniques for leishmaniasis vector surveillance. Monthly collections were conducted from December 2023 to June 2024 in two Medical Officer of Health areas, Divulapitiya and Mirigama, in the Gampaha District. The surveillance techniques included Cattle Baited Net Trap (CBNT), Hand Collection (HC), Light Trap (LT) with six different light sources (UV, white, green, blue, red, incandescent), Human-baited Double Net Trap (HDNT), and Sticky Trap (ST) with five different colours (white, green, yellow, red, black). A one-way ANOVA was used to compare trap efficiency. A total of 732 sand flies (219 females and 513 males) of six species were collected: Phlebotomus argentipes (43.98%), Sergentomyia zeylanica (52.87%), Sergentomyia punjabensis (2.33%), Sergentomyia dentata (0.27%), Phlebotomus stantoni (0.27%), and Sergentomyia rudnicki (0.27%). Males predominated in all traps except HDNT. The highest species diversity was obtained from LTs, while sand fly density was highest in CBNT (18.14 per trap), followed by HC (5.15), LT (4.25), HDNT (1.3), and ST (0.18). The CBNT was most effective for evaluating sand fly abundance in the study area, while the LT was productive in determining species diversity. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of integrating multiple surveillance techniques to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of leishmaniasis vector monitoring in Sri Lanka.
{"title":"Field evaluation of entomological surveillance techniques for leishmaniasis vector sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae)","authors":"Yasoda Kumari , Nayana Gunathilaka , Deepika Amarasinghe , Bawantha Kasun , Gayan Nimesh , Asanka Dinesh , Mahesha Vishwajith , Mohamed Asam","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2026.103232","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2026.103232","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Leishmaniasis remains a major public health concern in Sri Lanka, as emphasized in the first National Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of Leishmaniasis. The lack of a systematic surveillance plan was identified as one of the key challenges to implementing a control programme. Therefore, this study evaluated the efficacy of different entomological techniques for leishmaniasis vector surveillance. Monthly collections were conducted from December 2023 to June 2024 in two Medical Officer of Health areas, Divulapitiya and Mirigama, in the Gampaha District. The surveillance techniques included Cattle Baited Net Trap (CBNT), Hand Collection (HC), Light Trap (LT) with six different light sources (UV, white, green, blue, red, incandescent), Human-baited Double Net Trap (HDNT), and Sticky Trap (ST) with five different colours (white, green, yellow, red, black). A one-way ANOVA was used to compare trap efficiency. A total of 732 sand flies (219 females and 513 males) of six species were collected: <em>Phlebotomus argentipes</em> (43.98%), <em>Sergentomyia zeylanica</em> (52.87%), <em>Sergentomyia punjabensis</em> (2.33%), <em>Sergentomyia dentata</em> (0.27%), <em>Phlebotomus stantoni</em> (0.27%), and <em>Sergentomyia rudnicki</em> (0.27%). Males predominated in all traps except HDNT. The highest species diversity was obtained from LTs, while sand fly density was highest in CBNT (18.14 per trap), followed by HC (5.15), LT (4.25), HDNT (1.3), and ST (0.18). The CBNT was most effective for evaluating sand fly abundance in the study area, while the LT was productive in determining species diversity. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of integrating multiple surveillance techniques to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of leishmaniasis vector monitoring in Sri Lanka.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 103232"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145945637","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-03DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2026.103230
Seth Offei Addo , Margaret Addo , Christopher Nii Laryea Tawiah-Mensah , Richard Odoi-Teye Malm , Jane Ansah-Owusu , Stacy Amoah , Millie-Cindy Aba Aude Koffi , Selma Nurudeen Salley , Patrick Kwasi Obuam , Danielle Ladzekpo , Samuel K. Dadzie
Ticks continue to spread worldwide transmitting pathogens that affect animal production and human health. With the transboundary movement of herdsmen and their livestock through the borders into Ghana, there is likely to be the introduction of new tick species and their associated pathogens. This review provides information on the distribution of livestock ticks and tick-borne pathogens, emphasising the threat to both human and animal health. A search was done using terms about tick-borne pathogens and livestock ticks in Ghana from Google Scholar, PubMed and Scopus. This review examined information from 47 published papers on ticks and tick-borne pathogens infecting livestock and humans. Amblyomma variegatum is the predominant tick species mostly infesting cattle. However, recent studies have reported the presence of other species such as Rhipicephalus microplus, Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma dromedarii and Rhipicephalus turanicus. Diverse pathogens of zoonotic and veterinary importance such as Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV), Rickettsia africae, Coxiella burnetii and Anaplasma capra have been detected in ticks, livestock and abattoir workers. There is an increasing risk of tick-borne pathogen infections in the human and animal populations. The implementation of control methods aimed at efficiently managing tick populations and halting the spread of zoonotic tick-borne pathogens is urgently needed.
{"title":"Tick-borne pathogens in Ghana: Emerging threat to animal and human health","authors":"Seth Offei Addo , Margaret Addo , Christopher Nii Laryea Tawiah-Mensah , Richard Odoi-Teye Malm , Jane Ansah-Owusu , Stacy Amoah , Millie-Cindy Aba Aude Koffi , Selma Nurudeen Salley , Patrick Kwasi Obuam , Danielle Ladzekpo , Samuel K. Dadzie","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2026.103230","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2026.103230","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ticks continue to spread worldwide transmitting pathogens that affect animal production and human health. With the transboundary movement of herdsmen and their livestock through the borders into Ghana, there is likely to be the introduction of new tick species and their associated pathogens. This review provides information on the distribution of livestock ticks and tick-borne pathogens, emphasising the threat to both human and animal health. A search was done using terms about tick-borne pathogens and livestock ticks in Ghana from Google Scholar, PubMed and Scopus. This review examined information from 47 published papers on ticks and tick-borne pathogens infecting livestock and humans. <em>Amblyomma variegatum</em> is the predominant tick species mostly infesting cattle. However, recent studies have reported the presence of other species such as <em>Rhipicephalus microplus</em>, <em>Hyalomma marginatum</em>, <em>Hyalomma dromedarii</em> and <em>Rhipicephalus turanicus</em>. Diverse pathogens of zoonotic and veterinary importance such as Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV), <em>Rickettsia africae</em>, <em>Coxiella burnetii</em> and <em>Anaplasma capra</em> have been detected in ticks, livestock and abattoir workers. There is an increasing risk of tick-borne pathogen infections in the human and animal populations. The implementation of control methods aimed at efficiently managing tick populations and halting the spread of zoonotic tick-borne pathogens is urgently needed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 103230"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145905835","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-31DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2025.103229
Sahar Jamshidi , Qasem Asgari , Laleh Mahmoudi
Background
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a major public health issue in endemic regions such as Shiraz, Iran. Glucantime (meglumine antimoniate), a pentavalent antimonial remains the first-line treatment. However, its efficacy varies depending on the route of administration and patient-specific factors. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of Glucantime and identify predictors of treatment success among patients with CL.
Methods
This retrospective cross-sectional study, included 70 patients diagnosed with CL in 2024 at a major referral centre. Diagnosis was confirmed via PCR-based molecular detection and direct microscopic parasitological examination. Patients were treated with Glucantime, administered either intradermally or intramuscularly, based on standardized protocols. Demographic data, lesion characteristics, and treatment outcomes were recorded. Treatment success was defined as ≥50 % reduction in lesion size and resolution of symptoms at four months. Statistical analyses were performed using chi-square tests, with significance set at p < 0.05.
Results
Among the 70 patients (mean age of 32.6 ± 19 years; 53 % female), the overall treatment success rate was 65.7 %. Females demonstrated a significantly higher response rate than males (78.8 % vs. 54.1 %, p = 0.03). Intradermal administration yielded significantly better outcomes (91.4 %) compared to intramuscular injections (40 %, p < 0.001). No statistically significant associations were observed with age, lesion size, number, or morphology, although smaller lesions and blister-type lesions tended to respond better.
Conclusions
Glucantime showed moderate clinical effectiveness for CL treatment, with intradermal administration demonstrating superior outcomes compared to intramuscular delivery. Although intradermal therapy should be prioritized for suitable lesions, the moderate overall efficacy highlights the need for alternative or adjunctive treatments. Findings should be interpreted with appropriate caution and further prospective studies are warranted to confirm these results and refine treatment protocols.
{"title":"Evaluating the efficacy of Glucantime and determinants of treatment success in cutaneous leishmaniasis: A retrospective study","authors":"Sahar Jamshidi , Qasem Asgari , Laleh Mahmoudi","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103229","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103229","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div><em>Cutaneous leishmaniasis</em> (CL) is a major public health issue in endemic regions such as Shiraz, Iran. Glucantime (meglumine antimoniate), a pentavalent antimonial remains the first-line treatment. However, its efficacy varies depending on the route of administration and patient-specific factors. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of Glucantime and identify predictors of treatment success among patients with CL.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This retrospective cross-sectional study, included 70 patients diagnosed with CL in 2024 at a major referral centre. Diagnosis was confirmed via PCR-based molecular detection and direct microscopic parasitological examination. Patients were treated with Glucantime, administered either intradermally or intramuscularly, based on standardized protocols. Demographic data, lesion characteristics, and treatment outcomes were recorded. Treatment success was defined as ≥50 % reduction in lesion size and resolution of symptoms at four months. Statistical analyses were performed using chi-square tests, with significance set at <em>p</em> < 0.05.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among the 70 patients (mean age of 32.6 ± 19 years; 53 % female), the overall treatment success rate was 65.7 %. Females demonstrated a significantly higher response rate than males (78.8 % vs. 54.1 %, <em>p</em> = 0.03). Intradermal administration yielded significantly better outcomes (91.4 %) compared to intramuscular injections (40 %, <em>p</em> < 0.001). No statistically significant associations were observed with age, lesion size, number, or morphology, although smaller lesions and blister-type lesions tended to respond better.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Glucantime showed moderate clinical effectiveness for CL treatment, with intradermal administration demonstrating superior outcomes compared to intramuscular delivery. Although intradermal therapy should be prioritized for suitable lesions, the moderate overall efficacy highlights the need for alternative or adjunctive treatments. Findings should be interpreted with appropriate caution and further prospective studies are warranted to confirm these results and refine treatment protocols.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 103229"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145892831","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-29DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2025.103228
Jennifer Afua Afrifa Yamoah , Kofi Dadzie Kwofie , Jewelna Akorli , Danielle Ladzekpo , Hayato Kawada , Kwadwo Yeboah Boateng , Julius Beyuo , Antoinette Keleve , Jonas Bedford Danquah , Christopher Tawiah-Mensah , Jane Ansah-Owusu , Samuel Kweku Dadzie , Paul Amponsah Wallace , Naotoshi Tsuji , Takeshi Hatta
Ticks are important vectors of bacterial pathogens affecting both human and animal health. In Ghana, Amblyomma variegatum is the predominant cattle-infesting tick, yet most studies have focused on a limited range of well-characterized pathogens, potentially overlooking a broader diversity of less-recognized, emerging, or opportunistic bacteria. In this study, we used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to characterize the bacteriome of partially blood-fed Am. variegatum ticks, with emphasis on underexplored taxa. As ticks were blood-fed at the time of collection, some detected microorganisms may represent transient, host-derived bacteria rather than endogenous tick microbiota; therefore, findings should also be interpreted within the context of xenosurveillance.
Partially-fed ticks were collected from cattle across three ecological zones within Ghana's Greater Accra Region. 11 Am. variegatum ticks, confirmed through both morphological and molecular analyses, were subjected to high-throughput sequencing, and bacterial diversity and composition were analysed using established bioinformatics tools. Sequencing generated over 1.75 million high-quality reads and 3172 amplicon sequence variants. Five dominant bacterial phyla were detected, with Actinomycetota and Bacillota being the most abundant. While Rickettsia spp. were prevalent in some samples, Anaplasma and Coxiella, two commonly studied tick-borne bacteria, were not detected. Several less-recognized or opportunistic species, including multidrug-resistant Corynebacterium resistens and bovine-associated Porphyromonas levii, were identified at high relative abundance.
These findings suggest that Am. variegatum may harbor a broader range of bacterial taxa than previously recognized. Incorporating such neglected microorganisms into a One Health tick-surveillance framework may improve disease risk assessment and guide public and animal health interventions in the region.
{"title":"Beyond the usual suspects: Uncovering less-recognized pathogenic bacteria in Ghanaian blood-feeding Amblyomma variegatum ticks using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing","authors":"Jennifer Afua Afrifa Yamoah , Kofi Dadzie Kwofie , Jewelna Akorli , Danielle Ladzekpo , Hayato Kawada , Kwadwo Yeboah Boateng , Julius Beyuo , Antoinette Keleve , Jonas Bedford Danquah , Christopher Tawiah-Mensah , Jane Ansah-Owusu , Samuel Kweku Dadzie , Paul Amponsah Wallace , Naotoshi Tsuji , Takeshi Hatta","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103228","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103228","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ticks are important vectors of bacterial pathogens affecting both human and animal health. In Ghana, <em>Amblyomma variegatum</em> is the predominant cattle-infesting tick, yet most studies have focused on a limited range of well-characterized pathogens, potentially overlooking a broader diversity of less-recognized, emerging, or opportunistic bacteria. In this study, we used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to characterize the bacteriome of partially blood-fed <em>Am. variegatum</em> ticks, with emphasis on underexplored taxa. As ticks were blood-fed at the time of collection, some detected microorganisms may represent transient, host-derived bacteria rather than endogenous tick microbiota; therefore, findings should also be interpreted within the context of xenosurveillance.</div><div>Partially-fed ticks were collected from cattle across three ecological zones within Ghana's Greater Accra Region. 11 <em>Am. variegatum</em> ticks, confirmed through both morphological and molecular analyses, were subjected to high-throughput sequencing, and bacterial diversity and composition were analysed using established bioinformatics tools. Sequencing generated over 1.75 million high-quality reads and 3172 amplicon sequence variants. Five dominant bacterial phyla were detected, with Actinomycetota and Bacillota being the most abundant. While <em>Rickettsia</em> spp. were prevalent in some samples, <em>Anaplasma</em> and <em>Coxiella</em>, two commonly studied tick-borne bacteria, were not detected. Several less-recognized or opportunistic species, including multidrug-resistant <em>Corynebacterium resistens</em> and bovine-associated <em>Porphyromonas levii</em>, were identified at high relative abundance.</div><div>These findings suggest that <em>Am. variegatum</em> may harbor a broader range of bacterial taxa than previously recognized. Incorporating such neglected microorganisms into a One Health tick-surveillance framework may improve disease risk assessment and guide public and animal health interventions in the region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 103228"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145878799","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trichinella is a nematode that causes chronic infection via its larvae in muscle cells and remains a global health concern. Drug sensitivity, including to ivermectin (IVM), differs between intestinal adult worms (AW) and muscle larvae (ML): AW are susceptible, whereas ML are not. We tested whether the collagen capsule surrounding ML limits drug entry and thereby explains the poor efficacy of IVM. In mice infected with encapsulated T. spiralis or non-encapsulated T. pseudospiralis, IVM treatment at the ML stage did not reduce ML burdens. In vivo pharmacokinetic analyses detected IVM within ML, regardless of presence or absence of the collagen capsule. These results indicate that the collagen capsule and limited drug access do not account for the ineffectiveness of IVM against ML. Intrinsic, stage-specific factors within ML likely underlie this resistance and warrant further investigation.
{"title":"Collagen capsule and drug access do not explain ivermectin resistance of Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae","authors":"Sukhonthip Khueangchiangkhwang , Yasuhisa Oida , Asuka Taguchi , Kiyoyuki Kitaichi , Jun-ichi Takeda , Fuminori Hyodo , YIENDUER , Ruofei Kan , Sarawut Sonrit , Zhiliang Wu , Yoichi Maekawa","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103227","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103227","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Trichinella</em> is a nematode that causes chronic infection via its larvae in muscle cells and remains a global health concern. Drug sensitivity, including to ivermectin (IVM), differs between intestinal adult worms (AW) and muscle larvae (ML): AW are susceptible, whereas ML are not. We tested whether the collagen capsule surrounding ML limits drug entry and thereby explains the poor efficacy of IVM. In mice infected with encapsulated <em>T. spiralis</em> or non-encapsulated <em>T. pseudospiralis</em>, IVM treatment at the ML stage did not reduce ML burdens. In vivo pharmacokinetic analyses detected IVM within ML, regardless of presence or absence of the collagen capsule. These results indicate that the collagen capsule and limited drug access do not account for the ineffectiveness of IVM against ML. Intrinsic, stage-specific factors within ML likely underlie this resistance and warrant further investigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 103227"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145850756","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-25DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2025.103226
Ricardo Bassini-Silva , Luís Fernando da Cruz , Julia Takatsu Carvalho , Victor de Souza Mello-Oliveira , Isabella Pereira Pesenato , Ana Cláudia Calchi , Ana Carolina Castro-Santiago , Lívia de Oliveira Andrade , Gabriela da Silva Zampim , Rafael de Oliveira Bonaldo , Luiz Fernando Denadai Miranda , Maria Eduarda Borges Seixas Subutzki , Raul Fávero Perrone , Rosiléia Marinho de Quadros , Tatiana Evelyn Hayama Ueno , Estevam Guilherme Lux Hoppe , Marcos Rogério André , José Maurício Barbanti Duarte , Cristiane dos Santos Cruz Piveta , Marcelo Bahia Labruna , Fernando de Castro Jacinavicius
Ornithonyssus bursa (Berlese), the tropical fowl mite from the family Macronyssidae, is a hematophagous ectoparasite of birds with increasing importance in human and animal health. This study reports new cases of human parasitism associated with O. bursa in Brazil, involving direct contact with avian hosts or their nests. These cases include new geographic records in the states of São Paulo and Santa Catarina, and new associations with bird species, including the first known record in Amazona aestiva (Psittaciformes). Molecular analysis was performed on individual mites to characterize the species and investigate associated microorganisms. This study provides the first partial sequence of the cox1 gene for O. bursa and the first phylogenetic analysis for the family using this marker. Additionally, we report the first detection of Ehrlichia and Wolbachia in Brazilian specimens. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA sequences placed the Ehrlichia haplotype close to strains previously detected in Haemaphysalis spp. ticks and the Wolbachia haplotype within supergroup E. These findings expand our understanding of the ecological and microbial diversity of O. bursa, highlighting its public health relevance, and emphasize the need for further studies on its vector potential and evolutionary relationships.
法氏鸟螨（Ornithonyssus bursa, Berlese）是一种热带禽螨属螨科，是鸟类的食血体外寄生虫，对人类和动物健康的重要性日益增加。本研究报告了巴西与奥氏囊虫相关的人类寄生虫新病例，涉及与禽类宿主或其巢穴的直接接触。这些案例包括圣保罗州和圣卡塔琳娜州的新地理记录，以及与鸟类物种的新联系，包括亚马逊aestiva（鹦鹉目）的第一个已知记录。对单个螨进行分子分析，以表征物种并调查相关微生物。本研究提供了O. bursa cox1基因的第一个部分序列，并首次使用该标记对该家族进行了系统发育分析。此外，我们报告首次在巴西标本中检测到埃利希体和沃尔巴克体。基于16S rRNA序列的系统发育分析表明，埃利希体单倍型与以前在蜱血蜱中检测到的菌株接近，沃尔巴克氏体单倍型在e超群中。这些发现扩大了我们对法氏体O. bursa的生态和微生物多样性的理解，突出了其公共卫生相关性，并强调了进一步研究其载体潜力和进化关系的必要性。
{"title":"Sleeping with the enemy II: Expanding the ecological, molecular, and epidemiological knowledge of the tropical fowl mite, Ornithonyssus bursa (Berlese, 1888)","authors":"Ricardo Bassini-Silva , Luís Fernando da Cruz , Julia Takatsu Carvalho , Victor de Souza Mello-Oliveira , Isabella Pereira Pesenato , Ana Cláudia Calchi , Ana Carolina Castro-Santiago , Lívia de Oliveira Andrade , Gabriela da Silva Zampim , Rafael de Oliveira Bonaldo , Luiz Fernando Denadai Miranda , Maria Eduarda Borges Seixas Subutzki , Raul Fávero Perrone , Rosiléia Marinho de Quadros , Tatiana Evelyn Hayama Ueno , Estevam Guilherme Lux Hoppe , Marcos Rogério André , José Maurício Barbanti Duarte , Cristiane dos Santos Cruz Piveta , Marcelo Bahia Labruna , Fernando de Castro Jacinavicius","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103226","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103226","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Ornithonyssus bursa</em> (Berlese), the tropical fowl mite from the family Macronyssidae, is a hematophagous ectoparasite of birds with increasing importance in human and animal health. This study reports new cases of human parasitism associated with <em>O. bursa</em> in Brazil, involving direct contact with avian hosts or their nests. These cases include new geographic records in the states of São Paulo and Santa Catarina, and new associations with bird species, including the first known record in <em>Amazona aestiva</em> (Psittaciformes). Molecular analysis was performed on individual mites to characterize the species and investigate associated microorganisms. This study provides the first partial sequence of the <em>cox1</em> gene for <em>O. bursa</em> and the first phylogenetic analysis for the family using this marker. Additionally, we report the first detection of <em>Ehrlichia</em> and <em>Wolbachia</em> in Brazilian specimens. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA sequences placed the <em>Ehrlichia</em> haplotype close to strains previously detected in <em>Haemaphysalis</em> spp. ticks and the <em>Wolbachia</em> haplotype within supergroup E. These findings expand our understanding of the ecological and microbial diversity of <em>O. bursa</em>, highlighting its public health relevance, and emphasize the need for further studies on its vector potential and evolutionary relationships.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 103226"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-24DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2025.103225
Sonia María Koppel Moreira , Angel Virgilio Cedeño Moreira , Camilo Alexander Mestanza Uquillas , Carolina Fonseca Restrepo , Victor Montes Zambrano , Naga Raju Maddela
Dirofilaria immitis, the etiologic agent of heartworm disease in dogs, is a mosquito-borne nematode that primarily affects the cardiopulmonary system. The objective of this study was to morphologically and molecularly characterize the nematodes found in a naturally infected dog in the Sucre canton of Ecuador. It is a tropical coastal region with favorable conditions for vector proliferation, but with limited epidemiological information. The necropsy of the infected dog revealed adult nematodes located in the right ventricle and pulmonary arteries, exhibiting the sexual dimorphism characteristic of D. immitis. Parasites were molecularly analyzed using PCR amplification of the cox1 and 18S rRNA genes, followed by Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic comparison with reference strains from the NCBI/GenBank database. All isolates showed 100 % query coverage, with identities ranging from 99 to 100 % with known D. immitis strains. Phylogenetic trees constructed using the Maximum Likelihood and Neighbor-Joining methods positioned local isolates within well-supported D. immitis clades, indicating high genetic similarity with reference strains from Asia, Europe, and South America. This integrated diagnostic approach highlights the value of combining morphological and molecular tools for accurate parasite identification. Furthermore, the study provides essential reference data for veterinary surveillance programs on the Ecuadorian coast. This information supports the implementation of early diagnosis, control, and prevention strategies, contributing to improving the health of domestic dogs and reducing the risk of zoonotic transmission in vulnerable tropical ecosystems.
{"title":"Morpho-molecular identification of heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) in domestic dogs in the Sucre canton, Ecuador","authors":"Sonia María Koppel Moreira , Angel Virgilio Cedeño Moreira , Camilo Alexander Mestanza Uquillas , Carolina Fonseca Restrepo , Victor Montes Zambrano , Naga Raju Maddela","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103225","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103225","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Dirofilaria immitis</em>, the etiologic agent of heartworm disease in dogs, is a mosquito-borne nematode that primarily affects the cardiopulmonary system. The objective of this study was to morphologically and molecularly characterize the nematodes found in a naturally infected dog in the Sucre canton of Ecuador. It is a tropical coastal region with favorable conditions for vector proliferation, but with limited epidemiological information. The necropsy of the infected dog revealed adult nematodes located in the right ventricle and pulmonary arteries, exhibiting the sexual dimorphism characteristic of <em>D. immitis</em>. Parasites were molecularly analyzed using PCR amplification of the <em>cox1</em> and <em>18S rRNA</em> genes, followed by Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic comparison with reference strains from the NCBI/GenBank database. All isolates showed 100 % query coverage, with identities ranging from 99 to 100 % with known <em>D. immitis</em> strains. Phylogenetic trees constructed using the Maximum Likelihood and Neighbor-Joining methods positioned local isolates within well-supported <em>D. immitis</em> clades, indicating high genetic similarity with reference strains from Asia, Europe, and South America. This integrated diagnostic approach highlights the value of combining morphological and molecular tools for accurate parasite identification. Furthermore, the study provides essential reference data for veterinary surveillance programs on the Ecuadorian coast. This information supports the implementation of early diagnosis, control, and prevention strategies, contributing to improving the health of domestic dogs and reducing the risk of zoonotic transmission in vulnerable tropical ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 103225"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840688","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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