Pub Date : 2025-11-19DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2025.103200
Rabi Suraj Duwa , Kabir Salihu Suraj
Invasive freshwater snails of the family Ampullariidae present significant threats to agriculture, biodiversity, and public health. Recent advances in deep learning have enabled automated identification of medically and agriculturally important snail species, but most existing models function as opaque “black boxes”, limiting their utility in taxonomic research and ecological decision-making. In this study, we propose an explainable convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture based on VGG16 and Grad-CAM to classify and interpret morphological features of Ampullariidae and related genera. A curated dataset comprising 350 field-collected Ampullariidae specimens from northern Nigeria, augmented with labeled images of Biomphalaria, Bulinus, Lymnae, and Melanoides, was used to train and validate the model. The classifier achieved a validation accuracy of 0.99 within 20 epochs, indicating robust performance. Grad-CAM overlays revealed that the network correctly focused on genus-specific shell features, such as spire height, coiling direction, and aperture orientation. Our findings demonstrate that explainable deep learning can enhance taxonomic precision and provide visual insights into diagnostic traits, making it a powerful tool for ecological monitoring and parasite control programs.
{"title":"Explainable Convolutional Neural Networks for the identification of the Ampullariidae genus","authors":"Rabi Suraj Duwa , Kabir Salihu Suraj","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103200","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103200","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Invasive freshwater snails of the family <em>Ampullariidae</em> present significant threats to agriculture, biodiversity, and public health. Recent advances in deep learning have enabled automated identification of medically and agriculturally important snail species, but most existing models function as opaque “black boxes”, limiting their utility in taxonomic research and ecological decision-making. In this study, we propose an explainable convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture based on VGG16 and Grad-CAM to classify and interpret morphological features of <em>Ampullariidae</em> and related genera. A curated dataset comprising 350 field-collected <em>Ampullariidae</em> specimens from northern Nigeria, augmented with labeled images of <em>Biomphalaria</em>, <em>Bulinus</em>, <em>Lymnae</em>, and <em>Melanoides</em>, was used to train and validate the model. The classifier achieved a validation accuracy of 0.99 within 20 epochs, indicating robust performance. Grad-CAM overlays revealed that the network correctly focused on genus-specific shell features, such as spire height, coiling direction, and aperture orientation. Our findings demonstrate that explainable deep learning can enhance taxonomic precision and provide visual insights into diagnostic traits, making it a powerful tool for ecological monitoring and parasite control programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 103200"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145573559","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}
Red seabream Pagrus major (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843) (Teleostei: Sparidae) farmed in Japan exhibited mild scoliosis, and myxosporean and microsporidian parasites were isolated from the brain and medulla oblongata of the diseased fish, respectively. Based on the morphological and molecular analyses, the myxosporean specimens were described as a new species, Myxobolus tai n. sp. (Bivalvulida: Myxobolidae). The spore is oblong to oval in valvular view, with two pyriform polar capsules of slightly unequal size. Polar capsules are asymmetrically positioned relative to the major axis of the spore. Myxospores morphologically similar to those of M. tai were also identified in the kidney of the yellowback seabream Evynnis tumifrons (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843) (Sparidae) caught in North Pacific off Minami-Ise Town, Mie Prefecture, Japan. Whereas white and round plasmodia were observed in the brain of P. major, only free spores were confirmed in the kidney of E. tumifrons. Nucleotide sequences of the partial small subunit ribosomal RNA gene were identical between those myxosporeans collected from P. major and E. tumifrons, indicating they are conspecific. Molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed M. tai n. sp. is sister to Myxobolus iwagiensis Kawano, Sakurai, & Yanagida, 2025, which was described from the nervous tissues of wild southern medaka Oryzias latipes (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846) (Beloniformes: Adrianichthyidae) collected from brackish water in Japan. Molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that the microsporidian in the medulla oblongata of P. major as an undescribed species belonging to the family Spragueidae.
在日本养殖的红鲷Pagrus major (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843) （Teleostei: Sparidae）表现出轻度脊柱侧凸，分别从病鱼的脑和延髓中分离出粘孢子虫和微孢子虫寄生虫。根据形态学和分子分析，该粘孢子虫属属Myxobolus tai n. sp.（双足目：粘孢子虫科）。孢子长圆形到卵圆形，具两个梨形极性蒴果，大小稍大不等。极性蒴果相对于孢子长轴的位置是不对称的。在日本三重县南伊势市北太平洋捕获的黄背海鲷Evynnis tumifrons (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843) （Sparidae）的肾脏中也发现了与M. tai形态相似的粘液孢子。大孢子虫的大脑中可见白色和圆形的疟原虫，而瘤子孢子虫的肾脏中仅可见游离孢子。粘孢子虫部分小亚基核糖体RNA基因的核苷酸序列相同，表明它们是同源的。分子系统发育分析表明，M. tai n. sp.与Myxobolus iwagiensis Kawano， Sakurai, & Yanagida， 2025是在日本半咸淡水中采集的野生南medaka Oryzias latipes (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846) （Beloniformes: adrianichididae）神经组织中描述的姐妹。分子系统发育分析表明，长延髓微孢子虫属蛛科，属未描述种。
{"title":"Description of novel myxozoan and microsporidian parasites from cultured red seabream Pagrus major exhibiting mild scoliosis, with additional detection of the myxosporean in yellowback seabream Evynnis tumifrons","authors":"Karina Midori Kawano , Masato Nitta , Tetsuya Yanagida","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103196","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103196","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Red seabream <em>Pagrus major</em> (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843) (Teleostei: Sparidae) farmed in Japan exhibited mild scoliosis, and myxosporean and microsporidian parasites were isolated from the brain and medulla oblongata of the diseased fish, respectively. Based on the morphological and molecular analyses, the myxosporean specimens were described as a new species, <em>Myxobolus tai</em> n. sp. (Bivalvulida: Myxobolidae). The spore is oblong to oval in valvular view, with two pyriform polar capsules of slightly unequal size. Polar capsules are asymmetrically positioned relative to the major axis of the spore. Myxospores morphologically similar to those of <em>M. tai</em> were also identified in the kidney of the yellowback seabream <em>Evynnis tumifrons</em> (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843) (Sparidae) caught in North Pacific off Minami-Ise Town, Mie Prefecture, Japan. Whereas white and round plasmodia were observed in the brain of <em>P. major</em>, only free spores were confirmed in the kidney of <em>E. tumifrons</em>. Nucleotide sequences of the partial small subunit ribosomal RNA gene were identical between those myxosporeans collected from <em>P. major</em> and <em>E. tumifrons</em>, indicating they are conspecific. Molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed <em>M. tai</em> n. sp. is sister to <em>Myxobolus iwagiensis</em> Kawano, Sakurai, & Yanagida, 2025, which was described from the nervous tissues of wild southern medaka <em>Oryzias latipes</em> (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846) (Beloniformes: Adrianichthyidae) collected from brackish water in Japan. Molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that the microsporidian in the medulla oblongata of <em>P. major</em> as an undescribed species belonging to the family Spragueidae.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 103196"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145557489","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 : 2025-11-15DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2025.103194
Ida Marie Aaberg Mortil , Francisca Gaifém , Chalotte Willemann Stecher , Christian Morberg Wejse , Tara Ballav Adhikari
Background
This study focuses on growth patterns and helminth infections to assess the health of the marginalized Mangyan people, the indigenous population on Mindoro in the Philippines.
Methods
In this comparative cross-sectional study, 90 school-attending children aged 5–15 years were recruited from two remote Mangyan villages, Ambang and Sipit Saburan, and the less remote village Baclayan. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling in August and September 2023. Inclusion criteria were permanent residence, school attendance, age 5–15 years, and understanding Tagalog. Exclusion criteria included lack of parental consent and missing key demographic data. Children completed a structured interview, clinical examination, and collection of a stool sample. Interviews covered food intake, disease symptoms, and access to healthcare. Growth patterns were measured using standardized anthropometry, and stool samples were analyzed by same-day conventional microscopy with direct fecal smear. Data were analyzed using Fisher's Exact Test. In addition, odds ratios (OR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Ethical approvals were obtained from the local Indigenous People's Structures (IPS), Barangay Council of Villaflor, and the Department of Education.
Results
School-attending children from remote Mangyan villages had a significantly higher prevalence of parasitic infections (P = .02). Additionally, living in the remote villages was highly associated with stunted growth (P < .01).
Conclusions
School-attending Mangyan children from remote villages have lower growth patterns and a higher prevalence of helminth infections, highlighting the need for targeted health interventions. Future research should focus on larger studies to gather comprehensive data on health needs of this marginalized population.
{"title":"A comparative study of nutritional status and helminth infections among school-attending Mangyan children in the Philippines","authors":"Ida Marie Aaberg Mortil , Francisca Gaifém , Chalotte Willemann Stecher , Christian Morberg Wejse , Tara Ballav Adhikari","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103194","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103194","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>This study focuses on growth patterns and helminth infections to assess the health of the marginalized Mangyan people, the indigenous population on Mindoro in the Philippines.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this comparative cross-sectional study, 90 school-attending children aged 5–15 years were recruited from two remote Mangyan villages, Ambang and Sipit Saburan, and the less remote village Baclayan. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling in August and September 2023. Inclusion criteria were permanent residence, school attendance, age 5–15 years, and understanding Tagalog. Exclusion criteria included lack of parental consent and missing key demographic data. Children completed a structured interview, clinical examination, and collection of a stool sample. Interviews covered food intake, disease symptoms, and access to healthcare. Growth patterns were measured using standardized anthropometry, and stool samples were analyzed by same-day conventional microscopy with direct fecal smear. Data were analyzed using Fisher's Exact Test. In addition, odds ratios (OR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Ethical approvals were obtained from the local Indigenous People's Structures (IPS), Barangay Council of Villaflor, and the Department of Education.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>School-attending children from remote Mangyan villages had a significantly higher prevalence of parasitic infections (<em>P</em> = .02). Additionally, living in the remote villages was highly associated with stunted growth (<em>P</em> < .01).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>School-attending Mangyan children from remote villages have lower growth patterns and a higher prevalence of helminth infections, highlighting the need for targeted health interventions. Future research should focus on larger studies to gather comprehensive data on health needs of this marginalized population.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 103194"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145541812","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 : 2025-11-15DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2025.103195
J. Dhib , M. Comas , H. Kacem , A. Hammouda , J. Harl , H.P. Fuehrer , J. Garrido-Bautista , G. Moreno-Rueda , S. Selmi
Data on parasites infecting amphibians in arid North-African areas are still scarce. In this study, we investigate the diversity and prevalence of parasites in a painted frog (Discoglossus pictus) population inhabiting desert oases in south-eastern Tunisia. From 120 sampled frogs, we recorded six parasite species, including three protozoa, morphologically identified as Opalina ranarum, Protoopalina intestinalis and Cepedietta gigantea, two nematodes identified as Rhabdias sp. and Cosmocercoides sp., and one trematode identified as Pleurogenoides medians. According to partial sequences of the nuclear 18S rRNA gene, the two protozoa O. ranarum and C. gigantea showed 98.64 % sequence similarity to Karotomorpha sp., and 96.62 % to P. intestinalis. The partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene showed that nematodes morphologically identified as Rhabdias sp. featured R. bufonis with 92.35 % similarity, while those identified as Cosmocercoides sp. showed 87.44 % sequence similarity to Toxocara vitulorum, 86.30 % to Aplectana sp., and 86.20 % to Cruzia tentaculata. The single trematode morphologically identified as P. medians showed 84.76 % similarity to Characithecium sp. and 84.76 % similarity to Ancyrocephalinae sp. Moreover, 97.5 % of the sampled frogs were infected by at least one parasite species, with the nematode Cosmocercoides sp. being the most common parasite (88.44 %). Males were more frequently infected by protozoa parasites than females, and helminth infection was associated with deteriorated body condition. However, individual age, determined by skeletochronology, did not predict parasite prevalence. Overall, our findings provide knowledge that would help understand the diversity and dynamics of endoparasites associated with amphibians in North Africa.
{"title":"Parasite diversity in painted frogs inhabiting desert oases in southern Tunisia","authors":"J. Dhib , M. Comas , H. Kacem , A. Hammouda , J. Harl , H.P. Fuehrer , J. Garrido-Bautista , G. Moreno-Rueda , S. Selmi","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103195","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103195","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Data on parasites infecting amphibians in arid North-African areas are still scarce. In this study, we investigate the diversity and prevalence of parasites in a painted frog (<em>Discoglossus pictus</em>) population inhabiting desert oases in south-eastern Tunisia. From 120 sampled frogs, we recorded six parasite species, including three protozoa, morphologically identified as <em>Opalina ranarum, Protoopalina intestinalis</em> and <em>Cepedietta gigantea</em>, two nematodes identified as <em>Rhabdias</em> sp. and <em>Cosmocercoides</em> sp., and one trematode identified as <em>Pleurogenoides medians</em>. According to partial sequences of the nuclear <em>18S</em> rRNA gene, the two protozoa <em>O. ranarum</em> and <em>C. gigantea</em> showed 98.64 % sequence similarity to <em>Karotomorpha</em> sp., and 96.62 % to <em>P. intestinalis.</em> The partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene showed that nematodes morphologically identified as <em>Rhabdias</em> sp. featured <em>R. bufonis</em> with 92.35 % similarity, while those identified as <em>Cosmocercoides</em> sp. showed 87.44 % sequence similarity to <em>Toxocara vitulorum</em>, 86.30 % to <em>Aplectana</em> sp., and 86.20 % to <em>Cruzia tentaculata</em>. The single trematode morphologically identified as <em>P. medians</em> showed 84.76 % similarity to <em>Characithecium</em> sp. and 84.76 % similarity to <em>Ancyrocephalinae</em> sp. Moreover, 97.5 % of the sampled frogs were infected by at least one parasite species, with the nematode <em>Cosmocercoides</em> sp. being the most common parasite (88.44 %). Males were more frequently infected by protozoa parasites than females, and helminth infection was associated with deteriorated body condition. However, individual age, determined by skeletochronology, did not predict parasite prevalence. Overall, our findings provide knowledge that would help understand the diversity and dynamics of endoparasites associated with amphibians in North Africa.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 103195"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145541870","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 : 2025-11-07DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2025.103193
Amana Shafiq, Farzana Abbas, Muhammad Hafeez-ur-Rehman, Muhammad Imran Rashid
Lernaea cyprinacea, an invasive ectoparasitic copepod, poses a significant threat to freshwater aquaculture due to its high pathogenicity and association with severe epizootics leading to mass fish mortalities. The present study evaluated the immunogenic potential of parasite-derived antigens in Ctenopharyngodon idella (grass carp) as a immunoprophylactic strategy against L. cyprinacea infection. Crude antigens isolated from L. cyprinacea were administered intraperitoneally to the experimental group, whereas the control group received phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and a naturally infected group received no treatment. Immunological and physiological responses were assessed through hematological profiling, quantification of protein and assessment of non-specific immune parameters, including protease and lysozyme activities, at defined post-immunization intervals. After 28 days of immunization, fish were experimentally challenged with live L. cyprinacea to evaluate protective efficacy. Immunized fish demonstrated significant improvements in hematological indices, with serum protein concentrations comparable to uninfected controls but markedly higher than those of infected fish, reflecting enhanced immune competence. Lysozyme activity exhibited a consistent and significant elevation, surpassing both control groups and indicating potentiation of innate immune defenses. Similarly, enhanced protease activity at post-immunization suggested acute immune activation. Challenge trials confirmed a notable reduction in parasite load among immunized fish, underscoring the protective efficacy of antigen-based immunization. These findings highlight L. cyprinacea-derived antigens as a promising immunoprophylactic strategy for sustainable lernaeosis control in freshwater aquaculture.
{"title":"Immunoprophylactic potential of parasite-derived antigens for controlling Lernaea cyprinacea infection in Ctenopharyngodon idella","authors":"Amana Shafiq, Farzana Abbas, Muhammad Hafeez-ur-Rehman, Muhammad Imran Rashid","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103193","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103193","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Lernaea cyprinacea,</em> an invasive ectoparasitic copepod, poses a significant threat to freshwater aquaculture due to its high pathogenicity and association with severe epizootics leading to mass fish mortalities. The present study evaluated the immunogenic potential of parasite-derived antigens in <em>Ctenopharyngodon idella</em> (grass carp) as a immunoprophylactic strategy against <em>L. cyprinacea</em> infection. Crude antigens isolated from <em>L. cyprinacea</em> were administered intraperitoneally to the experimental group, whereas the control group received phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and a naturally infected group received no treatment. Immunological and physiological responses were assessed through hematological profiling, quantification of protein and assessment of non-specific immune parameters, including protease and lysozyme activities, at defined post-immunization intervals. After 28 days of immunization, fish were experimentally challenged with live <em>L. cyprinacea</em> to evaluate protective efficacy. Immunized fish demonstrated significant improvements in hematological indices, with serum protein concentrations comparable to uninfected controls but markedly higher than those of infected fish, reflecting enhanced immune competence. Lysozyme activity exhibited a consistent and significant elevation, surpassing both control groups and indicating potentiation of innate immune defenses. Similarly, enhanced protease activity at post-immunization suggested acute immune activation. Challenge trials confirmed a notable reduction in parasite load among immunized fish, underscoring the protective efficacy of antigen-based immunization. These findings highlight <em>L. cyprinacea-</em>derived antigens as a promising immunoprophylactic strategy for sustainable lernaeosis control in freshwater aquaculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 103193"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145476886","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 : 2025-11-05DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2025.103192
Manal Adil Murad
Background: Entamoeba gingivalis and Trichomonas tenax are mouth parasites cause periodontitis and gingivitis. They are common in people having poor oral hygiene. The aim of this study is to assess the rate of E.gingivalis and T.tenax, associated risk factors, and examine their effects on blood indices, interleukin 2 (IL-2), and interleukin 4 (IL-4) among participants. Material and Methods: A total of 600 subjects were recruited, including 325 males and 275 females. Oral swabs and blood samples were collected, the swabs were cultured to diagnose the parasites, while blood samples used to measure the blood parameters, IL-2, and, IL-4 among individuals. Results: The overall prevalence of E. gingivalis and T. tenax 31.6 % and 16.7 %, respectively. The maximum infection was recorded among males, rural residents, those aged 35–54 years, and of primary education, 58.6 %, 51.0 %, 44.8 %, and 37.9 %. Significant decrease was noted in red blood cells count, hemoglobin concentrations, and platelets count. While a significant increase was observed in white blood cells, neutrophils, and the levels of IL-2 and IL-4 in patients compared to the control group. Conclusion: The patients should be screened for blood analysis to get early therapy. Further studies are needed to confirm these outcomes.
{"title":"Frequency of Entamoeba gingivalis and trichomonas tenax with hematological and immunological changes among human","authors":"Manal Adil Murad","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103192","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103192","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Background: <em>Entamoeba gingivalis</em> and <em>Trichomonas tenax</em> are mouth parasites cause periodontitis and gingivitis. They are common in people having poor oral hygiene. The aim of this study is to assess the rate of <em>E.gingivalis</em> and <em>T.tenax</em>, associated risk factors, and examine their effects on blood indices, interleukin 2 (IL-2), and interleukin 4 (IL-4) among participants. Material and Methods: A total of 600 subjects were recruited, including 325 males and 275 females. Oral swabs and blood samples were collected, the swabs were cultured to diagnose the parasites, while blood samples used to measure the blood parameters, IL-2, and, IL-4 among individuals. Results: The overall prevalence of <em>E. gingivalis</em> and <em>T. tenax</em> 31.6 % and 16.7 %, respectively. The maximum infection was recorded among males, rural residents, those aged 35–54 years, and of primary education, 58.6 %, 51.0 %, 44.8 %, and 37.9 %. Significant decrease was noted in red blood cells count, hemoglobin concentrations, and platelets count. While a significant increase was observed in white blood cells, neutrophils, and the levels of IL-2 and IL-4 in patients compared to the control group. Conclusion: The patients should be screened for blood analysis to get early therapy. Further studies are needed to confirm these outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 103192"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145471688","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 : 2025-11-04DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2025.103191
María Elena Villagrán-Herrera , Javier Ávila Morales , Carmen Aburto-Fernández , Daiyé Molinet-Solorzano , Cesar Antonio Campos Ramírez , Norma Hernández-Camacho , Nelly Jovana Pasten-Castrejón , José Alejandro Martínez-Ibarra , Salvador Zamora Ledesma
Leishmaniasis remains a neglected tropical disease with significant diagnostic challenges due to serological cross-reactivity with other trypanosomatids. This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of Iron Superoxide Dismutase (Fe-SODe), an excreted enzyme from Leishmania spp., as a specific antigen in detecting anti-Leishmania antibodies in school-aged children from urban areas of Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico. A total of 131 blood samples were analyzed using ELISA and Western blot assays with Fe-SODe from L. mexicana, L. braziliensis, and L. infantum. ELISA-FeSODe revealed seroprevalences of 22.1 % (L. mexicana), 14.5 % (L. braziliensis), and 9.9 % (L. infantum), while Western blot confirmed slightly higher rates. The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA-FeSODe ranged from 82.4 % to 98.5 % and 95.6 % to 100 %, respectively. The Fe-SODe ELISA and IEF immunoblot demonstrated high specificity without detectable cross-reactivity with other kinetoplastids, supporting Fe-SODe as a robust species-specific antigen for serodiagnosis.
{"title":"Iron Superoxide Dismutase (Fe-SODe) as a sensitive antigenic marker for serodiagnosis of Leishmania spp. in urban schoolchildren of Central Mexico","authors":"María Elena Villagrán-Herrera , Javier Ávila Morales , Carmen Aburto-Fernández , Daiyé Molinet-Solorzano , Cesar Antonio Campos Ramírez , Norma Hernández-Camacho , Nelly Jovana Pasten-Castrejón , José Alejandro Martínez-Ibarra , Salvador Zamora Ledesma","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103191","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103191","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Leishmaniasis remains a neglected tropical disease with significant diagnostic challenges due to serological cross-reactivity with other trypanosomatids. This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of Iron Superoxide Dismutase (Fe-SODe), an excreted enzyme from <em>Leishmania</em> spp., as a specific antigen in detecting anti-<em>Leishmania</em> antibodies in school-aged children from urban areas of Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico. A total of 131 blood samples were analyzed using ELISA and Western blot assays with Fe-SODe from L. <em>mexicana, L. braziliensis</em>, and L. <em>infantum</em>. ELISA-FeSODe revealed seroprevalences of 22.1 % (<em>L. mexicana</em>), 14.5 % (<em>L. braziliensis</em>), and 9.9 % <em>(L. infantum</em>), while Western blot confirmed slightly higher rates. The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA-FeSODe ranged from 82.4 % to 98.5 % and 95.6 % to 100 %, respectively. The Fe-SODe ELISA and IEF immunoblot demonstrated high specificity without detectable cross-reactivity with other kinetoplastids, supporting Fe-SODe as a robust species-specific antigen for serodiagnosis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 103191"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145452554","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}
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a zoonotic disease transmitted through phlebotomine sandfly bites. Identifying factors influencing and predicting the disease incidence is crucial. This study aimed to investigate the impact of climatic factors on CL incidence and predict patient numbers in Damghan County. In this study, we collected CL cases data from the Damghan County Health Network on monthly and annual basis from 2012 to 2021. Climatic data were obtained from the Meteorological Organization, the Department of Natural Resources and Watershed Management, and the National Statistics Center of Iran. Data analysis was performed using SPSS – 22 and R - 4.3.1 to examine significant relationships between climatic variables and CL incidence, as well as to predict the number of patients in the coming years. The findings revealed significant correlations between CL incidence and several climatic factors, including air pressure (P < 0.001), relative humidity (P < 0.001), sunshine hours (P = 0.002), maximum temperature (P = 0.003), average temperature (P = 0.005), minimum temperature (P = 0.006), precipitation (P = 0.022), and maximum wind speed (P = 0.029.). Additionally, the ARIMA model predicted approximately 370 and 180 patients in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The annual incidence of CL can be largely attributed to seasonal and annual climatic variations. This highlights the necessity of implementing sandfly control measures before the onset of summer when conditions become optimal for the disease outbreak. Also, predicting the possible number of people suffering from the disease in the coming years can play an effective role in planning for the prevention and control of the disease.
{"title":"Climatic factors and their impact on cutaneous Leishmaniasis: Predicting the number of patients using ARIMA model","authors":"Behrad Pourmohammadi , Fatemeh Shahsavan , Fatemeh Paknazar , Monireh Manavi , Farin Fatemi","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103185","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103185","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a zoonotic disease transmitted through phlebotomine sandfly bites. Identifying factors influencing and predicting the disease incidence is crucial. This study aimed to investigate the impact of climatic factors on CL incidence and predict patient numbers in Damghan County. In this study, we collected CL cases data from the Damghan County Health Network on monthly and annual basis from 2012 to 2021. Climatic data were obtained from the Meteorological Organization, the Department of Natural Resources and Watershed Management, and the National Statistics Center of Iran. Data analysis was performed using SPSS – 22 and R - 4.3.1 to examine significant relationships between climatic variables and CL incidence, as well as to predict the number of patients in the coming years. The findings revealed significant correlations between CL incidence and several climatic factors, including air pressure (<em>P</em> < 0.001), relative humidity (P < 0.001), sunshine hours (<em>P</em> = 0.002), maximum temperature (<em>P</em> = 0.003), average temperature (<em>P</em> = 0.005), minimum temperature (<em>P</em> = 0.006), precipitation (<em>P</em> = 0.022), and maximum wind speed (<em>P</em> = 0.029.). Additionally, the ARIMA model predicted approximately 370 and 180 patients in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The annual incidence of CL can be largely attributed to seasonal and annual climatic variations. This highlights the necessity of implementing sandfly control measures before the onset of summer when conditions become optimal for the disease outbreak. Also, predicting the possible number of people suffering from the disease in the coming years can play an effective role in planning for the prevention and control of the disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 103185"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145426997","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}
Trematode whirling disease (TWD), caused by Galactosomum nagasakiense (Heterophyidae), affects a wide range of wild and cultured marine fish, with occasional mass mortalities reported in aquaculture since the 1960s. Fish serve as the second intermediate host, while the black-tailed gull Larus crassirostris has been identified as the definitive host. However, the first intermediate host has remained unidentified for decades. Field surveys were conducted in Tsushima, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, an endemic region of TWD, aiming to identify the gastropod first intermediate host. Among 1341 snails sampled, trematode infections were detected in 15 individuals of the cerithiid snail, Cerithium dialeucum (n = 798, prevalence = 1.9 %). Three morphologically distinct types of magnacercous cercariae were isolated from C. dialeucum, and molecular analysis confirmed that all types belonged to the genus Galactosomum. The nuclear ITS2 and 28S rDNA sequences of the most prevalent type (detected in 11 out of the 15 infected C. dialeucum) were 100 % identical to sequences obtained from metacercariae found in the brain of TWD-affected fish, confirming its identity as G. nagasakiense. The remaining two types were assigned to the genus Galactosomum based on both morphological and genetical characteristics but could not be identified to the species level. Morphological descriptions of the cercaria and redia of G. nagasakiense are provided. The cercariae exhibited strong positive phototaxis and swam actively using a long, unforked tail. A single infected snail released up to 3000 cercariae per day. This study identifies, for the first time, the first intermediate host of G. nagasakiense, thereby completing the elucidation of its life cycle.
{"title":"Elucidation of the life cycle of Galactosomum nagasakiense (Heterophyidae), the causative parasite of trematode whirling disease in marine fish, with discovery of congeneric species in the gastropod first intermediate host Cerithium dialeucum","authors":"Yukitaka Sugihara , Ryoma Iwasaki , Haruki Miyazaki , Sho Shirakashi , Naoki Itoh , Tomoyuki Nakano , Tsuyoshi Takano , Kazuo Ogawa","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103190","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103190","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Trematode whirling disease (TWD), caused by <em>Galactosomum nagasakiense</em> (Heterophyidae), affects a wide range of wild and cultured marine fish, with occasional mass mortalities reported in aquaculture since the 1960s. Fish serve as the second intermediate host, while the black-tailed gull <em>Larus crassirostris</em> has been identified as the definitive host. However, the first intermediate host has remained unidentified for decades. Field surveys were conducted in Tsushima, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, an endemic region of TWD, aiming to identify the gastropod first intermediate host. Among 1341 snails sampled, trematode infections were detected in 15 individuals of the cerithiid snail, <em>Cerithium dialeucum</em> (n = 798, prevalence = 1.9 %). Three morphologically distinct types of magnacercous cercariae were isolated from <em>C. dialeucum,</em> and molecular analysis confirmed that all types belonged to the genus <em>Galactosomum</em>. The nuclear ITS2 and 28S rDNA sequences of the most prevalent type (detected in 11 out of the 15 infected <em>C. dialeucum</em>) were 100 % identical to sequences obtained from metacercariae found in the brain of TWD-affected fish, confirming its identity as <em>G. nagasakiense</em>. The remaining two types were assigned to the genus <em>Galactosomum</em> based on both morphological and genetical characteristics but could not be identified to the species level. Morphological descriptions of the cercaria and redia of <em>G. nagasakiense</em> are provided. The cercariae exhibited strong positive phototaxis and swam actively using a long, unforked tail. A single infected snail released up to 3000 cercariae per day. This study identifies, for the first time, the first intermediate host of <em>G. nagasakiense</em>, thereby completing the elucidation of its life cycle.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 103190"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145392212","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 : 2025-10-24DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2025.103187
Edwin Kimeli Too , Thant Zin Tun , Nattawat Chaiyawong , Takahiro Ishizaki , Minami Baba , Hassan Hakimi , Masahito Asada , Kazuhide Yahata , Osamu Kaneko
Human malaria, caused by the parasite Plasmodium, is a global health burden, with an estimated 263 million cases and 597,000 deaths in 2023 (WHO, 2024). In vertebrate hosts, malaria parasites multiply by recurrent invasion of the red blood cells (RBCs). Within RBCs, some asexual parasites undergo sexual differentiation to become gametocytes. After a female mosquito ingests a blood meal, micro- and macrogametocytes egress from RBCs and fertilize within the mosquito's midgut. Pseudokinases are a class of proteins that resemble typical kinases, but cannot catalyze phosphorylation reactions. Several Plasmodium pseudokinases have high transcript levels at both the schizont and sexual stages and may play critical roles within both junctures of the lifecycle. We previously reported that one pseudokinase, pPK1, is involved in invading RBCs, as well as exflagellation center formation, using the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium yoelii. In the present study, we characterized two additional pseudokinases in P. yoelii, pPK3 and pPK4. Both pseudokinases have high transcript levels at the schizont and gametocyte stages; however, pPK3 transcripts are more abundantly detected in macrogametocytes than in microgametocytes. The pattern of pPK4 expression was opposite, with more abundant transcripts observed in microgametocytes. Immunofluorescence assay of transgenic parasites expressing Myc-tagged pPK4 revealed that pPK4 appeared to be expressed in the cytoplasm of schizonts and sexual stages. P. yoelii pPK3 knockout (KO) lines showed no significant growth defects in mice and no significant reduction in the number of oocysts following transmission to mosquitoes. However, the P. yoelii pPK4-KO lines exhibited a significant defect in growth, decreased virulence in mice, and a significant reduction in the number of oocysts in mosquitoes. An in vivo RBC invasion assay for pPK4-KO lines revealed that invasion, but not egress, was affected. There were no significant differences in gametocytemia and egress from RBC for either micro- or macrogametes; however, there was a significant reduction in the number of exflagellation centers. Thus, we conclude that pPK4 plays an important role in RBC invasion and exflagellation center formation. In contrast, pPK3 is not essential in the blood stage and subsequent parasite lifecycle development up to the oocyst stage.
{"title":"A pseudokinase pPK4 is required for efficient red blood cell invasion and exflagellation center formation in Plasmodium yoelii","authors":"Edwin Kimeli Too , Thant Zin Tun , Nattawat Chaiyawong , Takahiro Ishizaki , Minami Baba , Hassan Hakimi , Masahito Asada , Kazuhide Yahata , Osamu Kaneko","doi":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103187","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parint.2025.103187","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human malaria, caused by the parasite <em>Plasmodium</em>, is a global health burden, with an estimated 263 million cases and 597,000 deaths in 2023 (WHO, 2024). In vertebrate hosts, malaria parasites multiply by recurrent invasion of the red blood cells (RBCs). Within RBCs, some asexual parasites undergo sexual differentiation to become gametocytes. After a female mosquito ingests a blood meal, micro- and macrogametocytes egress from RBCs and fertilize within the mosquito's midgut. Pseudokinases are a class of proteins that resemble typical kinases, but cannot catalyze phosphorylation reactions. Several <em>Plasmodium</em> pseudokinases have high transcript levels at both the schizont and sexual stages and may play critical roles within both junctures of the lifecycle. We previously reported that one pseudokinase, pPK1, is involved in invading RBCs, as well as exflagellation center formation, using the rodent malaria parasite <em>Plasmodium yoelii</em>. In the present study, we characterized two additional pseudokinases in <em>P. yoelii</em>, pPK3 and pPK4. Both pseudokinases have high transcript levels at the schizont and gametocyte stages; however, pPK3 transcripts are more abundantly detected in macrogametocytes than in microgametocytes. The pattern of pPK4 expression was opposite, with more abundant transcripts observed in microgametocytes. Immunofluorescence assay of transgenic parasites expressing Myc-tagged pPK4 revealed that pPK4 appeared to be expressed in the cytoplasm of schizonts and sexual stages. <em>P. yoelii</em> pPK3 knockout (KO) lines showed no significant growth defects in mice and no significant reduction in the number of oocysts following transmission to mosquitoes. However, the <em>P. yoelii</em> pPK4-KO lines exhibited a significant defect in growth, decreased virulence in mice, and a significant reduction in the number of oocysts in mosquitoes. An <em>in vivo</em> RBC invasion assay for pPK4-KO lines revealed that invasion, but not egress, was affected. There were no significant differences in gametocytemia and egress from RBC for either micro- or macrogametes; however, there was a significant reduction in the number of exflagellation centers. Thus, we conclude that pPK4 plays an important role in RBC invasion and exflagellation center formation. In contrast, pPK3 is not essential in the blood stage and subsequent parasite lifecycle development up to the oocyst stage.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19983,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology International","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 103187"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145416508","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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