Veterinary parasitology最新文献

The catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in Taenia solium cysticerci (TsPKA-c): A promising molecular target for the development of novel anti-cysticercosis therapeutics 猪带绦虫囊尾蚴（TsPKA-c）中camp依赖蛋白激酶的催化亚基：开发新型抗囊尾蚴治疗药物的一个有前途的分子靶点

IF 2.2 2区农林科学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Veterinary parasitology

Pub Date : 2026-01-13 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2026.110700

Li-Qun Wang , Guang-Xue Liu , Pan-Hong Liang , Li Li , Tao-Shan Li , Ai-Ming Guo , Tharheer Oluwashola Amuda , Ke-Ke Wu , Yi-Xuan Wu , Hong Yin , Hong-Bin Yan , Xue-Nong Luo

Cysticercosis, caused by the larval stage of T. solium, remains a major neglected tropical disease with severe clinical and socioeconomic consequences in endemic regions. Although cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) signaling is fundamental to parasite development and survival, its therapeutic relevance in T. solium has not been comprehensively explored. This study provides an integrated molecular and functional characterization of the T. solium PKA catalytic subunit (TsPKA-c) and evaluates its potential as a novel therapeutic target for cysticercosis control. Recombinant TsPKA-c was successfully expressed in Pichia pastoris and purified in an active form, demonstrating robust kinase activity. Phylogenetic analysis revealed strong evolutionary conservation among cestode PKA homologues, underscoring its essential biological function. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed stage-specific expression in both larval and adult parasite forms. Optimal enzymatic activity occurred at pH 7.5 and 35°C, with kinetic parameters showing a Km of 36.37 ± 2.64 µM and Vmax of 0.7648 ± 0.013 nmol/min/µg. Pharmacological inhibition experiments identified H89 as a highly potent inhibitor of TsPKA-c (IC50 = 14.55 ± 1.5 µM), exhibiting greater efficacy than PKI (14−22) (IC50 = 23.09 ± 0.5 µM). Both inhibitors induced significant dose- and time-dependent mortality in T. pisiformis cysticerci, with H89 causing rapid lethality. Metabolic analyses demonstrated a marked reduction in glucose uptake following TsPKA-c inhibition, accompanied by alterations in excretory-secretory protein profiles. Collectively, these findings establish TsPKA-c as a critical regulator of parasite metabolism and survival, supporting its strong candidacy as a promising molecular target for the development of novel anti-cysticercosis therapeutic strategies.

由猪尾绦虫幼虫期引起的囊虫病仍然是一种被忽视的主要热带病，在流行地区具有严重的临床和社会经济后果。尽管环amp依赖性蛋白激酶（PKA）信号对寄生虫的发育和生存至关重要，但其在血吸虫中的治疗意义尚未得到全面探讨。本研究提供了T. solium PKA催化亚基（TsPKA-c）的综合分子和功能表征，并评估了其作为囊虫病控制新治疗靶点的潜力。重组TsPKA-c在毕赤酵母中成功表达，并以活性形式纯化，显示出强大的激酶活性。系统发育分析表明，PKA同源基因在动物中具有较强的进化保守性，强调了其重要的生物学功能。免疫组织化学分析证实在幼虫和成虫形式中都有阶段特异性表达。pH为7.5和35℃时酶活性最佳，动力学参数Km为36.37 ± 2.64 µM， Vmax为0.7648 ± 0.013 nmol/min/µg。药理抑制实验表明H89是一种高效的TsPKA-c抑制剂（IC50 = 14.55 ± 1.5 µM），其抑制效果优于PKI(14−22)（IC50 = 23.09 ± 0.5 µM）。这两种抑制剂均诱导了显著的剂量依赖性和时间依赖性囊虫死亡率，其中H89引起快速致死。代谢分析表明，在TsPKA-c抑制后，葡萄糖摄取明显减少，并伴有排泄-分泌蛋白谱的改变。总之，这些发现表明TsPKA-c是寄生虫代谢和生存的关键调节因子，支持其作为开发新型抗囊虫病治疗策略的有希望的分子靶点的强大候选性。

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引用次数: 0

Concurrent evaluation of oxidative stress biomarkers, cytokine expression, molecular identification, and histopathological findings in sheep naturally infected with Fasciola hepatica 同时评估氧化应激生物标志物、细胞因子表达、分子鉴定和肝片形吸虫自然感染羊的组织病理学发现

IF 2.2 2区农林科学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Veterinary parasitology

Pub Date : 2026-01-12 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2026.110701

Olfat A. Mahdy , Mai A. Salem , Mohamed S. Kamel , Mohamed A. El-Saied , Asmaa K. Al-Mokaddem , Radwa Ashour , Reem M. Ramadan

Ovine fascioliasis, caused by Fasciola species, challenges livestock productivity worldwide and remains insufficiently characterized at the molecular and immunological levels in endemic regions, such as Egypt. In 150 slaughtered sheep, the prevalence was determined, mitochondrial COX1 was sequenced for species identity, hepatic cytokine transcripts were quantified via qRT-PCR, oxidative stress biomarkers (MDA, TAC, TOS, and OSI) were assayed, and histopathology was evaluated. The prevalence was 15.3 %, with non-significant sex/season effects. COX1 phylogenetics confirmed that Fasciola hepatica identity was closely related to global haplotypes. Infected livers showed upregulation of pro-inflammatory (IL-1β) 4.0 × (, TNF-α) 6.6 × () and regulatory (IL-10 (5.3 ×), TGF-β (4.7 ×), and IL-4 (4.4 ×) cytokines, with downregulated IFN-γ (0.45 ×). Oxidative stress markers, including MDA (5 ×), TOS (6.1 ×), and OSI (3.6 ×), were significantly elevated, alongside a compensatory rise in TAC (7.8 ×). Histological examination revealed hepatocellular degeneration, bile duct hyperplasia, inflammatory infiltration, and fibrosis. These results elucidate the complex immune modulation and oxidative imbalance during F. hepatica infection and emphasize the necessity of integrated molecular and functional diagnostics to enhance fascioliasis management in sheep.

由片形吸虫引起的羊片形吸虫病对全世界的畜牧业生产力构成挑战，在埃及等流行地区，在分子和免疫学水平上的特征仍然不足。在150只屠宰的绵羊中，测定了患病率，对线粒体COX1进行了物种鉴定测序，通过qRT-PCR定量分析了肝脏细胞因子转录物，检测了氧化应激生物标志物（MDA、TAC、TOS和OSI），并进行了组织病理学评估。患病率为15.3 %，性别/季节影响不显著。COX1系统发育证实肝片形吸虫身份与全球单倍型密切相关。感染肝脏显示促炎（IL-1β） 4.0 × （,TNF-α） 6.6 × （）和调节性(IL-10（5.3 ×）， TGF-β（4.7 ×）和IL-4（4.4 ×）细胞因子上调，IFN-γ下调（0.45 ×）。氧化应激标志物，包括MDA（5 ×）、TOS（6.1 ×）和OSI（3.6 ×）显著升高，同时TAC（7.8 ×）代偿性升高。组织学检查显示肝细胞变性、胆管增生、炎症浸润及纤维化。这些结果阐明了肝片吸虫病感染过程中复杂的免疫调节和氧化失衡，强调了整合分子和功能诊断以加强羊片吸虫病管理的必要性。

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引用次数: 0

Association between Heterakis dispar infections and concurrent diseases in reproductive geese: A retrospective necropsy study 生殖鹅异异体感染与并发疾病的关系：回顾性尸检研究

IF 2.2 2区农林科学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Veterinary parasitology

Pub Date : 2026-01-08 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2026.110698

Kamila Bobrek

Heterakis infection, caused by small nematodes that inhabit the caeca, is one of the most frequently reported parasitic infections in poultry. Despite its prevalence, the impact of Heterakis spp. on avian health remains inconsistently described. This study retrospectively analysed the association between Heterakis dispar infection and other diseases in farmed geese. Among 194 necropsied reproductive geese from 2015 to 2023, 143 were found to be infected with Heterakis dispar, whereas 51 were not. In geese with caecal nematodes, bacterial infection was the dominant cause of death (89.5 %). Peritonitis caused by Escherichia coli was identified as the cause of death in 58.7 % of Heterakis-infected geese and 41.2 % of non-infected geese, with a positive association. Conversely, a negative association was observed between Heterakis dispar infection and two other bacterial diseases: pasteurellosis accounted for 29.4 % of deaths in the nematode-negative group and 15.4 % in the nematode-positive group, whereas erysipelas accounted for 21.6 % and 8.4 %, respectively. No association was observed between Heterakis dispar infection and other conditions such as tetratrichomoniasis, necrotic enteritis, arthritis, or neoplasms. Presumably the larval stage of the Heterakis life cycle, which involves penetration of the caecal wall, may facilitate secondary infections by bacteria naturally residing in the caecum, particularly E. coli. These findings highlight a possible role of Heterakis dispar in predisposing geese to specific bacterial infections through damage to the mucosa of the caecum.

异线虫感染是由栖息在盲肠中的小线虫引起的，是禽类中最常见的寄生虫感染之一。尽管它很流行，但对其对禽类健康的影响的描述仍不一致。本研究回顾性分析了养殖鹅异线虫感染与其他疾病的关系。2015 - 2023年194只死亡繁殖鹅中，发现异异线虫感染143只，未感染51只。盲肠线虫病鹅的主要死亡原因是细菌感染（89.5% %）。大肠杆菌引起的腹膜炎被确定为58.7% %感染杂杆菌鹅和41.2% %未感染杂杆菌鹅的死亡原因，两者呈正相关。相反，异线虫感染与其他两种细菌性疾病之间呈负相关：巴氏杆菌病在线虫阴性组和线虫阳性组中分别占29.4% %和15.4% %的死亡，而丹毒分别占21.6% %和8.4% %。未观察到异棘虫感染与其他疾病如四滴虫病、坏死性肠炎、关节炎或肿瘤之间的关联。据推测，异线虫生命周期的幼虫阶段，包括穿透盲肠壁，可能促进天然存在于盲肠中的细菌，特别是大肠杆菌的继发性感染。这些发现突出了异歧杆菌可能通过损伤盲肠粘膜使鹅易受特定细菌感染。

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引用次数: 0

Assessment of monthly infection risk of heartworm infection in Colombia: integrative ecological niche modeling of Culex quinquefasciatus and Dirofilaria immitis 哥伦比亚心丝虫感染的月感染风险评估：致倦库蚊和免疫笛丝虫的综合生态位模型。

IF 2.2 2区农林科学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Veterinary parasitology

Pub Date : 2026-01-08 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2026.110699

Rodrigo Morchón , Elena Infante González-Mohino , María Victoria Esteban-Mendoza , Manuel Collado-Cuadrado , Víctor Arcila-Quiceno , José Alberto Montoya-Alonso , Elena Carretón , Iván Rodríguez-Escolar

Heartworm disease (Dirofilaria immitis) is a globally distributed vector-borne zoonosis affecting canids and felids, which can be fatal by compromising the cardiorespiratory system. This study analyzes the annual and monthly infection risk in Colombia by integrating ecological niche modeling for Culex quinquefasciatus—the most important and widely distributed vector in the country—with the temperature-dependent number of D. immitis generations within the vector. Results identified the human footprint (78 %) as the primary determinant of vector distribution, surpassing climatic variables and confirming the synanthropic nature of transmission. The monthly analysis revealed sustained potential transmission year-round in lowlands and coastal areas, contrasting with a marked thermal barrier in the Andean region, where altitude limits parasite development despite the presence of the vector. External validation confirmed the model's robustness, locating 84.68 % of reported cases within very high-risk zones. Heartworm infection in Colombia is a non-seasonal urban phenomenon, strictly modulated by altitude. These findings call for replacing seasonal prophylaxis with continuous preventive protocols and prioritizing epidemiological surveillance under a One Health approach along the country's main demographic corridors.

心丝虫病是一种全球分布的媒介传播的人畜共患病，影响犬科动物和猫科动物，可通过损害心肺系统而致命。本研究通过整合致倦库蚊（该国最重要和广泛分布的病媒）的生态位模型，以及病媒中与温度相关的虫代数，分析了哥伦比亚每年和每月的感染风险。结果发现，人类足迹（78 %）是病媒分布的主要决定因素，超过了气候变量，证实了传播的共生性。月度分析显示，低地和沿海地区全年持续存在潜在传播，而安第斯地区存在明显的热屏障，尽管存在病媒，但海拔高度限制了寄生虫的发育。外部验证证实了模型的稳健性，将84.68 %的报告病例定位在非常高风险区域。在哥伦比亚，心丝虫感染是一种非季节性的城市现象，受海拔高度的严格调节。这些调查结果要求用持续的预防方案取代季节性预防，并在该国主要人口走廊的“同一个健康”方针下优先开展流行病学监测。

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引用次数: 0

Date seed–and licorice–derived nanoemulsions inhibit clinostomid metacercariae recovered from naturally infected Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): First report 枣籽和甘草提取的纳米乳剂抑制从自然感染的尼罗罗非鱼（Oreochromis niloticus）中恢复的clinostomid metacercarides：首次报告。

IF 2.2 2区农林科学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Veterinary parasitology

Pub Date : 2026-01-08 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2026.110697

Olfat A. Mahdy , Mai A. Salem , Fady Sayed Youssef , Mohamed S. Kamel , Reem M. Ramadan

Herein, we present the development and comprehensive evaluation of green nanoemulsions derived from date seeds (DNE) and licorice (LNE) as antiparasitic agents targeting clinostomiasis in freshwater fish. Focusing on Clinostomum (C.) complanatum and Euclinostomum (E.) heterostomum—parasites that pose significant health risks to humans and cause substantial economic losses in aquaculture—these nanoemulsions were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. The analyses confirmed their uniform spherical morphology, nanoscale size, and robust colloidal stability. Molecular docking analyses revealed strong binding affinities between key phytoconstituents and essential parasitic enzymes, with glycyrrhizin exhibiting the highest affinity (−9.28 kcal/mol) for Euclinostomum cytochrome c oxidase. Key constituents in DNE included caffeic acid, epicatechin, ferulic acid, and 5-O-caffeoylshikimic acid; LNE featured glycyrrhizin among other phenolics. Both DNE and LNE induced marked, concentration- and time-dependent mortality in excysted metacercariae, with species-specific potency: LNE was more effective against C. complanatum (LC₅₀ = 0.032 %) while DNE showed superior activity against E. heterostomum (LC₅₀ = 0.004 %). Comet assays further revealed significant, dose-dependent DNA damage in both parasite species, with DNE causing more pronounced genotoxicity in E. heterostomum and LNE inducing greater DNA fragmentation in C. complanatum. These findings highlight the potential of plant-derived nanoemulsions as sustainable alternatives for parasite control in aquaculture, offering targeted, species-specific efficacy while minimizing ecological risks and reducing reliance on synthetic chemotherapeutants. The integration of such green nanotechnological approaches represents a promising strategy for effective disease management and the advancement of sustainable aquaculture practices. These results highlight the date seed and licorice-based nanoemulsions as promising in vitro antiparasitic candidates which justify further in vivo confirmation.

在此，我们介绍了从枣籽（DNE）和甘草（LNE）中提取的绿色纳米乳剂的开发和综合评价，以作为针对淡水鱼线虫病的抗寄生虫剂。利用透射电子显微镜和动态光散射技术对这些纳米乳剂进行了表征，重点研究了对人类健康构成重大风险并在水产养殖中造成重大经济损失的斜口(c)和异口(e)寄生虫。分析证实了它们均匀的球形形态、纳米级尺寸和强大的胶体稳定性。分子对接分析表明，主要植物成分与寄生酶具有较强的结合亲和力，其中甘草酸对桉树细胞色素c氧化酶的亲和力最高（-9.28 kcal/mol）。DNE的主要成分包括咖啡酸、表儿茶素、阿魏酸和5- o -咖啡莽草酸；在其他酚类物质中，LNE以甘草酸为主。DNE和LNE都在囊出的囊蚴中诱导了显著的浓度和时间依赖性死亡率，具有物种特异性效力：LNE对C. planatum （LC₅₀= 0.032 %）更有效，而DNE对E. heterostomum （LC₅₀= 0.004 %）表现出更强的活性。彗星实验进一步揭示了这两种寄生虫的显著的剂量依赖性DNA损伤，DNE在异口弓形虫中引起更明显的遗传毒性，而LNE在平斑弓形虫中引起更大的DNA片段化。这些发现强调了植物源纳米乳剂作为水产养殖中寄生虫控制的可持续替代品的潜力，它提供了有针对性的、物种特异性的功效，同时最大限度地降低了生态风险并减少了对合成化疗药物的依赖。这种绿色纳米技术方法的整合代表了有效疾病管理和促进可持续水产养殖实践的一种有前途的战略。这些结果表明枣籽和甘草基纳米乳液具有良好的体外抗寄生虫活性，值得进一步的体内实验验证。

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引用次数: 0

Impacts of targeted selective treatment on performance, nematode faecal egg counts and anthelmintic use in sheep: A meta-analysis 靶向选择性处理对绵羊生产性能、线虫粪卵计数和驱虫剂使用的影响：一项荟萃分析

IF 2.2 2区农林科学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Veterinary parasitology

Pub Date : 2026-01-06 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2026.110696

Adam D. Hayward, Fiona Kenyon

Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infections of ruminant livestock have traditionally been controlled through regular, “suppressive”, treatment with anthelmintic drugs, but this has resulted in the evolution of anthelmintic resistance and reduced efficacy. There is now a critical need to reduce anthelmintic use to maintain anthelmintic efficacy by creating refugia where susceptible GIN reside. Targeted selective treatment (TST) strategies only treat animals that need it, ensuring animals affected by GIN maintain their performance, while animals unaffected by GIN are not treated unnecessarily. TST is generally agreed to reduce anthelmintic use without drastically reducing animal performance or increasing GIN faecal egg count (FEC), but there is considerable variation in results reported by studies comparing TST with other strategies. To explore the effectiveness of TST and identify factors affecting previous results, we applied meta-analysis to data collected from 20 studies comparing TST to other strategies. Overall, TST was associated with a statistically significant, but small, reduction in animal performance, no effect on worm FEC, and 50 % lower anthelmintic use. Experimental design affected study outcome: basing treatment decisions on body condition scores resulted in less favourable outcomes compared to other methods. Meanwhile, TST was associated with negligible reductions in performance compared to “suppressive” treatment, and although FEC was increased slightly in the TST group, anthelmintic use was reduced by around two-thirds. Differences between TST and “strategic” treatments were smaller, but TST still reduced anthelmintic use by 25 %. Overall, the results support the use of TST to reduce anthelmintic use while maintaining efficacy and animal performance.

反刍家畜的胃肠道线虫（GIN）感染传统上是通过定期使用驱虫药进行“抑制性”治疗来控制的，但这导致了驱虫药耐药性的演变和效果的降低。现在迫切需要减少驱虫药的使用，通过在易受感染的GIN居住的地方建立避难所来保持驱虫药的功效。靶向选择性治疗（TST）策略只治疗有需要的动物，确保受GIN影响的动物保持其生产性能，而未受GIN影响的动物则不会受到不必要的治疗。人们普遍认为，TST可以减少驱虫剂的使用，而不会大幅降低动物生产性能或增加GIN粪卵计数（FEC），但将TST与其他策略进行比较的研究报告的结果存在很大差异。为了探索TST的有效性并确定影响先前结果的因素，我们对收集的20项研究数据进行了荟萃分析，将TST与其他策略进行了比较。总体而言，TST与动物生产性能的统计学显著但很小的降低有关，对蠕虫FEC没有影响，并且驱虫药的使用降低了50% %。实验设计影响研究结果：与其他方法相比，基于身体状况评分的治疗决策结果不太理想。与此同时，与“抑制”治疗相比，TST与可忽略不计的性能下降有关，尽管TST组的FEC略有增加，但驱虫药的使用减少了约三分之二。TST和“策略”治疗之间的差异较小，但TST仍然减少了25% %的驱虫药使用。总体而言，研究结果支持使用TST在保持药效和动物生产性能的同时减少驱虫剂的使用。

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引用次数: 0

Synergistic anticoccidial effects of pomegranate peel extract and probiotics against Eimeria tenella via mitigating inflammation and restoring gut microbiota 石榴皮提取物和益生菌通过减轻炎症和恢复肠道微生物群对柔嫩艾美耳球虫的协同抗球虫作用。

IF 2.2 2区农林科学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Veterinary parasitology

Pub Date : 2026-01-06 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2026.110693

Weimei Wang , Xiaobin Yi , Yu Han , Ping Feng , Ruonan Bo , Mingjiang Liu , Jingui Li

Eimeria tenella (E. tenella), a pathogenic protozoan parasite, poses a significant threat to the global poultry industry due to its severe impact on intestinal health and growth performance. Given the limitations of conventional anticoccidial drugs, such as the development of drug resistance and chemical residues, it is imperative to explore natural alternative strategies for effective control. In this study, we evaluated the synergistic anti-coccidial effect of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) and Bacillus subtilis (BS). PPE exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, whereas BS, contributes to maintaining intestinal microbial balance. Broiler chickens were challenged with E. tenella and treated with 400 mg/kg PPE in feed and 400 mg/L BS in drinking water, using diclazuril (DIC) as a positive control. The results demonstrated that the PPE+BS combination significantly alleviated cecal lesions, reduced oocyst it mainly parasitizes on the mucosa of the cecum output and mortality, lowered organ indices, suppressed inflammatory responses, and restored body weight gain. The anti-coccidial index (ACI) reached 163, indicating moderate efficacy. Gut microbiota analysis revealed that PPE+BS restored microbial homeostasis by increasing the abundance of Firmicutes, reducing Escherichia coli and Enterococcus, and restoring Micrococcus to levels comparable to uninfected controls. To further explore the potential of the intestinal probiotics, Lactobacillus salivarius (LS) and Lactobacillus curvatus (LC), isolated and identified from chicken feces, achieved comparable anti-coccidial efficacy when combined with PPE, confirming the role of specific probiotics in the observed synergy. In conclusion, the combination of PPE and BS represents an effective and sustainable strategy for controlling avian coccidiosis, primarily through modulation of the gut microbiota and enrichment of beneficial probiotics.

柔嫩艾美耳虫（E. tenella）是一种致病性原生动物寄生虫，由于其对肠道健康和生长性能的严重影响，对全球家禽业构成重大威胁。鉴于常规抗球虫药物的局限性，如耐药性和化学残留的发展，探索有效控制的自然替代策略势在必行。本研究对石榴皮提取物（PPE）和枯草芽孢杆菌（BS）的协同抗球虫作用进行了研究。PPE具有抗氧化和抗炎特性，而BS则有助于维持肠道微生物平衡。用肉仔鸡攻毒，饲料中添加400 mg/kg PPE，饮用水中添加400 mg/L BS，双唑利（DIC）为阳性对照。结果表明，PPE+BS联合用药可显著缓解盲肠病变，减少主要寄生于盲肠黏膜的卵囊排出量和死亡率，降低脏器指数，抑制炎症反应，恢复体重增加。抗球虫指数（ACI）为163，疗效中等。肠道菌群分析显示，PPE+BS通过增加厚壁菌门的丰度，减少大肠杆菌和肠球菌，并将微球菌恢复到与未感染对照相当的水平，从而恢复了微生物稳态。为了进一步挖掘肠道益生菌的潜力，从鸡粪便中分离鉴定的唾液乳杆菌（Lactobacillus salivarius， LS）和弯曲乳杆菌（Lactobacillus curvatus， LC）在与PPE联合使用时取得了相当的抗球螨效果，证实了特定益生菌在观察到的协同作用中的作用。综上所示，PPE和BS联合使用是一种有效且可持续的控制鸡球虫病的策略，主要通过调节肠道菌群和富集有益益生菌来实现。

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引用次数: 0

Fasciola gigantica: Ultrastructure and cytochemistry of tegumental secretory activity and extracellular vesicle formation in juvenile flukes migrating in mouse liver 巨型片形吸虫：小鼠肝脏中幼年吸虫迁移时被囊分泌活性和细胞外囊泡形成的超微结构和细胞化学

IF 2.2 2区农林科学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Veterinary parasitology

Pub Date : 2026-01-06 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2026.110694

R.E.B. Hanna , G.P. Brennan , M.W. Robinson , P.-E. Kajugu , J.M. Quinn , C.E. Bennett

Fasciola gigantica, the predominant cause of fasciolosis in tropical regions, is a major cause of economic loss to the global farming community and is also recognised as a significant human pathogen. The surface tegument of the fluke, situated as it is at the host-parasite interface, is a metabolically active and highly dynamic secretory organ mainly concerned with ensuring the survival of the parasite in a hostile immunological and physiochemical environment. The period of migration of the juvenile fluke through the hepatic parenchyma of the host is critical in establishing a mutually sustainable host-parasite relationship, but due to technical difficulties has been inadequately investigated. Here, the tegument of migrating juvenile F. gigantica collected from the hepatic parenchyma of experimentally infected mice 4 and 7 weeks after infection was examined by conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and by cytochemistry using the periodic acid-thiocarbohydrazine-osmium (PATCO) and Ruthenium Red methods. T1 secretory bodies in the surface syncytium maintain the surface glycocalyx by exocytosis in response to sloughing of immunocomplex as the fluke encounters the effectors of host immunity. Their bounding plasma membranes engender a superficial zone of microvilli which appear to give rise to detached tubules and extracellular vesicles. These may have a role in host-parasite communication and immunomodulation. T2 secretory bodies in the tegument contain stable glycoprotein, and their main contribution may be to preadapt the apical surface for changes in the physicochemical environment when the fluke enters the bile ducts. A novel type of tegumental cell, termed T3, has been described in the sub-syncytial zone. T3 secretory bodies may contribute to the syncytial proteome or spine formation in the growing juvenile flukes. The surface secretory activity in migrating juvenile flukes may offer a battery of stage-specific soluble and membrane-associated molecular products with potential for therapeutic exploitation.

巨型片形吸虫是热带地区片形吸虫病的主要病因，是全球农业社区经济损失的主要原因，也是公认的一种重要的人类病原体。吸虫的表面被膜位于宿主-寄生虫界面，是一个代谢活跃且高度动态的分泌器官，主要与确保寄生虫在恶劣的免疫和物理化学环境中的生存有关。幼年吸虫通过宿主肝实质的迁移期对于建立相互可持续的宿主-寄生虫关系至关重要，但由于技术上的困难，尚未进行充分的研究。本研究采用常规透射电子显微镜（TEM）和细胞化学方法，采用周期性酸-硫代碳肼-锇（PATCO）和钌红（Ruthenium Red）方法，对感染后4周和7周的实验性感染小鼠的肝组织中采集的迁移幼体巨型飞蛾（F. gigantica）的被皮进行检测。当吸虫遭遇宿主免疫效应物时，表面合胞体中的T1分泌体通过胞吐来应对免疫复合物的脱落，维持表面糖萼。它们的结合质膜产生表面的微绒毛区，微绒毛区似乎产生分离的小管和细胞外囊泡。这些可能在宿主-寄生虫交流和免疫调节中起作用。被皮中的T2分泌体含有稳定的糖蛋白，其主要作用可能是在吸虫进入胆管时，对根尖表面的物化环境变化进行预适应。一种新型被盖细胞，称为T3，已被描述在亚合胞带。T3分泌体可能对生长中的吸虫幼鱼合胞蛋白组或棘的形成有贡献。迁移幼吸虫的表面分泌活性可能提供一系列具有治疗开发潜力的阶段特异性可溶性和膜相关分子产品。

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引用次数: 0

Anti-Theileria equi activity of methanolic extract of Artemisia scoparia: In vitro efficacy, in vivo safety, and identification of lead molecules 青蒿醇提物抗马伊氏杆菌活性：体外药效、体内安全性及铅分子鉴定

IF 2.2 2区农林科学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Veterinary parasitology

Pub Date : 2026-01-06 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2026.110695

Kapil Kumar Gupta , Lalita Singh , N. Saxena , S. Dey , Rajender Kumar , Sanjay Kumar

Equine piroplasmosis is a tick-borne disease that affects horses and is caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi. Currently, imidocarb dipropionate is the primary treatment for T. equi infections; however, its application is limited by its potential systemic toxicity. Artemisia annua is widely recognised for its antimalarial properties, whereas Artemisia scoparia has traditionally been used for various medicinal purposes. However, the therapeutic potential of A. scoparia against theileriosis in animals remains largely unknown. Activity-guided fractionation of a methanolic extract of A. scoparia (ASME) identified the methanolic fraction (MF-ASME) as the most active against T. equi in vitro (IC₅₀: 52.67 µg/mL). MF-ASME exhibited low cytotoxicity in horse PBMCs (CC₅₀: 238.2 µg/mL), resulting in a favourable selectivity index of 4.52. Organ toxicity assessment in a mouse model confirmed the safety of MF-ASME at the safety dose (SD: 250 mg/kg). Biomarker analysis confirmed its safety, with no significant adverse effects on organ function. HPLC and LC-MS/MS analyses identified 17 bioactive compounds in MF-ASME, with artemisinin, artemether, and dihydroartemisinin as the primary antimalarial agents. These results support the potential of MF-ASME for further therapeutic development against equine theileriosis.

马螺浆虫病是一种影响马的蜱传疾病，由马伊勒菌和卡巴贝斯虫引起。目前，吡虫威二丙酸是马氏弓形虫感染的主要治疗方法；然而，由于其潜在的全身毒性，其应用受到限制。黄花蒿因其抗疟疾特性而被广泛认可，而猪毛蒿传统上被用于各种药用目的。然而，scoparia对动物肠菌病的治疗潜力仍然很大程度上未知。scoparia （ASME）甲醇提取物的活性引导分离鉴定出甲醇部分（MF-ASME）是体外对T. equi最有效的（IC₅₀：52.67 µg/mL）。MF-ASME在马pbmc中表现出较低的细胞毒性（CC₅₀：238.2 µg/mL），选择性指数为4.52。小鼠器官毒性评价证实了安全剂量（SD: 250 mg/kg）下MF-ASME的安全性。生物标志物分析证实其安全性，对器官功能无明显不良影响。HPLC和LC-MS/MS分析共鉴定出17种活性成分，其中青蒿素、蒿甲醚和双氢青蒿素为主要抗疟药物。这些结果支持MF-ASME在进一步治疗马镰孢病方面的潜力。

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引用次数: 0

A recombinant adeno-associated virus expressing Eimeria stiedai HSP70 proteins exhibited a promising efficacy against rabbit coccidiosis 一种表达艾美耳球虫HSP70蛋白的重组腺相关病毒对兔球虫病具有良好的防治效果

IF 2.2 2区农林科学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Veterinary parasitology

Pub Date : 2026-01-05 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2026.110692

Chaofan Li , Chuanmin Li , Yahuan Li , Zhenzhen Liu, Xu Zhang, Hongyu Wang, Pengtao Gong, Nan Zhang, He Li, Xin Li, Jianhua Li, Xiaocen Wang

Eimeria stiedai is a critical protozoan that colonizes in rabbit hepatocytes and cholangiocytes, causing severe hepatic coccidiosis and substantial economic loss in the rabbit industry. However, there are no effective vaccines against E. stiedai infection. In this study, the recombinant E. stiedai heat shock protein 70 (rEsHSP70) was produced via a prokaryotic expression system, and its polyclonal antibody was prepared. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that EsHSP70 localized predominantly in the cytoplasm and enriched around the nucleus of sporozoites, while in merozoites it was distributed in the cytoplasm, displaying a peripheral and apical distribution pattern. Functional blocking assays demonstrated that anti-EsHSP70 polyclonal antibody significantly inhibited sporozoites invasion in primary rabbit hepatocytes, suggesting a potential role for EsHSP70 in this process. Furthermore, a recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 9-ZsGreen1 expressing EsHSP70 (rAAV-ZsGreen1-EsHSP70) was successfully packaged and purified. The recombinant virus particles was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) as 20 nm hexagonal structures, with a titer exceeding 1.0 × 10¹³ vg/mL. The recombinant viruses could infect 293 T cells and express EsHSP70 proteins. Immunization with recombinant rAAV-ZsGreen1-EsHSP70 significantly elevated the levels of specific IgG antibody, IL-2, IL-10, and IFN-γ, with reduced oocyst shedding by 69.8 %, alleviated liver lesion, resulting in an anticoccidial index (ACI) of 169.48. In conclusion, these results indicated that rAAV-ZsGreen1-EsHSP70 conferred a promising protective efficacy against E. stiedai infection, thereby providing valuable insights for the development of rabbit coccidiosis vaccines.

施氏艾美耳球虫是一种重要的寄生于兔肝细胞和胆管细胞的原生动物，造成严重的肝球虫病，并给家兔产业造成巨大的经济损失。然而，目前还没有有效的疫苗来预防大肠杆菌感染。本研究通过原核表达系统制备了重组大肠杆菌热休克蛋白70 (rEsHSP70)，并制备了其多克隆抗体。免疫荧光分析表明，EsHSP70主要定位于细胞质中，并在孢子核周围富集，而在裂殖子中，EsHSP70分布于细胞质中，呈外周和根尖分布。功能阻断实验表明，抗EsHSP70多克隆抗体可显著抑制孢子虫对兔原代肝细胞的侵袭，提示EsHSP70可能在这一过程中发挥作用。此外，成功地包装和纯化了表达EsHSP70的重组腺相关病毒血清型9-ZsGreen1 （rAAV-ZsGreen1-EsHSP70）。透射电镜观察到重组病毒颗粒为20 nm的六边形结构，滴度超过1.0 × 1013 vg/mL。重组病毒可感染293 T细胞，表达EsHSP70蛋白。重组rAAV-ZsGreen1-EsHSP70免疫后，特异性IgG抗体、IL-2、IL-10和IFN-γ水平显著升高，卵囊脱落减少69.8 %，肝脏病变减轻，抗球虫指数（ACI）为169.48。总之，这些结果表明rAAV-ZsGreen1-EsHSP70具有良好的抗链球菌感染的保护作用，从而为兔球虫病疫苗的开发提供了有价值的见解。

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引用次数: 0