International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife最新文献

{"title":"Parasitism by pinnotherid crabs in the Japanese scallop Mizuhopecten yessoensis: first host record and quantitative assessment of host impacts","authors":"Tomoyasu Yamazaki ,&nbsp;Kenji Odani ,&nbsp;Ryo Nakayama ,&nbsp;Tetsuya Watanabe ,&nbsp;Souichirou Kawai","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101198","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101198","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pea crabs of the family Pinnotheridae are widely known as symbionts or parasites of bivalve mollusks; however, their occurrence and ecological impacts remain poorly documented for many economically important host species. Here, we report the first confirmed host record of pinnotherid crabs inhabiting the mantle cavity of the Japanese scallop <em>Mizuhopecten yessoensis</em> from Mutsu Bay, northern Japan, and quantitatively assess their effects on host growth and somatic condition.</div><div>A total of 881 scallops, including juvenile and subadult individuals, were examined between March 2024 and November 2025. Pinnotherid crabs were detected across multiple localities, with parasitism prevalence of 32.8 % in juvenile scallops and 27.3 % in subadults, showing no significant difference between developmental stages. Mature females, including ovigerous individuals, were observed within host scallops, indicating successful reproduction of the crabs inside this newly documented host.</div><div>Despite similar prevalence across stages, the impacts of parasitism were strongly stage dependent. Parasitized juvenile scallops exhibited significantly reduced shell length and soft tissue index compared with non-parasitized individuals, whereas no significant effects were detected in subadults. Results from size-adjusted statistical models indicated that parasite load significantly reduced somatic condition independent of host shell length. Quantile regression further revealed a strong host–parasite size constraint, with maximum crab size increasing with host size.</div><div>These results indicate that pinnotherid crabs function as true parasites in <em>M. yessoensis</em>, particularly during early life stages, imposing measurable physiological costs. Our findings highlight parasitism as a previously overlooked biotic factor that may influence early-life performance and resilience in a major aquaculture species under environmental stress.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101198"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077351","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Occurrence and molecular characterization of Giardia duodenalis in domestic and wild mesocarnivores in Bosnia and Herzegovina","authors":"Azra Bačić ,&nbsp;Naida Kapo ,&nbsp;Jasmin Omeragić ,&nbsp;Šejla Goletić Imamović ,&nbsp;Toni Eterović ,&nbsp;Ilma Terzić ,&nbsp;Adis Softić ,&nbsp;Vedad Škapur ,&nbsp;Teufik Goletić","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101197","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101197","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Giardia duodenalis</em> is a protozoan parasite with worldwide distribution and recognized zoonotic potential. Data on its molecular epidemiology in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) are scarce, particularly in wild mesocarnivores. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence and genetic characterization of <em>G. duodenalis</em> in domestic and wild mesocarnivores across BiH. A total of 520 fecal samples were collected between 2023 and 2025, including dogs (<em>Canis lupus familiaris</em>, n = 433), cats (<em>Felis catus</em>, n = 21), red foxes (<em>Vulpes vulpes</em>, n = 39), golden jackals (<em>Canis aureus</em>, n = 17), European pine martens (<em>Martes martes</em>, n = 5), grey wolves (<em>Canis lupus</em>, n = 1), European badgers (<em>Meles meles</em>, n = 2), and European wildcats (<em>Felis silvestris</em>, n = 1). Screening was performed using fecal flotation and immunofluorescence assay (IFAT), with selected samples further analyzed by high-resolution melting (HRM) real-time PCR (qPCR-HRM) and targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS).</div><div>Overall, <em>G. duodenalis</em> was detected in 20.96 % (109/520) of samples by flotation and IFAT. Cats showed the highest positivity rate (71.43 %), followed by dogs (21.02 %), whereas wild mesocarnivores exhibited substantially lower detection rates (5.13 % in red foxes and 5.88 % in golden jackals). Among dog subpopulations, hunting dogs showed the highest positivity (49.52 %) compared with shelter dogs (6.72 %). Molecular typing revealed assemblage D as predominant (65.91 %), followed by assemblages B (18.18 %), C (6.82 %), and F (4.55 %), with occasional mixed profiles. Assemblage D occurred across multiple hosts, while the zoonotic assemblage B was detected exclusively in wild canids.</div><div>This study provides the first molecular epidemiological evidence of <em>G. duodenalis</em> assemblage circulation among domestic and wild mesocarnivores in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The findings identify cats and hunting dogs as key hosts contributing to parasite circulation and demonstrate limited but epidemiologically meaningful involvement of wild mesocarnivores, underscoring the importance of integrated One Health surveillance to assess transmission risks at the domestic-wildlife-human interface.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101197"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Infestation dynamics of Hygrobates (sg. Lurchibates) aloisii (Acari: Hygrobatidae) and host-parasite interactions with Hong Kong newts (Paramesotriton hongkongensis)","authors":"Gena Yip ,&nbsp;Tom Goldschmidt ,&nbsp;Anthony Lau","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101195","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101195","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Various species of water mites (Hydrachnidia, Hygrobatidae, <em>Hygrobates</em>) exclusively parasitise Asian modern newts. These water mites, grouped into the subgenus <em>Lurchibates</em>, are evolutionarily unique as they are the only ectoparasitic water mites of amphibians. However, the ecology of this subgenus has been under-investigated. Therefore, we aim to study the newt-mite associations by focusing on the mite <em>Hygrobates aloisii</em> and its host Hong Kong newt (<em>Paramesotriton hongkongensis</em>). We investigated the spatial and temporal patterns of the mite infestation throughout the host's breeding season. The effect of parasitism on the host body condition is also examined at both the population and individual levels. We sampled three infested and three non-infested newt populations in the year 2022–2023, with four of the sites also sampled in the subsequent two years. Three standardised surveys were conducted at each site in each breeding season. High prevalence was found within and across the breeding season. The temporal pattern of infestation intensity differed between adult and deutonymph (one of the developmental stages) mites at the end of the breeding season, with adult mites showing a plateau of high intensity, whereas deutonymph intensity decreased. Additionally, no evidence of negative effects of mite parasitism was found on host body condition, despite reports of mite-related skin lesions on <em>P. hongkongensis</em> and previously on a congeneric newt. Finally, we found deutonymph mites attaching to the body surface of developmental and adult newts, representing two new host-parasite interactions in the newt-mite association. Overall, our findings contribute to a new understanding of the newt-mite association and highlight the importance of considering infestation dynamics in future studies of this association.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101195"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077350","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The first record of the ectoparasite fly Carnus hemapterus for the Southern Hemisphere","authors":"Paula Maiten Orozco-Valor ,&nbsp;Luciano Damián Patitucci ,&nbsp;José Hernán Sarasola","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101194","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101194","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The genus <em>Carnus</em> (family Carnidae, Order Diptera) comprises five species of small-bodied and blood-sucking flies that parasitize nestlings of wild bird species. Almost all species in this genus are restrictely distributed across different continents in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly <em>Carnus hemapterus</em>, which is a widespread ectoparasite of many bird species. Here, we report <em>C. hemapterus</em> parasitizing wild birds in central Argentina, resulting in the first record for the species in the entire Southern Hemisphere. Individual flies of <em>C. hemapterus</em> were found in nestlings of two bird of prey species, the American kestrel, already recorded as a host of <em>C. hemapterus</em> in North America, and the Chimango caracara, a new host species for this ectoparasite. Consistent with the species’ life cycle, flies were observed only in nestlings but not in adult individuals captured in the same breeding areas. Besides the plausible reasons that could explain this new report, it significantly updates the global distribution for this ectoparasite taxon. Therefore, this record should draw the attention to ornithologists and parasitologists from large regions of the global South, which include some of the most important avian biodiversity host-spots, to this new ectoparasite-host interaction, which may affect a significant number of bird species and warrants investigation of its physiological and ecological impacts. Furthermore, beyond its role as an avian ectoparasite, <em>C</em>. <em>hemapterus</em> is involved in complex interespecific interactions, serving as a host for parasitoids and participating in multitrophic food webs within bird nests, which clearly warrant further research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101194"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038104","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Avian malaria and invasion success: Contrasting infection patterns in two introduced Eurasian sparrows in North America (Passer domesticus and Passer montanus)","authors":"Andrea C. Trigueros,&nbsp;Briana Q. Robertson,&nbsp;Patricia G. Parker","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101192","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101192","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biological invasions present a unique context to investigate how parasites influence host establishment and spread. We compared whether the more invasive house sparrow (<em>Passer domesticus</em>, HOSP) showed lower haemosporidian (<em>Plasmodium</em>) infection probability, predicted relative parasitemia, and lineage diversity than the less invasive Eurasian tree sparrow (<em>Passer montanus</em>, ETSP), based on previous research that showed species differences in immune responses and pathogen prevalence that may influence invasion success.</div><div>We sampled 306 sparrows across eight sites in Missouri and Illinois (2019–2022), assessing <em>Plasmodium</em> prevalence, relative parasitemia (via qPCR), and lineage diversity. Contrary to expectations, the more invasive HOSPs had higher <em>Plasmodium</em> prevalence (24.1 %, 32/133; 95 % CI = 17.6 %–32.0 %) compared to the less invasive ETSP (11.6 %, 20/173; 95 % CI = 7.6 %–17.2 %). Model-averaged estimates for both the full dataset and sensitivity analysis restricted to sites with balanced sampling identified host species as the strongest predictor of infection probability with higher odds of infection in HOSPs. Relative parasitemia was also higher in HOSPs, with model-averaged estimates indicating nearly two-fold higher odds of greater relative parasitemia compared to ETSPs. Pathogen lineage richness was similar between species, with three shared lineages and one unique lineage per host. One lineage (PHPAT01) had not previously been reported in ETSPs. Comparison with previous studies suggests a decline in <em>Plasmodium</em> prevalence among ETSP over the past two decades. No infections were detected at the northern range edge of ETSPs, where they may experience reduced parasite pressure. These results challenge the expectation of increased susceptibility in the less invasive host and instead show shifting host-parasite dynamics in introduced populations. Our findings highlight the importance of paired studies of more and less invasive species and the need to examine how pathogen susceptibility changes across different stages of the invasion process and range expansion.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101192"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Babesia vulpes and Babesia banethi infections in red foxes: molecular and morphological detection with clinical and cytological findings","authors":"Mariaelisa Carbonara ,&nbsp;Mario H. Alves ,&nbsp;Filipe Dantas-Torres ,&nbsp;Antonio Camarda ,&nbsp;Michela Prioletti ,&nbsp;Valentina Giordano ,&nbsp;Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-Roldan ,&nbsp;Adriana Lo Giudice ,&nbsp;Jan Šlapeta ,&nbsp;Gad Baneth ,&nbsp;Domenico Otranto","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101193","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101193","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Red foxes are widespread carnivorans acting as reservoirs of <em>Babesia vulpes</em><em>,</em> which is highly prevalent in foxes, yet its clinical impact remains poorly understood. The description of <em>Babesia banethi</em> raised knowledge gaps regarding pathogenicity and life cycle. This study investigated the occurrence of <em>Babesia</em> spp. in red foxes from southern Italy. Overall, 54 red foxes were clinically examined, sampled for hemato-biochemical analyses, and screened for <em>Babesia</em> spp. using microscopy and PCR. Necropsies were performed on 20 animals. Ticks were collected, identified, and dissected for cytological detection of <em>Babesia</em> spp., as well as by PCR. Overall, 46.3 % of foxes tested positive for <em>Babesia</em> spp., with <em>B. vulpes</em> (42.6 %) predominating and <em>B. banethi</em> detected in two animals. Blood smear concordance with PCR was high, and morphometric differences between <em>B. vulpes</em> and <em>B. banethi</em> were evident. Most infected foxes were young and had clinico-pathological alterations, although trauma-related comorbidities limited interpretation. Two <em>B. banethi</em>–positive foxes had clinical babesiosis, suggesting pathogenic potential. In necropsied foxes, <em>Babesia</em> DNA was most frequently detected in the brain and merozoites were observed in cerebral capillaries. Of 67 ticks collected, five species were identified, including <em>Ixodes kaiseri</em>, firstly reported in Italy. No <em>Babesia</em> stages were observed in tick organs, but <em>B. banethi</em> DNA was detected in one <em>I. kaiseri</em>. This study documents a high rate of <em>B. vulpes</em> infection and the sympatric presence of <em>B. banethi</em> in southern Italy. It represents the first clinico-epidemiological, hematological, cytological and molecular examination of <em>Babesia</em> spp. in live foxes. The detection of <em>B</em>. <em>vulpes</em> in brain enhances our understanding of parasite tropism, while the presence of <em>B. banethi</em> in <em>I. kaiseri</em> raises questions about transmission routes. These findings highlight the importance of surveilling fox populations and ticks, given the increasing reports of <em>B. vulpes</em> infection in dogs and the potential spillover at the wildlife–domestic interface.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101193"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038101","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Drivers of tick community structure in a rhinoceros meta-population in Kenya","authors":"Edward M. King'ori ,&nbsp;Patrick I. Chiyo ,&nbsp;Olgabeth N. Gitau ,&nbsp;Fredrick Lala ,&nbsp;Olivia Wesula Lwande","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101191","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101191","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding the structure and drivers of parasite communities including species assembly patterns, diversity, abundance, and aggregation is crucial in assessing the health of wild populations and the dynamics of host-parasite interactions within ecosystems. This study analyzed tick communities parasitizing the critically endangered black rhinoceros and the near threatened white rhinoceros metapopulation in twelve sanctuaries in Kenya. A total of 14,302 ticks from 20 tick species across four genera, <em>Dermacentor</em> (1 species), <em>Rhipicephalus</em> (8 species), <em>Amblyomma</em> (8 species) and <em>Hyalomma</em> (3 species) were sampled from 372 rhinoceroses. The most dominant species included <em>Amblyomma gemma</em> (23.28 %), <em>Amblyomma sparsum</em> (22.28 %) and <em>Rhipicephalus pulchellus</em> (18.94 %). Six tick communities were identified based on similarity in relative tick species composition. Mean NDVI and temperature were the major drivers of tick communities. Asymptotic Hill-Shannon and Hill-Simpson tick diversity metrics were 8.12 and 6.26 respectively for the Kenyan rhinoceros metapopulation. Species diversity varied between sanctuaries with Nairobi National Park (NNP) having the highest diversity (Hill-Shannon: 6.35, Hill-Simpson: 5.8) and Sera Rhinoceros Sanctuary (SER) the lowest diversity, (1.83, 1.69). The Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ) and Nairobi National Park had the greatest species richness (14 and 13 respectively), while Sera Rhinoceros Sanctuary had the lowest (2). Spatial heterogeneity in NDVI and species abundance were major drivers of species richness and Hill-Shannon species diversity. The number of ticks per rhinoceros was highly variable with a mean (SD) of 38.53 + 40.59 ticks per host, indicating strong tick aggregation among hosts. Significant positive interspecies correlations suggest a great role of host factors in tick infestation. Environmental factors, including temperature, NDVI, and rainfall, influenced tick abundance. Host-related factors, such as age, and sex, also played critical roles. This research improves our understanding of rhinoceros tick communities, diversity, and abundance patterns, with implications for tick control, tick-borne disease surveillance and rhino conservation in Kenya.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101191"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morphological and molecular characterisation of Henneguya pallida n. sp. from the gills of the pale catfish, Rhamdia guatemalensis (Günther, 1864), in southern Mexico","authors":"Graciela Colunga-Ramírez ,&nbsp;Gábor Cech ,&nbsp;M. Leopoldina Aguirre-Macedo ,&nbsp;Kálmán Molnár ,&nbsp;Csaba Székely ,&nbsp;Boglárka Sellyei","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101186","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101186","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>During a survey on myxozoan parasites in fish from southern Mexico, myxospores from the genera <em>Henneguya</em> and <em>Myxobolus</em> were detected in the gills and mesentery of the pale catfish (<em>Rhamdia guatemalensis</em>). Identification of a <em>Henneguya</em> sp. in the gills was supported by histology, myxospore morphology, and molecular analyses of the 18S rDNA and 28S gene sequences. Histopathological examination revealed that the myxospore-forming plasmodia of <em>Henneguya</em> sp. were associated with the gill filaments. Phylogenetic analyses placed this species within a clade of <em>Henneguya</em> species infecting Siluriformes. In contrast, scattered myxospore aggregates found in the mesentery were examined solely through morphological criteria. Four different myxospore morphotypes belonging to the family Myxobolidae were identified in a single specimen of <em>R</em>. <em>guatemalensis</em>; however, molecular identification was unsuccessful; therefore, only brief taxonomic descriptions are provided. Based on morphological and molecular evidence, the <em>Henneguya</em> sp. from the gills is described as a new species, <em>Henneguya pallida</em> n. sp. Further samplings are needed to fully characterise the myxospores found in the mesentery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101186"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Systemic isosporosis (atoxoplasmosis) in American robins (Turdus migratorius) in the southeastern United States","authors":"C. Robert Stilz ,&nbsp;Michael J. Yabsley ,&nbsp;Maya S. Schlesinger ,&nbsp;Kayla B. Garrett ,&nbsp;Melanie R. Kunkel ,&nbsp;Alisia A.W. Weyna ,&nbsp;Kate Slankard ,&nbsp;Christine Casey ,&nbsp;David Hanni ,&nbsp;Nicole M. Nemeth","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101189","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101189","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Systemic isosporosis (atoxoplasmosis) is a common disease of passerines globally. In July 2021, two free-ranging juvenile American robins (<em>Turdus migratorius</em>) from Kentucky, USA and a third of unknown age from Tennessee, USA died and were submitted to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study for postmortem evaluation. On histopathology, high numbers of intracellular protozoal merozoites often associated with necrosis and granulomatous inflammation were observed in the lung (n = 2), liver (n = 2), spleen (n = 2), heart (n = 1), kidney (n = 1), and brain (n = 1). <em>Isospora</em> (<em>Atoxoplasma</em>) spp. was subsequently detected in all three birds. Comorbidities included poor nutritional condition (n = 3), traumatic injury (n = 1), avian pox (n = 1), aspergillosis (n = 1), and endoparasite infection (n = 1). Disease development in young robins is likely due to a combination of factors, including incompletely developed immune systems, nutritional and/or environmental stress, coinfections, and anthropogenic influences. Continued monitoring of vector-borne and parasitic diseases in wildlife is important given rapidly changing landscapes and climatic conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101189"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel Eimeria species found in the marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna)","authors":"Nannan Cui ,&nbsp;Ziqi Wang ,&nbsp;Jia Zhang ,&nbsp;Sándor Hornok ,&nbsp;Yujiang Zhang ,&nbsp;Guoyu Zhao ,&nbsp;Wenbo Tan ,&nbsp;Yuanzhi Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101188","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101188","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There are no known coccidian parasites reported from the marbled polecat (<em>Vormela peregusna</em>; IUCN Vulnerable), a mustelid found in southeastern Europe and western Asia. There are eleven <em>Eimeria</em> species documented in other mustelids. This study reports a complete mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) from <em>Eimeria</em> species found in marbled polecat. Intestinal samples from seven nature-killed or road-killed individuals (collected 2020–2023 in Xinjiang, China) were subjected to genomic DNA extraction. <em>cox1</em> nested PCR screening revealed <em>Eimeria</em> infection in 3/7 hosts. Full mitochondrial genome amplification using five overlapping primer pairs yielded a 6179 bp sequence (GenBank PV393175). This mtDNA exhibits classic apicomplexan features: three protein-coding genes (<em>cytb</em>, <em>cox1</em>and <em>cox3</em>), fragmented rRNAs, and no tRNAs. The mtDNA shows high A + T bias (64.49 %). Phylogenetically, <em>Eimeria</em> isolate in marbled polecat was clustered with <em>Eimeria mephitidis</em> (bootstrap = 100 %) yet displayed significant mitogenomic divergence (only 97.65 % sequence identity), particularly in <em>cox3</em> (95.11 % <em>vs.</em> intraspecific minimum identity 95.50 %). Combined with mtDNA arrangement, significant genetic divergence and host association, we characterized a novel mitochondrial genome from an <em>Eimeria</em> species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101188"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926428","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}