Toxoplasma gondii is a parasitic protozoan for which family Felidae serves as the definitive hosts. In regions where native felids are absent, introduced domestic cats (Felis catus) act as reservoirs of T. gondii, posing a threat of infection to various wildlife population. A population of feral cats has been identified on Amami-Oshima Island located in the southern part of the Japanese Archipelago, and molecular examination confirmed that the T. gondii they harbour has spread to endemic mammals. In this study, we aimed to detect T. gondii in the Amami Woodcock (Scolopax mira), a bird species endemic to Amami-Oshima Island. DNA was extracted from the brain tissue of twenty-two birds, and molecular detection of T. gondii was performed using a commercial T. gondii detection kit based on real-time polymerase chain reaction. Two birds (9.1%) tested positive. The determined nucleotide sequences were 100% identical to that of the T. gondii reference sequence. Histopathological examination and ultrastructural analyses revealed terminal colonies in the cardiomyocytes of one bird, which were immunohistochemically confirmed as T. gondii. Here, we report the first record of T. gondii infection in the Amami Woodcock. Given its endangered status, ongoing research on the prevalence and pathogenicity of T. gondii is warranted.
{"title":"Toxoplasma gondii infection in the endangered Amami Woodcock, Scolopax mira (Aves: Charadriiformes)","authors":"Ryotaro Suzuki , Toshihiro Tokiwa , Keiko Ito , Ryouta Torimoto , So Shinya , Makoto Haritani , Masami Yamamoto , Hisashi Yoshimura","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101135","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101135","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> is a parasitic protozoan for which family Felidae serves as the definitive hosts. In regions where native felids are absent, introduced domestic cats (<em>Felis catus</em>) act as reservoirs of <em>T. gondii</em>, posing a threat of infection to various wildlife population. A population of feral cats has been identified on Amami-Oshima Island located in the southern part of the Japanese Archipelago, and molecular examination confirmed that the <em>T. gondii</em> they harbour has spread to endemic mammals. In this study, we aimed to detect <em>T. gondii</em> in the Amami Woodcock (<em>Scolopax mira</em>), a bird species endemic to Amami-Oshima Island. DNA was extracted from the brain tissue of twenty-two birds, and molecular detection of <em>T</em>. <em>gondii</em> was performed using a commercial <em>T. gondii</em> detection kit based on real-time polymerase chain reaction. Two birds (9.1%) tested positive. The determined nucleotide sequences were 100% identical to that of the <em>T. gondii reference sequence</em>. Histopathological examination and ultrastructural analyses revealed terminal colonies in the cardiomyocytes of one bird, which were immunohistochemically confirmed as <em>T. gondii</em>. Here, we report the first record of <em>T. gondii</em> infection in the Amami Woodcock. Given its endangered status, ongoing research on the prevalence and pathogenicity of <em>T. gondii</em> is warranted.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 101135"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145094978","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}
Pub Date : 2025-09-05DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101134
Kaylee R. Kipp , Elizabeth M. Redman , Joe L. Luksovsky , Dani Claussen , Lee C. Jones , Danielle E. Buttke , Christine M. Budke , Walter E. Cook , John S. Gilleard , Guilherme G. Verocai
Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) live in complex communities within American plains bison (Bison bison), a keystone ungulate species of North American prairie ecosystems. These trichostrongylid nematode species vary in their level of pathogenicity and can cause disease ranging from subclinical to clinical. However, the GIN species diversity and distribution of North American bison are understudied, especially in conservation herds in the United States. Fecal samples from conservation bison were collected from six herds in 2022, with five of those herds resampled in 2023 across six states (Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma). Fecal samples from a herd of longhorn cattle that co-graze with a bison herd from Oklahoma were also collected in both years. Following fecal egg counts and coproculture, third-stage larvae were processed using ITS2 rDNA metabarcoding to determine the trichostrongylid species composition and screened for the 200Y (TTC > TAC) polymorphisms of the isotype-1 β-tubulin gene to assess possible benzimidazole resistance. Alpha diversity was determined for each herd using the Shannon and the inverse Simpson diversity Index. The Beta diversity was assessed between herds using the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index. The three most common species found were Haemonchus placei, Ostertagia ostertagi, and Cooperia oncophora. The herds with the highest parasite species diversity were in Oklahoma, Iowa, and North Dakota. The herd in Colorado showed the least diverse parasite communities. Over the course of the two-year study, moderate to high GIN species diversity was observed across several of the conservation bison herds. Additionally, different parasite species proportions were determined between co-grazing bison and cattle herds. Lastly, low frequencies of the 200Y (TTC > TAC) polymorphisms, associated with benzimidazole resistance, were detected. Our study reveals differences in species diversity and richness among conservation bison herds across the United States and provides the first evidence of benzimidazole resistance markers in wild bison in North America.
{"title":"Nemabiome metabarcoding of wild conservation bison herds and co-grazing cattle reveals different species compositions and low-level benzimidazole resistance","authors":"Kaylee R. Kipp , Elizabeth M. Redman , Joe L. Luksovsky , Dani Claussen , Lee C. Jones , Danielle E. Buttke , Christine M. Budke , Walter E. Cook , John S. Gilleard , Guilherme G. Verocai","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101134","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101134","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) live in complex communities within American plains bison (<em>Bison bison</em>), a keystone ungulate species of North American prairie ecosystems. These trichostrongylid nematode species vary in their level of pathogenicity and can cause disease ranging from subclinical to clinical. However, the GIN species diversity and distribution of North American bison are understudied, especially in conservation herds in the United States. Fecal samples from conservation bison were collected from six herds in 2022, with five of those herds resampled in 2023 across six states (Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma). Fecal samples from a herd of longhorn cattle that co-graze with a bison herd from Oklahoma were also collected in both years. Following fecal egg counts and coproculture, third-stage larvae were processed using ITS2 rDNA metabarcoding to determine the trichostrongylid species composition and screened for the 200Y (TTC > T<u>A</u>C) polymorphisms of the isotype-1 β-tubulin gene to assess possible benzimidazole resistance. Alpha diversity was determined for each herd using the Shannon and the inverse Simpson diversity Index. The Beta diversity was assessed between herds using the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index. The three most common species found were <em>Haemonchus placei</em>, <em>Ostertagia ostertagi</em>, and <em>Cooperia oncophora</em>. The herds with the highest parasite species diversity were in Oklahoma, Iowa, and North Dakota. The herd in Colorado showed the least diverse parasite communities. Over the course of the two-year study, moderate to high GIN species diversity was observed across several of the conservation bison herds. Additionally, different parasite species proportions were determined between co-grazing bison and cattle herds. Lastly, low frequencies of the 200Y (TTC > T<u>A</u>C) polymorphisms, associated with benzimidazole resistance, were detected. Our study reveals differences in species diversity and richness among conservation bison herds across the United States and provides the first evidence of benzimidazole resistance markers in wild bison in North America.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 101134"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145018878","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}
Pub Date : 2025-09-05DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101133
Inge A. Adams , Natasha Roussouw , Cecile Reed , Gin Swen Ham , Stephanie Plön
Although investigations of stranded and bycaught cetaceans have been conducted since the 1970s, little is known about parasites infecting the 25 species found in the South African subregion. For this study, we retrospectively identified parasites from eight bycaught and stranded odontocete species along the south-eastern coast of South Africa between 1970 and 2015 to produce a list of parasite species affecting southern African odontocetes and examine patterns of infection in host species with regards to age, sex, time intervals and collection method. Parasites were identified in 192 out of the 2599 individuals examined. Previously unreported parasite species were found for several southern African odontocete species, underscoring the importance of museum collections for biological research. Offshore and stranded odontocetes generally had a higher prevalence of parasites, although there were a few exceptions. Binomial logistic regression models showed significantly higher probability of parasitic presence (p < 0.05) in stranded Delphinus delphis than bycaught individuals, and significantly lower probability of parasitic presence (p < 0.05) in neonates and calves of stranded Tursiops aduncus and Stenella coeruleoalba than adult animals. No significant difference (p > 0.05) was detected between the sexes of all odontocete species investigated (p > 0.05). Parasitic prevalence was highest during the most recent years (2000–2015) for half of the odontocete species investigated, in agreement with the models. Accurate morphological identification of parasites affecting marine mammals is essential for comprehending disease epidemiology, assessing the health of cetacean populations, and developing effective conservation and management strategies.
{"title":"Long-term host parasite dynamics in eight odontocete species from south-eastern South Africa","authors":"Inge A. Adams , Natasha Roussouw , Cecile Reed , Gin Swen Ham , Stephanie Plön","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101133","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101133","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although investigations of stranded and bycaught cetaceans have been conducted since the 1970s, little is known about parasites infecting the 25 species found in the South African subregion. For this study, we retrospectively identified parasites from eight bycaught and stranded odontocete species along the south-eastern coast of South Africa between 1970 and 2015 to produce a list of parasite species affecting southern African odontocetes and examine patterns of infection in host species with regards to age, sex, time intervals and collection method. Parasites were identified in 192 out of the 2599 individuals examined. Previously unreported parasite species were found for several southern African odontocete species, underscoring the importance of museum collections for biological research. Offshore and stranded odontocetes generally had a higher prevalence of parasites, although there were a few exceptions. Binomial logistic regression models showed significantly higher probability of parasitic presence (<em>p</em> < 0.05) in stranded <em>Delphinus delphis</em> than bycaught individuals, and significantly lower probability of parasitic presence (<em>p</em> < 0.05) in neonates and calves of stranded <em>Tursiops aduncus</em> and <em>Stenella coeruleoalba</em> than adult animals. No significant difference (<em>p</em> > 0.05) was detected between the sexes of all odontocete species investigated (<em>p</em> > 0.05). Parasitic prevalence was highest during the most recent years (2000–2015) for half of the odontocete species investigated, in agreement with the models. Accurate morphological identification of parasites affecting marine mammals is essential for comprehending disease epidemiology, assessing the health of cetacean populations, and developing effective conservation and management strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 101133"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145095029","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}
Pub Date : 2025-09-02DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101132
Itainara Taili , Jongseung Kim , Sungryong Kim , Dong-Hyuk Jeong , Ki-Jeong Na
Hepatozoon canis is a tick-borne apicomplexan parasite that primarily infects domestic and wild canids. While its presence has been documented globally, previous studies have reported its absence in raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Europe, and its status in Asian populations remains unclear. This study presents the first molecular detection of H. canis in raccoon dogs in South Korea. Between 2021 and 2023, blood samples from 275 raccoon dogs admitted to 9 wildlife centers were analyzed using PCR targeting a partial sequence of the 18S rRNA gene. Overall, 21.5 % of samples tested positive, with the highest prevalence observed in the southern region (38.2 %) and the lowest in the north (8.8 %) in South Korea. Sequencing of amplicons revealed high similarity to H. canis found in a Japanese hard tick (Ixodes nipponensis) also from South Korea. Remarkably, the infection rate in raccoon dogs was significantly higher than previously reported in Korean domestic dogs (0.2–0.9 %) and ticks (0.09 %), indicating raccoon dogs may function as key sylvatic reservoirs. These findings suggest the possibility of alternative transmission pathways including predation or vertical transmission. Given the expanding raccoon dog population and thus increasing contact with domestic animals and shared habitats, their role in the ecology of H. canis and other tick-borne pathogens merits attention. This study underscores the importance of wildlife disease surveillance within the One Health framework and highlights the need for further research into host–vector dynamics and potential spillover risks at the wildlife–domestic animal interface.
{"title":"First description of Hepatozoon canis in raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides)","authors":"Itainara Taili , Jongseung Kim , Sungryong Kim , Dong-Hyuk Jeong , Ki-Jeong Na","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101132","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101132","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Hepatozoon canis</em> is a tick-borne apicomplexan parasite that primarily infects domestic and wild canids. While its presence has been documented globally, previous studies have reported its absence in raccoon dogs (<em>Nyctereutes procyonoides</em>) in Europe, and its status in Asian populations remains unclear. This study presents the first molecular detection of <em>H. canis</em> in raccoon dogs in South Korea. Between 2021 and 2023, blood samples from 275 raccoon dogs admitted to 9 wildlife centers were analyzed using PCR targeting a partial sequence of the 18S rRNA gene. Overall, 21.5 % of samples tested positive, with the highest prevalence observed in the southern region (38.2 %) and the lowest in the north (8.8 %) in South Korea. Sequencing of amplicons revealed high similarity to <em>H. canis</em> found in a Japanese hard tick (<em>Ixodes nipponensis</em>) also from South Korea. Remarkably, the infection rate in raccoon dogs was significantly higher than previously reported in Korean domestic dogs (0.2–0.9 %) and ticks (0.09 %), indicating raccoon dogs may function as key sylvatic reservoirs. These findings suggest the possibility of alternative transmission pathways including predation or vertical transmission. Given the expanding raccoon dog population and thus increasing contact with domestic animals and shared habitats, their role in the ecology of <em>H. canis</em> and other tick-borne pathogens merits attention. This study underscores the importance of wildlife disease surveillance within the One Health framework and highlights the need for further research into host–vector dynamics and potential spillover risks at the wildlife–domestic animal interface.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 101132"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144996363","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}
Pub Date : 2025-08-30DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101131
Valerie Chosson , Laure de Montety , Sverrir D. Halldórsson , Haseeb S. Randhawa
On the November 27, 2021, a male fin whale Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus), measuring 17.92 m in length was reported stranded dead on the Icelandic shore (N63.86°, W21.37°). As geographical and meteorological conditions allowed, a necropsy was performed onsite including measurements and collection of samples from the organs. Here, we report the first evidence of the presence of Ogmogaster antarctica Johnston, 1931, collected from the intestine of the stranded fin whale, off the coast of Iceland, on the edge of the Arctic Ocean. Additionally, we provide a new set of morphological and molecular characterization associating morphometric description and genetic sequence. This study sheds new light on the distribution of the digeneans of the genus Ogmogaster, Jägerskiöld, 1891, especially O. antarctica, and adds valuable information to the biodiversity of parasites species in potential hosts of the sub-Arctic ocean.
{"title":"First record of Ogmogaster antarctica Johnston, 1931 (Trematoda: Notocotylidae) on the edge of the Arctic ocean","authors":"Valerie Chosson , Laure de Montety , Sverrir D. Halldórsson , Haseeb S. Randhawa","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101131","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101131","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>On the November 27, 2021, a male fin whale <em>Balaenoptera physalus</em> (Linnaeus), measuring 17.92 m in length was reported stranded dead on the Icelandic shore (N63.86°, W21.37°). As geographical and meteorological conditions allowed, a necropsy was performed onsite including measurements and collection of samples from the organs. Here, we report the first evidence of the presence of <em>Ogmogaster antarctica</em> Johnston, 1931, collected from the intestine of the stranded fin whale, off the coast of Iceland, on the edge of the Arctic Ocean. Additionally, we provide a new set of morphological and molecular characterization associating morphometric description and genetic sequence. This study sheds new light on the distribution of the digeneans of the genus <em>Ogmogaster</em>, Jägerskiöld, 1891, especially <em>O. antarctica</em>, and adds valuable information to the biodiversity of parasites species in potential hosts of the sub-Arctic ocean.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 101131"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144925525","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}
Pub Date : 2025-08-28DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101130
Cory C. McKinstry, Wesley J. Neely, David Rodriguez
Describing host-parasite dynamics in natural systems is a priority for hosts of conservation concern. Harter's watersnake (Nerodia harteri ssp.) is one such species, endemic to north-central Texas and impacted by habitat alteration, low genetic diversity, and emerging infectious diseases. In this study, we report new records of Eustrongylides sp. infections in three watersnake species (N. harteri ssp., N. erythrogaster, and N. rhombifer) from five artificial reservoirs in the Brazos and Colorado River watersheds in north-central Texas. Nematodes were contained within subcutaneous nodules on the midbody of sampled snakes, and we quantified nodule presence as a proxy for infection prevalence. From seven individuals, we extracted nematodes from nodules for molecular analysis. Phylogenetic analyses on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and 18S rRNA genes of excised nematodes confirmed the identity as Eustrongylides sp. and resolved our samples into a single well supported clade divergent to previously accessioned lineages from Asia. The imperiled N. harteri had a higher risk of infection than sympatric watersnakes. Snakes were more frequently infected in Lake Granbury, a stronghold for N. harteri. Though observed infection rates were low, Eustrongylides sp. infections can induce severe pathologic responses in intermediate hosts, and our findings highlight the need for assessments of fitness implications and further parasitological surveillance in N. harteri to inform management.
{"title":"Disproportionate infection by Eustrongylides sp. (Nematoda: Dioctophymatoidea: Dioctophymatidae) in the imperiled Harter's watersnake, Nerodia harteri","authors":"Cory C. McKinstry, Wesley J. Neely, David Rodriguez","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101130","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101130","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Describing host-parasite dynamics in natural systems is a priority for hosts of conservation concern. Harter's watersnake (<em>Nerodia harteri</em> ssp.) is one such species, endemic to north-central Texas and impacted by habitat alteration, low genetic diversity, and emerging infectious diseases. In this study, we report new records of <em>Eustrongylides</em> sp. infections in three watersnake species (<em>N. harteri</em> ssp., <em>N. erythrogaster</em>, and <em>N. rhombifer</em>) from five artificial reservoirs in the Brazos and Colorado River watersheds in north-central Texas. Nematodes were contained within subcutaneous nodules on the midbody of sampled snakes, and we quantified nodule presence as a proxy for infection prevalence. From seven individuals, we extracted nematodes from nodules for molecular analysis. Phylogenetic analyses on the mitochondrial cytochrome <em>c</em> oxidase subunit I and 18S rRNA genes of excised nematodes confirmed the identity as <em>Eustrongylides</em> sp. and resolved our samples into a single well supported clade divergent to previously accessioned lineages from Asia. The imperiled <em>N. harteri</em> had a higher risk of infection than sympatric watersnakes. Snakes were more frequently infected in Lake Granbury, a stronghold for <em>N. harteri</em>. Though observed infection rates were low, <em>Eustrongylides</em> sp. infections can induce severe pathologic responses in intermediate hosts, and our findings highlight the need for assessments of fitness implications and further parasitological surveillance in <em>N. harteri</em> to inform management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 101130"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144925524","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}
Pub Date : 2025-08-23DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101129
Mengchao Zhou , Hongrui Liang , Zhiyou Lv , Xiaotian Zhang , Yang Liu , Yaxian Lu , Hongyan Yu , Hang Tian , Lei Han , Yu Xu , Zhijun Hou
Chaunocephalus ferox is an intestinal trematode infecting storks and is increasingly recognized as a potential threat to the conservation of the Oriental Stork (Ciconia boyciana). However, its evolutionary history remains poorly understood. In this study, we assembled and annotated the first complete mitochondrial genome of C. ferox using the MITOS2 and GeSeq platforms. The circular genome spans 17,482 bp and encodes 12 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, and 2 rRNAs, with several intergenic overlaps and absence of the atp8 gene. Phylogenetic analyses based on 12 mitochondrial protein-coding genes from 57 trematode species were conducted using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. While morphological characteristics support its classification within Echinostomatidae, mitochondrial phylogenies yielded inconsistent placements, with C. ferox positioned either near Fasciolidae or outside both families in different gene trees. Divergence time estimation further supports this ambiguity, placing C. ferox's split from other echinostomatids at approximately 75–39 million years ago, a period overlapping with the divergence of Echinostomatidae and Fasciolidae, suggesting it may represent an early-branching lineage. Additionally, cox1 sequences obtained from samples across three regions and two host species were identical, indicating low mitochondrial variation across sampling sites. While the limited sample size precludes firm conclusions about population structure, this pattern may hint at a recent demographic expansion or shared ancestry across geographic areas.
{"title":"Complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic implications of Chaunocephalus ferox (Digenea: Echinostomatidae), a critical pathogen for Oriental Stork conservation","authors":"Mengchao Zhou , Hongrui Liang , Zhiyou Lv , Xiaotian Zhang , Yang Liu , Yaxian Lu , Hongyan Yu , Hang Tian , Lei Han , Yu Xu , Zhijun Hou","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101129","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101129","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Chaunocephalus ferox</em> is an intestinal trematode infecting storks and is increasingly recognized as a potential threat to the conservation of the Oriental Stork (<em>Ciconia boyciana</em>). However, its evolutionary history remains poorly understood. In this study, we assembled and annotated the first complete mitochondrial genome of <em>C. ferox</em> using the MITOS2 and GeSeq platforms. The circular genome spans 17,482 bp and encodes 12 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, and 2 rRNAs, with several intergenic overlaps and absence of the <em>atp8</em> gene. Phylogenetic analyses based on 12 mitochondrial protein-coding genes from 57 trematode species were conducted using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. While morphological characteristics support its classification within Echinostomatidae, mitochondrial phylogenies yielded inconsistent placements, with <em>C. ferox</em> positioned either near Fasciolidae or outside both families in different gene trees. Divergence time estimation further supports this ambiguity, placing <em>C. ferox</em>'s split from other echinostomatids at approximately 75–39 million years ago, a period overlapping with the divergence of Echinostomatidae and Fasciolidae, suggesting it may represent an early-branching lineage. Additionally, <em>cox1</em> sequences obtained from samples across three regions and two host species were identical, indicating low mitochondrial variation across sampling sites. While the limited sample size precludes firm conclusions about population structure, this pattern may hint at a recent demographic expansion or shared ancestry across geographic areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 101129"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144895364","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}
Pub Date : 2025-08-10DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101128
Agnieszka Perec-Matysiak , Katarzyna Buńkowska-Gawlik , Laura Tomassone , Joanna Hildebrand
Rickettsia spp. are obligate intracellular bacteria that infect eukaryotic cells. These agents are transmitted primarily by hard ticks and other hematophagous arthropods, which are the vectors and primary reservoirs of several species. However, in the natural environment, Rickettsia spp. has been identified in wild and domestic mammals, as well as in ticks. This review comprehensively addresses the occurrence of rickettsiae in tissues of wild mammals on a global scale, considering different host groups across continents. Rickettsia DNA has been detected in bats, ungulates, carnivores, rodents and primates, thus underlining the broad spectrum of potential reservoirs. Extant evidence suggests that some may play role in endemic cycles of the bacteria. In Europe, a significant prevalence of Rickettsia DNA has been demonstrated in small rodents, indicating their potential as natural reservoir hosts. Research conducted in Asia and Africa has identified various Rickettsia species in rodents and insectivores, emphasizing their role in zoonotic transmission. The role of mammals as reservoirs of rickettsiae remains to be definitively established.
{"title":"Wild mammals as hosts of Rickettsia: a molecular evidence-based review","authors":"Agnieszka Perec-Matysiak , Katarzyna Buńkowska-Gawlik , Laura Tomassone , Joanna Hildebrand","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101128","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101128","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Rickettsia</em> spp. are obligate intracellular bacteria that infect eukaryotic cells. These agents are transmitted primarily by hard ticks and other hematophagous arthropods, which are the vectors and primary reservoirs of several species. However, in the natural environment, <em>Rickettsia</em> spp. has been identified in wild and domestic mammals, as well as in ticks. This review comprehensively addresses the occurrence of rickettsiae in tissues of wild mammals on a global scale, considering different host groups across continents. <em>Rickettsia</em> DNA has been detected in bats, ungulates, carnivores, rodents and primates, thus underlining the broad spectrum of potential reservoirs. Extant evidence suggests that some may play role in endemic cycles of the bacteria. In Europe, a significant prevalence of <em>Rickettsia</em> DNA has been demonstrated in small rodents, indicating their potential as natural reservoir hosts. Research conducted in Asia and Africa has identified various <em>Rickettsia</em> species in rodents and insectivores, emphasizing their role in zoonotic transmission. The role of mammals as reservoirs of rickettsiae remains to be definitively established.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 101128"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144841596","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}
Pub Date : 2025-08-05DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101126
Jiang Rao , Xinyuan Cui , Yiwen Gao , Yuanjia Hu , Yongyi Shen
Hydatigera (Cestoda: Taeniidae) is a recently resurrected genus based on molecular data, comprising only four valid species: Hydatigera taeniaeformis, Hydatigera krepkogorski, Hydatigera parva, and Hydatigera kamiyai. In this study, a total of 479 rodents were collected. In total, 46 livers with visible cysts were observed from five species of rodents collected in three locations of Guangdong province, China, in 2023. Molecular analysis utilizing 18S rRNA sequences indicated that 38 of the 46 liver cysts were infected by Hydatigera, suggesting that this genus represents the predominant tapeworm responsible for the visible liver cysts in rodents. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) was further used to obtain the mitochondrial genomes of these tapeworms. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 12 protein-coding genes (PCGs) and 18S rRNA both demonstrated the formation of two distinct clades: one comprising H. taeniaeformis, and the other representing a novel clade that is positioned as the sister clade to H. kamiyai, exhibiting genetic distance of 11.91 %–12.38 % for the 12 PCGs and 3.22 %–5.25 % for the 18S rRNA. Given the deep inter-species genetic distance, the novel clade identified in this study may be the fifth species within the genus Hydatigera, designated as Hydatigera sp. Both H. taeniaeformis and Hydatigera sp. were found to utilize not only wild rodents (N. huang, N. niviventer and R. andamanensis) but also house rats (R. norvegicus and R. tanezumi) as intermediate hosts. This finding indicates that they may have both sylvatic and synanthropic transmission cycles, raising concerns regarding their potential threat to humans and domestic animals.
{"title":"Molecular identification of the potential fifth species within genus Hydatigera (Cestoda: Taeniidae) in rodents of Guangdong province, China","authors":"Jiang Rao , Xinyuan Cui , Yiwen Gao , Yuanjia Hu , Yongyi Shen","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101126","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101126","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Hydatigera</em> (Cestoda: Taeniidae) is a recently resurrected genus based on molecular data, comprising only four valid species: <em>Hydatigera taeniaeformis</em>, <em>Hydatigera krepkogorski</em>, <em>Hydatigera parva</em>, and <em>Hydatigera kamiyai</em>. In this study, a total of 479 rodents were collected. In total, 46 livers with visible cysts were observed from five species of rodents collected in three locations of Guangdong province, China, in 2023. Molecular analysis utilizing 18S rRNA sequences indicated that 38 of the 46 liver cysts were infected by <em>Hydatigera</em>, suggesting that this genus represents the predominant tapeworm responsible for the visible liver cysts in rodents. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) was further used to obtain the mitochondrial genomes of these tapeworms. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 12 protein-coding genes (PCGs) and 18S rRNA both demonstrated the formation of two distinct clades: one comprising <em>H. taeniaeformis</em>, and the other representing a novel clade that is positioned as the sister clade to <em>H. kamiyai</em>, exhibiting genetic distance of 11.91 %–12.38 % for the 12 PCGs and 3.22 %–5.25 % for the 18S rRNA. Given the deep inter-species genetic distance, the novel clade identified in this study may be the fifth species within the genus <em>Hydatigera</em>, designated as <em>Hydatigera</em> sp. Both <em>H. taeniaeformis</em> and <em>Hydatigera</em> sp. were found to utilize not only wild rodents (<em>N. huang</em>, <em>N. niviventer</em> and <em>R. andamanensis</em>) but also house rats (<em>R. norvegicus</em> and <em>R. tanezumi</em>) as intermediate hosts. This finding indicates that they may have both sylvatic and synanthropic transmission cycles, raising concerns regarding their potential threat to humans and domestic animals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 101126"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144772444","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}
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