International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife最新文献

{"title":"Molecular detection and characterization of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Neoehrlichia mikurensis in wild rodents and their ectoparasites in South Korea","authors":"Yujin Kim ,&nbsp;Min Gyou Lee ,&nbsp;Hyang Hee Lee ,&nbsp;So-Jin Yang ,&nbsp;Ji-Eun Lee ,&nbsp;Eunji Kim ,&nbsp;Yi Deun Ha ,&nbsp;Eun Ju Kim ,&nbsp;Jung Mi Seo ,&nbsp;Sun-Hee Kim ,&nbsp;Changjong Moon","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101152","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101152","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wild rodents act as crucial reservoir hosts for various tick-borne pathogens, such as <em>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</em> and <em>Neoehrlichia mikurensis</em>, which are responsible for the emergence of zoonotic diseases in humans. While tick-borne pathogens have been examined in various animal species, the genetic diversities present in wild rodents and their ectoparasites remain poorly understood. This study examined the prevalence and genetic characteristics of <em>A. phagocytophilum</em> and <em>N. mikurensis</em> in wild rodents, mites, and ticks from South Korea. PCR amplification and sequencing of the <em>16S rRNA</em>, <em>msp4</em>, and <em>groEL</em> genes were performed to genotype <em>A. phagocytophilum</em> (<em>16S rRNA</em> and <em>msp4</em>) and <em>N. mikurensis</em> (<em>16S rRNA</em> and <em>groEL</em>). <em>A. phagocytophilum</em> was identified in 25.8 % of rodents and in ixodid ticks collected from rodents, with a minimum infection rate (MIR) of 2.8 %. <em>A. phagocytophilum</em> was detected in mites (MIR: 0.4 %) from rodents, indicating their potential role in pathogen circulation. Of the 461 wild rodents included in this study, five (1.1 %) tested positive for <em>N. mikurensis</em>. Furthermore, one positive pool was identified in <em>Ixodes nipponensis</em> nymphs (MIR: 0.1 %), representing the first documented occurrence of <em>N. mikurensis</em> in ticks in South Korea. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the <em>A. phagocytophilum</em> sequences obtained in this study cluster with sequences from South Korea and China associated with rodents or <em>I. nipponensis</em>, while remaining distinct from those of European origin. The <em>N. mikurensis</em> sequences clustered with East Asian strains, forming two distinct groups separate from European lineages. These findings corroborate the hypothesis that wild rodents and their ectoparasites play a role in the natural maintenance and transmission of <em>A. phagocytophilum</em> and <em>N. mikurensis</em> in South Korea. Given the growing acknowledgment of these pathogens as emerging threats to human health, continued surveillance and molecular characterization are essential to understand their regional distribution and implications for public health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 101152"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145465975","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":"Thelazia callipaeda infection in Northwestern Spain: what role does the Iberian wolf play?","authors":"Efrén Estévez-Sánchez ,&nbsp;Ana M. López-Beceiro ,&nbsp;Clara González-Serrano ,&nbsp;Ana Montoya ,&nbsp;Juan P. Barrera ,&nbsp;Blanca Fernández ,&nbsp;Valentina Marino ,&nbsp;Pablo Moraleda-Berral ,&nbsp;Clara Gómez-Velasco ,&nbsp;Juliana Sarquis ,&nbsp;Rocío Checa ,&nbsp;Luis E. Fidalgo ,&nbsp;Guadalupe Miró","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101149","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101149","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Thelazia callipaeda</em> is a vector-borne parasite infecting the eyes of domestic and wild animals, as well as humans, across Europe. In Spain, it is endemic in several regions, with high prevalence reported in dogs and cats, but data on wildlife remain scarce. This study investigated the prevalence of <em>T. callipaeda</em> in Iberian wolves (<em>Canis lupus signatus</em>) from northwestern Spain and explored epidemiological factors associated with infection. Between 2016 and 2025, 182 wolves from Asturias and Galicia (A Coruña, Lugo, Ourense and Pontevedra) were sampled after necropsy. Eyeworms were collected and identified using morphological and molecular methods, with all specimens corresponding to <em>T. callipaeda</em> genotype h1. The overall prevalence was 17 %, with higher rates of infection in Galicia (18.2 %) than Asturias (8.7 %). Infections were restricted to Ourense (37.2 %) and Lugo (26.5 %). Parasite burdens were higher in females and immature wolves (1–3 years) compared to older animals and those in good body condition (BC 4–5). The distribution of infected wolves was associated with the vegetation around Miño and Sil river basins, which may favor the development of the vector <em>Phortica variegata</em>. Lower prevalence in pups could be linked to smaller eye size and lower body condition, while sex- and age-related differences may reflect behavioral or immunological factors. These results indicate that Iberian wolves can act as reservoirs of <em>T. callipaeda</em> in northwestern Spain, underscoring the need for further research into their role in the epidemiology of this zoonotic parasite.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 101149"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145464835","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":"Priority vs. tradition—Tracheliastes polycolpus von Nordmann, 1832 (Copepoda: Lernaeopodidae) revisited!","authors":"Wojciech Piasecki ,&nbsp;Geoffrey A. Boxshall","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101151","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101151","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper represents a rare case in parasitology where a reversal of the Principle of Priority of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) would be beneficial to all users, including not only scientists but also the general public. In some rare cases, a long-established name turns out to be a junior synonym when an older, less-known name claims the priority. Unfortunately, such situations have the potential to disrupt intergenerational continuity of parasitological nomenclature. After 193 years, one of the best-known European fish parasites could have lost its well-established name in favor of its senior synonym, long forgotten by history and predating the now junior synonym by 49 years. The parasite under scrutiny is <em>Tracheliastes polycolpus</em> von Nordmann, 1832. In the interest of nomenclatural stability, however, we propose to maintain prevailing usage by reversal of precedence under Article 23.9 of the Code. Our paper, in addition to its taxonomic aspects, may have a profound effect on the use of this name in parasitology, zoology, and the study of fish diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 101151"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145415841","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 lineage diversity, spatiotemporal distribution and pathological significance of Plasmodium and Haemoproteus spp. infection of wild birds in Great Britain","authors":"Joseph P. Heaver ,&nbsp;Shinto K. John ,&nbsp;Katharina Seilern-Macpherson ,&nbsp;Simon Spiro ,&nbsp;Vicky Wilkinson ,&nbsp;Andrew A. Cunningham ,&nbsp;Becki Lawson","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101148","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101148","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Avian haemosporidian parasites (AHPs), which include the genera <em>Plasmodium</em> and <em>Haemoproteus</em>, are protist parasites affecting at least 2000 species of birds with near global distribution. Outside of isolated, evolutionarily and immunologically naïve avian populations, the effects of AHPs on wild bird populations are poorly understood but have historically been considered benign. There is growing evidence to suggest, however, that high exoerythrocytic parasite burdens can cause disease and mortality in some host-parasite interactions, even in populations which have co-evolved alongside AHPs. Here, samples from 857 wild birds of 62 species, 27 families and eight orders were collected during post-mortem examinations over a 15-year period as part of a nationwide wildlife disease surveillance scheme and were screened by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of <em>Plasmodium</em> and <em>Haemoproteus</em>. In total, liver and/or spleen tissues from 13.5 % of birds (n = 116) tested PCR-positive, comprising 8.9 % (n = 76) and 4.7 % (n = 40) infected with <em>Plasmodium</em> and <em>Haemoproteus</em> spp., respectively. The highest rates of <em>Plasmodium</em> infection were seen in the families Paridae (36.3 %; 4/11 birds examined) and Turdidae (34.5 %; 51/148), consistent with previous reports. Spatial analysis revealed a significant cluster of <em>Plasmodium</em>-positive cases in Southeast England with possible explanations including climatic effects on parasite development or spatial variation in vector abundance. A total of 30 AHP lineages (20 <em>Haemoproteus</em> spp. and 10 <em>Plasmodium</em> spp.) were detected, 23 of which have not previously been reported in Great Britain, with four being apparently novel. Tissue samples from a subset of 13 <em>Plasmodium</em>-positive Eurasian blackbirds (<em>Turdus merula</em>) underwent histopathological examination, which revealed evidence of exoerythrocytic parasites, or other lesions consistent with avian malaria, in four and five cases, respectively. These changes were considered of equivocal significance in four birds, with only one bird diagnosed with acute malaria as a contributory cause of death.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 101148"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145570744","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":"Molecular confirmation of Spirometra mansoni (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae) in Javanese keelback water snake (Fowlea melanzosta) in Indonesia","authors":"Ryanka Edila ,&nbsp;Seongjun Choe ,&nbsp;Mustofa Helmi Effendi ,&nbsp;Lucia Tri Suwanti ,&nbsp;John Yew Huat Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101150","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101150","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tapeworms of the genus <em>Spirometra</em> are important zoonotic parasites, yet their taxonomy remains unsettled and molecular species-level data from Indonesia are scarce. We examined plerocercoid larvae isolated from Javanese keelback water snakes (<em>Fowlea melanzosta</em>) collected in East Java, Indonesia. Infection prevalence in <em>F. melanzosta</em> was high (84 %), with 143 spargana recovered from subcutaneous tissues, musculatures, and the body cavities of 25 snakes. Morphological and histological features were consistent with <em>Spirometra</em>. Molecular analysis was used for accurate species-level identification. Partial mitochondrial cox1 sequences from five isolates were generated and analyzed phylogenetically. All sequences clustered unambiguously within the <em>S. mansoni</em> clade (PP = 0.99), alongside global reference isolates. Our analysis also reclassified a 2007 Indonesian isolate, previously assigned to <em>S. erinaceieuropaei</em>, as <em>S. mansoni</em>, retrospectively clarifying a misidentification. This study provides the first prospective molecular confirmation of <em>S. mansoni</em> in Indonesia, and underscores the role of semi-aquatic snakes in transmission cycles. These findings highlight the urgent need for expanded molecular surveillance and integrative taxonomy to clarify the epidemiology and zoonotic potential of <em>Spirometra</em> in the region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 101150"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145361721","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":"Gastrointestinal helminth parasites of urban and rural foxes around Melbourne, Australia","authors":"Bridget M. Graffeo ,&nbsp;Ghazanfar Abbas ,&nbsp;Charles Gauci ,&nbsp;Kabir Brar ,&nbsp;Leonardo Brustenga ,&nbsp;Tharaka Liyanage ,&nbsp;Megan Fisher ,&nbsp;Jessica Haining ,&nbsp;Jasmin Hufschmid ,&nbsp;Ian Beveridge ,&nbsp;Abdul Jabbar","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101147","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101147","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The red fox (<em>Vulpes vulpes</em>) is an introduced species to Australia whose population and spatial distribution have grown irreversibly. Due to their opportunistic feeding habits, extensive populations of foxes now inhabit urban and rural environments, where they coexist with humans and domesticated animals. The proximity of these predators presents public and animal health concerns as they harbour diseases that can cross between species. Accordingly, monitoring potential disease risk and prevalence in urban foxes is warranted. This study investigated the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in urban and rural foxes around Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The gastrointestinal tracts of 51 opportunistically collected foxes were thoroughly examined to collect adult helminth (i.e., nematode and cestode) parasites from the stomach as well as from the small and large intestines. The results showed that 92.2 % of foxes were infected with at least one gastrointestinal helminth parasite. Based on a morphological identification of worms, the detected nematode parasites were <em>Toxocara canis</em> (66.7 %) and <em>Uncinaria stenocephala</em> (56.9 %)<em>,</em> while the identified tapeworms included <em>Dipylidium caninum</em> (39.2 %), <em>Taenia</em> spp. (11.8 %) and <em>Spirometra mansoni</em> (5.9 %). Single cases of <em>Trichuris vulpis</em> and <em>Physalopetra</em> sp. infections were detected. This study highlights a human and domestic animal health risk, as a crossover of parasitic infections is possible in areas where these parasites coexist.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 101147"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145320243","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":"Insights into Campula oblonga (Digenea: Brachycladiidae): Morphological, phylogenetic, and pathological studies in narrow-ridged finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) from Korean waters","authors":"Sunmin Kim ,&nbsp;Yeseul Kang ,&nbsp;Heon Woo Lee ,&nbsp;Emmanuel Opara ,&nbsp;Mohammed Mebarek Bia ,&nbsp;Kyunglee Lee ,&nbsp;Hyunjoo Lee ,&nbsp;Min Ju Kim ,&nbsp;Youngran Lee ,&nbsp;Soochong Kim ,&nbsp;Sanggu Kim ,&nbsp;Sun Hee Do ,&nbsp;Sang Wha Kim ,&nbsp;Young Min Lee ,&nbsp;Sung Bin Lee ,&nbsp;Se Chang Park ,&nbsp;Byung Yeop Kim ,&nbsp;Seongjun Choe ,&nbsp;Heejeong Youn","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101145","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101145","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Various marine parasites exploit marine mammals as definitive hosts; however, comprehensive parasitological studies remain lacking because of the inherent challenges in host sampling. This study aimed to investigate the pathological effects of <em>Campula oblonga</em> on the hepatobiliary system of the narrow-ridged finless porpoise (<em>Neophocaena asiaeorientalis</em>). We detected a digenean species, <em>C. oblonga</em>, in the hepatobiliary systems of 143 out of 196 (72.96 %) narrow-ridged finless porpoises stranded, bycaught or drifting along the Korean coastline between 2016 and 2024. The morphological analysis confirmed the characteristics of <em>C. oblonga</em>. Phylogenetic analyses based on partial mitochondrial DNA NADH dehydrogenase subunit 3 and large subunit rRNA regions supported previous findings, underscoring the need for a more in-depth genetic characterization of the family Brachycladiidae, a significant digenean group in marine mammals. Gross evaluation revealed hepatic nodules, irregular thickening of the bile duct walls, and signs of cholestasis due to physical obstruction by trematodes. These lesions were observed exclusively in the livers of individuals infected with <em>C. oblonga</em> and were absent in uninfected animals. In some cases, abscess-like lesions and pus-like material within the bile ducts were noted macroscopically, although histologic evidence of suppurative inflammation was lacking. Histopathological examinations identified bile duct dilatation accompanied by granulomatous cholangitis with periductal fibrosis, as well as hepatic granulomas centered on trematode parasites and eggs, surrounded by fibrous connective tissue. These lesions corresponded to grossly observed hepatic nodules and bile duct wall thickening, reflecting chronic inflammatory responses to trematode infection. This study represents the first report of pathological lesions caused by <em>C. oblonga</em> in narrow-ridged finless porpoises and highlights the significance of further investigation involving additional host species to enhance the understanding of this taxonomic group.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 101145"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145361720","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":"Morphometric variation of the Chiorchis trematodes, parasitic in the American manatee (Trichechus manatus)","authors":"Diana M. Neal ,&nbsp;Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101146","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101146","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Morphological variation was studied in the adult cladorchiid trematodes <em>Chiorchis</em> spp. (Trematoda: Digenea), that parasitize the intestinal tract and caecum of the American manatee (<em>Trichechus manatus</em>). Specimens were collected from 22 manatees between 1980 and 1998 in Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Florida. We found statistically significant differences in analyses of variance in 31 morphological measurements from 284 specimens across different geographical regions, consistent with the existence of two species. Some specimens from Florida corresponded to the description for <em>Chiorchis fabaceus</em> Diesing1838, while specimens from the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and some from Florida, previously misidentified as <em>C. fabaceus</em>, corresponded to the description of <em>C. groschafti</em> Coy-Otero1989. The latter supports the distinction of two <em>Chiorchis</em> species parasitic on the American manatee. These species differ mainly by the presence or absence of an esophageal bulb, testes shape, position of the genital pore, and shape and distribution of the vitelline follicles.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 101146"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145264777","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":"Host dietary niche and site location on the river continuum shape trematode (Renifer aniarum) infection patterns in sympatric watersnakes (Nerodia spp.)","authors":"M.J. Janecka ,&nbsp;D.R. Clark ,&nbsp;O. Duthoy ,&nbsp;C.D. Criscione","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101144","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101144","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although parasite probability of infection and intensity are central to understanding parasite distributions and their ecological and evolutionary impacts, the drivers of these parameters remain poorly understood. At a local scale, we examined how host dietary niche partitioning and river landscape processes influence infections of the trematode <em>Renifer aniarum</em> in a community of watersnakes (<em>Nerodia</em> spp.). Host-specific dietary preferences and body size (SVL) were associated with infection probability among sympatric congeners. However, contrary to predictions of the stream drift hypothesis, infection probability increased with distance upstream. Infection intensity, in contrast, was unrelated to stream position and less predictable across host species. Thus, infection probability and intensity were heterogeneous among host species and across the river system. These results highlight that, even at local scales, multiple factors can distinctly shape the infection dynamics of a generalist parasite across closely related, co-occurring hosts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 101144"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145219825","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":"Evolutionary history, longevity and terrestriality predict Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in free-ranging non-human primates","authors":"Fidisoa Rasambainarivo ,&nbsp;Billy Hinson ,&nbsp;Olivier Rasolofoniaina ,&nbsp;Sara Chelaghma ,&nbsp;Randall E. Junge ,&nbsp;C. Jessica E. Metcalf ,&nbsp;Cathy V. Williams ,&nbsp;Benjamin Rice","doi":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101143","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101143","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Evidence from captive populations indicates that lemurs are particularly vulnerable to toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease caused by <em>Toxoplasma gondii.</em> In wild populations, however, seroprevalence in lemurs remains low. This may be partly due to their predominantly arboreal behavior, which limits exposure to environmentally transmitted oocysts. Alternatively, or additionally, low seroprevalence could reflect high mortality following infection due to limited evolutionary exposure to the parasite and, consequently, a lack of evolved resistance. In this study, we assess whether the evolutionary history of primates with felids influences susceptibility to <em>T. gondii</em> infection, independent of ecological exposure. Specifically, we predicted that (1) species with greater terrestriality would exhibit higher exposure risk, (2) species longevity would be positively associated with their seroprevalence to <em>T. gondii</em> and (3) primate superfamilies with longer histories of co-occurrence with felids would show higher seroprevalence than Lemuroidea at similar levels of terrestriality and longevity. Serum samples from 435 free-ranging lemurs were tested for <em>T. gondii</em> antibodies and a literature review of <em>T. gondii</em> seroprevalence in free-ranging primates was conducted. The overall seroprevalence in Lemuroidea was 5.4 %, significantly lower than that observed in Ceboidea (11.8 %) and Cercopithecoidea (27.6 %). Notably, seroprevalence in lemurs was lower than expected based on their terrestriality, suggesting that evolutionary isolation from felids may underlie heightened vulnerability. Longevity modifies the risk profile in a lineage-specific way where seroprevalence increases with lifespan in Cercopithecoidea but not for lemurs. Collectively, our findings support the hypothesis that lemurs are immunologically naïve to <em>T. gondii</em>, and in the face of expanding domestic cat populations and increasing habitat fragmentation, the parasite may pose an underrecognized conservation threat.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54278,"journal":{"name":"International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 101143"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145264776","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}