Annals of parasitology最新文献

Anurans vocalize in different social contexts, in which the advertisement call is the most disseminated. Different endoparasites usually parasitize these animals, but how these endoparasite infections affect anuran vocalizations remains unclear. Therefore, we investigate how endoparasite infections influence the advertisement call and mating success of Physalaemus cuvieri. For that, we searched and recorded the advertisement call of this anuran at a Caatinga area, during the rainy season from March to April 2021 and February to April 2022, totaling 63 sampling days. After recording the advertisement call, we monitored their success in starting amplexus with females. In the lab, we necropsied all collected individuals to see if some endoparasites infected them. We found a significant effect of the parasite load only on call intervals-more parasitized individuals exhibited higher call intervals. In addition, we observed that the less-weight individuals tended to be more parasitized. Lastly, only the male snout-vent lengths affected the matting success in the studied population of Physalaemus cuvieri. The present study is an essential contribution to understanding how anuran health influences communication and sexual selection.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), a globally parasitic disease is primarily caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. This zoonotic infection carries significant medical, veterinary, and economic implications. In human the disease occurs by the ingestion of parasite eggs and can create in any organ especially liver and lungs. Current therapeutic methods have some limitations. Therefore, effect of pulsed electric fields (PEF) as a non-invasive method was utilized on daughter cysts as an important part of hydatid cyst. Daughter cysts was extracted from sheep liver hydatid cyst, divided into three groups. The first group was exposed to PEF at intensities of 70V/cm, 150 V/cm and 1300V/cm. The second group was treated with albendazole (100 μg/ml). The third group, was exposed with different intensities of PEF (as above) following incubation of daughter cysts with albendazole (100 μg/ml). Structural changes in the daughter cysts were analyzed using a stereomicroscope. The laminated layer remained undamaged in all three groups. In the first group (PEF), some degree of opacity and detachment of germinal layer was observed especially in higher pulse intensity (1300 V/cm). Albendazole treatment (second group) induced significant opacity. In the combined PEF and albendazole (third group), although germinal layer detachment was occurred in addition to opacity but the level of detachment was not similar to those that observed in the first group. The destructive effect of PEF on the germinal layer of daughter cysts can be considered as a promising result in the treatment of CE.

The success of Trematoda and Nematoda infection in fish involves a complexity of variables. The objective of this study was to report the parasitological descriptors (prevalence, mean abundance, and mean intensity) and community status of Myloplus nigrolineatus as well as to evaluate the relationship between abundance and richness of endoparasites with biometric parameters, sex, Kn the hosts, percentage cover native vegetation and water temperature. A total of 7,256 endoparasites were found: 861 digeneas and 6,395 specimens of nematodes were collected in the intestine from Myloplus nigrolineatus. One species of Digenea and five species of Nematoda were collected. The initial documentation of the prevalence (%) of endohelminth species in M. nigrolineatus revealed the following: Dadaytrema oxicephala (70%), Chabaudinema americanum (52%), Cucullanus pinnai pinnai (13%), Myleusnema bicornis (65%), Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus (9%) and Rondonia rondoni (35%). The mean intensity and mean abundance were 329.82 ± 416 and 315.48 ± 417, respectively. The trematode Dadaytrema oxycephala was considered a central and dominant species. The total abundance was explained by the variables total length, relative condition factor (Kn), percentage cover native vegetation and water temperature. Fish relative condition factor (Kn) and sex were not influenced by the parasite infection and did not impair the body condition of the hosts. The GLMM showed there is no relationship between abundance and richness of endoparasites with percentage cover native vegetation, while that every twenty centimeters more in the total length of the hosts, the abundance of endoparasites in the intestine increases, approximately, 2 specimens.

Theileriosis caused by Theileria lestoquardi (malignant ovine theileriosis) in sheep and Theileria annulata (topical theileriosis) in cattle, is a tick-borne hemoprotozoal disease that causes major economic losses in animal production caused by a tick-transmitted haemoprotozoan Theileria species, infecting various domestic and wild animals. It is a threat to the buffalo population in Pakistan due to high mortality rates and economic losses. Extensive mixed farming in Pakistan poses threats due to mixed infections and increased mortality rates. The current case report describes the mixed infection and characterization of Theileria lestoquardi with Theileria annulata in a buffalo raised in a mixed farming setup, in Pakistan. A 6.5-year-old female buffalo presented at the Outdoor Hospital exhibiting swollen sub-scapular lymph nodes, pale mucous membranes, a high fever (41.5°C), dullness, depression, shortness of breath, and a decrease in milk production. Investigation through microscopy, hematology, and PCR confirmed that the buffalo was suffering from theileriosis. A Giemsa-stained thin blood smear showed piroplasms indicating theileriosis. Hematological analysis of the blood revealed lower values for hemoglobin and red blood cells (RBCs), while higher counts of lymphocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes were observed during the infection. The PCR performed on the blood sample was positive for Theileria spp. using RLB universal primers and T. annulata-specific primers. The sequence revealed similarity with T. lestoquardi reported in Pakistan, Iran, Tunisia, and India. The buffalo was treated with Bupralex® and Oxtra LA® at a dosage of 1ml/20kg of body weight I/M, respectively, along with supportive treatment. Despite these interventions, the animal died probably due to damage to cardiac muscles. This study reports the first case of T. annulata mixed infection with T. lestoquardi in a buffalo in Punjab, Pakistan. It can be concluded that mixed farming exacerbates the epidemiology and spread of ovine malignant theileriosis and mortalities possibly due to cardiac arrest in mixed infections.

In order to overcome obstacles in diagnosis, surveillance, treatment, and vector control, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a crucial weapon in the fight against malaria. The eradication of malaria has benefited greatly from the exceptional accuracy and efficiency of AI-driven solutions. This review of the literature examines several uses of AI in the fight against malaria, emphasizing new developments. AI-driven solutions have the potential to improve malaria prevention and eradication efforts with sustained innovation and investment, ultimately enhancing global health security. AI is transforming the treatment of malaria by facilitating personalised medicine, speeding up drug discovery, and enhancing diagnostics. AI is improving treatment approaches and tackling the problems caused by drug-resistant malaria parasites through machine learning, deep learning, and in silico drug repurposing. Achieving long-term malaria eradication targets will require sustained investment in AI-driven malaria research. In epidemiological tracking, artificial intelligence (AI) has also become a potent instrument. AI-driven methods offer creative ways to find novel treatment approaches, maximize drug discovery, and forecast the dynamics of malaria transmission, especially in light of the growing resistance of Plasmodium parasites to current medications. Thus, this review paper provides insights into the developments made by AI in combating malaria.

48 young, middle-aged and elderly male and female subjects with various chronic diseases of various body systems were studied under the influence of the complex of biologically active substances of the medicinal leech species Hirudo verbana. It was found that medicinal leeches are able to show strong analgesic effects in various chronic pathologies, regardless of gender and age. The beginning of the pain-relieving effect occurs already after the first attachment, and the maximum effect is manifested after the third and fourth production. In addition to the pain-relieving effect, most of the subjects, regardless of the article and age, felt a strong influx of energy, and after completing the course of productions, the physiological parameters of the blood began to recover and the functionality of the organs began to recover.

Dermanyssus gallinae is considered to be one of the world's most troublesome ectoparasites of laying hens, with the consequences for the hens being reflected in production rates, including reduced egg quantity and quality. Despite intensive efforts to develop research on this mite, it remains challenging to combat. This article reviews current and recent knowledge on the biology and genetics of D. gallinae, and new targets for control are discussed as identified by the authors of recent publications. It is imperative to acknowledge the significance of this knowledge in order to facilitate the identification of genetic markers associated with the emergence of acaricide resistance. This, in turn, will enable the development of alternative strategies and methods to control D. gallinae.

Cysticercosis caused by the larval forms of Taenia solium is observed sporadically in humans from nonendemic areas and is challenging to diagnose. We report an extraordinary case of 81-year-old woman from a rural region of Poland with worsening neurological symptoms suspected of brain malignancy. Imaging and serological tests confirmed disseminated cysticercosis with multiple space-occupying lesions located in the brain, soft tissues, and liver. Systemic cysticercosis in a white woman without a history of international travel is an exceptional clinical finding. Treatment with albendazole and corticosteroids led to significant reduction of pathological masses and clinical improvement. This case highlights the importance of considering unusual parasitic infections in neurological evaluations, even in non-endemic areas.

Spinal cord schistosomosis is a rare but significant cause of myelopathy, ranging from asymptomatic egg deposits to severe transverse myelitis. Common in endemic regions, S. mansoni myelopathy presents as acute paraplegia or cauda equina syndrome. Diagnosis involves identifying ova in stool, urine, or rectal biopsy, accompanied by peripheral eosinophilia. Treatment includes praziquantel and corticosteroids, with laminectomy reserved for specific cases. Prognosis varies, with around one-third recovering completely, one-third with residual deficits, and one-third remaining unchanged or deteriorating, particularly in necrotic myelitis. Recognition in endemic areas is critical for timely intervention and improved outcomes in this potentially treatable myelopathy.

Representatives of the genus Acanthamoeba are among the most widespread protists in the environment. They have a ubiquitous distribution and can sometimes cause quite serious pathologies in humans. The treatment ofp rotozoal infections caused by free-living amoebae is currently limited and often unsuccessful. In the presented investigation, amebicidal activity was determined against both the trophozoites and cysts of Acanthamoeba spp., which were isolated during the microbiological examination of environmental objects. The inhibitory activity of drugs in vitro was determined using the authors' proposed method, which is based on the plaque formation phenomenon: this is initiated by free-living amoebae when cultured in agar containing the bacteria Cellulosimicrobium sp. strain bent-1. Based on a series of experimental studies, the paper proposes a reliable and inexpensive method for determining the anti-protozoal activity of medicinal agents, which will significantly complement the current screening method system when studying existing drugs, or new drugs during their development stage.