Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases最新文献

{"title":"Assessing the role of community involvement and capacity building in larviciding applications for malaria control in Africa: A scoping review","authors":"GloriaSalome Shirima ,&nbsp;Thiery Masserey ,&nbsp;Hamenyimana Gervas ,&nbsp;Nakul Chitnis ,&nbsp;Samson Kiware ,&nbsp;Silas Mirau","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100307","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100307","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Larviciding offers a supplementary approach in malaria vector control, particularly when applied through community engagement and capacity building. A scoping review was performed to evaluate existing larviciding delivery mechanisms and their impacts on African malaria control. A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The search strategy utilized Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and free-text terms related to “malaria”, “larvicide”, “community engagement” and “mosquito control”. The databases PubMed, Scopus, and Embase were searched for relevant literature published until December 2024. Inclusion criteria focused on studies addressing community engagement in delivering larviciding within African settings. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 32 papers were ultimately included in the analysis. The studies spanned 13 African countries, primarily in sub-Saharan regions, with findings indicating that larviciding significantly reduced mosquito density and, in some cases, malaria incidence. Community engagement strategies varied, with workshops and participatory meetings targeting various stakeholders to enhance awareness and ownership of larviciding programmes. Community engagement and capacity building were critical to successfully implementing larviciding programmes. While challenges, such as logistical barriers, lack of awareness, and financial constraints, persist, integrating technological innovations and strengthening monitoring systems can enhance the sustainability of these efforts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100307"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144878888","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the vector potential of Lipoptena cervi (Diptera: Hippoboscidae): first record of Setaria cervi (Filarioidea: Onchocercidae) DNA in deer keds","authors":"Klaudia Mária Švirlochová ,&nbsp;Dana Zubriková ,&nbsp;Veronika Blažeková ,&nbsp;Lucia Vargová ,&nbsp;Eva Čisovská Bazsalovicsová ,&nbsp;Ján Čurlík ,&nbsp;Ivana Heglasová ,&nbsp;Bronislava Víchová","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100331","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100331","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Setaria cervi</em> is a filarial nematode that infects both wild and domestic ungulates. It is primarily transmitted by mosquitoes, although the possible role of other hematophagous insects is still uncertain. We investigated 83 wingless deer keds (<em>Lipoptena</em> spp.) from red and fallow deer in northern and eastern Slovakia, as well as 43 red deer liver samples for the presence of filarial DNA. Deer keds were identified as <em>Lipoptena cervi</em> (<em>n</em> = 80) and <em>Lipoptena fortisetosa</em> (<em>n</em> = 3). Genomic DNA from individual ectoparasites was screened by PCR targeting a mitochondrial <em>cox</em>1 gene fragment of filaroid nematodes. Two L. <em>cervi</em> from red deer in Hrabušice (eastern Slovakia) tested positive for <em>S. cervi</em> DNA, with 100% sequence identity with worms recently isolated from Slovak game animals. Additionally, <em>S. cervi</em> DNA was detected in one liver from a red deer in the Vranov nad Topl’ou district. This study provides the first molecular evidence of <em>S. cervi</em> DNA in <em>L. cervi</em>, suggesting a potential role of deer keds in the transmission at the wildlife-livestock-vector interface.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100331"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145415595","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors contributing to mosquito-borne disease: A systematic review in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region","authors":"Abdullah Al-Manji ,&nbsp;Anak Agung Bagus Wirayuda ,&nbsp;Rawaa Abubakr Abuelgassim Eltayib ,&nbsp;Mohammed Al-Azri ,&nbsp;Moon Fai Chan","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100281","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100281","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mosquitoes can carry and spread many diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. All these mosquito-borne diseases (MBD) represent a significant global burden of infectious diseases, including morbidity and mortality. This systematic review delves into the multifaceted factors contributing to the spread of MBD in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Following PRISMA guidelines, we reviewed peer-reviewed English-language observational and experimental studies published between May 1990 and January 2023, focusing on the interaction between population, environmental, disease, and mosquito factors in MBD. The review includes 32 studies (30 articles) that revealed a complex relationship between various risk factors and the presence of MBD. The review distinguishes between seroprevalence studies, which assess exposure to infection in asymptomatic populations, and overt disease studies, which focus on symptomatic cases and the host-specific factors that affect disease severity. It identifies key risk factors such as age, geography, gender, professional occupation, and socio-economic status, noting their varying impacts on disease transmission and progression across different MBDs. Environmental factors such as climate, mosquito breeding habitats, and urbanization are also reported as significant drivers of vector distribution and human-vector interactions. The review emphasizes the need for tailored, region-specific interventions to control MBD in the MENA region and highlights the importance of integrated vector control, improved sanitation, surveillance programmes, and public health education. The review also stresses the growing influence of climate change on disease patterns and calls for a multi-sectoral approach to MBD control. While focusing on the MENA region, the findings suggest the need for further research and region-specific public health policies to mitigate the impact of these diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100281"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144522523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A review of recent Cryptosporidium hominis and Cryptosporidium parvum gp60 subtypes","authors":"Deborah B. Oladele ,&nbsp;Martin Swain ,&nbsp;Guy Robinson ,&nbsp;Amanda Clare ,&nbsp;Rachel M. Chalmers","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100292","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100292","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp. are known to cause gastroenteritis (cryptosporidiosis) in numerous hosts, including humans. Understanding the diversity within this genus of parasites requires accurate subtyping, which is frequently performed by sequencing part of the <em>gp60</em> (60-kDa glycoprotein) gene. This literature review examines <em>Cryptosporidium hominis</em> and <em>Cryptosporidium parvum gp60</em> subtypes reported between December 2018 and January 2024 in humans, livestock, and non-human primates (NHPs). The review highlights emerging trends in the subtypes reported and reveals the shifting dominance of subtype families, which can be influenced by factors such as anthroponotic interactions. The <em>C. parvum</em> IIa and IId families remain major contributors to infections across a variety of hosts, with recent reports indicating the continued emergence of the IId family. Furthermore, previously established and newly reported subtypes detected in NHPs highlight the potential for genetic recombination between human-adapted and NHP-adapted subtypes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100292"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144680211","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vector competence of European Aedes mosquito species for Japanese encephalitis virus under fluctuating temperature conditions","authors":"Anna M. Ciećkiewicz ,&nbsp;Julia Ettlin ,&nbsp;Eva Veronesi ,&nbsp;Andrea Marti ,&nbsp;Obdulio Garcia-Nicolas ,&nbsp;Jeannine Hauri ,&nbsp;Artur Summerfield ,&nbsp;Alexander Mathis ,&nbsp;Niels O. Verhulst","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100302","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100302","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus endemic to much of Asia and the Western Pacific, both temperate and tropical regions. Globalisation and the expansion of invasive mosquito species raise concerns about their potential establishment in Europe and other currently non-endemic regions. However, limited knowledge exists regarding the vector competence of European mosquitoes, particularly under the region’s characteristic fluctuating temperatures. While <em>Culex</em> species are primary JEV vectors, the role of <em>Aedes</em> mosquitoes remains unclear. This study assessed the vector competence of field-caught or low-generation colony-derived <em>Aedes albopictus</em>, <em>Ae. japonicus</em>, and <em>Ae. vexans</em> from Switzerland under a fluctuating temperature regime (16–28 °C), using <em>Culex quinquefasciatus</em> as a reference. Mosquitoes were exposed to JEV genotype I-b and incubated for 7 and 14 days. RT-qPCR was used to analyse mosquito body parts and saliva to determine infection, dissemination, transmission rates and transmission efficiency. <em>Aedes albopictus</em>, <em>Ae. japonicus</em>, and <em>Cx. quinquefasciatus</em> were competent vectors. <em>Aedes japonicus</em> showed the highest infection rate (13.6%, 9/66) compared to <em>Ae. albopictus</em> (3.0%, 3/101) and <em>Cx. quinquefasciatus</em> (6.9%, 7/101), while <em>Ae. vexans</em> was refractory (0/80). Dissemination was observed in <em>Ae. japonicus</em> already 7 days post-exposure, preceding other species. <em>Aedes japonicus</em> had the highest transmission rate (66.7%, 2/3) and efficiency (6.1%, 2/33). This study demonstrates that European <em>Aedes</em> mosquitoes can serve as JEV vectors under fluctuating temperatures and may contribute to virus transmission despite being considered secondary vectors. The findings emphasise that species-specific assessments under realistic temperatures are essential in evaluating the risk of JEV establishment in temperate regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100302"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144771720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Monthly analysis of the current risk of heartworm transmission in Portugal and Spain through ecological niche modeling as a control measure","authors":"Elena Infante González-Mohino ,&nbsp;Iván Rodríguez-Escolar ,&nbsp;Alfonso Balmori-de la Puente ,&nbsp;Manuel Collado-Cuadrado ,&nbsp;Elena Carretón ,&nbsp;José Alberto Montoya-Alonso ,&nbsp;Rodrigo Morchón","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100330","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100330","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Heartworm disease (cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis) is a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by the parasitic nematode <em>Dirofilaria immitis</em>. It is transmitted by different species of culicid mosquitoes, with <em>Culex pipiens</em> being the most important species in the Iberian Peninsula, and <em>Culex theileri</em> in the Canary Islands and Madeira. The development of risk maps using ecological niche models (ENMs) has established itself as a useful tool in the prevention and control of various parasitic infections in different territories. The aim of this study was to produce monthly infection risk maps for all territories in Spain and Portugal, based on ecological modelling of <em>Cx. pipiens</em> in the Iberian Peninsula, the Islands and Madeira, and of <em>Cx. pipiens</em> together with <em>Cx. theileri</em> in the Canary Islands. These models were weighted with the number of generations of <em>D. immitis</em> calculated each month, thus obtaining infection risk maps for each month of the year. Models indicate that the risk of transmission is highest in summer, gradually decreasing in autumn until reaching zero levels in winter in most territories. In the Iberian Peninsula, the most affected areas are the south, the Mediterranean coast and the Balearic Islands. In the Canary Islands, the risk remains moderate during winter due to its thermal stability, especially in densely populated coastal areas. A similar pattern is observed in the Azores Islands and Madeira, where the risk, although lower, persists in winter and is concentrated in low-lying, inhabited areas. This approach allows the dynamics of heartworm infection to be studied throughout the year and constitutes the first time that monthly risk models have been developed in these territories, as well as the first risk maps for <em>D. immitis</em> transmission in the Azores Islands and Madeira.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100330"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145361509","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dibothriocephalosis in salmonids from Iceland: A more complex taxonomic problem than assumed until now?","authors":"Lucia Dinisová ,&nbsp;Eva Čisovská Bazsalovicsová ,&nbsp;Karl Skírnisson ,&nbsp;Ivica Králová-Hromadová","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100314","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100314","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The diphyllobothriid tapeworm <em>Dibothriocephalus ditremus</em>, one of the three <em>Dibothriocephalus</em> species native to Europe, parasitises exclusively piscivorous birds and has not yet been detected in mammals. This is probably the reason why there is much less molecular data on this tapeworm. The aim of our study was to determine the genetic structure of the <em>D. ditremus</em> populations from Europe, namely Iceland, for the first time. To exclude any possible misidentifications between sympatrically occurring <em>D. ditremus</em> and <em>D. dendriticus</em>, <em>D. dendriticus</em> from Iceland was also analysed. Great genetic diversity of <em>D. ditremus</em>, displayed by a large number of cytochrome <em>c</em> oxidase subunit 1 (<em>cox</em>1) haplotypes and three distant clusters, contrasted sharply with the lower genetic variation in <em>D. dendriticus.</em> Previously published <em>cox</em>1 sequences of <em>D. ditremus</em> from different localities in Europe (UK - Scotland), Asia (Russia and Japan) and North America (USA - Oregon) were also included in the analysis in order to determine the genetic architecture of <em>D. ditremus</em> at a broader geographical scale. While the sequences of tapeworms from Scotland and Russia were placed in <em>D. ditremus</em> Clusters 2 and 3, the sample from USA (Oregon) displayed a unique position distant from the Icelandic tapeworms. Japanese samples of <em>D. ditremus</em> and <em>Diphyllobothrium hottai</em> formed a common clade, indicating their conspecificity. The unexpected output of the analysis was a unique position of the currently detected Haplotype 31 of a tapeworm from Iceland, which was distant from all other <em>D. ditremus</em> individuals from Iceland, but showed close relationships with the Japanese <em>D. ditremus</em>/<em>D. hottai</em> cluster. Further studies are needed to reveal if <em>D. ditremus</em> represent a complex of genetically diversified populations, or more species occur in salmonids in the Northern Hemisphere.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100314"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145048753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of co-infections of haemosporidian parasites in Swinhoe’s pheasant (Lophura swinhoii): Utilizing nanopore sequencing for species-level detection and mitochondrial-genome analysis","authors":"Peihang Hong ,&nbsp;Sijia Yu ,&nbsp;Hau-You Tzeng ,&nbsp;Yu-Hsuan Lin ,&nbsp;Chao-Min Wang ,&nbsp;Chung-Hung Lai ,&nbsp;Shyun Chou","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100313","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100313","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Avian haemosporidian parasites are vector-borne apicomplexans that infect bird species globally and pose considerable challenges in detection due to frequent co-infections and morphological convergence. In the present study, we first used Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) to resolve co-infections of haemosporidians in Swinhoe’s pheasant (<em>Lophura swinhoii</em>), an island-endemic galliform. Blood smears revealed two morphologically distinct gametocyte forms: roundish and circumnuclear, and molecular analyses identified three mitochondrial lineages: two novel <em>Haemoproteus</em> lineages (hLOPSWI01 and hLOPSWI02) and one <em>Plasmodium</em> lineage (pNILSUN01). Phylogenetic reconstruction of mitogenomes resolved hLOPSWI01 and hLOPSWI02 within the <em>Parahaemoproteus</em> clade, whereas pNILSUN01 clustered in the <em>Giovannolaia-Haemamoeba</em> clade. Overall, this study revealed the efficacy of ONT in resolving cryptic co-infections through unfragmented mitogenome assembly, overcoming ambiguities inherent to Sanger sequencing. Our findings establish baseline haemosporidian diversity in <em>L. swinhoii</em> and highlight the necessity of combining long-read genomics with morphological scrutiny for accurate parasite taxonomy, particularly in understudied avian hosts facing conservation threats.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100313"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144916533","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Culicoides insignis in Ecuador: Molecular identification of blood meals and detection of bluetongue virus","authors":"Juan D. Mosquera ,&nbsp;Sonia Zapata ,&nbsp;Denis Augot","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100288","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100288","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bluetongue virus (BTV) is an <em>Orbivirus</em> transmitted by <em>Culicoides</em> biting midges and is the causative agent of bluetongue disease in wild and domestic ruminants. <em>Culicoides insignis</em> is the primary vector of BTV in Florida, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. In Ecuador, recent investigations have reported the presence of BTV in cattle and identified <em>C. insignis</em> as the dominant species in localities from the Amazon Basin and Andean foothills. Understanding the host-feeding patterns of blood-feeding insects and evaluating their role in pathogen transmission are essential for elucidating the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases. To that end, we investigated the presence of BTV in unengorged <em>C. insignis</em> females collected in two localities: Cotundo, where BTV had previously been reported in cattle, and Paraiso Escondido located near (∼35 km) a site with a known history of BTV circulation. A total of 1773 female <em>Culicoides</em> spp. specimens were collected, of which 326 (18.38 %) were <em>C. insignis</em>. We identified the blood meal sources of engorged <em>C. insignis</em> females from both localities. Our results provide additional evidence to support the role of <em>C. insignis</em> as vector of BTV in Ecuador.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100288"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144534691","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seasonal distribution and cercarial shedding of Bulinus spp. snails: Implications for urogenital schistosomiasis control in the Simiyu Region, northwestern Tanzania","authors":"Nyanda C. Justine ,&nbsp;Humphrey D. Mazigo ,&nbsp;Antje Fuss ,&nbsp;Bonnie L. Webster ,&nbsp;Eveline T. Konje ,&nbsp;Klaus Brehm ,&nbsp;Andreas Mueller","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100248","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100248","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Urogenital schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease of significant public health concern caused by the trematode species <em>Schistosoma haematobium</em>. Its transmission is localised and heterogeneous, with seasonal occurrences in Tanzania primarily facilitated by <em>Bulinus</em> spp. snails, which serve as intermediate hosts. To plan effective, data-driven control measures, it is crucial to understand the epidemiology of schistosomes in these snails. This study aimed to investigate the seasonal distribution, abundance, and <em>Schistosoma</em> spp. infections (assessed <em>via</em> cercarial emergence) in <em>Bulinus</em> spp. snails in two districts, Maswa and Meatu, in the Simiyu Region of Tanzania. Malacological surveys were conducted at 90 sites in total, comprising sites in 35 rivers, 32 ponds, and 23 branching streams. Each study site was sampled once during the rainy season and once during the dry season. Snails were collected using a standard scoop- and handpicking technique by two people for 15 min at each site. The collected snails were morphologically identified and subjected to a cercarial emergence experiment. Water physicochemical characteristics were recorded simultaneously with snail collection using a portable multiparameter water meter. The data were analysed using STATA v. 17. A total of 4997 <em>Bulinus</em> spp<em>.</em> snails were collected from 90 sites in the two districts. Of these, 91.4% (95% CI: 90.5–92.1%) were morphologically identified as <em>Bulinus nasutus</em> and 8.6% (95% CI: 7.8–9.4%) were identified as <em>Bulinus globosus</em>. <em>Bulinus</em> spp. snail abundance was almost evenly distributed across seasons, with 50.4% (95% CI: 48.9–51.7%) collected during the dry season and 49.6% (95% CI: 48.2–51.0%) collected during the rainy season. Water temperature and salinity were significantly negatively correlated with snail abundance (both <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). <em>Schistosoma</em> spp. cercarial emergence followed a seasonal pattern and was significantly higher during the rainy season (<em>P</em> = 0.005). Our findings underscore that <em>B. nasutus</em> was the most abundant freshwater snail distributed at nearly all the study sites during the rainy and dry seasons. Therefore, appropriate snail control strategies are recommended to complement ongoing schistosomiasis control strategies in the Simiyu Region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100248"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143149006","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}