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Murine-related helminthiasis is a frequently overlooked zoonotic disease with significant public health implications. The role of murine rodents in transmitting these infections to other animals remains under-researched. This study aimed to investigate murine-related helminth infections at solid waste sites, particularly in forest-adjacent communities where murine rodent populations are high and multi-host interactions are possible. During a 5-day trapping session, 36 live traps were deployed across different habitats during both wet and dry seasons. Trapped murine rodents and their gastrointestinal (GI) parasites were morphologically evaluated for species identification. The results revealed that a total of 380 murine rodents were captured, with an overall GI helminth infection prevalence of 86.8% (330/380). The adult male murine rodents exhibited higher prevalence, abundance, and species richness of helminths compared to juvenile and female murine rodents. A total of 16 helminth species were identified, with Trichostrongylus morphotype A showing the highest infection prevalence (53.2%). Six zoonotic species were also detected, including Syphacia obvelata (22.4%), Syphacia muris (12.4%), Raillietina spp. (10.8%), Hymenolepis diminuta (10.3%), Vampirolepis nana (10%), and Cyclodontostomum purvisi (2.4%). Increased population of murine rodents was observed at the solid waste sites, as indicated by higher trap success (TS) rates. Forest murine rodents exhibited a significant prevalence of helminth infections and high species diversity. These findings suggest that solid waste sites adjacent to forests may pose a heightened risk for disease transmission, warranting further attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immunoregulatory cytokine TGF-β is pleiotropic due to the near-ubiquitous expression of the TGF-β receptors TβRI and TβRII on diverse cell types. The helminth parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus has convergently evolved a family of TGF-β mimics (TGMs) that bind both these receptors through domains 1–3 of a 5-domain protein. One member of this family, TGM4, differs from TGF-β in acting in a cell-specific manner, failing to stimulate fibroblasts, but activating SMAD phosphorylation in macrophages. Primarily through domains 4 and 5, TGM4 interacts with multiple co-receptors, including CD44, CD49d (integrin α4) and CD206, and can up- and downmodulate macrophage responses to IL-4 and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), respectively. The dependence of TGM4 on combinatorial interactions with co-receptors is due to a moderated affinity for TβRII that is more than 100-fold lower than for TGF-β. Thus the parasite has elaborated TGF-β receptor interactions to establish cell specificity through combinatorial cis-signalling, an innovation absent from the mammalian cytokine. Synopsis: A parasite-derived mimic of TGF-β selectively targets myeloid cells, without activating fibroblasts. Combinatorial interactions with both TGF-β receptors and cell surface co-receptors confer cell type specificity that the mammalian cytokine cannot mediate. TGF-β Mimics (TGM) are modular parasite proteins which bind multiple host cell receptors. TGM4 interacts, in addition to both TGF-β receptors, with CD44, CD49d and CD206. TGM4 binding affinities are moderated so that signalling requires co-receptor engagement. TGM4 is an effective activator of immune cells but does not signal in fibroblasts with low co-receptor levels. A parasite-derived mimic of TGF-β selectively targets myeloid cells, without activating fibroblasts. Combinatorial interactions with both TGF-β receptors and cell surface co-receptors confer cell type specificity that the mammalian cytokine cannot mediate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biotherapy targets molecules that alter the immune response. It involves a plethora of organisms known to alter the course of myriad diseases and ailments. Many of these diseases can be life-threatening to the humans and animals, and exhibit resistance to available antimicrobial medications. To address such ailments, traditional and modernized therapies that target specific molecules responsible for altering the immune response are currently being explored. Such therapies utilize various organisms that are known to impact the progression of numerous diseases and disorders. Diseases caused by certain organisms can also alter the courses or outcomes of other diseases. Biotherapies such as helminth therapy, maggot debridement therapy, and hirudotherapy use parasites (roundworms and flatworms), arthropods (maggots), and leeches (annelids), respectively, as potential biological therapeutic sources to treat autoimmune and other chronic diseases. Where conventional medicine fails, these traditional-turned-modern alternative therapies can serve to boost the health prospects of patients who are vulnerable to the misery and pain inflicted by their ailments. Patients dealing with these circumstances are prevalent in developed countries, where there is enormous market potential for any novel alternative treatments discovered. In this review, we provide a brief outlook on the mechanisms of action of these biotherapies, and summarize their roles in human and veterinary medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-seven Pachycrocuta brevirostris coprolites from Taurida Cave (Early Pleistocene) were studied. Eggs of parasitic worms were found in 6 of them (22.2%). Eggs of Trematoda species were identified among them, as were eggs of Taenia, Toxocara, and Capillaria. Toxocara eggs were the most common; they were found in 15% of the coprolites. This is the earliest evidence of P. brevirostris infection by these groups of helminths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasitological investigations of anadromous Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) (Walbaum, 1792) harvested along the Canadian Beaufort Sea coast in summer 2021 and 2022 revealed infections by the parasitic cestode Nybelinia surmenicola (Okada in Dollfus, 1929) (2% and 0.8% prevalence, respectively) whose only documented final host is salmon shark (Lamna ditropis) (Hubbs and Follett, 1947), which to date has been documented only once in the Arctic. Infection rates were low as only two fish, captured in consecutive years, were infected with a single worm at the plerocercoid stage in their stomach. These infections are the first record of the parasite in the Arctic Ocean and for Dolly Varden in North America. The source of infection in both fishes was likely from consuming a euphausiid, presumably Thysanoessa raschii (M. Sars, 1863), which is an infrequent prey of Dolly Varden and a known first host of the parasite, that became infected by consuming N. surmenicola eggs expelled by salmon shark. The euphausiids presumably originated from the Bering Sea and were actively transported by currents into the Arctic Ocean yet it is unknown where their infection occurred. Given the amount of time for exogenous feeding to begin, the presumed rate of transport and time spent feeding in Arctic waters (i.e., Chukchi and Beaufort seas), we infer the infection of euphausiids most likely occurred in the Arctic, which suggests the presence of salmon shark. Additionally, the findings provide evidence that salmon shark may becoming increasingly prevalent in Arctic waters in recent years due to climate change. Our observation underscores the utility of parasitological information for surveillance for detecting climate-related change in Arctic marine biodiversity.

IntroductionThis study investigates the helminth absence in the invasive blackchin tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron) in Thailand, testing the Enemy Release Hypothesis (ERH). The ERH suggests that invasive species thrive in new habitats due to the lack of natural parasites that control their populations in native environments. The recent introduction of S. melanotheron in Thailand has raised concerns about its ecological and economic impacts.MethodsWe surveyed 164 blackchin tilapia from six different locations in Chumphon Province, Thailand, including the sea, estuary, canal, and shrimp farms, examining them for helminths. Fishermen provided data on the first capture dates in the surveyed areas to determine how long the populations have been established.ResultsNo helminths were detected in any of the examined fish. The absence of parasites was consistent across all surveyed environments, suggesting a lack of parasitic burden in the population.DiscussionThe absence of helminths may contribute to the successful expansion of S. melanotheron in Thailand, supporting the Enemy Release Hypothesis.

Abstract A complex interaction of gastrointestinal parasites with sheep hosts may involve bacteria communities, parasite genera, parasitic genes, and biological pathways. Haemonchus contortus presents a global challenge for ruminants, and the bacterial community can influence sheep's resistance and susceptibility to these parasites. Thus, a better understanding of this complex interaction could contribute to the development of a new approach to parasite control. This study evaluated the bacterial community of Corriedale sheep naturally infected with H. contortus based on the fecal egg counts over ten months and then classified as having low (LC), intermediate (IC), or high (HC). Stool samples were collected monthly for egg counts (EPG), and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed on five animals from each group. The average EPG was 2,635 ± 105 for HC, 845 ± 129 for IC, and 110 ± 70 for LC, with a significant difference (p = 0.0001). Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Spirochaetes were more abundant in the HC group. 102 bacterial genera showed significant differences between the LC and HC groups. Beta diversity was statistically different (p

Abstract Parasitic helminths secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) into their host tissues to modulate immune responses, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We demonstrate that Ascaris EVs are efficiently internalised by monocytes in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and increase the percentage of classical monocytes. Furthermore, EV treatment of monocytes induced a novel anti‐inflammatory phenotype characterised by CD14+, CD16−, CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2−) and programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1)+ cells. In addition, Ascaris EVs induced T cell anergy in a monocyte‐dependent mechanism. Targeting professional phagocytes to induce both direct and indirect pathways of immune modulation presents a highly novel and efficient mechanism of EV‐mediated host‐parasite communication. Intra‐peritoneal administration of EVs induced protection against gut inflammation in the dextran sodium sulphate model of colitis in mice. Ascaris EVs were shown to affect circulating immune cells and protect against gut inflammation; this highlights their potential as a subject for further investigation in inflammatory conditions driven by dysregulated immune responses. However, their clinical translation would require further studies and careful consideration of ethical implications.

The global prevalence of autoimmune diseases has surged in recent decades. Consequently, environmental triggers have emerged as crucial contributors to autoimmune diseases, equally relevant to classical risk factors, such as genetic polymorphisms, infections, and smoking. Sequencing-based approaches have demonstrated distinct gut microbiota compositions in individuals with autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D), and systemic lupus erythematosus, compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, fecal microbiota transplantation and microbial inoculation experiments have supported the hypothesis that alterations in the gut microbiota can influence autoimmune responses and disease outcomes. Herein, we propose that intestinal helminths may serve as a critical factor in inducing alterations in the gut microbiota. The concept of helminth-mediated suppression of autoimmune diseases in humans is supported by substantial evidence, aligning with the long-standing "hygiene hypothesis." This review focused on T1D to explore the interactions between parasites, gut microbiota, and the immune system—a topic that remains a black box within this intricate triangular relationship. • Environmental triggers have emerged as crucial contributors to autoimmune diseases. • We reviewed interactions between parasites, gut microbiota, and the immune system. • Helminthic infections were found to suppress autoimmune diseases. • Patients with T1D were found to exhibit lower gut microbial diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasitic helminths are well known master regulators of host immune responses. Yet, the underlying molecular principles remain largely enigmatic. Recent work from Bohnacker et al. reveals that glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), a metabolic enzyme secreted by Heligmosomoides polygyrus, can suppress type 2 immunity by multimodal regulation of macrophage metabolism and epigenetics., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The author declares no competing interests., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Helminth parasites have long adapted to survive hostile host environments and can likely adapt against the chemical anthelmintic challenge. One proposed adaptation route is via Phase I and II xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes (XMEs). For successful Helminth pharmacotherapy discovery programs, a working understanding of Helminth-derived chemical detoxification, the Helminth detoxome, is a must. At present, the detoxome of a newly emerging Helminth parasite, the rumen fluke Calicophoron daubneyi , remains unexplored. Thus, a combined bioinformatics, sub-, and global-proteomic approach has been employed to examine the detoxome of adult C. daubneyi . Transcriptome analysis revealed a complement of Phase I (cytochrome P450s and monoamine oxygenases) and Phase II (glutathione transferases [GSTs] and sulfotransferases) XMEs. Affinity-led subproteomic exploration of the GSTs revealed six GST isoforms in adult rumen fluke (CdGST-Mu1-2, S1, and S3-5), with global approaches identifying additional GSTs (CdGST-O1-2, Z1, and S2) and a unique egg-specific variant (CdGST-S6). Examination of C. daubneyi extracellular vesicles revealed a GST profile replicating that of the adult with the absence of two isoforms (CdGST-S2 and S4), with an additional identification of a sulfotransferase. These data represent the first exploration into the complete rumen fluke detoxification capacity and will provide direction for future anthelmintic discovery programs.

Strongyloides ratti is a helminth parasite that displays tissue-migrating and intestinal life stages. Myeloid C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) are pattern recognition receptors that recognize pathogen-derived ligands and initiate immune responses. To date, the role of CLRs in S. ratti infection has not been investigated. Here, we show that S. ratti-derived ligands are recognized by the CLR Macrophage inducible Ca 2+ -dependent lectin receptor (MINCLE). While MINCLE-deficiency did not affect initiation of a protective anti-S. ratti type 2 immunity, MINCLE-deficient mice had a transient advantage in intestinal immunity. Unravelling the underlying mechanism, we show that next to macrophages, dendritic cells and neutrophils, a fraction of eosinophils express MINCLE and expand during S. ratti infection. MINCLE-deficient eosinophils exhibited a more active phenotype and prolonged expansion in vivo and displayed increased capacity to reduce S. ratti motility and produce reactive oxygen species in vitro, compared to wild-type (WT) eosinophils. Depletion of eosinophils in S. ratti-infected mice after the tissue-migration phase elevated intestinal worm burden in MINCLE-deficient mice to the WT level. Thus, our findings establish a central contribution of eosinophils to parasite ejection from the intestine and suggest that S. ratti-triggered signalling via MINCLE interferes with eosinophil mediated ejection of S. ratti from the intestine., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Parasites are among the major organisms that affect the health of crocodiles. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2021 to May 2022 aimed to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths of Nile crocodiles in Arba Minch Crocodile Ranch (AMCR), Ethiopia. A total of 322 fecal samples were collected using a random sampling technique. Standard parasitological tests were used to identify the gastrointestinal helminth parasite. Out of 322 fecal samples examined, 102(31.68%) were found positive for gastrointestinal helminths. Among the endoparasite eggs detected Dujardinascaris (18.01%) species was the most dominant species followed by Trichinella species (5.62%), polydeliphs (3.1%) and Renifers species (0.62%). There was a statistically significant difference(P = 0.0001) in the prevalence of helminth parasites between male (15.97%) and female (44.38%) crocodiles. Likewise, the prevalence of helminths between different age groups was determined with the highest prevalence in crocodiles of less than 8 years old (41.9%) and the lowest prevalence in crocodiles of age greater than 11 years (19.56%). It has been observed that the crocodile in the area of study had mixed infestation with more than one parasite. The study revealed that gastrointestinal parasites were prevalent in the ranch. Therefore, strict prophylaxis treatment and hygiene should be performed in the study area., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: A local ethics committee “Hawassa University College of Natural and Computational Sciences Research ethics review committee” ruled that no formal ethics approval was required to conduct this research. Before conducting the research, informed consent was obtained from the ranch included in this study. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Members of Sinistroporomonorchis Wee, Cutmore, Pérez-del-Olmo & Cribb, 2020 represent a small group of trematodes belonging to the Monorchiidae Odhner, 1911 with 5 species described from mugilid hosts. Specimens consistent with the generic concept of Sinistroporomonorchis were obtained from Floridichthys polyommus (Cyprinodontidae); most of them were juveniles from 4 localities within the Yucatán Peninsula. After a detailed morphological examination including scanning electron microscopy images and a principal component analysis, the specimens collected represented a new species, Sinistroporomonorchis bolini n. sp. The new species can be differentiated by the presence of an overall large pharynx including the proportion of pharynx width to oral sucker width, a uterus arranged in 2 main lateral fields, and by presenting robust caeca. In addition, sequences of the 28S of large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA and cox 1 of the mitochondrial DNA were obtained. Phylogenetic trees inferred from each dataset, placed all the specimens in a monophyletic clade, confirming that the isolates belonged to the same species. The new species is the sixth described for the genus Sinistroporomonorchis , the fifth described from the Yucatán Peninsula and the first described from a non-mugilid host.