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Straelensia cynotis is a trombidioid mite that causes painful, usually nonpruritic nodular dermatitis mainly in the dorsal region of dogs. This case report describes the first observation of feline straelensiosis in Europe with clinicopathological findings. Molecular characterisation of the parasite was performed and compared with mites collected from dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Summa, Animali da Reddito is the property of Point Veterinaire Italie s.r.l. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Summa, Animali da Reddito is the property of Point Veterinaire Italie s.r.l. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this study was to investigate how the activity of cattle under natural grazing conditions is related to their individual parasite contribution (IPC). Potentially, the individuals contributing the most to the contamination of the pasture with gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) could then be identified and selectively treated based on sensor data thresholds. A total of 58 steers of the dairy breeds Swedish Red (SR, n = 19) and Swedish Holstein (SH, n = 39) were used for sensor-based data collection that lasted for a total of 10 weeks from 4 May to 13 July 2022. All steers were inoculated with a priming dose of nematode larvae and weighed in conjunction with the pasture release. The animals were then divided into four experimental groups and treated with ivermectin (IVM PO, Boehringer Ingelheim, 0.5 mg/kg BW) at different intervals to obtain an exposure contrast (Group A was left untreated, Group B/IVM PO-4w was treated after 4 weeks, Group C/IVM PO-8w was treated after 8 weeks, and Group D/IVM PO-4&8w was treated after 4 weeks and then after 8 weeks). The steers were weighed on four further occasions, during which faecal samples were also taken for parasite testing. Activity data were collected using leg-mounted IceQube sensors and body weight data and faecal samples were collected bi-weekly. The new threshold metric (IPC) was proposed for individuals with different faecal egg count (FEC) levels [NO (no contribution) <20 EPG, LO (low contribution) = 20–150 EPG, ME (medium contribution) = 150–250 EPG, and HI (high contribution) ≥250 EPG] The effects of IPC on activity patterns were analysed stepwise using a Generalised Estimating Equations model implemented in Python programming language. Results showed significant effects of different IPC values on motion index and number of steps taken (adjusted p-value of 0.008, 0.018, 0.041, and 0.001 for individuals with NO, LO, ME, and HI IPC values, respectively). There were some breed effects on the average number of steps and minutes spent lying. The results also provide alternative threshold methods aimed at finding more sustainable ways of using anthelmintics and integrating individual data into future parasite control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild terrestrial carnivores play a crucial role as reservoir, maintenance, and spillover hosts for a wide parasite variety. They may harbor, shed, and transmit zoonotic parasites and parasites of veterinary importance for domestic hosts. Although wild carnivores are globally distributed and comprise many different species, some living in close proximity to human settlements, only a few studies have investigated parasites of wild terrestrial carnivores using non-specific techniques. Access to samples of wild carnivores may be challenging as some species are protected, and others are secretive, possibly explaining the data paucity. Considering the importance of wild carnivores' health and ecological role, combined with the lack of specific diagnostic methodologies, this review aims to offer an overview of the diagnostic methods for parasite investigation in wild terrestrial carnivores, providing the precise techniques for collection and analysis of fecal, blood, and tissue samples, the environmental impact on said samples, and the limitations researchers currently face in analyzing samples of wild terrestrial carnivores. In addition, this paper offers some crucial information on how different environmental factors affect parasite detection postmortem and how insects can be used to estimate the time of death with a specific highlight on insect larvae. The paper contains a literature review of available procedures and emphasizes the need for diagnostic method standardization in wild terrestrial carnivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathogen genomic epidemiology has the potential to provide a deep understanding of population dynamics, facilitating strategic planning of interventions, monitoring their impact, and enabling timely responses, and thereby supporting control and elimination efforts of parasitic tropical diseases. Plasmodium vivax, responsible for most malaria cases outside Africa, shows high genetic diversity at the population level, driven by factors like sub‐patent infections, a hidden reservoir of hypnozoites, and early transmission to mosquitoes. While Latin America has made significant progress in controlling Plasmodium falciparum, it faces challenges with residual P. vivax. To characterize genetic diversity and population structure and dynamics, we have analyzed the largest collection of P. vivax genomes to date, including 1474 high‐quality genomes from 31 countries across Asia, Africa, Oceania, and America. While P. vivax shows high genetic diversity globally, Latin American isolates form a distinctive population, which is further divided into sub‐populations and occasional clonal pockets. Genetic diversity within the continent was associated with the intensity of transmission. Population differentiation exists between Central America and the North Coast of South America, vs. the Amazon Basin, with significant gene flow within the Amazon Basin, but limited connectivity between the Northwest Coast and the Amazon Basin. Shared genomic regions in these parasite populations indicate adaptive evolution, particularly in genes related to DNA replication, RNA processing, invasion, and motility – crucial for the parasite's survival in diverse environments. Understanding these population‐level adaptations is crucial for effective control efforts, offering insights into potential mechanisms behind drug resistance, immune evasion, and transmission dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) have received increased attention in the sciences, with increasing expectation that students will receive formal training in this area. However, compared with other biosciences, little guidance has been produced for parasitology educators. Therefore, this article presents the contents and evaluation of pilot training designed for postgraduates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Erinaceus is commonly found in rescue centres across the European continent despite the reported decline in some countries. Parasite infections are frequently detected in rescued hedgehogs, leading to increased morbidity and mortality and consequently conditioning their recovery. Some of the most frequent parasites include respiratory nematodes, such as Crenosoma striatum and Capillaria spp., which may lead to important pneumonia. Moreover, some of these agents have zoonotic potential, such as Cryptosporidium spp., Sarcoptes spp., and several species of ticks and fleas, which may transmit different vector-borne pathogens. This review provides a brief guide on hedgehogs' internal and external parasitology, as well as some suggestions for diagnosis and treatment that are relevant for wildlife veterinarians, biologists and other researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The life history of a parasite describes its partitioning of assimilated resources into growth, reproduction, and transmission effort, and its precise timing of developmental events. The life cycle, in contrast, charts the sequence of morphological stages from feeding to the transmission forms. Phenotypic plasticity in life history traits can reveal how parasites confront variable environments within hosts. Within the protist phylum Apicomplexa major clades include the malaria parasites, coccidians, and most diverse, the gregarines (with likely millions of species). Studies on life history variation of gregarines are rare. Therefore, life history traits were examined for the gregarine Monocystis perplexa in its host, the invasive earthworm Amynthas agrestis at three sites in northern Vermont, United States of America. An important value of this system is the short life-span of the hosts, with only seven months from hatching to mass mortality; we were thus able to examine life history variation during the entire life cycle of both host and parasite. Earthworms were collected (N = 968 over 33 sample periods during one host season), then parasites of all life stages were counted, and sexual and transmission stages measured, for each earthworm. All traits varied substantially among individual earthworm hosts and across the sites. Across sites, timing of first appearance of infected earthworms, date when transmission stage (oocysts packed within gametocysts) appeared, date when number of both feeding (trophic) cells and gametocysts were at maximum, and date when 100% of earthworms were infected differed from 2-8 weeks, surprising variation for a short season available for parasite development. The maximal size of mating cells varied among hosts and across sites and this is reflected in the number of oocysts produced by the gametocyst. A negative trade-off was observed for the number of oocysts and their size. Several patterns were striking: (1) Prevalence reached 100% at all sites by mid season, only one to three weeks after parasites first appeared in the earthworms. (2) The number of parasites per host was large, reaching 300 × 10³ cells in some hosts, and such high numbers were present even when parasites first appeared in the host. (3) At one site, few infected earthworms produced any oocysts. (4) The transmission rate to reach such high density of parasites in hosts needed to be very high for a microbe, from >0.33% to >34.3% across the three sites. Monocystis was one of the first protist parasites to have its life cycle described (early 19th century), but these results suggest the long-accepted life cycle of Monocystis could be incomplete, such that the parasites may be transmitted vertically (within the earthworm's eggs) as well as horizontally (leading to 100% prevalence) and merogony (asexual replication) could be present, not recognized for Monocystis, leading to high parasitemia even very early in the host's season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ascariasis caused by the helminth Ascaris suum is the most common parasitosis of swine worldwide and it may involve all age categories of pigs. The present study reports an unusual localization of A.suum worms in the biliary system of a piglet slaughtered for human consumption. Methods: The liver was subjected to ultrasound scan and pathological examination. The isolated worms were morphologically examined and the DNA was extracted for the molecular identification of the species involved. Results: A total of 43 preadult nematodes were found within the gallbladder and the bile ducts. Parasites were morphologically identified as belonging to the genus Ascaris and molecularly as A. suum. At gross examination, the liver was moderately enlarged, with the bile ducts severely dilated. A chronic inflammatory infiltrate was noted, often centered around ectatic bile ducts (up to 5 mm in diameter), lined by hyperplastic epithelium and filled with sections of nematodes. The worm sections showed smooth cuticle, coelomyarian musculature, and an intestinal tract lined by columnar, uninucleated cells within a pseudocoelom. The ex vivo ultrasonographic examination of the liver allowed the visualization of several nematodes in the bile duct lumen and could be suggested for in vivo diagnosis. Unfortunately, the absence of the intestine did not allow to define the pathogenesis of the infection. Conclusion: Although, given the unusual nature of this finding, it is difficult to identify predisposing factors for this A. suum localization, it suggests that ascariasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pigs with hepatobiliary disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many zoonotic parasitic diseases, including Toxocara cati, may be spread by stray cat populations. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of parasites by performing parasitological and histopathological examinations on stray cats in Shiraz, Iran. A total of 106 stray cats from different geographical areas of Shiraz, southern Iran, were examined for the presence of parasites. The overall prevalence was found to be 83.02% (88/106), and eight parasites were found. The parasites included three genera of cestodes [Joyeuxiella echinorhynoides (52.83%), Taenia taeniaeformis (21.70%), and Dipylidium caninum (1.89%)], three nematodes [Physaloptera praeputialis (23.59%), Toxocara cati (15.09%), and Rictularia sp. (1.89%)], one protozoa [Isospora spp. (6.60%)], and one arthropod [Ctenocephalides felis (5.66%)]. The prevalence did not significantly differ between males and females. It did appear, nevertheless, that the age of cats may be regarded as a risk factor for these parasitic infections. Histopathological examination revealed some parasite-induced lesions in the intestine and stomach, including hyperemia, hemorrhage, mucosal destruction and inflammation. The lung tissues showed some histopathological lesions such as hemorrhage, edema, emphysema and mild inflammation, and dormant larvae were found in one tongue sample. The results of the present study showed that parasitic infections and, more importantly, T. cati are relatively prevalent in stray cats, and the people living in this area are at serious risk of this zoonotic disease. The cats in this region need to be monitored, and specific preventive measures should be developed by public health officials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A weak dromedary calf with signs of prematurity was born in April of 2023 to a healthy multiparous camel with a good body condition. The calf was diagnosed strongly positive to Trypanosoma evansi by haematocrit centrifugation technique (immediately after birth). The mother at that time was asymptomatic and negative by haematocrit centrifugation technique and PCR of blood. Indirect ELISA of the calf's serum before colostrum ingestion showed negligible levels of antibodies. However, 12 hours after colostrum ingestion and without any treatment, the levels of antibodies increased significantly, which coincided with negative haematocrit centrifugation technique. This indicates a possible role of colostral antibodies in neutralising the trypanosomes in the calf's blood. Examination of the placenta showed placentitis, and PCR confirmed a positive result for Trypanosoma nucleic acid. The importance of vertical transmission in maintaining the infection in a herd is discussed, as well as the role of colostrum in decreasing calf mortalities due to trypanosomosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ParSCo (Parasitology Summer Course) is an intense, 1-week-long summer course organized by the Parasitology Unit of the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Italy, with the support of the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP), the European Veterinary Parasitology College (EVPC) and Parasites and Vectors. The course, which is conducted in southern Italy, is planned for parasitologists and post-graduate students working in the field of parasitology. The course consists of theoretical and practical lessons, which include the collection, identification and diagnosis of parasites of pets, livestock and wildlife. The participants in ParSCo are afforded the opportunity to be involved in clinical examination and sample collection for the diagnosis of parasitic diseases (e.g. leishmaniosis, thelaziosis and many tick-borne diseases) present in the Mediterranean Basin. The course is conducted at Casa di Caccia, a hunting lodge situated in the Gallipoli Cognato Forest near the Basento River in the Basilicata region in southern Italy. In addition to the training purpose, ParSCo is a great opportunity for sharing knowledge and expertise while becoming part of the parasitology community in a pleasant environment. In this editorial, we share some information and celebrate 10 years of ParSCo, looking forward to forthcoming sessions of this unique parasitology summer course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chagas disease, affecting approximately eight million individuals in tropical regions, is primarily transmitted by vectors. Rhodnius prolixus, a triatomine vector, commonly inhabits in ecotopes with diverse palm tree species, creating optimal conditions for vector proliferation. This study aims to explore the transmission ecology of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative parasite of Chagas disease, by investigating the feeding patterns and natural infection rates of R. prolixus specimens collected from various wild palm species in the Colombian Orinoco region. Materials and methods: To achieve this objective, we sampled 35 individuals from three palm species (Attalea butyracea, Acrocomia aculeata, and Mauritia flexuosa) in a riparian forest in the Casanare department of eastern Colombia, totaling 105 sampled palm trees. DNA was extracted and analyzed from 115 R. prolixus specimens at different developmental stages using quantitative PCR (qPCR) for T. cruzi detection and identification of discrete typing units. Feeding preferences were determined by sequencing the 12S rRNA gene amplicon through next-generation sequencing. Results: A total of 676 R. prolixus specimens were collected from the sampled palms. The study revealed variation in population densities and developmental stages of R. prolixus among palm tree species, with higher densities observed in A. butyracea and lower densities in M. flexuosa. TcI was the exclusive T. cruzi discrete typing unit (DTU) found, with infection frequency positively correlated with R. prolixus abundance. Insects captured in A. butyracea exhibited higher abundance and infection rates than those from other palm species. The feeding sources comprised 13 mammal species, showing no significant differences between palm species in terms of blood sources. However, Didelphis marsupialis and Homo sapiens were present in all examined R. prolixus, and Dasypus novemcinctus was found in 89.47% of the insects. Conclusion: This study highlights the significance of wild palms, particularly A. butyracea, as a substantial risk factor for T. cruzi transmission to humans in these environments. High population densities and infection rates of R. prolixus were observed in each examined palm tree species. Author summary: Previous studies on Chagas disease in the Orinoco region primarily focused on domestic and peri-domestic areas of rural residences. However, to fully grasp the dynamics of T. cruzi transmission from natural, preserved areas to humans, it is crucial to comprehend the habitats and food resources that kissing bugs encounter in their natural distribution zones. In this study, we delved into both the habitat conditions and the food sources available on wild palms in the eastern plains region of Colombia, with the aim of understanding the establishment of the Chagas disease vector. Notably, our findings revealed that the studied kissing bugs fed on both wild and domestic animals, as well as humans, across all stages of their development. Furthermore, this research identified differences in the structural physiognomy of wild palms directly linked to the establishment of bug colonies. This knowledge enhances our understanding of the role of wild habitats in the dynamics of T. cruzi transmission in endemic areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lophomonas are flagellated protozoa that have been increasingly associated with upper and lower airway infection in humans. The prevalence and characterization of this disease in the critically ill remains poorly understood. We present a series of eleven ICU patients with confirmed Lophomonas spp. identification in respiratory samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemoprophylactic prevention of veterinary heartworm disease in companion animals, caused by the vector-borne nematode parasite Dirofilaria immitis, is a multi-billion-dollar global market. Experimental use of cats and dogs in preclinical heartworm drug testing is increasing due to evolving drug-resistance to frontline macrocyclic lactones and renewed investment in alternative preventative drug research. We and others recently published data demonstrating proof-of-concept of utilising lymphopenic severe-combined immunodeficient (SCID) or Recombination Activating Gene (RAG)2 deficient mice with additional knockout of the IL-2/7 receptor gamma chain (γc) as alternative preventative drug screening research models of dirofilariasis. Here we summarise the current knowledge of candidate immunodeficient mouse models tested, including a comparison of susceptibility using different background strains of mice, different D. immitis isolates, following use of anti-inflammatory treatments to further suppress residual innate immunity, and efficacies achieved against different reference anthelmintics. We supplement this precis with new data on treatment response to the veterinary anthelmintic, oxfendazole, and initial evaluation of D. immitis susceptibility in CB.17 SCID and C57BL/6 RAG2-/-γc-/- mice. We conclude that in addition to NSG and NXG mice, RAG2-/-γc-/- mice on either a BALB/c or C57BL/6 background offer an alternative screening model option, widening access to academic and commercial laboratories wishing to pursue initial rapid in vivo drug screening whilst avoiding potentially unnecessary cat or dog testing.

Summary: Drug resistance threatens the effective control of infections, including parasitic diseases such as leishmaniases. Neutrophils are essential players in antimicrobial control, but their role in drug-resistant infections is poorly understood. Here, we evaluated human neutrophil response to clinical parasite strains having distinct natural drug susceptibility. We found that Leishmania antimony drug resistance significantly altered the expression of neutrophil genes, some of them transcribed by specific neutrophil subsets. Infection with drug-resistant parasites increased the expression of detoxification pathways and reduced the production of cytokines. Among these, the chemokine CCL3 was predominantly impacted, which resulted in an impaired ability of neutrophils to attract myeloid cells. Moreover, decreased myeloid recruitment when CCL3 levels are reduced was confirmed by blocking CCL3 in a mouse model. Collectively, these findings reveal that the interplay between naturally drug-resistant parasites and neutrophils modulates the infected skin immune microenvironment, revealing a key role of neutrophils in drug resistance.

Ecto- and endoparasitic invasions of dogs and cats are treated using drugs based on fipronil, ivermectin, and pyriproxyfen. That is why our objective was performing a field study to measure the efficacy of a complex drug with different mechanisms of the actions of its active agents against ecto- and endoparastitic invasions of dogs and cats using the spot-on application method. The paper presents data of the efficiency of the complex drug PerFect TRIO, antiparasitic drops for spot-on use against ecto- and endoparasitic invasions of dogs and cats of different breeds, ages, sexes, and body mass. Parasitological study of dogs found parasitism by the fleas Ctenocephalides canis and Pulex irritans with the invasion intensity ranging 108 to 132 ectoparasite insects per animal, the average invasion intensity being 121.1 ± 3.17 ectoparasite insects per animal; Trichodectidae species such as Trichodectes canis, with the invasion intensity ranging 25 to 32 ectoparasite insects per 100 cm² of the body surface, averaging 28.6 ± 1.00 ectoparasite insects per 100 cm² of the body surface; and Trombidiformes such as Сheyletiella yasguri, the intensity being 24 to 41 ectoparasite mites per animal, the average intensity being 33.9 ± 2.52 mites per animal. According to the results of parasitological studies of cats, their bodies were parasitized by the fleas Ctenocephalides felis and Pulex irritans, with the invasion intensity ranging 58 to 80 ectoparasite insects per animal, with the average intensity of 67.7 ± 2.84 ectoparasite insects per animal, Trichodectidae species such as Felicola subrostratus with the invasion intensity of 17 to 26 ectoparasite insects per 100 cm² of the animal’s body surface, averaging 21.3 ± 1.38 ectoparasite insects per 100 cm² of the body surface; the ear mite Otodectes cynotis with the intensity ranging 4 to 9 mites per animal, the average intensity being 6.1 ± 0.7 mites per animal; and the endoparasite – the digestive-tract nematode Uncinaria stenocephala, with the invasion intensity (ІІ) of 28 to 41 eggs in one gram of feces (ЕGF), averaging 34.3 ± 2.06 ЕGF. In our study, local spot-on application of the tested drug PerFect TRIO, antiparasitic drops for dogs and cats, produced notable effects on wingless ectoparasite insects and acarians of the dogs. Therefore, the efficiency of the drug against Siphonaptera infestation of the dogs equaled 92.9% on the 8th h and 100% on the 24th and 72nd h; against Trichodectidae infestation, it was 91.5% effective on the first day and 100% on the second and seventh; against cheyletiellosis, it was 81.9% effective on the seventh day and 100% on days 14 and 21. As with the cats, parasitological studies found that the efficacy of the recommended doses of the tested drug against spontaneous Siphonaptera infestation was 92.0% on the 8th h and 100% on the 24th and 72nd h; against Felicola infestation, it was 90.6% effective on the first day and 100% on the second and seventh day; against otodectosis, the drug produced 81.4% efficacy on the 7th day and 100% on the 14th and 21st days; and against hookworm disease, the efficacy was 100% on days 7 and 14. Our field trials demonstrated that the tested antiparasitic drops for cats and dogs are easy-to-use, were well received by the animals regardless of breed, age, sex, body mass, and had no toxic impact on them, providing a broad range of treatment against ecto- and endoparasites of cats and dogs.

Lophomonas are flagellated protozoa that have been increasingly associated with upper and lower airway infection in humans. The prevalence and characterization of this disease in the critically ill remains poorly understood. We present a series of eleven ICU patients with confirmed Lophomonas spp. identification in respiratory samples.

This document is an editorial from the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science titled "Wildlife parasitology: emerging diseases and neglected parasites." The editorial highlights the importance of research in the field of wildlife parasitology and provides a summary of the articles included in the research topic. The articles cover a wide range of parasitic infections in various wildlife species from different regions of the world. The editorial emphasizes the need for One Health approaches to address these parasitic infections and acknowledges the contributions of wildlife parasitologists in advancing knowledge in this field. [Extracted from the article]

Today, the most accurate way to diagnose animal helminthiasis is laboratory research. Among them, lifelong coproovoscopy methods play a leading role in the study of the spread of gastrointestinal helminthiasis, particularly trichurosis, and in establishing the effectiveness of anthelmintics. Therefore, a promising research direction includes improving and testing modern methods of coproovoscopy for trichurosis in sheep. The work aimed to determine the diagnostic efficiency of the improved flotation method of coproovoscopy for trichurosis in sheep. In laboratory conditions, the effectiveness of well-known flotation methods and the proposed method of coproovoscopy in diagnosing sheep trichurosis were determined. The leading indicators of the effectiveness of laboratory methods were the indicator of the intensity of trichurous invasion, the coagulation ability of the flotation solution, and the crystallization time of a drop of flotation liquid on a glass slide. It was established that all methods of coproovoscopy used in the experiment have flotation properties relative to Trichuris eggs. However, the improved method of coproovoscopy showed a higher flotation ability concerning Trichuris ovis nematode eggs, where the proposed flotation liquid has pronounced coagulation properties concerning undigested feed residues, and also has a slow crystallization time of droplets on a slide, which is more than 50 min. The improved method uses a combined flotation liquid, whose main components were Ca(NO3)2, C12H22O11, and NaCl. The indicator of the intensity of trichuriasis invasion when using the improved method was 67.0 ± 17.5 eggs in 1 g of feces and exceeded the number of trichuriasis eggs detected by flotation methods using NaCl – by 2.3 times (P ˂ 0.001), C12H22O11 – by 2.1 times (P ˂ 0.001), NH4NO3 – 1.3 times (P ˂ 0.01), C12H22O11 + NaCl – 1.1 times. The obtained data on the effectiveness of the improved method of coproovoscopy allows us to recommend it for introduction into production for effective and accurate laboratory lifelong diagnosis of trichurosis in sheep.

A major problem of large-scale rabbit farming is digestive diseases. Relatively few data on parasitic diseases of industrial rabbit populations are available. The aim of the study was to evaluate the seasonaldependent incidence of Eimeria spp. and Passalurus ambiguus infections at large-scale rabbit farms. The survey was carried out between 2018 and 2022 at 29 Hungarian and 2 Slovakian rabbit farms. Altogether, 7612 faecal samples were examined. Eimeria oocysts and P. ambiguus eggs were detected on all rabbit farms examined, although only a relatively small portion of faecal samples was found positive. Eimeria oocysts and P. ambiguus eggs were found in 32 and 6% of the samples, respectively. Our findings for the seasonal-dependent evaluation of collected data showed that the highest proportion of Eimeria positive samples occurred during the summer (35.3%) and autumn (36.2%) periods. In winter, a significantly lower infection rate was found (29.5 %; P

Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) are the most common pinniped species in the Wadden Sea of Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg and Lower Saxony, Germany. Their numbers have recovered after significant depletion due to viral outbreaks and effects of anthropogenic activities like pollution and habitat disturbance. Within the Wadden Sea National Park of Lower Saxony the harbour seal is protected. As a top predator in the Wadden Sea ecosystem, the harbour seal is a sentinel species for the state of the environment. Between 2015 and 2017, a total of 80 stranded dead harbour seals were collected along the coastline of Lower Saxony and submitted for pathological investigations. Of these, 70 seals were born in the same year (0–7 months, age group 1) and eight in the previous year (8–19 months, age group 2), due to high mortality rates in these age groups. However, two perennial animals were also available for examination during this period, one of which was in good nutritional condition. Many of the seals that had been mercy-killed and found dead were in poor nutritional status. Histopathological, microbiological, parasitological and virological examinations were conducted on 69 individuals (86% (69/80)) in a suitable state of preservation. Respiratory tract parasitosis, cachexia, and bronchopneumonia were the most common causes of death or disease. Overall, there was no evidence of a relapse of a viral disease outbreak. Macrowaste, such as plastic waste or fishery-related debris, were not found in any gastrointestinal tract of the animals examined. There was also no evidence of grey seal predation. Weakness and cachexia were prominent causes of disease and death in harbour seals found within a few weeks after birth, but bronchopneumonia and septicaemia also developed in slightly older animals. Frequently found microbial pathogens in seals from Lower Saxony were similar to those found in other studies on seals from the Wadden Sea region in Schleswig-Holstein, for example streptococci and Escherichia coli/v. haemolytica, Brucella spp. and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, potentially human pathogenic germs. The results of the examinations of dead harbour seals from Lower Saxony show that pathological investigations on a representative number of animals deliver urgently needed information on the health status of the population. The results represent an important contribution to the state of the top predators of the Wadden Sea as part of the obligations within the Trilateral Wadden Sea Agreement, Oslo and Paris Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR) and the Marine Framework Directive. The investigations should be continued as a matter of urgency and the stranding network should be expanded.

The United States of America (US) has the highest annual number of human babesiosis cases caused by Babesia microti (Bm). Babesia, like malaria-causing Plasmodium, are protozoan parasites that live within red blood cells (RBCs). Both infectious diseases can be associated with hemolysis and organ damage, which can be fatal. Since babesiosis was made a nationally notifiable condition by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in January 2011, human cases have increased, and drug-resistant strains have been identified. Both the Bm ligand(s) and RBC receptor(s) needed for invasion are unknown, partly because of the difficulty of developing a continuous in vitro culture system. Invasion pathways are relevant for therapies (e.g., RBC exchange) and vaccines. We hypothesize that there is at least one RBC surface antigen that is essential for Bm invasion and that all Bm hosts express this. Because most RBC surface antigens that impact Plasmodium invasion are in human blood group (hBG) systems, which are generated by 51 genes, they were the focus of this study. More than 600 animals with at least one hBG system gene ortholog were identified using the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) command-line tools. Google Scholar searches were performed to determine which of these animals are susceptible to Bm infection. The literature review revealed 28 Bm non-human hosts (NHH). For 5/51 (9.8%) hBG system genes (e.g., RhD), no NHH had orthologs. This means that RhD is unlikely to be an essential receptor for invasion. For 24/51 (47.1%) hBG system genes, NHH had 4–27 orthologs. For the ABO gene, 15/28 NHH had an ortholog, meaning that this gene is also unlikely to generate an RBC antigen, which is essential for Bm invasion. Our prior research showed that persons with blood type A, B, AB, O, RhD+, and RhD- can all be infected with Bm, supporting our current study’s predictions. For 22/51 (43.1%) hBG system genes, orthologs were found in all 28 NHH. Nineteen (37.3%) of these genes encode RBC surface proteins, meaning they are good candidates for generating a receptor needed for Bm invasion. In vitro cultures of Bm, experimental Bm infection of transgenic mice (e.g., a CD44 KO strain), and analyses of Bm patients can reveal further clues as to which RBC antigens may be essential for invasion.

Heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis is a serious and underdiagnosed cardiovascular condition in domestic ferrets. Hemodynamic changes caused by parasitization in ferrets cause a potentially fatal syndrome, but its clinical findings and treatment have not yet been standardized. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical case of a successful surgical extraction in a ferret infected by D. immitis. The patient was a 2-year-old, 1.5 kg asymptomatic male domestic ferret. The infection was diagnosed using a commercial test for the detection of D. immitis antigens. Subsequently, their clinical status was evaluated using serological and imaging diagnostic tests, and it was finally decided to perform surgical extraction of the adult worms. The ferret was anesthetized and placed in the left lateral decubitus position to perform a venotomy in the right jugular vein. Endoscopic extraction basket-shaped devices were used in the right atrial cavity under fluoroscopic guidance following the Seldinger endovascular surgery technique. With careful handling, two adult parasites were manually removed. A transthoracic echocardiogram performed after the procedure confirmed the absence of heartworms. The ferret recovered without complications and was discharged within 24 h. In the clinical review, 30 days after surgery, no notable alterations or symptoms were observed. This case report describes the first complete surgical removal of adult D. immitis parasites in a naturally infected ferret.

Background: Malaria is still a significant public health concern, and its prevention and control measures have different impacts in different areas. This study assesses the prevalence of malaria and the effectiveness of routine malaria control programmes such as indoor residual spray (IRS) in two Ethiopian villages. Methods: The Kebeles (villages) were purposefully selected based on theirmalaria prevalence rates. A parasitology survey was conducted in Fango-Gelchecha preand post-IRS implementation, whereas in Shochora-Abela it was only conducted post-IRS implementation. The IRS was implemented as part of the routine malaria control programme in August 2017. Every fourth house from the village registration list was systematically selected, resulting in a sample of 300 households per village. A total of 3,075 individuals were enrolled for malaria testing using microscopy. Results: After three to four months of application of IRS in August 2017, 59 malaria cases were confirmed, resulting in an overall prevalence of 1.9% (95% CI: 1.5-2.5). Of the positive cases, 18 cases (0.59%: 95% CI: 1.3-1.8) were from Shochora-Abela village, and 41 cases (1.33%: 95% CI: 1.1-1.3) were from Fango-Gelchecha. About age categories, the prevalence of malaria was 10.1% (95% CI: 5.9-15.9) among children under five, 4.7% (95% CI: 3.3-6.4) in children aged 5-14, and only 0.32% (95% CI: 0.13-0.67) in the age group 15 and above. Overall, P. falciparum was the dominant malaria parasite, accounting for 69.5% (95% CI: 56.1-80.8), while P. vivax malaria accounted for 30.5% (95% CI: 19.2-43.8). The malaria prevalence in Fango-Gelchecha village was 3.1% (95% CI: 2.3-4.0) before IRS and 2.6% (95% CI: 1.8-3.5) after IRS application. In the village of Shochora-Abela, the prevalence of malaria post-IRSwas 1.2% (95%CI: 0.7-1.9), but theprevalenceprior to IRSwas not evaluated. Conclusions: Plasmodium falciparum is the predominant parasite in the villages, mainly affecting children under five. Therefore, protecting young children should be the top priority for reducing infection burdens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The teaching of human parasitology is essential for students of health sciences, especially medicine, because it is a major global public health problem-occurring with high frequency in low-income countries-and because of its presence in countries considered developed. In this sense, it is estimated that worldwide there are 2,800 million individuals infected with soil-transmitted helminths, 20 to 30% people infected with Toxoplasma gondii, 300 to 500 million new cases of malaria per year, and nearly 15 million Latin Americans with Chagas disease, an infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. This narrative review article analyzes information available in digital repositories on aspects of the traditional educational program of human or medical parasitology using descriptors or keywords closely related to the topic. The reviewed articles were mainly those published in peer-reviewed, indexed and prestigious scientific journals. Moreover, the traditional program of parasitology and the prevailing pedagogy are described with the purpose of encouraging discussion on the methods that lead to its learning. Also, given the dynamic nature of this process and the constant challenges that must be faced in this field, said information can help to explore new ways of teaching parasitology in answer to the demands of the context. In conclusion, parasitic diseases have affected humankind throughout history, causing illness, disability and death in millions of people. Therefore, among the measures to fight such a terrible scourge, the training of more and better professionals in the area is promoted due to their leading role in the design and execution of control programs. As a result, the need to describe in detail the characteristics of the traditional teaching of this branch of knowledge arises-as shown in this paper-in view of the new human teaching methods: participatory learning, problem-based learning and Internetassisted learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction : Specialized training is the most crucial turning point of education in obtaining the professions related to medical sciences. Peer learning has advantages, including saving time and eliminating the limitations of traditional education. The purpose of current educational program during the COVID19 pandemic was to reduce students’ stress and more accepted in the parasitology PhD exam. Method : Faculty members and MsC Students in the Department of Medical Parasitology, Yazd medical university, performed the present developmental study based on the reference books and curriculum. First, a training virtual platform was designe using a topic, picture, video of a parasite or parasitic diseases between the learners under the supervision of all the scientific members. Learners designed questions and their answers for each title in the virtual platform. In the end, to help the students to participate in the PhD exam, two virtual pre -exams were also designed. Finally, the satisfaction level of faculty members and students, as wll as their stress level's was evaluate using Excel software. Results : Of 25 student participants, six succeeded in the first stage and finally, three of them were accepted in the second stage of the parasitology Ph.D. exam in the 2021 -2022 academic years. Implementation of this peer learning method was also effective in reducing the stress level of students in the Ph.D. exam. Conclusion: Considering the success of the peer learning program using virtual learning in current study and more passing in the Ph.D. exam, it suggests that this plan will be implemented in other educational groups with postgraduate education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecto- and endoparasitic invasions of dogs and cats are treated using drugs based on fipronil, ivermectin, and pyriproxyfen. That is why our objective was performing a field study to measure the efficacy of a complex drug with different mechanisms of the actions of its active agents against ecto- and endoparastitic invasions of dogs and cats using the spot-on application method. The paper presents data of the efficiency of the complex drug PerFect TRIO, antiparasitic drops for spot-on use against ecto- and endoparasitic invasions of dogs and cats of different breeds, ages, sexes, and body mass. Parasitological study of dogs found parasitism by the fleas Ctenocephalides canis and Pulex irritans with the invasion intensity ranging 108 to 132 ectoparasite insects per animal, the average invasion intensity being 121.1 ± 3.17 ectoparasite insects per animal; Trichodectidae species such as Trichodectes canis, with the invasion intensity ranging 25 to 32 ectoparasite insects per 100 cm2 of the body surface, averaging 28.6 ± 1.00 ectoparasite insects per 100 cm² of the body surface; and Trombidiformes such as Сheyletiella yasguri, the intensity being 24 to 41 ectoparasite mites per animal, the average intensity being 33.9 ± 2.52 mites per animal. According to the results of parasitological studies of cats, their bodies were parasitized by the fleas Ctenocephalides felis and Pulex irritans, with the invasion intensity ranging 58 to 80 ectoparasite insects per animal, with the average intensity of 67.7 ± 2.84 ectoparasite insects per animal, Trichodectidae species such as Felicola subrostratus with the invasion intensity of 17 to 26 ectoparasite insects per 100 cm² of the animal’s body surface, averaging 21.3 ± 1.38 ectoparasite insects per 100 cm² of the body surface; the ear mite Otodectes cynotis with the intensity ranging 4 to 9 mites per animal, the average intensity being 6.1 ± 0.7 mites per animal; and the endoparasite – the digestive-tract nematode Uncinaria stenocephala, with the invasion intensity (ІІ) of 28 to 41 eggs in one gram of feces (ЕGF), averaging 34.3 ± 2.06 ЕGF. In our study, local spot-on application of the tested drug PerFect TRIO, antiparasitic drops for dogs and cats, produced notable effects on wingless ectoparasite insects and acarians of the dogs. Therefore, the efficiency of the drug against Siphonaptera infestation of the dogs equaled 92.9% on the 8th h and 100% on the 24th and 72nd h; against Trichodectidae infestation, it was 91.5% effective on the first day and 100% on the second and seventh; against cheyletiellosis, it was 81.9% effective on the seventh day and 100% on days 14 and 21. As with the cats, parasitological studies found that the efficacy of the recommended doses of the tested drug against spontaneous Siphonaptera infestation was 92.0% on the 8th h and 100% on the 24th and 72nd h; against Felicola infestation, it was 90.6% effective on the first day and 100% on the second and seventh day; against otodectosis, the drug produced 81.4% efficacy on the 7th day and 100% on the 14th and 21st days; and against hookworm disease, the efficacy was 100% on days 7 and 14. Our field trials demonstrated that the tested anti-parasitic drops for cats and dogs are easy-to-use, were well received by the animals regardless of breed, age, sex, body mass, and had no toxic impact on them, providing a broad range of treatment against ecto- and endoparasites of cats and dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To determine the prevalence of helminth infection in Trichomycterus nigromaculatus captured in environments defined from the physicochemistry of the Gaira River, in Minca, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. Material and Methods. We collected 476 specimens of T. nigromaculatus covering both climatic periods of the area, which were dissected to analyze the visceral cavity. Isolated parasites were fixed in 10% formalin for subsequent clarification. The specimens were identified by observation of adult stages under a stereoscopic microscope after clarification. Results. Specimens were found exclusively from the genus Spirocamallanus (Nematoda), the species Spirocamallanus sp. parasitic prevalence ranged from 0% in August to 28.57% in April with an abundance of 1.09 worms/host. Environmental parameters such as dissolved oxygen (Mean:5.65 mg. L-1, Max:7.5 mg. L-1, Min:4.41 mg. L-1); pH (Mean:7.2, Max: 9.3, Min: 5.7) and conductivity (Mean:72.82 µs.cm-1, Max: 123.7 µs.cm-1, Min: 40 µs.cm-1) presented statistically significant differences, the environment is eutrophicated. Conclusions. Spirocamallanus sp. were described in the areas of presence of the parasitic association in T. nigromaculatus, which constitutes a new record for the Colombian Caribbean and an extension of the geographic distribution and host range of the nematode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australia has a highly endemic freshwater fish fauna, but basic biological knowledge for most is lacking. This includes an understanding, and description, of their parasite fauna. Additionally, the impacts of introduced fish species, and their parasites which have transferred across to native species, are also mostly unknown. This review provides the current level of knowledge of parasitic infection of the freshwater fish in Australia, both introduced and native. Only about a third of the native freshwater fish, but almost two‐thirds of introduced fish, have been reported as a host for a parasite. The majority of records occur along the eastern coastline of Australia and throughout the Murray Darling Basin; two drainage regions were yet to record any parasite infections. Of the 124 fish species, across 43 families, found as hosts in Australia, only 11 species had more than 10 reports of infection, with 31% of fish species only having single reports. A total of 13 different types of parasites were reported, with digeneans, protozoans, nematodes and monogeneans the most commonly reported. Significant gaps in the knowledge of parasites, and their potential impacts, of Australian freshwater fish still exist, and the need for fish biologists and fish parasitologists to work together is highlighted to ensure that as much information about each group can be obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fasciolosis is an important zoonotic disease caused by the trematode Fasciola hepatica, and it causes great losses in bovine production. The anthelmintic resistance is a major problem in the control of fasciolosis. In this study, the F. hepatica egg development and hatching test (EDHT) was used for the evaluation of the ovicidal activity of commercial drugs, commonly used for treating infected cattle, which reflects F. hepatica anthelminthic resistance in infected bovines, according to recent literature. Bile samples from F. hepatica naturally parasitized cattle were obtained from slaughterhouses in the cities of Lages and Otacílio Costa, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. The bile was washed, the eggs were recovered, quantified, and distributed in universal collectors, with a minimum of 1,000 eggs per vial. Four commercial drugs were used in this study, containing albendazole sulfoxide (ABDZ), closantel (CSTL), nitroxynil (NTXL), and triclabendazole with fenbendazole (TBZF). The drugs were diluted according to the manufacturer instructions. All drugs, and the respective control, were tested in triplicates, with the quantity of recovered eggs determining the number of drugs to be tested. The vials were incubated for 28 days at 27 °C, and the eggs were classified according to their degree of development under a stereomicroscope. In total, 121 egg samples were analyzed. Two samples were identified as resistant to TBZF. Undetermined resistance/susceptibility has been found in two isolates treated with ABDZ, one treated with NTXL and six treated with TBZF. CSTL did not present ovicidal activity and cannot be used in EDHT. This is the first time that commercial drugs were used in F. hepatica EDHT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spirocercosis is a parasitic disease caused by the nematode Spirocerca lupi that affects several canids around the world. In Costa Rica, few spirocercosis cases have been reported; however, it is suspected that the infection is currently underdiagnosed. As seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, social media has sped up the spread of scientific knowledge, raising practioner’s awareness of the epidemiology and signs and manifestations of infections. The aim of this work was to use social media as a tool for increasing awareness of spirocercosis among veterinarians and investigate the frequency of cases occurring in Costa Rica. Infographic material about the infection was disseminated by Whatsapp, Facebook, and Instagram from January 2021 to July 2022 using a public account of the Laboratory of Helminthology of the University of Costa Rica. In addition, Google Forms questionnaires were completed by veterinarians to report the number of spirocercosis cases in their clinics, associated manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of the disease. Remarkably, since 2020, a six-fold increase in the number of cases per year was noted. Clinical manifestations matched those reported elsewhere, and one of every three dogs infected with S. lupi died spontaneously or required euthanasia because of the infection. This work suggests that S. lupi infection in Costa Rica may have been underdiagnosed in the last decade, and the knowledge and awareness of clinical personnel play a major role in the detection of this and other infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Echinococcal disease (hydatid disease (HD) is an endemic parasitosis caused by Echinococcus granulosus in the larval stage, and it is typically due to the production of unilocular cystic lesions, usually involving the liver for the majority of patients and the lungs in 25%, but also any other organs can be potentially involved in developing echinococcal disease. We report a case of extrahepatic, retroperitoneal echinococcal disease, caused by Echinococcus granulosus. The patient underwent a surgical removal of the abdominal mass, revealed by abdominal ultrasound and computerized tomography scanning, and in the founded clinical and radiological suspicion of echinococcal disease, multiple bioptical samples were sent for microbiological analysis and albendazole therapy was started; Echinococcus granulosus protoscolices were found on the bioptical sample, and the diagnosis was successfully confirmed. According to the current parasitology literature on echinococcal disease, extrahepatic localization, although rare, can be found, and it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an abdominal mass when epidemiological risk factors and anamnestic data are present, regardless of the usual site of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small mammals, including those inhabiting human-modified habitats, transmit zoonotic diseases such as cysticercosis. This disease is caused by Cysticercus fasciolaris, the larval form of species within the Hydatigera taeniaeformis s.l. group. While the life cycle of these flatworms is well understood, certain aspects of their phylogeny remain unknown. Studies in Europe, Asia, and Africa suggest that the species Hydatigera taeniaeformis s.s. exclusively infects small mammals of the family Muridae. However, no studies have been conducted in the Americas until now. In this study, small mammals were captured on 18 pig farms in the province of Buenos Aires throughout a year. Necropsies of captured individuals were performed, and the presence of cysts was recorded. The prevalence of cysticercosis was analyzed for the entire assemblage, with species as the explanatory variables. Species-specific prevalence was also modeled, considering season and type of farm as the explanatory variables. Cysts were collected from Akodon azarae, Oligoryzomys flavescens, Rattus novergicus, and Rattus rattus identified through molecular techniques, comparing their DNA sequences with those stored in GenBank for phylogenetic hypothesis. A total of 460 small mammals were analyzed, including the introduced species R. novergicus, R. rattus, and M. musculus and the native species A. azarae, O. flavescens, Oxymycterus rufus, Didelphis albiventris, and Lutreolina crassicaudata. The prevalence of cysticercosis was similar between species, and it showed a seasonal association in R. norvegicus and A. azarae. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the presence of Hydatigera taeniaeformis s.s. in cricetids, suggesting a recent spillover event associated with European colonization in the Americas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The white-eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris) is a neotropical marsupial that inhabits various ecoregions and highly modified environments. However, there is limited research on host-parasite interactions and the structure of helminth communities in D. albiventris. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the intestinal helminths of D. albiventris inhabiting a rural area in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and assess the relationship between host age and sex and helminth community structure. Opposums were captured in 2004 and intestines were examined to detect helminths. By analyzing 22 intestines, we identified a total of 8 978 helminths, including Cruzia tentaculata, Turgida turgida, Rhopalias coronatus, Brachylaima sp., individuals of the family Diplostomidae, and a single specimen of a cestode. Among these, C. tentaculata and R. coronatus were the most prevalent species, with C. tentaculata exhibiting the highest levels of abundance, mean intensity, and aggregation index. To assess the influence of host sex and age on parasite abundance and probability of occurrence, we conducted Generalized Linear Models. The results revealed that host juveniles had lower helminth prevalence and abundance compared to other age categories. Host sex was only significant in interaction with host age for parasite abundance in C. tentaculata and R. coronatus. Most captured juveniles relied on maternal feeding, potentially reducing exposure to consuming infected intermediate hosts with indirect life cycles. Understanding the parasite ecology of this opossum species in modified environments provides valuable information about their role at the wildlife-human interface in anthropogenic areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Vetscan Imagyst system (Zoetis) is a novel, artificial intelligence–driven detection tool that can assist veterinarians in the identification of enteric parasites in dogs and cats. This system consists of a sample preparation device, an automated digital microscope scanner, and a deep-learning algorithm. The EasyScan One scanner (Motic) has had good diagnostic performance compared with manual examinations by experts; however, there are drawbacks when used in veterinary practices in which space for equipment is often limited. To improve the usability of this system, we evaluated an additional scanner, the Ocus 40 (Grundium). Our objectives were to 1) qualitatively evaluate the performance of the Vetscan Imagyst system with the Ocus 40 scanner for identifying Ancylostoma, Toxocara, and Trichuris eggs, Cystoisospora oocysts, and Giardia cysts in canine and feline fecal samples, and 2) expand the assessment of the performance of the Vetscan Imagyst system paired with either the Ocus 40 or EasyScan One scanner to include a larger dataset of 2,191 fecal samples obtained from 4 geographic regions of the United States. When tested with 852 canine and feline fecal samples collected from different geographic regions, the performance of the Vetscan Imagyst system combined with the Ocus 40 scanner was correlated closely with manual evaluations by experts. Sensitivities were 80.0‒97.0% and specificities were 93.7‒100.0% across the targeted parasites. When tested with 1,339 fecal samples, the Vetscan Imagyst system paired with the EasyScan One scanner successfully identified the targeted parasite stages; sensitivities were 73.6‒96.4% and specificities were 79.7‒100.0%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For endoparasitic infestations of dogs, drugs based on levamisole hydrochloride are used. That is why the purpose of the work was to conduct a field study to evaluate the effectiveness of the studied drug "Levamizole O.L.KAR 10 %" and the reference drug "Levamizole-plus 10 %" against endoparasitic infestations of dogs of different breeds, ages, and sexes. According to the results of a parasitological examination of the dogs of the experimental and control groups, endoparasites established spontaneous damage, the causative agents of nematodes of the alimentary canal: species Toxocara canis with an intensity of invasion (II) from 110 to 180 eggs in one gram of feces (EGF) with an average intensity of invasion of 149.0 ± 5.62 EGF, species Toxascaris leonina with an intensity of invasion from 75 to 131 EGF with an average intensity of invasion of 104.4 ± 4.85 EGF and the species Ancylostoma caninum with an intensity of invasion from 48 to 92 EGF with an average intensity of invasion of 69.9 ± 3.71 EGF. Clinically, nematodes of the alimentary canal in dogs were manifested by poor appetite, depressed state, pallor of mucous membranes, mild diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss observed in some animals. Based on the obtained results, it was established that the studied drug "Levamizol O.L.KAR 10 %" and the reference drug "Levamizol-plus 10 %" when deworming dogs have a pronounced nematodocidal effect against endoparasites of the alimentary canal, which are caused by the following species: Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonine, Ancylostoma caninum. Thus, the effectiveness of the studied drug "Levamizol O.L.KAR 10 %" for spontaneous toxocariasis infestation in dogs on the seventh day after deworming was 93 %. The reference drug "Levamizolplus 10 %" was 91 %, and on the 14th day after deworming the animals, the effectiveness of the drugs was 100 %. For spontaneous toxascarosis infestation in dogs, the efficacy of the studied drug "Levamizol O.L.KAR 10 %" on the seventh day after deworming was 95 %. The reference drug "Levamizol-plus 10 %" was 94.4%, and on the 14th day after deworming the animals, the effectiveness of the drugs was 100 %. Helminthological studies have established that for spontaneous hookworm infestation in dogs on the 7th and 14th day after deworming with the study drug and the comparison drug in the recommended doses, the effectiveness of veterinary drugs was 100 %. Field tests showed that the studied drug "Levamizol O.L.KAR 10 %" and the reference drug "Levamizol-plus 10 %" when administered once orally in the recommended doses of the manufacturer, are well tolerated by animals regardless of breed, age, sex, and body weight, not have a toxic effect on the body of animals and are effective against nematodes of the alimentary canal in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This document is a list of references cited in an article about the prevalence and impact of zoonotic parasites Ancylostoma ceylanicum and Ancylostoma caninum. The references include studies conducted in various countries, including the Philippines, that investigate these parasites' effects on humans and animals. The article emphasizes the need for further research, including studying drug resistance. The references provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge and future directions of research on these neglected parasites. [Extracted from the article]

Under perturbing conditions such as infection with Leishmania, a protozoan parasite living within the phagosomes in mammalian macrophages, cellular and organellar structures, and metabolism are dynamically regulated for neutralizing the pressure of parasitism. However, how modulations of the host cell metabolic pathways support Leishmania infection remains unknown. Herein, we report that lipid accumulation heightens the susceptibility of mice to L. donovani infection and promotes resistance to first‐line anti‐leishmanial drugs. Despite being pro‐inflammatory, the in vitro generated uninfected lipid‐laden macrophages (LLMs) or adipose‐tissue macrophages (ATMs) display lower levels of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Upon infection, LLMs secrete higher IL‐10 and lower IL‐12p70 cytokines, inhibiting CD4+ T cell activation and Th1 response suggesting a key modulatory role for intramacrophage lipid accumulation in anti‐leishmanial host defence. We, therefore, examined this causal relationship between lipids and immunomodulation using an in vivo high‐fat diet (HFD) mouse model. HFD increased the susceptibility to L. donovani infection accompanied by a defective CD4+ Th1 and CD8+ T cell response. The white adipose tissue of HFD mice displays increased susceptibility to L. donovani infection with the preferential infection of F4/80+CD11b+CD11c+ macrophages with higher levels of neutral lipids reserve. The HFD increased resistance to a first‐line anti‐leishmanial drug associated with a defective adaptive immune response. These data demonstrate that the accumulation of neutral lipids contributes to susceptibility to visceral leishmaniasis hindering host‐protective immune response and reducing the efficacy of antiparasitic drug therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease is an uncommon chronic condition in horses, which is characterised by eosinophilic infiltration of the intestine and other organs. Clinical signs usually reported are weight loss, intermittent diarrhoea and generalised dermatitis. The aetiopathogenesis is not fully understood, but intestinal nematodes were strongly suspected to play a role by several authors. We describe the clinical and histopathological findings, treatment and progression of a mare with a presumptive diagnosis of multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease in which a larva migrans was identified in a reactive lymph node approximately a year before the development of symptomatology suggestive of multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease. After the first assessment, moxidectin and ivermectin were administered at 30 days of interval, and the owner reported that no further signs were observed for approximately 8 months, when it started to note weight loss, dermatitis and oral ulceration. This report may support the role of parasitic migration in the pathogenesis of multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 9‐month‐old, female, entire border collie was presented as an emergency for unilateral epistaxis, rapidly evolving to bilateral, and lethargy of sudden onset. A moderate broncho‐interstitial pattern was present on thoracic radiographs, particularly in the caudo‐dorsal lung lobes. Haematology and coagulation parameters (prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen) were within normal range. Multiple larvae (L1) of Angiostrongylus vasorum were identified both on flotation (Ovassay technique) and sedimentation (McKenna technique). The dog was treated with fenbendazole (50 mg/kg) for 15 days. On re‐examination, 4 days after completion of treatment, faecal analysis was negative and thoracic radiographs were improved. This case reports epistaxis as the main clinical finding in a young dog infested with A. vasorum, in the southwest of France, where this parasite is endemic. If bleeding diatheses are increasingly reported in angiostrongylosis, epistaxis is an unusual presentation, especially as the sole clinical sign of bleeding, in a dog with normal coagulation parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dinobdella ferox is the most frequently reported leech species parasitizing the mammalian nasal cavity. However, the molecular mechanism of this special parasitic behavior has remained largely unknown. Methods: PacBio long-read sequencing, next-generation sequencing (NGS), and Hi-C sequencing were employed in this study to generate a novel genome of D. ferox, which was annotated with strong certainty using bioinformatics methods. The phylogenetic and genomic alterations of D. ferox were then studied extensively alongside the genomes of other closely related species. The obligatory parasitism mechanism of D. ferox was investigated using RNA-seq and proteomics data. Results: PacBio long-read sequencing and NGS yielded an assembly of 228 Mb and contig N50 of 2.16 Mb. Along Hi-C sequencing, 96% of the sequences were anchored to nine linkage groups and a high-quality chromosome-level genome was generated. The completed genome included 19,242 protein-coding genes. For elucidating the molecular mechanism of nasal parasitism, transcriptome data were acquired from the digestive tract and front/rear ends of D. ferox. Examining secretory proteins in D. ferox saliva helped to identify intimate connections between these proteins and membrane proteins in nasal epithelial cells. These interacting proteins played important roles in extracellular matrix (ECM)–receptor interaction, tight junction, focal adhesion, and adherens junction. The interaction between D. ferox and mammalian nasal epithelial cells included three major steps of pattern recognition, mucin connection and breakdown, and repair of ECM. The remodeling of ECM between epithelial cells of the nasal mucosa and epithelial cells of D. ferox may produce a stable adhesion environment for parasitism. Conclusions: Our study represents the first-ever attempt to propose a molecular model for specific parasitism. This molecular model may serve as a practical reference for parasitism models of other species and a theoretical foundation for a molecular process of parasitism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Mansonellosis is an undermapped insect-transmitted disease caused by filarial nematodes that are estimated to infect hundreds of millions of people. Despite their prevalence, there are many outstanding questions regarding the general biology and health impacts of the responsible parasites. Historical reports suggest that the Colombian Amazon is endemic for mansonellosis and may serve as an ideal location to pursue these questions. Methods We deployed molecular and classical approaches to survey Mansonella prevalence among adults belonging to indigenous communities along the Amazon River and its tributaries near Leticia, Colombia. Results Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays on whole-blood samples detected a much higher prevalence of Mansonella ozzardi infection (approximately 40%) compared to blood smear microscopy or LAMP performed using plasma, likely reflecting greater sensitivity and the ability to detect low microfilaremias and occult infections. Mansonella infection rates increased with age and were higher among men. Genomic analysis confirmed the presence of M. ozzardi that clusters closely with strains sequenced in neighboring countries. We successfully cryopreserved M. ozzardi microfilariae, advancing the prospects of rearing infective larvae in controlled settings. Conclusion These data suggest an underestimation of true mansonellosis prevalence, and we expect that these methods will help facilitate the study of mansonellosis in endemic and laboratory settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria is a global health challenge with endemicity in sub-Saharan Africa, where there are multiple drug-resistant strains and limited access to modern health care facilities, especially in rural areas. Studies indicate that African traditional medicine could make a substantial contribution to the reduction of malaria-related deaths and achievement of universal health coverage (UHC), particularly in these regions. Thus, this study evaluated the curative antimalarial effects of Chromolaena odorata leaf extract using mouse model. Forty-five (45) albino mice weighing between 18 and 22 g were grouped into nine groups of 5 animals each. Animals in groups 2–9 were infected with the chloroquine-resistant strain of Plasmodium berghei, while animals in groups 3–9 were subsequently treated with 10 mg/kg chloroquine, a combination of 1.4 mg/kg artemether and 8.75 mg/kg lumefantrine (Coartem), and varying concentrations of the fraction from the aqueous leaf extract of C. odorata at day 3 post-infection. The findings from this study indicate that treatment with 400 mg/kg of the ethanolic fraction of the crude extract resulted in a significant decrease in parasite load (97.6%), which was comparable to the activities of the conventional drugs chloroquine (98.6%) and Coartem (98.8%). The ethyl acetate and ethanolic fractions at 400 mg/kg also ameliorated the significant alterations in the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets of the infected animals. The high antimalarial activity displayed by the ethanolic fraction could be due to the presence of quercetin and kaempferol, as detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The findings suggest that the fractions from C. odorata could serve as an alternative source of malaria therapy, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]