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Haemonchus contortus is a hematophagous nematode with a high reproduction rate, considered to be the main problem in grazing small ruminants. Therefore, treatment alternatives based on the use of plant extracts are sought. This study aimed to evaluate the ovicidal activity of Artemisia cina against the parasite Haemonchus contortus and to chemically characterize the extract with the highest biological activity through gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The extracts to be evaluated were obtained through the maceration technique using methanol, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane. The extracts were taken to total dryness and challenged against H. contortus eggs using the egg-hatching inhibition technique described by the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP). The methanolic extract (ME) showed 100 % ovicidal activity at a concentration of 4.25 mg/ml, being the most active at a low concentration; therefore, it was characterized by GC-MS. ME mainly contains fatty acids and terpenes; among them are hexadecanoic acid and 2-[4-methyl-6-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-1-enyl)hexa-1,3,5-trienyl][cyclohex]-1-en-carboxyaldehyde. The characterized compounds have shown previously reported anthelmintic activity so that ovicidal activity may be associated with them. In conclusion, the methanolic extract of A. cina had a higher ovicidal activity at low concentrations; this is probably due to the presence of fatty acids and terpenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This review explores the wide-ranging applications of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) techniques in veterinary medicine for companion animals. It addresses the need for advanced diagnostic and treatment approaches in veterinary care. The aims include understanding parasitic transmission, infectious disease dynamics, metabolic disorders, autoimmune diseases, oncological processes, and genetic predispositions in animals. The article demonstrates NGS's efficacy in comprehensive parasite profiling, rapid pathogen identification, personalized tumor analysis, and genetic disease elucidation. Conclusions highlight the transformative potential of NGS in enhancing veterinary diagnostics, treatment planning, and disease management for companion animals. The review's insights promise to revolutionize veterinary care, enabling precise and tailored treatments, improving animal health outcomes, and advancing overall societal well-being through healthier and happier companion animals. Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) techniques have revolutionized veterinary medicine for cats and dogs, offering insights across various domains. In veterinary parasitology, NGS enables comprehensive profiling of parasite populations, aiding in understanding transmission dynamics and drug resistance mechanisms. In infectious diseases, NGS facilitates rapid pathogen identification, characterization of virulence factors, and tracking of outbreaks. Moreover, NGS sheds light on metabolic processes by elucidating gene expression patterns and metabolic pathways, essential for diagnosing metabolic disorders and designing tailored treatments. In autoimmune diseases, NGS helps identify genetic predispositions and molecular mechanisms underlying immune dysregulation. Veterinary oncology benefits from NGS through personalized tumor profiling, mutation analysis, and identification of therapeutic targets, fostering precision medicine approaches. Additionally, NGS plays a pivotal role in veterinary genetics, unraveling the genetic basis of inherited diseases and facilitating breeding programs for healthier animals. Physiological investigations leverage NGS to explore complex biological systems, unraveling gene–environment interactions and molecular pathways governing health and disease. Application of NGS in treatment planning enhances precision and efficacy by enabling personalized therapeutic strategies tailored to individual animals and their diseases, ultimately advancing veterinary care for companion animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • New thiosemicarbazide and 1,2,4-triazole derivatives, not described in the literature, were synthesized. • The anthelmintic activity was tested in vitro and in vivo on four pathogenic nematode species. • The in vivo studies showed no systemic toxicity of the tested compound (II-1). • The degree of inhibition of selected CYP450 enzymes depending on the concentration of the tested compound II-1 was assessed. • The in silico studies indicated tubulin and the SDH enzyme as potential molecular targets of the tested compound (II-1) Intestinal parasitic infections are neglected diseases and, due to the increasing resistance of parasites to available drugs, they pose an increasing therapeutic challenge. Therefore, there is a great need for finding new compounds with antiparasitic activity. Objectives: In this work, new thiosemicarbazide and 1,2,4-triazole derivatives were synthesized and tested for their anthelmintic activity. The synthesis was carried out by classical methods of organic chemistry. Anthelmintic activity tests were carried out in vitro (Rhabditis sp., Haemonchus contortus , Strongylidae sp.) in vivo (Heligmosomoides polygyrus/bakeri), and in silico analysis was performed. Quinoline-6-carboxylic acid derivative compounds were designed and synthesized. The highest activity in the screening tests in the Rhabditis model was demonstrated by compound II-1 with a methoxyphenyl substituent LC 50 = 0.3 mg/mL. In the next stage of the research, compound II-1 was analyzed in the H. contortus model. The results showed that compound II-1 was active and had ovicidal (percentage of dead eggs > 45 %) and larvicidal (percentage of dead larvae > 75 %) properties. Studies in the Strongylidae sp. model confirmed the ovicidal activity of compound II-1 (percentage of dead eggs ≥ 55 %). In vivo studies conducted in the H. polygyrus / bakeri nematode model showed that the number of nematodes decreased by an average of 30 % under the influence of compound II-1. In silico studies have shown two possible modes of action of compound II-1, i.e. inhibition of tubulin polymerization and SDH. The test compound did not show any systemic toxic effects. Its influence on drug metabolism related to the activity of cytochrome CYP450 enzymes was also investigated. The results obtained in the in vitro, in vivo , and in silico studies indicate that the test compound can be described as a HIT, which in the future may be used in the treatment of parasitic diseases in humans and animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Setaria equina is a common parasitic infection in horses that is transmitted by mosquitoes. The absence of previous reports regarding the presence of Setaria equina microfilariae in Nigerian horses highlights the need to confirm its existence in the region. Verifying the existence of this parasite would enhance our overall understanding of its global distribution, which could then inform the development of more effective control measures. This paper reports a case of Setaria equina microfilariae infection in an adult Argentine polo pony mare in Nigeria. The recently acquired adult Argentine polo pony mare was exhibiting depression and weight loss. Despite normal vital parameters, the horse had a poor body condition and no history of deworming. Laboratory analyses, including wet blood film examination, complete blood count, and serum biochemistry, revealed the presence of Setaria equina microfilariae and macrocytic hypochromic anaemia. Treatment involved a five-day course of intramuscular multivitamin injections and three weeks of subcutaneous ivermectin injections. Follow-up examinations demonstrated the absence of microfilaria and a return to an active and lively state. The case report details the clinical presentation, diagnostic process, and successful treatment of a recently acquired adult Argentine polo pony mare. A consistent deworming regimen is essential for horses, including those recently acquired, to prevent parasitic infections and enhance their overall well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naturally acquired immunity to the different types of malaria in humans occurs in areas of endemic transmission and results in asymptomatic infection of peripheral blood. The current study examined the possibility of naturally acquired immunity in Bornean orangutans, Pongo pygmaeus, exposed to endemic Plasmodium pitheci malaria. A total of 2140 peripheral blood samples were collected between January 2017 and December 2022 from a cohort of 135 orangutans housed at a natural forested Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Each individual was observed for an average of 4.3 years during the study period. Blood samples were examined by microscopy and polymerase chain reaction for the presence of plasmodial parasites. Infection rates and parasitaemia levels were measured among age groups and all 20 documented clinical malaria cases were reviewed to estimate the incidence of illness and risk ratios among age groups. A case group of all 17 individuals that had experienced clinical malaria and a control group of 34 individuals having an event of >2000 parasites μL−1 blood but with no outward or clinical sign of illness were studied. Immature orangutans had higher-grade and more frequent parasitaemia events, but mature individuals were more likely to suffer from clinical malaria than juveniles. The case orangutans having patent clinical malaria were 256 times more likely to have had no parasitaemia event in the prior year relative to asymptomatic control orangutans. The findings are consistent with rapidly acquired immunity to P. pitheci illness among orangutans that wanes without re-exposure to the pathogen.

Parasitic diseases of wild animals represent an important area of research. In addition to the significant impact on wildlife health and fitness, many parasitic diseases have zoonotic implications. Due to limited scientific information, this research aimed to investigate parasitic diseases in wildlife in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), focusing on the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB&H), emphasizing zoonotic species. In the period from April 2020 to November 2022, we conducted research on 9 wildlife species. We analyzed fecal samples to detect and identify diagnostic stages (eggs, larvae, cysts, and oocysts) of various animal endoparasites using coprological methods, such as sedimentation, flotation, and the Baermann technique. The MERIFLUOR® Cryptosporidium/Giardia test was also used for the detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts. In the case of red foxes, intestinal samples were examined using the intestinal scraping technique to detect adult helminths. All collected muscle samples were subjected to the artificial digestion method for Trichinella detection. From 1,278 samples, 70.9% were positive. Parasitic infections were confirmed in 15.9% (11/69) of bears; 83.7% (262/313) of red foxes; 67.6% (44/65) of wolves; 25% (1/4) of wildcats; 20% (1/5) of badger; 43.7% (7/16) of martens; 39.7% (76/191) of wild boars; 84.5% (350/414) of deer, and 77.1% (155/201) of hares. The finding of zoonotic parasites (Toxocara canis, Uncinaria spp., Trichinella spp., Echinococcus spp. etc.) is particularly important due to their potential detrimental effects on human health, which highlights the need for further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology recently released new recommendations for the design of fecal egg count (FEC) reduction tests for livestock. These provide suggestions as to the number of animals to be sampled and the minimum number of eggs that must be counted to produce statistically meaningful results. One of the considerations for study design is the multiplication factor of the FEC method to be used; methods with lower multiplication factors require fewer animals to be sampled because they are presumed to count more eggs per test. However, multiplication factor is not the sole determinant of the number of eggs counted by any given method, since different techniques use very different sample extraction methodologies that could affect the number of eggs detected beyond just the amount of feces examined. In this light, we compared three commonly used manual FEC methods (mini-FLOTAC, McMaster and Wisconsin) and two automated methods (Imagyst and Parasight All-in-One) with respect to how many equine strongylid and ascarid eggs they counted in the same samples. McMaster and mini-FLOTAC (multiplication factors of 25x and 5x, respectively) produced the most accurate results of the methods tested but mini-FLOTAC counted approximately 5-times more eggs than McMaster. However, Wisconsin and Parasight (multiplication factor = 1x) counted 3-times more ova than mini-FLOTAC, which was less than the 5-fold difference in their multiplication factors. As a result, these tests perform with multiplication factors more akin to 1.6x relative to mini-FLOTAC. Imagyst, due to its unique sample preparation methodology, does not have a traditional multiplication factor but performed similarly to McMaster with respect to egg recovery. [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]

Simple Summary: A study in eastern China has found that over 40% of zoo animals are infected with gastrointestinal parasites, which pose a threat to their welfare and the health of visitors and veterinarians. More than 11 parasite species were identified in the study conducted at Zhuyuwan Zoo, including two species of Ascaris, and they detected Paramphistomum spp. eggs in the captive Père David's deer and Fasciola spp. eggs in sika deer, which had not been previously reported in Chinese zoos. The study highlights the need for prevention and control measures to be implemented to tackle parasitic diseases in zoo animals. The burden of gastrointestinal parasites in zoo animals has serious implications for their welfare and the health of veterinarians and visitors. Zhuyuwan Zoo is located in the eastern suburb of Yangzhou city in eastern China, in which over 40 species of zoo animals are kept. In order to understand the infection status of GI parasites in Zhuyuwan Zoo, a total of 104 fresh fecal samples collected randomly from birds (n = 19), primates (n = 19), and non-primate mammals (n = 66) were analyzed using the saturated saline flotation technique and nylon sifter elutriation and sieving method for eggs/oocysts, respectively. Two Ascaris species were molecularly characterized. The results showed that the overall prevalence of parasitic infection was 42.3% (44/104). The parasitic infection rate in birds, primates, and non-primate mammals were 26.3% (5/19), 31.6% (6/19), and 50.0% (33/66), respectively. A total of 11 species of parasites were identified, namely, Trichostrongylidae, Capillaria sp., Trichuris spp., Strongyloides spp., Amidostomum sp., Toxascaris leonina, Baylisascaris transfuga, Parascaris equorum, Paramphistomum spp., Fasciola spp., and Eimeria spp. Paramphistomum spp. eggs were first detected from the captive Père David's deer, and Fasciola spp. eggs were first reported from sika deer in zoo in China. A sequence analysis of ITS-2 and cox1 showed that the eggs isolated from the African lion (Panthera leo Linnaeus, 1758) were T. leonina, and the eggs from the brown bear (Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758) were B. transfuga. The public health threat posed by these potential zoonotic parasitic agents requires attention. These results lay a theoretical foundation for prevention and control of wild animal parasitic diseases at zoos in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Providing veterinary care against parasitic diseases is one of the factors that affect the possibility of effective and profitable introduction of the livestock sector. Chorioptic mange is one of the globally spread invasive diseases of cattle caused by persistent ectoparasites. The diagnosis of chorioptosis is based on the microscopic detection of mites in scrapings from the skin of the affected animal with mandatory identification of the parasites. The aim of the research was to investigate the morphological features and metric parameters of Chorioptes mites isolated from cattle. Mites isolated from cattle were morphometrically identified as Chorioptes texanus. Morphological features of male Ch. texanus mites include peculiarities in the structure of the opisthosomal lobes and of the setae located on the opisthosomal lobes, opisthosoma and tarsus of leg III. 14 morphometric parameters characterizing the general structure of the body (length, width and their ratio, length and width of the gnathosoma, length of the idiosoma, proterosoma, podosoma, propodosoma, metapodosoma, hysterosoma, opisthosoma, length and width of the propodosomal shield) were identified and suggested for use in identification of male and female Ch. texanus. In male mites of this species, 5 additional parameters were also determined, which describe the length and width of the opisthomal lobes, their ratio, the diameter of the adanal suckers and the distance between them. The morphological features, location and length of 6 setae, which are species-specific in Chorioptes mites, namely 4 setae of the opisthosomal lobe, 1 opisthosomal seta, 1 ventral seta of tarsus III, were described. The parameters of Ch. texanus eggs in the bodies of female mites and on the body of the host animal were determined. The scientific data obtained in this study expand the already existing data on the differential identification of Ch. texanus mites and proves their parasitism in cattle on the territory of Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cockroaches are globally distributed pests with high epidemic importance. Their role as spreaders of many infectious and parasitic diseases in animals and humans determines disinsection as the main anti-epidemic measure. The present study compared the effectiveness of spray application of different commercial insecticides against a field population of oriental cockroaches (B. orientalis) under laboratory conditions. A very high efficiency of fipronil (100% mortality) was found as early as 37-48 hours after treatment and a high efficiency of synthetic pyrethroids - 95-97% mortality at 49-60 hours. With the organophosphate derivatives (Dichlorvos) low mortality (37%) and unsatisfactory efficiency was achieved. The obtained results confirm the insecticides from the phenylpyrazole group and the synthetic pyrethroids, in spray-applied forms, as an effective method of fighting the oriental cockroach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of lice associated with domestic cats is a neglected area of veterinary parasitology. In particular, the presence of the cat louse Felicola subrostratus, a small Ischnoceran species found in the fur of the domestic cat, is rarely recognized. In America, this species has been reported across six countries. Although it was also recently reported in Mexico, no studies on the molecular identification of the specimens or the monitoring of potential bacterial, and protozoan pathogens have been carried out. Thus, this work aimed to collect, and identify lice associated with domestic and free ranging cats from the states of Veracruz and Tabasco, using amplification and sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), and the ribosomal 18S rDNA genes, and to monitor selected vector-borne bacterial (Bartonella, Mycoplasma, and Rickettsia) and protozoan (Babesia, and Hepatozoon) agents. Only entire lice were used for molecular host and pathogen identification. Eighty-one lice, identified as F. subrostratus, were recovered from five infested cats, and 30 were selected for molecular identification and pathogen surveillance. Analysis of the COI and 18S rDNA partial sequences showed a similarity of 96.79%–100% with sequences of F. subrostratus from the US. Mycoplasma haemofelis and Hepatozoon canis DNA was detected in three and four samples, respectively. This work provides new collection locations for F. subrostratus, and the first sequences of the COI and 18S rDNA genes from Mexico. It also reports two pathogenic microorganisms found in the lice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Founded in 1959, the Italian Society of Parasitology (SoIPa) includes nearly 200 researchers and professionals in the fields of medicine, veterinary medicine, biotechnology, epidemiology and environmental sciences. The diversity of its members, in a historical and continuous collaboration with other international scientific societies, embodies a broad and multidisciplinary field such as parasitology. Since 1959, SoIPa has organized a biennial congress, covering all aspects of general parasitology with participants from all over Italy, Europe and beyond, involved in a dynamic and multi-faceted scientific framework of contributions and symposia. The present Special Issue (SI) contains 6 review papers and 1 research article, focussed on emerging topics presented and discussed during some of the symposia organized within the XXXII SoIPa Congress, held in Naples from 27th June to 30th June 2022. These review papers reflect several emerging subjects (i.e. ‘Italian network on Neglected Tropical Diseases’, ‘Wildlife parasites and citizen science’, ‘Comparing approaches to parasitological issues’, ‘Unusual perspectives on the role of parasites’) with the aim to explore the new role that parasitologists can play in the future society, working together to promote dialogue on science-informed decisions to support the so-called ‘twin green and digital transition’.

The efficacy evaluation of levamisole and oxyclozanide treatment on the gastrointestinal nematodes of ungulates at the central zoo, Nepal was carried out from June--August 2021. A total of 40 fecal samples were collected from 10 species of ungulates from the central zoo for determining the efficacy of the anthelmintic given at day 0 of pretreatment and post-treatment analysis on day 07 and day 14. The concentration method (floatation concentration) was used for the microscopic examination of eggs, and quantitative examination (EPG) of nematode eggs was carried out with the help of modified McMaster slides. The identification was done using an optic micrometer and fecal egg culture. Anthelmintic resistance status was evaluated by the Fecal Egg Count Reduction Technique (FECRT) based on the method described by the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP) guidelines and with the Bayesian hierarchical model. Out of 40 samples, nematode prevalence was found to be 68%, in which single infection was detected in 48% and double infection in 52%. The efficacy of Zanide L forte (levamisole-0.75 g and oxyclozanide-1.00 g) was found to be 85% (UI 80-89) at day 07 and 89% (UI 85-92) at day 14 by using Hierarchical Modelling of Fecal Egg count based on 'eggCounts-2.3 on R version 3.6.1 and 86% (CI 61.51-95%) at day 07 and 90% (CI 74.18-95%) at day 14 by WAAVP guidelines. This study represents the first documented case of ineffectiveness of anthelmintic treatment resulting in anthelmintic resistance in the central zoo. Thus, there is a requirement for a suitable and efficacious anthelmintic program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemosporidian parasite communities are broadly similar in Boulder County, Colorado, between two common songbirds--the Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) and Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli). However, Mountain Chickadees appear more likely to be infected with Plasmodium and potentially experience higher infection burdens with Leucocytozoon in contrast to Black-capped Chickadees. We found that elevation change (and associated ecology) drives the distributions of these parasite genera. For Boulder County chickadees, environmental factors play a more important role in structuring hemosporidian communities than host evolutionary differences. However, evolutionary differences are likely key to shaping the probability of infection, infection burden, and whether an infection remains detectable over time. We found that for recaptured birds, their infection status (i.e. presence or absence of detectable parasite infection) tends to remain consistent across capture periods. We sampled 235 chickadees between 2017 and 2021 across a ~1,500-m elevation gradient from low elevation (i.e. the city of Boulder) to comparatively high elevation (i.e. the CU Boulder Mountain Research Station). It is unknown whether long-term hemosporidian abundance trends have changed over time in our sampling region. However, we ask whether potentially disparate patterns of Plasmodium susceptibility and Leucocytozoon infection burden could be playing a role in the negative population trends of Mountain Chickadees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The popularity and maintenance of the Iranian gray squirrel have been increasing in the last decade. However, due to the special conditions of keeping and the exotic nature of this animal, the possibility of transmission of pathogenic objects such as bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections and the transmission of many common diseases between humans and animals are raised in a case study of a collar infestation. The female squirrel was observed to be 65 days old and morphological examinations revealed the possibility of infestation with Hoploleura sciuricola lice. Previously, there were no reports of infestation with this louse in Iran. To accurately determine the sex and species of this louse, two pairs of primers designed from the mitochondrial gene (COX-I) that had protected regions in the genus of this louse were used, which led to the confirmation of the identity of the infestation and the first report of the existence of this louse in Iran was confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital PCR (dPCR) is an emerging technology that enables the absolute quantification of the targeted nucleic acids. The body of research on the potential applications of this novel tool is growing in human and veterinary medicine. Most of the research on dPCR applications in veterinary parasitology is concentrated on developing and validating new assays to detect and quantify parasites of great financial impact in the food-producing animal industry. Several studies describe the utility of dPCR for individualized medicine in companion animals. Most frequently, dPCR performance is assessed compared to quantitative PCR or Next Generation Sequencing platforms, while others also compare the accuracy of dPCR with traditional parasitological techniques considered gold standard methods. Other researchers describe dPCR assays for surveillance purposes, species identification, and quantification in mixed parasitic infections, the detection of mutations indicative of anthelmintic resistance, and the identification of new targets for drug development. This review provides an overview of the studies that employed dPCR in investigating animal parasites and parasitic diseases from a veterinary perspective and discusses how this novel technology could advance and facilitate diagnosis, surveillance, and the monitoring of response to treatment, or shed light on current gaps in our knowledge of the epidemiology of significant veterinary parasitic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the therapeutic management of notoedric mange in rabbits. The study was conducted in India and involved two rabbits with alopecia, rough hair coat, and intense pruritus. The rabbits were treated with injections of Ivermectin and Chlorpheniramine maleate, as well as topical application of Povidone-iodine. The treatment was successful, with the rabbits showing improvement and complete recovery within 15 days. Notoedric mange is a highly contagious disease caused by burrowing mites, and it can spread rapidly through direct contact or interaction with the environment. Ivermectin is an effective treatment for mange in rabbits. [Extracted from the article]

Dr. P.S. Banerjee, an expert in veterinary parasitology, discusses the importance of veterinary parasitology in animal and public health. He highlights current trends in the field, such as the use of advanced techniques like bioinformatics and molecular biology. Dr. Banerjee also emphasizes the One Health approach, which involves collaboration between veterinary, public health, and environment specialists to prevent and control diseases. His research interests include the epidemiology and diagnosis of parasitic diseases, particularly those with zoonotic importance. The article emphasizes the role of animals in transmitting parasitic infections to humans and the need for accurate diagnostic tests and funding for research. It also mentions the potential for animal parasites to infect immunocompromised individuals. The author advises aspiring scientists to focus on neglected parasitic diseases and highlights the importance of microscopy in diagnosis. [Extracted from the article]

This review of human amoebiasis is based on the most current knowledge of pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and Entamoeba/microbiota interactions. The most relevant findings during this last decade about the Entamoeba parasite and the disease are related to the possibility of culturing trophozoites of different isolates from infected individuals that allowed the characterization of the multiple pathogenic mechanisms of the parasite and the understanding of the host–parasite relationship in the human. Second, the considerable advances in molecular biology and genetics help us to analyze the genome of Entamoeba, their genetic diversity, and the association of specific genotypes with the different amoebic forms of human amoebiasis. Based on this knowledge, culture and/or molecular diagnostic strategies are now available to determine the Entamoeba species and genotype responsible for invasive intestinal or extraintestinal amoebiasis cases. Likewise, the extensive knowledge of the immune response in amoebiasis with the appearance of new technologies made it possible to design diagnostic tools now available worldwide. Finally, the understanding of the interaction between the Entamoeba species and the intestinal microbiota aids the understanding of the ecology of this parasite in the human environment. These relevant findings will be discussed in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A meeting, sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and organised by Clinglobal, was held at The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi, Kenya, from 19th – to 21st October 2022. The meeting assembled a unique group of experts on tick control in Africa. Academia, international agencies (FAO and ILRI), the private Animal Health sector and government veterinary services were represented. The significant outcomes included: (i) a shared commitment to standardisation and improvement of acaricide resistance bioassay protocols, particularly the widely used larval packet test (LPT); (ii) development of novel molecular assays for detecting acaricide resistance; (3) creation of platforms for disseminating acaricide resistance data to farmers, veterinary service providers and veterinary authorities to enable more rational evidence-based control of livestock ticks. Implementation of enhanced control will be facilitated by several recently established networks focused on control of parasites in Africa and globally, whose activities were presented at the meeting. These include a newly launched community of practice on management of livestock ticks, coordinated by FAO, an African module of the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP-AN) and the MAHABA (Managing Animal Health and Acaricides for a Better Africa) initiative of Elanco Animal Health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated the PCR-RFLP of ITS-2+genes for species differentiation of three major amphistomes namely Gastrothylax crumenifer, Fischoederius cobboldi and Paramphistomum spp. Molecular analysis using PCR yielded amplicons of 515 bp for each species. The nucleotide differences among the sequences of the three species of amphistomes at different positions were further used for designing suitable RFLP. The amphistome parasites were distinguished taking into account the differences in the recognition sequences of TspRI on the ITS-2+ region by PCR-RFLP. The enzyme cleaved F.cobboldi at two recognition sites, CAGTG and CACTG and yielded 331, 93 and 91 bp products. Gastrothylax crumenifer had one recognition site CAGTG and resulted in 331 bp and 184 bp fragments. Since no recognition sequence was found in Paramphistomum spp., there was no cleavage. It is concluded that PCRRFLP was a promising molecular tool for species identification of amphistomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The control of gastrointestinal parasites in animals has become more challenging every year due to parasite resistance to conventional chemical control, which has been observed worldwide. Ovicidal or opportunistic fungi do not form traps to capture larvae. Their mechanism of action is based on a mechanical/enzymatic process, which enables the penetration of their hyphae into helminth eggs, with subsequent internal colonization of these. The biological control with the Pochonia chlamydosporia fungus has been very promising in the treatment of environments and prevention. When used in intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni, the fungus promoted a high percentage decrease in the population density of aquatic snails. Secondary metabolites were also found in P. chlamydosporia. Many of these compounds can be used by the chemical industry in the direction of a commercial product. This review aims to provide a description of P. chlamydosporia and its possible use as a biological parasitic controller. The ovicidal fungus P. chlamydosporia is effective in the control of parasites and goes far beyond the control of verminosis, intermediate hosts, and coccidia. It can also be used not only as biological controllers in natura but also as their metabolites and molecules can have chemical action against these organisms. Key points: • The use of the fungus P. chlamydosporia is promising in the control of helminths. • Metabolites and molecules of P. chlamydosporia may have chemical action in control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances have increased our understanding of the molecular machinery in the cytoskeleton of mammalian cells, in contrast to the case of tapeworm parasites, where cytoskeleton remains poorly characterized. The pertinence of a better knowledge of the tapeworm cytoskeleton is linked to the medical importance of these parasitic diseases in humans and animal stock. Moreover, its study could offer new possibilities for the development of more effective anti-parasitic drugs, as well as better strategies for their surveillance, prevention, and control. In the present review, we compile the results of recent experiments on the cytoskeleton of these parasites and analyze how these novel findings might trigger the development of new drugs or the redesign of those currently used in addition to supporting their use as biomarkers in cutting-edge diagnostic tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Fasciolia hepatica and Fasciola gigantica are widespread and found in the liver and bile ducts of ruminant animals and humans, which poses a major problem in animal husbandry. There are many studies on the prevalence of ovine and caprine fasciolosis in China, but the overall prevalence of fasciolosis and the risk factors are still unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis was designed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of ovine and caprine fasciolosis in China. The pooled prevalence of ovine and caprine fasciolosis was 26.00%. Out of all the subgroups, the type of season and sampling years showed the most significant (p < 0.05) differences. The results indicated that ovine and caprine fasciolosis was widely distributed, especially in Northwestern China. The risk factors related to the disease are described in this study. Therefore, strategies for ovine and caprine fasciolosis control can be developed based on the epidemic risk factors that are identified in this study, which will thus reduce the prevalence of fasciolosis in China. Fasciolosis is a significant zoonotic and common parasitic disease for animals and humans, creating public health concerns worldwide. This study retrieved articles related to the occurrence of Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica in sheep and goats in China by searching five databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, and the VIP Chinese Journal Database. A total of 60 valid articles were captured. The pooled prevalence of ovine and caprine fasciolosis was 26.00%. It was also found to be higher in the subgroups of Northwest China and Shaanxi Province, as well as in areas with a high altitude, rainfall of ≥800 mm, and temperature ranging between 10 °C and 20 °C. Analysis of the type of season and sampling years showed significant (p < 0.05) difference. In other subgroups, sheep (34.74%), hosts aged over 2 years (32.26%), females (48.33%) and free-range animals (26.83%) showed a higher disease prevalence. These results indicated that ovine and caprine fasciolosis was widely distributed, especially in Northwest China. The sampling years and the type of season are risk factors for the prevalence of ovine and caprine fasciolosis. Therefore, strategies for ovine and caprine fasciolosis control should be developed based on these epidemic risk factors, which will reduce the prevalence of fasciolosis in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Equine ocular setariosis is a serious parasitic condition which causes ocular damage in animals. The present study was aimed to discuss the surgical management and prognosis of ocular setariosis. The affected four horses were presented to Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Mannuthy, with clinical signs like epiphora and corneal cloudiness. The conditions were managed surgically after appropriate anaesthetic administration. All the animals had an uneventful recovery and attained complete corneal clarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haemoparasitic infections persist as one of the major challenges in companion animal health. Despite the increased incidence, studies on tick-borne apicomplexan haemoparasites infecting domestic cats are comparatively fewer. These vector-borne diseases are emerging problems in cats across the globe. Feline haemoparasites include Hepatozoon spp. such as H. felis, H. canis and H. silvestris, Piroplasm-causing organisms such as Cytauxzoon felis, Babesia felis, B. cati, B. herpailuri and B. pantherae and haemoflagellates such as Trypanosoma evansi. Ticks have the major role in the transmission of hepatozoonosis, cytauxzoonosis and babesiosis. Haematophagous insects including Tabanus, Stomoxys and Lyperosia act as vectors for trypanosomosis. Routine diagnosis of infection is based on microscopic identification of parasites in blood smears or tissues. Application of molecular diagnostic techniques like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for rapid diagnosis and epidemiological studies will enhance the potential of veterinary services. Knowledge on occurrence and clinical manifestations of haemoparasitic infections will aid in improving the health of cats and facilitate the development of an efficient disease control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dicrocoelium dendriticum, a worldwide zoonotic trematode, is a common parasite of ruminant animals, but humans can be the definitive host by chance. We analyzed the world situation of the parasite from the perspective of the One Health concept by analyzing the research literature published from 1931 to 2022. Methods: Published documents related to D. dendriticum were searched from the Scopus database. Focusing on a visual analysis of the main research documents on D. dendriticum, Dimensions free web app was used to conduct co-occurrence analysis with keywords, countries, institutions, and authors. Moreover, key clustering research, affiliaitons, journals, countries, and authors were determined. Results: The Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) was the most publishing affiliation on D. dendriticum with 19 articles. While the Veterinary Parasitology Journal was the mostly publishing journal on D. dendriticum with 38 articles, the most productive country was Iran. The authors Giuseppe Cringoli and Laura Rinaldi from Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy were the mostly publishing authors. Conclusion: This bibliometric analysis provides an overall description of the current state of D. dendriticum research and the initial exploration of future research directions. Our analysis provides guidance for the development of research on D. dendriticum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Applied Veterinary Science & Technology is the property of Universitas Airlangga 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.)

Background: Bovine babesiosis caused by an intraerythrocytic apicomplexan protozoon responsible for the most prevalent and costly tick borne diseases (TBD’s) of cattle throughout the globe. Cerebral babesiosis of bovine is fatal and mainly caused by Babesia bovis. To the knowledge of author, there is no confirm molecular report of Babeisa bigemina caused cerebral babesiosis in cattle. Therefore, authors want to report Babesia bigemina caused cerebral babesiosis on record. Methods: In the year 2015, a Holstein-Friesian cow aged 3 years and weighing approximately 300 kg, was attended at Jabalpur, (M.P.) with the clinical signs of high rise in temperature (104F), recumbency, severe dysponea, peculiar sound during open mouth breathing, pale color of eye conjunctiva and mucous membrane of vagina, convulsions, sever anaemia, paddling of legs at frequent interval. After preparation of peripheral thin blood smear from animal at the site of collection and fixation with methanol, blood sample brought to Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science and A.H, Jabalpur and stained by standard protocol for Giemsa staining. Genomic DNA was isolated from the collected blood sample using QIAamp® DNA blood mini kit following the manufacturer’s recommendations and PCR was performed. Conclusion: The thin blood smear examination revealed the presence of Babesia parasite. The species of Babesia was confirmed by molecular amplification of genomic DNA as B. bigemina. This might be the first confirmed report of cerebral babesiosis caused by B. bigemina from Central India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of Toxocara canis/cati, Strongyloides stercoralis, Giardia spp., and Cryptosporidium spp., which occur and are potentially zoonotic to humans in domestic dogs and cats in Moscow (Russia). The fecal flotation method and larvae detection by microscopy of a direct feces smear were performed to detect Toxocara, Giardia spp., and Cryptosporidium spp. The total parasitic prevalence in dogs was as follows: Giardia spp.: 10.2 % (226/2208), Cryptosporidium spp.: 2.7 % (60/2208), T. canis: 2 % (45/2208), S. stercoralis larvae: 1.1 % (25/2208). The younger animals under were infected more than those over 12 months of age (p<0.001). The preva lence rates were along these lines: Giardia spp. (18.2 %), Cryptosporidium spp. (5.7 %), T.canis (3 %), S. stercoralis larvae (2.3 %). The overall prevalence in cats was as follows: Giardia spp. - 5.2 % (71/1350), Cryptosporidium spp. - 4.8 % (65/1350), T. cati - 4.1 % (56/1350). Similarly to dogs, the infection rates were higher in cats under 12 months of age Giardia spp. (8.2 %), Cryptosporidium spp. (8.6 %), T. cati (7.5 %. Analysis of combined infections in dogs revealed the following combinations: Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. (35.5 %) larvae of S. stercoralis sp. and Giardia spp. (32.3 %), T.canis and Giardia spp. (22.6 %), T.canis and Cryptosporidium spp. (6.6 %), T.canis and S.stercoralis and (3.2 %), respectively. In cats, only two coinfections by Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. (58.3 %), and T.cati with Giardia spp. (41.7 %) were noticed. Further research is needed to study the spread of parasitic diseases in pet animals. The data will improve countermeasures to prevent these diseases' spread among animals and humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a case report titled "Epistaxis Associated with Theileriosis and its Management in a Buffalo." The case involves a six-year-old buffalo that presented with unilateral bleeding from the left nose. The buffalo was diagnosed with theileriosis based on a blood smear examination and was treated with medication. The article discusses the clinical findings of theileriosis in buffaloes, including epistaxis, and highlights the importance of diagnosing the disease. Theileriosis is a parasitic infection that affects bovine animals and can result in severe livestock and financial losses. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia 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.)

Gastro-intestinal strongylosis is a major parasitic infection in caprine causing reduced performance, irreversible damage and death, which eventually leads to huge economic loss to the producers. The use of anthelmintics as a simple, effective and quick control method against the parasitism by the farmers has been rampant since decades. But its indiscriminate and undue usage invariably paved way to the development of anthelmintic resistance in parasites. It is high time that control strategies are designed so as to utilise chemotherapy appropriately at the time that coincide with heavy incidence of strongylosis. In the present study, a total of 109 goats, comprising of 58 Malabari and 51 Attappady Black goats from an organised farm were screened for the incidence for strongyle infection. The infection was found to be very high throughout the monsoon seasons in Kerala (June to October) with 94.86 ±1.47 per cent. Majority of the animals exhibited very heavy infection with faecal egg count of (FEC) >1500 during the study period. On coproculture, Haemonchus contortus was found to be the most predominant strongyle followed by Oesophagostomum spp. and Trichostrongylus spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neozoa are invasive species that enter faunal communities as new species. Not infrequently, they pose a threat to local ecosystems. Climate change could further promote these developments or favor neozoa. Thus, they represent a relevant threat in the future. One of these neozoa is the copepod parasite Mytilicola orientalis. This parasite originates from Asia and infects a wide variety of bivalves like mussels and oysters. However, as an invasive species, it can be found more and more frequently in Europe, especially in the North and Baltic Seas. There, M. orientalis poses a real threat to mussels in aquaculture and thus also to the local economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some parasitic diseases of wild animals are transmissible to humans and cause health problems. A widespread ectoparasite of vertebrates is the deer ked, Lipoptena cervi ((L.); Diptera: Hippoboscidae). We studied the interaction of this parasite with habitat‐related, host‐related, and temporal factors in the Czech Republic. We analysed observations of its abundance in hunted wild animals in the context of their environment. Our results confirmed that cervids are a preferred host species. Most of the other relationships between ked abundance and the studied factors were probably due to the olfactory preferences of keds. Males and older individuals of the game host species were more attractive to the parasites for this reason. The higher abundance of keds at the beginning of the hunting season can be explained by their phenology. The deer ked can significantly affect the management of game species. We conclude that its preference for older male cervids is important for the future conditions of game animals. The population densities of deer keds in areas with high parasitization rates could thus be influenced by active game management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]