Parasite : Journal de la Société Française de Parasitologie

The Heteracanthocephalidae Petrochenko, 1956 is a rare family of acanthocephalans mainly parasitic in fishes. The pattern of mitogenomic evolution of the Heteracanthocephalidae is still unknown, and the phylogenetic relationships of the Heteracanthocephalidae with the other 14 families within the order Echinorhynchida remain unclear. In the present study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Aspersentis megarhynchus (von Linstow, 1892) Golvan, 1960 was sequenced and annotated for the first time, which represents the first mitogenomic data for the genus Aspersentis and also for the family Heteracanthocephalidae...

Understanding the distribution patterns of vector populations is crucial for comprehending the dynamics of vector-borne diseases. However, data on vector composition and abundance in areas of forest and wildlife-human interface in Thailand remain limited. This research aimed to investigate the spatio-temporal distribution and species diversity of stomoxyine flies (Diptera: Muscidae) in Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand's first wildlife sanctuary. A longitudinal entomological survey was conducted monthly from May 2022 to April 2023 in four habitats: core forest, grassland forest, a wildlife breeding center, and a local cattle farm...

Monogenea (Platyhelminthes), mainly gill and fin ectoparasites of fish, are often recognized as host specific and morphologically and ecologically diverse. These parasites exhibit high species diversity at the level of host species or individual fish specimens. Using case studies, especially those widely performed in Dactylogyrus parasitizing cyprinoid fish, this article presents current knowledge on the ecology and evolution of congeneric gill monogeneans. The important aspects of the ecology of congeneric monogeneans are highlighted, in particular: host specificity expressed at several host levels (from strict specificity to phylogenetic specificity), microhabitat specificity expressed by restricted positions on fish gills to facilitate intraspecific mating, and the link between microhabitat preference and morphological adaptation (i...

Diarrhea caused by zoonotic pathogens is one of the most common diseases in dairy calves, threatening the health of young animals. Humans are also at risk, in particular children. To explore the pathogens causing diarrhea in dairy calves, the present study applied PCR-based sequencing tools to investigate the occurrence and molecular characteristics of three parasites (Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi) and three bacterial pathogens (Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens, and Salmonella spp...

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is a zoonotic pathogen prevalent in mammalian and avian hosts across the globe. Wild small mammals, being abundant worldwide, serve as important sources of zoonotic disease transmission to humans. Here, 227 fecal samples were collected from five rodent and shrew species on 34 pig farms in China to investigate the prevalence and molecular characterization of E. bieneusi. The overall prevalence of E. bieneusi was 17.18% (39/227), with a distribution of 23.53% (32/136) in Rattus tanezumi, 8...

This study was conducted to clarify the host specificity and the geographical distribution of Gasterophilus species (Diptera, Oestridae) in the Serengeti ecosystem. A total of 317 larvae were recovered from two common zebras (Equus quagga, formerly Equus burchellii) in Maswa Game Reserve, and 58 larvae were recovered from an African lion (Panthera leo) in the Serengeti National Park. The study emphasizes the rare occurrence of Gasterophilus sp. in lions, shedding light on the broader life cycle and physiological implications for hosts...

Blood-feeding arthropods are involved in the transmission of several pathogens that have a major impact on public health. Entomological investigations highlighted the composition, abundance, and diversity of flying hematophagous arthropods at four dog shelters located in central Morocco during an eight-month study, with the aim of discussing their vectorial roles and assessing the risk of these shelters as foci for zoonotic diseases. Monitoring of the arthropod fauna for 64 catch nights resulted in the collection of 2,321 biting midges (Ceratopogonidae), 570 mosquitoes (Culicidae), and 475 sand flies (Psychodidae)...

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a severe liver disease due to infection with the Echinococcus multilocularis larval stage, called the metacestode. Management of AE is based on benzimidazole chemotherapy (albendazole or mebendazole), associated with surgery when possible. Benzimidazoles are the only compounds recommended for the treatment of AE; however, these are parasitostatic, which means that the parasite can resume growth when treatment is interrupted. Also, benzimidazoles can cause liver dysfunction which may prevent their use...

We propose and describe Alobophora sandrae Cajiao-Mora & Bullard n. gen., n. sp. (Digenea: Caballerotrematidae) for specimens we collected from arapaima, Arapaima gigas sensu lato (Osteoglossiformes: Arapaimidae) in the Amazon River near Leticia, Colombia. Alobophora differs from Caballerotrema Prudhoe, 1960 by lacking head collar projections and by having clustered corner spines and a narrow head collar (4-5× wider than pharynx), whereas Caballerotrema has head collar projections, lacks clustered corner spines, and has a broad head collar (7-8× wider than pharynx)...

A recent study in hamsters showed that infection with the liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini in diabetic hosts worsens the severity of hepatobiliary disease. However, the effects of diabetes on the worm's phenotype and gene expression pattern remain unknown. This study investigated the impact of diabetes on the global gene expression and development of O. viverrini in diabetic hamsters. Parasitological parameters were assessed, and mRNA sequencing with bioinformatic analysis was performed. The study revealed that worm establishment rates in diabetic hamsters were directly correlated with fasting plasma glucose levels...

BACKGROUND: Clonorchis sinensis is a zoonotic liver fluke that inhabits the bile ducts of the human liver for prolonged periods, leading to cholangiocarcinoma. Recent research indicates associations between altered biliary microbiota and bile duct disorders. However, the impacts of C. sinensis infection on bile duct epithelium and subsequent effects on biliary microbiota remain unknown. METHODS: Feline bile duct samples were collected from both uninfected and C...

BACKGROUND: Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum) is the main species of Schistosoma prevalent in China. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are important immunoregulatory cells and generally expand in parasite infection, but there is little research relating to MDSCs in Schistosoma infection. METHODS: Fifty-six S. japonicum-infected patients were included in this study. MDSCs and percentages and absolute cell numbers of lymphocyte subsets, including CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, B cells and natural killer (NK) cells were detected using flow cytometry...

Cryptosporidium is a globally distributed zoonotic protozoan parasite that can cause severe diarrhea in humans and animals. L-type lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins involved in multiple pathways in animals and plants, including protein transportation, secretion, innate immunity, and the unfolded protein response signaling pathway. However, the biological function of the L-type lectins remains unknown in Cryptosporidium parvum. Here, we preliminarily characterized an L-type lectin in C. parvum (CpLTL) that contains a lectin-leg-like domain...

Captive and free-living wildlife serve as significant hosts for Giardia duodenalis. Asiatic black bears, valued for their economic and medicinal importance, are extensively farmed in China and also prevalent in zoos. However, studies on G. duodenalis in these animals in China are limited. Here, 218 feces samples of Asiatic black bears were collected: 36 from a zoo in Heilongjiang Province, and 182 from a farm in Fujian Province. Nested PCR of the SSU rRNA gene, followed by sequencing, was employed to determine the frequency and assemblage distribution of G...

Tick-borne Apicomplexa encompass a group of parasites responsible for significant medical and veterinary diseases, including babesiosis, theileriosis, and hepatozoonosis. In this study, we investigated the presence and diversity of tick-borne Apicomplexa in wildlife and ticks inhabiting the Amazon rainforests of French Guiana. To this end, we conducted molecular screening and typing using 18S rRNA sequences on a collection of 1161 specimens belonging to 71 species, including 44 species of wild mammals, five species of passerines, and 22 species of ticks...

Species of the genus Rhabdias Stiles & Hassall, 1905 are common parasitic nematodes occurring in the lungs of amphibians and reptiles worldwide. In the present study, Rhabdias macrocephalum n. sp. is described using integrated morphological methods (light and scanning electron microscopy) and molecular approaches (sequencing of the nuclear 28S and ITS regions, and mitochondrial cox1, cox2, and 12S genes) based on specimens collected from the green striped tree dragon Diploderma splendidum (Barbour & Dunn) (Reptilia: Agamidae) in China...

Snakes are sometimes regarded as pets and are used in traditional Chinese medicine. Cryptosporidium spp. are frequently identified in snakes, representing an important pathogen and causing gastrointestinal diseases. Current data indicate that risk factors for infection and patterns of clinical symptom presentation may differ among Cryptosporidium spp. To better understand the infection status by Cryptosporidium spp., fecal samples were collected from 603 asymptomatic and 147 symptomatic snakes in 26 provinces of China...

African cichlids are model systems for evolutionary studies and host-parasite interactions, because of their adaptive radiations and because they harbour many species of monogenean parasites with high host-specificity. Five locations were sampled in southern Lake Victoria: gill-infecting monogeneans were surveyed from 18 cichlid species belonging to this radiation superflock and two others representing two older and distantly related lineages. We found one species of Gyrodactylidae, Gyrodactylus sturmbaueri Vanhove, Snoeks, Volckaert & Huyse, 2011, and seven species of Dactylogyridae...

Global changes in climate are contributing to modified Phlebotomine sand fly presence and activity, and the distribution of the pathogens they transmit (e.g., Leishmania and Phlebovirus), and are leading to their possible extension toward northern France. To predict the evolution of these pathogens and control their spread, it is essential to identify and characterize the presence and abundance of potential vectors. However, there are no recent publications describing sand fly species distribution in France...

Amblyomma maculatum, the Gulf Coast tick, infests a wide range of vertebrate species including livestock, dogs, cats, and humans. It is a species of significant veterinary and public health importance, especially as a vector of diseases, for instance American canine hepatozoonosis or tidewater spotted fever. An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of NexGard® Combo, a topical endectoparasiticide product for cats combining eprinomectin, praziquantel and esafoxolaner, against induced infestations of A...