During the investigation of parasitic pathogens of Mytilus coruscus, infection of a Perkinsus-like protozoan parasite was detected by alternative Ray's Fluid Thioglycolate Medium (ARFTM). The diameter of hypnospores or prezoosporangia was 8–27 (15.6 ± 4.0, n = 111) μm. The prevalence of the Perkinsus-like species in M. coruscus was 25 and 12.5% using ARFTM and PCR, respectively. The ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 fragments amplified by PCR assay had 100% homology to that of P. beihaiensis, suggesting that the protozoan parasite was P. beihaisensis and M. coruscus was its new host in East China Sea (ECS). Histological analysis showed the presence of trophozoites of P. beihaiensis in gill, mantle and visceral mass, and the schizonts only found in visceral mass. Perkinsus beihaiensis infection led to inflammatory reaction of hemocyte and the destruction of digestive tubules in visceral mass, which had negative effect on health of the farmed M. coruscus and it deserves more attention.

Emprostiotrema contains just 3 species: E. fusum, E. kuntzi and E. sigani. As adults, all 3 species infect rabbitfishes (Siganidae: Siganus). New collections from 11 species of Siganus from northern Australia, Indonesia, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Palau and Japan enabled an exploration of species composition within this genus. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrate a deep distinction between 2 major clades; clade 1 comprises most of the sequences of specimens from Australia as well as all of those from Japan, Palau and New Caledonia and clade 2 comprises all sequences of specimens from French Polynesia, 2 sequences from Australia and the single sequence from Bali. In all analyses, both major clades have genetic structuring leading to distinct geographic lineages. Morphologically, specimens relating to clades 1 and 2 differ but overlap in body shape, oral sucker and egg size. Principle component analysis shows a general (but not complete) separation between specimens relating to the 2 clades. We interpret the 2 clades as representing 2 species: clade 1 is identified as E. fusum and is reported in this study from 10 species of siganids from Australia, Japan, Palau and New Caledonia; clade 2 is described as E. gotozakiorum n. sp., for all specimens from French Polynesia and rare specimens from Australia and Indonesia. We recognize E. sigani as a junior synonym of E. fusum. Although species of Emprostiotrema occur widely in the tropical Indo-Pacific, they have not been detected from Ningaloo Reef (Western Australia), the southern Great Barrier Reef or Moreton Bay (southern Queensland).

Avian blood parasites play a crucial role in wildlife health and ecosystem dynamics, exhibiting heterogeneous spatial distribution influenced by various factors. Although factors underlying heterogeneity in infection with blood parasites have been explored in many avian hosts, their importance in the context of host species and the parasite taxon remains poorly understood, particularly in cohabiting host species. Using next-generation sequencing for parasite screening, we investigate the association between Haemoproteus, Plasmodium and Trypanosoma infections in relation to individual parameters, host densities and landscape features in 3 cavity-nesting passerines: great tit (Parus major), blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) and collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis) in a highly fragmented forest habitat. Overall, Haemoproteus infections predominated, followed by Plasmodium and Trypanosoma, with great tits most and collared flycatchers least parasitized. There were no common patterns across host species in the probability of infection with locally transmitted parasites from each genus. Specifically, in all cases, the effect of particular parameters, if present, was observed only in 1 host species. Body condition influenced Haemoproteus and Plasmodium infections differently in tits. Host density, whether own species or all pooled, explained Haemoproteus infections in great tits and collared flycatchers, and Plasmodium in great tits. Landscape metrics, such as moisture index and distance to coast edge and pastures, affected infection probability in specific host–parasite combinations. Relative risk maps revealed infection risk gradients, but spatial variation repeatability over time was low. Our study highlights the complex dynamics of avian blood parasites in multi-host systems, shedding light on host–parasite interactions in natural ecosystems.

Haemoproteus bobricklefsi sp. nov. (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae) was found in the dunnock Prunella modularis and represents the first blood parasite described in accentor birds of the Prunellidae. The description is based on the morphology of blood stages and includes information about a barcoding segment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (lineage hDUNNO01) and the full mitochondrial genome, which can be used for identification and diagnosis of this infection. The new parasite can be readily distinguished from described species of haemoproteids parasitizing passeriform birds due to markedly variable position of nuclei in advanced and fully grown macrogametocytes. Illustrations of blood stages of the new species are given, and phylogenetic analyses based on partial mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences and the full mitochondrial genome identified the closely related lineages. DNA haplotype networks showed that transmission occurs in Europe and North America. This parasite was found in the dunnock in Europe and several species of the Passerellidae in North America. It is probably of Holarctic distribution, with the highest reported prevalence in the UK. The parasite distribution seems to be geographically patchy, with preference for areas of relatively cool climates. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that H. bobricklefsi sp. nov. belongs to the Parahaemoproteus subgenus and is probably transmitted by biting midges belonging to Culicoides (Ceratopogonidae). The available data on molecular occurrence indicate that this pathogen is prone to abortive development, so worth attention in regard of consequences for bird health.

Ticks prefer specific feeding sites on a host that are influenced by host–tick and tick–tick interactions. This study focused on the spatiotemporal distribution of ticks in Hokkaido sika deer, an important tick host in Hokkaido, Japan. Tick sampling was performed on the sika deer in the Shiretoko National Park between June and October 2022. Ticks were collected from 9 different body parts of the deer to compare their attachment site preferences. Interspecific and intraspecific relationships among ticks were examined using co-occurrence analysis. The collected ticks were nymphal and adult stages of 4 species: Ixodes ovatus, Ixodes persulcatus, Haemaphysalis japonica and Haemaphysalis megaspinosa. Seasonal variations in tick burden were observed, with I. persulcatus and I. ovatus peaking in June and declining towards October; H. japonica showing low numbers in July and August and increasing from September; and H. megaspinosa appearing from September onwards with little variation. Attachment site preferences varied among species, with a significant preference for the pinna in I. ovatus and I. persulcatus. Haemaphysalis japonica was mainly found on the body and legs between June and August, and shifted to the pinna from September. Haemaphysalis megaspinosa showed a general preference for areas other than the legs. Co-occurrence analysis revealed positive, negative and random co-occurrence patterns among the tick species. Ticks of the same genus and species exhibited positive co-occurrence patterns; I. ovatus showed negative co-occurrence patterns with Haemaphysalis spp. This study revealed the unique attachment site preferences and distinct seasonal distributions of tick species in the Hokkaido sika deer.

Host–bacterial communities (microbiomes) are influenced by a wide range of factors including host genotype and parasite exposure. However, few studies disentangle temporal and host-genotype-specific variation in microbiome response to infection across several host tissues. We experimentally exposed the freshwater crustacean Daphnia magna to its fungal parasite Metschnikowia bicuspidata and characterized changes in host–bacterial communities associated with the parasite's development within the host. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to assess bacterial communities of the host (a) 24 h (‘initial parasite exposure’) and (b) 10 days (‘successful infection’) after exposure to a standard dose of M. bicuspidata spores, in host guts, body tissue (excluding guts) and whole individuals. We also investigated whether bacterial community responses to parasite exposure varied by host genotype.

Parasite exposure did not immediately alter host gut bacterial communities, but drove host-genotype-specific changes in the bacterial community composition of whole individuals. We validated that these changes were not driven by shifts in bacterial communities of the culturing medium, due to the addition of the parasite spore solution. Successful infection (i.e. the proliferation of M. bicuspidata spores in the host body) reduced alpha diversity and shifted abundance of dominant bacterial orders in the gut. Moreover, it induced a host-genotype-specific changes in body bacterial community composition. Overall, bacterial community responses to parasite exposure and subsequent infection are complex: they occur in a host-genotype-dependent manner, differentially at distinct timepoints after parasite exposure, and in specific host tissue.

Aurora kinases (AURK) play a central role in controlling cell cycle in a wide range of organisms. They belong to the family of serine-threonine kinase proteins. Their role in the cell cycle includes, among others, the entry into mitosis, maturation of the centrosome and formation of the mitotic spindle. In mammals, 3 isoforms have been described: A, B and C, which are distinguished mainly by their function throughout the cell cycle. Two aurora kinase coding sequences have been identified in the transcriptome of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus (Rm-AURKA and Rm-AURKB) containing the aurora kinase-specific domain. For both isoforms, the highest number of AURK coding transcripts is found in ovaries. Based on deduced amino acid sequences, it was possible to identify non-conserved threonine residues which are essential to AURK functions in vertebrates and which are not present in R. microplus sequences. A pan AURK inhibitor (CCT137690) caused cell viability decline in the BME26 tick embryonic cell line. In silico docking assay showed an interaction between Aurora kinase and CCT137690 with exclusive interaction sites in Rm-AURKA. The characterization of exclusive regions of the enzyme will enable new studies aimed at promoting species-specific enzymatic inhibition in ectoparasites.