In this study, we evaluated the efficacy, expressed as a mean weight decrease of the whole echinococcal cyst mass, of novel benzimidazole salt formulations in a murine Echinococcus granulosus infection model. BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally infected with protoscoleces of E. granulosus (genotype G1). At 9 months post-infection, treatment with albendazole (ABZ), ricobendazole (RBZ) salt formulations, and RBZ enantiomer salts (R)-(+)-RBZ-Na and (S)-(−)-RBZ-Na formulations were initiated. Drugs were orally applied by gavage at 10 mg kg−1 body weight per day during 30 days. Experimental treatments with benzimidazole sodium salts resulted in a significant reduction of the weight of cysts compared to conventional ABZ treatment, except for the (S)-(−)-RBZ-Na enantiomer formulation. Scanning electron microscopy and histological inspection revealed that treatments impacted not only the structural integrity of the parasite tissue in the germinal layer, but also induced alterations in the laminated layer. Overall, these results demonstrate the improved efficacy of benzimidazole salt formulations compared to conventional ABZ treatment in experimental murine cystic echinococcosis.

We investigate the factors associated with the occurrence and abundance of external and blood parasites in African penguins (Spheniscus demersus), an endangered seabird that breeds exclusively on the coasts of Namibia and South Africa. External parasites were collected using the dust-ruffling method from 171 African Penguins admitted at a rehabilitation facility in the Western Cape, South Africa. Additionally, blood smears were obtained upon admission and weekly during rehabilitation and examined for blood parasites. Fleas Parapsyllus longicornis humboldti, ticks Ornithodoros capensis and lice Austrogoniodes demersus were recovered from 93, 63 and 40%, respectively, of the penguins upon admission to the centre. Rescue location and age group were identified as significant determinants of flea abundance, whereas month of admission was a significant determinant of tick abundance. Blood parasites were also common on admission, with Babesia being the most frequent (46% prevalence) whereas Borrelia was recorded sporadically (1.2%) and Plasmodium was recorded once. The prevalence and abundance of ticks on admission was positively associated with Babesia infection on admission. Our findings demonstrate the variability and contributing factor of parasite infections in an endangered species of penguin, and highlight the need for additional research on the parasite–host dynamics involving these potential disease vectors.

The parasitic species of the Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (sl) complex are the causative agents of cystic echinococcosis in humans. The lifecycle of E. granulosus sl is essentially domestic, and is based on the consumption by dogs of hydatid cysts in viscera of livestock species. The aim of this study was to survey E. granulosus sensu lato in livestock in France. A 1-year national survey of E. granulosus sl in livestock at the slaughterhouse was organized in 2012 in France, with systematic molecular confirmation. The prevalence of E. granulosus ss nationally was 0.002% in sheep, mainly focused in the Alpine area, and 0.001% in cattle, with the distribution of cases throughout the country. Echinococcus canadensis G6/7 was observed only in Corsica in pigs, with a prevalence of nearly 1% in the island. A national prevalence of 0.0002% was estimated for E. ortleppi in cattle, due to seven cases distributed in two foci. The results of this survey are of particular interest because of the zoonotic risk associated with the presence of these parasite species, for which systematic control at the slaughterhouse should enable their elimination.

Cerebral angiostrongyliasis is a central nervous system disease caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis and can produce eosinophilic meningitis or meningoencephalitis in humans. Sero-immunological techniques, such as the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting, are most commonly used for the diagnosis of human angiostrongyliasis. However, diagnosis in remote areas remains problematic because sophisticated equipment and specialized skills are required. To overcome, we have developed the immunochromatographic test (ICT) kit for rapid serological diagnosis of angiostrongyliasis through the detection of anti-A. cantonensis-specific antibodies in human serum. A recombinant A. cantonensis galectin-2 (rAcGal2) from young adult female worms was used as an antigen for the ICT kit development. Diagnostic values were evaluated and compared using the ELISA. The sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of the ICT kit were 87.0, 96.5, 94.6 and 91.4%, respectively, and those of the ELISA were 91.0, 97.2, 95.8 and 94.0%, respectively. The concordance of the ICT kit was 93.9%. We, thus, determined that the ICT kit is sensitive and specific and provides reliable diagnostic results. It is rapid and simple to perform and can be utilized for both point-of-care diagnosis in the bedside laboratory and epidemiological surveys in endemic regions where access to diagnostic equipment is limited.

Capping and shedding of ectodomains in Trypanosoma cruzi may be triggered by different ligands. Here, we analysed the mobility and shedding of cell surface components of living trypomastigotes of the Y strain and the CL Brener clone in the presence of poly-L-lysine, cationized ferritin (CF) and Concanavalin A (Con A). Poly-L-lysine and CF caused intense shedding in Y strain parasites. Shedding was less intense in CL Brener trypomastigotes, and approximately 10% of these parasites did not show any decrease in poly L-lysine or CF labelling. Binding of Con A induced low-intensity shedding in Y strain and redistribution of Con A-binding sites in CL Brener parasites. Trypomastigotes of the Y strain showed intense labelling with anti-〈-galactosyl antibodies, resulting in the lysis of approximately 30% of their population, in contrast with what was observed in CL Brener parasites. Incubation with Con A and CF protected trypomastigotes of the Y strain from lysis by anti-αGal. The last treatment did not interfere with the survival of the CL Brener parasites. This study corroborates with the idea that a ligand can differentially modulate the cell surface of T. cruzi, depending on the strain used, resulting in variable immune system responses and recognition by host cells.

Here we report on the infection of captive crested geckos Correlophus ciliatus Guichenot (Reptilia: Diplodactylidae), with adults of the ascaridoid nematode, Hexametra angusticaecoides Chabaud & Brygoo, 1960 (Ascarididae). A population of captive crested geckoes became ill and died within a short period of time. Nematodes were recovered from the crested geckoes examined from within the coelomic cavity, penetrating various organs and migrating through subcutaneous tissues, as well as emerging through the geckos' skin. One gecko was treated with levamisole following surgical excision of nematodes from under the skin; this gecko survived. The potential source of the nematode infection in the captive geckoes is discussed. It is most likely that wild-caught Madagascan mossy geckoes, Uroplatus sikorae Boettger (Reptilia: Gekkonidae), introduced the infection to the colony. Molecular sequences of the nematodes are the first produced for the members of this genus. A redescription of the species and its genetic characterization based on the internal transcribed spacer sequence data is provided, suggesting some of the morphological criteria that have been used in the past to distinguish between Hexametra spp. may have been intraspecific morphological variations.

As genomic research continues to improve our understanding of the genetics of anthelmintic drug resistance, the revolution in DNA sequencing technologies will provide increasing opportunities for large-scale surveillance for the emergence of drug resistance. In most countries, parasite control in cattle and bison has mainly depended on pour-on macrocyclic lactone formulations resulting in widespread ivermectin resistance. Consequently, there is an increased interest in using benzimidazole drugs which have been used comparatively little in cattle and bison in recent years. This situation, together with our understanding of benzimidazole resistance genetics, provides a practical opportunity to use deep-amplicon sequencing to assess the risk of drug resistance emergence. In this paper, we use deep-amplicon sequencing to scan for those mutations in the isotype-1 β-tubulin gene previously associated with benzimidazole resistance in many trichostrongylid nematode species. We found that several of these mutations occur at low frequency in many cattle and bison parasite populations in North America, suggesting increased use of benzimidazole drugs in cattle has the potential to result in widespread emergence of resistance in multiple parasite species. This work illustrates a post-genomic approach to large-scale surveillance of early emergence of anthelmintic resistance in the field.

Toxoplasma gondii rhoptry protein TgROP18 is a polymorphic virulence effector that targets immunity-related GTPases (IRGs) in rodents. Given that IRGs are uniquely diversified in rodents and not in other T. gondii intermediate hosts, the role of TgROP18 in manipulating non-rodent cells is unclear. Here we show that in human cells TgROP18I interacts with the interferon-gamma-inducible protein N-myc and STAT interactor (NMI) and that this is a property that is unique to the type I TgROP18 allele. Specifically, when expressed ectopically in mammalian cells only TgROP18I co-immunoprecipitates with NMI in IFN-γ-treated cells, while TgROP18II does not. In parasites expressing TgROP18I or TgROP18II, NMI only co-immunoprecipitates with TgROP18I and this is associated with allele-specific immunolocalization of NMI on the parasitophorous vacuolar membrane (PVM). We also found that TgROP18I reduces NMI association with IFN-γ-activated sequences (GAS) in the IRF1 gene promoter. Finally, we determined that polymorphisms in the C-terminal kinase domain of TgROP18I are required for allele-specific effects on NMI. Together, these data further define new host pathway targeted by TgROP18I and provide the first function driven by allelic differences in the highly polymorphic ROP18 locus.

Haplosporidian protist parasites are a major concern for aquatic animal health, as they have been responsible for some of the most significant marine epizootics on record. Despite their impact on food security, aquaculture and ecosystem health, characterizing haplosporidian diversity, distributions and host range remains challenging. In this study, water filtering bivalve species, cockles Cerastoderma edule, mussels Mytilus spp. and Pacific oysters Crassostrea gigas, were screened using molecular genetic assays using deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) markers for the Haplosporidia small subunit ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid region. Two Haplosporidia species, both belonging to the Minchinia clade, were detected in C. edule and in the blue mussel Mytilus edulis in a new geographic range for the first time. No haplosporidians were detected in the C. gigas, Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis or Mytilus hybrids. These findings indicate that host selection and partitioning are occurring amongst cohabiting bivalve species. The detection of these Haplosporidia spp. raises questions as to whether they were always present, were introduced unintentionally via aquaculture and or shipping or were naturally introduced via water currents. These findings support an increase in the known diversity of a significant parasite group and highlight that parasite species may be present in marine environments but remain undetected, even in well-studied host species.

Factors such as the particular combination of parasite–mosquito species, their co-evolutionary history and the host's parasite load greatly affect parasite transmission. However, the importance of these factors in the epidemiology of mosquito-borne parasites, such as avian malaria parasites, is largely unknown. Here, we assessed the competence of two mosquito species [Culex pipiens and Aedes (Ochlerotatus) caspius], for the transmission of four avian Plasmodium lineages (Plasmodium relictum SGS1 and GRW11 and Plasmodium cathemerium-related lineages COLL1 and PADOM01) naturally infecting wild house sparrows. We assessed the effects of parasite identity and parasite load on Plasmodium transmission risk through its effects on the transmission rate and mosquito survival. We found that Cx. pipiens was able to transmit the four Plasmodium lineages, while Ae. caspius was unable to transmit any of them. However, Cx. pipiens mosquitoes fed on birds infected by P. relictum showed a lower survival and transmission rate than those fed on birds infected by parasites related to P. cathemerium. Non-significant associations were found with the host–parasite load. Our results confirm the existence of inter- and intra-specific differences in the ability of Plasmodium lineages to develop in mosquito species and their effects on the survival of mosquitoes that result in important differences in the transmission risk of the different avian malaria parasite lineages studied.

Hubei Province is one of the endemic regions with severe schistosomiasis in China. To eliminate schistosomiasis in lake and marshland regions, this study detected hotspots of schistosomiasis cases both spatially and spatiotemporally on the basis of spatial autocorrelation; clustering and outlier, purely spatial and spatiotemporal cluster analyses at the village level from 2013 to 2017 in Hubei Province. The number of cases confirmed positive by an immunodiagnostic test and etiological diagnosis and advanced schistosomiasis cases dramatically declined during the study period. Significant global spatial autocorrelation of schistosomiasis patients was found at the village level in the whole province in 5 years. Clustering and outlier analysis showed that most HH villages were mainly concentrated along the Yangtze River, especially in Jianghan Plain. Spatial and spatiotemporal cluster analyses showed that significant clusters of the schistosomiasis cases were detected at the village level. In general, space and spatiotemporal clustering of schistosomiasis cases at the village level demonstrated a downward trend from 2013 from 2017 in Hubei Province. High-risk regions included Jianghan Plain along the middle reach of Yangtze River and Yangxin County in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in Hubei Province. To eliminate schistosomiasis, precise control and management of schistosomiasis cases should be strictly implemented. Moreover, comprehensive prevention and control measures should be continuously strengthened in these regions.

The almost universally-occurring aggregated distributions of helminth burdens in host populations have major significance for parasite population ecology and evolutionary biology, but the mechanisms generating heterogeneity remain poorly understood. For the direct life cycle monogenean Discocotyle sagittata infecting rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, variables potentially influencing aggregation can be analysed individually. This study was based at a fish farm where every host individual becomes infected by D. sagittata during each annual transmission period. Worm burdens were examined in one trout population maintained in isolation for 9 years, exposed to self-contained transmission. After this year-on-year recruitment, prevalence was 100% with intensities 10–2628, mean 576, worms per host. Parasite distribution, amongst hosts with the same age and environmental experience, was highly aggregated with variance to mean ratio 834 and negative binomial parameter, k, 0.64. The most heavily infected 20% of fish carried around 80% of the total adult parasite population. Aggregation develops within the first weeks post-infection; hosts typically carried intensities of successive age-specific cohorts that were consistent for that individual, such that heavily-infected individuals carried high numbers of all parasite age classes. Results suggest that host factors alone, operating post-infection, are sufficient to generate strongly overdispersed parasite distributions, rather than heterogeneity in exposure and initial invasion.

Human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) cases are important public health problems due to their zoonotic aspect, with high rates of morbidity and mortality in Brazil. The aim of this this study was to identify spatial patterns in both rates of HVL cases in Brazilian states during the period from 2006 to 2015. This is an ecological study, using geoprocessing tools to create choropleth maps, based on secondary data from open access platforms, to identify priority areas for control actions of the disease. Data were collected in 2017 and analysed according to the global and local Moran's I, using TerraView 4.2.2 software. Similar clusters were observed in neighbouring municipalities in thematic maps of HVL, suggesting spatial similarity in the distribution of the disease in humans mainly in the North and Northeast Regions, which concentrate the states with the highest rates of HVL. Heterogeneous spatial patterns were observed in the distribution of HVL, which show municipalities that need higher priority in the intensification of disease surveillance and control strategies.

The control of gastrointestinal nematodes among ruminants maintained in zoological parks remains difficult due to infective stages develop in the soil. For the purpose to improve the possibilities of the control of gastrointestinal nematodes (genera Trichostrongylus, Nematodirus, Chabertia and Haemonchus) affecting wild captive bovidae ruminants belonging to the subfamilies Antilopinae, Caprinae, Bovinae and Reduncinae, commercial pelleted feed enriched with a blend of 104–105 spores of both filamentous fungi Mucor circinelloides + Duddingtonia flagrans per kg meal was provided for a period of 3.5 years. All animals were dewormed at the beginning of the trial and also when exceeding a cut-off point of 300 eggs per gram of feces (EPG). The anthelmintic efficacy ranged between 96 and 100%. The need for repeating the administration of parasiticide treatment disappeared at the 24th month of study in the Antilopinae individuals, and at the 8th month in the Caprinae, Bovinae and Reduncinae. No side-effects were observed on the skin or in the digestive, respiratory or reproductive system. It was concluded that this strategy provides a sustainable tool for preventing the contamination of paddocks where captive ruminants are maintained, decreasing the risk of infection by gastrointestinal nematodes and consequently the need of frequent deworming.

Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, releases factors, including antigens from the trans-sialidase (TS) superfamily, which modulate the host immune responses. Tc13 antigens belong to group IV of TSs and are characterized by C-terminal EPKSA repeats. Here, we studied the effect of the Tc13 antigen from the Tulahuén strain, Tc13Tul, on primary cultures of splenocytes from naïve BALB/c mice. Recombinant Tc13Tul increased the percentage of viable cells and induced B (CD19+) lymphocyte proliferation. Tc13Tul stimulation also induced secretion of non-specific IgM and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). The same effects were induced by Tc13Tul on splenocytes from naïve C3H/HeJ mice. In vivo administration of Tc13Tul to naïve BALB/c mice increased non-specific IgG in sera. In addition, in vitro cultured splenocytes from Tc13Tul-inoculated mice secreted a higher basal level of non-specific IgM than controls and the in vitro Tc13Tul stimulation of these cells showed an enhanced effect on IgM and IFN-γ secretion. Our results indicate that Tc13Tul may participate in the early immunity in T. cruzi infection by favouring immune system evasion through B-cell activation and non-specific Ig secretion. In contrast, as IFN-γ is an important factor involved in T. cruzi resistance, this may be considered a Tc13Tul effect in favour of the host.

Gastrointestinal helminth infection likely affects the gut microbiome, in turn affecting host health. To investigate the effect of intestinal parasite status on the gut microbiome, parasitic infection surveys were conducted in communities in Nan Province, Thailand. In total, 1047 participants submitted stool samples for intestinal parasite examination, and 391 parasite-positive cases were identified, equating to an infection prevalence of 37.3%. Intestinal protozoan species were less prevalent (4.6%) than helminth species. The most prevalent parasite was the minute intestinal fluke Haplorchis taichui (35.9%). Amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA was conducted to investigate the gut microbiome profiles of H. taichui-infected participants compared with those of parasite-free participants. Prevotella copri was the dominant bacterial operational taxonomic unit (OTU) in the study population. The relative abundance of three bacterial taxa, Ruminococcus, Roseburia faecis and Veillonella parvula, was significantly increased in the H. taichui-infected group. Parasite-negative group had higher bacterial diversity (α diversity) than the H. taichui-positive group. In addition, a significant difference in bacterial community composition (β diversity) was found between the two groups. The results suggest that H. taichui infection impacts the gut microbiome profile by reducing bacterial diversity and altering bacterial community structure in the gastrointestinal tract.

Human cysticercosis is a public health problem caused by Taenia solium metacestodes; thus, eradication of T. solium transmission by vaccination is an urgent requirement. The Cc48 mimotope from T. solium cysticerci was tested expressed in phage particles (mCc48) and chemically synthesized (sCc48) as a vaccine candidate in experimental murine cysticercosis. For this, BALB/c mice were immunized with mCc48 (G1; n = 40), sCc48 (G2; n = 40) and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (G3; n = 40, positive control) and challenged with Taenia crassiceps metacestodes. Another PBS group without parasite challenge was used as a negative control (G4; n = 40). Mice were sacrificed 15, 30, 45 and 60 days post-infection for cysticerci and serum collection. Immunization efficacy was determined by cysticerci counting. Serum samples were tested by ELISA to verify antibody (IgM, IgG, IgA and IgE) and cytokine (IFNγ and IL-4) levels. The sCc48 achieved the highest rates of protection and efficacy (90 and 98%, respectively). The group immunized with mCc48 presented the highest reactivity for IgM, IgG and IgE. All groups presented IL-4, but IFNγ was quite variable among groups. The protection induced by sCc48 synthetic peptide supports further studies of this mimotope as a potential vaccine candidate against cysticercosis.

This study provides a morphological and phylogenetic characterization of two novel species of the order Haplosporida (Haplosporidium carcini n. sp., and H. cranc n. sp.) infecting the common shore crab Carcinus maenas collected at one location in Swansea Bay, South Wales, UK. Both parasites were observed in the haemolymph, gills and hepatopancreas. The prevalence of clinical infections (i.e. parasites seen directly in fresh haemolymph preparations) was low, at ~1%, whereas subclinical levels, detected by polymerase chain reaction, were slightly higher at ~2%. Although no spores were found in any of the infected crabs examined histologically (n = 334), the morphology of monokaryotic and dikaryotic unicellular stages of the parasites enabled differentiation between the two new species. Phylogenetic analyses of the new species based on the small subunit (SSU) rDNA gene placed H. cranc in a clade of otherwise uncharacterized environmental sequences from marine samples, and H. carcini in a clade with other crustacean-associated lineages.

Avian malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by Plasmodium spp. protozoa. Although these parasites have been extensively studied in North America and Eurasia, knowledge on the diversity of Plasmodium, its vectors and avian hosts in Africa is scarce. In this study, we report on natural malarial infections in free-ranging sparrows (Passer domesticus) sampled at Giza Governorate, Egypt. Parasites were morphologically characterized as Plasmodium cathemerium based on the examination of thin blood smears from the avian host. Sequencing a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene showed that the parasite corresponded to lineage PADOM02. Phylogenetic analysis showed that this parasite is closely related to the lineages SERAU01 and PADOM09, both of which are attributed to P. cathemerium. Experimental infection of Culex pipiens complex was successful, with ookinetes first detected at 1-day post infection (dpi), oocysts at 4 dpi and sporozoites at 6 dpi. The massive infection of the salivary glands by sporozoites corroborates that Cx. pipiens complex is a competent vector of PADOM02. Our findings confirm that Plasmodium lineage PADOM02 infects sparrows in urban areas along the Nile River, Egypt, and corroborate that Cx. pipiens complex is a highly competent vector for these parasites. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that this lineage corresponds to the morphospecies P. cathemerium and not P. relictum as previously believed.

Tick-borne diseases caused by Theileria are of economic importance in domestic and wildlife ruminants. The majority of Theileria infects a limited number of host species, supporting the concept of host specificity. However, some Theileria seem to be generalists challenging the host specificity paradigm, such as Theileria sp. (sable) reported from various vertebrate hosts, including African buffalo, cattle, dogs and different antelope species. We tested the hypothesis that T. sp. (sable) uses Bovidae as hosts in general using a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay specific for T. sp. (sable) and a closely related genotype: T. sp. (sable-like). Various antelope species from the Tragelaphini (black wildebeest, blesbuck, blue wildebeest, gemsbuck, sable and waterbuck) tested positive for either T. sp. (sable) or T. sp. (sable-like). However, no African buffalo (n = 238) or cattle (n = 428) sampled in the current study tested positive, suggesting that these latter species are not carrier hosts. The results were confirmed using next-generation sequencing which also indicated at least 13 new genotypes or species found in various antelope and giraffes. Genotypes were found in single host species or in evolutionarily related hosts, suggesting that host specificity in Theileria may be a lineage specific phenomenon likely associated with tick-host-parasite co-evolution.