Search Results (42)

Coccidiosis represents a major constraint to sheep productivity worldwide, with increasing concerns regarding anticoccidial resistance and growing interest in reducing dependency on conventional synthetic anticoccidials. This investigation evaluated the anticoccidial properties of faveira pods (Parkia platycephala pod—PpP) and their influence on productive performance in naturally infected lambs. Eighteen uncastrated Dorper × Santa Inês crossbred males (20.0 ± 2.5 kg, 5 months) were randomly allocated to three groups: G1 (0% PpP; n = 6), G2 (100% PpP replacing roughage, 30.0% of total diet; n = 6), and the control group (0% PpP plus 20 mg/kg toltrazuril; n = 5). Parasitological assessments, productive performance, and behavioral parameters were monitored over 45 days using oocyst counts, morphometric analysis, digestibility trials, and biometric measurements. Nine Eimeria species were identified, with E. crandallis, E. parva, and E. bakuensis representing 53.5% of total oocyst shedding. Group G2 demonstrated a numerical 8.5% reduction in parasite load compared to G1 (p = 0.42), while toltrazuril achieved 36.6% efficacy (p < 0.05). Species-specific effects were significant for E. crandallis, E. parva, and E. ovinoidalis (p < 0.01). A robust correlation emerged between parasite load and water consumption (r = 0.652, p = 0.0045), establishing a novel behavioral biomarker for coccidiosis monitoring. Environmental oocyst elimination decreased by 43.4% in the P. platycephala group. These findings demonstrate that PpPs possess moderate anticoccidial properties, offering a sustainable complementary strategy for integrated coccidiosis management while contributing to environmental sustainability. Full article

This study evaluated the performance of a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) integrated with macroalgae (Ulva ohnoi) cultivation and sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) feeding, in a multi-trophic aquaculture approach. This system aimed to enhance sustainability through water bioremediation by macroalgae and valorization of the algal biomass as echinoderms feed. Over a 180-day trial, biomass production of U. ohnoi remained stable, with daily growth rates ranging from 7.4 to 24.4%. Statistical analyses (PCA and GAM) indicated no significant linear or non-linear relationship between macroalgae growth and environmental parameters (temperature, radiation, photoperiod). A theoretical estimate of nutrient production showed fairly stable values that do not statistically explain biomass production variation, highlighting the species’ adaptability. Sea urchins fed with fresh U. ohnoi showed regular growth, supporting the nutritional suitability of this macroalgae. For fish (Sparus aurata), no significant differences in growth or feed conversion ratio were observed between systems with and without algae. Parasitological monitoring revealed lower parasite loads and egg deposition in tanks in recirculation with U. ohnoi during certain periods, suggesting a potential role of macroalgae in reducing monogenean propagation. These findings underscore the feasibility of integrating Ulva cultivation into RAS, contributing to circular aquaculture models with improved sustainability and resource efficiency. Full article

Hares (Lepus europaeus and Lepus timidus) play important ecological and economic roles in Kazakhstan; however, data on their parasitic fauna are scarce. This study aimed to assess the diversity, prevalence, and genetic characteristics of endoparasites in wild hare populations from central and northern Kazakhstan. From November 2022 to February 2025, 107 hares (L. europaeus, n = 46; L. timidus, n = 61) were collected in the Akmola and Karaganda regions. Parasitological and coprological analyses were conducted. Genetic and phylogenetic analyses were performed using partial sequences of the mitochondrial cox1 and nad1 genes and a partial 28S rDNA region to assess the genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships of selected parasite genera. Seven parasite taxa were identified: Mosgovoyia pectinata (6.5% in L. europaeus, 11.5% in L. timidus), Cysticercus pisiformis (4.3% in Le, 3.3% in Lt), Coenurus serialis (3.3%, only in Lt), Passalurus ambiguus (6.5% in Le, 4.9% in Lt), Nematodirus leporis (36.6% in Le, 13.4% in Lt), Eimeria spp. (9.1% in Le, 3.8% in Lt), and Trichuris leporis (1.9%, only in Lt). Genetic methods confirmed species identity and revealed phylogenetic relationships. This is the first genetically confirmed survey of endoparasites in hares in Kazakhstan. The results contribute valuable data to regional parasitology and support the need for continued wildlife health monitoring. Full article

Background: A comparative analysis was conducted between two immunisation protocols using different amounts of protein extracts from adult Haemonchus contortus worms, purified by thiol-Sepharose chromatography (625 μg/animal vs. 200 μg/animal). These protocols involved either five or two inoculations of the immunogen, respectively. Methods: To evaluate the level of immunoprotection, animals were challenged with L3 of H. contortus two weeks after the last inoculation of the immunogen and humanely sacrificed at 8 weeks post-infection. Parasitological, biopathological, and serological parameters were monitored through the experiment. Parasite burden, abomasal-specific antibody responses, and histopathological changes were determined at the end of the trial. Results: The immunisation protocols resulted in similar reductions in cumulative faecal egg counts (60.5–64.9%) and the total worm burden (47.5–50%) compared to non-immunized (control) animals. Overall, these parasitological data showed an early recovery of the haematocrit (PCV) after challenge in the immunised groups relative to control. Similarly, levels of H. contortus-specific IgG and IgA antibodies increased in both the serum and gastric mucus of immunised groups. Conclusions: These findings represent a further step towards the potential application of this type of immunogen under field conditions, as protective responses (associated with a reduction in faecal egg output) were achieved using a simplified protocol, with lower immunogen doses and fewer inoculations required to induce immunoprotection, thereby mitigating the pathological effects of the parasite and reducing its ability to spread and infect susceptible hosts. Full article

The Gran Acuario Mazatlán (GAM), Mexico’s largest aquarium, is located at the entrance of the Gulf of California. In April 2023, fish in the Ocean Tank (OT) began exhibiting disease symptoms, followed by significant mortality, primarily affecting Caranx caninus, Chaetodipterus zonatus, and Lutjanus colorado. Parasitological examinations identified heavy infestations of Neobenedenia sp. (Monogenea: Capsalidae), with parasites extensively covering body surfaces and gills of some individuals. To control the outbreak, an environmental management strategy was implemented, involving a gradual reduction in water temperature (from 26 °C to 22 °C) and salinity (from 35 ppt to 26 ppt), increased cleaning frequency, and parasite egg abundance monitoring. Over time, egg abundance declined, and by July, fish behavior and feeding rates had returned to normal, with parasite-associated mortality dropping below 2%. Preventive measures, including strict quarantine protocols for new fish, have been implemented to maintain optimal conditions in the OT. This case highlights the challenges of managing parasite outbreaks in large, multi-species aquaria and underscores the importance of environmental control strategies in marine animal care. Full article

Strongyloidiasis, caused by the soil-transmitted helminth Strongyloides stercoralis, is estimated to infect around 600 million people worldwide. Ivermectin is the current first-line treatment. This prospective study evaluated long-term treatment response in patients with chronic strongyloidiasis. Conducted from 2019 to 2022 at Vega Baja Hospital in Alicante, Spain, this study enrolled 28 patients diagnosed with S. stercoralis infection. Patients received ivermectin at a dosage of 200 mcg/kg for one or two days and were followed for at least 12 months, with evaluations at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months post-treatment. Assessments included hemogram, IgE, Strongyloides serology, larvae culture and direct visualization and Strongyloides PCR in stool. Twenty-three patients completed at least 12 months of follow-up. Twenty-one patients (91.3%) achieved treatment response. Two patients (8.6%) experienced parasitological treatment failure, with detectable Strongyloides stercoralis DNA during follow-up. Ivermectin is highly effective in treating strongyloidiasis, with serology aiding in monitoring treatment efficacy. However, PCR detected an additional case of persistent infection, underscoring its complementary role. Full article

The aim of this research was to assess welfare indicators in different dairy cow management systems, determine the prevalence of parasitic infections, and examine the impact of these infections on welfare indicators. This study was conducted in 2024 on 45 Holstein-Friesian cows aged 2 to 6 years (first to third lactation) in Northern Serbia. Monitoring was carried out in tie stall, loose, and pasture-based systems, covering three production phases: late dry period, clinical puerperium, and peak lactation. Cow welfare was evaluated using the Welfare Quality^® protocol, and parasitological diagnostics from fecal samples. Identified welfare issues included a low body condition score (BCS), dirtiness of udders, flanks, and legs, integument alterations, nasal and ocular discharge, lameness, and diarrhea. Cows in the pasture-based system had significantly higher scores for dirtiness (p < 0.001), while those in tie stalls showed more integument alterations (p < 0.001). Loose-housed cows had higher nasal discharge scores (p < 0.001). Parasites identified included Eimeria spp., Buxtonella sulcata, gastrointestinal strongylids, Moniezia spp., Dicrocoelium dendriticum, Fasciola hepatica, and Paramphistomum spp. Significant correlations (p < 0.001) were found between certain welfare indicators and parasite infections, such as a low BCS with Eimeria oocysts and nasal discharge and hairless patches with Buxtonella sulcata and Dicrocoelium dendriticum. These data indicate needs for improving dairy cows’ welfare and the implementation of effective parasite control measures in all housing systems. Full article

This study investigated the abundance of zooplankton copepods and ostracods taxonomic groups in fish farms in Rondônia’s Vale do Jamari and Centro-Leste microregions during the rainy and dry seasons. It also analyzed the correlation between zooplanktons abundance and the presence of acanthocephalan parasites. Conducted in 41 fish farms between November 2021 and September 2023, the study included water, zooplankton, and fish samples from 196 Colossoma macropomum. The results showed that 95% of the farms had fish infected with Neoechinorhynchus buttnerae, with varying parasitism levels. Georeferencing revealed higher parasite densities in the municipalities of Ariquemes, Monte Negro, Machadinho do Oeste, and Buritis (Vale do Jamari), as well as Urupá, Ji-Paraná, Ouro Preto do Oeste, and Teixeirópolis (Centro-Leste), with clusters of heat islands in the latter group. Water quality parameters were suitable for raising C. macropomum. The presence of ostracods and copepods could serve as indicators of parasitic infestations, highlighting the importance of monitoring zooplankton and parasite communities. This approach is valuable for detecting changes in artificial ecosystems, such as fish farms, which could lead to significant long-term effects. Full article

Dirofilariosis, a mosquito-borne disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens, affects canids, felids and occasionally humans. Recent evidence suggests that D. immitis prevalence is rising in the canine populations in several areas of Brazil, even those historically considered to be non-endemic, highlighting the need for ongoing surveillance. However, prevalence studies are frequently based on inference from single diagnostic methods, and it is acknowledged that this may lead to biases and an underestimation of the disease situation. Thus, this cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of Dirofilaria spp. infection in dogs and cats across suburban and urban areas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The investigation was conducted using a multi-diagnostic approach with binomial generalised linear models (GLMs) applied to investigate the association between the occurrence of infection and potential disease determinants. Blood samples from 497 dogs and 107 cats, collected at a veterinary mobile neutering unit, underwent parasitological, serological and molecular testing to detect Dirofilaria spp. infections. Among the dog samples, an overall 7.44% tested positive for D. immitis infection, while D. repens was not detected. In contrast, no cat samples tested positive for either parasite species. Prevalence was notably higher in suburban areas (14.47%) than in the urban area of Rio de Janeiro (6.17%) (p = 0.003). Dogs aged over two years had a higher risk of being infected (p < 0.001), while features such as breed, sex, size, coat type, use of macrocyclic lactones or access to outdoor spaces were not found to be predictive factors. This study reinforces the evidence that the prevalence of D. immitis is increasing in areas previously considered to have low prevalence or to be non-endemic. It also suggests that environmental and socioeconomic factors may play a key role in determining the current epidemiological status of this parasite. These findings highlight the need for increased monitoring in high-risk areas, targeted prevention and public awareness to address this emerging One Health concern. Full article

Stress and dermatosis or itching are strictly related to mange caused by Sarcoptes spp. and Chorioptes spp. mites, which are particularly stressful in alpacas. Treatment is challenging due to limited options, poor response, and low topical efficacy. Paradoxically, veterinary procedures can exacerbate stress, worsening the clinical conditions of these fragile prey species. This case report aims to highlight the key role of stress in the onset and evolution of dermatological diseases. Three alpacas, introduced to an animal theme park, developed dermatological issues three months later. Clinical exams revealed mild itching, and alopecic and hyperkeratotic lesions on their ears, belly, and limbs. Skin scrapings confirmed Sarcoptes scabiei and Chorioptes bovis. Subcutaneous ivermectin was administered at 0.2 mg/kg, repeated at 7, 14, and 21 days. Weekly inspections monitored disease progression and stress responses, including increased vigilance, running, jumping, vocalizations, tachycardia, and tachypnoea. Due to the persistent stress and despite positive parasitological test results, treatment was suspended after day 21, with remote disease monitoring. A month later, the parasitological exam was negative, and three months later, all alpacas showed no clinical signs of complete hair regrowth. Understanding and addressing stress in alpacas is vital in veterinary practice for effective disease management and overall well-being. Full article

Our survey in the Mediterranean region of Türkiye revealed high prevalence of Babesia aktasi in goats, while no molecular evidence of the parasite was found in sheep grazing in the same pasture. We hypothesized that the parasite may not be infectious to sheep. To test this hypothesis, the present study was designed to evaluate the susceptibility of Akkaraman sheep breed to B. aktasi infection. Fifteen mL of fresh blood infected with B. aktasi was injected into immune-suppressed lambs (n = 5). The recipient lambs were monitored daily for clinical signs of babesiosis over 30 days, and blood was collected for microscopic and molecular diagnostic evaluation. The lambs did not display clinical and parasitological signs of babesiosis. Two out of five recipient lambs were nested PCR-negative for B. aktasi over 30 days post infection. Out of the remaining three lambs, two were PCR positive on the first day, and one recipient was positive until the fourth day post infection. DNA sequencing confirmed that the PCR positivity in the recipient lambs originated from the inoculum. These findings revealed that immune-suppressed sheep do not appear to be susceptible to infection with B. aktasi that is lethal to immune-suppressed indigenous goats. Full article

Protozoa detection and classification from freshwaters and microscopic imaging are critical components in environmental monitoring, parasitology, science, biological processes, and scientific research. Bacterial and parasitic contamination of water plays an important role in society health. Conventional methods often rely on manual identification, resulting in time-consuming analyses and limited scalability. In this study, we propose a real-time protozoa detection framework using the YOLOv4 algorithm, a state-of-the-art deep learning model known for its exceptional speed and accuracy. Our dataset consists of objects of the protozoa species, such as Bdelloid Rotifera, Stylonychia Pustulata, Paramecium, Hypotrich Ciliate, Colpoda, Lepocinclis Acus, and Clathrulina Elegans, which are in freshwaters and have different shapes, sizes, and movements. One of the major properties of our work is to create a dataset by forming different cultures from various water sources like rainwater and puddles. Our network architecture is carefully tailored to optimize the detection of protozoa, ensuring precise localization and classification of individual organisms. To validate our approach, extensive experiments are conducted using real-world microscopic image datasets. The results demonstrate that the YOLOv4-based model achieves outstanding detection accuracy and significantly outperforms traditional methods in terms of speed and precision. The real-time capabilities of our framework enable rapid analysis of large-scale datasets, making it highly suitable for dynamic environments and time-sensitive applications. Furthermore, we introduce a user-friendly interface that allows researchers and environmental professionals to effortlessly deploy our YOLOv4-based protozoa detection tool. We conducted f1-score 0.95, precision 0.92, sensitivity 0.98, and mAP 0.9752 as evaluating metrics. The proposed model achieved 97% accuracy. After reaching high efficiency, a desktop application was developed to provide testing of the model. The proposed framework’s speed and accuracy have significant implications for various fields, ranging from a support tool for paramesiology/parasitology studies to water quality assessments, offering a powerful tool to enhance our understanding and preservation of ecosystems. Full article

(1) Background: Malaria remains a significant global public health issue. Since parasites quickly became resistant to most of the available antimalarial drugs, treatment effectiveness must be constantly monitored. In Brazil, up to 10% of cases of vivax malaria resistant to chloroquine (CQ) have been registered. Unlike P. falciparum, there are no definitive molecular markers for the chemoresistance of P. vivax to CQ. This work aimed to investigate whether polymorphisms in the pvcrt-o and pvmdr1 genes could be used as markers for assessing its resistance to CQ. (2) Methods: A total of 130 samples from P. vivax malaria cases with no clinical and/or parasitological evidence of CQ resistance were studied through polymerase chain reaction for gene amplification followed by target DNA sequencing. (3) Results: In the pvcrt-o exons, the K10 insert was present in 14% of the isolates. Regarding pvmdr1, T958M and F1076L haplotypes showed frequencies of 95% and 3%, respectively, while the SNP Y976F was not detected. (4) Conclusions: Since K10-pvcrt-o and F1076L/T958M-pvmdr1 polymorphisms were detected in samples from patients who responded well to CQ treatment, it can be concluded that mutations in these genes do not seem to have a potential for association with the phenotype of CQ resistance. Full article

Preventive chemotherapy with single-dose praziquantel is the WHO-recommended intervention strategy to eliminate schistosomiasis as a public health problem in endemic countries. Surveillance of drugs used in mass drug administration (MDA) programs is recommended to evaluate its effectiveness in reducing transmissions. After a decade-long implementation of a school-based MDA program in Rwanda, we conducted efficacy surveillance of single-dose praziquantel MDA against S. mansoni infection. Two weeks before MDA, stool examinations were performed to screen MDA-eligible school children (n = 4998) for S. mansoni infection using the Kato–Katz technique, and 265 (6.5%) children tested positive for the infection. All children received praziquantel and albendazole as preventive chemotherapy through the MDA campaign. Infected children were enrolled and followed for efficacy monitoring, and stool examination was repeated after three weeks post-MDA (n = 188). Before treatment, 173 (92%) had a light infection, and 15 (8%) had a moderate infection intensity. The primary and secondary outcomes were parasitological cure and egg reduction rates at three weeks post-treatment. The overall cure and egg reduction rates for S. mansoni infection were 97.9% (95% CI = 94.6–99.4) and 97.02%, respectively. Among the 173 children with light infection intensity, 170 (98.3%, 95% CI = 95.0–99.6) were cured, and among the 15 children who had moderate infection intensity, 14 (93.3%) were cured. No significant association between cure rate and pre-treatment infection intensity was observed. We conclude that single-dose praziquantel is efficacious against light-to-moderate S. mansoni infection. Preventive chemotherapy with praziquantel effectively reduces schistosome reservoirs and transmission among school-age children. Full article

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. Full article