Search Results (19,414)

Background/Objectives: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare but aggressive skin cancer with a 40% recurrence rate. However, reliable biomarkers for early recurrence detection or treatment guidance are lacking, especially for virus-negative tumors. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), a fragment of tumor-derived cell-free DNA in blood, has emerged across multiple cancers as a minimally invasive precision biomarker to detect minimal residual disease (MRD); predict recurrence; and monitor treatment response. This review’s objective was to summarize recent advances in ctDNA as a tool for therapeutic decision-making in MCC, contextualized by findings in other malignancies. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was performed, focusing on studies published between 2016 and 2026 that evaluate ctDNA in MCC and other cancers. Key prospective trials, observational studies, and case reports were identified through PubMed and relevant conference proceedings. Data on ctDNA assay methods (tumor-informed vs. tumor-agnostic), clinical sensitivity, lead time for recurrence detection, and predictive value for therapy response were extracted and synthesized. Results: Across cancers such as colorectal, lung, and melanoma, ctDNA positivity after curative treatment predicts relapse months in advance of imaging and can guide adjuvant therapy decisions. In MCC, recent studies demonstrate that ctDNA levels correlate with MCC tumor burden and exhibit high sensitivity and specificity for clinically evident disease. Stage I-III MCC patients who were ctDNA-positive within four months of treatment had a 7.4-fold higher recurrence risk within the subsequent 12–18 months of follow-up. Serial ctDNA monitoring may enable earlier intervention in otherwise asymptomatic ctDNA-positive MCC cases, helping distinguish responders from non-responders. Conclusions: ctDNA is an emerging precision biomarker that offers significant prognostic and surveillance utility in MCC. It enables earlier detection of recurrence, potentially allowing treatment to begin before clinical disease manifests. It also helps stratify patients by risk and treatment response, informing personalized surveillance intensity and therapeutic choices. Integrating ctDNA monitoring into MCC management could improve outcomes by guiding timely interventions, although prospective trials are needed to confirm that ctDNA-guided decisions translate to improved patient survival. Formal cost-effectiveness analyses have not yet been conducted and represent an important area for future investigation. Full article

Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly adopted in life-science research for scientific writing, coding, literature synthesis, workflow troubleshooting, and preliminary data interpretation. In microbial genomics and bioinformatics, their appeal is clear because researchers routinely integrate genome annotations, antimicrobial resistance profiles, virulence determinants, taxonomic assignments, microbiome outputs, workflow scripts, and primary literature. Yet this domain also highlights major risks, including hallucinated biological claims, inaccurate citations, irreproducible code, unsupported genotype-to-phenotype inference, and inappropriate clinical or public health framing. This narrative review examines responsible LLM use in microbial genomics as a representative life-science setting where interpretation depends on database provenance, validated workflows, expert assessment, and reproducible evidence chains. It considers applications in genome annotation, antimicrobial resistance interpretation, virulence analysis, microbiome and metagenomics workflows, coding support, and scientific writing. The review further presents MicrobeGuardGPT as a conceptual reliability framework for assessing LLM-assisted microbial genomics outputs before scientific, clinical, or public health use. By connecting task domains, evidence verification, expert validation, and reliability classification, the framework supports risk-aware LLM integration in bioinformatics. Responsible implementation will require domain-specific benchmarks, curated database linkage, transparent reporting, reproducible workflows, human oversight, and governance standards tailored to biological interpretation across research, diagnostic, surveillance, outbreak-response, educational, and translational contexts. Full article

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 exhibits extensive genetic diversity, which has important implications for molecular epidemiology, recombinant-pattern assessment, and antiretroviral resistance surveillance. In Mexico, HIV-1 molecular surveillance has historically relied mainly on partial pol gene sequencing, limiting the ability to compare lineage assignments across gag, pol, and env regions. We analyzed plasma samples from 40 treatment-naïve adults receiving care at a tertiary-care hospital in Mexico using a commercial amplicon-based multiregion HIV-1 genomic sequencing workflow. DeepChek^® was used as the primary workflow for read processing, mutation calling, region-level subtype assignment, and antiretroviral resistance interpretation. Resistance interpretation was restricted to antiretroviral target regions with sufficient coverage, mainly reverse transcriptase, protease, integrase, and capsid, when available. Drug resistance mutations were identified in 6/40 participants (15.0%) when mutation-level resistance findings in RT, PR, and IN were considered; one additional sample showed a capsid inhibitor-nonsusceptible NGS call. NNRTI-associated findings were identified in 2/40 patients (5.0%), whereas NRTI- and PI-associated findings were identified in 1/40 patients (2.5%). Accessory or secondary INSTI-associated substitutions were detected in 2/40 patients (5.0%). Region-level subtype analysis revealed frequent discordant assignments across amplified segments, which is consistent with complex mosaic profiles; however, these findings are interpreted as region-level subtypes and recombinant-pattern assignments rather than continuous whole-genome recombination maps. One sample had insufficient RT/PROT/INT coverage for drug resistance interpretation in the complete DeepChek report and was retained only for regions meeting quality thresholds. These findings support the value of multiregion HIV-1 sequencing for local molecular surveillance while emphasizing the need for transparent region-level coverage reporting, cautious interpretation of recombinant-pattern calls, and transparent repository reporting. Full article

Tropical coastal waters are increasingly recognized as critical reservoirs for virulent, antibiotic-resistant enteric pathogens, yet seasonal dynamics governing their spatial distribution remain poorly characterized. We hypothesized that hydrological shifts and anthropogenic nutrient enrichment drive the seasonal distribution, virulence profiles, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Shigella spp. in the Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka. Across 25 coastal sites during dry and transitional seasons, we integrated physicochemical water quality assessment, culture-based enumeration, PCR-based virulence gene profiling, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) assays, GIS mapping, and statistical analyses. Key water quality parameters, including ammonium, nitrite, and total phosphorus, showed significant seasonal variation (p < 0.05), reflecting distinct hydrological regimes across seasons. A total of 220 E. coli, 200 Salmonella spp., and 100 Shigella spp. isolates were examined for virulence gene profiles and antibiotic tolerance. E. coli was detected at 80–88% of sites, Salmonella spp. at 72–88%, and Shigella spp. at 32–48%. Among E. coli isolates, stx1 was detected at 20–28% of sites and eae at 16% across both seasons. The stn gene was detected in Salmonella spp. at 12–28% of sites seasonally. Virulence profiling confirmed STEC harbouring stx1, stx2, and eae; Salmonella spp. carried stn; and Shigella spp. possessed invasion-associated genes. Trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole resistance was recorded in 63.2% of E. coli, 33.0% of Salmonella spp., and 31.0% of Shigella spp. isolates at the lowest tested concentration of 4 µg/mL., while ciprofloxacin and piperacillin–tazobactam retained greater efficacy. Correlation analyses revealed significant associations among faecal contamination, nutrient enrichment, and virulence gene prevalence, implicating untreated sewage discharge and eutrophication as likely ecological factors associated with pathogen occurrence. These findings designate the Jaffna coastal zone as a significant reservoir of virulent AMR enteric pathogens, underscoring the urgent need for integrated One Health surveillance and seasonally adaptive coastal water quality management. Full article

Background/Objectives: Re-emergence of Haemophilus influenzae serotype b (Hib) was reported in several European countries. We aimed to characterize the age distribution of H. influnezae carriage before and after Hib vaccination. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to reassess H. influenzae carriage dynamics in the pre- and post-Hib vaccination eras, focusing on age-specific patterns in childhood. Searches were performed with no date restriction and included PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, WHO Global Index Medicus, and the Cochrane Library. Eligible studies reported nasopharyngeal and/or oropharyngeal carriage prevalence and serotype distribution. Pooled estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects models, with age-stratified analyses. Results: Twenty-two studies were included (12 pre- and 10 post-Hib vaccination). Pre-vaccination, pooled H. influenzae carriage prevalence was 24.3% (95% CI, 18.9–30.7%), including 6% (95% CI, 3.4–12.8%) for Hib and 17.5% (95% CI, 12.6–23.9%) for non–type b strains. Post-vaccination, overall carriage remained similar (21.8%; 95% CI, 14.6–31.2%), but Hib carriage declined markedly to 0.67% (95% CI, 0.26–1.71%), while non–type b strains predominated (16.7%; 95% CI, 10.4–25.6%). Meta-analysis showed that carriage peaked around 4–5 years of age and persisted into later childhood. Conclusions: Hib vaccination has reduced Hib carriage, but overall H. influenzae carriage persists due to non–type b strains. Age-related persistence of carriage may have implications for herd protection, particularly in the context of evolving vaccination schedules with early childhood boosters. Continued surveillance integrating carriage and immunological data is needed to inform optimization of vaccination strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: To externally validate and compare four postoperative upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) nomograms in a contemporary Australian radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) cohort, and to identify independent clinicopathological predictors of survival. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study across a multi-site tertiary service in Victoria of patients who underwent RNU for localised UTUC between January 2011 and December 2021. Patients were excluded if RNU was performed for non-UTUC-related reasons or if they had incomplete data. Univariable and multivariable Cox models assessed prognostic factors. Discrimination of the nomograms was evaluated using Harrell’s C-index with bootstrap-corrected calibration. Results: Of 142 total patients undergoing RNU, 103 were included in the final study cohort. In our multivariable Cox regression analysis, increasing age, sessile architecture and higher tumour stage emerged as independent predictive factors for worse overall survival (OS). For cancer-specific survival (CSS), increasing age, higher tumour stage, tumour location in the kidney, and synchronous tumours in the kidney and ureter were statistically significant. Four nomograms (Seisen, Abdul-Muhsin, Cha and Roupret) were identified. External validation showed the best discrimination of CSS for Seisen (C-index 0.814, 95% CI 0.687–0.915); Abdul-Muhsin had good OS but moderate CSS discrimination (C-index 0.708 and 0.651), Cha showed good CSS but excellent recurrence-free survival (RFS) discrimination (C-index 0.770 and 0.826) and Roupret CSS nomogram showed good CSS discrimination (C-index 0.789, 95 CI (0.653, 0.900). Conclusions: The Seisen nomogram provided the most accurate, well-calibrated five-year cancer-specific predictions after RNU, outperforming the Abdul-Muhsin, Cha and the Roupret models, likely due to its weighting of age, location, and sessile architecture, which are independent predictors of worse CSS. These data endorse a risk-adapted strategy using the Seisen nomogram to guide postoperative counselling, surveillance intensity, and consideration for adjuvant therapy. Full article

Excessive fluoride intake from drinking water remains a public health concern in geogenic high-fluoride regions, yet direct evidence linking environmental fluoride levels to internal exposure in remote high-altitude areas is limited. This study integrated environmental monitoring with human biomonitoring to assess fluoride exposure and health risks in the Taruo Lake region of the Tibetan Plateau. Surface water (n = 45 for Taruo Lake; n = 8 for its tributaries) and groundwater samples (n = 4) were collected and analyzed for fluoride concentrations, and blood ionic fluoride (BIF) levels were measured in 122 local residents (47 adults, 75 children). The results showed that fluoride concentrations in most surface water tributaries of Taruo Lake and groundwater sources were below China’s drinking water standard, whereas those in Taruo Lake exceeded this limit (routine monitoring mean 2.54 mg/L; multi-site mean 2.79 mg/L). BIF levels were significantly higher in adults (0.126 ± 0.041 mg/L) than in children (0.075 ± 0.032 mg/L) and showed a positive correlation with age (r = 0.533, p < 0.001). Notably, 23.4% of adults and 1.3% of children exceeded 0.15 mg/L, an empirical threshold typical for healthy populations in non-endemic areas. Based on the hazard quotient (HQ) model recommended by the US EPA, most drinking water sources posed acceptable non-carcinogenic risks (HQ < 1). In contrast, Taruo Lake water presented an elevated risk (HQ > 1) in 2024 primarily due to the regional geological background, and although not used for daily drinking, this finding offers an indicative reference for local water management and risk prevention. This preliminary monitoring and biomonitoring assessment provides baseline data for future studies and underscores the necessity of continuous surveillance and evaluation of total dietary fluoride intake to protect the health of this vulnerable high-altitude population. Full article

Background: Infectious diseases remain a leading cause of mortality in South Africa, compounded by a high HIV prevalence. This study aimed to delineate the spectrum and clinicopathological characteristics of fatal infectious diseases through a postmortem audit to inform clinical practice and public health strategy. Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on all autopsies with a final cause of death attributed to infectious disease at a National Health Laboratory Service, in Northern Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa, from 2012 to 2021. Using the Systematised Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED) code and word search engines codes, 55 cases were identified. Data on demographics, clinical presentation, HIV status, antiretroviral therapy (ART), comorbidities, and final autopsy diagnosis were extracted from the laboratory information system. Histological confirmation was performed using standard stains. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted using STATA-18. Results: The cohort (n = 55) had a median age of 31 years (IQR 19–45) and was predominantly female (67%). HIV prevalence was 35%, with 68% of those on ART. The leading cause of death was multilobar pneumonia (36%), followed by bronchopneumonia (22%). AIDS-defining illnesses were present in 27% of cases, with disseminated tuberculosis being the most common (46%). Septic shock was identified in 18% of decedents. A significant proportion (60%) of the cohort was HIV-negative. Conclusions: This autopsy series reveals a high burden of fatal community-acquired pneumonias and HIV-associated opportunistic infections, with a notable proportion of deaths occurring in HIV-negative individuals. The findings underscore diagnostic gaps and highlight the critical role of autopsy in accurate mortality surveillance, advocating for enhanced antemortem diagnostic protocols and targeted public health interventions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Differentiating recurrent disease from postsurgical changes on ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) remains challenging in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). This study aimed to characterize the temporal patterns of postsurgical FDG uptake and evaluate the diagnostic performance of FDG PET/CT for detecting recurrent disease after radical surgery. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 91 postsurgical PET/CT scans from 45 patients with MPM who underwent extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP; n = 29) or pleurectomy/decortication (P/D; n = 16). Scans were stratified into four postoperative time intervals: <6 months, 6 to <12 months, 12 to <24 months, and ≥24 months. FDG uptake in the postsurgical bed and local recurrent lesions was quantified using maximum standardized uptake value ratios normalized to the mediastinal blood pool and liver. Recurrence was confirmed by histopathology or follow-up imaging. Results: Postsurgical FDG uptake showed a time-dependent decline, with significantly lower uptake beyond 24 months postoperatively (p < 0.05). EPP patients demonstrated significantly higher postsurgical FDG uptake than P/D patients (p < 0.01). FDG PET/CT identified occult recurrence in 23.4% of CT-negative scans. Local recurrent lesions showed significantly higher FDG uptake than postsurgical changes across all postoperative intervals (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Postsurgical FDG uptake in MPM demonstrates a time-dependent decline, and surgical extent is an important determinant of background metabolic activity. Despite this variable background, FDG PET/CT demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for detecting recurrent disease, including CT-occult recurrences. Incorporating surgical type and postoperative interval into PET/CT interpretation may improve diagnostic accuracy in postoperative MPM surveillance. Full article

Background: Left ventricular (LV) dysfunction remains the leading cause of mortality in transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia (TDßT), yet conventional echocardiography often fails to detect early myocardial impairment. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate LV function in children with TDßT using three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) and speckle-tracking strain analysis, comparing diagnostic performance with conventional two-dimensional (2D) parameters. Results: 50 TDßT patients were compared to 50 matched controls and exhibited preserved conventional LV ejection fraction (EF) on 2D (65.31 ± 7.12% vs. 69.21 ± 3.87%, p = 0.001), but 3DE revealed significant ventricular dilation with higher end-diastolic volume index (75.50 ± 17.99 vs. 65.63 ± 11.86 mL/m², p = 0.002) and end-systolic volume index (22.28 ± 7.85 vs. 18.21 ± 5.14 mL/m², p = 0.003). Despite preserved 3D EF (70.79 ± 5.98% vs. 72.07 ± 5.76%, p = 0.276), global longitudinal strain (GLS) was significantly impaired (−18.56 ± 2.37% vs. −21.47 ± 1.86%, p < 0.001). 3D volumetric parameters demonstrated superior diagnostic performance (AUC for LVEDVI Z-score = 0.874) compared to conventional indices. Transfusion duration correlated strongly with ventricular volumes (r = 0.569 for EDV, p < 0.001), while serum ferritin showed no significant correlation with cardiac parameters. Conclusions: Children with TDßT develop early subclinical LV dysfunction detectable by 3DE and strain analysis despite preserved conventional systolic indices. 3D volumetry and GLS should be integrated into routine cardiac surveillance protocols to enable timely therapeutic intervention. Full article

Mosquito control personnel work within health departments, public works, private companies, and other agencies. These essential outdoor workers have highly specialized training and are faced with a variety of potential health and safety hazards (e.g., arthropod bites and stings, exposure to insecticides and other chemicals, working with heavy equipment, noise, heat, solar ultraviolet radiation, slips, trips, and/or falls). Mosquito control personnel undergo employer-provided and other types of training on a variety of topics from regulatory updates to new surveillance and control techniques that are required for safety purposes and to maintain their applicator license. Here, an exploratory baseline survey was conducted among members of the North Carolina Mosquito and Vector Control Association (NCMVCA) and the Virginia Mosquito Control Association (VMCA). There was a 28% response rate so results should be interpreted with caution in this pilot study. Most respondents reported utilizing ultra-low volume insecticide application equipment for controlling adult mosquitoes. Backpack sprayers were utilized by less than half of respondents. Those who reported using respirators showed higher concern about insecticide-related health effects than those who did not use respirators. Outdoor workers encounter various potential hazards and utilize several forms of personal protective equipment to reduce risks. This baseline work can be considered a starting point for implementing and strengthening occupational safety and health awareness and preventive measures for mosquito control workers. Knowledge of health and safety hazards can reduce workplace risk. Full article

Cultivated-meat production relies on robust animal cell-line engineering, scalable tissue-engineering strategies, and clearly defined regulatory standards. This review examines the developmental pipeline from primary tissue biopsy to large-scale expansion and regulatory evaluation, focusing on stable and safe immortalized cell platforms. We compare muscle satellite cells, mesenchymal stromal/adipogenic progenitors and induced pluripotent stem cells, highlighting trade-offs among proliferative capacity, lineage commitment, genomic stability, and food-safety considerations. We then analyze immortalization strategies, including spontaneous senescence bypass, telomerase reactivation and CRISPR-based checkpoint modulation, highlighting their impact on genomic stability and food-safety risks. Recent advances in serum-free media, extracellular matrix-mimetic biomaterials and staged co-culture protocols have enabled centimeter-scale tissues with improved texture and marbling; however, cost, reproducibility and scalability remain bottlenecks. Integrating multi-omics surveillance with life-cycle assessment reveals that environmental benefits (land, water and antibiotic reduction) are attainable only when energy inputs and growth-factor sourcing are optimized. Finally, we examine regulatory frameworks that distinguish food-grade immortalized cells from pharmaceutical substrates and genetically modified crops. By integrating cell biology, animal biotechnology, and bioprocess engineering, this review identifies technical priorities for advancing cultivated meat from laboratory development to industrial implementation, positioning genomic monitoring as an essential framework for assessing biological stability, functional predictability, and food-production suitability. Full article

Introduction: Teprotumumab (Tepezza^®), an insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) antagonist, is the first FDA-approved targeted therapy for thyroid eye disease (TED). While effective for reducing proptosis and inflammation, increasing post-marketing evidence has linked teprotumumab to auditory adverse events. IGF-1 signaling is essential for cochlear maintenance and neuroprotection; therefore, systemic IGF-1R inhibition presents a biologically plausible mechanism for ototoxicity. Despite growing recognition of these effects, no standardized approach exists for audiologic assessment or monitoring of patients receiving teprotumumab. This review aimed to (1) summarize proposed mechanisms and the reported spectrum of teprotumumab-related auditory effects, (2) evaluate current methods used to assess and monitor these patients, and (3) identify areas of consensus and ongoing uncertainty. Methods: An updated narrative review of the literature was conducting using PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar using Boolean strings targeting teprotumumab exposure and hearing-related outcomes. Studies from 2022 onward were identified using Boolean search strings targeting teprotumumab exposure and hearing-related outcomes. Peer-reviewed English language studies reporting audiometric findings were eligible for inclusion. Results: Ten studies met inclusion criteria. Reported effects most commonly included bilateral high-frequency SNHL, tinnitus, and aural fullness, typically emerging after three to six infusions. Many cases demonstrated persistent deficits despite drug discontinuation. Baseline audiometric assessment was not uniformly reported across studies, and monitoring protocols varied considerably, with inconsistent incorporation of speech testing and immittance measures. Conclusions: Teprotumumab-associated ototoxicity is increasingly recognized and potentially irreversible. Current evidence is insufficient to guide standardized monitoring. Prospective studies are urgently needed to establish evidence-based audiologic surveillance protocols. Full article

Background/Objectives: The trajectory of influenza hospitalization burden from pre-COVID-19 pandemic baseline through post-pandemic recovery remains poorly characterized at the national level. This study characterized phase-stratified burden and seasonal structure, quantified racial and ethnic disparities, and assessed whether post-pandemic seasons represent anomalous departures from pre-pandemic expectations. Methods: Sixteen complete seasons of FluSurv-NET surveillance data (2009–2010 through 2024–2025; 509 observation weeks) were analyzed across pre-pandemic, disruption, and recovery phases using OLS regression with effect-size estimation, bootstrapped age-adjusted rate ratios, seasonal-trend decomposition (STL), Prophet time-series forecasting, and Isolation Forest anomaly detection. Results: Mean peak weekly hospitalization rate nearly doubled from pre-pandemic to recovery (5.1 to 11.1 per 100,000), cumulative seasonal burden increased from 46.3 to 87.0 per 100,000, and median peak timing advanced from MMWR week 9 to week 50. STL decomposition revealed a marked shift from weak pre-pandemic seasonality (Fs = 0.14) to substantially stronger annual regularity (Fs = 0.98) across three recovery seasons, with threefold amplitude increase. Non-Hispanic Black persons had rate ratios of 1.72, 2.16, and 1.99 relative to White persons across phases; American Indian and Alaska Native persons showed the highest disruption-phase ratio (2.24, 95% CI 1.90–3.53), based on two contributing seasons. A flat-growth Prophet model detected first exceedance in February 2020, outperforming a linear-growth specification on held-out validation. Isolation Forest identified 2017–2018, 2023–2024, and 2024–2025 as robust anomalies across all contamination thresholds. Conclusions: Post-COVID-19 pandemic influenza recovery is characterized by intensified and restructured seasonality, persistent racial and ethnic disparities, and anomalous burden exceeding pre-pandemic projections, identified independently by time-series forecasting and unsupervised anomaly detection. Full article

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.), is a significant zoonotic disease affecting livestock and public health worldwide, particularly in endemic regions such as La Araucanía, Chile. This study evaluated the role of cattle in the transmission dynamics of E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.) by morphologically and molecular characterizing hydatid cysts (HC) collected from cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats. A total of 123 cysts were obtained from a local slaughterhouse, with cattle contributing the majority of samples (n = 94). Fertility was highest in sheep (76.2%) and low in cattle (3.2%), while cysts from pigs and goats were infertile. PCR amplification and sequencing of the cox1 gene confirmed the predominance of genotype G1 (98.1%), with two additional haplotypes (Eg^B and Eg^C) identified in cattle and sheep. Two cattle samples harbored genotype G3. Phylogenetic analyses grouped all sequences within the E. granulosus s.s. complex. The results corroborate the role of cattle as important sentinels for environmental surveillance of CE due to their exposure and traceability but highlight their lower competence in parasite transmission to definitive hosts compared with sheep. The genetic diversity observed aligns with previous findings in Chile, underscoring the epidemiological significance of E. granulosus s.s. and genotype G1 in the region. Full article