Articles

Mass drug administration and the sustainable control of schistosomiasis: an evaluation of treatment compliance in the rural Philippines

Preventive chemotherapy is the current global control strategy for schistosomiasis. The WHO target coverage rate is at least 75% for school-aged children. In the Philippines, the reported national coverage rat...

Authors: Marianette T. Inobaya, Thao N. Chau, Shu-Kay Ng, Colin MacDougall, Remigio M. Olveda, Veronica L. Tallo, Jhoys M. Landicho, Carol M. Malacad, Mila F. Aligato, Jerric B. Guevarra and Allen G. Ross

Using barrier screens to characterize mosquito composition, flight activity, and abdominal status in South Lampung, Indonesia

Mosquito sampling methods target different aspects of mosquito behavior and are subject to trap and location specific biases. The barrier screen sampling method was developed and tested to sample free-flying, ...

Authors: Jenna R. Davidson, Supratman Sukowati, Shinta, Puji Budi Setia Asih, Din Syafruddin, Robert N. Baskin, Brandy St. Laurent, William A. Hawley, Fang Liu, Thomas R. Burkot, Frank H. Collins and Neil F. Lobo

Comparing four diagnostic tests for Giardia duodenalis in dogs using latent class analysis

To accurately diagnose giardiosis in dogs, knowledge of diagnostic test characteristics and expected prevalence are required. The aim of this work was to estimate test characteristics (sensitivity and specific...

Authors: Mathilde Uiterwijk, Rolf Nijsse, Frans N. J. Kooyman, Jaap A. Wagenaar, Lapo Mughini-Gras, Gerrit Koop and Harm W. Ploeger

Establishment and optimization of a liquid bead array for the simultaneous detection of ten insect-borne pathogens

Insect-borne diseases could induce severe symptoms in human and clinical signs in animals, such as febrility, erythra, arthralgia and hemorrhagic fever, and cause significant economic losses and pose public he...

Authors: Hui-yu Wang, Shao-qiang Wu, Li Jiang, Rong-hai Xiao, Ting Li, Lin Mei, Ji-zhou Lv, Jia-jia Liu, Xiang-mei Lin and Xue-qing Han

Prevalence of intestinal helminths of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in central Europe (Poland): a significant zoonotic threat

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is widely distributed in the world; in central Europe, it is the most numerous wild species of the family Canidae. It can play the role of a definitive host for many intestinal parasit...

Authors: Jacek Karamon, Joanna Dąbrowska, Maciej Kochanowski, Małgorzata Samorek-Pieróg, Jacek Sroka, Mirosław Różycki, Ewa Bilska-Zając, Jolanta Zdybel and Tomasz Cencek

Hematobin is a novel immunomodulatory protein from the saliva of the horn fly Haematobia irritans that inhibits the inflammatory response in murine macrophages

The horn fly Haematobia irritans is a blood-sucking ectoparasite responsible for substantial economic loss of livestock. Like other hematophagous arthropods species, the successful blood-feeding of H. irritans is...

Authors: Martin Breijo, Eliane Esteves, Bruna Bizzarro, Priscila G. Lara, Josiane B. Assis, Sergio Rocha, Lucía Pastro, Cecilia Fernández, Ana Meikle and Anderson Sá-Nunes

Effects of Trypanosoma cruzi on the phenoloxidase and prophenoloxidase activity in the vector Meccus pallidipennis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

Triatomine insects are vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of Chagas disease. The insect-parasite interaction has been studied in relation to the transmission and prevalence of this disease. For most t...

Authors: Guadalupe Favila-Ruiz, J. Guillermo Jiménez-Cortés, Alex Córdoba-Aguilar, Paz María Salazar-Schettino, Ana E. Gutiérrez-Cabrera, Armando Pérez-Torres, José Antonio De Fuentes-Vicente, Mauro O. Vences-Blanco, Martha I. Bucio-Torres, A. Laura Flores-Villegas and Margarita Cabrera-Bravo

Effect of DEET-multiple exposures on behavior and life history traits in the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae (s.s.)

Vector-borne diseases are major public health concerns, and their control is threatened by the spread of insecticide resistance in vector populations. In this context, the use of repellents is an alternative a...

Authors: Margaux Mulatier, Ludovic Phamien Ahoua Alou, Fabrice Chandre, Cédric Pennetier, Laurent Dormont and Anna Cohuet

Characterization of a novel secretory spherical body protein in Babesia orientalis and Babesia orientalis-infected erythrocytes

The spherical body, a membrane bound organelle localized in the apical organelle complex, is unique to Babesia and Theileria spp. The spherical body proteins (SBPs) secreted by spherical bodies include SBP1, SBP2...

Authors: Jiaying Guo, Muxiao Li, Yali Sun, Long Yu, Pei He, Zheng Nie, Xueyan Zhan, Yangnan Zhao, Xiaoying Luo, Sen Wang, Siqi Aoyang, Qin Liu, Cuiqin Huang, Lan He and Junlong Zhao

Prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni among a population-based sample of school-age children in Amhara region, Ethiopia

From 2011 to 2015, seven trachoma impact surveys in 150 districts across Amhara, Ethiopia, included in their design a nested study to estimate the zonal prevalence of intestinal parasite infections including s...

Authors: Andrew W. Nute, Tekola Endeshaw, Aisha E. P. Stewart, Eshetu Sata, Belay Bayissasse, Mulat Zerihun, Demelash Gessesse, Ambahun Chernet, Melsew Chanyalew, Zerihun Tedessse, Jonathan D. King, Paul M. Emerson, E. Kelly Callahan and Scott D. Nash

Lymphatic filariasis control in Tanzania: infection, disease perceptions and drug uptake patterns in an endemic community after multiple rounds of mass drug administration

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) control in most countries of sub-Saharan Africa is based on annual mass drug administration (MDA) with a combination of ivermectin and albendazole, in order to interrupt transmission....

Authors: Yahya A. Derua, William N. Kisinza and Paul E. Simonsen

Identification and preliminary characterization of Hc-clec-160, a novel C-type lectin domain-containing gene of the strongylid nematode Haemonchus contortus

The strongylid parasite Haemonchus contortus causes severe anemia in domestic animals worldwide. Effective preventive and therapeutical agents are lacking, because of drug resistance and that little is known abou...

Authors: Ling Zhang, Lingyun Mou, Xueqiu Chen, Yi Yang, Min Hu, Xiangrui Li, Xun Suo, Xing-Quan Zhu and Aifang Du

Fatal infection with emerging apicomplexan parasite Hepatozoon silvestris in a domestic cat

Hepatozoon silvestris is an emerging apicomplexan parasite discovered in European wild cats from Bosnia and Herzegovina and blood samples of a domestic cat from Southern Italy in 2017. It has also been identified...

Authors: Kristel Kegler, Ursina Nufer, Amer Alic, Horst Posthaus, Philipp Olias and Walter Basso

First evidence of Besnoitia bennetti infection (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) in donkeys (Equus asinus) in Belgium

Besnoitiosis is caused by different species of intracellular protozoan parasites belonging to the family Sarcocystidae and affecting multiple host species worldwide. Including B. besnoiti, ten species are describ...

Authors: Emmanuel Liénard, Adriana Nabuco, Sophie Vandenabeele, Bertrand Losson, Irène Tosi, Émilie Bouhsira, Françoise Prévot, Shukri Sharif, Michel Franc, Caroline Vanvinckenroye and Yannick Caron

Carry-over effects of urban larval environments on the transmission potential of dengue-2 virus

Mosquitoes are strongly influenced by environmental temperatures, both directly and indirectly via carry-over effects, a phenomenon by which adult phenotypes are shaped indirectly by the environmental conditions ...

Authors: Michelle V. Evans, Justine C. Shiau, Nicole Solano, Melinda A. Brindley, John M. Drake and Courtney C. Murdock

A national survey of Ixodidae ticks on privately owned dogs in Italy

The geographical distribution of ticks on companion animals needs to be monitored to develop and plan effective control measures, as suggested by the European Scientific Counsel on Companion Animal Parasites. ...

Authors: Maria Paola Maurelli, Paola Pepe, Liliana Colombo, Rob Armstrong, Elena Battisti, Maria Elena Morgoglione, Dimitris Counturis, Laura Rinaldi, Giuseppe Cringoli, Ezio Ferroglio and Stefania Zanet

Amino acid permease 3 (aap3) coding sequence as a target for Leishmania identification and diagnosis of leishmaniases using high resolution melting analysis

The leishmaniases comprise a spectrum of clinical manifestations caused by different species of Leishmania. Identification of species is important for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up management. However, there...

Authors: Karl Erik Müller, Ricardo Andrade Zampieri, Juliana Ide Aoki, Sandra Marcia Muxel, Audun Helge Nerland and Lucile Maria Floeter-Winter

Pike intestinal reaction to Acanthocephalus lucii (Acanthocephala): immunohistochemical and ultrastructural surveys

The Northern pike, Esox lucius, is a large, long-lived, top-predator fish species and occupies a broad range of aquatic environments. This species is on its way to becoming an important model organism and has the...

Authors: Bahram Sayyaf Dezfuli, Luisa Giari, Massimo Lorenzoni, Antonella Carosi, Maurizio Manera and Giampaolo Bosi

In-home assessment of either topical fluralaner or topical selamectin for flea control in naturally infested cats in West Central Florida, USA

An investigation was conducted in West Central Florida, USA to evaluate the efficacy of either topically applied fluralaner or topically applied selamectin to control flea infestations, minimize dermatologic l...

Authors: Michael W. Dryden, Michael S. Canfield, Cara Bocon, Letitia Phan, Emily Niedfeldt, Amanda Kinnon, Stanislaw A. Warcholek, Vicki Smith, Todd S. Bress, Nicole Smith, Kathleen Heaney, Christine Royal, Dorothy Normile, Robert Armstrong and Fangshi Sun

Six-month field efficacy and safety of the combined treatment of dogs with Frontline Tri-Act® and NexGard Spectra®

Safety and efficacy of the combined monthly use of spot-on fipronil 6.76% w/v / permethrin 50.48% w/v (Frontline Tri-Act®) and chewable tablets of afoxolaner 1.9% w/w / milbemycin oxime 0.4% w/w (NexGard Spect...

Authors: Jessica M. Abbate, Ettore Napoli, Francesca Arfuso, Gabriella Gaglio, Salvatore Giannetto, Lenaig Halos, Frederic Beugnet and Emanuele Brianti

Attraction of Rhodnius prolixus males to a synthetic female-pheromone blend

The triatomine bug Rhodnius prolixus Stål, 1859 (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) is the primary vector of Chagas disease in Colombia and Venezuela. An important step in controlling Chagas disease is monitoring the growt...

Authors: Björn Bohman, Alyssa M. Weinstein, C. Rikard Unelius and Marcelo G. Lorenzo

NYD-OP7/PLC regulatory signaling pathway regulates deltamethrin resistance in Culex pipiens pallens (Diptera: Culicidae)

Investigation of insecticide resistance mechanisms is considered a vital first step towards the creation of effective strategies to control resistant mosquitoes and manage mosquito-borne diseases. Our previous...

Authors: Dan Zhou, Baiyun Duan, Yang Xu, Lei Ma, Bo Shen, Yan Sun and Changliang Zhu

A darker chromatic variation of Rhodnius pallescens infected by specific genetic groups of Trypanosoma rangeli and Trypanosoma cruzi from Panama

Rhodnius pallescens, the only species of this genus reported in Panama, has a wide geographical distribution and is associated with most cases of Chagas disease and human infections with Trypanosoma rangeli in th...

Authors: Azael Saldaña, Ana María Santamaría, Vanessa Pineda, Vanessa Vásquez, Nicole L. Gottdenker and José E. Calzada

Laboratory evaluation of the efficacy and speed of kill of lotilaner (Credelio^TM) against Ixodes ricinus ticks on cats

Lotilaner, approved for dogs as a chewable tablet formulation, has separately been developed for oral use in cats (Credelio^TM chewable tablets for cats), to meet the need for an easy to use, safe and rapidly effe...

Authors: Daniela Cavalleri, Martin Murphy, Wolfgang Seewald, Jason Drake and Steve Nanchen

Laboratory evaluation of the efficacy and speed of kill of lotilaner (Credelio™) against Ctenocephalides felis on cats

Lotilaner is approved for dogs as a chewable tablet formulation. It has separately been developed for oral administration in cats (Credelio™ chewable tablets for cats) to meet the need for an easy to use, safe...

Authors: Daniela Cavalleri, Martin Murphy, Wolfgang Seewald and Steve Nanchen

Epidemiology and ecology of West Nile virus in sub-Saharan Africa

West Nile virus (WNV) is the aetiological agent of the mosquito-borne zoonotic disease West Nile fever. The virus, first isolated in Uganda in 1937, evolved into two distinct lineages in sub-Saharan Africa (SS...

Authors: Waidi F. Sule, Daniel O. Oluwayelu, Luis M. Hernández-Triana, Anthony R. Fooks, Marietjie Venter and Nicholas Johnson

Bionomics of the oriental latrine fly Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae): temporal fluctuation and reproductive potential

Chrysomya megacephala is a blow fly species of medical and forensic importance worldwide. Understanding its bionomics is essential for both designing effective fly control programs and its use in forensic investi...

Authors: Narin Sontigun, Kabkaew L. Sukontason, Tunwadee Klong-klaew, Sangob Sanit, Chutharat Samerjai, Pradya Somboon, Sa-nguansak Thanapornpoonpong, Jens Amendt and Kom Sukontason

A randomized, controlled field study to assess the efficacy and safety of lotilaner (Credelio™) in controlling ticks in client-owned cats in Europe

There is a continuing need for novel approaches to tick infestations treatment and control in cats. Lotilaner, an isoxazoline with rapid onset of action, has proven its efficacy against ticks in laboratory stu...

Authors: Daniela Cavalleri, Martin Murphy, Wolfgang Seewald and Steve Nanchen

A randomized, controlled field study to assess the efficacy and safety of lotilaner (Credelio™) in controlling fleas in client-owned cats in Europe

Lotilaner is a new isoxazoline developed as an oral ectoparasiticide for cats and dogs. Its safety, rapid killing onset of action and sustained speed of fleas and ticks kill for a minimum of one month after ad...

Authors: Daniela Cavalleri, Martin Murphy, Wolfgang Seewald and Steve Nanchen

Synergy in the adulticidal efficacy of essential oils for the improvement of permethrin toxicity against Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae)

In a previous screening program for mosquitocides from local edible plants in Thailand, essential oils (EOs) of Cyperus rotundus, Alpinia galanga and Cinnamomum verum, were found to possess promising adulticidal ...

Authors: Arpaporn Chansang, Danita Champakaew, Anuluck Junkum, Atchariya Jitpakdi, Doungporn Amornlerdpison, Arunee Kongdee Aldred, Doungrat Riyong, Anchalee Wannasan, Jitrawadee Intirach, Roongtawan Muangmoon and Benjawan Pitasawat

Safety of lotilaner flavoured chewable tablets (Credelio^TM) after oral administration in cats

Lotilaner is a new member of the isoxazoline class for treatment of flea and tick infestations in cats. This laboratory study with lotilaner vanilla-yeast flavoured chewable tablets (Credelio^TM, Elanco) investiga...

Authors: Emmanuelle A. Kuntz and Srinivas Kammanadiminti

Pharmacokinetics of lotilaner following a single oral or intravenous administration in cats

Credelio^TM (lotilaner) is an oral ectoparasiticide from the isoxazoline class developed for the treatment of flea and tick infestations in cats. It is formulated as a pure S-enantiomer in flavoured chewable table...

Authors: Céline E. Toutain, Wolfgang Seewald and Martin Jung

Widespread arenavirus occurrence and seroprevalence in small mammals, Nigeria

Lassa fever, killing thousands of people annually, is the most reported viral zoonotic disease in Nigeria. Recently, different rodent species carrying diverse lineages of the Lassa virus (LASV) in addition to ...

Authors: Ayodeji Olayemi, Akinlabi Oyeyiola, Adeoba Obadare, Joseph Igbokwe, Adetunji Samuel Adesina, Francis Onwe, Kingsley Nnanna Ukwaja, Nnennaya Anthony Ajayi, Toni Rieger, Stephan Günther and Elisabeth Fichet-Calvet

Lotilaner - a novel formulation for cats provides systemic tick and flea control

Authors: Ian Wright

Identification of Aedes aegypti cis-regulatory elements that promote gene expression in olfactory receptor neurons of distantly related dipteran insects

Sophisticated tools for manipulation of gene expression in select neurons, including neurons that regulate sexually dimorphic behaviors, are increasingly available for analysis of genetic model organisms. Howe...

Authors: Keshava Mysore, Ping Li and Molly Duman-Scheel

Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in children in Egypt

The transmission of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis into humans varies according to species/genotypes of the pathogens. Although infections with both parasites are recorded in Egypt, few data are avai...

Authors: Doaa Naguib, Adel H. El-Gohary, Dawn Roellig, Amro A. Mohamed, Nagah Arafat, Yuanfei Wang, Yaoyu Feng and Lihua Xiao

Comparative studies of Toxoplasma gondii transcriptomes: insights into stage conversion based on gene expression profiling and alternative splicing

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most important apicomplexan parasites and infects one-third of the human population worldwide. Transformation between the tachyzoite and bradyzoite stages in the intermediate host ...

Authors: Long-Fei Chen, Xiao-Long Han, Fen-Xiang Li, Yun-Ying Yao, Jin-Ping Fang, Xiao-Ju Liu, Xiao-Cong Li, Kun Wu, Min Liu and Xiao-Guang Chen

Viola phlebovirus is a novel Phlebotomus fever serogroup member identified in Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia) longipalpis from Brazilian Pantanal

High throughput sequencing (HTS) boosted the discovery of novel viruses and new variants of known viruses. Here we investigated the presence of viruses in 12 pools of sand flies captured in three climatic peri...

Authors: Michellen S. de Carvalho, Andressa Z. de Lara Pinto, Aquirya Pinheiro, Jorge S. V. Rodrigues, Fernando L. Melo, Leonardo Assis da Silva, Bergmann M. Ribeiro and Renata Dezengrini-Slhessarenko

Review of “Molecular Biology of Kinetoplastid Parasites” edited by Hemanta K. Majumder

Majumder HK, Editor.

Authors: Helen P. Price

Superimposed visceral leishmanial infection aggravates response to Heligmosomoides polygyrus

Polyparasitism is the rule in all animal species, including humans, and has an important role in pathogenicity, diagnosis and control measures. Among them, co-infections by gastrointestinal helminths and proti...

Authors: M. E. González-Sánchez, M. Cuquerella and J. M. Alunda

Temperature-dependent development and freezing survival of protostrongylid nematodes of Arctic ungulates: implications for transmission

Umingmakstrongylus pallikuukensis and Varestrongylus eleguneniensis are two potentially pathogenic lungworms of caribou and muskoxen in the Canadian Arctic. These parasites are currently undergoing northward rang...

Authors: Pratap Kafle, Stephanie J. Peacock, Sarah Grond, Karin Orsel and Susan Kutz

Biological compatibility between two temperate lineages of brown dog ticks, Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato)

The brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu stricto) is reputed to be the most widespread tick of domestic dogs worldwide and has also been implicated in the transmission of many pathogens to dogs and huma...

Authors: Filipe Dantas-Torres, Maria Stefania Latrofa, Rafael Antonio Nascimento Ramos, Riccardo Paolo Lia, Gioia Capelli, Antonio Parisi, Daniele Porretta, Sandra Urbanelli and Domenico Otranto

Morphological plasticity in Myxobolus Bütschli, 1882: a taxonomic dilemma case and renaming of a parasite species of the common carp

Myxozoans are a group of cnidarian parasites, the present taxonomy of which favors a more comprehensive characterization strategy combining spore morphology, biological traits (host/organ specificity, tissue t...

Authors: Qingxiang Guo, Mingjun Huang, Yang Liu, Xiuping Zhang and Zemao Gu

Aedes aegypti in the Black Sea: recent introduction or ancient remnant?

The yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti transmits viral diseases that have plagued humans for centuries. Its ancestral home are forests of Africa and ~400–600 years ago it invaded the New World and later Europe a...

Authors: Panayiota Kotsakiozi, Andrea Gloria-Soria, Francis Schaffner, Vincent Robert and Jeffrey R. Powell

PD-1 deficiency promotes TFH cells expansion in ITV-immunized mice by upregulating cytokines secretion

T follicular helper (TFH) cells are fundamental for the development of humoral immunity. In our previous study, we found that PD-1 deficiency substantially promoted the expansion of Plasmodium-specific TFH cells ...

Authors: Taiping Liu, Xiangyun Cheng, Yan Ding, Feng Zhu, Yong Fu, Xiaohong Peng and Wenyue Xu

Controlled efficacy trial confirming toltrazuril resistance in a field isolate of ovine Eimeria spp.

Coccidiosis due to Eimeria spp. infections in lambs causes increased mortality and substantial production losses, and anticoccidials are important for control of the infection. Anticoccidial resistance has been r...

Authors: Ane Odden, Heidi L. Enemark, Antonio Ruiz, Lucy J. Robertson, Cecilie Ersdal, Silje K. Nes, Vibeke Tømmerberg and Snorre Stuen

Laboulbeniales (Fungi: Ascomycota) infection of bat flies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae) from Miniopterus schreibersii across Europe

Bat flies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae and Streblidae) are obligate, blood-sucking ectoparasites of bats with specialized morphology, life-cycle and ecology. Bat flies are occasionally infected by different species...

Authors: Tamara Szentiványi, Danny Haelewaters, Walter P. Pfliegler, Laura Clément, Philippe Christe and Olivier Glaizot

Antibody and cytokine response to Cystoisospora suis infections in immune-competent young pigs

To date, investigations on the immune response to Cystoisospora suis infections focused on suckling piglets, the age group clinically most affected. Actively immunizing piglets is unfeasible due to their immature...

Authors: Barbara Freudenschuss, Bärbel Ruttkowski, Aruna Shrestha, Ahmed Abd-Elfattah, Marc Pagès, Andrea Ladinig and Anja Joachim

Insecticide susceptibility status of Anopheles gambiae (s.l.) in South-West Cameroon four years after long-lasting insecticidal net mass distribution

Members of the Anopheles gambiae (s.l.) complex are one of the major vectors of malaria in Africa. LLINs and IRS are the most effective tools used in vector control of malaria. However, their effectiveness may be...

Authors: Stravensky Térence Boussougou-Sambe, Wolfgang Ekoko Eyisap, Geraud Canis Taboue Tasse, Stanislas Elysee Mandeng, Lili Ranaise Mbakop, Peter Enyong, Josiane Etang, Eric Bertrand Fokam and Parfait H. Awono-Ambene

Circulation of Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, Romania

Dirofilariosis is an emerging vector-borne parasitic disease in Europe. Monitoring of wild and domestic carnivores demonstrated circulation of Dirofilaria spp. in Romania in the past. For the implementation of co...

Authors: Alexandru Tomazatos, Daniel Cadar, Edina Török, Iulia Maranda, Cintia Horváth, Lujza Keresztes, Marina Spinu, Stephanie Jansen, Hanna Jöst, Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit, Egbert Tannich and Renke Lühken