Parasitologia, Volume 6, Issue 1 (February 2026) – 11 articles

Free-ranging animals may serve as sentinels for the occurrence of ticks and tick-borne pathogens within a given habitat. Between 2020 and 2022, ticks were collected from domestic animals and vegetation on a family-operated agrotouristic farm in Western Slovakia. A total of 391 ticks were obtained (163 host-feeding and 228 questing). Ixodes ricinus predominated (94.9%), followed by Dermacentor reticulatus (4.9%) and Haemaphysalis concinna (one specimen). All ticks were screened for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., and Rickettsia spp. by using PCR-based methods and subsequent sequencing. Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. was detected in 15.9% of I. ricinus. Six species were identified, with Borrelia afzelii dominating. Borrelia miyamotoi was detected in 1.62% of questing I. ricinus. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was identified in 20.49% of I. ricinus, mainly in host-feeding specimens. Babesia spp. were detected in I. ricinus (2.7%), represented by Babesia microti, Babesia venatorum, and Babesia capreoli. Rickettsia spp. were detected in 5.39% of I. ricinus and 31.58% of D. reticulatus. They comprised Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia monacensis, and Rickettsia raoultii. Co-infections involving two or three pathogens were observed in several ticks. Our results underscore the considerable diversity of tick-borne pathogens in a rural area where humans and domestic animals are in close contact to wildlife. Full article

Xenomas are distinctive hypertrophic host-cell lesions caused by intracellular parasites and represent a recurrent pathological finding in wild and farmed fish. Their presence has implications for fish health, diagnostic workflows, aquaculture productivity, and in some cases product quality and consumer acceptability. Despite this relevance, information on xenoma diversity, associated pathogens, and diagnostic practices remains fragmented across decades of literature. This scoping review synthesised available evidence on naturally occurring xenomas in fish, following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Eligible sources included studies reporting clinical, pathological, or diagnostic information on xenomas in fish. Data were charted on host species and families, taxonomic identification of the aetiological agents, xenoma morphology, and diagnostic approaches. Across 114 publications published between 1968 and 2024, xenomas were reported in a wide range of teleost families and were attributed mostly to microsporidian infections, particularly species of Glugea, Loma, Spraguea, Pleistophora, and Microgemma, although myxosporean-associated cases (Kudoa, Myxidium, Nephrocystidium) were also documented. Light and electron microscopy were the most frequently applied diagnostic methods, whereas molecular techniques were used less consistently, with increasing use in the most recent decade. Macroscopic xenomas were typically described as whitish, rounded to oval, and well delimited, yet substantial morphological variation occurred across hosts and tissues. Overall, the review highlights major heterogeneity in pathogen identification and diagnostic pathways, underscoring the need for more standardised and integrative approaches. Full article

A supplemental description of Lamproglena barbicola Fryer, 1961 is provided based on specimens collected from the gills of Labeobarbus altianalis (Boulenger, 1900) from the Nyando River, Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya, using an integrated approach of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and molecular analysis (18S, 28S rDNA, and cox1 gene regions). Morphologically, the specimens conform to L. barbicola and closely resemble Lamproglena hoi Dippenaar, Luus-Powell & Roux, 2001; however, SEM revealed a previously undescribed feature on the uniramous antennule in L. barbicola, namely indistinctly three-segmented, tapering from a broad base to the apex, basal segment much longer than distal, comprising 14 setae of varying sizes, ventral laterally, absence of distinctive anterior fringe of setae on the antennule, as well as several characters that differentiate L. barbicola from L. hoi, including 5 setae at the basal endopod of leg one, five cuticular protuberances in the oral region, 19 setae on the basal antennular segment, and 10 setae on the distal segment, with 1 seta on each ramus. The phylogenetic analysis confirms L. barbicola as a sister taxon of L. hoi, supporting their close relationship. The genetic divergence presented as the uncorrected genetic p-distances between L. barbicola and L. hoi are 23.1% and 0.45% for cox1 and 28S rDNA regions, respectively, with observed nucleotide differences of 145 and 3 bp between the sequences, respectively. There was no interspecific variability detected in the 18S rDNA sequences. This study provides novel molecular sequences and the first high-resolution SEM images, which reveal additional taxonomic features for L. barbicola, establishing a robust reference for future identification. Full article

Soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) represent the most prevalent helminth infections worldwide and are closely associated with inadequate sanitation and poverty. During 2020 and 2021, a significant information gap emerged as a consequence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Therefore, the objective of this study was to provide an updated post-pandemic overview by estimating the prevalence of STH, identifying the etiological agents involved, and analyzing the risk factors associated with these infections. The study was conducted in Ilaló, Pichincha, Ecuador, where a total of 320 individuals were examined using three diagnostic methods: Kato-Katz, McMaster, and Mini-FLOTAC. Of these, 73 participants tested positive (22.81%, 95% CI: 22.3–23.4). The most frequently identified parasite was Ascaris lumbricoides (74.73%, 95% CI: 73.7–75.8). The main risk factors identified were pig farming (OR: 4.16; 95% CI: 2.34–7.42) and vegetable and fruit cultivation (OR: 11.66; 95% CI: 4.32–41.08). These findings provide relevant epidemiological data on STH in the region, demonstrating a reduction in infection prevalence likely associated with improved prevention and control measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. Full article

Clonorchis sinensis and Metagonimus spp. are prevalent parasites in Korea, and accurate diagnosis is essential because treatment dosages differ between infections. However, their eggs are morphologically similar under light microscopy, making differentiation difficult and dependent on examiner expertise. To address this limitation, we evaluated an artificial intelligence (AI)-based automated microscope solution for the simultaneous detection and discrimination of both parasites. Microscopic images from 170 stool samples were analyzed using an AI system based on You Only Look Once version 5. The annotated dataset comprised 9455 egg images (6494 C. sinensis and 2961 Metagonimus spp.), randomly divided at the slide/patient level into training (6862), validation (1301), and test (1292) sets. Diagnostic performance was evaluated using mean average precision, confusion matrix analysis, and correlation with conventional microscopy. The model achieved a classification accuracy of up to 97.8%. C. sinensis showed higher recall and F1 scores, whereas Metagonimus spp. showed higher precision and specificity. Species identification showed complete concordance with conventional microscopy, and egg quantification was strongly correlated. These results indicate that the proposed AI system may serve as a supportive diagnostic tool comparable to conventional microscopy. Full article

Tick-borne diseases are rising across Europe, yet human-biting tick data from the central Balkans remain limited. We analysed ticks removed from patients seeking care after tick bites at centers in Skopje (North Macedonia) and Novi Sad (Serbia) between January 2022 and December 2024, recording species, developmental stage, month of removal, and anatomical attachment site. A total of 1641 ticks were collected (North Macedonia, n = 157; Serbia, n = 1484) and identified morphologically. Six tick species were detected in North Macedonia and eight in Serbia. Ixodes ricinus was dominant in both countries, comprising ~69% of ticks in North Macedonia and >90% in Serbia, while Hyalomma marginatum was found in North Macedonia. Adult females predominated among ticks in North Macedonia (75.8%), whereas nymphs were most frequent among ticks in Serbia (55.6%); between-center comparisons of developmental stage should be interpreted cautiously given the marked sampling imbalance. In both settings, collections peaked in May–June (~64% of annual ticks), indicating highest bite pressure in late spring/early summer. Attachment sites were most commonly the torso and lower extremities, with significant between-country differences and species-/stage-specific patterns most evident in Serbia. These data refine the epidemiology of human tick exposure in two Balkan countries and support targeted seasonal prevention messaging and strengthened regional surveillance. Full article

Horse flies (Tabanidae) negatively affect livestock by reducing productivity, compromising animal welfare, and serving as mechanical vectors of pathogens. However, the spatial processes shaping their community organization in southern Brazil’s Coastal Plain of Rio Grande do Sul (CPRS) remain poorly understood. To address this, we conducted standardized Malaise-trap surveys and combined them with historical–contemporary comparisons to examine distance–decay patterns in community composition. We evaluated both abundance-based (Bray–Curtis) and presence–absence (Jaccard) dissimilarities using candidate models. Across sites, Tabanus triangulum emerged as the dominant species. Dissimilarity in community structure increased monotonically with geographic distance, with no evidence of abrupt thresholds. The square-root model provided the best fit for abundance-based data, whereas a linear model best described presence–absence patterns, reflecting dispersal limitation and environmental filtering across a heterogeneous coastal landscape. Sites within riparian forests and conservation units displayed higher diversity, emphasizing the ecological role of protected habitats and the importance of maintaining connected corridors. Collectively, these findings establish a process-based framework for surveillance and landscape management strategies to mitigate vector, host contact. Future directions include integrating remote sensing and host distribution, applying predictive validation across temporal scales. Full article

Entomopathogenic fungi are promising alternatives to synthetic insecticides for the control of vector species, notably the arbovirus vector, Aedes aegypti. The influence of intrinsic mosquito midgut microbiota on host susceptibility to fungal infection and subsequent physiological processes remains poorly understood. Here we treated female Ae. aegypti with the broad-spectrum antibiotic carbenicillin to reduce gut bacterial populations, then exposed them to Metarhizium anisopliae conidia. Female Ae. aegypti offered carbenicillin and then sprayed with fungi had significantly lower survival rates (38.9% ± 1.15) compared to non-antibiotic-treated mosquitoes sprayed with fungus (68.9% ± 0.58). To monitor the kinetics of microbial community recovery, mosquitoes were challenged with conidia at 0, 3, 6, and 9 days following antibiotic removal from the diet. Reduced survival persisted through the 6-day period (survival rates 37.8% to 45.6%), with a significant increase in survival observed 9 days post-antibiotic removal (58.9% vs. control 63.3%), which coincided with recovery of gut bacterial populations. Additionally, antibiotic and fungal treatments reduced egg production, larval eclosion, and pupal formation. These results demonstrate that gut bacteria contribute to mosquito defense against fungal pathogens and support normal reproductive and developmental functions. Understanding the interplay between gut microbiota and entomopathogenic fungi may enhance biological control approaches. Full article

Helminth infections caused by soil-transmitted species, like Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworms, affect over one billion people worldwide, yet accurate diagnosis remains challenging due to low sensitivity of microscopy in detecting eggs in stool samples, especially in low-intensity infections. Molecular diagnostics, particularly PCR-based detection of helminth DNA in stool samples, have emerged as more sensitive and specific alternatives. Here we review advances in DNA extraction methods that overcome inhibitors in stool, multiplex PCR assays, and next-generation sequencing technologies enabling species differentiation and detection of drug resistance markers. These molecular tools enhance epidemiological surveillance and inform control strategies. Despite challenges such as sample complexity and cost, ongoing improvements in molecular diagnostics hold promise for more effective helminth detection and management in clinical and field settings. Full article

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) pose a significant threat to livestock productivity and rural livelihoods in South Africa, particularly among resource-poor communal farmers. This narrative review synthesises findings from case studies on communal farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) toward TBDs and their control. The analysis reveals that while many farmers can identify TBDs and their symptoms, significant gaps exist in understanding acaricide resistance and effective tick management. Socioeconomic factors, including age, gender, education, and access to veterinary services, strongly influence knowledge and practices. Indigenous ethnoveterinary practices are commonly used alongside conventional methods, although their efficacy remains understudied. The review emphasises the importance of integrated pest management, participatory approaches, and targeted awareness campaigns. A One Health framework is recommended to enhance surveillance, collaboration, and sustainable TBD control. Empowering farmers through training and inclusive communication strategies is crucial for mitigating the impacts of TBDs on communal farming systems. Full article