Parasites, Parasitic Diseases, and Control Measures in Bovidae Animals

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Cattle".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 3607

Editor


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Guest Editor
Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Recursos Naturales y Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Santo Tamas, Av. Carlos Schorr 255, Talca, Chile
Interests: veterinary parasitology; protozoan parasites; helminth parasites; one health; zoonotic parasites; innate immunity
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cattle are continuously exposed to external parasites, including ticks, horn flies, and stable flies, among others, and also to internal parasitosis, including gastrointestinal parasitic nematodes, trematodes such as liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica), cestodes, and protozoa. Thus, parasitic diseases remain a significant challenge in cattle farming, affecting both conventional and organic production systems. The problem caused by parasites to animals is aggravated by the lack of efficacy of antiparasitic chemical drugs due to the development of antiparasitic resistance (APR). Changes in the epidemiology of parasitic diseases have occurred over time, caused by human and environmental factors. Therefore, a thorough understanding of these diseases, including the identification of new parasitic strains, along with advancements in new diagnostic techniques, treatments, and control measures in cattle are urgently needed. This Special Issue will feature original research and review articles that contribute to our understanding of parasites and parasitic diseases affecting cattle, as well as current perspectives on control and management strategies for this issue.

This Special Issue will cover the following topics:

  • Parasitic diseases in dairy and beef cattle and their impact on production (meat and milk) and reproduction;
  • Host–parasite interactions;
  • Immune responses to parasites;
  • The (molecular) epidemiology of ecto- and endoparasites affecting cattle;
  • Resistance to anthelmintic chemical drugs;
  • Zoonotic risks from bovine products;
  • Plant and plant metabolites against ecto- and endoparasites;
  • Biological control of ecto- and endoparasites;
  • Other sustainable alternative methods of controling ecto- and endoparasitic diseases;
  • Therapeutics

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Tamara Muñoz-Caro
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • cattle
  • parasites
  • helminths
  • protozoa
  • ectoparasites
  • control
  • epidemiology
  • immunology
  • parasitic diseases
  • epidemiology
  • antiparasitic resistance
  • alternative methods of control
  • livestock
  • small ruminants

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1143 KB  
Article
Cattle as Biological Indicators of Echinococcus granulosus Sensu Stricto in an Endemic Region from Chile
by Flery Fonseca-Salamanca, Angélica Melo, Juan Venegas, Marco Paredes, José Villanueva, Daniela Poo-Muñoz, Tamara Muñoz-Caro, Christian Herrera-George and Alejandro Hidalgo
Animals 2026, 16(12), 1901; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16121901 - 19 Jun 2026
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Abstract
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. [...] Read more.
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 (EgB and EgC) 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
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15 pages, 2704 KB  
Article
Sarcoptes scabiei Induces Discrete NET Release, Ca2+ Fluxes and ROS Production Without Impairing Phagocytic Activity in Bovine Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils
by Camilo Larrazabal, Iván Conejeros, Daniela Grob, Sara López-Osorio, Anja Taubert and Carlos Hermosilla
Animals 2026, 16(11), 1628; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16111628 - 27 May 2026
Viewed by 371
Abstract
Sarcoptic mange is a skin disease caused by Sarcoptes scabiei infestations, characterized by dermatitis, pruritus, and exudative responses in both humans and animals. Biologically, the life cycle of S. scabiei is confined to the host’s skin (stratum corneum), where mite-derived molecules [...] Read more.
Sarcoptic mange is a skin disease caused by Sarcoptes scabiei infestations, characterized by dermatitis, pruritus, and exudative responses in both humans and animals. Biologically, the life cycle of S. scabiei is confined to the host’s skin (stratum corneum), where mite-derived molecules trigger the influx of innate immune cells, including polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), which play a central role in skin inflammatory responses. The antimicrobial activity of PMNs is regulated by Ca2+ fluxes and includes the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), degranulation, and the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). NETs are web-like structures composed of chromatin and enzymes that can trap and eventually kill pathogens; however, their involvement in S. scabiei infestations in bovines remains unclear. Here, we investigated interactions between bovine PMN and S. scabiei mites, as well as PMN responses to S. scabiei antigen (ScAg). Functional parameters included NET release, Ca2+ fluxes, ROS production and phagocytic activity, determined by fluorescence microscopy, Fluo-4 staining, luminol-derived luminescence and flow cytometry, respectively. Current data show that ScAg, but not whole mites, induces a weak NET release in exposed bovine PMN. Additionally, ScAg drives rapid and sustained Ca2+ fluxes and ROS production over time, without altering the phagocytic capacity of PMN. Full article
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15 pages, 679 KB  
Article
Seropositivity and Risk Factors for Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in Intensive Dairy Cattle from Different Farms in Central Chile
by Catalina Godoy-Alfaro, Camila Muñoz-Zanzi, Sofía Jara-Méndez, Catalina Tapia, Mario Duchens, Carlos Núñez, Camila Varela, Raúl Alegría-Morán, Patricio Retamal and Galia Ramírez-Toloza
Animals 2026, 16(10), 1456; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16101456 - 9 May 2026
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Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are apicomplexan parasites infecting cattle, with implications for public health and livestock productivity, respectively. Since effective vaccines against these parasites are not currently available, identifying epidemiological factors associated with infection is important for improving control strategies. This study [...] Read more.
Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are apicomplexan parasites infecting cattle, with implications for public health and livestock productivity, respectively. Since effective vaccines against these parasites are not currently available, identifying epidemiological factors associated with infection is important for improving control strategies. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of both parasites and to identify factors associated with seropositivity in intensive dairy cattle in central Chile. A cross-sectional study was conducted using serum samples from 567 cattle, analyzed by ELISA. Epidemiological data were collected through semi-structured surveys, and associations with seropositivity were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression models, including mixed-effects models to account for farm-level clustering. Seroprevalence was 7.6% for T. gondii and 22.4% for N. caninum. For T. gondii, factors associated with seropositivity included older age categories (OR = 7.09; 11.25) and the presence of dogs in pens (OR = 6.07). For N. caninum, straw bedding use (OR = 5.13) and cat presence (OR = 6.32) were associated with higher odds of seropositivity. An additional association with lower N. caninum seropositivity was observed for BCG vaccination (OR = 0.24). These findings provide updated epidemiological data for dairy cattle in Chile. The association observed with BCG vaccination should be interpreted cautiously, as the study design does not permit causal inference. Full article
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17 pages, 3009 KB  
Article
Development of Multiplex Real-Time Quantitative PCR for the Detection of Giardia duodenalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Cryptosporidium spp. in Dairy Goats
by Jing-Rui Liu, Xin Yang, Hao Chen, Xiao-Ying Zuo, Kai-Min Fang, Ying-Ying Fan, Wen-Pei Guo, Shi-Jie Dong, Guang-Hui Zhao and Jun-Ke Song
Animals 2026, 16(6), 879; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16060879 - 11 Mar 2026
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Abstract
Giardia duodenalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Cryptosporidium spp. are common zoonotic intestinal protozoa in dairy goats, capable of cross-species transmission. These pathogens impair the growth and development of dairy goats and present a significant threat to public health. Conventional detection methods are [...] Read more.
Giardia duodenalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Cryptosporidium spp. are common zoonotic intestinal protozoa in dairy goats, capable of cross-species transmission. These pathogens impair the growth and development of dairy goats and present a significant threat to public health. Conventional detection methods are time-consuming and lack sensitivity, requiring a rapid and efficient technique for simultaneous detection. A TaqMan probe-based multiplex real-time qPCR assay for the detection of the three protozoa was established in this study using specific primers and probes. Specificity validation demonstrated no cross-reactivity with other common intestinal pathogens of dairy goats. Sensitivity testing revealed minimum detection limits of 29.83, 39.33, and 33.15 copies/μL for the three protozoa, with excellent repeatability. Detection of clinical fecal samples and comparison with PCR confirmed the assay’s superior performance, which was capable of identifying positive samples missed by PCR. In conclusion, this rapid, specific, and sensitive assay provides technical support for large-scale epidemiological surveys and real-time monitoring of related protozoan diseases in dairy goats, thereby laying a scientific foundation for prevention and control and safeguarding both the dairy goat industry and public health. Full article
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Review

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21 pages, 698 KB  
Review
Besnoitia besnoiti-Induced Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs): Metabolic Signature, Signaling Pathways, Receptors and Implications on Pathogenesis
by Nicolás Turra, Iván Conejeros, Carlos Hermosilla, Rafael Agustín Burgos and Anja Taubert
Animals 2025, 15(22), 3326; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15223326 - 18 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1030
Abstract
Besnoitia besnoiti is an apicomplexan parasite responsible for bovine besnoitiosis, a debilitating disease in cattle resulting in local and systemic clinical signs with detrimental effects on reproductive performance and productivity in livestock. Fast-replicating tachyzoites and slowly proliferating bradyzoites elicit an excessive host innate [...] Read more.
Besnoitia besnoiti is an apicomplexan parasite responsible for bovine besnoitiosis, a debilitating disease in cattle resulting in local and systemic clinical signs with detrimental effects on reproductive performance and productivity in livestock. Fast-replicating tachyzoites and slowly proliferating bradyzoites elicit an excessive host innate immune response, mainly by activated polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), which extrude neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) as a defense mechanism. These PMN-derived structures, composed principally of DNA, histones, and peptides, play a crucial role not only in parasite entrapment but also in NET-associated endothelial damage, thereby most likely contributing to the pathogenesis of this neglected cattle parasitosis. Uncontrolled production of NETs or their inadequate removal may perpetuate an inflammatory environment in the vasculature and epidermis. Thus, novel alternative treatment of animals with chronic bovine besnoitiosis displaying severe clinical manifestations such as hyperkeratosis, vulvovaginitis and orchitis, could be considered for future study to either hampering NETs release or reducing NETs concentrations in affected tissues. Since effective treatments and control strategies for bovine besnoitiosis do not yet exist, this review serves as a guide for further research on the metabolic signature, signaling pathways, receptors, and pathogenesis of B. besnoiti-triggered NETs formation, providing insights into potential therapeutic approaches to avoid excessive NETs extrusion. Full article
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