Search Results (129)

Reuse of human excreta and derivatives is becoming a common practice in areas with agricultural predominance. While in situ treated faeces through ecological sanitation (Ecosan), known as “faecal by-products” are being used to sustain soil nutrients and improve on-site sanitation, the concern remains about the health risks related to the survival of pathogens in these by-products in the community of farmers. This study assessed the survival of faecal pathogens and estimated microbial risks associated with the use of Ecosan faecal by-products in agriculture. The quantitative microbial risks assessment (QMRA) framework was used to estimate the risks posed by each faecal pathogen in solid and semi-solid faecal by-products under the probabilistic model of Monte Carlo simulation. Ascaris lumbricoides (6.5 eggs/gr), Taenia species (0.3 egg/gr), Schistosoma species (9.3 cercariae/gr), Entamoeba species (4.4 cysts/gr), and Escherichia coli (451 Cfu/gr) were detected in semi-solid faecal products. Exposure scenarios were observed throughout four critical points: vault faecal by-products removal/unloading, transport, collection, and application of faecal by-products in the gardens. Due to the presence of eggs and cysts, an estimated annual risk of infections was found in semi-solid faecal by-products with Schistosoma species (88%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (90%). Both concentrations were above World Health organisation (WHO) standards of associated infective risks of 0–10% of helminths in faecal sludge applied in the gardens. The users of faecal by-products, particularly farmers are exposed not only to high concentrations of helminth eggs but also to protozoa and bacteria with infective risks of Entamoeba species (99%) and E. coli species (62%). A stepwise implementation of faecal pathogens die-off during treatment of faecal by-products in compliance with the WHO’s 2018 guidelines can prevent the use of unsanitary faecal by-products. According to these findings, the proper control of intestinal protozoa and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) should be enforced through personal protective measures in Burera district, Rwanda. Full article

The Barbary partridge (Alectoris barbara), an endemic game bird in Algeria, has not been systematically investigated for parasitic infections despite its ecological, economic, and conservation importance. This study provides the first eco-epidemiological and histopathological assessment of Capillaria contorta infection in birds from a semi-captive breeding center in Zeralda, Algeria. Between 2021 and 2024, 1085 pooled fecal samples and 138 postmortem examinations were analyzed using standard parasitological and histopathological methods. C. contorta showed an aviary-level overall prevalence of 32.94% and was involved in 42.02% of parasite-related mortalities, underscoring its marked pathological significance. Aviary-level prevalence varied significantly across seasons and years (p < 0.05), with higher levels recorded during environmentally favorable periods. Mixed infections with helminths, protozoa, cestodes, and ectoparasites were recorded for the first time in this host species at the aviary level, highlighting complex parasite interactions. Morphological characteristics were consistent with C. contorta. Gross examination revealed marked thickening of the esophagus and crop. Histologically, the adult nematodes were embedded within hyperplastic epithelium, with characteristic bipolar-plugged eggs and associated epithelial tunnels, accompanied by chronic inflammation and granulomatous reactions. These findings demonstrate the clinical relevance of C. contorta and emphasize the need for strengthened surveillance and control programs to reduce infection pressure and prevent potential spillover to wild populations. Full article

Gastrointestinal parasitism remains a major constraint in sheep production, and increasing anthelmintic resistance has stimulated interest in plant-based alternatives. This exploratory study evaluated the antiparasitic effect and preliminary biochemical safety of Chenopodium chilense Schrad., a plant species, in sheep from southern Chile. Thirty adult female Criollo Araucana sheep were allocated to five groups (n = 6): two groups received commercial anthelmintics, and three groups received oral C. chilense at 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 g of “Paico powder” per kg of body weight. Fecal egg counts were monitored over a three-week follow-up period using the McMaster technique. Serum AST, GGT, ALP, total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, and triglycerides were evaluated before and after treatment in the C. chilense groups. Lower doses of C. chilense were associated with modest numerical reductions in fecal egg counts, whereas the highest dose showed greater variability and lower apparent efficacy. However, no statistically significant overall treatment effect was detected. In an exploratory analysis, parasite type was associated with variation in post-treatment egg counts. Biochemical analyses did not show a consistent dose-dependent pattern compatible with overt hepatotoxicity. These results suggest that C. chilense may have preliminary potential as a complementary phytotherapeutic candidate, but larger studies with improved sampling design, standardized phytochemical characterization, and greater statistical power are needed. Full article

Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease (NTD), affects humans and leads to considerable clinical morbidity and severe long-term sequelae. Laboratory diagnostics for Schistosoma mansoni are mainly based on microscopic identification of eggs in stool, but sensitivity varies with infection intensity. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) is the gold standard for bacterial identification in high-income countries. Here, we first evaluate the capacity of MALDI-TOF MS and our existing ‘in-house helminths’ database for the identification of S. mansoni worms and eggs. A subset of adult worms and egg samples was used to generate MALDI reference spectra, which were added to the database and evaluated by blind-test identification. Subsequently, egg-free human stool was spiked with purified S. mansoni eggs and analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS. Log score values (LSVs) were employed to assess the reliability of identification. A total of 62/90 (68.9%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 58.3–78.2%) adult samples were correctly identified. After database expansion, 90/90 (100%, 95% CI: 96.0–100%) and 59/60 (98.3%, 95% CI: 91.1–100%) were correctly identified for adult worms and purified eggs, respectively. In contrast, the analysis of 35 human stool samples spiked with S. mansoni as eggs did not yield identifiable spectra. MALDI-TOF MS can be applied for the identification of isolated adult S. mansoni worms and eggs. Further investigations and optimization are necessary before potential application to clinical samples (e.g., for egg detection in stool). Full article

Although microbial biopesticides are expanding rapidly, transforming nematophagous fungi into consistent and shelf-stable products remains a challenge. A key limitation is that fungal propagules must remain viable throughout production, storage, and delivery to ensure their efficacy in the field. This review examines formulation strategies that improve the stability, deployment, and performance of fungal biocontrol agents against gastrointestinal helminths in domestic animals and plant-parasitic nematodes. In veterinary systems, predatory fungi such as Duddingtonia flagrans primarily target infective larvae after surviving gastrointestinal transit and germination in feces. In contrast, ovicidal fungi, including Pochonia chlamydosporia, Purpureocillium lilacinum, Trichoderma spp., and Mucor spp., primarily act against helminth eggs and coccidian oocysts. This functional complementarity highlights the potential of combined fungal formulations to improve their control efficacy. We also discuss the currently available D. flagrans-based commercial products, BioWorma^® and Bioverm^®, and the practical challenges associated with dosing, administration, and farm adoption. In agriculture, we show that the Brazilian market is dominated by solid fungal nematicides designed to reduce water activity and prolong shelf life, although liquid- and oil-based systems remain relevant for specific applications. Across both sectors, the review identified formulation design, rather than fungal species alone, as a critical determinant of product performance. Emerging advances, such as microencapsulation, UV-protective matrices, improved seed-coating biopolymers, nanobiotechnology, and fungal-derived bioactive products, indicate that future progress will depend on target-oriented formulations capable of increasing stability, controlled release, and resilience under environmentally variable conditions, including those imposed by climate change. Full article

Backyard chicken farming is a longstanding practice in Romania, with over 13 million birds raised in such systems to provide households with essential sources of eggs and meat. Despite advantages such as low production costs and the potential for organic husbandry, backyard poultry remains highly vulnerable to parasitic infections due to limited biosecurity measures and minimal regulatory oversight. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a plant-based anthelmintic product in naturally infected backyard flocks. Among the 35 backyard farms examined, 24 (68.6%) tested positive for helminth infections, with prevalence rates of 51.4% for Ascaridia galli/Heterakis gallinarum, 57.1% for Capillaria spp., and 40% for Strongyloides avium. Positive households were assigned to three groups: untreated control, fenbendazole-treated, and herbal product-treated. The plant-based formulation consisted of alcoholic extracts from seven locally sourced plants, Thymus serpyllum, Calendula officinalis, Inula helenium, Tanacetum vulgare, Origanum vulgare, Artemisia annua, and Artemisia absinthium, and was administered via drinking water at a dose of 5 mL/L for seven consecutive days. Anthelmintic efficacy was assessed using the fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT). Fecal samples were collected before treatment and on days 7, 14, and 21 post-treatment, and examined using flotation and the McMaster technique. Both the plant-based and fenbendazole-treated groups exhibited significant reductions in egg counts for A. galli/H. gallinarum (p ≤ 0.00001), although neither treatment reached the 90% efficacy threshold required for reliable parasitic control in poultry. The herbal formulation achieved a 91.33% reduction in fecal egg counts overall and a complete (100%) efficacy against Strongyloides avium at 7 and 21 days post-treatment, respectively. At 14 days post-treatment, the mean FECRT values across all parasite species ranged from 13.64% in the untreated control group to 71.86% in the fenbendazole-treated group and 67.11% in the herbal-treated group. The highest reduction was observed in the fenbendazole group against Ascaridia galli/Heterakis gallinarum (85.22 ± 11.86), while the lowest was recorded in the control group against S. avium (–31.63 ± 96.64). Overall, our findings indicate that plant-based anthelmintics are a promising, environmentally friendly option for organic backyard poultry systems, offering a viable alternative to conventional chemical treatments. Full article

The frequent and indiscriminate use of all classes of synthetic anthelmintics to deworm small ruminants has decreased their effectiveness in a worldwide problem of anthelmintic resistance. Using active plant metabolites with anthelmintic properties has become a suggested alternative to control parasitic helminths. The present study investigated the ovicidal and larvicidal activity of a fraction (CnF4) containing protocatechuic acid (3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid) from Chamaecrista nictitans (Fabaceae) and a commercial standard of protocatechuic acid against strains of the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus susceptible (HcIVM-S) and resistant (HcIVM-R) to ivermectin, using egg hatch inhibition (EHI) and L3 larval mortality assays. The CnF4 fraction showed an EHI greater than 90% at 0.8 mg/mL against HcIVM-S and an EHI = 88.39% at 1.6 mg/mL against HcIVM-R. The commercial standard of protocatechuic acid displayed an EHI of 97.49% at 0.25 mg/mL against HcIVM-S and an EHI greater than 98% at 0.5 mg/mL. In the larval mortality assays, protocatechuic acid caused 72.4% larval mortality of HcIVM-S at 8 mg/mL and 53.2% mortality of HcIVM-R at 16 mg/mL. These results indicate that protocatechuic acid was more effective in inhibiting egg hatching and causing larval mortality against HcIVM-S compared to HcIVM-R. Full article

Ascaris lumbricoides is one of the most epidemiologically significant soil-transmitted helminths, and the environmental persistence of its eggs is largely attributed to their robust structural architecture. The search for ovicidal alternatives capable of overcoming this barrier has increasingly focused on metallic nanoparticles obtained through biological synthesis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to evaluate the ultrastructural effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) biosynthesised by the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans on A. lumbricoides eggs. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the synthesis of AgNPs, revealing predominantly spherical, well-dispersed particles with an average diameter of 9.22 ± 4.9 nm. Cytotoxicity assays indicated an IC₅₀ of 7.7 µg/mL. SEM analyses showed that eggs in the control group maintained intact morphology, with no apparent deformities. In contrast, exposure to AgNPs induced pronounced structural alterations, including marked wrinkling, surface erosion and shell collapse, suggesting disruption of multiple layers. Albendazole alone produced deep linear fissures consistent with internal metabolic failure, though with minimal external erosion. The combined treatment with AgNPs and albendazole resulted in severe degradation. These findings demonstrate that AgNPs exhibit significant ovicidal activity and may serve as effective adjuvants to enhance the action of conventional anthelmintics against highly resistant helminth eggs. 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

Concentrated wastewater streams, like vacuum blackwater (VBW), pose significant management challenges due to their high organic strength and pathogen loads. This review evaluates an integrated biorefinery model employing sequential black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) bioconversion and thermophilic anaerobic digestion (TAD) as a circular solution for effective VBW management. The BSFL pretreatment facilitates bio-stabilization, mitigates ammonia inhibition via nitrogen assimilation, and initiates contaminant degradation. However, this stage alone does not achieve complete hygienization, as it fails to inactivate resilient pathogens, including helminth eggs and spore-forming bacteria, thus precluding the safe direct use of frass as fertilizer. By directing the frass into TAD, the system addresses this limitation while enhancing bioenergy recovery: the frass serves as an optimized, nutrient-balanced substrate that increases biomethane yields, while the sustained thermophilic conditions ensure comprehensive pathogen destruction, resulting in the generation of a sterile digestate. Additionally, the harvested larval biomass offers significant valorization flexibility, making it suitable for use as high-protein animal feed or for conversion into biodiesel through lipid transesterification or co-digestion in TAD to yield high biomethane. Consequently, the BSFL-TAD synergy enables net-positive bioenergy production, achieves significant greenhouse gas mitigation, and co-generates digestate as sanitized organic biofertilizer. This cascading approach transforms hazardous waste into multiple renewable resources, advancing both process sustainability and economic viability within a circular bioeconomy framework. Full article

The pacarana (Dinomys branickii) is a typical rodent of the Amazonian biome crepuscular habits, feeding on fruits, leaves, and roots. However, studies on these animals, inhabiting behaviors, and their parasites are limited. This study aimed to report the parasites found in fecal samples and a dead specimen of D. branickii in the Brazilian Cerrado. In 2023, fecal samples from five animals were collected and examined using flotation and simple sedimentation techniques for the identification of parasitic eggs. In 2025, a necropsy was performed on a decreased animal. Fecal samples of all animals were positive for eggs of Strongyloides spp., with two cases of co-infection with Oxyuroidea eggs and one with Trichuris sp. eggs. The Wellcomia branickii found during necropsy is a specific helminth of the pacaranas gastrointestinal tract. The natural geographical range of D. branickii is in the Western Amazon. Its introduction in the Cerrado, although for conservation purposes, reinforces the potential for this translocated species to disseminate non-native parasites outside its natural range. Full article

African elephants maintain a delicate balance between high intestinal helminth numbers and symptoms of poor health. However, calves and weaners face survival threats from damage caused by helminth infections and infestations during periods of starvation. Using coprological evaluations, we compared helminth infection patterns and selected risk factors in elephants from Tsavo and the Laikipia-Samburu ecosystem (LSE). Eggs and adult worms were identified and classified into genera using morphological and morphometric characteristics. Overall prevalence rates were high at 95.6% and 98.5% for Tsavo and Laikipia-Samburu, respectively, and 97.1% in total. Using the chi-squared test of independence, nematode prevalence rates (97.1%) were significantly different from trematodes (32.6%) (χ2(1) = 248.84, p < 0.001). Prevalence rates did not differ across age classes in the two populations. Using the Generalized Linear Model, sex had an independent significant effect on the observed mean worm burdens (F(1) = 5.842, p = 0.016, CI 95%), but neither age nor location did. However, the interaction had a significant effect on mean eggs per gram (EPGs) observed between age and location (F(1) = 14.043, p < 0.0005, CI 95%) and between age and sex (F(1) = 4.858, p = 0.028, CI 95%). Some of the identified helminth species may potentially lead to life-threatening gut mucosa hemorrhaging and ulcerations, particularly during stressful conditions, although the animals were not clinically evaluated. Full article

Background: Recent studies have shown that digital microscopy (DM) combined with a convolutional neural network (CNN) model is a valid approach for detecting intestinal protozoa and helminth ova or larvae in both trichrome-stained and wet-mount stool preparations. This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of a DM/CNN workflow for routine detection of intestinal parasites in a clinical microbiology laboratory. Methods: A clinical validation was conducted using the Grundium Ocus 40 scanner combined with the Techcyte Human Fecal Wet Mount (HFW) algorithm. The system was evaluated on (a) 135 reference samples and (b) 208 routine clinical samples submitted for intestinal parasite testing. Analytical sensitivity, precision, and limit of detection (LOD) were assessed. Results: For reference samples, the DM/CNN workflow achieved a positive slide-level agreement of 97.6% (95% CI: 94.4–100%), following a confidence threshold adjustment for Schistosoma mansoni, and a negative agreement of 96.0% (95% CI: 86.6–98.9%) compared with light microscopy (LM). Dilution series with reference samples revealed slightly lower analytical sensitivity of the DM/CNN at higher dilutions. Both intra- and inter-run precision studies demonstrated high reproducibility and stability. In prospective testing on 208 routine samples, overall agreement between DM/CNN and LM was 98.1% (95% CI: 95.2–99.2%) with a Cohen’s Kappa coefficient of κ = 0.915. Minor discrepancies involved Blastocystis spp., with DM/CNN showing slightly higher sensitivity. Conclusions: For the first time, we show that the combination of the Grundium Ocus 40 scanner and the Techcyte HFW algorithm provides a reliable, low-throughput screening solution that can effectively assist diagnostic technicians by pre-classifying putative parasitic structures for targeted expert review. Despite its lower throughput, the system substantially reduces the manual review process and simplifies the parasitological workflow. Implementation in a clinical microbiology laboratory requires extensive site-specific validation to account for differences in sample processing and imaging conditions. Moreover, optimization of confidence thresholds for specific classifiers is essential to ensure consistent analytical performance across different laboratory settings. Full article

Free-ranging hens are at risk of infection by parasites characterized by certain stages that develop in the soil until attaining the infective phase. To analyze the usefulness of a biological control strategy of helminths affecting pasturing hens, fecal samples containing eggs of the helminths Ascaridia galli and Capillaria spp. were collected and then homogenized with an electric mixer. A total of 64 small areas were established by placing wooden frames (15 × 40 × 30 cm) on the ground and then adding approximately 100 g of a fecal mixture (per area). Four batches of 16 areas were considered: G1, sprayed with 2 × 10⁶ spores of the parasitophagous fungus Mucor circinelloides (day 0) at 0.5 L/m² (=600 mL/area); G2, sprayed with spores twice (every two weeks); G3, sprayed four times (every week); and Control, sprayed weekly with water. After a four-week period, the egg viability reduced for ascarids and capillarids (26% and 27%, respectively) in the control group; 64% and 79% in G1; 71% and 82% in G2; and 79% and 80% in G3. It was concluded that spraying with fungal spores provides a very useful tool for preventing infection by helminths on free-range poultry. Full article