Pub Date : 2026-02-11DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2026.109115
Ebrahim Abbasi
Background: Climate change significantly affects vector-borne diseases (VBDs) by altering vector ecology, transmission dynamics, and disease geographic spread. Understanding these interactions is crucial for effective public health responses.
Methods: This systematic review synthesizes studies investigating climate change's impact on VBDs, drawing from major databases like PubMed and Scopus. Studies were selected based on their exploration of climatic variables (temperature, precipitation, humidity) and their effects on vectors and disease transmission.
Results: Climate change accelerates vector reproduction and shortens pathogen incubation periods, enhancing transmission. Vectors, such as Aedes aegypti and Anopheles spp., are expanding into previously non-endemic regions. Prolonged transmission seasons and urbanization intensify diseases like malaria, dengue, and Zika. Public health systems, particularly in resource-limited areas, struggle to adapt.
Discussion: Findings highlight the urgent need for climate-informed public health policies. Effective strategies must include innovative vector control, strengthened surveillance, and global cooperation. Further research is necessary to develop predictive models and equitable interventions to protect vulnerable populations.
{"title":"Climate Change and Vector Ecology: A Comprehensive Review of Environmental Drivers of Insect-Borne Disease Dynamics and Public Health Implications.","authors":"Ebrahim Abbasi","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2026.109115","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exppara.2026.109115","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Climate change significantly affects vector-borne diseases (VBDs) by altering vector ecology, transmission dynamics, and disease geographic spread. Understanding these interactions is crucial for effective public health responses.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This systematic review synthesizes studies investigating climate change's impact on VBDs, drawing from major databases like PubMed and Scopus. Studies were selected based on their exploration of climatic variables (temperature, precipitation, humidity) and their effects on vectors and disease transmission.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Climate change accelerates vector reproduction and shortens pathogen incubation periods, enhancing transmission. Vectors, such as Aedes aegypti and Anopheles spp., are expanding into previously non-endemic regions. Prolonged transmission seasons and urbanization intensify diseases like malaria, dengue, and Zika. Public health systems, particularly in resource-limited areas, struggle to adapt.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Findings highlight the urgent need for climate-informed public health policies. Effective strategies must include innovative vector control, strengthened surveillance, and global cooperation. Further research is necessary to develop predictive models and equitable interventions to protect vulnerable populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"109115"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146194384","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2026.109098
Rose Rizvi, Khan Nazima Mohammad, Aiman Zafar, Irshad Mahmood
Root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) is a major constraint in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) production, causing substantial yield losses worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the nematicidal efficacy and defense-inducing potential of Aloe vera L.–mediated green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against M. incognita in chickpea under greenhouse conditions. AgNPs were characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy and SEM, confirming spherical particles (20–40 nm) with a distinct surface plasmon resonance peak at 420 nm. M. incognita infection caused severe reductions in plant growth, photosynthetic pigments, and nodulation; however, AgNP application (25–100 mg L−1) significantly alleviated these effects. The 50 mg L−1 treatment was most effective, enhancing biomass and pigment content while reducing gall formation and egg masses by more than 60 %. Defense-related biochemical responses showed increased activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), peroxidase (POD), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). Moreover, qRT-PCR analysis revealed strong upregulation of PR1, PR5, LOX, and WRKY70 genes, indicating activation of salicylic acid- and jasmonic acid-mediated defense pathways. Overall, Aloe vera L.–derived AgNPs exhibit dual functionality as nematicidal agents and abiotic elicitors of host resistance, highlighting their potential as sustainable tools for nematode management, though additional nanoparticle characterization and field-scale validation are warranted.
{"title":"Green-synthesized silver nanoparticles from Aloe vera L. suppress Meloidogyne incognita and induce defense responses in chickpea","authors":"Rose Rizvi, Khan Nazima Mohammad, Aiman Zafar, Irshad Mahmood","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2026.109098","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2026.109098","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Root-knot nematode (<em>Meloidogyne incognita</em>) is a major constraint in chickpea (<em>Cicer arietinum</em> L.) production, causing substantial yield losses worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the nematicidal efficacy and defense-inducing potential of <em>Aloe vera</em> L.–mediated green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against <em>M. incognita</em> in chickpea under greenhouse conditions. AgNPs were characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy and SEM, confirming spherical particles (20–40 nm) with a distinct surface plasmon resonance peak at 420 nm. <em>M. incognita</em> infection caused severe reductions in plant growth, photosynthetic pigments, and nodulation; however, AgNP application (25–100 mg L<sup>−1</sup>) significantly alleviated these effects. The 50 mg L<sup>−1</sup> treatment was most effective, enhancing biomass and pigment content while reducing gall formation and egg masses by more than 60 %. Defense-related biochemical responses showed increased activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), peroxidase (POD), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). Moreover, qRT-PCR analysis revealed strong upregulation of <em>PR1, PR5, LOX</em>, and <em>WRKY70</em> genes, indicating activation of salicylic acid- and jasmonic acid-mediated defense pathways. Overall, <em>Aloe vera</em> L.–derived AgNPs exhibit dual functionality as nematicidal agents and abiotic elicitors of host resistance, highlighting their potential as sustainable tools for nematode management, though additional nanoparticle characterization and field-scale validation are warranted.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 109098"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145988833","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2026-01-07DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2026.109097
Katiane dos Santos Lobo , Juliete Lima Viana , Fátima Maria de Souza Pereira , Pedro Alberto Pavão Pessoa , Jefferson Almeida Rocha , Joelma Soares da Silva , Valéria Cristina Soares Pinheiro , Rosemary Aparecida Roque
The objective was to evaluate alternative culture media for the growth of the Bacillus thuringiensis strains BtMA-690, BtMA-750, and BtMA-1114, assessing growth parameters such as pH, spore concentration, optical density, and biomass, as well as selective and quantitative bioassays with Aedes aegypti larvae to estimate the lethal concentration (LC50 and LC90). The isolates BtMA-690 and BtMA-750 remained around neutrality (pH 7.0) throughout the fermentation period in the conventional media, while in the alternative medium they maintained a pH of 6.0, in contrast, BtMA-1114 showed a pH variation (6.0–8.0) across the media tested. In terms of spore concentration, for BtMA-690 and BtMA-750, the cassava-based alternative medium showed higher spores/mL values compared to the conventional media. Absorbance readings were higher for the conventional Nutrient Broth medium for isolates BtMA-690 and BtMA-750, whereas for BtMA-1114 the highest values were obtained with the Luria Bertani (LB) medium and the cassava-based alternative medium. Regarding biomass after 72 h, the LB medium showed higher values for all three isolates tested. The selective bioassays showed 100 % larval mortality within 24 h for the isolates BtMA-690 and BtMA-750 in both the conventional Nutrient Broth and the cassava-based alternative medium. The lowest LC50 and LC90 values obtained for the isolates were 0.0102 mg/mL and 0.0253 mg/mL, respectively, for BtMA-690. The use of alternative media improved bacterial yield, making them competitive in the market and environmentally beneficial, with potential application in the production of bioproducts.
{"title":"Alternative culture medium based on Manihot esculenta (Cassava) for the growth of Bacillus thuringiensis aimed at the control of Aedes aegypti","authors":"Katiane dos Santos Lobo , Juliete Lima Viana , Fátima Maria de Souza Pereira , Pedro Alberto Pavão Pessoa , Jefferson Almeida Rocha , Joelma Soares da Silva , Valéria Cristina Soares Pinheiro , Rosemary Aparecida Roque","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2026.109097","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2026.109097","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The objective was to evaluate alternative culture media for the growth of the <em>Bacillus thuringiensis</em> strains BtMA-690, BtMA-750, and BtMA-1114, assessing growth parameters such as pH, spore concentration, optical density, and biomass, as well as selective and quantitative bioassays with <em>Aedes aegypti</em> larvae to estimate the lethal concentration (LC<sub>50</sub> and LC<sub>90</sub>). The isolates BtMA-690 and BtMA-750 remained around neutrality (pH 7.0) throughout the fermentation period in the conventional media, while in the alternative medium they maintained a pH of 6.0, in contrast, BtMA-1114 showed a pH variation (6.0–8.0) across the media tested. In terms of spore concentration, for BtMA-690 and BtMA-750, the cassava-based alternative medium showed higher spores/mL values compared to the conventional media. Absorbance readings were higher for the conventional Nutrient Broth medium for isolates BtMA-690 and BtMA-750, whereas for BtMA-1114 the highest values were obtained with the Luria Bertani (LB) medium and the cassava-based alternative medium. Regarding biomass after 72 h, the LB medium showed higher values for all three isolates tested. The selective bioassays showed 100 % larval mortality within 24 h for the isolates BtMA-690 and BtMA-750 in both the conventional Nutrient Broth and the cassava-based alternative medium. The lowest LC<sub>50</sub> and LC<sub>90</sub> values obtained for the isolates were 0.0102 mg/mL and 0.0253 mg/mL, respectively, for BtMA-690. The use of alternative media improved bacterial yield, making them competitive in the market and environmentally beneficial, with potential application in the production of bioproducts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 109097"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145932849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-12-30DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109086
Siju Susan Jacob, Pinaki Prasad Sengupta, Snigdha Madhaba Maharana
Trypanosoma evansi, the causative agent of Surra, infects a wide range of domestic and wild animals, across tropical and subtropical regions. Although T. evansi isolates are generally considered genetically homologous, variations are anticipated due to host diversity and geographical distribution. This study investigated the molecular diversity, codon usage bias, haplotype distribution, and structural characteristics of actin in T. evansi isolates obtained from naturally infected dogs, buffaloes, lion and leopards in Karnataka and Chhattisgarh, India, with a focus on the conserved actin gene. PCR amplification of the full-length 1131 bp actin gene was standardized, and the amplicons were sequenced from these isolates. Sequence alignment revealed high nucleotide similarity (99.5 %–100 %) among the isolates, with two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified: a G to A transversion at position 204 and an A to G transversion at position 358, the latter resulting in a non-synonymous amino acid substitution (methionine to valine) at position 120. Codon usage analysis indicated a preference for codons ending in adenine or uracil, consistent with kinetoplastid parasites. Phylogenetic analysis using the maximum likelihood method (K2+G model) confirmed the clustering of the isolates of the present study with T. evansi isolates from Rajasthan and China, forming a distinct clade clearly separated from other Trypanosoma species. The Ka/Ks ratios ranged from 0.299 to 1.500, suggesting both purifying and positive selection pressures. Haplotype network analysis identified eight haplotypes among 13 sequences, indicating a moderate level of haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.8590) and a complex evolutionary structure. Protein modeling using AlphaFold revealed the conservation of the canonical actin fold architecture, reinforcing the structural and functional conservation of actin in T. evansi. The combined findings provide valuable insights into the genetic diversity, evolutionary pressures, and structural stability of T. evansi actin gene, contributing to a better understanding of its molecular epidemiology and potential targets for control strategies.
{"title":"Molecular diversity, selection pressure, and structural modeling of Actin in Trypanosoma evansi isolates","authors":"Siju Susan Jacob, Pinaki Prasad Sengupta, Snigdha Madhaba Maharana","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109086","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109086","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Trypanosoma evansi</em>, the causative agent of Surra, infects a wide range of domestic and wild animals, across tropical and subtropical regions. Although <em>T. evansi</em> isolates are generally considered genetically homologous, variations are anticipated due to host diversity and geographical distribution. This study investigated the molecular diversity, codon usage bias, haplotype distribution, and structural characteristics of <em>actin</em> in <em>T. evansi</em> isolates obtained from naturally infected dogs, buffaloes, lion and leopards in Karnataka and Chhattisgarh, India, with a focus on the conserved <em>actin</em> gene. PCR amplification of the full-length 1131 bp <em>actin</em> gene was standardized, and the amplicons were sequenced from these isolates. Sequence alignment revealed high nucleotide similarity (99.5 %–100 %) among the isolates, with two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified: a G to A transversion at position 204 and an A to G transversion at position 358, the latter resulting in a non-synonymous amino acid substitution (methionine to valine) at position 120. Codon usage analysis indicated a preference for codons ending in adenine or uracil, consistent with kinetoplastid parasites. Phylogenetic analysis using the maximum likelihood method (K2+G model) confirmed the clustering of the isolates of the present study with <em>T. evansi</em> isolates from Rajasthan and China, forming a distinct clade clearly separated from other <em>Trypanosoma</em> species. The Ka/Ks ratios ranged from 0.299 to 1.500, suggesting both purifying and positive selection pressures. Haplotype network analysis identified eight haplotypes among 13 sequences, indicating a moderate level of haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.8590) and a complex evolutionary structure. Protein modeling using AlphaFold revealed the conservation of the canonical actin fold architecture, reinforcing the structural and functional conservation of <em>actin</em> in <em>T. evansi</em>. The combined findings provide valuable insights into the genetic diversity, evolutionary pressures, and structural stability of <em>T. evansi actin</em> gene, contributing to a better understanding of its molecular epidemiology and potential targets for control strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 109086"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145852412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2026-01-11DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2026.109099
Şima Şahinduran , İsmail Kırbaş , Ahmet Çifci
Cryptosporidiosis, caused by Cryptosporidium spp., is a significant zoonotic parasitic disease impacting neonatal calves, leading to severe diarrhea, dehydration, and substantial economic losses in the livestock industry. Rapid and accurate detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts is crucial for effective disease management and control, contributing to both animal and human health under a One Health perspective. This study investigates the application of state-of-the-art object detection algorithms, YOLOv10 and YOLOv11, for the automated identification of Cryptosporidium oocysts in microscopic images of calf fecal samples. A dataset of 406 annotated images was used to train and evaluate these models using metrics including precision, recall, and mean Average Precision (mAP). YOLOv11 demonstrated superior precision (88.94 %), indicating a reduced false-positive rate, which is critical for avoiding unnecessary treatments and for the accurate assessment of prevalence in epidemiological studies. Conversely, YOLOv10 exhibited higher recall (92.57 %), ensuring high sensitivity for screening purposes where minimizing false negatives is paramount. These findings highlight the potential of advanced object detection as a rapid, scalable, and cost-effective AI-assisted screening and support tool for Cryptosporidium. This automated system has the potential to standardize diagnostic procedures, facilitate high-throughput microscopy-based surveillance, and improve our understanding of oocyst shedding dynamics in infected animals.
{"title":"A deep learning-based tool for rapid and automated detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts: A new approach for veterinary diagnostics and epizootiological surveys","authors":"Şima Şahinduran , İsmail Kırbaş , Ahmet Çifci","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2026.109099","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2026.109099","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cryptosporidiosis, caused by <em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp., is a significant zoonotic parasitic disease impacting neonatal calves, leading to severe diarrhea, dehydration, and substantial economic losses in the livestock industry. Rapid and accurate detection of <em>Cryptosporidium</em> oocysts is crucial for effective disease management and control, contributing to both animal and human health under a One Health perspective. This study investigates the application of state-of-the-art object detection algorithms, YOLOv10 and YOLOv11, for the automated identification of <em>Cryptosporidium</em> oocysts in microscopic images of calf fecal samples. A dataset of 406 annotated images was used to train and evaluate these models using metrics including precision, recall, and mean Average Precision (mAP). YOLOv11 demonstrated superior precision (88.94 %), indicating a reduced false-positive rate, which is critical for avoiding unnecessary treatments and for the accurate assessment of prevalence in epidemiological studies. Conversely, YOLOv10 exhibited higher recall (92.57 %), ensuring high sensitivity for screening purposes where minimizing false negatives is paramount. These findings highlight the potential of advanced object detection as a rapid, scalable, and cost-effective AI-assisted screening and support tool for <em>Cryptosporidium</em>. This automated system has the potential to standardize diagnostic procedures, facilitate high-throughput microscopy-based surveillance, and improve our understanding of oocyst shedding dynamics in infected animals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 109099"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145965731","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mosquito-borne illnesses present a major public health issue, requiring the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches to control vectors. The present study explores the larvicidal potential of seaweed extracts and the antioxidant activities of Codium fragile and Turbinaria conoides-derived bioactive substances as a natural alternative to synthetic insecticides. The phytochemical analysis indicated that both C. fragile and T. conoides ethanolic extracts contained a total of fourteen compounds, which is greater than the other extracts. The GC-MS analysis performed on the ethanolic extract of C. fragile and T. conoides revealed the presence of twenty distinct compounds. C. fragile was found to have hexadecanoic acid (27.79 %), 4-methanocycloocta[d]pyridaz (7.39 %), 1,1-dimethoxy-2-hepten-7-al (7.04 %), and octadecanoic acid (5.9 %). For T. conoides, the main compounds discovered were dibutyl phthalate (69.56 %), 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid (14.01 %), and phthalic acid (2.58 %), all of which exhibited the highest area percentages. The ethanolic extract of T. conoides demonstrated the highest antioxidant activity, with DPPH at 81.48 ± 1.0 %, ABTS at 88.29 ± 1.0 %, and hydroxyl radical scavenging at 86.51 ± 1.0 %, followed by other extracts. The antioxidant exhibited IC50 values of 22.50 ± 1 μg mL−1, 34.86 ± 0.9 μg mL−1, and 40.69 ± 1.1 μg mL−1 for DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities, respectively. The findings suggest that the compound acts as a powerful antioxidant, with lower IC50 values indicating a greater antioxidant potential. Chloroform extracts from C. fragile and T. conoides demonstrated significant effects on Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae. Consequently, the bioactive compounds derived from the ethanolic extracts could be utilized as alternatives for both antioxidant and larvicidal applications, potentially reducing the negative environmental impacts associated with synthetic insecticides. Seaweed presents a promising option for controlling mosquitoes due to its larvicidal characteristics.
{"title":"Assessment of GC-MS and antioxidant properties of seaweed extracts as a new larvicidal agent targeting Culex quinquefasciatus","authors":"Pachaan Kolanchinathan , Paramasivan Deepa , Dharmaraj Praveenkumar , Alagan Subbiah Vijayakumar","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2026.109096","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2026.109096","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mosquito-borne illnesses present a major public health issue, requiring the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches to control vectors. The present study explores the larvicidal potential of seaweed extracts and the antioxidant activities of <em>Codium fragile</em> and <em>Turbinaria conoides</em>-derived bioactive substances as a natural alternative to synthetic insecticides. The phytochemical analysis indicated that both <em>C. fragile</em> and <em>T. conoides</em> ethanolic extracts contained a total of fourteen compounds, which is greater than the other extracts. The GC-MS analysis performed on the ethanolic extract of <em>C. fragile</em> and <em>T. conoides</em> revealed the presence of twenty distinct compounds. <em>C. fragile</em> was found to have hexadecanoic acid (27.79 %), 4-methanocycloocta[d]pyridaz (7.39 %), 1,1-dimethoxy-2-hepten-7-al (7.04 %), and octadecanoic acid (5.9 %). For <em>T. conoides,</em> the main compounds discovered were dibutyl phthalate (69.56 %), 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid (14.01 %), and phthalic acid (2.58 %), all of which exhibited the highest area percentages. The ethanolic extract of <em>T. conoides</em> demonstrated the highest antioxidant activity, with DPPH at 81.48 ± 1.0 %, ABTS at 88.29 ± 1.0 %, and hydroxyl radical scavenging at 86.51 ± 1.0 %, followed by other extracts. The antioxidant exhibited IC50 values of 22.50 ± 1 μg mL<sup>−1</sup>, 34.86 ± 0.9 μg mL<sup>−1</sup>, and 40.69 ± 1.1 μg mL<sup>−1</sup> for DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities, respectively. The findings suggest that the compound acts as a powerful antioxidant, with lower IC<sub>50</sub> values indicating a greater antioxidant potential. Chloroform extracts from <em>C. fragile</em> and <em>T. conoides</em> demonstrated significant effects on <em>Cx. quinquefasciatus</em> larvae. Consequently, the bioactive compounds derived from the ethanolic extracts could be utilized as alternatives for both antioxidant and larvicidal applications, potentially reducing the negative environmental impacts associated with synthetic insecticides. Seaweed presents a promising option for controlling mosquitoes due to its larvicidal characteristics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 109096"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145940319","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-12-13DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109081
Marrara P. Sampaio , Marcelo Cerilo-Filho , Maria Naely G. Almeida , Maria Alice T. Matos , Amanda A. Silva , Dulce J.V. Fernando , Raisa P. Bras , Andréa R.S. Baptista , Tatiana X. de Castro , Ricardo L.D. Machado
{"title":"Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein and vaccine strategies in murine models: A scoping review","authors":"Marrara P. Sampaio , Marcelo Cerilo-Filho , Maria Naely G. Almeida , Maria Alice T. Matos , Amanda A. Silva , Dulce J.V. Fernando , Raisa P. Bras , Andréa R.S. Baptista , Tatiana X. de Castro , Ricardo L.D. Machado","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109081","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109081","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"280 ","pages":"Article 109081"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145762254","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-12-15DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109083
Megan Hall , Swetha Babu , Nallathambi Baranidharan , Priyabrata Bhattacharya , Manju Rahi , Appadurai Daniel Reegan
Vector-borne diseases are major public health problems in the growing world and insecticide resistance threatens the elimination programs. Repurposed drugs could be a solution to develop novel larvicides to combat growing insecticide resistance among mosquito vectors and novel macrofilaricides to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF). In the present study, two veterinary drugs, closantel, and morantel were assessed for larvicidal activity against three mosquito larvae and macrofilaricidal activity against Setaria digitata, a lymphatic filariasis model organism. The larvicidal activity was assessed with a bioassay against Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae with concentrations between 0.1 ppm and 10 ppm. The macrofilaricidal activity was assessed using worm motility and MTT assays against Setaria digitata nematodes with concentrations between 0.05 mg/mL to 0.001 mg/mL. Among the two drugs tested, closantel was found to be effective against An. stephensi, Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. aegypti larvae with LC50 values of 0.183, 0.658, 0.773 ppm, and LC90 values of 1.577, 2.560, 2.108, respectively. Both closantel and morantel demonstrated macrofilaricidal activity. However, morantel showed strong macrofilaricidal activity with 87.29 % and 87.49 % inhibition at 492 and 510 nm, respectively, in the MTT assay at the lowest concentration of 0.01 mg/mL. But closantel showed 85.26 % and 86.28 % inhibition at 492 and 510 nm, respectively, in the MTT assay at 0.05 mg/mL. These findings suggest that closantel and morantel could be promising candidates as repurposed drugs for larvicides and macrofilaricides and may provide valuable insights into effective target mechanisms against vector-borne diseases.
{"title":"Larvicidal and macrofilaricidal efficacy of closantel and morantel against mosquito larvae and Setaria digitata nematodes","authors":"Megan Hall , Swetha Babu , Nallathambi Baranidharan , Priyabrata Bhattacharya , Manju Rahi , Appadurai Daniel Reegan","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109083","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109083","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Vector-borne diseases are major public health problems in the growing world and insecticide resistance threatens the elimination programs. Repurposed drugs could be a solution to develop novel larvicides to combat growing insecticide resistance among mosquito vectors and novel macrofilaricides to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF). In the present study, two veterinary drugs, closantel, and morantel were assessed for larvicidal activity against three mosquito larvae and macrofilaricidal activity against <em>Setaria digitata</em>, a lymphatic filariasis model organism. The larvicidal activity was assessed with a bioassay against <em>Aedes aegypti</em>, <em>Anopheles stephensi</em>, and <em>Culex quinquefasciatus</em> larvae with concentrations between 0.1 ppm and 10 ppm. The macrofilaricidal activity was assessed using worm motility and MTT assays against <em>Setaria digitata</em> nematodes with concentrations between 0.05 mg/mL to 0.001 mg/mL. Among the two drugs tested, closantel was found to be effective against <em>An. stephensi</em>, <em>Cx. quinquefasciatus</em> and <em>Ae. aegypti</em> larvae with LC<sub>50</sub> values of 0.183, 0.658, 0.773 ppm, and LC<sub>90</sub> values of 1.577, 2.560, 2.108, respectively. Both closantel and morantel demonstrated macrofilaricidal activity. However, morantel showed strong macrofilaricidal activity with 87.29 % and 87.49 % inhibition at 492 and 510 nm, respectively, in the MTT assay at the lowest concentration of 0.01 mg/mL. But closantel showed 85.26 % and 86.28 % inhibition at 492 and 510 nm, respectively, in the MTT assay at 0.05 mg/mL. These findings suggest that closantel and morantel could be promising candidates as repurposed drugs for larvicides and macrofilaricides and may provide valuable insights into effective target mechanisms against vector-borne diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"280 ","pages":"Article 109083"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145774070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-12-18DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109085
Joana Bernardo , Magda Sanches , Christiane Leal Corrêa , Luciana Brandão-Bezerra , José Roberto Machado-Silva , Renata Heisler Neves
Schistosomiasis is the second most prevalent parasitic disease globally. It is common in tropical and subtropical regions, with transmission dependent on human contact with contaminated water and the presence of an intermediate host. The disease is associated with poverty and coexists with inefficient nutrient consumption among populations lacking basic sanitation. In this study, we performed a histopathological analysis of the spleen in Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice fed a low-protein diet. Mice were divided into four groups (n = 5 animals per group): uninfected, standard diet (US); uninfected, low-protein diet (ULP); infected, standard diet (IS); and infected, low-protein diet (ILP). S. mansoni infection (BH strain, with approximately 100 cercariae via subcutaneous route) occurred at the 4th week of diet administration, and euthanasia was performed after 9 weeks of infection. After euthanasia, the spleen was excised, cleaved, fixed, and then underwent histological processing and staining for the relevant analyses. Splenic alterations were investigated through qualitative and quantitative histological analyses, utilizing white pulp and capsule morphometry, stereology (D36 method), and megakaryocyte quantification. Histopathological analyses of the ILP group revealed a notable increase in hemosiderin and bilirubin pigment deposits, a 100 % increase in the volume density of trabeculae and megakaryocytes (albeit with deficient synthesis), and intense organizational changes in the splenic parenchyma. Therefore, the presented data suggest that protein deficiency exacerbates splenic tissue disorganization, a common condition in schistosomiasis, significantly impacting disease pathogenesis and host response.
{"title":"Effect of a low-protein diet on the spleen of Swiss Webster mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni","authors":"Joana Bernardo , Magda Sanches , Christiane Leal Corrêa , Luciana Brandão-Bezerra , José Roberto Machado-Silva , Renata Heisler Neves","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109085","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109085","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Schistosomiasis is the second most prevalent parasitic disease globally. It is common in tropical and subtropical regions, with transmission dependent on human contact with contaminated water and the presence of an intermediate host. The disease is associated with poverty and coexists with inefficient nutrient consumption among populations lacking basic sanitation. In this study, we performed a histopathological analysis of the spleen in <em>Schistosoma mansoni</em>-infected mice fed a low-protein diet. Mice were divided into four groups (n = 5 animals per group): uninfected, standard diet (US); uninfected, low-protein diet (ULP); infected, standard diet (IS); and infected, low-protein diet (ILP). <em>S. mansoni</em> infection (BH strain, with approximately 100 cercariae via subcutaneous route) occurred at the 4th week of diet administration, and euthanasia was performed after 9 weeks of infection. After euthanasia, the spleen was excised, cleaved, fixed, and then underwent histological processing and staining for the relevant analyses. Splenic alterations were investigated through qualitative and quantitative histological analyses, utilizing white pulp and capsule morphometry, stereology (D36 method), and megakaryocyte quantification. Histopathological analyses of the ILP group revealed a notable increase in hemosiderin and bilirubin pigment deposits, a 100 % increase in the volume density of trabeculae and megakaryocytes (albeit with deficient synthesis), and intense organizational changes in the splenic parenchyma. Therefore, the presented data suggest that protein deficiency exacerbates splenic tissue disorganization, a common condition in schistosomiasis, significantly impacting disease pathogenesis and host response.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"280 ","pages":"Article 109085"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145800049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-21DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109070
Nurul Fatin Amirah Mohd Azmi , Samsuddin Ahmad Syazwan , Ruhil Hayati Hamdan , Tan Li Peng
Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) pose a major threat to global livestock production, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions, and their burden is projected to increase worldwide in the coming decades as a result of climate change. In Brazil, tick infestations are responsible for economic losses estimated at about USD 3.24 billion annually. Growing resistance to chemical acaricides necessitates alternative control strategies such as biological agents. This study assessed the pathogenicity of a local strain of Metarhizium anisopliae (PR1) against adult Rhipicephalus microplus ticks using the Adult Immersion Test at conidial concentrations of 107, 108, and 109 conidia/mL, each tested in triplicate alongside positive and negative controls. All concentrations caused complete tick mortality within 14 days, with higher concentrations accelerating tick death and completely inhibiting oviposition and larval hatchability. The estimated LT50 and LT90 values for the 109 conidia/mL treatment were 2.46 [2.09–2.75] days and 3.63 [3.25–4.29] days, respectively. In contrast, untreated ticks exhibited only 6.7 % mortality and laid an average of 1567 ± 314 eggs, of which 84 % hatched. A significant positive correlation was observed between tick weight and the time to death at the highest concentration, suggesting heavier ticks resisted infection longer, potentially due to higher energy reserves or thicker cuticular. These results underline the potent in vitro pathogenic and reproductive-suppressing effects of M. anisopliae strain PR1 under laboratory conditions, while emphasizing the need for further field validation before considering its application in broader vector management programs.
{"title":"Infection dynamics of Metarhizium anisopliae in Rhipicephalus microplus and the role of tick traits in susceptibility","authors":"Nurul Fatin Amirah Mohd Azmi , Samsuddin Ahmad Syazwan , Ruhil Hayati Hamdan , Tan Li Peng","doi":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109070","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.exppara.2025.109070","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) pose a major threat to global livestock production, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions, and their burden is projected to increase worldwide in the coming decades as a result of climate change. In Brazil, tick infestations are responsible for economic losses estimated at about USD 3.24 billion annually. Growing resistance to chemical acaricides necessitates alternative control strategies such as biological agents. This study assessed the pathogenicity of a local strain of <em>Metarhizium anisopliae</em> (PR1) against adult <em>Rhipicephalus microplus</em> ticks using the Adult Immersion Test at conidial concentrations of 10<sup>7</sup>, 10<sup>8</sup>, and 10<sup>9</sup> conidia/mL, each tested in triplicate alongside positive and negative controls. All concentrations caused complete tick mortality within 14 days, with higher concentrations accelerating tick death and completely inhibiting oviposition and larval hatchability. The estimated LT<sub>50</sub> and LT<sub>90</sub> values for the 10<sup>9</sup> conidia/mL treatment were 2.46 [2.09–2.75] days and 3.63 [3.25–4.29] days, respectively. In contrast, untreated ticks exhibited only 6.7 % mortality and laid an average of 1567 ± 314 eggs, of which 84 % hatched. A significant positive correlation was observed between tick weight and the time to death at the highest concentration, suggesting heavier ticks resisted infection longer, potentially due to higher energy reserves or thicker cuticular. These results underline the potent in vitro pathogenic and reproductive-suppressing effects of <em>M. anisopliae</em> strain PR1 under laboratory conditions, while emphasizing the need for further field validation before considering its application in broader vector management programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12117,"journal":{"name":"Experimental parasitology","volume":"280 ","pages":"Article 109070"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145586046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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