Parasitological Research Research Articles

Western Anthelmintics in Early Twentieth-Century China Colonial Practices and Knowledge on "Tropical Diseases" of the In/between.

Protestant (medical) missionaries were the main proponents of Western medicine in China after the Opium Wars. Several studies have highlighted how they used spectacular surgery as a means of gaining public trust. As well as surgery, they also administered anthelmintic drugs such as santonin as a tool of persuasion and conversion. Many anthelmintic drugs of the European materia medica had a colonial history. My paper analyses how coloniality materialised in medical practice and anthelmintics in China. For the late nineteenth century, I will examine the colonial practices in which the drug santonin was involved. At the time, santonin was the drug of choice for treating roundworm. In the early twentieth century, medical missionaries became involved in parasitological research on parasitic worms such as hookworm and Fasciolopsis buski. For this period, I will explore how new knowledge about anthelmintics emerged in the scattered knowledge space of China, and how it related to colonialism and imperialism.

Patrick Manson: A Physician Pioneer in Parasitology Research

Patrick Manson: A Physician Pioneer in Parasitology Research

A New Species of Heligmonellidae (Nematoda) in Euryoryzomys russatus (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae) in the Atlantic Forest of Northeast Brazil.

The genus Stilestrongylus (Freitas, Lent, and Almeida, 1937) is defined by having 24 or more subequal cuticular ridges, an asymmetrical caudal bursa, and a hypertrophied genital cone. It comprises 25 recognized species, mainly parasitizing cricetids, and shows significant diversification linked to the evolution of its hosts. Stilestrongylus magnumspiculum n. sp. is a newly described nematode species identified in the small intestine of the rodent Euryoryzomys russatus (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae) from the Atlantic Forest of Northeast Brazil. This study aims to characterize the new species and its prevalence in host populations. A total of 43 Euryoryzomys russatus individuals were collected and analyzed for parasitic infections. Morphological features of Stilestrongylus magnumspiculum n. sp. were examined, focusing on the number of ridges, synlophe characteristics, caudal bursa type, lobe hypertrophy, and the spicule length to body length ratio. The new species exhibited a prevalence of 21% among the sampled hosts. Distinctive morphological features were observed, including:the synlophe structure exhibited specific ridge patterns that differentiate it from other species within the genus; the caudal bursa was identified as a type 2-2-1; hypertrophy of the right lobe was observed, indicating notable morphological adaptation; rays 4 and 5 were found to be equivalent in size and diverged at the distal end; the spicule length to body length ratio (SpL/BL) was measured at 30-36%, representing the largest ratio recorded for the genus. In comparison, other Stilestrongylus species displayed the following ratios: S. rolandoi (21-33%), S. lanfrediae (25-29%), S. kaaguyporai (20-24%), S. inexpectatus (20-23%), and S. stilesi (26-28%). This report presents Stilestrongylus magnumspiculum n. sp. as a new species of nematode, contributing to the diversity of the genus Stilestrongylus. The findings underscore the importance of studying host-parasite interactions within the Atlantic Forest ecosystem and provide a basis for future ecological and parasitological research.

Unclear host taxonomy hinders parasite studies: An up-to-date checklist of the protozoan and metazoan parasites of Phoxinus minnows (Teleostei: Leuciscidae).

Phoxinus minnows are small freshwater fish found throughout Eurasia. The taxonomy of this genus is still under investigation, and new species are regularly described. They are frequently introduced outside their native range due to their use as live bait for angling, and such fish introductions can have diverse impacts on the recipient areas. Before the rise in interest regarding the diversity of this genus in the past 15 years, studies carried out on their biology and ecology reported their findings for the Eurasian minnow Phoxinus phoxinus Linnaeus, 1758, which was then considered ubiquitous. A parasites checklist for Phoxinus minnows has yet to be published, and the recent progress on the taxonomy of this genus has enabled us to propose a reassignment of parasite records to their proper host. The most thoroughly studied potential species were the North European species Phoxinus sp. 7 sensu Palandačić et al. 2017, Phoxinus isetensis, and P. phoxinus. We were able to highlight a gap in knowledge for numerous species that have received little-to-no attention in terms of parasitology. Systematic molecular identification of Phoxinus minnows should be conducted when studying their parasites, as a reliable identification of the host is vital in parasitology research. Future research will certainly reveal a species-specific composition of the parasitofauna occurring in Phoxinus, especially among widespread parasites such as Gyrodactylus and Diplostomum. Such specificities could even become tools for assessing the introduction routes of Phoxinus species.

Features of ctenocephalidosis among neglected dogs in the city of Tyumen

Considering the high probability of the participation of stray dogs in the reservation and transmission of pathogens of infectious and invasive etiology, strict control is necessary not only over specific prevention, but also over the diagnosis of these diseases. Fleas are the most common ectoparasites in domestic animals. Flea parasitism in dogs is accompanied by anxiety, itching, and an allergic reaction. In addition, fleas are intermediate hosts of the causative agent of dipylidia. The purpose of the research was to study the spread of ctenocephalidosis among stray dogs in the city of Tyumen. The work was completed between 2016 and 2020. On the basis of the temporary detention center for stray pets of the Municipal government institution "LesParkKhoz" in Tyumen. A total of 4817 stray dogs were examined. For diagnosis, clinical, epizootological and parasitological research methods were used, the results obtained were processed using statistical methods. It was found that ctenocephalidosis occurred in 22.30% of stray dogs in the city of Tyumen. Most often, ctenocephalidosis was recorded among stray puppies under 1 year of age (36.03%) and in stray dogs aged 3 to 6 years (32.97%). Ctenocephalidosis was diagnosed throughout the year, the peak incidence was recorded in the autumn period in 46.28% of cases (of all cases of ctenocephalidosis for the specified period). Almost at the same level, flea infestation was recorded in spring and summer at 20.95% and 24.11%, respectively. Most often, stray dogs with ctenocephalidosis were admitted to the municipal shelter from the Central Administrative District (EI - 65.41% with AI 10.1 ± 0.5 individuals/animal). The causative agents of ctenocephalidosis in stray dogs in the city of Tyumen are C. felis and C. canis with a dominance index of 84.96% and 15.04%, respectively.

Parasitological investigation of soil biotope in the territory of Moscow

The purpose of the research is to conduct a sanitary and parasitological examination of soil biotopes on the territory of Moscow. In addition to traditional soil studies, we conducted coproscopic analyzes of samples of dog feces collected from the soil surface in Spring.Materials and methods. 83 combined soil samples were taken in 9 administrative districts of Moscow using the envelope method at a depth of up to 10 cm. From each combined sample, 4 samples were taken and examined using the Romanenko method according to MUK 4.2.2661-10 “Methods of sanitary and parasitological research”. From the same areas where soil was collected, 365 dog fecal samples were collected. Feces were studied using a combined flotation method. Soil and fecal samples were taken in Spring of 2023 during a period of positive temperatures immediately after the snow melted. Microscopy was performed using a Motic BA410T microscope. Identification of the detected objects was carried out on the basis of morphometric data. Species differentiation of Toxocara canis and T. cati eggs was carried out based on differences in the size of the eggs and the structure of the outer shell.Results and discussion. The city's soil is contaminated with pathogens of parasitic diseases in 9.3% of samples. Toxocara eggs were found (5.7%), of which T. canis in 3.9% of samples, and T. cati in 1.8% of samples. Eggs of Capillaria sp. detected in 1.5%, eggs of Trichuris sp. at 0.9%. Eggs of Hymenolepis sp. and coccidia were detected in 0.6% of samples. In dog feces, pathogens of parasitic diseases were detected in 3.3% of samples. Toxocara sp. eggs were found in 1.4% of samples, isospores in 0.8%, sarcocystis in 0.8%, Toxascaris leonina eggs in 0.3%. Toxocara sp. eggs are the leaders in the frequency of detection in the soil; these are mainly viable eggs with larvae. This is consistent with the data that T. canis eggs are most often recorded in anonymized dog feces. Eggs of Trichuris sp. and Capillaria sp. found in soil with formed viable larvae. The findings show the potential of urban soils as a parasite transmission factor for humans and susceptible animals, and dogs play a leading role in the contamination of urban soils with Toxocara sp. eggs.

CHARACTERISTICS OF INSECTOFAUNA OF CATTLE FARMS

The article presents data on the determination of the entomofauna of zoophilous flies in the conditions of the cattle breeding farm. Were subjected to parasitological research cattle of various ages: dairy cows, heifers of mating age, calves. The research was carried out on pastures, in production premises and walking areas. As a result of the conducted research, it was established that the main representatives of zoophilic flies parasitizing animals in pasture conditions were: Lyperosia irritans, Haematobia stimulans, Musca autumnalis Musca vitripennis. The following types of flies in the case of animals staying in the production premises, were identified on them: Musca domestic, Fannia canicularus, Calliphora uralensis, Calliphora visina, Lucilia sericata and Muscina stabulans. It was established that the extent of infestation by zoophilous flies was 100% among all age groups of cattle. Intensity of infestation in the group of dairy cows was 270.22±4.28 specimens/animal, among heifers and heifers of mating age – 244.67±3.49 specimens/animal, and among calves – 81.67±1.14 specimens/animal. We identified a clear trend regarding the specifics of parasitic insect damage in cattle of different breeds. When staying within the same production group, the highest intensity of infestation (354.50±5.08 insects per animal) was found in black Holstein cows, and the lowest II indicator was found in Simmental cows - 159.83±1.41 insects per animal. The intensity of the infestation of cows by zoophilic flies among representatives of the Holstein breed is 28% higher than that of the Simmental breed, and also 25% higher than that of the cows of the Ukrainian black-spotted dairy breed. It was noted that with high indicators of the intensity of invasion by zoophilous flies, the animals showed the maximum degree of restlessness, when analyzing behavioral reactions and the level of well-being of cows. It manifested itself in a constant effort to be in motion. Therefore, as a result of the conducted complex of studies, the extreme relevance of insecticidal treatments of cattle of different age groups has been proven, since a wide range of zoophilic flies has been identified in the places where animals stay.

Assessment of participants’ perception on the use of mass drug administration in communities endemic to <i>Wuchereria bancrofti</i> Cobbold, 1877 in Northern Nigeria

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is one of the neglected tropical diseases that cause permanent long term disability inform of hydrocoele, lymphoedema and elephantiasis that develop as a result of inflammation of the lymphatic system. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of lymphatic filariasis and perception of participants towards Mass Drug Administration (MDA) programme. The study was a community-based cross-sectional study for screening microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti in consenting participants. A total of 1010 participants’ from selected communities on the MDA programme in 5 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Bauchi, Plateau and Kaduna states were enlisted into to the study. The communities were chosen based on the presence of the people living with LF according to the signs and symptoms. A well-structured adapted questionnaire was administered to collect participants’ information and their perception of the MDA programme. Microflaria of Wuchereria bancrofti were identified based on the sheathed nuclear, caudal nuclei and bent tail in Parasitology and Entomology Research Laboratory, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-squared and odds ratio. Participants with knowledge (294/1010; 29.11%) of the MDA programme were less than those without knowledge (716/1010; 70.89%) of the MDA. Similar, the prevalence of LF was higher in participants with knowledge (26.87%) of the MDA than in those without knowledge (25.14%). The status of participation showed that, those that participated (380/1010; 37.62%) in the MDA were lower than those did not participants (630/1010; 62.38%); the infection in participants that did not partook in the MDA programme had higher prevalence (29.68%) of LF than those that participated. Participants gave various reasons for not being part of the MDA programme ranging from absent (177/1010; 17.53%) at the time of the campaign to side effect (2/1010; 0.20%) of the drugs after taking it. However, those that gave reasons for not participating because Community Drug Distributors (CDD) did not come, had highest prevalence (40.74%) of LF compared to those that gave reasons as side effect (0.00%) for not taking the drugs. Overall LF prevalence of 25.64% was found in this study. There is poor knowledge of MDA programme among the participants in the communities examined. Similarly, microfilaria was present in some participants despite the MDA campaign in the selected states. Intensive awareness campaign and drug distribution need to be carried out in most of the remote communities in the affected states. Furthermore, members of the communities must be part of the CDDs for acceptability and effectiveness of the campaign.

Microscopic Menaces: The Impact of Mites on Human Health.

Mites are highly prevalent arthropods that infest diverse ecological niches globally. Approximately 55,000 species of mites have been identified but many more are yet to be discovered. Of the ones we do know about, most go unnoticed by humans and animals. However, there are several species from the Acariformes superorder that exert a significant impact on global human health. House dust mites are a major source of inhaled allergens, affecting 10-20% of the world's population; storage mites also cause a significant allergy in susceptible individuals; chiggers are the sole vectors for the bacterium that causes scrub typhus; Demodex mites are part of the normal microfauna of humans and their pets, but under certain conditions populations grow out of control and affect the integrity of the integumentary system; and scabies mites cause one of the most common dermatological diseases worldwide. On the other hand, recent genome sequences of mites provide novel tools for mite control and the development of new biomaterial with applications in biomedicine. Despite the palpable disease burden, mites remain understudied in parasitological research. By better understanding mite biology and disease processes, researchers can identify new ways to diagnose, manage, and prevent common mite-induced afflictions. This knowledge can lead to improved clinical outcomes and reduced disease burden from these remarkably widespread yet understudied creatures.

Real-Time Protozoa Detection from Microscopic Imaging Using YOLOv4 Algorithm

Protozoa detection and classification from freshwaters and microscopic imaging are critical components in environmental monitoring, parasitology, science, biological processes, and scientific research. Bacterial and parasitic contamination of water plays an important role in society health. Conventional methods often rely on manual identification, resulting in time-consuming analyses and limited scalability. In this study, we propose a real-time protozoa detection framework using the YOLOv4 algorithm, a state-of-the-art deep learning model known for its exceptional speed and accuracy. Our dataset consists of objects of the protozoa species, such as Bdelloid Rotifera, Stylonychia Pustulata, Paramecium, Hypotrich Ciliate, Colpoda, Lepocinclis Acus, and Clathrulina Elegans, which are in freshwaters and have different shapes, sizes, and movements. One of the major properties of our work is to create a dataset by forming different cultures from various water sources like rainwater and puddles. Our network architecture is carefully tailored to optimize the detection of protozoa, ensuring precise localization and classification of individual organisms. To validate our approach, extensive experiments are conducted using real-world microscopic image datasets. The results demonstrate that the YOLOv4-based model achieves outstanding detection accuracy and significantly outperforms traditional methods in terms of speed and precision. The real-time capabilities of our framework enable rapid analysis of large-scale datasets, making it highly suitable for dynamic environments and time-sensitive applications. Furthermore, we introduce a user-friendly interface that allows researchers and environmental professionals to effortlessly deploy our YOLOv4-based protozoa detection tool. We conducted f1-score 0.95, precision 0.92, sensitivity 0.98, and mAP 0.9752 as evaluating metrics. The proposed model achieved 97% accuracy. After reaching high efficiency, a desktop application was developed to provide testing of the model. The proposed framework’s speed and accuracy have significant implications for various fields, ranging from a support tool for paramesiology/parasitology studies to water quality assessments, offering a powerful tool to enhance our understanding and preservation of ecosystems.

Analysis and evaluation of the current state of sanitary and parasitological methods of soil investigation

Introduction. The unregulated use of undisinfected sewage, their sludge, manure and runoff from livestock farms plays a leading role in the contamination of soil, agricultural, vegetable, and berry crops with invasive material, creating a high risk of infection for people and animals with pathogens of helminthiases and intestinal protozoal diseases. 
 The purpose of the research was to analyze and evaluate the current state of the presented sanitary and parasitological methods for studying soils. 
 Materials and methods. The material was retrospectively analyzed literary data, state reports of Federal Service for Supervision in Protection of the Rights of Consumer and Man Wellbeing on the pollution of residential soils for 2019–2021. 
 Results. As part of the experimental studies, there was made an assessment of approved sanitary and parasitological methods for studying soils, modern PCR methods and the patented IFM-IMS. The following results were obtained: Lamblia intestinalis, Toxocara spp. failed to be detected by Romanenko’s method found in 33.8% of cases, by Padchenko’s method Lamblia intestinalis – in 21.2% of cases, Toxocara spp. not detected, by the patented IMS-IFM method Lamblia intestinalis were found in 75.4%, Toxocara spp. – in 69.7%, by PCR , Lamblia intestinalis – in 11.4%, and Toxocara spp – in 34.1%.
 Limitations are related to the use in our own experimental studies of 2 types of parasitic agents – geohelminth eggs Toxocara spp. and cysts of the protozoan Lamblia intestinalis, as well as 2 types of soils, while data from state reports of the Federal Service for Supervision in Protection of the Rights of Consumer and Man Wellbeing contain the results of sanitary and parasitological control over the entire range of pathogens detected in various types of soils of the Russian Federation.
 Conclusion. It seems promising to introduce new parasitological soil research methods along with those approved to obtain a more complete and reliable picture of the level of parasitic contamination of soils in the Russian Federation for the timely implementation of stages of preventive measures.

Model worms: knowledge gains and risks associated with the use of model species in parasitological research.

Model parasite species, whose entire life cycle can be completed in the laboratory and maintained for multiple generations, have played a fundamental role in our understanding of host–parasite interactions. Yet, keeping parasites in laboratory conditions may expose them to unnatural evolutionary pressures, and using laboratory cultures for research is therefore not without limitations. Using 2 widely-used model helminth species, the cestode Hymenolepis diminuta and the nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus, I illustrate the caution needed when interpreting experimental results on model species. I first review more than 1200 experimental studies published on these species in the past 4 decades, to determine which research areas they have contributed to. This is followed by an examination of the institutional laboratory cultures that have provided the parasites used in these studies. Some of these have persisted for decades and accounted for a substantial proportion of published studies, whereas others have been short-lived. Using information provided by the curators of active cultures, I summarize data on their origins and maintenance conditions. Finally, I discuss how laboratory cultures may have been subject to the influence of evolutionary genetic processes, such as founder effects, genetic drift and inbreeding. I also address the possibility that serial passage through laboratory hosts across multiple generations has exerted artificial selection on several parasite traits, resulting in genetic and phenotypic divergence among laboratory cultures, and between these cultures and natural parasite populations. I conclude with recommendations for the continued usage of laboratory helminth cultures aimed at maximizing their important contribution to parasitological research.

Trends in Paragonimiasis Global Research: Bibliometric Analysis of a Neglected Food-Borne Parasite.

Paragonimus is a genus of parasitic flatworms known as lung flukes that cause the parasitic disease paragonimiasis in humans and other mammals. We aimed to use bibliometric analysis to identify the global characteristics and temporal trends of published literature about paragonimiasis. Using the Web of Science database, we identified all original articles on paragonimiasis 1997 to 2022. After collecting the bibliographic and citation data, keywords, citation networks, and co-citations pertaining to paragonimiasis was carried out using the VOSviewer program. The study identified 563 paragonimiasis articles published in 250 journals. Publications in paragonimiasis research have been cited 6190 times and 2803 times without self-citations. The years with the most publications were 2013, 2016, and 2021. The minimal threshold for analysis was met by 19 of the 52 countries investigated. The study included 19 items, yielding 170 links between countries. The total strength of these links was discovered to be 104772. The journal with the most publications in this category was Parasitology Research (n=31). The most frequently used terms in paragonimiasis study were "paragonimiasis", "Paragonimus westermanii", and "lung-fluke." The study concluded by providing an overview of the paragonimiasis research field, including current trends, development, and researcher collaboration. By addressing gaps in this bibliometric analysis and increasing collaboration, stake-holders could strengthen their strategies to effectively combat paragonimiasis and improve public health outcomes.

Evaluation of the Medicinal Potentials of Soursop (Annona muricata Safford) Leaf Extracts against Eimeria tenella Infection in Broiler Chickens

Aims: Poultry industry in Nigeria has recorded considerable expansion in recent times but not without poultry diseases as one of the major threats to boosting poultry production. Protozoa cause the majority of parasitic infections and cause high mortalities. Parasitic diseases such as coccidiosis are of particular importance because of their high incidence in poultry occasioned by the tropical environmental conditions under which the farmer operates. The resistance to common anticoccidial drugs has led to exploring other natural sources for prophylaxis and therapy. This research evaluated the therapeutic efficacies of Annona muricata at different dosages of 100, 125, 165mg/kg body weight using 120 broilers at 4 weeks of age. 
 Place and Duration of Study: Animal Parasitology and Microbiology Research Unit, Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, between September and December, 2022.
 Methodology: 120 broilers of 4 weeks old were used for this study using completely randomized study design. The birds were infected with sporulated Eimeria tenella oocysts at week 4. Treatment with ethanolic extract of Annona muricata was administered orally at week 5 using different dosages of 100, 125, 165mg/kg body weight for five consecutive days. Treatment commenced after the isolation of Eimeria oocysts in the faeces and onset on coccidial clinical signs as parameters to confirm manifestation of the infection. Blood parameters, faecal oocysts count and biochemical assays were conducted.
 Results: Results revealed that therapeutic administration of Annona muricata leaf extracts at minimum dose 100mg/kg body weight had significant reduction (P<0.05) on excreted Eimeria oocysts counts without any significant deviation from normal haematological and biochemical indices of the broilers.
 Conclusion: This study suggests the use of Annona muricata in the treatment of coccidiosis in broiler chickens. It is therefore recommended that its extracts be further explored for actual phytochemical constituents responsible for the displayed anticoccidial properties.

Publishing Activities of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute for Fundamental and Applied Parasitology of Animals and Plants

Since 2014, agricultural and medical scientific institutions, previously been a part of the specialized agricultural and medical academies of sciences are under the scientific and methodological guidance of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS). Among them is the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute for Fundamental and Applied Parasitology of Animals and Plants – a branch of the Federal State Budget Scientific Institution “Federal Scientific Centre VIEV” (VNIIP – FSC VIEV), named after K. I. Skryabin and Ya. R. Kovalenko.Special attention in its scientific research is devoted to the study of formation and functioning patterns of parasitic systems; to the development of theoretical foundations to prevent parasitic diseases in livestock animals and plants, and to the improvement and implementation of integrated systems for protecting humans, animals and plants from socially dangerous and economically significant parasitic diseases by creating new methods for early diagnosis and prevention based on the widespread use of biotechnology, genetics and immunology; and to invention of fundamentally new means of protecting animals and plants that provide a high economic effect.The implementation of the Institute’s main tasks predetermines active scientific and publishing activities that can be designated as the final stage of any research work; therefore, scientific and research institutions publish monographs, collections of scientific papers, reference books, study guides, etc. The purpose of the article is to present main directions of VNIIP’s research and publishing activities highlighting features that characterize certain types of publications.The characteristic is given for two printed publications on advanced scientific research in parasitology, namely, the collection of materials from the “Theory and Practice of Parasitic Disease Control” Conference and the Russian Journal of Parasitology. A typological analysis of publications is given, and its results are presented. The declared features of the publications confirm their quality and meet key requirements of the current book publishing industry in this direction.The material is of interest to promote achievements and findings of the most important studies conducted by the team of scientists of the Institute and will be useful both to publishers and to authors of publications.

Parasite-Derived Components: An Updated Review of the Toxicological and Pharmacological Effects on the Host

The toxicological and pharmacological effects of parasite-derived components on the host have received extensive attention. A deep understanding of the toxicological and pharmacological effects of parasite-derived molecules on the host from the perspective of co-adaptation formed during the long-term parasite-host evolution process will not only deepen the understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of parasites from the perspective of pathogenesis but also benefit from the perspective of treatment. From the perspective of disease, research and development based on the transformation and application of insect-derived components have become and will continue to be one of the most popular research tasks in the field of parasitology research. This article reviews the toxicological and pharmacological effects of several essential zoonotic parasites and their parasites in recent years in inducing and regulating host immune metabolism-related diseases and makes suggestions for the future direction of parasitology research.

Parasitological, Bacteriological and Virological Research of Carp (Cyprinus carpio) in a Case in Hirfanlı Dam Lake in Türkiye

The aim of the present study was shedding light on the disease factors underlying mortality event among common carps inhabiting Hirfanlı Dam Lake in Türkiye in spring of the year 2021. For this purpose various parasitological, bacteriological and virological research techniques were employed. Five parasite genera, Dactylogyrus spp., Myxobolus spp., Eimeria spp., Trichodina spp., Diplostomum spp. were isolated from 13 common carps. The opportunistic bacterial pathogen of fresh water fishes Aeromonas hydrophila was also isolated from wounded fish. No viruses were detected. Fungal infections were encountered in the skin lesions of carps. The source of the encountered morbidity and mortality picture among the studied carps points to the combined action of parasitic, bacterial and fungal agents in these fish. Further investigations on seasonal variations of parasitofauna on the lake are needed for better understanding the dynamics in the ecology of the parasites which are hosted by carps in the Hirfanlı Dam Lake.

Helminth fauna in diurnal birds of prey of the order Falconiformes

The purpose of the research is to study the infection of diurnal birds of prey of the order Falconiformes with helminths and to determine the helminth species composition by the example of the Noyev Kovcheg Conservation Nature’s Nursery in the Altai Territory.Materials and methods. We studied diurnal birds of prey of the order Falconiformes for helminthosis in the Altai Territory, in the Noyev Kovcheg Conservation Nature’s Nursery, in 2022. For the parasitological study of birds, we used laboratory methods of helminthocoprological studies: helminthoovoscopy and helminthoscopy. Species identification was determined by characteristic morphological features of helminth eggs, larvae and fragments. To assess the infeсtion with certain types of helminths, we used standard indicators for parasitological research, namely, infection prevalence and infection intensity amplitude.Results and discussion. In 58 studied diurnal birds of prey of the order Falconiformes, 8 helminth species were identified of which 6 nematode species, namely, Ascaridia galli, Tetrameres sobolevi, Capillaria caudinflata, Heterakis gallinarum, Trichostrongylus spp., and Singamus trachea; 1 trematode species, Strigea spp.; and 1 cestode species, Raillietina echinobothrida. These species occurred throughout all seasons of 2022.

In silico Study of Ornithine Decarboxylase and HSP-90 Gene in the Anti-trypanosomal Activities of Annona muricata Annonaceae

Aims: Trypanosomiasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases of Sub-Saharan Africa caused by the numerous species and sub-species of the protozoan genus Trypanosoma. Soursop, also known as Annona muricata (Annonaceae), is a prevalent tropical plant species renowned for its numerous medicinal properties, including the treatment of protozoan infections. The fundamental mechanism of anti-trypanosomal effects of A. muricata was investigated using ornithine decarboxylase and HSP-90, which are validated potential drug targets.
 Place and Duration of Study: Animal Parasitology and Microbiology Research Unit, Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, between March and October 2022.
 Methodology: The interaction of compounds previously characterized from A. muricata was investigated against Ornithine decarboxylase and HSP-90 genes of Trypanosoma brucei brucei using Autodock Vina.
 Results: Based on their binding affinity and binding free energy, eight compounds (rutin, kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside, annomuricinA, murihexocin B, muricatocin A, acetogenin, asimilobine, and gigantetrocin A) out of the 160 compounds screened were found to be effective against Trypanosoma brucei brucei. The hit molecules were further screened for ADME profiles. Acetogenin and asimilobine were considered the ideal drug candidates because they showed moderation for ADME properties and obeyed Lipinski’s rule of five.
 Conclusion: This study confirmed the use of Annona muricata in the treatment of trypanosomosis and the probable compounds responsible for its antitrypanosomal effect are acetogenin and asimilobine which acts at the HSP-90 genes of the parasite Trypanosoma brucei brucei.

A parasitological study on the possible toilet ruins of the Japanese colonial period in Korea.

In the past decade, experts have conducted parasitological research on archaeological specimens in Korea to collect historical parasite infection data. In these studies, parasitologists successfully described the infection pattern of each parasite species in history. However, in the first half of the 20th century, archaeoparasitological reports have been scant. In 2021, we conducted a parasitological examination of a toilet-like structure that emerged in the early 20th century. This structure was built by stacking 2 wooden barrels; and in the study samples, we found ancient Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides (unfertilized), and Taenia spp. eggs and therefore proposed a higher possibility that the barrels could have been used as a toilet at the time. To understand how the antihelminthic campaign since the 1960s helped reduce parasite infection rates in Korea, more research should focus on early-20th-century toilet ruins.