Society For Parasitology Research Articles

The 32nd National Congress of Parasitology, Pune: bringing together India’s parasitologists

The 32nd National Congress of Parasitology (NCP) was held in-person from 3-5 October 2024 at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune (IISER Pune), jointly organised by IISER Pune, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Pune and Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) (formerly University of Pune) in association with the Indian Society for Parasitology (ISP). The conference brought together around 250 attendees from across the country and abroad, including a diverse group of researchers, clinicians, industry experts and students. The event provided a collaborative environment for exchanging research ideas relevant to the field of parasitology. The congress emphasised the concept of "One Health", a holistic approach to address parasitic infections affecting humans and animals to promote overall health and well-being. In this TrendsTalk, the organisers provide an overview of the conference proceedings, which brought together India's vast and diverse parasitology community.

Australian Society for Parasitology 2023: One Health, one globe

Australian Society for Parasitology 2023: One Health, one globe

Parasitological transitions: selected outcomes from the XXXII Congress of the Italian Society for Parasitology.

Founded in 1959, the Italian Society of Parasitology (SoIPa) includes nearly 200 researchers and professionals in the fields of medicine, veterinary medicine, biotechnology, epidemiology and environmental sciences. The diversity of its members, in a historical and continuous collaboration with other international scientific societies, embodies a broad and multidisciplinary field such as parasitology. Since 1959, SoIPa has organized a biennial congress, covering all aspects of general parasitology with participants from all over Italy, Europe and beyond, involved in a dynamic and multi-faceted scientific framework of contributions and symposia. The present Special Issue (SI) contains 6 review papers and 1 research article, focussed on emerging topics presented and discussed during some of the symposia organized within the XXXII SoIPa Congress, held in Naples from 27th June to 30th June 2022. These review papers reflect several emerging subjects (i.e. ‘Italian network on Neglected Tropical Diseases’, ‘Wildlife parasites and citizen science’, ‘Comparing approaches to parasitological issues’, ‘Unusual perspectives on the role of parasites’) with the aim to explore the new role that parasitologists can play in the future society, working together to promote dialogue on science-informed decisions to support the so-called ‘twin green and digital transition’.

Horse and donkey parasitology: differences and analogies for a correct diagnostic and management of major helminth infections.

In June 2022, at the XXXII Conference of the Italian Society of Parasitology, the parallels of the main endoparasitic infections of horses and donkeys were discussed. Although these 2 species are genetically different, they can be challenged by a similar range of parasites (i.e. small and large strongyles, and Parascaris spp.). Although equids can demonstrate some level of resilience to parasites, they have quite distinct helminth biodiversity, distribution and intensity among different geographical locations and breeds. Heavily infected donkeys may show fewer clinical signs than horses. Although parasite control is primarily provided to horses, we consider that there may be a risk of drug-resistance parasitic infection through passive infection in donkeys when sharing the same pasture areas. Knowing the possible lack of drug efficacy (<90 or 80%), it is advocated the use of selective treatment for both species based on fecal egg counts. Adult horses should receive treatment when the threshold exceeds 200–500 eggs per gram (EPG) of small strongyles. Moreover, considering that there are no precise indications in donkeys, a value >300 EPG may be a safe recommendation. We have highlighted the main points of the discussion including the dynamics of helminth infections between the 2 species.

Do natural catastrophic events and exceptional climatic conditions also affect parasites?

Parasites and parasitologists have always lived together in good and bad luck in a sort of forced marriage. In recent times bad luck certainly prevailed, because of increasing man-made emergencies such as wars, chemical disasters, but also because of natural disasters, amplified by climate change, that condition more and more parasite–host equilibrium. The symposium at the National Congress of the Italian Society for Parasitology, was a first occasion for Italian parasitologists to reason about ‘disaster parasitology’ and researchers’ responsibilities. Extreme weather events and their impacts on parasites’ epidemiology are illustrated, comparing disasters that recently occurred in Italy with literature data. In particular, the Sardinian Island was hit subsequently by fires and floods exacerbating the effects on ecosystems and parasite–host-relationships. Examples of Cryptosporidium outbreaks in man and Fasciola hepatica infections in various hosts after heavy rains are reviewed and effects of droughts on pasture borne parasites, such as gastro-intestinal nematodes of ruminants are discussed. Heavy rains may also cause dissemination of toxic substances released accidentally from chemical plants as happened e.g. in Milan province (IT) after the dioxin hazard. The overlapping effects of strictly man-made disasters with climate change dependent extreme weather events is further challenging the understanding of what are the consequences of disasters on ecosystems and parasite epidemiology.GIS applications combined with AI programs may help to face the complex challenges, allowing the collection and analysis of spatial/temporal data at whatever level desired. Examples illustrated in the article suggest their employment also in a more systematic, prevention-oriented manner.

ICOPA 2022: living with parasites, collaborating globally, and breaking a glass ceiling

ICOPA 2022: living with parasites, collaborating globally, and breaking a glass ceiling

Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Dengue in China

Abstract Dengue is the most prevalent and rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral disease. As a dengue non-endemic country, China has experienced several dengue outbreaks in recent years. However, dengue patients in China display clinical characteristics that are distinct from those of patients in dengue-endemic countries. To standardize the diagnosis and treatment of dengue fever, the experts at the Society of Infectious Diseases, Society of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology of the Chinese Medical Association, and the Society of Emergency Medicine of China Association of Chinese Medicine have developed a guideline after reviewing the following guidelines and data: guidelines for diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and control of dengue (World Health Organization, 2009); the guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of dengue (National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China, 2014, Edition 2); health industry standard of the People's Republic of China “diagnosis for dengue fever (WS216-2018)”; and systemic reports on dengue. The new guideline includes eight aspects: introduction, terminology, epidemiology and prevention, etiology and pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and problems to be solved.

Kinetoplastid cell biology and genetics, from the 2020 British Society for Parasitology Trypanosomiasis and Leishmaniasis symposium, Granada, Spain.

The British Society for Parasitology (BSP) holds a biannual symposium devoted to the kinetoplastids, and seeks to cover the full gamut of research into these important organisms, and alternates with the Woods Hole Kinetoplastid Molecular Cell Biology meeting that serves a similar community. While normally embedded within the main BSP Spring meeting, on several occasions the symposium has enjoyed the opportunity of being hosted on mainland Europe. In 2020, the BSP was fortunate to spend some time in Granada in Spain, where a superb meeting with excellent science in a spectacular setting was overshadowed by news of an emerging novel coronavirus. In this editorial, we hope to have captured some of that excellent science and to highlight aspects of the many great papers and reviews in this special issue, as well as provide a few images from the meeting, which we hope for this who attended will bring back some fond memories.

Parasitravaganza 2020: Insights into a Virtual Parasitology Conference

Recognizing the significant impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic for early-career researchers (ECRs), the Australian Society for Parasitology Inc. organized an online conference ‘Parasitravaganza 2020’ on 30–31 July this year for ECRs to connect, present their research, and participate in career-focused workshops. In this TrendsTalk we invite the organizing committee to discuss some of the highlights of the meeting and some of the challenges and opportunities presented by online conferences.

Confronting Arboviruses: María Guadalupe Guzmán MD PhD DrSc

The 1980s were a watershed for Cuban research in medicine and health: significant financing and material resources buttressed a strategy to improve population health through enhanced biopharmaceutical innovation and clinical best practices applied to Cuba’s universal public health system. Redirecting research priorities and providing substantial public funding to tackle the top population health problems was a radical idea at the time, especially for a developing country like Cuba. Doing so has become a hallmark of Cuba’s scientific achievements and approach ever since. Among the institutions exemplifying this strategy is the Pedro Kouri Tropical Medicine Institute (IPK). Founded in 1937 with a research mission dedicated to parasitology and transmission of known tropical diseases, it wasn’t until the late Dr Gustavo Kouri Flores was appointed director in 1979 that IPK’s core objectives and facilities were expanded to include a comprehensive teaching component, a state-of-the-art clinical hospital to treat tropical and other communicable diseases, and an international collaboration strategy to facilitate knowledge and technology transfer. Today, IPK is Cuba’s national reference center for diagnosis, treatment, control and prevention of communicable diseases and is a regional leader in applied research into so-called neglected diseases—usually diseases of the poor. With departments of parasitology, bacteriology, virology, pharmacology and more, it’s a magnet for some of the country’s most accomplished scientists—most of them women—and a major contributor to Cuba’s portfolio of scientific products, research and publishing. This interview with virologist Dr Maria Guadalupe Guzman, director of IPK’s Reference Center for Research and Diagnosis, is the third in MEDICC Review’s series on outstanding Cuban women in science and medicine. Recognized as a leading expert in dengue research, Dr Guzman is also director of the WHO/PAHO Collaborating Center for Dengue and its Control and was president of the Arbovirus Diagnosis Laboratory Network of the Americas (RELDA) from 2010 through 2018. Currently, she is president of the Cuban Society of Microbiology and Parasitology, directs IPK’s Scientific Council that sets the Institute’s research priorities, and is a distinguished professor and author. In 2016, she published Dengue (Editorial Ciencias Medicas, Havana), the most comprehensive collection of original Cuban research available on the topic.

Update on selected topics in acanthocephalan parasites research

SummaryThe respectable community of parasitologists aimed at the broad-spectral research of acanthocephalan parasites met at the 9th Acanthocephalan Workshop. The workshop took place in the beautiful surroundings of the High Tatras, Slovakia in the Congress Centre Academia, Stará Lesná near Tatranská Lomnica on September 9 – 13th. This special event was hosted by the Slovak Society for Parasitology, the Institute of Parasitology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia, and the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech Republic. It consisted of nearly three dozen lectures presented by distinguished acanthocephalan specialists who came from 13 countries and five continents. Vibrant discussions and creating new plans for future collaborations were accompanied by local mountain touring that offered the venue richly endowed with nature, deep forests and beautiful mountains. The contributions were addressed to resolve current systematic, taxonomic, biological, behavioural, ecological, and related topics. Presented results showed the most recent progressive developments comparable with all the other parasitic worm groups. The 10th Acanthocephalan Workshop will be hosted by Dr. Marie-Jeanne Perrot-Minnot, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, Bourgogne, France, in 2022.When citing this Review, please use the following form:Authors of the cited part (2018): Title of the cited part. In: Update on selected topics in acanthocephalan parasites research. Helminthologia, 55(4): pages. DOI: 10.2478/helm-2018-0023see the example below:Amin, O.M. (2018): Variability in the Acanthocephala. In: Update on selected topics in acanthocephalan parasites research. Helminthologia, 55(4): 350 – 361. DOI: 10.2478/helm-2018-0023

Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of dengue in China

Dengue is the most prevalent and rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral disease. As a dengue non-endemic country, China has experienced several dengue outbreaks in recent years. However, dengue patients in China displayed distinct clinical characteristics compared to patients in endemic countries. To standardize the diagnosis and treatment of dengue fever, the experts of the Society of Infectious Diseases, Society of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology of Chinese Medical Association, and the Society of Emergency Medicine, China Association of Chinese Medicine have reached this guideline based on guidelines for diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of dengue (World Health Organization, 2009); guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of dengue (National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China, 2014, Edition 2), health industry standard of the People's Republic of China "diagnosis for dengue fever (WS216-2018)" and systemic reports on dengue. The guideline includes 8 aspects: introduction, terminology, epidemiology and prevention, etiology and pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and problems to be solved.

“Now I feel like a true parasitologist” -Concept-based training for early career scientists

One of the allures of parasitology is its breadth of aspects spanning everything from molecules to ecosystems. Very few institutions have the capability to cover this breadth in educating parasitologists. As the national professional body, the Australian Society for Parasitology has developed a training course that aims to fill this gap. The course offers a comprehensive overview over the field, highlights the current research foci and introduces key methods. The program equips participants with an appreciation of parasites and with strategies to deal with the complexity of parasitological systems. The course provides an innovative model for training parasitological key concepts with a focus on professional development for early career researchers.

Microbial protein targets: towards understanding and intervention.

The rise of antimicrobial resistance, coupled with a lack of industrial focus on antimicrobial discovery over preceding decades, has brought the world to a crisis point. With both human and animal health set to decline due to increased disease burdens caused by near untreatable microbial pathogens, there is an urgent need to identify new antimicrobials. Central to this is the elucidation of new, robustly validated, drug targets. Informed by industrial practice and concerns, the use of both biological and chemical tools in validation is key. In parallel, repurposing approved drugs for use as antimicrobials may provide both new treatments and identify new targets, whilst improved understanding of pharmacology will help develop and progress good 'hits' with the required rapidity. In recognition of the need to increase research efforts in these areas, in 14-16 September 2017, the British Society for Parasitology (BSP) Autumn Symposium was hosted at Durham University with the title: Microbial Protein Targets: towards understanding and intervention. Staged in collaboration with the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Chemistry Biology Interface Division (CBID), the core aim was to bring together leading researchers working across disciplines to imagine novel approaches towards combating infection and antimicrobial resistance. Sessions were held on: 'Anti-infective discovery, an overview'; 'Omic approaches to target validation'; 'Genetic approaches to target validation'; 'Drug target structure and drug discovery'; 'Fragment-based approaches to drug discovery'; and 'Chemical approaches to target validation'. Here, we introduce a series of review and primary research articles from selected contributors to the Symposium, giving an overview of progress in understanding antimicrobial targets and developing new drugs. The Symposium was organized by Paul Denny (Durham) for the BSP and Patrick Steel (Durham) for RSC CBID.

One Health: parasites and beyond

The field of parasitism is broad, encompassing relationships between organisms where one benefits at the expense of another. Traditionally the discipline focuses on eukaryotes, with the study of bacteria and viruses complementary but distinct. Nonetheless, parasites vary in size and complexity from single celled protozoa, to enormous plants like those in the genus Rafflesia. Lifecycles range from obligate intracellular to extensive exoparasitism. Examples of parasites include high-profile medical and zoonotic pathogens such as Plasmodium, veterinary pathogens of wild and captive animals and many of the agents which cause neglected tropical diseases, stretching to parasites which infect plants and other parasites (e.g. Kikuchi et al. 2011; Hotez et al. 2014; Blake et al. 2015; Hemingway, 2015; Meekums et al. 2015; Sandlund et al. 2015). The breadth of parasitology has been matched by the variety of ways in which parasites are studied, drawing upon biological, chemical, molecular, epidemiological and other expertise. Despite such breadth bridging between disciplines has commonly been problematic, regardless of extensive encouragement from government agencies, peer audiences and funding bodies promoting multidisciplinary research. Now, progress in understanding and collaboration can benefit from establishment of the One Health concept (Zinsstag et al. 2012; Stark et al. 2015). One Health draws upon biological, environmental, medical, veterinary and social science disciplines in order to improve human, animal and environmental health, although it remains tantalizingly difficult to engage many relevant parties. For infectious diseases traditional divides have been exacerbated as the importance of wildlife reservoirs, climate change, food production systems and socio-economic diversity have been recognized but often not addressed in a multidisciplinary manner. In response the 2015 Autumn Symposium organized by the British Society for Parasitology (BSP; https://www.bsp.uk.net/home/) was focused on One Health, running under the title 'One Health: parasites and beyond…'. The meeting, held at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in Camden, London from September 14th to 15th, drew upon a blend of specialist parasitology reinforced with additional complementary expertise. Scientists, advocates, policy makers and industry representatives were invited to present at the meeting, promoting and developing One Health understanding with relevance to parasitology. The decision to widen the scope of the meeting to non-parasitological, but informative topics, is reflected in the diversity of the articles included in this special issue. A key feature of the meeting was encouragement of early career scientists, with more than 35% of the delegates registered as students and 25 posters.

History of Medical Parasitology and Parasitic Infections in Iran.

Parasites and parasitic diseases have been prevalent in Iran according to Iranian ancient scholars and physicians' inscriptions dating back to 865-1496. Some protozoan diseases such as malaria and cutaneous leishmaniasis have been introduced by clinical manifestations and helminthic infections by size and morphology of the worms. Scientific studies of Parasitology started in Iran from 1833, first by foreign physicians and continued from 1909 by Iranian researchers. The pioneer medical parasitologists of Iran were Dr N. Ansari and Dr. Sh. Mofidi who established the Department of Medical Parasitology in the School of Medicine, University of Tehran, 1939. Afterward, a considerable number of researchers and professors of parasitology have been active in training and research works in the fields of medical parasitology throughout the entire nation. At present, some significant parasitic diseases such as bilharsiasis and dracunculiasis are more or less eradicated and malaria is in the elimination phase. The prevalence of most helminthic infections has considerably decreased. Most of the departments of medical Parasitology in Iran are active in training MD, MSPH and PhD students. The Iranian Society of Parasitology established in 1994 is active with many eligible members and its creditable publication, the Iranian Journal of Parasitology, published seasonally since 2006. From 1833, when the scientific studies of Parasitology have started in Iran up to 2013, many researchers have been done on various fields of medical Parasitology and parasitic diseases in Iran and 2517 papers in English and 1890 papers in Persian have been published in national and international scientific journals. In addition, more than 420 books related in the field of medical parasitology field have been published in Persian language.

The 30 Th Annual Congress , Faculty of Medicine , Tanta University : 2nd International Conference Multidisciplinary Medicine Era II 5 to 8 May 2015 1st International Scientific Meeting of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology in Collaboration with the Tanta Medical Parasitology Under Patronage of Their Excellency

The 30 Th Annual Congress , Faculty of Medicine , Tanta University : 2nd International Conference Multidisciplinary Medicine Era II 5 to 8 May 2015 1st International Scientific Meeting of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology in Collaboration with the Tanta Medical Parasitology Under Patronage of Their Excellency

Preface to the special issue of the International Congress on Parasites of Wildlife, 15-18 September 2014, Kruger National Park, South Africa.

More than two decades ago, in 1991, the Parasitological Society of Southern Africa (PARSA) organised a conference on Parasites of Wildlife, which was held at Berg-en-dal in the Kruger National Park. With the current emphasis on One Health and conservation of biodiversity, studying various aspects of wildlife parasitology is steadily becoming more important. The PARSA committee decided, therefore, that an international meeting focusing on parasites of wildlife was long overdue. Three years after being first mooted, PARSA's second international congress on Parasites of Wildlife was held at Skukuza in the Kruger National Park from 15 to 18 September 2014. The congress attracted delegates from 19 countries, who delivered 83 papers and presented 37 posters. On the final day a half-day workshop was held, aimed primarily at post-graduate students: How to Write Great Papers: From title to references, from submission to publication. The presenters were Dale Seaton, as Elsevier publisher, and Andrew Thompson, joint Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife. The general feeling was that such meetings should take place more frequently. We wish to acknowledge the contribution of the following colleagues, without whose support the congress would not have been possible: Scientific programme committee: Professor Ian Beveridge (Australia), Professor Thoko Hove (Zimbabwe), Professor Anja Joachim (Austria), Professor Samson Mukaratirwa (South Africa) and Dr. Michael Yabsley (USA). Local organising committee: Professor Tshepo Matjila, Dr. Sonja Matthee and Dr. Sibusiso Mtjali. The success of the congress led to the selection of a representative set of papers presented for publication in this special issue of IJP-PAW. These papers cover all the major themes that were addressed during the congress and also include review papers by the three keynote speakers. These summarised the history and development of research on wildlife parasites in southern Africa (by Junker et al.), the evolutionary ecology of parasite diversity (by Morand) and the role of wildlife in the transmission of parasitic zoonoses in peri-urban areas (by Mackenstedt et al.). The research papers included in this special issue further illustrated the diversity of current work in the field of wildlife parasitology, with specific reference to the parasites studied as well as their hosts. The selected papers range from leeches and haemoparasites in frogs (Du Preez et al.; Netherlands et al.), nematodes in eels (Dangel et al.) to competition between ectoparasites (ticks and mites) parasitising eastern rock sengis (Lutermann et al.). Further papers, also included in this special issue, focused our attention on the very important role that wildlife plays as a reservoir of parasitic zoonoses and zoonotic infections (Mackenstedt et al.; Dusher and Joachim). The congress also highlighted the importance of diagnostics and epidemiology as illustrated with the case study on Theileria (Mans et al.). One session was devoted to parasites as sentinels of the environment. Finally, our attention was also drawn to the role of parasites in foodwebs and their importance in trophic linkages (Demopoulos and Sikkel). The collection of papers in this special issue is therefore a very good representation of the current trends in research on parasites of wildlife and also highlights the need for continued research into this extremely important topic. The geographical regions covered in this special issue (South Africa, Namibia, Caribbean, Germany, Australia, to name a few) also attest to the truly international nature of the congress.

Remarkable facts about the history of the Brazilian Society of Tropical Medicine

The Brazilian Society of Tropical Medicine (BSTM) was established in the 1960s in an effort to bring together numerous academic members, professors and researchers from different universities and faculties throughout the country as a counterpoint to the Brazilian Society of Hygiene (Sociedade Brasileira de Higiene SBH). In those days, the SBH experienced a marked reduction in activity that continued until it ceased to exist. It must be remembered that the SBH, which was established in the 1920s, was very important and was the leader in the control of parasitic endemic diseases through its various programs and projects. In the beginning, the members of the SBH were mostly health workers but also included researchers and professors. Carlos Chagas was one of the many active and important presidents that belonged to this society. Over the decades, there was a separation in Brazil between the activities and claims of the so-called sanitarians, who participated in control services, and the activities of researchers and university professors. The BSTM was very important in re-founding the Brazilian Society of Parasitology (Sociedade Brasileira de Parasitologia SBP), which was originally founded in 1965. Dr. Wladimir Lobato Paraense was its fi rst president and was followed by Professor Amilcar Vianna Martins. With Martins’ forfeiture and mandatory retirement in 1969 due to the infamous Institutional Act no 5, produced by the military dictatorship that assumed control of the country in 1964, the Society ceased to function. However, it was re-established in 1975 under the leadership of Professor Rubens Campos from the State of Sao Paulo. For 10 years, the Society held combined annual meetings with the BSTM, from which it received all of its necessary support and funding. It is valuable to note that expert groups were created in the BSTM, sometimes formally or informally. These groups were extremely important because they could ensure that ineffective drugs and vaccines for the treatment of Chagas disease were not offered for sale. Similarly, glucosamine

The Conqueror Worm: recent advances with cholinergic anthelmintics and techniques excite research for better therapeutic drugs

The following account is based on a review lecture given recently at the British Society of Parasitology. We point out that nematode parasites cause very widespread infections of humans, particularly in economically underdeveloped areas where sanitation and hygiene are not adequate. In the absence of adequate clean water and effective vaccines, control and prophylaxis relies on anthelmintic drugs. Widespread use of anthelmintics to control nematode parasites of animals has given rise to the development of resistance and so there is a concern that similar problems will occur in humans if mass drug administration is continued. Recent research on the cholinergic anthelmintic drugs has renewed enthusiasm for the further development of cholinergic anthelmintics. Here we illustrate the use of three parasite nematode models, Ascaris suum, Oesophagostomum dentatum and Brugia malayi, microfluidic techniques and the Xenopus oocyte expression system for testing and examining the effects of cholinergic anthelmintics. We also show how the combination of derquantel, the selective nematode cholinergic antagonist and abamectin produce increased inhibition of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on the nematode body muscle. We are optimistic that new compounds and combinations of compounds can limit the effects of drug resistance, allowing anthelmintics to be continued to be used for effective treatment of human and animal helminth parasites.