Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)Víctor Hugo Del Río-Araiza, Melodía Rubí Castro-Pérez, Romel Hernández-Bello, Lilia Díaz, Jorge Morales-Montor
Drug repurposing in parasitology gives existing medications new applications, such as using antibiotics for malaria, antimalarials for worms, and antifungals/cancer drugs for protozoa. This strategy saves time and money by passing early-stage safety testing for established human compounds. Although advances in genomics and proteomics have greatly expanded our understanding of parasite biology and facilitated the identification of potential therapeutic targets, they have translated into relatively few new antiparasitic drugs. This limitation highlights the need for alternative strategies such as drug repurposing. The basic biology of the host-parasite interface has not been thoroughly investigated despite its importance. The multifaceted immune-endocrine interplay may also help clarify the frequently inconsistent observations associated with host age and sex during infections, while providing insights that extend beyond current parasite management approaches. This review summarizes the potential uses and applications of old drugs as antiparasites, including, for example, the use of hormone agonists and antagonists and hormone analogues, while also discussing other drugs that have been isolated from natural products that are not used in the field.
Anais da Academia Brasileira de CienciasAline Aguiar, Amanda M Picelli, Franciele C DE Souza, Ricardo Bassini-Silva, Fernando C Jacinavicius, Thiago F Martins, Drausio H Morais, Waltécio O Almeida, F…
The inclusion of parasites in inventories has provided relevant information on the knowledge of biodiversity. Integrating accurate taxonomy and species identity of both hosts and parasites can result in valuable insights into the association's evolutionary relationships, geographic distribution, and dynamics. Besides the risk of diseases related with some parasites, herein we also highlighted the great diversity revealed in parasite communities associated with amphibians and reptiles, varying from unicellular to metazoan organisms occupying numerous tissues throughout the host's body. To be aware of this diversity, the first step is to implement taxonomic studies performing appropriate methods for collecting and preserving specimens. Here, we aim to provide a useful hands-on guide to parasitological data collection from amphibians and reptiles. We write especially for those aiming to include parasitological data in their sampling, and for herpetologists and naturalists who already collaborate with parasitologists. We also provide some fundamental knowledge on the morphology and life cycle of the main parasites associated with herps, as well as protocols and tips for better collecting and preserving each type of parasite.
Parasites & vectorsGerardo Fracasso, Robert Poulin, Barbara Tschirren
A vast body of literature has investigated the direct and indirect effects of parasites on hosts. While the key role of among-individual variation of host traits has long been acknowledged, individual parasite variation has mostly been overlooked due to the difficulties in studying individual parasites. This has hampered advances in our understanding of fundamental parasite biology as well as progress in the development of novel control strategies. Here, we show how recent technological and methodological innovations, coupled with an improved theoretical understanding, allow for a paradigm shift towards individual-based approaches in parasite-related research and highlight potential breakthroughs across fields. We suggest that ectoparasites-due to their life history as well as medical and veterinary importance-are ideal model systems for the study of individual parasite variation.
Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao PauloCayuan Tadeu Brandão Pinto, Luciana Regina Meireles
Foodborne parasitic diseases remain a neglected public health issue worldwide. Sarcocystosis, caused by the ingestion of tissue cysts of Sarcocystis species, represents a growing challenge for food safety and public health. Cattle serve as intermediate hosts for several Sarcocystis species, including those with confirmed zoonotic potential such as S. hominis, S. heydorni, and the recently described S. sigmoideus (2024/2025). In humans, intestinal sarcocystosis often presents with gastrointestinal distress, whereas extraintestinal (muscular) infections can lead to severe clinical manifestations, including acute eosinophilic myositis and, rarely, neurosarcocystosis. Despite these risks and the high epidemiological prevalence in beef herds worldwide, current sanitary inspection methods in abattoirs are primarily based on macroscopic visual examination. Said approach frequently fails to detect microscopic cysts, allowing the latent transmission of these pathogens. This review addresses the biology, clinical manifestations across different hosts (humans, bovines, and equines), and epidemiology of bovine sarcocystosis. We discuss the limitations of conventional morphological diagnosis and the critical need for molecular tools to accurately differentiate zoonotic from non-zoonotic species. Finally, we highlight the need for adopting a One Health approach, integrating sensitive diagnostic methods into the meat production chain to mitigate the risk of human infection and ensure global food safety.
Toxoplasma gondii remains a major global foodborne pathogen, and consumption of undercooked meat is a primary route of human infection. Dry-cured meat products are typically processed by salting and curing without thermal treatment, which may allow infectious tissue cysts to persist. In this study, we evaluated the detection rate and viability of T. gondii in 451 commercial dry-cured meat product samples purchased from retail markets in the Republic of Korea. Using artificial digestion followed by PCR-based molecular screening with qPCR, we detected T. gondii DNA in 28 samples (6.2%). Observed positivity rates varied across countries of origin, with the highest rate among products with a single reported country of origin found in products from the U.S.A. (17.3%, 4/23). To assess infectivity, PCR-positive samples were evaluated using a mouse bioassay in BALB/c mice. No clinical signs, brain tissue cysts, or parasite DNA were detected in mice inoculated with any of the PCR-positive samples, indicating the absence of detectable viable parasites. These findings suggest that while T. gondii DNA may persist in retail products, commercially cured products in the Korean market are unlikely to contain viable parasites and may therefore pose a low risk of transmission to consumers.
Food microbiologyHabtamu Gebrie, Eyob Getu, Samuel Tefera, Andualem Bayih, Abera Abreham, Abel Desalegn Demeke, Natnael Gizachew
Fruits and vegetables are vital to a healthy diet; however, consuming unwashed or improperly prepared produce can lead to parasitic infections. This study aims to provide evidence-based information on the extent of parasitic contamination and its associated factors on fruits and vegetables from the Gedeo Zone, Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 26 to July 25, 2025, in Dilla, Gedeo Zone, Ethiopia, to assess parasitic contamination of fruits and vegetables. A multistage sampling technique was employed. Socio-demographic data and potential contamination risk factors were gathered using structured questionnaires. About 200 g of each sample was examined for intestinal parasites using direct wet mount and Modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining techniques. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Among the 442 fruit and vegetable samples examined, 148 (33.5%) were found to be contaminated with intestinal parasites. Among the 148 samples found to be positive by iodine wet mount examination, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar was the predominant parasite (13.8%). Moreover, produces displayed on the floor had significantly higher contamination than those on shelves/tables (AOR = 6.85; p < 0.001). Contamination was also significantly associated with samples from open markets, collected from the farms, and vendors with untrimmed fingernails. Parasitic contamination in fruits and vegetables was found to be high. Therefore, food and drug authorities and public health institutions should raise awareness among vendors and consumers about safe handling and consumption, while city administrations and the agricultural sector promote hygienic markets and proper farming and transportation practices.