Strongyloidiasis is a neglected infectious disease with diverse clinical manifestations that may lead to severe complications, including death in immunocompromised individuals. Uncomplicated infections can be diagnosed early using serological testing. Regarding treatment, the World Health Organization recommends ivermectin, thiabendazole, and albendazole as effective therapies against Strongyloides stercoralis. The
objective
of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of ivermectin 200 μg/kg/day for 2 consecutive days in patients infected with S. stercoralis, with the aim of optimizing treatment efficacy while shortening the duration of therapy compared with longer regimens. This before-and-after study assessed the therapeutic effectiveness of ivermectin 200 μg/kg/day for 2 consecutive days in patients with S. stercoralis infection. From January to October 2023, 3,814 patients with suspected S. stercoralis infection—presenting with symptoms such as urticaria, abdominal pain, and loose stools with seropositivity on an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for IgG antibodies against S. stercoralis—were screened, and 42 patients with uncomplicated S. stercoralis mono-infection were recruited. Symptoms, IgG optical density antibody titers against S. stercoralis, and eosinophils were assessed before and after treatment. Therapeutic effectiveness was evaluated based on cure rate and disease reduction after intervention. After 3 months of treatment, the overall effectiveness of ivermectin 200 μg/kg/day for 2 consecutive days reached 95.2%, of which 50% were completely cured, 9.5% had symptom resolution without improvement in paraclinical indicators, 21.4% experienced clear symptom reduction, and 14.3% had symptom recurrence. The regimen of ivermectin 200 μg/kg/day for 2 consecutive days demonstrated high effectiveness in the treatment of strongyloidiasis.

Mastophorus muris is a prevalent nematode parasite of rodents that can cause pathogenic manifestations or mortality. As the only 1 species in the genus Mastophorus and the sole member of the family Spirocercidae, its biology, molecular identification, and population genetic structure remain poorly studied. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of M. muris was fully assembled and annotated through high-fidelity next-generation sequencing for the first time, to resolve its molecular architecture with nucleotide-level precision. The 13,668 bp mitogenome encodes 36 genes, including 12 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs, and 2 ribosomal RNAs (s-rRNA and l-rRNA). The 10,384 bp PCGs account for 76.0% of the mitogenome, with AT (71.7%) and GC (28.3%) contents, AT skew (-0.494) and GC skew (0.477), indicating pronounced nucleotide bias. Analysis of 12 PCGs revealed that TTG, ATT, ATA, or GTG were the common start codons. TAA was the predominant termination codon, while some PCGs (cob, nad1, and nad3) were deduced to end with an incomplete codon T. T-rich codons such as TTT-Phe (16.3%), TTG-Leu (8.5%), GTT-Val (6.7%), ATT-Ile (6.3%), TAT-Tyr (5.6%), TTA-Leu (4.6%), and TCT-Ser (4.3%) were used more frequently. Phylogenetic analysis using the concatenated nucleotide sequences of 12 PCGs, and the NJ tree analysis results showed that M. muris was more closely related to the genus Gongylonema, which indicated that the family Spirocercidae was more closely associated with Gongylonematidae. This study provides valuable mitogenomic data for nematode phylogeny, diagnostics, population genetics, and comparative mitogenomics.

Until now, 3 Metagonimus spp. (M. yokogawai, M. takahashii, and M. miyatai) causing human metagonimiasis have been reported in Korea. In this study, we investigated the possible presence of Metagonimus spp. other than these 3 species using human fecal samples from an endemic area in Korea. DNA was extracted from Metagonimus egg-positive fecal samples collected from residents of Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do. A total of 21 representative mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences were obtained by PCR and cloning, and sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis revealed 1 cluster corresponding to M. yokogawai (n=10) and 2 additional distinct clusters corresponding to M. kogai (n=8) and M. saitoi (n=3), which were proposed as new species in Japan in 2022. Pairwise cytochrome c oxidase subunit I distances were low for M. yokogawai and M. kogai (mean Kimura 2-parameter: 0.005–0.006), whereas M. saitoi showed higher Korea–Japan values (~0.029), a pattern consistent with geographic structuring. In conclusion, we provide the first molecular evidence for the occurrence of M. kogai and M. saitoi in human fecal samples in Korea. Further confirmation using adult morphology, additional nuclear markers, and ecological surveys are needed to clarify metagonimiasis transmission in the Seomjin-gang (river) basin.

The study of Plasmodium falciparum intraerythrocytic developmental cycle relies on synchronized parasite cultures. This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate 4 common synchronization methods for the culture of P. falciparum 3D7, incorporating a novel nanomaterial-based tool to
objective
ly assess late-stage parasite enrichment. The 4 methods including 5% D-sorbitol, isosmotic Percoll-Sorbitol (60% PS), discontinuous Percoll-Sorbitol gradients (70%–40% PS), and the Plasmion method. Synchronization efficiency was assessed through microscopic examination and flow cytometry. In addition to SYBR Green I as the stain for flow cytometry, we innovatively employed 20 nm polystyrene fluorescent microspheres (PFMs20), which bind to parasites following the production of new permeability pathways, to provide an
objective
validating the enrichment of mature stages. The binding rate was defined as the ratio of PFMs20 positivity to SYBR Green I positivity. Microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained blood smears served as the gold standard for assessing the stage-specific profiles achieved by each synchronization method. The 4 methods yielded distinct efficiency profiles: 5% D-sorbitol achieved 88.37% ring-stage purity; 60% PS demonstrated high late-stage enrichment with PFMs20 binding rates reaching 87.47%; 70%–40% PS uniquely enabled visible hemozoin-rich layer separation and showed 88.12% binding efficiency in its schizont-enriched fraction; while Plasmion yielded a binding rate of 73.37% in its late-stage fraction. Our results formulate a clear decision matrix for synchronization protocol selection. The sorbitol method is ideal for basic ring-stage studies, Percoll-based gradients support rigorous stage-specific investigations, and the Plasmion method is well-suited for resource-limited settings. This comparative analysis provides preliminary guidelines for synchronization method selection that require validation in diverse laboratory and field contexts.

Malaria, caused by Plasmodium species, remains a major global health burden. The spleen is the central organ for clearance of infected red blood cells and regulation of immunity, yet paradoxically also serves as a site of parasite sequestration. Splenic fibroblasts may contribute to this process through adhesion mechanisms, but their role remains poorly defined. This study investigated P. yoelii tryptophan-rich antigen 7 (PyTRAg7), a member of the TRAg protein family, in splenic parasite–host interactions. TRAgs constitute a conserved protein family present in multiple Plasmodium species, including human malaria parasites, suggesting the relevance of PyTRAg7-associated mechanisms to human infection. Using protein binding assays and gene-edited parasites, PyTRAg7 was shown to interact with vimentin on mouse splenic fibroblasts, activating NF-κB p65 signaling and increasing ICAM-1 and integrin β1 expression. Deletion of PyTRAg7 reduced infected red blood cells adhesion to mouse splenic fibroblasts, lowered splenic parasite burden, delayed parasitemia onset, and prolonged host survival. Histological analysis showed preserved splenic architecture and reduced hemozoin deposition in the absence of PyTRAg7. The murine P. yoelii model was used due to its genetic tractability and its suitability for dissecting spleen-dependent sequestration mechanisms not easily studied in human malaria parasites. These findings identify PyTRAg7 as a key mediator of fibroblast–parasite interactions that promote cytoadherence and splenic remodeling, offering a potential target for malaria intervention.

Perkinsus marinus is a significant pathogen in oyster aquaculture with expanding host and geographic ranges. This study evaluated the prevalence and infection intensity of P. marinus in major oyster farming regions across the USA, Mexico, Brazil, and Korea using a quantitative PCR (P. marinus–specific TaqMan quantitative PCR assay, Pm-qPCR) assay. Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) were sampled from 7 USA sites, while Pacific oysters (Magallana gigas) were collected from Mexico, Brazil, and Korea. Compared to conventional PCR, the Pm-qPCR assay demonstrated significantly higher sensitivity, detecting P. marinus in >80.0% of samples at most sites and up to 100.0% in Port Norris, USA. Lower prevalence was found in Wellfleet, USA (58.0%) and Korean sites (63.0%–70.0%). The lowest infection intensities (<1,000 copies) were recorded at a high-energy open-water site in Buan, Korea. The assay’s specificity was confirmed using negative control oysters from Canada. These findings provide critical baseline data on P. marinus distribution and emphasize the superior diagnostic value of Pm-qPCR for early detection. As P. marinus spreads globally, sensitive and standardized tools like this assay are essential for disease surveillance and aquaculture biosecurity.

The Belén District in Loreto Region, Peru, is known for its extensive riverfront areas, where many houses are built on stilts and float during the rainy season. We conducted fecal examinations on 997 schoolchildren (ages 4–14 years; 488 boys, 497 girls) across 4 schools in Belén using the Kato-Katz thick smear and formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation techniques. The results revealed high rates of soilborne helminths and waterborne protozoan infections, with an overall parasite-positive rate of 79.7%. The primary helminth species were Ascaris lumbricoides (39.2%), Trichuris trichiura (33.2%), Hymenolepis nana (3.4%), hookworms (2.1%), and Enterobius vermicularis (1.5%). The main pathogenic protozoans were Giardia lamblia (20.9%) and Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar (14.2%), along with Cryptosporidium-like coccidian (4.6%). Non-pathogenic protozoans included Entamoeba coli (31.5%), Endolimax nana (15.1%), and Blastocystis hominis (3.7%). The intensity of soilborne helminth infections was very high for A. lumbricoides (average eggs per gram of feces per child: 18,589), followed by T. trichiura (1,501) and hookworms (160). The prevalence of anemia, often associated with malnutrition, was moderate at 33.1% (298 anemic children among 901 examined). Mass deworming was initiated with albendazole 400 mg, 3 times a year, in conjunction with health education and environmental sanitation. Metronidazole was administered once at a dose of 200 mg 3 times daily for 10 days. A notable finding in this study was that soilborne and waterborne parasites are both highly prevalent among schoolchildren in the floating villages of the Belén District, Loreto Region. Sustained mass deworming is urgently needed and the WASH program is crucial.

This study aimed to investigate the role of palmitic acid (PA) in modulating the neutrophil response during Trichomonas vaginalis infection. A human neutrophil-like cell model (nHL-60) was established by differentiating the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 with 1.3% dimethyl sulfoxide. The expressions of the genes IL-8, NF-κB, MyD88, and TLR4 and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) of differentiated cells were compared, using end-point RT-PCR and nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, in the presence or absence of 1 mM PA and 100 μM of docosahexaenoic acid. Additionally, oxidative burst activity was also evaluated in response to T. vaginalis stimulation in the presence of either PA or docosahexaenoic acid. nHL-60 cells showed increased expression of key mediators of the TLR4 signaling pathway, and enhanced ROS production upon phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate stimulation. Peripheral blood neutrophils exposed to T. vaginalis in the presence of PA exhibited higher ROS production than neutrophils stimulated by the parasite only. These findings indicate that PA enhances neutrophil activation to a secondary stimulus with T. vaginalis. They provide new insights into the role of metabolic factors in host-pathogen interactions.

Phlebotomine sandflies, important vectors of leishmaniasis, were surveyed between 2020 and 2023 in 4 southern regions of Uzbekistan—Surkhandarya, Kashkadarya, Jizzakh, and Samarkand—where human cases have been reported. A total of 2,905 specimens were collected and identified, representing 9 species from 2 genera: Phlebotomus (P. papatasi, P. sergenti, P. longiductus, P. caucasicus, P. mongolensis, P. andrejevi, P. alexandri) and Sergentomyia (S. sogdiana, S. grecovi). Sandfly abundance was highest in Kashkadarya (43.0%, n=1,249), followed by Surkhandarya (33.7%, n=979), Jizzakh (12.7%, n=369), and Samarkand (10.6%, n=308). P. sergenti was the most frequently detected species, predominating in Jizzakh (68.8%), Samarkand (63.3%), and Surkhandarya (42.1%), while P. papatasi was also prevalent, particularly in Kashkadarya (26.4%) and Surkhandarya (38.6%). In contrast, P. longiductus, P. alexandri, and S. grecovi were detected at relatively low frequencies.. These findings provide critical baseline data on sandfly species composition and regional distribution, which are essential for developing effective surveillance and control strategies to prevent cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis in Uzbekistan.

Kudoa septempunctata, a myxozoan, has been identified as the causative agent of foodborne illnesses associated with the consumption of raw olive flounder. To develop effective control methods against this parasite, fundamental research—including viability determination, transcriptome analysis, and antigenicity assessment of K. septempunctata myxospores—is required. This research necessitates the purification of the parasites. Sequential trypsin digestion, followed by density gradient purification, was performed to isolate the K. septempunctata myxospores. Further purification was achieved through fluorescence-activated cell sorting at a concentration of 10⁶ to 10⁷ myxospores/ml. The results demonstrated that the combination of trypsin digestion and density gradient methods consistently produced approximately 40 times more viable myxospores than the density gradient method alone. Additionally, the fluorescence-activated cell sorting method enhanced the purity of the myxospores by approximately 10%. The procedures described in this study will support research (such as RNA-sequencing, proteomics, vaccine antigen preparation) aimed at developing control methods for K. septempunctata including the fundamental research.

Sparganosis is a parasitic zoonosis caused by plerocercoid larvae of Spirometra species, commonly transmitted through ingestion of infected copepods or raw intermediate hosts. A 51-year-old man presented with a palpable mass in his right thigh. Surgical excision revealed a worm-like structure. Histopathological and serologic findings suggested sparganosis, and PCR amplification of the cox1 gene from paraffin-embedded tissue showed 99% sequence identity with Spirometra erinaceieuropaei (GenBank accession No. KJ599680.1). Praziquantel (75 mg/kg/day for 3 days) was administered, and the patient showed no evidence of recurrence during follow-up. Eosinophilia was not observed; however, positive sparganum antibodies supported the diagnosis. This case demonstrates that molecular identification using mitochondrial genes can be a valuable diagnostic tool, especially when morphological features are limited. Furthermore, it highlights the zoonotic potential of S. erinaceieuropaei and underscores the importance of food safety, hygiene education, and continuous epidemiological surveillance to prevent human sparganosis in endemic regions.

A 45-year-old man visited with suboccipital and posterior neck pain accompanied with blurred vision, dysarthria and paralytic feeling for 7 months. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed large eccentrically located cyst (6×4.8 cm) within posterior fossa which compressed right side cerebellar hemisphere and brainstem. The transparent cyst wall and fluid were removed by suboccipital craniectomy and the symptoms disappeared. Western blotting of the patient's cyst fluid reacted positively with the anti-cysticercus 150 kDa antibody and therefore the giant cyst was proved to be unusual giant neurocysticercus.