Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Helga Waap, Andrea Baerwald, Telmo Nunes, Gereon Schares
Summary: This study evaluated the seroprevalence and risk factors for Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in naturally exposed cattle in Portugal. The results showed a low but widespread seroprevalence of T. gondii, while N. caninum had a seroprevalence similar to other Mediterranean countries. Climate factors and management practices were significant predictors of infection for both parasites. The study highlights the importance of considering neosporosis in the differential diagnosis of cattle reproductive disorders and informing source attribution models for human toxoplasmosis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luisa Berna, Pablo Marquez, Andres Cabrera, Gonzalo Greif, Maria E. Francia, Carlos Robello
Summary: The study reveals errors in the assembly of the Neospora caninum genome and significant chromosomal rearrangements between Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii, leading to a reduction in their karyotype. Additionally, more than 500 new genes were identified through reannotation of the Neospora caninum genome.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Qiu-Yan Lv, He-Liang Zheng, Wen-He Yang, Guo-Hua Liu
Summary: The study investigated the genotypes of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in domestic ducks in Hunan province, China. Results showed low infection rates and highlighted the importance of a One Health approach to managing toxoplasmosis.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Lei Ma, Shuai Li, Yongbin Zhang, Ziru Wen
Summary: The study revealed a higher seroprevalence of N. caninum in dairy cows in Hebei province, China, compared to previous data, and it is the first to detect T. gondii and N. caninum antibodies in the vast areas of Hebei province.
ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eva Bartova, Jirina Markova, Jana Sedlackova, Hana Band'ouchova, Karol Racka
Summary: In this study, wild bats were tested for the presence of selected parasites. The results showed that Toxoplasma gondii was detected in 1% of bats, while Neospora caninum was not found in any of the bats. Encephalitozoon spp. was detected in 25% of bats, including three different species. This is the first study to report a relatively high positivity of Encephalitozoon spp. in vespertilionid bats from Central Europe and worldwide.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jamal Gharekhani, Mohammad Yakhchali, Asghar Afshari, Maryam Adabi
Summary: The study conducted a comprehensive evaluation of Neospora, Toxoplasma, and Brucella infections in milk samples from dairy farms in Hamedan province, Iran for the first time. Results showed that milk quality was affected by infections. Control measures such as regulating animal age, herd size, and animal species, as well as health education and milk pasteurization, can help reduce the spread of infectious diseases.
Review
Immunology
Ragab M. Fereig, Mosaab A. Omar, Abdullah F. Alsayeqh
Summary: Toxoplasmosis and neosporosis are important protozoan diseases worldwide, and controlling these diseases is currently challenging. Understanding host-parasite interactions and host strategies to combat infections can aid in developing effective control measures, including vaccines. Macrophages and the production of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) play a crucial role in successful vaccine candidates. However, identifying potential vaccine candidates is a time-consuming process.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ragab M. Fereig, Gamal Wareth, Hanan H. Abdelbaky, Amira M. Mazeed, Mohamed El-Diasty, Adel Abdelkhalek, Hassan Y. A. H. Mahmoud, Alsagher O. Ali, Abdelrahman El-tayeb, Abdullah F. Alsayeqh, Caroline F. Frey
Summary: Toxoplasmosis, neosporosis, and brucellosis are common diseases causing infectious abortion and economic losses in farm animals. The study in Egypt found the highest seroprevalence rate for T. gondii in sheep and goats, with only antibodies to Brucella spp. associated with recent abortion. These findings could guide the development of more efficient control measures.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Jinfang Yang, Jingkai Ai, Tongsheng Qi, Xiaomin Ni, Zichun Xu, Liangting Guo, Yali Sun, Ying Li, Ming Kang, Jixu Li
Summary: This study establishes a record of the seroprevalence and molecular epidemiology of T. gondii and N. caninum infection in stray cats and dogs in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Area. The results demonstrate the presence of both parasites in the tested animals and highlight the importance of stray cats and dogs in the transmission and prevalence of these infections.
Article
Microbiology
Stefania Zanet, Fabrizia Veronesi, Giuseppe Giglia, Carolina Raquel Pinto Baptista, Giulia Morganti, Maria Teresa Mandara, Rachele Vada, Luis Manuel Madeira De Carvalho, Ezio Ferroglio
Summary: The prevalence of cyst-forming parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum was assessed in migratory and sedentary birds of prey. Molecular and histopathological analysis were conducted on skeletal muscle and myocardium samples from 159 birds of prey from Central Italy, revealing a prevalence of 23.27% for T. gondii and 5.66% for N. caninum.
Article
Microbiology
Dina B. Salama, Ragab M. Fereig, Hanan H. Abdelbaky, Moshera S. Shahat, Waleed M. Arafa, Shawky M. Aboelhadid, Adel E. A. Mohamed, Samy Metwally, Osama Abas, Xun Suo, Nishith Gupta, Caroline F. Frey
Summary: This study investigated the infection rates of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in dogs and cats in Egypt. The results showed that 23.3% of dogs were exposed to T. gondii, while 5.8% had N. caninum-specific antibodies. In cats, the exposure rate to T. gondii was 9.8%, and 3.4% had N. caninum-specific antibodies. Factors such as age and breed were significantly associated with T. gondii antibody positivity in dogs.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Xiao-Hui Hu, Shi-Chen Xie, Qin-Li Liang, Li-Xiu Sun, Zhao Li, Jian-Fa Yang, Xing-Quan Zhu, Feng-Cai Zou, Jun-Jun He
Summary: This study investigated the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in black goats in Yunnan Province, China. The results showed that these two parasites were prevalent in black goats, indicating the need for measures to control them and reduce economic losses.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Mohammed Babatunde Sadiq, Azim Salahuddin Muhamad, Siti Aisyah Hamdan, Siti Zubaidah Ramanoon, Zunita Zakaria, Nor Azlina Abdul Aziz, Rozaihan Mansor, Siti Suri Arshad, Nurulhidayah Khalid, Norhamizah Abdul Hamid, Juriah Kamaludeen, Sharifah Salmah Syed-Hussain
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Besnoitia besnoiti are important parasites causing production losses in ruminants. This study investigated the seroprevalence of these parasites in cattle and goats from smallholder farms in Selangor, Malaysia. The results showed a significant presence of T. gondii, N. caninum, and B. besnoiti antibodies in both cattle and goats, highlighting the need for effective control measures at the national level.
Article
Parasitology
Marcus Truong, Jan Slapeta
Summary: Researchers optimized single-plex probe-based qPCR assays into a multiplexed qPCR panel to detect cyst-forming coccidia, specifically T. gondii and N. caninum. The multiplexed qPCR assay showed a high level of analytical sensitivity, with a limit of detection of 100 copies of target sequence synthetic DNA. This assay can be used for effective detection of parasite DNA in animal tissue for diagnostic purposes.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Labrini Athanasiou, Vasileios G. Papatsiros, Victoria M. Spanou, Eleni G. Katsogiannou, Anna Dedousi
Summary: Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in pigs was investigated, with a significantly higher seropositivity observed in pigs unvaccinated against PCV2 compared to vaccinated pigs. Elevated muscle enzyme activities were also detected in seropositive pigs, highlighting the importance of these parasites as zoonotic pathogens and models of human infection.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Xingju Song, Xu Yang, Taotao Zhang, Jing Liu, Qun Liu
Summary: Coccidiosis, caused by Eimeria parasites, is a significant disease in the poultry industry. A newly identified Et-M2AP protein from E. tenella, predominantly expressed in merozoite stage, showed promising immune protective efficacy when compared with other surface antigens. This study suggests that rEt-M2AP could be a potential candidate for coccidiosis vaccine development.
Article
Education & Educational Research
Guler Cetin, Altay Eren
Summary: The study found significant relationships among pre-service teachers' achievement goal orientations, emotions about teaching, teacher identity, and the sense of personal responsibility. The results indicated that the effects of achievement goal orientations and emotions about teaching on personal responsibility through teacher identity were either positive or negative.
EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH FOR POLICY AND PRACTICE
(2022)
Review
Veterinary Sciences
Zhu Ying, Zi-Fu Zhu, Xu Yang, Jing Liu, Qun Liu
Summary: A systematic review and meta-analysis found that the overall prevalence of Neospora caninum infection among cattle in mainland China was 13.69%, and Neospora-infected cows were 2.42 times more likely to abort than uninfected cows. This highlights the importance of implementing appropriate prevention and control strategies to reduce economic losses in the cattle industry.
PREVENTIVE VETERINARY MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yihan Wu, Xiao Zhang, Yong Fu, Jing Liu, Yangfei Xue, Qun Liu
Summary: Progesterone inhibits the invasion and proliferation of toxoplasma gondii, leading to abnormal cytoskeletal division and autophagy. The discovery of the progesterone membrane receptor protein (TgPGRMC) establishes a direct relationship between progesterone and T. gondii and provides a new direction for research on T. gondii infection during pregnancy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Yihan Wu, Zhu Ying, Jing Liu, Zhepeng Sun, Shuang Li, Qun Liu
Summary: This study identified and characterized the ANT protein in T. gondii. Depletion of TgANT inhibited parasite growth, impaired mitochondrial and apicoplast biogenesis, and resulted in abnormal cell division.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kaijian Wu, Xingju Song, Yayun Wu, Xu Yang, Jing Liu, Qun Liu
Summary: This study successfully knocked out the ku80 gene in the Nc1 strain using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, and demonstrated that the Nc delta ku80 strain can improve gene replacement efficiency without affecting the growth rate and virulence. It can be used as an effective strain for rapid gene editing of N. caninum.
MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL PARASITOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yayun Wu, Zihui Zhou, Zhu Ying, Ying Xu, Jing Liu, Qun Liu
Summary: This study evaluated the potential of Toxoplasma rhoptry protein 38 (Pru Delta rop38) as a vaccine. The results showed that Pru Delta rop38 had lower pathogenicity in mice and triggered a mixed Th1/Th2 immune response, leading to increased antibody levels and immune factors. Vaccination with Pru Delta rop38 provided long-term protection against different Toxoplasma strains and routes of infection in mice.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Zifu Zhu, Yajie Chen, Xu Yang, Lifang Wang, Qun Liu, Jing Liu
Summary: This study investigated myocardial infections in sheep in Beijing, China and found a high prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. and Neospora caninum, highlighting the need for effective prevention measures. Toxoplasma gondii was not detected, but continuous monitoring and prevention in sheep is still necessary.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Shuang Li, Zhu Ying, Yangfei Xue, Zhepeng Sun, Jing Liu, Qun Liu
Summary: This study reveals the role of TgGST2 in sterol treatment and its response to P4, which leads to deficient parasite motility. TgGST2 shows divergent effects in response to different drugs, suggesting it as a viable target for the development of drugs against Toxoplasma and related pathogenic parasites.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Xu Yang, Xingju Song, Jing Liu, Qingzhong Chen, Tongwei An, Qun Liu
Summary: “Maternally derived multivalent recombinant vaccines show potential as transmission-blocking vaccines against mixed infection of Eimeria. The specific antibodies can sustain for 11 weeks and be transferred to hatchlings through maternal immunization. Vaccinated chickens exhibit higher survival rates, body weight gains, reduced lesion scores, and decreased oocyst excretion compared to unvaccinated chickens when challenged with mixed Eimeria infection.”
VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Zifu Zhu, Zhu Ying, Zixuan Feng, Qun Liu, Jing Liu
Summary: This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the prevalence and risk factors of Sarcocystis in ruminants in mainland China. The results showed that Sarcocystis is prevalent in ruminants with significant geographical differences. Continuous monitoring of Sarcocystis infections in ruminants is needed to reduce the threat to human health and economic losses to the animal industry.
Article
Microbiology
Xingju Song, Xu Yang, Zhu Ying, Kaijian Wu, Jing Liu, Qun Liu
Summary: Iron-sulfur [Fe-S] clusters are ancient and important prosthetic groups that play key roles in various metabolic processes. In this study, we investigated the role of mitochondrial glutaredoxin 5 (NcGRX5) in Neospora caninum, a parasite belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa. We found that deficiency of NcGRX5 led to abnormal mitochondrial structure and significantly reduced parasite proliferation and virulence. Comparative proteomics and energy metabolomics revealed that disruption of NcGRX5 downregulated expression of mitochondrial electron transport chain and tricarboxylic acid cycle proteins, affecting corresponding metabolic fluxes. We also identified proteins interacting with NcGRX5, including iron-sulfur cluster synthesis proteins ISCS and ISCU1. Our findings highlight the importance of NcGRX5 in parasite growth and mitochondrial energy metabolism through mediating iron-sulfur cluster biosynthesis.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Ethics
Altay Eren, Anil Rakicioglu-Soylemez
Summary: This study used an integrative grounded theory design to investigate prospective teachers' moral perceptions, emotions, behavioral intentions, and reasons for their moral behavioral intentions. The findings revealed that these moral agency experiences were influenced by perceptual, regulatory, and contextual factors. The results have theoretical and practical implications for education.
Article
Education & Educational Research
Altay Eren, Anil Rakicioglu-Soylemez
Summary: This study investigates the relationships between EFL students' language mindsets and graded performance, considering the mediating roles of perceived instrumentality and four aspects of engagement. The findings revealed significant and selective relationships among language mindsets, engagement, instrumentality, and graded performance. The study also highlights the mediating effects of instrumentality and engagement on the relationships between language mindsets and graded performance.
LANGUAGE TEACHING RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Altay Eren, Anil Rakiciglu-Soylemez
Summary: This exploratory study found that pre-service teachers' professional commitment and sense of efficacy significantly predict their perceptions of unethical teacher behaviours. The study also revealed that pre-service teachers' planned efforts predict efficacy, and that efficacy mediates the relationship between career development aspirations and perceptions of irresponsible and dishonest teacher behaviours. Overall, considering pre-service teachers' professional commitment and sense of efficacy can provide a comprehensive framework for understanding their ethical stances on unethical teacher behaviours.
AUSTRALIAN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCHER
(2021)
