Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eben Gering, Zachary M. Laubach, Patty Sue D. Weber, Gisela Soboll Hussey, Kenna D. S. Lehmann, Tracy M. Montgomery, Julie W. Turner, Wei Perng, Malit O. Pioon, Kay E. Holekamp, Thomas Getty
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii infections in hyena cubs lead to them approaching lions more closely and experiencing higher rates of lion mortality, suggesting the possibility of parasite manipulation of host behavior for transmission to feline hosts. Both scenarios, where the behavior is an extended phenotype of the parasite or where the parasite has not undergone selection for behavior manipulation, have important implications for T. gondii's effects on host behavior and fitness in the wild.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Xinyu Chi, Kexin Fang, Liza Koster, Jevan Christie, Chaoqun Yao
Summary: The study collected fecal samples from feral cats on St. Kitts and found a significantly higher prevalence of FIV-positive cats, which was associated with male and adult cats. However, no T. gondii DNA was detected in the feces of either FIV-positive or FIV-negative cats. Further research with a larger sample size is needed to confirm or refute the hypothesis that FIV-positive cats have a higher prevalence of shedding T. gondii oocysts than FIV-negative cats.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Virology
Eliana De Luca, Giuseppe Andrea Sautto, Paolo Emidio Crisi, Alessio Lorusso
Summary: Felino morbillivirus (FeMV) was first identified in stray cats in Hong Kong in 2012 and has since been found in domestic cats worldwide. While a potential link between FeMV infection and tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) has been suggested, it remains unproven, leading to controversy. Research on FeMV has primarily focused on its epidemiology, role in chronic kidney disease, and tropism, but its pathogenicity is still unclear due to its unique characteristics and lack of a rapid isolation cell culture system.
Review
Veterinary Sciences
M. C. Canto-Valdes, M. E. Bolio Gonzalez, G. E. Acevedo-Jimenez, H. Ramirez Alvarez
Summary: Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus causing neoplasms, bone marrow disorders, and immunosuppression in cats. It can mutate and recombine with ancestral retroviruses, forming a diversity of endogenous and recombinant FeLV subgroups. Recombination of the env gene is the most significant in terms of pathogenic effects, affecting viral populations, cell tropism, and disease types. This review focuses on the interaction between endogenous and exogenous viruses, exploring FeLV's genetic diversity, pathogenesis, and diagnosis.
NEW ZEALAND VETERINARY JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Veterinary Sciences
Latasha Ludwig, Melanie Dobromylskyj, Geoffrey A. Wood, Louise van der Weyden
Summary: Cancer is a significant cause of suffering and death in domestic cats. Research into the genetics of feline cancers has been ongoing for many years using various technologies. Understanding the genetic basis of common and rare types of cancer in cats is crucial for driving much-needed research in this area.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Virology
Caroline Carlton, Jacqueline M. Norris, Evelyn Hall, Michael P. Ward, Stephanie Blank, Shelby Gilmore, Anjuli Dabydeen, Vivian Tran, Mark E. Westman
Summary: This study investigated the impact of natural FIV infection on pet cats in Australia and found differences in clinical manifestations and survival time between FIV-infected and FIV-uninfected cats. Additionally, analysis of hematological and blood biochemical parameters in FIV-infected cats identified certain indicators that could be used as diagnostic triggers for FIV testing.
Article
Virology
Melissa J. Beall, Jesse Buch, Genevieve Clark, Marko Estrada, Andrei Rakitin, Natascha T. Hamman, Monica K. Frenden, Ellen P. Jefferson, E. Susan Amirian, Julie K. Levy
Summary: Longitudinal studies of cats naturally infected with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) have shown that p27 antigen concentration and proviral DNA load are highly correlated with survival outcomes. High positive cats had a significantly shorter median survival time compared to low positive cats, indicating the potential use of these biomarkers for predicting disease outcomes in FeLV-infected cats.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Amin Azadian, Danielle A. Gunn-Moore
Summary: This study found that age and FIV infection have significant impacts on cognitive abilities in cats. Younger cats have better visuospatial working memory and problem-solving abilities, with FIV infection having minimal effects. However, older FIV-positive cats exhibit worse visuospatial working memory but no differences in problem-solving abilities.
Article
Immunology
Thais F. Feitosa, Flavia T. R. Costa, Larissa C. Ferreira, Samara S. Silva, Antonielson Santos, Welitania I. Silva, Arthur W. L. Brasil, Vinicius L. R. Vilela
Summary: The study collected 103 blood samples from cats to evaluate the occurrence of FIV and associated factors in the Brazilian semiarid region. The results showed a high seroprevalence of FIV in cats, with a significant association with T. gondii coinfection, while FeLV had a very low occurrence in the study region.
COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sophie Zhu, Elizabeth VanWormer, Karen Shapiro
Summary: Based on the analysis of data from 47 studies, it was found that both population density and climate factors have an impact on oocyst shedding in domestic cats and wild felids. Increasing population density and temperature fluctuation can exacerbate environmental contamination with the protozoan parasite T. gondii. Management of free-ranging domestic cats can reduce the burden of environmental oocysts due to their large population sizes and affinity with human settlements.
Article
Zoology
Jacalyn Normandeau, Colleen Cassady St Clair, Susan J. Kutz, Mark Hebblewhite, Evelyn H. Merrill
Summary: This study compared the effects of grooming for winter ticks on foraging behavior of migrating and resident elk. The results showed that grooming was rare but interrupted vigilance behavior. There were no significant differences in grooming time and other behaviors among elk with different migratory tactics.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Janet K. Yamamoto, Lekshmi K. Edison, Dawne K. Rowe-Haas, Tomomi Takano, Chen Gilor, Chiquitha D. Crews, Apichai Tuanyok, Ananta P. Arukha, Sayaka Shiomitsu, Heather D. S. Walden, Tsutomu Hohdatsu, Stephen M. Tompkins, John G. G. Morris Jr., Bikash Sahay, Subhashinie Kariyawasam
Summary: The study found that specific-pathogen-free laboratory cats developed cross-reactive antibodies to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of human SARS-CoV-2 virus after mating with feline coronavirus-positive queens. These antibodies also showed cross-reactivity with two serotypes of feline coronavirus and could inhibit feline coronavirus infection.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Giulia Cappelli, Francesca Mariani
Summary: Research on Mediterranean wild edible plants (MWEPs) with antimicrobial properties showed that the majority of species exhibited antimicrobial activities, but the studies remain heterogeneous and more investigation is needed.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
E. Gulersoy, C. Balikci, B. B. Erol, A. Sahan, I. Gunal
Summary: This study investigated the diagnostic efficacy of demographic, clinical, and hemogram data for feline panleukopenia (FP) virus. The results showed that demographic data and clinical findings, along with abnormal leukograms and abnormal hemogram patterns, can be helpful in diagnosing FP.
JOURNAL OF THE HELLENIC VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Shahad K. Al-Zori, Reedh N. Hamoo
Summary: This study tested stray cats captured in Mosul's residential neighborhoods from September 2022 to February 2023. The results showed that all cat serum samples were positive for direct latex agglutination test and the infection rate by ELISA was 26.6%. PCR detection targeting B1 gene revealed an infection rate of 22%. Bioinformatics and phylogenetic analysis identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and other mutations in the nitrogenous base sequences of the two isolates, which were registered in the International Gene Bank.
EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Da-Bing Lu, Qiu-Fu Yu, Jie-Ying Zhang, Meng-Tao Sun, Man-Man Gu, Joanne P. Webster, You-Sheng Liang
Summary: Research shows that unpaired female and male schistosomes can survive within their definitive host for at least 1 year and produce viable eggs after subsequent pairing, posing an additional biological challenge in achieving elimination of schistosomiasis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Aura Raulo, Bryony E. Allen, Tanya Troitsky, Arild Husby, Josh A. Firth, Tim Coulson, Sarah C. L. Knowles
Summary: Research on wild mice shows that social connections play a crucial role in determining microbial similarity among individuals, especially in interactions involving males. Social network position can also predict the diversity of microbiota in individuals.
Article
Infectious Diseases
M. Ines Neves, Charlotte M. Gower, Joanne P. Webster, Martin Walker
Summary: Parasite populations are regulated by density-dependent processes, with fecundity being a key factor that can be influenced. Understanding density-dependent fecundity is crucial for predicting interventions' effectiveness in eliminating diseases like schistosomiasis. By using a statistical modelling approach, researchers found evidence of density-dependent fecundity in S. haematobium but not in S. mansoni, highlighting the importance of further research in this area.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Patrice A. Mawa, Julien Kincaid-Smith, Edridah M. Tukahebwa, Joanne P. Webster, Shona Wilson
Summary: Schistosomiasis is a major parasitic disease in Africa, causing significant morbidity and mortality. Factors such as parasite characteristics, host factors, and gene-environment interactions play a crucial role in determining the differential morbidity profiles. Research has identified biological hotspots where high transmission and morbidity persist, highlighting the need for revisiting studies to find more effective control measures.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Duncan J. Berger, Thomas Crellen, Poppy H. L. Lamberton, Fiona Allan, Alan Tracey, Jennifer D. Noonan, Narcis B. Kabatereine, Edridah M. Tukahebwa, Moses Adriko, Nancy Holroyd, Joanne P. Webster, Matthew Berriman, James A. Cotton
Summary: The study analyzed whole-genome sequencing data of Schistosoma mansoni larvae from infected children in Uganda with varying histories of praziquantel administration, revealing extensive gene flow and limited positive selection, suggesting minimal changes post mass drug administration.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Cheikh B. Fall, Sebastien Lambert, Elsa Leger, Lucy Yasenev, Amadou Djirmay Garba, Samba D. Diop, Anna Borlase, Stefano Catalano, Babacar Faye, Martin Walker, Mariama Sene, Joanne P. Webster
Summary: Recent research has shown the prevalence of viable zoonotic hybrids between human urogenital Schistosoma haematobium and intestinal Schistosoma species of livestock across Africa and beyond, with implications for host morbidity.
Review
Parasitology
Qiu-Fu Yu, Jie-Ying Zhang, Meng-Tao Sun, Man-Man Gu, Hui-Ying Zou, Joanne P. Webster, Da-Bing Lu
Summary: A study on the efficacy of PZQ against S. japonicum in China found an increase in D over time, while R slightly decreased, both significantly correlated with the total drug dose, indicating no evidence of PZQ-R emergence. Further research is needed to explore the potential factors affecting these findings.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Roy N. Platt, Winka Le Clec'h, Frederic D. Chevalier, Marina McDew-White, Philip T. LoVerde, Rafael Ramiro de Assis, Guilherme Oliveira, Safari Kinung'hi, Amadou Garba Djirmay, Michelle L. Steinauer, Anouk Gouvras, Muriel Rabone, Fiona Allan, Bonnie L. Webster, Joanne P. Webster, Aidan M. Emery, David Rollinson, Timothy J. C. Anderson
Summary: The blood fluke parasite, Schistosoma mansoni, was introduced into the Americas from Africa during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Research shows that the parasite successfully adapted to the snail intermediate host in South America, without facing significant population bottlenecks or barriers to colonization. Furthermore, genetic analysis indicates differences in gene selection between the Americas and Africa, suggesting adaptation during colonization.
Article
Parasitology
Jerzy M. Behnke, Alex Stewart, Lesley Smales, Gemma Cooper, Ann Lowe, John M. Kinsella, Anna Bajer, Dorota Dwuznik-Szarek, Jeremy Herman, Jonathan Fenn, Stefano Catalano, Christophe A. Diagne, Joanne P. Webster
Summary: The study examined Oxyurid nematodes from bank and field voles in the British Isles, providing genetic signatures of new isolates and confirming S. nigeriana as a parasite of both bank and field voles. Additionally, related Syphacia species were found in Mastomys spp. from West Africa, indicating a wide distribution of parasitic nematodes among rodent genera.
Review
Parasitology
E. Raj, B. Calvo-Urbano, C. Heffernan, J. Halder, J. P. Webster
Summary: Despite the significant mortality and morbidity caused by helminth infections, the current evidence does not support the hypothesis that helminths directly cause physical stunting in children. However, there is significant heterogeneity between studies, and data from key demographic groups are lacking.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Praise Adeyemo, Elsa Leger, Elizabeth Hollenberg, Nicolas Diouf, Mariama Sene, Joanne P. Webster, Barbara Hasler
Summary: This study aimed to estimate the financial impact of livestock schistosomiasis in selected regions of Senegal. The findings suggest that the financial impact of livestock schistosomiasis on traditional subsistence and transhumance farmers is substantial, and treating the disease has the potential to generate considerable benefits to farmers and their families.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Kirsty J. Marsh, Aura M. Raulo, Marc Brouard, Tanya Troitsky, Holly M. English, Bryony Allen, Rohan Raval, Saudamini Venkatesan, Amy B. Pedersen, Joanne P. Webster, Sarah C. L. Knowles
Summary: The gut microbiome plays important roles in mammalian hosts, with the community composition shaping its functions. Factors driving individual microbiota variation in wild animals and how predictable or idiosyncratic they are remain poorly understood. This study on wood mice revealed consistent patterns of seasonal gut microbiota restructuring across different populations, despite involving different taxa, highlighting the importance of future research on the drivers and implications of such seasonal microbiome dynamics.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jingdi Li, Kieran A. Bates, Kim L. Hoang, Tobias E. Hector, Sarah C. L. Knowles, Kayla C. King
Summary: Global climate change has led to more extreme thermal events, and this study found that microbiome diversity and composition change in response to warming and cooling. Host habitat and experimental factors have a greater impact on microbiome diversity and composition than host biological traits. Aquatic organisms, especially in marine habitats, experience a greater depletion in microbiome diversity under cold conditions compared to terrestrial hosts. The findings improve our understanding of the impact of global temperature changes on animal and plant microbiome structures.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Parasitology
Gregory Colin Milne, Joanne P. Webster, Martin Walker
Summary: Several studies have suggested a decline in the incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis due to decreasing seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii. However, the consistency of this trend across different populations and its implications for prenatal screening programs remain unclear. This study explores how the changing epidemiology of the parasite may affect trends in congenital toxoplasmosis incidence and emphasizes the importance of updating cost-effectiveness estimates of screening programs to account for neuropsychiatric sequelae.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Parasitology
Isobel L. Gabain, Anouschka S. Ramsteijn, Joanne P. Webster
Summary: Globally, approximately 149.2 million children under the age of 5 are affected by stunting, but the underlying causes and mechanisms are still unclear, leading to limited treatment and prevention strategies. The direct link between parasites and stunting is often lacking due to the complex nature of stunting and a lack of interdisciplinary research. Based on existing studies, this paper presents potential pathways by which parasitic infection in mothers and/or infants may lead to childhood stunting. The need for future multidisciplinary longitudinal studies and clinical trials to identify influential factors and develop effective solutions is highlighted.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
