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  • Journal made by "PARASITOLOGISTS for PARASITOLOGISTS"
  • IN-HOUSE production with careful revision & proof-reading
  • Increase of APC from January 1, 2025
  • Current ISI Impact Factor: IF 2025 = 2.0
  • Current volume: 73: 2026
  • Special Issue: Three Decades of Latent Toxoplasmosis
  • Published since 1954 – freely available!

International journal that covers all branches of animal parasitology, including morphology, taxonomy, biology, biochemistry, physiology, immunology and molecular biology of parasites, host-parasite relationships and parasite evolution.

Special Issue: Three Decades of Latent Toxoplasmosis

Flegr J., Ullmann J., Španiel F., Toman J., Hůla M., Šebánková B., Petrusová J., Novotný P., Včelák J., Kaňková Š. 2026: Does latent Toxoplasma infection mimic the immune profile of schizophrenia? Sex-specific cytokine and brain-marker alterations suggest partial overlap. Special Issue on Toxoplasmosis. Folia Parasitol. 73: 006

Postolache T.T. 2025: Toxoplasma gondii and suicidal behaviour: discovery, cross-diagnostic confirmation and pathway exploration. Special Issue on Toxoplasmosis. Folia Parasitol. 72: 025.

Ullmann J., Flegr J., Nouzová K., Včelák J., Kaňková Š. 2025: Chronic inflammation in pregnant women with latent toxoplasmosis and explanation of discordant results of serological tests for toxoplasmosis. Special Issue on Toxoplasmosis. Folia Parasitol. 72: 021.

Flegr J. 2025: Thirty years of studying latent toxoplasmosis: behavioural, physiological, and health insights: description of a struggle. Special Issue on Toxoplasmosis. Folia Parasitol. 72: 005.

Webster J.P. 2025: Who makes the decisions? Uncovering the evolutionary implications and clinical applications of Toxoplasma gondii’s Fatal Feline Attraction. Special Issue on Toxoplasmosis. Folia Parasitol. 72: 016

Tautanova A., Kiyan V., Dusmagambetov M., Almysheva T.A., Dusmagambetova A. 2026: Three decades of research on molecular genetic characteristics of Echinococcus spp.: a bibliometric study. Folia Parasitol. 73: 001.

Catchpole A., Zabriskie B.N., Embley B., Kharazi H., Clarke R., Templeton G., Hunt C., Gale S.D., Hedges D.W. 2025: Association between type-2 diabetes and Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Special Issue on Toxoplasmosis. Folia Parasitol. 72: 024.

Torrey E.F. 2024: The linking of toxoplasmosis and schizophrenia. Folia Parasitol. 71: 016.

Vyas A. 2024: Nuts and bolts of the behavioural manipulation by Toxoplasma gondii. Special Issue on Toxoplasmosis. Folia Parasitol. 71: 017.

Latifi A., Flegr J., Kaňková Š. 2025: Re-assessing host manipulation in Toxoplasma: the underexplored role of sexual transmission – evidence, mechanisms, implications. Special Issue on Toxoplasmosis. Folia Parasitol. 72: 015.

Postolache T.T., Duncan E., Yen P., Potocki E., Barnhart M., Federline A., Massa N., Dagdag A., Joseph J., Wadhawan A., Capan C., Forton C., Lowry C.A., Ortmeyer H.K., Brenner L.A. 2025: Toxoplasma gondii, suicidal behavior and suicide risk factors in US Veterans enrolled in mental health treatment. Special Issue on Toxoplasmosis. Folia Parasitol. 72: 002.


Folia Parasitologica - Most viewed articles

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New species of Choleoeimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the veiled chameleon, Chamaeleo calyptratus (Sauria: Chamaeleonidae), with taxonomic revision of eimerian coccidia from chameleons

Michal Sloboda, David Modrý

Folia Parasitologica 53[2] 91-97 (2006) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2006.012  

Coprological examination of 71 samples from a breeding colony of veiled chameleons, Chamaeleo calyptratus Duméril et Duméril, 1851, revealed a presence of two species of coccidia. In 100% of the samples examined, oocysts of Isospora jaracimrmani Modrý et Koudela, 1995 were detected. A new coccidian species, Choleoeimeria hirbayah sp. n., was discovered in 32.4% of samples from the colony. Its oocysts are tetrasporocystic, cylindrical, 28.3 (25-30) × 14.8 (13.5-17.5) µm, with smooth, bilayered, ~1 µm thick wall. Sporocysts are dizoic, ovoidal to ellipsoidal, 10.1 (9-11) × 6.9 (6-7.5) µm, sporocyst wall is composed...

Three new genera and seven new species of trypanorhynch cestodes (family Eutetrarhynchidae) from manta rays, Mobula spp. (Mobulidae) from the Gulf of California, Mexico

Ronald A. Campbell, Ian Beveridge

Folia Parasitologica 53[4] 255-275 (2006) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2006.033  

Three new genera of eutetrarhynchid trypanorhynch cestodes are described from Mobula spp. (Mobulidae) from the Gulf of California, Mexico. Fellicocestus mobulae gen. et sp. n. from the gall bladder of Mobula japonica (Müller et Henle) is distinguished by elongate bothria, a pars bothrialis equal in length to the pars vaginalis, masses of gland cells in the pars vaginalis and an heteromorphous armature in which hook rows arise from a central file of hooks on the bothrial surface of the tentacle and terminate in a central file on the antibothrial surface. Species of Mobulocestus gen. n. occur in the nephridial system and cloaca...

The genus Hyalomma Koch, 1844. III. Redescription of the adults and larva of H. (Euhyalomma) impressum Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae) with a first description of its nymph and notes on its biology

Dmitry A. Apanaskevich, Ivan G. Horak

Folia Parasitologica 54[1] 51-58 (2007) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2007.007  

In respect of its morphology, biology and epidemiology, Hyalomma (Euhyalomma) impressum Koch, 1844 is one of the more poorly studied ticks of the genus Hyalomma Koch, 1844. No comprehensive morphological study has been done to date, and the nymph has not been described. Here the adults and larva are redescribed, and the nymph is described for the first time. Data on hosts, geographical distribution and disease relationships are provided.

Bird schistosomes of wildfowl in the Czech Republic and Poland

Jitka Rudolfová, D.T.J. Littlewood, Jiljí Sitko, Petr Horák

Folia Parasitologica 54[2] 88-93 (2007) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2007.011  

In 2005, we dissected 102 wildfowl from the Czech Republic and 73 wildfowl from Poland including representatives of Anseriformes, Gruiformes and Gaviiformes. Schistosome infection was found in a total of 21 (29%) and 23 (23%) birds from Poland and the Czech Republic, respectively. All infected birds belonged to the order Anseriformes. The prevalences of nasal and visceral species were, respectively, 22% and 16% in Poland and 6% and 19% in the Czech Republic. Four species of schistosomes were found: Bilharziella polonica Kowalewski, 1895, Trichobilharzia regenti Horák, Kolářová et Dvořák, 1998, T. szidati Neuhaus, 1952, and an undetermined...

Vavraia culicis (Weiser, 1947) Weiser, 1977 revisited: cytological characterisation of a Vavraia culicis-like microsporidium isolated from mosquitoes in Florida and the establishment of Vavraia culicis floridensis subsp. n.

Jiří Vávra, James J. Becnel

Folia Parasitologica 54[4] 259-271 (2007) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2007.034  

A brief nomenclatural history of Vavraia culicis (Weiser, 1947), the type species for the genus Vavraia Weiser, 1977, is presented together with a detailed description of the cytological and ultrastructural characteristics of a Vavraia culicis-like microsporidian species isolated from Aedes albopictus (Scuse) in Florida. This "Florida isolate", is the only known isolate of a species of the genus Vavraia from mosquitoes propagated in laboratory culture. Although the Florida isolate has been used under the name Vavraia culicis in several molecular phylogeny and host-parasite studies, it has not been structurally...

New data on Soricimyxum fegati (Myxozoa) including analysis of its phylogenetic position inferred from the SSU rRNA gene sequence

Iva Dyková, Tomáš Tyml, Ivan Fiala, Jiří Lom

Folia Parasitologica 54[4] 272-276 (2007) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2007.035  

A myxosporean species found to develop in the liver of 10 out of 24 common shrews, Sorex araneus L., caught in South Bohemia, Czech Republic, was identified as Soricimyxum fegati Prunescu, Prunescu, Pucek et Lom, 2007, the unique representative of the genus and the first myxosporean species known to develop from plasmodia to spores in a terrestrial mammal. The original description of this species, based on fixed material, is supplemented with new data based on fresh material and with partial sequence of SSU rDNA (GenBank Acc. No. EU232760). Phylogenetic analysis of SSU rDNA revealed that S. fegati is closely related to myxosporeans...

Immune response to rabbit coccidiosis: a comparison between infections with Eimeria flavescens and E. intestinalis

Michal Pakandl, Lenka Hlásková, Martin Poplštein, Marie Nevečeřalová, Tomáš Vodička, Jiří Salát, Jitka Mucksová

Folia Parasitologica 55[1] 1-6 (2008) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2008.001  

Seven- to eight-week-old rabbits were infected with Eimeria intestinalis Cheissin, 1948, a highly immunogenic coccidium, or Eimeria flavescens Marotel et Guilhon, 1941, which is weakly immunogenic. Immune response was investigated at 7, 14 and 21 days post inoculation (DPI). The level of serum immunoglobulins, lymphocyte proliferation stimulated by parasite antigens and weight of mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) showed similar dynamics in rabbits inoculated with both coccidia species. The amount of serum IgG and IgM, but not IgA, was increased from 14 DPI. The lymphocytes from MLN of infected animals significantly reacted to stimulation with...

Ultrastructure of the surface structures and secretory glands of the rosette attachment organ of Gyrocotyle urna (Cestoda: Gyrocotylidea)

Larisa G. Poddubnaya, Tomáš Scholz, Roman Kuchta, Céline Levron, David I. Gibson

Folia Parasitologica 55[3] 207-218 (2008) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2008.028  

The surface structures and gland cells of the posterior rosette organ of Gyrocotyle urna Grube et Wagener, 1852, a member of the group presumed to be the most basal of the tapeworms (Cestoda: Gyrocotylidea), was studied by scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy. Surface structures on the outer (oriented away from the intestinal wall) and inner (in contact with the intestinal wall) rosette surfaces differ from each other and represent a transitional form between microvilli and microtriches typical of tapeworms (Eucestoda). The inner surface of the rosette possesses numerous glands. On the basis of the size and electron-density...

Two new species of Neoentobdella (Monogenea: Capsalidae: Entobdellinae) from the skin of Australian stingrays (Dasyatidae)

Ian D. Whittington, Graham C. Kearn

Folia Parasitologica 56[1] 29-35 (2009) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2009.005  

Two new species of entobdelline (capsalid) monogeneans are described from the skin of Australian dasyatid stingrays, namely Neoentobdella cribbi sp. n., a small parasite from the estuarine stingray, Dasyatis fluviorum Ogilby (Elasmobranchii: Dasyatidae) and Neoentobdella baggioi sp. n., a relatively large parasite from the porcupine ray, Urogymnus asperrimus (Bloch et Schneider) (Elasmobranchii: Dasyatidae). A striking feature of both of these new parasite species is a pad, possibly located within the genital atrium, armed with rows of closely spaced, rod-shaped microsclerites. Both species also possess a muscular papilla...

Philometrids (Nematoda: Philometridae) from fishes of Lake Turkana, Kenya, including two new species of Philometra and erection of Afrophilometra gen. n.

František Moravec, Harrison Charo-Karisa, Miloslav Jirků

Folia Parasitologica 56[1] 41-54 (2009) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2009.008  

The following four species (only females available) of the Philometridae (Nematoda: Dracunculoidea) were recorded from freshwater fishes of Lake Turkana, northwestern Kenya in 2007-2008: Philometra bagri (Khalil, 1965) from the subcutaneous tissue around the mouth, on gill covers and the fin base of the bayad Bagrus bajad (Forsskål) (Bagridae: Siluriformes), Philometra lati sp. n. from the abdominal cavity of the Nile perch Lates niloticus (Linnaeus) (Latidae: Perciformes), Philometra spiriformis sp. n. from capsules on the inner surface of gill covers of L. niloticus and Afrophilometra hydrocyoni...

Aattachment of nymphal Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae) to a human in an urban area followed by severe adverse reaction shortly before drop-off

Igor Uspensky

Folia Parasitologica 56[1] 67-69 (2009) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2009.011  

A case of attachment and complete engorgement of a Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806) nymph on a woman with severe pain shortly before nymphal drop-off is described. The pain continued for about 2 weeks after tick removal. Apparently, this is the first documented case of human adverse reaction developed at the very last stage of engorgement of nymphal R. sanguineus. The infestation most likely took place inside the enclosed household garden in the southern area of Jerusalem where the woman took care of the plants. The importance of immature R. sanguineus ticks in attacking humans is discussed.

Gyrodactylus eyipayipi sp. n. (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) from Syngnathus acus (Syngnathidae) from South Africa

David B. Vaughan, Kevin W. Christison, Haakon Hansen, Andrew P. Shinn

Folia Parasitologica 57[1] 11-15 (2010) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2010.002  

Gyrodactylus eyipayipi sp. n. is described from the skin, gills, flute and male brood pouch of captive specimens of the greater pipefish Syngnathus acus L., collected for and maintained at the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, South Africa. It is the first marine Gyrodactylus species reported from the African continent. The new species is compared to the three known Gyrodactylus species affecting syngnathiform hosts (G. pisculentus Williams, Kritsky, Dunnigan, Lash et Klein, 2008, G. shorti Holliman, 1963, and G. syngnathi Appleby, 1996). Although all four species have similar-sized and shaped attachment...

New species of Rhabdias (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) from Afrotropical anurans, including molecular evidence and notes on biology

Kerstin Junker, Nathaly Lhermitte-Vallarino, Michela Barbuto, Ivan Ineich, Samuel Wanji, Odile Bain

Folia Parasitologica 57[1] 47-61 (2010) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2010.007  

Despite the small sample size the diversity of Rhabdias Stiles et Hassall, 1905 from anurans in the Afrotropical region was found to be high. Four species were collected from four localities, one in South Africa, two on Cameroonese mountains and one in Madagascar: Rhabdias picardiae sp. n. from the bufonid Amietophrynus gutturalis (Power); Rhabdias ohlerae sp. n. and Rhabdias tanyai sp. n. from the arthroleptids Leptopelis brevirostris (Werner) and Astylosternus rheophilus Amiet, respectively; and Rhabdias vencesi sp. n. from the mantellid Boophis madagascariensis (Peters). Distinctive...

Seasonal stability in parasite assemblages of the Brazilian flathead, Percophis brasiliensis (Perciformes: Percophidae): predictable tools for stock identification

Paola E. Braicovich, Juan T. Timi

Folia Parasitologica 57[3] 206-212 (2010) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2010.027  

A comparison of the composition and structure of parasite communities of the Brazilian flathead, Percophis brasiliensis Quoy et Gaimard (Perciformes: Percophidae) among seasons during one year was carried out in the Argentine Sea. A total of 195 fish specimens were examined and 25 parasite species were found. Parasite communities in seasonal samples showed a high degree of homogeneity in taxonomic composition and infection levels. Similarity analysis showed that the seasonal stability within and between samples was constant in both the composition and community structure throughout the year. Parasites can, therefore, be considered predictable...

Low host specificity in the Kudoidae (Myxosporea: Multivalvulida) including seventeen new host records for Kudoa thalassomi

Mieke A.A. Burger, Robert D. Adlard

Folia Parasitologica 58[1] 1-16 (2011) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2011.001  

Kudoid parasites are known to infect a large variety of fish. A significant proportion of Kudoa species have relatively low host specificity, with a single species able to infect multiple host species representing various host families even from different host orders. Since DNA sequences have been associated with myxosporean species characterisations, it has become far easier to determine host range of new species and validate host records from earlier descriptions. This study investigated the host specificity of a kudoid parasite, Kudoa thalassomi Adlard, Bryant, Whipps et Kent, 2005, from the Great Barrier Reef in Australia using DNA...

Infection dynamics of the monogenean parasite Gyrodactylus gasterostei on sympatric and allopatric populations of the three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus

Joost A.M. Raeymaekers, K. Mathias Wegner, Tine Huyse, Filip A.M. Volckaert

Folia Parasitologica 58[1] 27-34 (2011) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2011.003  

Parasites with high host specificity maximally depend on their hosts, which should increase the likelihood of coevolution. However, coevolution requires reciprocal selection exerted by the host and the parasite, and thus a considerable level of parasite virulence. In species of the monogenean ectoparasite genus Gyrodactylus consecutive generations are confronted with a single host, which may constrain the evolution of virulence. Transmission, which is often important in the ecology of Gyrodactylus species, may have the opposite effect, but may also lead to the avoidance of coevolutionary arms races. We investigated the potential outcome...

Hemipristicola gunterae gen. n., sp. n. (Cestoda: Tetraphyllidea: Phyllobothriidae) from the snaggletooth shark, Hemipristis elongata (Carcharhiniformes: Hemigaleidae), from Moreton Bay, Australia

Scott C. Cutmore, Susan M. Theiss, Michael B. Bennett, Thomas H. Cribb

Folia Parasitologica 58[3] 187-196 (2011)  

Helminthological examination of the snaggletooth shark, Hemipristis elongata (Klunzinger) (Carcharhiniformes: Hemigaleidae), from Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia, yielded a phyllobothriid genus and species previously unknown to science. Hemipristicola gunterae gen. n., sp. n. is described here, and is placed in the subfamily Phyllobothriinae Braun, 1900. Of the other phyllobothriid genera, the new genus most closely resembles Paraorygmatobothrium in that both genera possess bothridia with a single loculus and apical sucker, post-vaginal testes and lateral vitellarium. Hemipristicola, however, differs from Paraorygmatobothrium...

Revision of Dioncopseudobenedenia Yamaguti, 1965 including the description of D. ancoralis sp. n. (Monogenea: Capsalidae) from Pacific acanthuroid teleosts

Marty R. Deveney, Ian D. Whittington

Folia Parasitologica 58[4] 257-272 (2011) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2011.025  

Dioncopseudobenedenia Yamaguti, 1965 (Monogenea: Capsalidae) is redefined. Dioncopseudobenedenia kala Yamaguti, 1965 (type species) is redescribed from type material from Hawaii and from new specimens from Heron Island, Queensland, Australia and New Caledonia. We made detailed observations on D. macracantha Yamaguti, 1968 from type material from Hawaii, and from new material from Heron Island and New Caledonia. Dioncopseudobenedenia ancoralis sp. n. is described from the gill chamber of Siganus lineatus (Valenciennes) from Green Island and Heron Island, Australia and from New Caledonia. This study confirms that only...

Haematozoans from deep water fishes trawled off the Cape Verde Islands and over the Porcupine Seabight, with a revision of species within the genus Desseria (Adeleorina: Haemogregarinidae)

Angela J. Davies, Shazia Hosein, Nigel R. Merrett

Folia Parasitologica 59[1] 1-11 (2012) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2012.001  

Archived blood smears from 32 of 113 fishes in 18 families and 12 orders, trawled from deep North Atlantic waters off the Cape Verde Islands in 1999 and over the Porcupine Seabight in 2001 were found to harbour haematozoans. These included four species of haemogregarines (Adeleorina, Haemogregarinidae) and a species of trypanosome (Trypanosomatina, Trypanosomatidae) located in Porcupine Seabight fishes. Also present were Haemohormidium-like structures of uncertain status found in samples from this location and from the Cape Verde Islands. Although material was limited, two of the haemogregarines were provisionally named Desseria harriottae...

The microecology of dactylogyrids (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) on the gills of wild spotted rose snapper Lutjanus guttatus (Lutjanidae) from Mazatlan Bay, Mexico

Lilia C. Soler-Jiménez, Emma J. Fajer-Ávila

Folia Parasitologica 59[1] 53-58 (2012) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2012.008  

The spatial distribution and coexistence of monogenean dactylogyrids was assessed on the gills of 63 specimens of wild spotted rose snapper, Lutjanus guttatus (Steindachner), caught in the Mazatlan Bay, Sinaloa, Mexico. Five species are reported: Euryhaliotrema perezponcei García-Vargas, Fajer-Ávila et Lamothe-Argumedo, 2008, Euryhaliotrematoides sp., Haliotrematoides spinatus Kritsky et Mendoza-Franco, 2009, H. plectridium Kritsky et Mendoza-Franco, 2009, and H. guttati García-Vargas, Fajer-Ávila et Lamothe-Argumedo, 2008. All except E. perezponcei and H. guttati represent new geographical records...

Two species of Rhabdochona (Nematoda: Rhabdochonidae) from the cyprinid fish Luciobarbus kersin (Heckel) in northern Iraq, including R. (Globochona) kurdistanensis sp. n.

František Moravec, Samir J. Bilal, Shamall M. A. Abdullah

Folia Parasitologica 59[2] 139-147 (2012) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2012.019  

A new nematode species, Rhabdochona (Globochona) kurdistanensis sp. n. (Rhabdochonidae), is decribed based on specimens collected from the intestine of the barbel Luciobarbus kersin (Heckel) (Cyprinidae) in the Greater Zab (type locality) and the Lesser Zab Rivers, Tigris River basin, Kurdistan Region, northern Iraq. It is mainly characterized by a prostom with 8 anterior teeth, the presence of basal prostomal teeth, bifurcated deirids, length ratio of the muscular and glandular portions of oesophagus (1:14.4-17.8), conspicuously short left spicule (180-204 µm), arrangement of genital papillae, nonfilamented eggs,...

Distribution of Hatschekia pagellibogneravei (Copepoda: Hatschekiidae) on the gills of Pagellus bogaraveo (Teleostei: Sparidae) from Madeira, Portugal

Margarida Hermida, Cristina Cruz, Aurélia Saraiva

Folia Parasitologica 59[2] 148-152 (2012) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2012.020  

A population of the gill parasite Hatschekia pagellibogneravei (Hesse, 1878) was studied on one of its sparid fish hosts, the blackspot seabream, Pagellus bogaraveo (Brünnich), off the coast of Madeira Island, Portugal, northeast Atlantic. Very high infection levels of this copepod were detected, with no significant seasonal differences. Abundance was negatively correlated with fish size. There were significant differences in the distribution of this copepod among the gill arches of the host, which seem to be best explained by differences in water flow within the gill habitat.

New data on the morphology of some Far-Eastern species of Rhabdochona (Nematoda: Rhabdochonidae), as revealed by SEM observation

František Moravec, Aleksei V. Ermolenko, Vladimir V. Besprozvannykh, Tomáš Scholz

Folia Parasitologica 59[3] 195-208 (2012)  

Specimens of the nematode genus Rhabdochona Railliet, 1916 (Rhabdochonidae) were collected during helminthological examination of four species of cyprinid fishes in two rivers of the Amur River basin in the Russian Far East (Primorsky Region) in June 2011. Detailed light microscopical (LM) and scanning electron microscopical (SEM) examinations (the latter used for the first time for the reported nematode species) of the available material revealed the presence of three inadequately described nominal species of this genus: R. (Rhabdochona) denudata (Dujardin, 1845) from the spotted steed Hemibarbus maculatus Bleeker...

Evaluation of anti-leishmanial effects of killed Leishmania vaccine with BCG adjuvant in BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania major MRHO/IR/75/ER

Hossein Nahrevanian, Seyedeh Parisa Jafary, Sara Nemati, Mahin Farahmand, Eskandar Omidinia

Folia Parasitologica 60[1] 1-6 (2013) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2013.001  

There are many strategies to control leishmaniasis, but majority of them are inadequate. Killed Leishmania vaccine (KLV) has been applied for its immunogenicity in human and mouse model. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) as adjuvant is an immunemodulator inducing humoral and cellular immune responses during zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL). Both KLV and BCG have been applied for their immune responses in hosts for controlling leishmaniasis. In this study, KLV and BCG were applied to inhibit replication and visceralization of Leishmania major in BALB/c mice. Mice were injected with KLV and BCG, followed by infection with promastigotes...

Induction of prominent Th1 response in C57Bl/6 mice immunized with an E. coli-expressed multi T-cell epitope EgA31 antigen against Echinococcus granulosus

Majid Esmaelizad, Gholamreza Ahmadian, Khosrow Aghaiypour, Mehdi Shamsara, Habibellah Paykari, Majid Tebianian

Folia Parasitologica 60[1] 28-34 (2013) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2013.004  

First step in developing an epitope-based vaccine is to predict peptide binding to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. We performed computational analysis of unique available EgA31 sequence to locate appropriate antigenic propensity positions. T-cell epitopes with best binding affinity values of < 50% inhibitory concentration were selected using different available servers (Propred and IEDB). Peptides with 100% population coverage were selected. A DNA fragment corresponding to the furin linker enriched in Golgi apparatus was inserted sequentially between each epitope sequences in a synthetic DNA in order to cleave the chimeric...

Khawia abbottinae sp. n. (Cestoda: Caryophyllidea) from the Chinese false gudgeon Abbottina rivularis (Cyprinidae: Gobioninae) in China: morphological and molecular data

Bing Wen Xi, Mikuláš Oros, Gui Tang Wang, Tomáš Scholz, Jun Xie

Folia Parasitologica 60[2] 141-148 (2013) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2013.015  

Abstract: Khawia abbottinae sp. n. is described from the Chinese false gudgeon, Abbottina rivularis (Basilewsky) (Cyprinidae: Gobioninae), from the Yangtze River basin in China. The new species can be distinguished from the congeneric species mainly by the arrangements of the testes, which form two longitudinal bands (other congeneric species have the testes irregularly scattered throughout the testicular region) and their number (at maximum 85 testes versus at least 160 in the other Khawia spp.), and the morphology of the scolex, which varies from cuneiform to widely bulbate scolex, being separated from the remaining body by a...

Blood flukes (Digenea: Aporocotylidae) of walking catfishes (Siluriformes: Clariidae): new genus and species from the Mekong River (Vietnam) with comments on related catfish aporocotylids

Triet Nhat Truong, Stephen A. Bullard

Folia Parasitologica 60[3] 237-247 (2013) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2013.027  

Abstract: Nomasanguinicola canthoensis gen. et sp. n. infects the branchial vessels of bighead catfish, Clarias macrocephalus Günther (Siluriformes: Clariidae), in the Mekong River near Can Tho, southern Vietnam. Nomasanguinicola differs from all other genera of fish blood flukes (Digenea: Aporocotylidae) by the combination of lacking body spines and by having an anterior sucker with two flanking columns of large denticles, an intestine comprising several short papilla-like caeca, an inverse U-shaped uterus, and an ootype located near the separate genital pores. The new species has an ootype that is posterior to the level of the...

Molecular characteristics of the alpha- and beta-tubulin genes of Nosema philosamiae

Feng Zhu, Zhongyuan Shen, Li Xu, Xijie Guo

Folia Parasitologica 60[5] 411-415 (2013) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2013.043  

Abstract: Microsporidia are intracellular parasites of insects and other higher eukaryotes. The microsporidian Nosema philosamiae Talukdar, 1961 was isolated from the eri silkworm, Philosamia cynthia ricini Grote. In the present study, alpha- and beta-tubulin genes from N. philosamiae were characterized. The identity analysis of nucleotide and amino acid sequences indicated high similarity with species of Nosema Nägeli, 1857 sensu lato (nucleotide sequences, ≥ 96.0%; amino acid sequences, ≥ 99.0%). However, the tubulin genes of N. philosamiae share low sequence similarity with that of N. ceranae...

Philometrid nematodes (Philometridae) from marine fishes off the northern coast of Australia, including three new species

František Moravec, Ben K. Diggles

Folia Parasitologica 61[1] 37-54 (2014) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2014.007  

Based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies, the following nine species of Philometridae (Nematoda: Dracunculoidea) are described from female worms parasitizing marine perciform fishes belonging to six families off the northern coast Australia (near Darwin): Philometra australiensis sp. n. from the swimbladder of the king threadfin Polydactylus macrochir (Günther) (Polynemidae); P. epinepheli Dewi et Palm, 2013 from the operculum of the orange-spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides (Hamilton) (Serranidae); Philometra johnii Moravec et Ali, 2013 from the gonad of the croaker Johnius sp. (Sciaenidae);...

Association between latent toxoplasmosis and major depression, generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder in human adults

Shawn D. Gale, Bruce L. Brown, Andrew Berrett, Lance D. Erickson, Dawson W. Hedges

Folia Parasitologica 61[4] 285-292 (2014) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2014.038  

Latent infection with the apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908) has been associated with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and self-harm behaviour. However, the potential relationship between T. gondii immunoglobulin G antibody (IgG) seropositivity and generalised-anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorder (PD) has not been investigated. The associations between serum reactivity to T. gondii and major depressive disorder (MDD), GAD and PD were evaluated in a total sample of 1 846 adult participants between the ages of 20 and 39 years from the United States Center for Disease Control's National Health and Nutrition...