Plasmodium, the parasite which causes malaria, has evolved with – and plagued – humans since our species emerged. Decades of intervention efforts have concluded that the blueprint for success is to hamper transmission between Anopheles mosquitoes and humans. Before causing symptomatic blood-stage infection, Plasmodium must first develop in the liver, which serves as a hidden gateway into the human host. Blocking parasite entrance or exit through the liver stage prevents both illness and onward transmission. Robust immunity against the pre-erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum fails to develop during natural exposure in malaria-endemic countries. Here, we highlight how expanding knowledge of key mechanisms involved in the immune response against the liver stage parasite is shaping current and future intervention strategies against malaria.

Studying parasites in aquatic vertebrate hosts is vital for understanding parasite diversity, life cycles, host–parasite associations and parasite–environmental interactions. However, such research often requires euthanizing hosts, raising ethical concerns amid increasingly stringent animal welfare standards. This opinion article examines whether and when killing aquatic vertebrate hosts for parasitological studies is ethically justifiable. We outline current ethical regulations and review processes, then consider legitimate reasons for host sacrifice – such as accurate parasite identification, biodiversity assessment, and ecosystem health monitoring. Emphasising the multiple Rs framework in parasitological research we propose practical strategies to minimise harm, including non-lethal diagnostics and improved methodologies. Our goal is to foster critical reflection and promote more ethical, innovative approaches within aquatic parasitology.

Francesco Redi invented scientifically controlled experimentation. He is best known for demonstrating that insects arise only from the eggs of other insects and not spontaneously from decaying matter, and is regarded by many as the father of parasitology. Here, we highlight the foundational work of Redi for his 400th birthday.

Hyalomma anatolicum has a reported presence in Afrotropical, Oriental, and Palearctic regions. It is a two-host/three-host tick with a monovoltine life cycle involving four life history stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. This tick thrives in semidesert habitats and is active during the summer season. In Palearctic/Oriental regions, adults infest hosts from March to September, while immature stages are abundant on livestock from June to October. H. anatolicum instars exhibit endophilic monotrophic behavior with hematophagy on artiodactyls (cattle) under intensive livestock housing, while in a wild environment, it shows telotrophic behavior with immature stages feeding on small mammals in addition to large ungulates.

Trichobilharzia regenti is a neuropathogenic avian schistosome, recognized both as a cause of cercarial dermatitis (CD; swimmer’s itch) and as a model for helminth neuroinfections. Its definitive hosts are waterfowl (e.g., mallards, mute swans, or greylag geese), in which the worms mature in the nasal tissue and produce eggs that hatch into miracidia upon contact with water. Mammals can also be accidentally infected, but most invading cercariae are destroyed in the skin within 2–7 days. Schistosomula that bypass this early immune attack display pronounced neurotropism: they enter peripheral nerves and migrate along them to the spinal cord.

Leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania parasites, poses an immense global health burden in desperate need of additional foun…

Ascarid infections, caused by Ascaris lumbricoides (humans), Ascaris suum (domestic pigs and wild boars), Parascaris spp. (equids), Ascaridia galli (poultry) and Toxocara spp. (dogs, foxes, and cats), remain a significant global challenge, substantially impacting human, animal, and environmental health and imposing considerable economic burdens. This review synthesizes recent advances and persistent obstacles in ascarid control, including drug resistance, low-intensity and undetected infections, climate-driven transmission shifts, and diagnostic limitations. Using a One Health lens, we underscore the need for integrated approaches across human, animal, and environmental sectors. We emphasize rethinking helminth control strategies through cross-sector collaboration, community participation, equity, social and behavior change communication (SBCC), environmental risk reduction, and innovative diagnostic and monitoring systems across species and environments.

The 5th International Congress on Parasites of Wildlife, hosted by the Parasitological Society of Southern Africa in the iconic Kruger National Park, South Africa, brought together parasitologists from across the globe to share the latest advances in wildlife parasitology against the backdrop of Africa’s rich biodiversity. Through keynote lectures and oral and poster presentations, delegates were exposed to innovative approaches to parasite research and their implications for biodiversity and conservation.

Low-dose exposure to pesticides can have stimulatory effects on the biological traits of arthropods, a hallmark of hormesis, which induces adaptive responses. In this forum article we postulate that such responses could be induced in sea lice ectoparasitic copepods, offering a perspective for scientific advance and improved practical solutions.

This review focuses on recent advances in the field of cell division of eukaryotic pathogens of the phylum Apicomplexa, a group of pathogens known for their diverse modes of cell division. We cover two topics – an organization and a regulation of the apicomplexan cell cycles – using models of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites and Plasmodium falciparum merozoites of the red blood cell stage. The review emphasizes differences and similarities between the conventional cell cycle of the parasite's host cells and apicomplexan cell cycles, and between binary and multinuclear divisions of Apicomplexa. Although many factors play a role in cell cycle regulation, we concentrated on the central cell cycle regulators, cyclin-dependent kinase complexes.

Leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania parasites, poses an immense global health burden in desperate need of additional foundational and translational research. Fokkens et al. characterize a unique dual kinase-ubiquitin ligase (KUL) protein that is an essential virulence factor for Leishmania mexicana and can be targeted by small-molecule inhibitors.

Recent studies have revealed a positive correlation between the presence of the Midichloria mitochondrii endosymbiont and Borrelia species in the tick vector, suggesting potential interactions that may influence pathogen infection and the transmission dynamics of Lyme borreliosis. This article discusses the possible mechanistic pathways underlying these interactions.

Parasitic nematodes have a significant impact on global health as pathogens of humans and animals. Yet, our understanding of parasite physiology and the function of organs critical for intra-host survival is poor. Most knowledge is derived from Caenorhabditis elegans, a free-living nematode that has limited translatability to parasitic species. Here, we discuss opportunities to fill knowledge gaps in fundamental parasite biology through the study of parasite body plans, tissues, and cells in their biological context, using modern imaging, omics, metabolic models, and in vitro culture systems. Resolving the functions of parasite cells and tissues throughout development and inside their hosts is key to discovering new tools to tackle them.

Postgenomic parasitology promised holism but often delivered digital reductionism. For complex ailments such as Chagas disease, this can be a dead end. This article proposes a rhizomatic framework, viewing the parasite-host-microbiota assemblage as an interconnected ecosystem, arguing for an ecologically grounded science that integrates social and biological reality.

Human-mediated migrations have reshaped Toxoplasma gondii in South America through massive hybridizations between Old World domestic lineages and wild native populations. We propose that this convergence of domestic adaptation and virulence traits from wild strains underlies the continent’s unusually severe disease burden, particularly ocular toxoplasmosis, with major public health implications.

Sarcocystis miescheriana is a cyst-forming apicomplexan parasite which infects swine (Suidae) as the only known intermediate host and canid species such as the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), wolves (Canis spp.), domestic dog (Canis familiaris), golden jackal (Canis aureus), and racoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) as definitive hosts. The significance of this parasite is increasingly recognised due to its potential impact on animal health, food safety, and biosecurity. The growing global concern over wild boar populations and their interactions with domestic pigs has intensified interest in S.

Sex determination in eukaryotes defines whether an organism develops as male or female and is shaped by genetic and environmental factors. In the malaria parasite Plasmodium, recent data suggest that sex determination is decided at two critical checkpoints. First, chromatin remodeling activates the master regulator AP2-G, triggering a transcriptional cascade that commits the parasites to sexual development and drives the expression of genes crucial for male and female gametocytes. Second, post-transcriptional processes – including the stabilization and suppression of transcript via RNA-binding proteins – guide the branching into male or female gametocytes through threshold-trait-dependent mechanisms. This review highlights recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate the two checkpoints of sex determination in malaria gametocytes.

Creative expression can open new ways of learning science, transforming complex concepts into experiences that are both accessible and memorable. To explore this approach, third-year veterinary students at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile were encouraged to reinterpret parasites through art. Their projects included figures, illustrated books, board and card games, songs, videos, and 3D models that represented parasite morphology, life cycles, and prevention strategies. The initiative culminated in a public exhibition that fostered dialogue with peers and faculty while raising awareness of parasitic diseases.

Erythropoiesis, the production of red blood cells (RBCs), is a tightly regulated process essential for hematologic health. This system significantly shifts during aging, impacting RBC production and function. In this review, we examine erythropoiesis stages and highlight major age-related changes in stem cells, transcription factors, and key regulators such as erythropoietin and iron. We then explore mechanisms driving the high prevalence of anemia in the elderly – chronic disease, sepsis, and unexplained anemia – while discussing current therapies and gaps in management. Finally, we introduce two underexplored models for studying aging RBCs: malaria and microgravity. Plasmodium infection and spaceflight mirror key features of age-related erythropoietic dysfunction and RBC morphological alterations, offering insights into mechanisms of anemia in the elderly.

Early-life parasitism can negatively impact the health of wild animal hosts. However, parasitism can also positively influence host physiology, behavior, and morphology during development, which might increase overall host fitness. Our overall goal was to review evidence to support the net positive effects of early-life parasitism on wild animal host fitness. We found that few studies have explored this idea; instead, studies primarily focus on the effects of parasitism during a particular life stage, the immediate, but not lasting, effects of parasitism, or the effect of the immune response on host fitness without considering the parasite. Indeed, several challenges prevent progress, including immune response specificity, dose-dependent immune responses, logistical feasibility, and incomplete datasets. Going forward, an integrative approach is needed to address the roadblocks that the field is currently facing.

Amphibians face numerous threats, including climate change, pollution, and emerging infectious diseases. While chytrid fungi have dominated recent research on amphibian pathogens, helminth parasites, despite their diversity and potential to impact amphibian health, remain underexplored, particularly in Europe. The goal of this review is to highlight the current state of knowledge on amphibian helminths in Europe, including current knowledge on species diversity, parasites' life history, and the availability of molecular data. We outline major challenges in amphibian helminthology and propose strategies to address them, aiming to stimulate renewed research interest. Additionally, we provide a comprehensive list of documented helminth species and their amphibian hosts, including information on publicly available DNA sequences, offering a foundation for future studies.

Ornithodoros moubata, the African hut tampan or eyeless tampan, is an obligate hematophagous arthropod that is distributed throughout southern and eastern Africa. This nocturnal tick species hunts by night and hides in small cracks and crevices, caves and shelters, or natural animal habitats during the day. It parasitizes diverse vertebrate hosts including warthogs, dogs, domestic swine, and humans. Like argasid ticks, the O. moubata life cycle is characterized by up to five nymphal stages, and it feeds before it molts to the adult stage.