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Microsporidia are enteric intracellular pathogens infecting animals and humans. It causes life-threatening diarrhoea in humans. Microsporidia species have been isolated from several domestic and wild animals, however, data on microsporidia infection in animals in Nigeria is still very scanty. This study was conducted to clarify and improve our knowledge of the possibility of the zoonotic origin of Enterocytozoon species in the environment. Two hundred and fifty (250) animal faecal samples from various farm animals were examined for their frequency of microsporidia spores using Weber’s chromotrope stain and Indirect Fluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT). Enterocytozoon bienuesi were detected in 6 (24.0%) turkeys, 2 (8.0 %) goats, 3(12.0 %) cattle, and 4(16.0%) rams. No reactivity was detected with other species of microsporidia by IFAT. This study confirms the presence of E. bienuesi in the animals examined and shows that animals can be a significant source of zoonotic transmission in the environment.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a parasitic disease that has been known for years in helminth diseases and it is important as human and animal health problem in many parts of the world and in our country due to economic losses. In this study, it was aimed to retrospectively evaluate the distribution of anti- -IgG antibodies in patients with pre-diagnosis of CE that referred to parasitology laboratory between January 2013-December 2018. Commercial kit was used for indirect hemaglutination (IHA), indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and Western blot (WB) methods using sera from patient samples was applied according to the kit proposal. In addition, patient materials for CAM, CSF and blood for which polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/QPCR tests were requested were examined. Sera of the patients who were tested with at least one of the IHA, IFAT and WB methods or a combination of these methods, and 443 cases out of 2.283 cases were found to be seropositive. It was determined that 369 (62.03%) of 443 positive patients were female and 330 (37.97%) were male patients. Among these patients, 87 patients whose IFAT and/or IHA tests were negative were found to have positive results with the WB method. IFAT or IHA test results of 13 patients with negative WB tests were found to be positive. Four patients were identified with both tests positive but WB test results negative. In addition, 36 of 72 patients who underwent PCR/QPCR tests were found to be positive. As a result of a six-year retrospective screening, 22% of the cases were found to be positive, and it was concluded that the prevalence of CE is high and the use of a single test may be insufficient in the diagnosis of CE, therefore, test combinations will increase the sensitivity and reliability in reaching the correct diagnosis.

Background: The interval-valued IFset to AT-ideals on AT-algebras investigated. We apply the concept interval-valued intuitionistic AT-ideal, and investigate some of their properties. Materials and Methods: Moreover, Cartesian product of IFAT-ideal, and related properties. It was extended to IFideal by many literatures studies. Several researchers are studied the IFKU-ideals in KU- and intuitionistic image. Results: AT-ideals and AT-ideals fuzzy in AT-algebras defined in this study. IFAT-sub algebra showed. In interval-valued IFAT-ideal on AT-algebras. IFAT-sub algebra or (fuzzy AT-ideal) on AT-algebras. Conclusion: It introduced a Cartesian give to two interval-valued IFAT-ideal on AT-algebras and investigate some important the structure

We detected Leishmania infantum infection in 45% of tigers and 5.3% of sand flies tested at a zoo in southern Italy in 2019. These infections in tigers and the abundance of Phlebotomus perniciosus sand flies represent a potential risk to other animals and humans living in or visiting the zoo.

Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii , is a globally distributed zoonotic infection with significant implications for human and animal health. This study investigated the prevalence of T. gondii infection in a population of beef cattle at three different stages of their productive lifespan and examined the impact of T. gondii serological status on blood parameters. A commercial beef fattening unit in Italy was the setting for this research, which involved a biosecurity assessment upon cattle arrival, blood sampling at three time points and Toxoplasma -specific serological testing using indirect fluorescent antibody tests (IFAT). Results revealed a dynamic pattern of T. gondii seropositivity in cattle, with an initial prevalence of 30.6% at arrival (T0) that increased to 44.6% at 14 days (T1) and then decreased slightly to 39.3% at slaughter after 5 months (T2). Interestingly, seroconversion was observed during the study, indicating ongoing infections, and antibody waning occurred in some animals. In terms of blood parameters, seropositive cattle exhibited significantly lower mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and a higher neutrophil–lymphocyte (N/L) ratio, suggesting an activation of the innate immune response. Furthermore, cattle with higher antibody titres displayed higher neutrophil counts. However, all blood parameters with a statistical significance were within the reference range. This study provides for the first time a longitudinal investigation on the serological status for T. gondii in naturally exposed beef cattle. These findings provide valuable insights into the clinico-pathological aspects of natural T. gondii exposure in cattle and underscore the importance of monitoring and managing T. gondii infection in livestock production systems.

Although best known as an animal disease, human babesiosis is attracting increasing attention as a worldwide emerging zoonosis. Humans are commonly infected by the bite of ixodid ticks. Rare ways of transmission are transplacental, perinatal and transfusion-associated. Infection of the human host can cause a very severe host-mediated pathology including fever, and hemolysis leading to anemia, hyperbilirubinuria, hemoglobinuria and possible organ failure. In recent years, apparently owing to increased medical awareness and better diagnostic methods, the number of reported cases in humans is rising steadily worldwide. Hitherto unknown zoonotic Babesia spp. are now being reported from geographic areas where babesiosis was not previously known to occur and the growing numbers of travelers and immunocompromised individuals suggest that the frequency of cases in Europe will also continue to rise. Our review is intended to provide clinicians with practical information on the clinical management of this rare, but potentially life-threatening zoonotic disease. It covers epidemiology, phylogeny, diagnostics and treatment of human babesiosis and the potential risk of transfusion-transmitted disease with a special focus on the European situation.

Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) is a neglected zoonotic disease caused by Leishmania spp. Leishmania infantum is the species responsible for the zoonotic form of the disease where dogs are reservoir hosts. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of CanL in asymptomatic dogs in Kosovo. Blood samples were collected from 285 dogs in all seven regions in Kosovo (35–50 samples per region) from summer 2021 to spring 2022. Sera were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the presence of anti- Leishmania IgG was confirmed by an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). The true overall seroprevalence of CanL of asymptomatic dogs in Kosovo with ELISA was 4.21% (95% CI: 2.42–7.21) while with IFAT was 3.51% (95% CI: 1.92–6.34). The highest rates were found in the Prishtina region to be 8.0% (4/50) by ELISA and 6.0% (3/50) by IFAT, and in the Mitrovica region, the prevalence was 0% (0/40). There were no significant differences among the different regions, gender, age, health status, and breed. These findings highlight the presence of CanL in most regions of Kosovo and underline the veterinary relevance of clinically asymptomatic dogs infected with Leishmania .

Background Leishmania tarentolae is a protozoan isolated from geckoes ( Tarentola annularis , Tarentola mauritanica ), which is considered non-pathogenic and is transmitted by herpetophilic Sergentomyia spp. sand flies. This species occurs in sympatry with Leishmania infantum in areas where canine leishmaniasis is endemic. In the present study, we investigated the circulation of L. tarentolae and L. infantum in sand flies, dogs and lizards in a dog shelter in southern Italy, where canine leishmaniasis by L. infantum is endemic. Methods Sheltered dogs ( n  = 100) negative for Leishmania spp. (March 2020) were screened by immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) using promastigotes of both species at two time points (June 2020 and March 2021). Whole blood from dogs, tissues of Podarcis siculus lizards ( n  = 28) and sand flies ( n  = 2306) were also sampled and tested by a duplex real-time PCR (dqPCR). Host blood meal was assessed in sand flies by PCR. Results Overall, 16 dogs became positive for L. infantum and/or L. tarentolae by IFAT at one or both sampling periods. One canine blood sample was positive for L. infantum , whilst two for L. tarentolae by dqPCR. At the cytology of lizard blood, Leishmania spp. amastigote-like forms were detected in erythrocytes. Twenty-two tissue samples, mostly lung (21.4%), scored molecularly positive for L. tarentolae , corresponding to 10 lizards (i.e., 35.7%). Of the female Sergentomyia minuta sampled ( n  = 1252), 158 scored positive for L. tarentolae , four for L. infantum , and one co-infected. Two Phlebotomus perniciosus (out of 29 females) were positive for L. tarentolae . Engorged S. minuta ( n  = 10) fed on humans, and one P. perniciosus , positive for L. tarentolae , on lagomorphs. Conclusions Dogs and lacertid lizards ( Podarcis siculus ) were herein found for the first time infected by L. tarentolae . The detection of both L. tarentolae and L. infantum in S. minuta and P. perniciosus suggests their sympatric circulation, with a potential overlap in vertebrate hosts. The interactions between L. tarentolae and L. infantum should be further investigated in both vectors and vertebrate hosts to understand the potential implications for the diagnosis and control of canine leishmaniasis in endemic areas. Graphical abstract

Domestic goats ( Capra aegagrus hircus ) are intermediate hosts for three species of Sarcocystis : S. capracanis , S. hircicanis , and S. moulei . The present study aimed to describe and identify Sarcocystis spp. in goat/kid muscles utilizing optical and transmission electron microscopy, a serological method, and PCR-sequencing of individual cysts. Both S. capracanis and S. hircicanis were identified by light and transmission electron microscopy and molecular methods. No macroscopic cysts were detected in any of the examined animals ( n  = 90, from two Argentinean provinces); only microscopic sarcocysts of Sarcocystis spp. were detected in 17 of 19 adult goats (90%), but in no kids ( n  = 71) aged 37 to 290 days. Fourteen 18S rRNA and the six coxI sequences from individual cysts highlighted high similarity (99.06–100% and 98.89–99.81%, respectively) with S. capracanis sequences from other regions. Two distinct groups of S. capracanis 18S rRNA sequences with high intra-group identities (99.42–100%) were identified, as well as another sequence that did not group. Each group was integrated from samples of both sampled provinces. Despite relatively extensive differences between these groups of sequences (up to 3.8%), the phylogenetic analyses positioned the three representative sequences all together in a branch with S. capracanis sequences but also containing S. tenella . In addition, one 18S rRNA sequence showed a 100% identity with those of S. hircicanis . Two animals harbor S. capracanis and S. hircicanis cysts. Twelve out of 18 adult goats were seropositive by Sarcocystis spp. IFAT with titers ≤ 100. This is the first report that confirmed the infection and co-infection of S. capracanis and S. hircicanis in domestic goats from Argentina and evidenced a high variability in the 18S rRNA fragment sequences of S. capracanis .

Background Visceral leishmaniosis caused by infection with the zoonotic protozoan Leishmania infantum is a life-threatening disease affecting dogs and humans. The sympatric occurrence of L. infantum and Leishmania tarentolae in an area of southern Italy endemic for canine leishmaniosis, where dogs are also exposed to the latter species, suggests the persistence of herpetophilic L. tarentolae in a non-permissive host, therefore raising questions about the performance of serological diagnostic tests routinely employed. Methods The diagnostic performance of serological tests such as the immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), two commercial immunoenzymatic assays (i.e. NovaTec VetLine Leishmania ELISA® and rK39 ICT®) and an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was evaluated in healthy dogs seropositive to L. infantum , whereas the only IFAT available was used to detect antibodies to L. tarentolae . Results With the IFAT, out of a total of 104 dogs tested, 15 were seronegative for L. infantum of which three were L. tarentolae seropositive‚ and 89 were L. infantum seropositive. Of the latter 89 dogs, representing the highest proportion of seropositive animals (85.6%) detected by IFAT‚ 66 were also seropositive for L. tarentolae . Cohen's kappa ( κ ) agreement coefficient between the IFAT results and those of all the other tests was very low, and the IFAT results were significantly different from those of all the other serological tests as calculated by Cochran's Q-test. Analysis using the Bayesian latent class (Bayes-LCA) showed that the in-house ELISA and IFAT contributed the most towards identifying infected and non-infected dogs, respectively. The IFAT test showed low positive predictive value (59.5%), but high negative predictive value (100%). Conclusions These results demonstrate that the IFAT for L. infantum , although highly sensitive, may not be considered a useful diagnostic test due to its low specificity. Therefore, an accurate serological tool with high specificity is mandatory for avoiding cross-reaction in epidemiological contexts where the two species of Leishmania occur in sympatry . Graphical Abstract