The genus Apharyngostrigea comprises a group of diplostomoidean digeneans that parasitize birds of the family Ardeidae (herons), with approximately 20 species described worldwide. Despite numerous efforts, a robust phylogenetic framework to delimit species within the genus is still lacking, mainly due to the limited morphological variation among its members. This study employed an integrative taxonomic approach, combining nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences with morphological data to assess species boundaries within Apharyngostrigea based on specimens collected from southeastern Mexico. Using a combination of species discovery (Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery, Assemble Species by Automatic Partition, General Mixed Yule Coalescent and Poisson Tree Processes) and validation methods based on Bayesian gene tree topologies (BPP and PHRAPL). We found high diversity within this genus in southeastern Mexico. Our analyses supported the delimitation of four nominal species that were previously described and validated in this study, along with the redescription of three of them. In addition, through species delimitation methods and morphological examination, we identified two candidate species and/or lineages that require further evidence to be formally described. This study demonstrates that an integrative taxonomic approach provides a robust framework for species delimitation in taxonomically complex groups such as Apharyngostrigea.

Paraxerus cepapi is an arboreal tree squirrel that occurs in the Savanna biome of Africa, and information on its parasite diversity is limited and mostly qualitative. The aim of the study was to record the diversity and abundance of ecto- and helminth parasites associated with P. cepapi across its distribution in South Africa. P. cepapi individuals (n = 94) were opportunistically obtained from eight localities during 2020 to 2024. In total, 21 parasite species (19 ectoparasites and two nematodes) and one tick species group were identified. This included lice, ticks, fleas, a mesostigmatic mite, chiggers, nematodes and cestodes. Nematodes were the most prevalent (93·67%), followed by lice (80·85%). Syphatineria cepapi was recorded in 92·41% of P. cepapi, while an unknown Strongyloides species, resembling S. robustus, was recorded in 21·52% of squirrels. The lice species displayed variation in parasitope preference, while chiggers were primarily recorded in the ears. This study provides new country records for the lice species Werneckia paraxeri and Enderleinellus heliosciuri, for the chigger species Microtrombicula polymorpha, and for the nematode S. cf. robustus. New locality records were documented for the nematode S. cepapi in South Africa, and P. cepapi is a new host record for the eight chigger species and S. cf. robustus. It is evident that P. cepapi in South Africa hosts a considerably larger diversity of parasite taxa than previously recorded. Nematode counts were related to host length. These findings warrant future studies on the parasite diversity of P. cepapi in Africa.

Ectoparasites are commonly found on wild birds and might play an important role as vectors of pathogens. The Balearic Islands archipelago (Spain) is an ecological hotspot for wild birds due to its geographical location and habitat diversity. Although the avian fauna of the archipelago is well studied, little information is available regarding the ectoparasites infesting its wild bird populations. This study aimed to identify the diversity of ectoparasites (chewing lice, louse flies and ticks) and feather mites on wild birds in several locations on Menorca Island, as well as to assess the prevalence based on the migration status and season. Our research revealed that ten of the 13 species of chewing lice collected in this study are reported here for the first time in the Balearic Islands, including two that are also new records for Spain. We did not find statistically significant differences in the prevalence of ectoparasites or feather mites between sedentary and migratory birds. Likewise, no significant differences were observed in feather mite prevalence among migratory birds from Illa de s’Aire between prenuptial and postnuptial migrations. This study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and diversity of ectoparasites, shedding light on their potential role as vectors for avian pathogens. Further research is needed to explore the pathogens these ectoparasites may carry and transmit, contributing to a better understanding of the epidemiology of avian diseases in Menorca.

Women in sub-Saharan Africa face complex, multifaceted challenges to their health, including a high burden of infectious diseases aggravated by socioeconomic factors. Parasitic and sexually transmitted infections both cause significant morbidity and mortality. Co-infections compound these effects, leading to high rates of chronic illness and making diagnosis and treatment challenging. There are no integrated approaches for the detection of female genital schistosomiasis (FGS), a gynaecological condition caused by Schistosoma haematobium, and high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV), responsible for over 90% of all cervical cancer cases worldwide. FGS is a chronic condition with health outcomes such as infertility and abortion and remains severely under-reported. HR-HPV infection is the main aetiological agent of cervical cancer, the leading cause of cancer death in women in sub-Saharan Africa. Both can be disabling and stigmatizing to the sufferer. A key to disease management at patient and community levels is accurate and available diagnostics. Due to both FGS and HPV diagnostics utilising cervicovaginal samples, they are ideal candidates for a multiplex molecular diagnostic. The standard molecular diagnostics (namely PCR), through the detection of pathogen DNA, are constrained in low resource settings by requirement of a highly reliable source of energy, reliance on a cold-chain, and prohibitive costs. Isothermal molecular diagnostics are an alternative method to PCR that are more suited to basic settings. This review explores current isothermal diagnostics, with a focus on RPA/RAA, a very simple isothermal technology, for FGS and HPV and proposes the development of a multiplex isothermal diagnostic test to enable integrated screening.

We applied 2 methods of phylogenetic regionalization (evoregions and phyloregions) for the distributions of fleas and their rodent hosts across Mongolia. We investigated the congruence between these 2 regionalization schemes and their alignment with physiographic and ecological subdivisions of Mongolia. We identified evoregions and phyloregions for both fleas and hosts. Ancestral regional distributions were reconstructed, and a phylogenetic correspondence analysis identified key contributing lineages. Using the V-measure, we tested for the congruence between (a) evoregions or phyloregions identified for fleas and evoregions or phyloregions, respectively, identified for their hosts and (b) evoregions and phyloregions identified for either fleas or hosts and each of the physiographic/ecological regionalization schemes of Mongolia. Four evoregions and 8 phyloregions were identified for both fleas and hosts, exhibiting distinct spatial patterns. Host-parasite regionalizations demonstrated moderate spatial similarity (V-measure 0.49–0.50), a significantly higher congruence than previously reported at the larger Palearctic scale (0.33). Flea regionalizations exhibited stronger congruence with environmental schemes than did host regionalizations. We concluded that evoregionalization and phyloregionalization capture distinct evolutionary signals, reflecting the role of in situ diversification vs. phylogenetic turnover resulting from dispersal. Host-parasite co-regionalization is scale-dependent, with increased congruence at regional scales. Despite adult fleas’ obligate host dependence, their regionalization is not merely a passive reflection of host biogeography but is also profoundly shaped by environmental conditions. These findings emphasize the importance of method choice, scale and eco-evolutionary interactions in shaping complex biogeographic patterns.