Heejae Yang

Physalopterid nematodes are common gastric parasites of carnivorous mammals, yet their diversity, host associations, and evolutionary relationships in African wildlife remain poorly understood. The present study aimed to investigate the adult Physaloptera specimens recovered from African lions (Panthera leo) in the Serengeti National Park in the Mara region, Tanzania, using morphological and molecular techniques. Seven non-captive lions comprising three males and four females were opportunistically necropsied between 2023 and 2025. The sampled lions included two subadults (4-5 years), three prime adults (6-9 years), and two older individuals (10-14 years). A total of 157 adult spirurid nematodes were recovered from three infected hosts with infection intensities ranging from 48 to 57 worms per host. Morphometric characterizations, such as cephalic collarette structures, marked unequal spicules, well-developed caudal alae in males, and an anterior positioned vulva in females, together with typical eggs, were consistent with Physaloptera praeputialis. Nuclear 18S rRNA sequences showed high similarity of 98-99.5% to P. praeputialis reference sequences. In contrast, mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (Cox1) sequences formed a distinct lineage, exhibiting approximately 12% divergence from available P. praeputialis sequences retrieved from the GenBank database at the time of analysis. A molecularly characterized record of adult Physaloptera from an African lion in Tanzania is presented, revealing previously unrecognized genetic diversity among African physalopterids. Findings highlight the role of apex predators as indicator hosts in trophic parasite transmission and emphasize the importance of multilocus approaches for resolving spirurid taxonomy, parasite biogeography, and host–parasite associations in wildlife ecosystems.

The success rate of embryo transfer (ET) is influenced by various factors, including embryo quality, environmental conditions, and recipient cows. This study examines the impact of ET on embryo success rates using embryos produced using the ovum pickup method, with fresh and frozen embryos generated on day 7 after in vitro fertilization and subsequently implanted into recipient cows. The factors that contributed to the success rate of ET were investigated, with a focus on embryo type, parity, and farm management. Furthermore, metabolic profile tests were conducted to determine the factors underlying the observed differences in pregnancy rates across the farms. The analysis revealed that pregnancy rates did not significantly differ according to embryo type or parity. However, significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the glucose, cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acid, total protein, globulin, albumin/globulin, and aspartate aminotransferase levels of the recipients. Furthermore, a comparison of farms with high and low pregnancy rates revealed significant differences in the glucose, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, globulin, and albumin/globulin levels (p < 0.05). Differences between farms were associated with the feed management strategy, which highlights the significance of optimal recipient cow management.

The community’s awareness of the prevalence and impact of zoonotic diseases has been significantly underestimated, leading to insufficient implementation of control measures. This study was carried out in Northern Tanzania between 2019 and 2023 to investigate zoonotic parasites and the risks associated with human activities that contribute to zoonotic diseases. Cross‐sectional surveys were conducted in 12 villages, including nine in Loliondo Division and three in Babati District. Focus Group Discussions and Key Informant Interviews were conducted to assess the community’s knowledge and practices regarding the risks associated with zoonotic diseases in the surveyed areas. A total of 255 samples were collected from various sources, including latrines, households, livestock enclosures, domestic dogs, and chickens. Out of these samples, 152 tested positive for identifiable parasite eggs and oocysts. These parasites included hookworms (21.7%), Trichuris sp. (14.5%), Strongyloides sp. (13.8%), Eimeria sp. (19.7%), Taeniids (5.9%), Hymenolepis sp. (3.3%), Spirometra sp. (2.6%), and Dipylidium sp. (0.7%). Taeniids and Spirometra species were predominantly found in villages near protected areas such as Arash Sokoni, Oloipiri, Sukenya, Wasso, Orkuyiene, Haytemba, and Loliondo. Hookworms were most commonly detected in Arash Sokoni, Loliondo, Isuguro, and Hyatemba, while Strongyloides sp. was prevalent in Wasso, Sukenya, and Olobo villages. The quantitative analysis reveals significant associations between hygiene practices, proximity to livestock enclosures, ecological factors, and human–animal interaction, highlighting their pivotal roles in determining soil‐transmitted helminth (STH) prevalence across different villages. This study reveals that there was a generally low level of awareness regarding zoonotic diseases and STHs. The detection of STH samples, combined with the limited understanding of zoonotic diseases, emphasizes the importance of taking proactive measures to reduce transmission risks. Prioritizing education and promoting awareness along with implementing comprehensive strategies are essential steps to effectively tackle the problems linked to STH infections and substantially lessen the public health burden caused by zoonotic diseases.

The genus Haemonchus is the major abomasal parasite of ruminants responsible for substantial economic losses in tropical and temperate regions. This study was conducted to clarify the morphometry and molecular characterisation of Haemonchus species isolated from sheep in Babati district, Tanzania. A total of 486 trichostrongylid nematodes were recovered from five sheep. Of the total worms, 106 nematodes were distinguished by 37 males and 69 females. The asymmetrical length of dorsal ray and the distance of bulb at the apex of spicules were used for identification of males. In females, the linguiform vulvar flap was the most predominant with 33 out of 69 (48) compared with knobbed morph type which was 25/69 (36) and smooth morph type with 11/69 (16). Partial cox1 sequence fragments of Haemonchus contortus isolates showed 98.8, 99.3, 99.7, 99.5, 99.3, and 98.4 in male, smooth, knobbed, linguiform A, linguiform B, and linguiform C, respectively; with the average nucleotide divergence ranged from 1.03 to 2.35. The amplified fragments of ITS-2 genes in knobbed, linguiform A, and smooth morphotypes revealed 99.4, 98.5, and 98.3, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis was evaluated by employing Bayesian inference and maximum-likelihood, and the tree was distinctly separated into three clusters focusing on H. contortus in cluster I within the family Haemonchidae. Genetic drifting, mutation, and modification of the morphological features of the Haemonchus species described to have an impact on the development of drug resistance. Species identification is necessary to understand which species infect animal host. We recommend more studies on the parasites intensity and the strategies for controlling Haemonchus species in Tanzania.