Rat-tailed larvae of the syrphid species Palpada scutellaris (Fabricius, 1805) are documented causing an enteric human myiasis in Costa Rica. This is the first time that the genus Palpada is recorded as a human myiasis agent. We report a 68-year-old woman with intestinal pain and bloody diarrhea with several live Palpada larvae present in the stool. Using molecular techniques (DNA barcodes) and both electronic and optical microscopy to study the external morphology, the preimaginal stages of the fly were unambiguously identified. An identification key to all syrphid genera actually known as agents of human and animal myiases is provided for larvae, puparia, and adults. Moreover, a critical world review of more than 100 references of Syrphidae as myiasis agents is also given, with emphasis on the species with rat-tailed larvae.Myiasis is defined as the infestation of living or necrotic tissues of vertebrates by dipteran larvae. In amphibians, it can be caused by fly larvae belonging to families Calliphoridae, Chloropidae, Muscidae, and Sarcophagidae. In this study, we report new records and infestation intensity of myiasis in anurans from two localities of the Atlantic Forest in southern Brazil, and also present a list with myiasis caused by flesh fly Sarcophagidae species in anurans of the Neotropical region. For this, we surveyed anuran communities during two breeding seasons, examined for myiasis signs, and when positive collected the specimens. We found infested individuals of 13 anurans of seven species. Different Sarcophagidae larva morphotypes were collected, and two of them emerged as adult flies of Lepidodexia (Notochaeta) fumipennis and Peckia (Sarcodexia) lambens, which were both found in the tree frog Bokermannohyla circumdata. We compiled 21 cases of myiasis in anurans in the Neotropical region from the literature reviewed. This data indicated that hosts of different lineages and modes of life can be affected and that death is often fast. The diversity of myiasis-causing flies in anurans in nature is probably a lot greater than expected, especially if we consider that the encounters are occasional, but at relatively high intensities, can cause rapid deaths.Limited data are available on infection rates and genetic identity of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Giardia duodenalis in horses and donkeys. In this study, 865 fecal specimens were collected from donkeys (n = 540) and horses (n = 325) in three provinces and autonomous regions in northern China during 2015-2019. Enterocytozoon bieneusi was detected and genotyped by PCR and sequence analyses of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and G. duodenalis was detected and genotyped by PCR and sequence analyses of the β-giardin, glutamate dehydrogenase, and triosephosphate isomerase genes. The overall infection rates of E. bieneusi and G. duodenalis were 21.9% (118/540) and 11.5% (62/540) in donkeys, and 7.4% (24/325) and 2.8% (9/325) in horses, respectively. These differences in infection rates of E. bieneusi and G. duodenalis between donkeys and horses were significant (χ2 = 30.9, df = 1, P  12 months had significantly higher infection rate (31.1%) of E. bieneusi than horses under 6 months (3.4%; χ2 = 29.4, df = 1, P  less then  0.0001) and 6-12 months (3.8%; χ2 = 26.1, df = 1, P  less then  0.0001). Twenty genotypes of E. bieneusi were detected, including six known ones and 14 new genotypes. Among them, nine genotypes in 45% E. bieneusi-positive specimens belonged to the zoonotic group 1. Similarly, three G. duodenalis assemblages were detected, including A (in 2 horses and 30 donkeys), B (in 6 horses and 29 donkeys), and E (in 1 horse); three donkeys had coinfections of assemblages A and B. The assemblage A isolates identified all belong to the sub-assemblage AI. These results indicate that unlike in other farm animals, there is a common occurrence of zoonotic E. bieneusi and G. duodenalis genotypes in horses and donkeys.Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) is an essential molecule triggering the adaptive immune response by the presentation of pathogens to helper T cells. find more The association between individual MHC II variants and various parasites has become a frequent finding in studies of vertebrate populations. However, although bird ectoparasites have a significant effect on their host's fitness, and the host's immune system can regulate ectoparasitic infections, no study has yet investigated the association between MHC II polymorphism and ectoparasite infection in the populations of free-living birds. Here, we test whether an association exists between the abundance of a chewing louse (Myrsidea nesomimi) and MHC II polymorphism of its hosts, the Galápagos mockingbirds (Mimus). We have found that the presence of two MHC II supertypes (functionally differentiated clusters) was significantly associated with louse abundance. This pattern supports the theory that a co-evolutionary interaction stands behind the maintenance of MHC polymorphism. Moreover, we have found a positive correlation between louse abundance and heterophil/lymphocyte ratio (an indicator of immunological stress) that serves as an additional piece of evidence that ectoparasite burden is affected by immunological state of Galápagos mockingbirds.R. vomitoria (RV), a plant used locally in the management of psychotic disorders, adversely affects the brain functionally and structurally. Such adverse reports, as well as the potential of G. latifolium (GL) to mitigate same warranted this investigation on the combined actions of RV and GL on the amygdala. Twenty-four male CD-1 mice weighing 22-27 g were divided into four groups (n = 6) Control (20 ml/kg body weight, b.w., distilled water); RV (200 mg/kg b.w.), GL (200 mg/kg b.w.), and RV (200 mg/kg b.w.) and GL (200 mg/kg b.w.) combination orally, and for 14 days. On day 15, the elevated-plus maze test was carried out and the animals sacrificed, and processed for histological and immunohistochemical studies. Neurobehavioural results showed significant decrease (p[Formula see text] 0.001) in stretch-attend posture, time spent in closed arms, grooming frequency, protected head-dip, as well as significantly (p [Formula see text] 0.01) increased time spent in the open arms and unprotected head-dips of the RV group.