Genetic characteristics of Blastocystis sp. in cattle from Hebei Province, China.

Blastocystis sp. is a protozoan parasite that infects the intestines of humans and animals, causing chronic diseases such as skin rashes, abdominal pain, and irritable bowel syndrome. A survey was conducted to determine the prevalence and genetic diversity of Blastocystis sp.

Development of a taqman-based real-time PCR assay for the rapid and specific detection of novel duck- origin goose parvovirus.

A real-time PCR assay was developed for specific detection of novel duck-origin goose parvovirus (N-GPV), the etiological agent of duck beak atrophy and dwarfism syndrome (BADS). The detection limit of the assay was 10 copies. The assay was useful in the prevention and control of BADS.

Identification and characterization of a microneme protein (NcMIC6) in Neospora caninum.

Neospora caninum, an Apicomplexa parasite, is the causative agent of neosporosis. As described for other members of Apicomplexa, microneme proteins (MICs) play a key role in attachment and invasion of host cells by N. caninum.

A nuclear factor of high mobility group box protein in Toxoplasma gondii.

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a nuclear factor that usually binds DNA and modulates gene expression in multicellular organisms. Three HMGB1 orthologs were predicted in the genome of Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan pathogen, termed TgHMGB1a, b and c. Phylogenetic and bioinformatic analyses indicated that these proteins all contain a single HMG box and which shared in three genotypes.

ROP18 is a key factor responsible for virulence difference between Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) and Neospora caninum (N. caninum) are both obligate intracellular protozoan parasites and share many common morphological and biological features.