in a rabies-positive striped skunk in Texas.

We describe here a case of the sinus roundworm, , found incidentally in a rabies-positive striped skunk () in Texas, USA. Skunks serve as a natural definitive host for this metastrongylid nematode in North America, in which infections result in observable damage to the host cranium, where adult parasites reside. Additionally, skunks are considered the primary reservoir of rabies in Texas.

Tick salivary proteome and lipidome with low glycan content correlate with allergic type reactions in the zebrafish model.

Ticks, as hematophagous ectoparasites, can manipulate host immune and metabolic processes, causing tick-borne allergies such as α-Gal syndrome (AGS). Glycolipids with bound galactose-alpha-1-3-galactose (α-Gal) are potential allergenic molecules associated with AGS. Nevertheless, proteins and lipids lacking α-Gal modifications may contribute to tick salivary allergies and be linked to AGS.

The Establishment of a Novel In Vitro System for Culturing .

Cytauxzoonosis, a highly fatal tick-borne disease in domestic cats caused by , poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to the inability to culture the parasite in vitro. This study aimed to artificially replicate infection and characterize in vitro replication kinetics. Concanavalin A-activated feline embryonal macrophages (Fcwf-4) were plated at 3-5 × 10 cells/mL and incubated with -positive blood samples from either a (1) chronically infected bobcat (), (2) chronically infected domestic cat, or (3) acutely infected domestic cat with clinical signs of cytauxzoonosis.

Differential gene expression response to acute and chronic Cytauzxoon felis infection in domestic cats (Felis catus).

Cytauxzoonosis is a severe tick transmitted protozoan disease of domestic cats, caused by Cytauxzoon felis. The disease is characterized by acute onset of high fever, depression, lethargy, inappentence, anorexia, icterus, dehydration, hemolytic anemia, and alteration of immune response. The aim of our study was to further detail the immune response of domestic cats to C.

Detection of in Coyotes () and Coyote-Hunting Greyhound Dogs ().

is a small piroplasm previously detected in coyote-hunting Greyhound dogs in California and Oklahoma. In dogs, causes clinical signs similar to other tick-borne illnesses, and if not treated it can lead to acute kidney injury and other life-threating complications. To date, the life cycle of this apicomplexan parasite has not been fully described, but suggestions of direct contact or tick transmission have been proposed.

Prevalence and genetic characterization of strains isolated from 31 wild Passeriformes collected in North-Central Oklahoma.

Passerine birds are widely distributed and adapted to various habitats, therefore they are commonly exposed to, and infected with The purpose of our project was to determine the prevalence and genotypes of in 31 different species of passerines collected as mortalities due to window collisions in North-Central Oklahoma. DNA was extracted from breast tissue and subjected to PCR with primers that amplify a portion of the B1 gene. Genotyping was based on a portion of the infected birds based on a multiplex PCR followed by RFLP of 12 markers.

Babesiosis and Theileriosis in North America.

and are apicomplexan parasites that cause established and emerging diseases in humans, domestic and wild animals. These protozoans are transmitted by Ixodid ticks causing babesiosis or theileriosis, both characterized by fever, hemolytic anemia, jaundice, and splenomegaly. In North America (NA), the most common species affecting humans is , which is distributed in the Northeastern and Upper Midwestern United States (US), where the tick vector is established.

Cytauxzoonosis in North America.

Cytauxzoonosis is an emerging tick-borne disease of domestic and wild felids produced by infection of an apicomplexan protozoan similar to spp. Transmitted by , lone star tick, and , American dog tick, infection of in cats is severe, characterized by depression, lethargy, fever, hemolytic crisis, icterus, and possibly death. Cytauxzoonosis occurs mainly in the southern, south-central, and mid-Atlantic United States in North America, in close association with the distribution and activity of tick vectors.

A probe-based droplet digital polymerase chain reaction assay for early detection of feline acute cytauxzoonosis.

Cytauxzoonosis is a tick-borne disease of domestic cats with high mortality and narrow therapeutic window, particularly in the southcentral and southeastern United States. The causative agent is the apicomplexan protozoal parasite Cytauxzoon felis and is primarily transmitted by Amblyomma americanum, the lone star tick. Currently there is no vaccine available to prevent cytauxzoonosis and treatment is often ineffective if not initiated early enough in the course of disease.

Seroprevalence, DNA isolation, and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from black bear (Ursus americanus) sera collected in Eastern Oklahoma.

Black bears (Ursus americanus) are commonly exposed to Toxoplasma gondii. However, there are no reports of exposure or infection with T. gondii in black bears from Oklahoma.

High-Dose Intravenous Vitamin C Treatment of a Child with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and Optic Pathway Glioma: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND In neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) disease, the loss of the tumor suppressor function of the neurofibromin gene leads to proliferation of neural tumors. In children, the most frequently identified tumor is the optic pathway glioma. CASE REPORT We describe the case of a 5-year-old child who was diagnosed with NF1 and optic pathway tumor onset at the age of 14 months.