parasitology – Kettinki

2026-04-01 @ 11.38.34 ∈ In English

Parasites defy biodiversity rules, thriving far from the equator

Parasite infections in [tropical regions] often lead to higher mortality, which makes it harder for parasites to persist. In cooler temperate waters, hosts can tolerate infections better, giving parasites a chance to survive, reproduce and complete their complex lifecycles.

2024-08-16 @ 9.06.44 ∈ In English

Minuscule wasps enlisted to fight off moths in new pest control strategy

Rentokil plans to release entosite parasitoid wasps into the nooks and crannies of museums, heritage sites and homes to stop moth infestations. The minuscule wasps measure less than 0.5mm in size, and they stop moths reproducing by parasitising their eggs and laying their own eggs inside the moth eggs, preventing the larvae from hatching.

2023-12-04 @ 18.13.40 ∈ In English

Earliest-known fossil mosquito suggests males were bloodsuckers too

[The] well-preserved insects are two males of the same species with piercing mouthparts, suggesting they likely sucked blood. That’s noteworthy because, among modern-day mosquitoes, only females are [hematophagous.]

2023-08-28 @ 19.00.02 ∈ In English

‘Oh my God’: live worm found in Australian woman’s brain in world-first discovery

The doctors and scientists involved in her case hypothesise that a python may have shed the parasite via its faeces into the grass. They believe the patient was probably infected with the parasite directly from touching the native grass or after eating the greens.

2023-08-23 @ 16.42.53 ∈ In English

Hookworms successfully prevent type 2 diabetes in human trial

“The JCU trial provides sufficient proof of concept that infection with live hookworms is safe and appears to have some sort of beneficial effects on people’s metabolic health, which will hopefully be confirmed by future clinical trials designed to confirm efficacy and explore how hookworms influence metabolism[.]”

2023-01-19 @ 13.26.20 ∈ Suomeksi

Eläintiede | Loinen tekee sudesta johtajan

Kissoista tarttuva toksoplasma-alkueläin näyttää antavan sudelle johtajan ominaisuuksia, osoittaa tutkimus yhdysvaltalaisen Yellowstonen kansallispuiston susilaumoista. […] Loista kantavat yksilöt jättivät synnyinlaumansa ja perustivat uuden yksitoista kertaa todennäköisemin kuin ne, joilla ei ollut tartuntaa. Laumanjohtajiksi loista kantavat päätyivät peräti 46 kertaa muita todennäköisemmin.

2022-02-15 @ 18.25.35 ∈ In English

Just 14 cases: Guinea worm disease nears eradication

A scourge that once infected millions of the world’s poorest people is close to being wiped out in humans — but infections in animals complicates the picture.