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Open research questions in Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics

102 gap statements mined from Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 629 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • Despite the growing recognition of climate change as a dominant driver across various ecosystems, the specific impacts on AZP remain underexplored, and further research is needed to unravel the nuanced relationships between climate factors, parasite life cycles, host–parasite interactions and transmission patterns.

    Drivers of aquatic zoosporic parasites in natural and artificial environments · 2026 · DOI

  • The clinical outcome and pathogen shedding patterns in calves experimentally infected with C. parvum and/or bovine coronavirus are not well understood.

    Cryptosporidium parvum and bovine coronavirus in naturally and experimentally exposed calves: clinical outcome and pathogen shedding · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of effective treatment for cryptosporidiosis. The limited understanding of the genomic heterogeneity of Cryptosporidium and its relation to drug resistance.

    Genomic heterogeneity of NAD(P)H dehydrogenase predisposes Cryptosporidium to clofazimine resistance · 2026 · DOI

  • Knowledge about the epidemiology of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in Africa remains limited. There is a need for further research on the transmission and control of these parasites in developing countries.

    Cryptosporidium and Giardia in Côte d’Ivoire: a review within a One Health concept · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of understanding of the prevalence and risk factors of intestinal parasites in shelter dogs in North Macedonia. The need for standardized deworming protocols and One Health strategies to mitigate zoonotic risks.

    Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Zoonotic Potential of Intestinal Parasites in Shelter Dogs in North Macedonia: A Cross-Sectional Study · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of studies on Cryptosporidium infections in pet birds. There is a need for molecular diagnostics for accurate identification and clinical management.

    Clinical cases of Cryptosporidium spp. infections in parrots, canaries and pigeons confirmed by molecular and immunochromatographic methods · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of studies assessing the prevalence and shedding of various parasites in the New York urban landscape. There is a need to understand and mitigate zoonotic risks at the human-animal-environment interface.

    Zoonotic endoparasites and Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity in free-roaming cats (Felis catus) from New York City boroughs · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of studies on the prevalence of Giardia spp. in cats without diarrhea. There is a need to evaluate the agreement between different diagnostic techniques.

    High prevalence of Giardia spp. in cats without diarrhea and agreement between diagnostic techniques in the municipality of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil · 2026 · DOI

  • The epidemiology of this coccidian parasite remained largely understudied in India, with only a few studies investigating its prevalence.

    Prevalence of Cyclospora cayetanensis in Diarrheal Patients in Eastern India · 2026 · DOI

  • This systematic review has some limitations that should be considered when interpreting its findings. First, substantial methodological heterogeneity was observed among the included studies, including differences in study design, sampling strategies, host populations, diagnostic techniques, molecular targets, and reporting formats.

    Giardia spp. in Brazil at human–animal–environment interfaces: a systematic review from a One Health perspective · 2026 · DOI

  • Collecting and analyzing intestinal contents from wild rodents can be challenging. Identifying the species and genotypes of Cryptosporidium, Giardia duodenalis, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi requires specialized molecular biology techniques. The study had to overcome the challenge of detecting these pathogens in a region with scarce epidemiological data.

    Emergence of zoonotic Cryptosporidium, Giardia duodenalis and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in wild rodent from Yunnan: first detection of C. parvum IIdA24G1 in wild rodents in China · 2026 · DOI

  • The study had a relatively small sample size. The biomarker data showed departures from normality. There is a need to further characterize the systemic immune response associated with canine giardiasis.

    Serum IgE, IL-4 and IL-13 Concentrations as Th2-Associated Biomarkers in Canine Giardiasis · 2026 · DOI

  • The systemic immune response associated with canine giardiasis remains incompletely characterized. There is a need to evaluate serum concentrations of IgE, IL-4, and IL-13 as Th2-associated immune markers in naturally infected dogs.

    Serum IgE, IL-4 and IL-13 Concentrations as Th2-Associated Biomarkers in Canine Giardiasis · 2026 · DOI

  • Intestinal protozoan infections remain a significant public health challenge in resource-limited Pacific Island settings, yet molecular epidemiological data for the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) are scarce.

    High burden of intestinal protozoan infections revealed by molecular diagnostics among schoolchildren in the Marshall Islands: species diversity, genotyping, and risk factors · 2026 · DOI

  • Their detection in dairy matrices remains challenging due to the lack of standardized analytical protocols and the limited sensitivity of conventional diagnostic methods.

    Adaptation and validation of a droplet digital PCR assay for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in buffalo milk · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of traditional methods of tryptophan synthesis in Blastocystis may affect indole uptake regulation. The conversion of indole to other indolic compounds, such as indole-3-acetaldehyde, may affect assay results.

    Parasite-mediated alteration of behaviour and biomolecular dynamics in a mouse model · 2025 · DOI

  • The mechanisms by which Blastocystis influences serotonin synthesis and behavior are not well understood. The effects of Blastocystis infection on gut-brain axis dysfunction are unclear.

    Parasite-mediated alteration of behaviour and biomolecular dynamics in a mouse model · 2025 · DOI

  • Although previous studies have reported immune dysfunction of Natural Killer (NK) cells due to other inhibitory receptors in AE, limited research has been conducted on the role of Natural Killer cell protein Group 2-A (NKG2A) in human NK cells.

    Blocking NKG2A in Echinococcus multilocularis infection partially relieves impairment of NK cell function of the host · 2025 · DOI

  • Limited access to supportive and symptomatic healthcare. High infant mortality and marked nutritional impairment.

    Cryptosporidium and Giardia in Côte d’Ivoire: a review within a One Health concept · 2026 · DOI

  • The study only examined the association between parasitic infections and HIV status, without investigating the underlying mechanisms. The sample size was limited to 2000 participants. The study only focused on certain types of parasites.

    ASSOCIATION OF PARASITE INFECTED HIV/AIDS PATIENTS WITH 〖CD〗_4^+ COUNT IN BENIN CITY, NIGERIA. · 2026 · DOI

  • Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEI) display increased susceptibility to infections among which cryptosporidiosis is an opportunistic infection poorly characterized in this population.

    Cryptosporidiosis in Patients With Inborn Errors of Immunity: Retrospective Cohort Study of the French National Reference Center (CEREDIH) · 2026 · DOI

  • These patterns vary widely due to regional differences in socioeconomic status of farmers, geo-climatic conditions and animal husbandry practices (21).

    Status of cryptosporidiosis in cattle raised by marginalized nomadic communities of Southern Punjab, Pakistan: an observational study · 2026 · DOI

  • High population density and limited resources in shelter environments, - Zoonotic potential of certain parasites, - Regional variations in infection…

    Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Zoonotic Potential of Intestinal Parasites in Shelter Dogs in North Macedonia: A Cross-Sectional Study · 2026 · DOI

  • Investigating the underlying mechanisms of the association between parasitic infections and HIV status. Examining the relationship between parasitic infections and HIV/AIDS in different populations. Developing diagnostic tools for HIV/AIDS based on the findings of this study.

    ASSOCIATION OF PARASITE INFECTED HIV/AIDS PATIENTS WITH 〖CD〗_4^+ COUNT IN BENIN CITY, NIGERIA. · 2026 · DOI

  • The study had a limited sample size of 150 stool samples, - Only 30 stool samples were selected for molecular analysis, - The study did not investigate the symptoms or clinical manifestations of Cryptosporidium infection in the sand…

    First microscopic and molecular identification of Cryptosporidium spp. in fat sand rats (Psammomys obesus) in Egypt and their potential zoonotic implications · 2025 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics

Most recent work

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) The clinical outcome and pathogen shedding patterns in calves experimentally infected with C. parvum and/or bovine coronavirus are not well understood (“Cryptosporidium parvum and bovine coronavirus in naturally and experimentally…”, 2026); (2) Knowledge about the epidemiology of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in Africa remains limited (“Cryptosporidium and Giardia in Côte d’Ivoire: a review within a One Health…”, 2026); (3) The lack of understanding of the prevalence and risk factors of intestinal parasites in shelter dogs in North Macedonia (“Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Zoonotic Potential of Intestinal Parasites in…”, 2026); (4) There is a lack of studies on Cryptosporidium infections in pet birds (“Clinical cases of Cryptosporidium spp. infections in parrots, canaries and…”, 2026); (5) There is a lack of studies assessing the prevalence and shedding of various parasites in the New York urban landscape (“Zoonotic endoparasites and Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity in free-roaming…”, 2026). 102 gap statements have been mined from Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 629 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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