Why we need more individual-based parasite research.

Gerardo Fracasso, Robert Poulin, Barbara Tschirren

Abstract readReview

In one paragraph

Review in Parasites & vectors, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Gerardo FracassoCentre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK. g.fracasso@exeter.ac.uk.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3384-4472

Robert PoulinDepartment of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Barbara TschirrenCentre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK.

Funding

UK Research and Innovation EP/U537020/1

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

absractA vast body of literature has investigated the direct and indirect effects of parasites on hosts. While the key role of among-individual variation of host traits has long been acknowledged, individual parasite variation has mostly been overlooked due to the difficulties in studying individual parasites. This has hampered advances in our understanding of fundamental parasite biology as well as progress in the development of novel control strategies. Here, we show how recent technological and methodological innovations, coupled with an improved theoretical understanding, allow for a paradigm shift towards individual-based approaches in parasite-related research and highlight potential breakthroughs across fields. We suggest that ectoparasites-due to their life history as well as medical and veterinary importance-are ideal model systems for the study of individual parasite variation.

Indexed as

Host-Parasite InteractionsParasitesParasitologyAnimalsHumansEctoparasitesHost–parasite interactionsIndividual-based studiesIndividual-based techniquesIndividual variationParadigm shift in parasite-related researchParasitesPopulation-based studies

Identifiers

PMID42581372

DOI10.1186/s13071-026-07567-y

PMCPMC13463528

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata

Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.