This paper presents data on species composition, breeding sites and geographical distribution of malarial mosquitoes in Belarus. We identified 6 species of blood-sucking mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles: An. claviger, An. daciae, An. maculipennis s. s., An. messeae s. s., An. plumbeus and An. hyrcanus. The species Aporheles hyrcanus Pallas, 1771 was found for the first time for the of Belarus. Most larval habitats are dominated by mosquitoes An. messeae s. l. including cryptic species An. daciae and An. messeae s. s. On the territory Republic of Belarus An. plumbeus was found in synanthropic habitat for the first time.

The article presents research data on the study of the species composition of ixodes ticks and their ecological features in the Kursk region. A comparative analysis of the species ratio and biotopic confinement was carried out, as well as the dynamics of the ixodid population depending on. In the Kursk region in 2022-2023, 2 species of Ixodes mites were registered: Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius, 1794) and Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus, 1758). I.ricinus is of the greatest epidemiological importance, since it is a vector of ixodic tick-borne borreliosis.

Effective laboratory diagnosis of parasitic infections plays a key role in clinical practice, providing objective verification of diagnosis, prescribing adequate therapy, monitoring the epidemiological situation and development of scientifically based preventive measures. In recent years, there has been an alarming tendency for clinicians dealing with parasitological problems to use diagnostic methods with unproven efficacy (bioresonance diagnostics, iridodiagnostics, diagnostics according to Dr Voll, collection of biomaterial «at full moon», «taking antiparasitic drugs for provocation», etc.). It is important to emphasise that the results of such tests are not subject to clinical interpretation, and cannot serve as a basis for prescribing treatment to the patient. Even when using officially approved diagnostic methods of investigation, a comprehensive interpretation of the results, taking into account the clinical picture and epidemiological anamnesis, is extremely important.
This article provides a comparative analysis of modern laboratory methods of parasitic diseases diagnostics based on Russian and international experience. Special attention is paid to the comparative evaluation of different diagnostic approaches by such key parameters as sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility and availability in clinical practice. The data obtained allow us to justify the clinically relevant choice of the optimal diagnostic algorithm, taking into account both individual patient characteristics (age, comorbidity, immune status) and the specific clinical and epidemiological situation. Such a differentiated approach provides a balance between diagnostic accuracy, practical feasibility and economic feasibility in real clinical practice.
In addition, the paper discusses promising technological developments aimed at the development of parasitological diagnostics, which can significantly improve the accuracy and efficiency of detection of parasitic infections in the future.

To assess the influence of genetic features that provide a predisposition to the development of coronary heart disease on the reactivity of the hepatobiliary system in opisthorchiasis invasion, a study of biochemical parameters was conducted in subgroups of patients with chronic opisthorchiasis with and without mutations in the corresponding loci. It was found that the presence of a mutation in the rs133304 locus of the CDKN 2A/2B gene increases deviations in GGT activity from the level of healthy individuals caused by opisthorchiasis invasion, apparently aggravating bile secretion disorders, and slows down the normalization of the integral indicator of the state of hepatocytes – bilirubin – after treatment, while contributing to a decrease in cholesterol concentration and an increase in glucose concentration during treatment. The presence of a rare allele in the rs17602729 locus of the AMPD1 gene, on the contrary, has a protective effect on the process of bile secretion in CO (judging by the activity of GGT and ALP), and also smooths out changes in the parameters during therapy. The presence of a mutant allele in the rs133304 locus of the HIF1A gene prevents an increase in the concentration of bilirubin and glucose, accelerates the normalization of GGT activity after therapy, which can be considered a positive effect in CO, but does not affect the increase in ALP activity in the first days after treatment, reflecting the persistence of difficulties in bile secretion. Mutation in the rs3025058 locus of the MMP3 gene has some positive effect on the dynamics of changes in aminotransferases and bilirubin and cholesterol levels during treatment, but contributes to an increase in glucose levels after therapy.

The present scientific research is aimed at systematizing general approaches to the choice of multiplex PCR in clinical and sanitary parasitology. Our data are based on the need to focus the laboratory service, which carries out parasitological control of environmental safety, on the development and organization of multi-complex studies, which, based on a provide the most comprehensive data for a factor analysis and multi-criteria assessment of the parasitological situation in the country.
The purpose of the study: Conducting an analysis of current trends and our own multicriteria data for evaluating the effectiveness of laboratory tests based on PCR analysis in parasitology.
Materials and methods. The analysis of modern literature data from peer-reviewed sources (PubMed) has been carried out to substantiate the scientific purpose of the study. A series of experimental studies of two sets of multiplex PCR (qPCR) tests for the detection of 7 helminth species contained in 192 model samples was carried out.
Research results. The methodological limitations and advantages of using microscopic and multimplex PCR studies are determined. The limits of detection of DNA from helminth eggs and fragments of imago tissues of round and flat helminths stored for a long time in preservative, as well as in freshly isolated biomaterial, have been established at the level of 101-103 in 100 µl and the diagnostic sensitivity of PCR tests at the level of 70,0-90,0 %.
Conclusion. It is proposed to develop an innovative form of multi-criteria assessment of environmental parasitic safety based on the widespread use of multiplex PCR (qPCR) tests, and in the future, with the introduction of digital PCR (dPCR) to simultaneously determine the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of pathogenic contaminants of different types when testing uniform samples. Based on the data obtained, the necessity of active development of PCR technologies and their wide application in parasitology in the laboratory service of state control bodies is substantiated.

Toxoplasma gondii is known to cause congenital infection in humans, animals, and severe illness in immunocompromised individuals. Therefore, the development of vaccines against the parasite is necessary. Despite significant advances in the development of effective vaccines against toxoplasmosis, the search for new vaccination strategies remains challenging. Over the past few years, various experimental approaches have shown that the development of a vaccine against T. gondii is possible. This review summarizes the achievements in the development of T. gondii vaccines and the main obstacles to the creation of a safe, effective and long-lasting vaccine. Successes and failures in the development and testing of candidate vaccines are also discussed. 

Timely diagnosis and appropriate therapy are key elements for a good prognosis in Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK). Acanthamoeba keratitis should be considered a corneal injury in almost all contact lens (CL) users. A presumptive diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis can be made clinically with in vivo confocal microscopy, through direct microscopy of tear fluid, corneal scrapings, on histological sections, or using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The article presents the clinical picture and the application of confocal microscopy in the diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis.