When dying worms look alike: Convergent pathology may create mechanistic illusion in plant-derived anthelmintic research

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ABSTRACT The recent study by Devi et al. provided compelling ultrastructural and histological evidence of severe damage in Ascaridia galli following exposure to Meyna laxiflora seed extract, supporting its anthelmintic potential. However, the interpretation of such morphological alterations warrants further consideration. Similar cuticular and internal lesions have been reported in parasites exposed to chemically unrelated compounds with distinct molecular targets, suggesting that comparable structural phenotypes may represent convergent pathological endpoints rather than mechanistic signatures. This raises the possibility that morphology-based interpretations could inadvertently create a false mechanistic consensus in plant-derived anthelmintic research. Histopathology and scanning electron microscopy are powerful tools for demonstrating efficacy, but they may not reveal the initiating biological events underlying parasite death. Distinguishing convergent pathology from shared pharmacology is therefore essential for the rational development of botanical anthelmintics. Future investigations should focus on mechanism-oriented approaches capable of identifying upstream molecular and physiological disturbances preceding structural collapse. Understanding why dying worms look alike may prove as important as discovering new compounds capable of killing them.

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Related topics: Helminth infection and control · Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment · Parasites and Host Interactions