Parasites and vector-borne diseases in client-owned dogs in Albania. Intestinal and pulmonary endoparasite infections

Preliminary Study on the Prevalence of Endoparasite Infections and Vector-borne Diseases in Outdoor Dogs in Bulgaria

The present work was designed to evaluate the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites and some vector-borne pathogens in dogs in Bulgaria. A total of 172 owned dogs, keeping outside, were included in the study. Fecal samples were examined using standard flotation and sedimentation methods. Blood samples were processed by Knott's technique, SNAP™ 4Dx Plus Test (IDEXX) and Angio Detect™ Test (IDEXX). The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was 64.5%. Eggs of hookworms (Ancylostoma sp. and Uncinaria sp.) were the most frequently detected (54.1%), followed by Trichuris vulpis (15.1%), Capillaria sp. (11.0%), Toxocara canis (6.4%), Cystoisospora sp. (4.1%), Sarcocystis sp. (2.3%), Toxascaris leonina (1.7%), Taenia sp. (1.2%) and Linguatula serrata (0.6%). In addition, hookworms were the most commonly involved in the cases of single infection (20.3%). Combinations between Capillaria sp./hookworms and T. vulpis/hookworms were the most common co-infections (4.1% and 2.9%, respectively). Blood samples revealed the presence of antibodies against Ehrlichia sp. (13.4%), Anaplasma sp. (13.4%) and Borrelia burgdorferi (1.7%). Antigens of Dirofilaria immitis and Angiostrongylus vasorum were detected in 10.5% and 0.6% of the samples tested, respectively. Microfilariae of Dirofilaria repens were found in 5.8% of the blood samples. Additionally, the prevalence of D. immitis and Ehrlichia sp. was significantly higher in adult than in young dogs (p<0.05). In contrast, the gender was not considered as a risk factor contributing to the occurrence of infections.

Prevalence of patent Toxocara spp. infections in dogs and cats in Europe from 1994 to 2019

OBJECTIVES

To provide an overview of Toxocara prevalences in dogs and cats in Europe from the last 25 years.

METHOD

Systematic review of the literature.

RESULTS

Over the past 25 years, prevalence studies of Toxocara spp. have been published from 26 European countries. The average prevalences were 14.6% for T. canis in all dogs and 24.5% for T. cati in all cats. Specified for young dogs until 6 months old this was 41.2%, for young cats until 6 months old 25%, adult owned dogs 11.1%, adult owned cats 16.3%, stray dogs 17.6%, and stray cats 33.5%. A recent study in seven European countries showed a prevalence of 3.4% for adult dogs and 4.2% for adult cats. The prevalences seem not to decrease over the years.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of patent Toxocara infections over the last 25 years did not show a distinct declining trend. Prevalence data provided by recent modern antigen tests showed much lower results than from older studies. Results from studies using less diverse methods and well-defined study-populations could provide more clarity.

Primary multiple cerebral hydatid cysts in an immunocompetent, low-risk patient

Cystic echinococcosis is a zoonotic infection that occurs worldwide. Humans are infected through ingestion of parasite eggs in contaminated food, water or through direct contact with infected dogs, which are the definite host. Humans serve accidentally as intermediate host, and occurrences are common in children and young adults. Cystic echinococcosis is endemic in Mediterranean, South American, Middle Eastern, Central Asia, East Africa countries and Australia. The liver is the most frequently involved organ, followed by lungs. Hydatid cysts have been reported only in 2% of cases in the brain. Primary cerebral hydatid disease is a rare entity, but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cerebral lesions.

A novel recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assay for the rapid isothermal detection of Neospora caninum in aborted bovine fetuses

The development of a method to rapidly diagnose Neospora caninum infection is highly desirable. Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), combined with lateral flow (LF) strips, is a novel approach to rapidly amplify and visualize DNA. We have developed a prototype LF-RPA assay, using primers and a probe that targeted a specific sequence in the N. caninum NC-5 gene. The N. caninum-specific LF-RPA assay was first tested on purified DNA from oocysts and amplified N. caninum DNA to detectable levels in 10 min, at a constant temperature and without the need for an expensive thermocycler. The designed RPA primers and probe displayed 100% specificity for detecting N. caninum without any cross-reaction with DNA from nine related protozoan spp. (eg Toxoplasma gondii, Sarcocystis gigantean, Sarcocystis zuoi, Hammondia hammondi, Hammondia heydorni, Eimeria cylindrica, Plasmodium falciparum, Theileria annulata and Babesia bigemina). Although, LF-RPA assay detected amounts as low as 50 fg of N. caninum DNA, it was nearly 5-fold less sensitive than previously published qPCR and nested PCR assays. We tested the diagnostic performance of the LF-RPA assay for the detection of N. caninum DNA in aborted bovine fetal tissue samples, and compared the results with those obtained from nested PCR. Out of the 75 samples examined, 18 (24%) and 17 (22.6%) tested positive using LF-RPA and nested PCR, respectively. Our results indicate that LF-RPA is a suitable assay for the rapid and reliable detection of N. caninum.

Regression models to assess the risk factors of canine gastrointestinal parasitism

Gastrointestinal parasites, protozoa and helminths, remain a common important finding in dogs presented to veterinary medical practices. Moreover, dogs may play an active role in the transmission of enteric parasites to humans, given their cohabitation, making canine gastrointestinal parasitism an issue of major concern for public health. To get an overview of the current state of canine gastrointestinal parasites' prevalence in Greece, a total of 1036 faecal samples were collected from dogs either presented in veterinary clinics or in animal shelters. Samples were examined by a combined sedimentation-flotation technique. Possible risk factors (age, ownership status, co-existence with other animals, coinfection with other parasites) were assessed using binary regression models for each one of the most prevalent parasites. The overall gastrointestinal parasite prevalence in dogs' faecal samples was 39%. A total of 11 intestinal parasitic species were detected and up to five different parasites were isolated in the same faecal sample. Toxocara canis was the most prevalent parasite in the studied population, followed by Isospora spp., Giardia spp., Uncinaria spp., Trichuris vulpis, Ancylostoma spp., Toxascaris leonina, and Dipylidium caninum. Additionally, other genera (Taenia, Capillaria and Angiostrongylus) were also detected in very low percentages. Young, stray, living without other dogs, coinfected with T. vulpis or T. canis and free of Isospora spp. dogs were more likely to be infected by Giardia spp. Likewise, young, stray, coinfected with T. vulpis or T. canis but free of Giardia spp. dogs were more likely to be infected by Isospora spp. T. canis infections were more common in dogs coinfected with Isospora spp., Giardia spp., D. caninum, Τaenia spp., T. vulpis and T. leonina Finally, T. vulpis more often infected older dogs and dogs coinfected with Isospora spp., Giardia spp. and T. canis Consequently, the prevalence of parasitized dogs was high and the diversity of parasites found was notable, which calls for a greater awareness among veterinarians and pet owners. The proposed prediction models should be taken under consideration in diagnostic approach of clinical cases, as well as in planning sustainable antiparasitic strategies.

Angiostrongylus vasorum in Romania: an extensive survey in red foxes, Vulpes vulpes

Background

Angiostrongylus vasorum is the causative agent of canine angiostrongylosis, a severe snail-borne disease of dogs. Red foxes are important natural reservoirs of infection, and surveys of foxes provide a more objective picture of the parasite distribution. Our aim was to investigate the possibility of the presence of A. vasorum in red foxes from the western part of Romania and to analyse the risk factors related to the sex, age and geographic origin of the foxes. Between July 2016 and April 2017, 567 hunted red foxes from 10 counties of western Romania were examined by necropsy for the presence of lungworms.

Results

Overall, the infection with A. vasorum has been found in 24 red foxes (4.2%) originating in four counties (Mureș, Hunedoara, Sălaj and Cluj). There was no significant difference between the prevalence in males and females, between juveniles and adults and between counties.

Conclusions

This is the first report of autochthonous infections of A. vasorum in Romania, showing a relatively low prevalence and extending eastwards the known distributional range of this parasite in Europe. The presence of autochthonous cases in domestic dogs in Romania remains to be confirmed by further studies.

Gastrointestinal parasites in shelter dogs from Belgrade, Serbia

It is well known that dog shelters are a common source for parasitic infections in different countries worldwide. The present study was conducted in order to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites and the frequency of polyparasitism in dogs living in two private shelters in Belgrade, Serbia. For this purpose, 134 faecal samples were examined for gastrointestinal parasites with the merthiolate-iodine-formalin concentration (MIFC)-method as well as for Giardia-coproantigen with an enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Taeniid eggs were identified by PCR and sequence analysis. Overall, at least one of nine different endoparasites was detected in 75.4% (101/134) of the dogs. Giardia duodenalis coproantigen was found most frequently (45.5%; 61/134), followed by eggs of Ancylostomatidae (41.0%; 55/134), oocysts of Hammondia/Neospora (11.2%; 15/134), eggs of Toxascaris leonina (9.7%; 13/134), oocysts of Isospora canis (8.2%; 11/134), eggs of Trichuris vulpis (6.7%; 9/134), cysts of Sarcocystis spp. (4.5%; 6/134), eggs of Toxocara canis (3.0%; 4/134) and eggs of Taenia spp. (1.5%; 2/134). The results of the study confirm a high parasitic burden in the investigated shelter dogs and call for an effective deworming program including an improved hygiene management in the affected facilities.

Parasites and vector-borne diseases in client-owned dogs in Albania: infestation with arthropod ectoparasites

To establish the diversity and seasonality of ectoparasite infestation in client-owned dogs in Albania, 602 dogs visiting four small animal clinics in Tirana from March 2010 to April 2011 inclusive were examined for ectoparasites by full body search and total body comb. In addition, ear swab specimens collected from all dogs and scrapings taken from skin lesions suspicious of mite infestation were examined for parasitic mites. Overall, 93 dogs (15.4 %, 95%CI 12.6-18.6) were demonstrated to be infested, and nine species of ectoparasites were identified: Ixodes ricinus, 0.8 %; Rhipicephalus sanguineus s. l., 8.1 %; Demodex canis, 0.2 %; Sarcoptes scabiei, 0.7 %; Otodectes cynotis, 2.8 %; Ctenocephalides canis, 4.8 %; Ctenocephalides felis, 3.0 %; Pulex irritans, 0.2 %; and Trichodectes canis, 0.2 %. Single and multiple infestations with up to four species of ectoparasites concurrently were recorded in 67 (11.1 %, 95%CI 8.7-13.9) and 26 dogs (4.3 %, 95%CI 2.8-6.3), respectively. On univariate analysis, the category of breed (pure breed dogs vs. mixed-breed dogs), the dog's purpose (pet, hunting dog, working dog), the housing environment (mainly indoors/indoors with regular outside walking vs. yard plus kennel/run), the history of ectoparasiticide treatment and the season of examination were identified as significant (p < 0.05) factors predisposing dogs to various ectoparasites, while the variables dog's age, gender, the dog's habitat (city, suburban, rural) and the presence/absence of other pets were not significant predictors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis for factors associated with overall ectoparasitism revealed that dogs treated with ectoparasiticides at least once per year (odds ratio [OR] = 0.24; p < 0.001) had a significantly lower risk of infestation compared with dogs not treated against ectoparasite infestation. Dogs examined during spring, summer and autumn (OR = 7.08, 7.43 and 2.48, respectively; all p < 0.001) had a significantly higher risk of infestation than dogs examined during winter. By providing basic data on the infestation with ectoparasites in client-owned, veterinary-cared-for dogs from Albania for the first time, the results of this survey should emphasize the need of an increase of attention to ectoparasites in dogs by both veterinarians and dog owners.

Efficacy against nematode infections and safety of afoxolaner plus milbemycin oxime chewable tablets in domestic dogs under field conditions in Europe

Afoxolaner (AFX) plus milbemycin oxime (MO) combination chewable tablets (NexGard Spectra®, Merial) were evaluated for safety and efficacy against naturally acquired nematode infections in domestic dogs in a multi-centre, positive control, blinded field study using a randomized block design based on the order of presentation for allocation. In total, 408 dogs confirmed positive for naturally acquired infections of intestinal nematodes by pre-treatment faecal examination were studied in ten countries in Europe (Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia). Pre-treatment faecal examination revealed Toxocara, Toxascaris, hookworm, Trichuris and/or Capillaria nematode infections in 134, 30, 223, 155 and 14 dogs, respectively. Dogs were allocated to one of two treatment groups in a ratio of 1, AFX + MO chewables (≥2.5 mg AFX + ≥0.5 mg MO per kg body weight, according to dose bands; 207 dogs), and 1, MO plus praziquantel (PRZ) chewables (Milbemax®, Novartis; ≥0.5 mg MO + ≥5 mg PRZ per kg body weight, according to the manufacturer's instructions; 201 dogs) and treated once. For evaluation of efficacy based on reduction of faecal nematode egg counts, two faecal samples, one collected prior to treatment and one collected 9 to 21 days after treatment, were examined using modified McMaster techniques. For evaluation of systemic safety, dogs were examined by a veterinarian before treatment administration and at study end, and dog owners observed the health status of their dogs until the end of the study and reported any abnormal observation. For dogs treated with AFX + MO chewables, the efficacy was 99.7, 99.7, 97.2, 99.7 and 99.7 % for Toxocara, Toxascaris, hookworm, Trichuris and Capillaria, respectively; and the efficacy was 99.5, 99.4, 94.3, 99.9 and 98.0 %, respectively, for the MO + PRZ-treated dogs (p ≤ 0.002 for all nematodes and both treatments). For Toxocara, hookworm and Trichuris, non-inferiority analysis demonstrated that the efficacy of AFX + MO chewable tablets was equal to or better than that of MO + PRZ. In spite that both treatments were ≥98 % efficacious against Toxascaris and Capillaria, a hypothesis of non-inferiority for both genera could not be established due to the low number of dogs infected with these parasites. No treatment-related adverse experiences were observed throughout the study. For both treatments, all dogs were given a systemic safety score of 'excellent' apart from one dog in each treatment group which received a score of 'acceptable'. AFX + MO combination chewables were shown to be safe and demonstrated a high level of efficacy when administered once to dogs infected with a broad range of parasitic nematodes under field conditions.

Parasites and vector-borne pathogens in client-owned dogs in Albania. Blood pathogens and seroprevalences of parasitic and other infectious agents

Knowledge on the epidemiology of parasitic and vector-borne infections is still very limited for Albania, a country located in the Balkan Peninsula in southeast Europe. Recent publications indicated prevalence rates of up to 52% for vector-borne infections in less-cared dogs in Albania. To provide data on the epidemiological situation in dogs under veterinary care, a total of 602 client-owned dogs presented to four small animal clinics between March 2010 and April 2011 in Tirana, Albania, were screened by examination of Giemsa-stained blood smears, PCR, and serological methods for the presence of arthropod-borne infections, as well as Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii. Eight different pathogens, namely Babesia vogeli, Hepatozoon canis, Leishmania infantum, Dirofilaria immitis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma platys, Ehrlichia canis, and Mycoplasma haemocanis, were detected by direct methods with prevalence rates ranging from 1 to 9%. Seroprevalence for Babesia spp., L. infantum, Anaplasma spp., and E. canis were 6.6, 5.1, 24.1, and 20.8%, respectively. Dogs >1 year of age were positive for vector-borne infections significantly more often than younger dogs (p = 0.003). More than half (51.7%) of the dogs were seroreactive to T. gondii and 18.3% to N. caninum. This is the first report on the detection of A. phagocytophilum, A. platys, E. canis, and M. haemocanis by PCR as well as the serological confirmation of exposure of dogs to N. caninum and T. gondii in Albania. The spectrum of pathogens and the seroprevalences for N. caninum and T. gondii in client-owned dogs from Tirana, Albania, are comparable to that reported in other countries in the Mediterranean Basin. The prevalence rates of vector-borne pathogens are at the lower range of that reported in studies from this geographical region. This is probably due to increased awareness of the owners of pet dogs, including better husbandry conditions and ectoparasiticidal treatment, thus limiting exposure of dogs to vectors.