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Bonilla-Aldana JL, Espinosa-Nuñez AC, Bonilla-Aldana DK, Rodriguez-Morales AJ. Toxocara cati Infection in Cats ( Felis catus): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1022. [PMID: 38612261 PMCID: PMC11011152 DOI: 10.3390/ani14071022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Toxocariasis is an infection caused in canines, felines, humans, and other vertebrates by species of the genus Toxocara, such as T. canis and T. cati. The embryonated eggs of these parasites are the primary means of acquiring the infection for both definitive hosts, dogs and cats, respectively, and for intermediates, such as humans and other vertebrates. When deposited on park soils, environmental contamination becomes a risk to environmental, human, and animal health. Objective: To determine the global prevalence of Toxocara cati in cats (Felis catus). Methods: A systematic review of the literature was carried out in six databases (Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, SciELO and Google Scholar) to evaluate the global prevalence of Toxocara cati in cats, defined by coproparasitological, histological, and molecular techniques. A meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model to calculate pooled prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). A two-tailed 5% alpha level was used for hypothesis testing. Results: Two hundred and eighty-nine studies were included. The global pooled prevalence of Toxocara cati in cats using coproparasitological methods was 17.0% (95.0% CI: 16.2-17.8%). In the subgroup analysis according to country, Nepal had the highest prevalence of T. cati infection (94.4%; 95% CI 89.7-99.2%). The pooled prevalence of T. cati infection by PCR in four studies was 4.9% (95.0% CI: 1.9-7.9%). Conclusions: This systematic review underscores the need for preventive action against toxocariasis due to its widespread prevalence. The interplay between animal and human health should be emphasised, necessitating measures like deworming cats, hygiene practices, and public education to mitigate risks. Safeguarding feline health can also reduce human transmission, benefiting both species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Luis Bonilla-Aldana
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Zootehcnics, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Universidad de la Amazonia, Florencia 111321, Caquetá, Colombia; (J.L.B.-A.); (A.C.E.-N.)
| | - Alba Cristina Espinosa-Nuñez
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Zootehcnics, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Universidad de la Amazonia, Florencia 111321, Caquetá, Colombia; (J.L.B.-A.); (A.C.E.-N.)
| | | | - Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales
- Masters of Climate Change and Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program, Universidad Cientifica del Sur, Lima 15307, Peru;
- Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Beirut P.O. Box 36-5053, Lebanon
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Furtado Jost R, Müller N, Marreros N, Moré G, Antoine L, Basso W, Frey CF. What is the role of Swiss domestic cats in environmental contamination with Echinococcus multilocularis eggs? Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:353. [PMID: 37807080 PMCID: PMC10561489 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05983-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of the domestic cat as definitive host for Echinococcus multilocularis and thus in environmental contamination with eggs has not yet been entirely resolved. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of E. multilocularis and other gastrointestinal parasites in Swiss domestic cats and to compare the diagnostic sensitivity of different methods for the detection of intestinal taeniid infection. METHODS Faecal samples from 146 cats were included in the study. Faecal samples only were available from 55 cats; for the other 91 cats, necropsy was performed in addition to faecal sample testing. All (n = 146) faecal samples were analysed by a combined sedimentation/flotation technique (44% ZnCl2) and by the sodium acetate-acetic acid-formalin (SAF) sedimentation technique; when sufficient material was available (n = 121 samples) the Baermann-Wetzel technique was also used. Additionally, all samples were analysed by two coproantigen (copro)-quantitative PCRs (qPCR): (i) a multiplex qPCR able to detect and differentiate between E. multilocularis, Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato and Taenia spp./other cestodes (CEST-qPCR) and (ii) an E. multilocularis-specific qPCR (EM-qPCR). Finally, the intestines were examined macroscopically and microscopically for parasite stages at necropsy (n = 91) and using an intestinal scraping technique (IST) (n = 64). RESULTS Of the 146 cats examined, 24 (17.1%) were infected by intestinal parasites, namely Hydatigera (syn. Taenia) taeniaeformis (8.9%), Toxocara cati (6.1%), Capillaria sp. (3.4%), hookworms (3.4%), Mesocestoides litteratus (1.4%), Giardia sp. (1.4%), Cystoisospora rivolta (1.4%), Cystoisospora felis (0.7%), Toxoplasma gondii (0.7%), Hammondia hammondi (0.7%) and Strongyloides sp. (0.7%). Necropsy and the IST revealed adult H. taeniaeformis in 12 animals, of which eight faecal samples were positive by the CEST-qPCR (sensitivity = 67%) and six samples by the sedimentation/flotation technique (sensitivity = 50%). No E. multilocularis infection was detected in the sampled cats. Using Bayesian latent class analysis, the mean posterior prevalence probability was 0.0% (95% confidence interval 0-0.83%) for E. multilocularis. CONCLUSIONS There was no evidence of E. multilocularis infection among the 146 cats examined, suggesting that the prevalence of this parasite is low (< 1%) in the Swiss domestic cat population. Nonetheless, some of the sampled cats were infected by parasites that have rodents as intermediate hosts, demonstrating successful predation by these cats, and some were infected with zoonotic parasites. Cats therefore should not be disregarded as potential hosts for E. multilocularis and other zoonotic parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Furtado Jost
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Norbert Müller
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nelson Marreros
- School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Länggasse 85, 3052, Zollikofen, Switzerland
| | - Gastón Moré
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Loic Antoine
- Boehringer-Ingelheim Animal Health, 29 Avenue Tony Garnier, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Walter Basso
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Caroline F Frey
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
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Ye C, Zhang L, Tang L, Duan Y, Liu J, Zhou H. Host genetic backgrounds: the key to determining parasite-host adaptation. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1228206. [PMID: 37637465 PMCID: PMC10449477 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1228206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasitic diseases pose a significant threat to global public health, particularly in developing countries. Host genetic factors play a crucial role in determining susceptibility and resistance to infection. Recent advances in molecular and biological technologies have enabled significant breakthroughs in understanding the impact of host genes on parasite adaptation. In this comprehensive review, we analyze the host genetic factors that influence parasite adaptation, including hormones, nitric oxide, immune cells, cytokine gene polymorphisms, parasite-specific receptors, and metabolites. We also establish an interactive network to better illustrate the complex relationship between host genetic factors and parasite-host adaptation. Additionally, we discuss future directions and collaborative research priorities in the parasite-host adaptation field, including investigating the impact of host genes on the microbiome, developing more sophisticated models, identifying and characterizing parasite-specific receptors, utilizing patient-derived sera as diagnostic and therapeutic tools, and developing novel treatments and management strategies targeting specific host genetic factors. This review highlights the need for a comprehensive and systematic approach to investigating the underlying mechanisms of parasite-host adaptation, which requires interdisciplinary collaborations among biologists, geneticists, immunologists, and clinicians. By deepening our understanding of the complex interactions between host genetics and parasite adaptation, we can develop more effective and targeted interventions to prevent and treat parasitic diseases. Overall, this review provides a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians working in the parasitology field and offers insights into the future directions of this critical research area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caixia Ye
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Pediatrics, Yunyang Women and Children’s Hospital (Yunyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital), Chongqing, China
| | - Lianhua Zhang
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Surgery, Yunyang Women and Children’s Hospital (Yunyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital), Chongqing, China
| | - Lili Tang
- The 3rd Affiliated Teaching Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University (Affiliated Tumor Hospital), Urumqi, China
| | - Yongjun Duan
- Department of Pediatrics, Yunyang Women and Children’s Hospital (Yunyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital), Chongqing, China
| | - Ji Liu
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongli Zhou
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Schmidberger J, Uhlenbruck J, Schlingeloff P, Maksimov P, Conraths FJ, Mayer B, Kratzer W. Dog Ownership and Risk for Alveolar Echinococcosis, Germany. Emerg Infect Dis 2022; 28:1597-1605. [PMID: 35850154 PMCID: PMC9328925 DOI: 10.3201/eid2808.212514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Human alveolar echinococcosis is caused by the parasite Echinococcus multilocularis, and dog ownership has been identified as a risk factor. We sought to specify the factors of dog ownership underlying this risk by conducting a case–control study among dog owners in Germany. The analysis revealed an increased odds ratio of ≈7-fold for dog owners whose dogs roam unattended in fields, 13-fold for dog owners who feed their dogs organic waste daily, 4-fold for dog owners who take their dog to a veterinarian only in case of illness, and 10-fold for dog owners who have never been informed by a veterinarian about the risk for infection. The results highlight the risk for infection associated with various factors of dog ownership and the value of veterinarians informing owners about prevention.
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Umhang G, Bastien M, Bastid V, Poulle ML, Boué F. High variability in the number of E. multilocularis eggs in cat feces collected in the field. Parasitol Int 2022; 89:102583. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2022.102583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Samorek-Pieróg M, Karamon J, Brzana A, Sobieraj L, Włodarczyk M, Sroka J, Bełcik A, Korpysa-Dzirba W, Cencek T. Molecular Confirmation of Taenia crassiceps Cysticercosis in a Captive Ring-Tailed Lemur ( Lemur catta) in Poland. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11080835. [PMID: 35894058 PMCID: PMC9331665 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11080835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Taenia crassiceps is a cosmopolitan tapeworm endemic to the northern hemisphere with an indirect lifecycle. Its definitive hosts are carnivores, and its intermediate hosts are rodents and rabbits. Nonhuman primates in zoos appear to be highly susceptible to T. crassiceps cysticercosis. The aim of this study was to confirm the presence and the molecular characterization of T. crassiceps cysts isolated from a captive ring-tailed lemur. (2) Methods: Surgery revealed multifocal, transparent saccules containing several thin-walled tapeworm cysticerci. In some of the metacestodes, single or multiple exogenous buds from daughter cysticerci were spotted. A molecular analysis was performed to confirm our morphological examinations, using two protocols to obtain the partial nad1 and cox1 genes of the Taenia sp. (3) Results: On the basis of morphological features and molecular analysis, the cysticerci were identified as T. crassiceps metacestodes, and products taken from the PCRs were sequenced. With respect to interpreting the sequencing results of the obtained amplicons, we compared them with data in the GenBank database, proving that, in this case, the causative agent was indeed T. crassiceps. (4) Conclusions: The received data can be used to supplement descriptions of this species. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of cysticercosis caused by T. crassiceps in a nonhuman primate in Poland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Samorek-Pieróg
- Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, Partyzantów Avenue 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland; (J.K.); (J.S.); (A.B.); (W.K.-D.); (T.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-81-889-3124
| | - Jacek Karamon
- Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, Partyzantów Avenue 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland; (J.K.); (J.S.); (A.B.); (W.K.-D.); (T.C.)
| | - Adam Brzana
- Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Wrocławska 170, 46-020 Opole, Poland;
| | - Lesław Sobieraj
- Zoo Opole, Spacerowa 10, 45-094 Opole, Poland; (L.S.); (M.W.)
| | | | - Jacek Sroka
- Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, Partyzantów Avenue 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland; (J.K.); (J.S.); (A.B.); (W.K.-D.); (T.C.)
| | - Aneta Bełcik
- Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, Partyzantów Avenue 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland; (J.K.); (J.S.); (A.B.); (W.K.-D.); (T.C.)
| | - Weronika Korpysa-Dzirba
- Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, Partyzantów Avenue 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland; (J.K.); (J.S.); (A.B.); (W.K.-D.); (T.C.)
| | - Tomasz Cencek
- Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, Partyzantów Avenue 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland; (J.K.); (J.S.); (A.B.); (W.K.-D.); (T.C.)
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Remesar S, Castro-Scholten S, Jiménez-Martín D, Camacho-Sillero L, Morrondo P, Rouco C, Gómez-Guillamón F, Cano-Terriza D, García-Bocanegra I. Spatiotemporal monitoring of Cysticercus pisiformis in European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Mediterranean ecosystems in southern Spain. Prev Vet Med 2021; 197:105508. [PMID: 34655912 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Cysticercosis in wild lagomorphs is caused by Cysticercus pisiformis, the larval stage of Taenia pisiformis. Although previous studies have reported the presence of T. pisiformis in different wild carnivore species, information about the prevalence of C. pisiformis in their intermediate hosts is still very scarce. An epidemiological surveillance program was carried out to determine the prevalence and spatiotemporal patterns of cysticercosis in wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) from Spanish Mediterranean ecosystems. A total of 2,923 animals were sampled in 164 hunting estates from Andalusia (southern Spain) during four study periods: 2009-2012 (P1), 2012-2015 (P2), 2015-2018 (P3) and 2018-2020 (P4). The presence of cysticerci was assessed by macroscopical examination and a subset of the collected parasites were molecularly identified by conventional PCR targeting the ITS-1 and 12S rRNA partial genes of Taenia spp. Risk factors associated with cysticercus infection were assessed by generalized estimating equation (GEE) analysis. A spatial statistical analysis was carried out using a Bernoulli model to identify statistically significant spatial clusters. Cysticercus infection was confirmed in 81 (2.8 %; 95 % CI: 2.2-3.4) rabbits. Cysticerci from 18 infected animals were molecularly identified as T. pisiformis. The GEE model showed the study period as the only risk factor associated with C. pisiformis infection in wild rabbits. Significantly higher prevalence was found in P2 (6.1 %; 95 % CI: 4.4-8.4) compared to the rest of the periods. At least one cysticerci-positive animal was detected in 41 (25.0 %; 95 % CI: 18.4-31.6) out of the 164 hunting estates. No statistically significant spatial clusters of high cysticercus prevalence were identified. Our results indicate an endemic circulation of C. pisiformis in wild rabbits in southern Spain. The spatial results highlight a widespread distribution of this parasite in their populations. Further studies should focus in determining which sympatric species may act as definitive hosts for T. pisiformis and the relevance of other potential intermediate host species (e.g. hares and rodents), as the relevance of wild rabbits in the sylvatic cycle of this cestode in Mediterranean ecosystems seems to be low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Remesar
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002, Lugo, Spain
| | - Sabrina Castro-Scholten
- Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, 14014, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Débora Jiménez-Martín
- Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, 14014, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Leonor Camacho-Sillero
- Programa de Vigilancia Epidemiológica de la Fauna Silvestre, Consejería de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Desarrollo Sostenible (CAGPDS), Junta de Andalucía, Málaga, Spain
| | - Patrocinio Morrondo
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002, Lugo, Spain
| | - Carlos Rouco
- Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Universidad de Córdoba, 14014, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Félix Gómez-Guillamón
- Programa de Vigilancia Epidemiológica de la Fauna Silvestre, Consejería de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Desarrollo Sostenible (CAGPDS), Junta de Andalucía, Málaga, Spain
| | - David Cano-Terriza
- Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, 14014, Córdoba, Spain.
| | - Ignacio García-Bocanegra
- Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, 14014, Córdoba, Spain
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Samorek-Pieróg M, Karamon J, Brzana A, Bilska-Zając E, Zdybel J, Cencek T. Molecular Confirmation of Massive Taenia pisiformis Cysticercosis in One Rabbit in Poland. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10081029. [PMID: 34451493 PMCID: PMC8399545 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10081029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to provide molecular characterization, together with phylogenetic analysis, of Taenia pisiformis cysts isolated from rabbit. On the basis of morphological features and molecular analysis, the cysticerci were identified as T.pisiformis metacestodes. PCR was performed with three different protocols to obtain partial sequences of 12S ribosomal RNA (12S rRNA), NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1), and cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) of Taenia spp. The products from the PCRs were sequenced. Interpretation of the sequencing results of the obtained amplicons, by comparing them with the GenBank database, proved that the causative agent, in this case, was T. pisiformis. The phylogenetic analysis of the received sequences identified a new haplotype. The received data can be used to supplement the species description. To our knowledge, this is the first molecular confirmation of T. pisiformis metacestodes infection in the rabbit, in Poland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Samorek-Pieróg
- Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, Partyzantów Avenue 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland; (J.K.); (E.B.-Z.); (J.Z.); (T.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-81-889-3124
| | - Jacek Karamon
- Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, Partyzantów Avenue 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland; (J.K.); (E.B.-Z.); (J.Z.); (T.C.)
| | - Adam Brzana
- Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Wrocławska 170, 46-020 Opole, Poland;
| | - Ewa Bilska-Zając
- Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, Partyzantów Avenue 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland; (J.K.); (E.B.-Z.); (J.Z.); (T.C.)
| | - Jolanta Zdybel
- Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, Partyzantów Avenue 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland; (J.K.); (E.B.-Z.); (J.Z.); (T.C.)
| | - Tomasz Cencek
- Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, Partyzantów Avenue 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland; (J.K.); (E.B.-Z.); (J.Z.); (T.C.)
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Avcioglu H, Guven E, Balkaya I, Kirman R, Akyuz M, Mebarek Bia M, Gulbeyen H, Yaya S. The situation of echinococcosis in stray dogs in Turkey: the first finding of Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus ortleppi. Parasitology 2021; 148:1092-1098. [PMID: 34002689 PMCID: PMC11010043 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182021000755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Echinococcosis, caused by larval stage of the genus Echinococcus, is one of the most important zoonotic diseases worldwide. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence and prevalence of Echinococcus species in stray dogs of Erzurum, a highly endemic region for cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE) in Turkey. The study samples consisted of 446 stray dog faecal specimens collected from an animal shelter in Erzurum, Turkey, between October 2015 and February 2016. The faecal samples were collected from individual dogs for the isolation of taeniid eggs using the sequential sieving and flotation method (SSFM). Molecular analyses and sequencing revealed the prevalence of Echinococcus spp. as 14.13% (63/446) in faecal samples. The stray dogs harboured five different Echinococcus spp.: E. granulosus s.s. (G1/G3) (n = 41), E. equinus (G4) (n = 3), E. ortleppi (G5) (n = 1), E. canadensis (G6/G7) (n = 3) and E. multilocularis (n = 16). E. granulosus s.s. was the most abundant species. Surprisingly, the occurrence of E. multilocularis in dogs was revealed for the first time in Turkey. E. ortleppi was also reported for the first time in Turkey. These findings highlight a significant public health risk for human AE and CE, presenting useful baseline data on Echinococcus spp. infection in dogs for designing control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamza Avcioglu
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum25240, Turkey
| | - Esin Guven
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum25240, Turkey
| | - Ibrahim Balkaya
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum25240, Turkey
| | - Ridvan Kirman
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum25240, Turkey
| | - Muzaffer Akyuz
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum25240, Turkey
| | - Mohammed Mebarek Bia
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum25240, Turkey
- Department of Parasitology, Parasitology Research Center and Parasite Resource Bank, Chungbuk National University, School of Medicine, Cheongju28644, Korea
| | - Hatice Gulbeyen
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum25240, Turkey
| | - Sali Yaya
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum25240, Turkey
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Karamon J, Samorek-Pieróg M, Sroka J, Bilska-Zając E, Dąbrowska J, Kochanowski M, Różycki M, Zdybel J, Cencek T. The First Record of Echinococcus ortleppi (G5) Tapeworms in Grey Wolf ( Canis lupus). Pathogens 2021; 10:853. [PMID: 34358003 PMCID: PMC8308913 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10070853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study is to confirm the presence and molecular identification of Echinococcus tapeworms in wolves from south-eastern Poland. An investigation was carried out on the intestines of 13 wolves from south-eastern Poland. The small intestines were divided into three equal segments. Each segment was separately examined using the sedimentation and counting technique (SCT). The detected Echinococcus tapeworms were isolated and identified by PCRs and sequencing (nad1 and cox1 genes). Additionally, DNA isolated from the feces of wolves positive for Echinococcus tapeworms was examined with two diagnostic PCRs. The intestines of one wolf were positive for E. granulosus s.l. when assessed by SCT; the intestine was from a six-year-old male wolf killed in a communication accident. We detected 61 adult tapeworms: 42 in the anterior, 14 in the middle, and 5 in the posterior parts of the small intestine. The PCRs conducted for cox1 and nad1 produced specific products. A sequence comparison with the GenBank database showed similarity to the deposited E. ortleppi (G5) sequences. An analysis of the available phylogenetic sequences showed very little variation within the species of E. ortleppi (G5), and identity ranged from 99.10% to 100.00% in the case of cox1 and from 99.04% to 100.00% in the case of nad1. One of the two diagnostic PCRs used and performed on the feces of Echinococcus-positive animals showed product specific for E. granulosus. This study showed the presence of adult E. ortleppi tapeworms in wolves for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacek Karamon
- Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, 24-100 Puławy, Poland; (M.S.-P.); (J.S.); (E.B.-Z.); (J.D.); (M.K.); (M.R.); (J.Z.); (T.C.)
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Abbas I, El-Alfy ES, Janecek-Erfurth E, Strube C. Molecular characterization of Cysticercus tenuicollis isolates from sheep in the Nile Delta, Egypt and a review on Taenia hydatigena infections worldwide. Parasitology 2021; 148:913-933. [PMID: 33775267 PMCID: PMC11010137 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182021000536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The predator–prey-transmitted cestode Taenia hydatigena infects a wide range of definitive and intermediate hosts all over the world. Domestic and sylvatic cycles of transmission are considered as well. The parasite has considerable economic importance, particularly in sheep. Here, the molecular characters of T. hydatigena cysticerci in sheep from the Nile Delta, Egypt were investigated for the first time. For this purpose, 200 sheep carcasses and their offal were inspected at the municipal abattoir, Dakahlia governorate, Egypt. Cysticerci of T. hydatigena were collected and molecularly characterized employing the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene. Cysticerci were found in 42 (21%) sheep, mostly attached to the omenti, mesenteries and livers. After molecular confirmation, nine isolates were sequenced displaying six different haplotypes. Analysis of the T. hydatigena 12S rRNA nucleotide sequences deposited in GenBank revealed 55 haplotypes out of 69 isolates, displaying high haplotype (0.797) and low nucleotide (0.00739) diversities. For the Tajima D neutrality index, a negative value (−2.702) was determined, indicating the population expansion of the parasite. Additionally, global data summarized in this study should be useful to set up effective control strategies against this ubiquitous parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim Abbas
- Parasitology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura35516, Egypt
| | - El-Sayed El-Alfy
- Parasitology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura35516, Egypt
| | - Elisabeth Janecek-Erfurth
- Institute for Parasitology, Center for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559Hanover, Germany
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Center for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559Hanover, Germany
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Bagó F, Hoelzl F, Knauer F, Kübber-Heiss A, Smith S. Rapid and Reliable Detection of Echinococcus multilocularis from Faeces Using Droplet Digital PCR. Acta Parasitol 2021; 66:553-559. [PMID: 33346906 PMCID: PMC8166707 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-020-00325-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Alveolar echinococcosis is a severe helminthic disease in humans caused by larvae of the fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. Austria is considered an endemic area with hotspots having up to 45% prevalence (Bagó et al. in Proceedings of the Zoo and Wildlife Health Conference 2019, Berlin, p. 91, 2019). At our facility, we have registered a notifiable increase of animals submitted for the diagnosis of E. multilocularis since 2016. Therefore, we investigated high throughput diagnostic methods to provide rapid and reliable results in comparison with our current method. Methods We have developed and compared a novel method of detection using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) combined with previous target specific extraction according to Maas et al. (Vet Parasitol 230:20–24, 2016), with our current macroscopic method “Shaking in a Vessel Technique” (SVT) by Duscher et al. (Parasitol Res 95(1):40–42, 2005). We investigated 77 wild canids (72 red foxes, 5 golden jackals) using both methods. The data were analyzed using a non-Bayesian approach, applying bootstrapping to create confidentiality intervals. Results Sensitivity for droplet digital PCR was 90.51% with the 95% credibility interval ranging from 82.50 to 96.92%, whereas mean sensitivity for SVT was 92.04% with a 95% credibility interval ranging from 84.75% to 98.36%. Additionally, a non-linear regression similar to R2 could be pointed out between the counted worms and the results gathered from ddPCR. Conclusion Magnetic capture extraction followed by ddPCR shows strong potential as a high throughput method for diagnosing E. multilocularis prevalence in diverse canid populations as well as infection intensities of individual animals, giving valuable epidemiological insights of the distribution amongst wild canids as an alternative to conventional qPCR or macroscopic methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Bagó
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department for Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Vetmeduni Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Franz Hoelzl
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department for Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Vetmeduni Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - Felix Knauer
- Conservation Medicine Unit, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department for Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Vetmeduni Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna Kübber-Heiss
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department for Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Vetmeduni Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - Steve Smith
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department for Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Vetmeduni Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160, Vienna, Austria
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Tull A, Moks E, Saarma U. Endoparasite prevalence and infection risk factors among cats in an animal shelter in Estonia. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2021; 68. [PMID: 33938815 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2021.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Cats are important hosts for different zoonotic parasites that can be hazardous to human health. To date, few studies have attempted to identify the factors affecting parasitic infections in shelter animals. This study aims to analyse the presence of endoparasites in shelter cats in Tartu, Estonia, and identify factors affecting endoparasite prevalence and intensity. The risk factors considered were age, location (urban vs rural cats) and time spent in shelter. In total, 290 faecal samples were collected from cats at an animal shelter in 2015-2016 and investigated for endoparasites using the concentration flotation technique. In total, 138 shelter cats (47.6%) were infected with endoparasites and their overall prevalence was: Toxocara cati (36.6%), Cystoisospora spp. (12.4%), Taeniidae gen. sp. (4.1%), Toxoplasma gondii/Hammondia hammondi (3.4%), Eucoleus aerophilus (2.1%), Cryptosporidium spp. (2.1%), Ancylostoma sp. (0.7%) and Giardia sp. (0.7%). Coinfections occurred in 38 cats (13.1%) most frequently of T. cati and Cystoisospora spp. (4.5%), Cystoisospora spp. and T. gondii/H. hammondi (2.1%). Where species identification of cestode and nematode samples was not possible according to morphology, genetic analysis of the mitochondrial cox1 gene was carried out. DNA was successfully analysed for 6 out of 13 samples that required genetic identification, revealing Ancylostoma tubaeforme in one nematode sample and Hydatigera taeniaeformis in five cestode samples. Cats from rural areas had significantly higher endoparasite prevalence than cats from urban areas. Helminth prevalence decreased to some extent due to anthelmintic treatment in cats available for adoption (held ≥15 days in the shelter), whereas the prevalence of infection with protists increased significantly in these animals. It is important to note that the analysis revealed lower infection intensity for quarantine cats (held 1-14 days in the shelter) compared with cats available for adoption. The relatively high prevalence of endoparasites (including zoonotic) in shelter cats ready for adoption suggests that current anthelminthic procedures require improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ants Tull
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Estonia
| | - Epp Moks
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Estonia.,Veterinary and Food Laboratory, Department of bacteriology-pathology, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Urmas Saarma
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Estonia
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Prullage J, Bowman D, Ulrich M, Tielemans E. Efficacy of a novel topical combination of esafoxolaner, eprinomectin and praziquantel against Echinococcus multilocularis infections in cats. Parasite 2021; 28:29. [PMID: 33812461 PMCID: PMC8019559 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2021025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
NexGard® Combo, a novel topical endectoparasiticide formulation for cats combining esafoxolaner, eprinomectin and praziquantel, for the treatment of internal and external parasite infestations, including arthropods, nematodes and cestodes, was tested for efficacy against induced infections of Echinococcus multilocularis in cats, in two experimental studies. The two studies were performed in the United States with the same E. multilocularis isolate sourced locally. In each study, 20 cats were inoculated intra-gastrically with ~30,000 E. multilocularis protoscoleces three weeks before treatment, then ten cats were randomly allocated to a placebo control group or to the novel formulation treated group. Inoculated cats were treated topically once at the minimum recommended dose of the novel formulation, or with an identical volume of placebo. One week after treatment, cats were humanely euthanized for parasite recovery and count. The efficacy calculation was based on comparison of number of scoleces found in the control group and the novel formulation group. In the two control groups, E. multilocularis scoleces were found in five (range: 30-1025) and eight (range 2-345) cats, the geometric means inclusive of the ten cats per group were 8.9 and 28.8, respectively. In the two novel formulation-treated groups, none of the cats harbored any E. multilocularis scoleces, demonstrating 100% efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Prullage
- Boehringer-Ingelheim Animal Health, Missouri Research Center 6498 Jade Rd. Fulton 65251 MO USA
| | - Dwight Bowman
- Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine Ithaca 14850 NY USA
| | - Michael Ulrich
- Cheri Hill Kennel and Supply Inc. 17190 Polk Rd. Stanwood 49346 MI USA
| | - Eric Tielemans
- Boehringer-Ingelheim Animal Health 29 Avenue Tony Garnier 69007 Lyon France
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Toews E, Musiani M, Checkley S, Visscher D, Massolo A. A global assessment of Echinococcus multilocularis infections in domestic dogs: proposing a framework to overcome past methodological heterogeneity. Int J Parasitol 2021; 51:379-392. [PMID: 33482171 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Echinococcus multilocularis, the aetiological agent of human Alveolar Echinococcosis, is transmitted between small mammals and wild or domestic canids. Dogs infected with E. multilocularis as dead-end hosts. Whereas E. multilocularis infections in wild hosts and humans have been well-studied in recent decades, infections in domestic dogs are sparsely reported. This literature review and meta-analysis highlighted gaps in the available data and provided a re-assessment of the global distribution of domestic dog E. multilocularis infections. We found 46 published articles documenting the prevalence of E. multilocularis in domestic dogs from 21 countries across Europe, Asia and North America. Apparent prevalence estimates ranged from 0.00% (0.00-0.33%) in Germany to 55.50% (26.67-81.12%) in China. Most studies were conducted in areas of high human Alveolar Echinococcosis. By accounting for reassessed diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, we estimated true prevalence in a subset of studies, which varied between 0.00% (0.00-12.42%) and 41.09% (21.12-65.81%), as these true prevalence estimates were seldom reported in the articles themselves. Articles also showed a heavy emphasis on rural dogs, dismissing urban ones, which is concerning due to the role urbanisation plays in the transmission of zoonotic diseases, especially those utilising pets as definitive hosts. Lastly, population studies on canine Alveolar Echinococcosis were absent, highlighting the relative focus on human rather than animal health. We thus developed a framework for investigating domestic dog E. multilocularis infections and performing risk assessment of dog-associated transmission to fill the gaps found in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Toews
- Department of Biology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Marco Musiani
- Department of Biology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada; Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Sylvia Checkley
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada; Alberta Precision Laboratories, Alberta Health Services, 3535 Research Rd NW, Calgary, Alberta T2L 2K8, Canada; O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Darcy Visscher
- Department of Biology, The King's University, 9125 - 50 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6B 2H3, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, 116 St. and 85 Ave., Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Alessandro Massolo
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada; Ethology Unit, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via Volta 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; UMR CNRS 6249 Chrono-environnement, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16 Route de Gray, 25030 Besançon, France.
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Tomczuk K, Hirzmann J, Köhler K, Szczepaniak K, Studzinska M, Demkowska-Kutrzepa M, Roczeń-Karczmarz M, Bauer C. Echinococcus multilocularis infection in horses in Poland. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2020; 22:100486. [PMID: 33308759 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A cross-sectional survey was performed to obtain first information on the prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis infection in slaughter horses from central, eastern and southern Poland, a country with a highly endemic occurrence of this tapeworm in red foxes. White tough nodular lesions being 3-10 mm in size, sharply demarcated and spherically or irregularly shaped were found in 54 of 365 livers examined. Histologically, focal granulomatous necrotizing inflammations and sometimes PAS-positive acellular lamellar structures being characteristic of the E. multilocularis metacestode stage were visible; protoscoleces were not found. E. multilocularis DNA was detected in six of 19 hepatic lesions examined by nested PCR. Our results from molecular and morphological diagnostics suggest an overall prevalence of alveolar echinococcosis between 4.7% and 14.8% in the horse population studied. Horses as dead-end hosts do not play any role in the life cycle of E. multilocularis but may serve as additional sentinel animals in monitoring the environmental contamination with tapeworm eggs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Tomczuk
- Sub-Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, Veterinary Faculty, University of Life Sciences, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Jörg Hirzmann
- Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Kernt Köhler
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Klaudiusz Szczepaniak
- Sub-Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, Veterinary Faculty, University of Life Sciences, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Maria Studzinska
- Sub-Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, Veterinary Faculty, University of Life Sciences, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Marta Demkowska-Kutrzepa
- Sub-Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, Veterinary Faculty, University of Life Sciences, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Monika Roczeń-Karczmarz
- Sub-Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, Veterinary Faculty, University of Life Sciences, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Christian Bauer
- Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
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Assessment of the exposure to Echinococcus multilocularis associated with carnivore faeces using real-time quantitative PCR and flotation technique assays. Int J Parasitol 2020; 50:1195-1204. [PMID: 32896570 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The eggs of Echinococcus multilocularis, the infectious stage, are spread into the environment through wild and domestic carnivore faeces. The spatial location of the faeces containing infective E. multilocularis eggs is a key parameter for studying areas of exposure and understanding the transmission processes to the intermediate hosts and humans. Echinococcus multilocularis faecal prevalence is often assessed by detecting E. multilocularis DNA, not necessarily eggs. This work aimed to determine the percentage of faeces containing E. multilocularis eggs in a rural town and its surroundings and whether this level of precision is relevant in assessing exposure to E. multilocularis. For this purpose, we developed a combined molecular and microscopic approach to investigate the E. multilocularis exposure of potential hosts in the environment from field-collected carnivore faeces. Carnivore defecation patterns were then spatialized to study the spatial distribution of E. multilocularis. Faeces were screened for E. multilocularis DNA using a specific real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Echinococcus multilocularis eggs were morphologically identified from E. multilocularis-specific qPCR-positive faeces after sucrose flotation and individually confirmed through specific PCR and sequencing. The spatial distribution of E. multilocularis was studied using Kulldorff statistics. Echinococcus multilocularis eggs were identified mostly in fox faeces positive for E. multilocularis DNA by qPCR (n = 27/70) and only from 1 of 15 copro-samples from dogs and 1 of 5 from cats. The faecal prevalence of E. multilocularis DNA and eggs was overdispersed, with the same geographical patterns. These data suggest that E. multilocularis DNA and/or egg detection in carnivore faeces, mainly that of foxes, is appropriate in ecological studies of E. multilocularis transmission.
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Jiguet F. The Fox and the Crow. A need to update pest control strategies. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 2020; 248:108693. [PMID: 32834058 PMCID: PMC7342009 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The recent discovery that cats and mustelids can be infected by SARS-CoV-2 may raise the question of monitoring domestic, feral and wild populations of such animals, as an adjunct to the elimination of COVID-19 in humans. Emergency solutions might consider large scale control of these animals in the wild. However, looking at science recently published on native vertebrate pest control reveals first that usual controls do not succeed in reducing animal numbers and associated damages, second that controlling can be counter-productive in increasing the infectious risks for humans and livestock. The examples of red fox and corvids are detailed in a European context, illustrating the urgent need for an ethical evaluation of ecological and economic costs and benefits of pest control strategies. A complete scientific evaluation process must be implemented and up-dated regularly, to be organized in four major steps, once the aim of the control strategy has been defined: (1) evaluating damages/risks caused by the animals, to be balanced with the ecosystem services they may provide, also in terms of economic costs; (2) unravelling spatial and temporal population dynamics of target animals to identify, if any, optimal control scenarios - which could be done within an adaptive management framework; (3) estimating the economic costs of implementing those optimal control scenarios, to be compared to the economic costs of damages/diseases; (4) finally evaluating how the control strategy reached its aims. A modern fable of the Fox and the Crow should deliver a timely moral for an ethical, ecological and economical appraisal of pest control strategies in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Jiguet
- UMR7204 Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation, MNHN-CNRS-SU, CP135, 43 Rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France
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Clinical, pathological and parasitological examinations of a German spaniel with alveolar echinococcosis, Germany, 2018. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2020; 20:100403. [PMID: 32448547 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a parasitic zoonosis occurring in most European countries and also emerging in parts of Asia and North America. AE is caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis in intermediate and also in accidental hosts. The principal definitive host is the red fox, but domestic dogs and cats are also potential definitive hosts. Several species of rodents serve as intermediate hosts of this parasite. However, there are also some species acting as accidental intermediate hosts, among them dogs. Since the late 1980s cases of canine AE have been diagnosed. Here, we present a case of canine AE in a two-year old female intact German spaniel from Thuringia, Central Germany. The dog was used as a hunting dog and presented to a small animal clinic for subacute lethargy and inappetence. Abdominal ultrasound and contrast computed tomography (CT) scan were performed and revealed intrahepatic lesions. Multinodular changes of the liver and the greater omentum were demonstrated by exploratory laparotomy. After euthanasia, a necropsy was performed and histological sections of representative tissue samples were prepared. PCR followed by sequencing was conducted with DNA extracted from tissue samples of the liver, hepatic lymph nodes and greater omentum. The sequence herein obtained showed very high similarity with other partial nad2 sequences of E. multilocularis from the GenBank database by BLASTn analysis and was analysed using the maximum likelihood method. The presented case combines the clinical presentation and pathological, parasitological and phylogenetic analyses.
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Bajer A, Alsarraf M, Dwużnik D, Mierzejewska EJ, Kołodziej-Sobocińska M, Behnke-Borowczyk J, Banasiak Ł, Grzybek M, Tołkacz K, Kartawik N, Stańczak Ł, Opalińska P, Krokowska-Paluszak M, Górecki G, Alsarraf M, Behnke JM. Rodents as intermediate hosts of cestode parasites of mammalian carnivores and birds of prey in Poland, with the first data on the life-cycle of Mesocestoides melesi. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:95. [PMID: 32087754 PMCID: PMC7036256 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-3961-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Rodents constitute an important part of the diet of many carnivore species. This predator-prey food chain is exploited by helminth parasites, such as cestodes, whose larval stages develop in rodents and then mature to the adult stage in predators. The main aim of our study was to use molecular techniques for identification of cestode species recovered from both intermediate and definitive hosts, with a particular focus on the genus Mesocestoides. Methods Larval cestodes were obtained during our long-term studies on rodent helminth communities in the Mazury Lake District in the north-east Poland in 2000–2018. Cestode larvae/cysts were collected from body cavities or internal organs (e.g. liver) during autopsies. Adult tapeworms were derived from nine red foxes, three Eurasian badgers and one Eurasian lynx. PCR amplification, sequencing and phylogenetic analyses were conducted employing three genetic markers: 18S rDNA, mitochondrial (mt) 12S rDNA and the mt cytochrome c oxydase subunit 1 (cox1) gene fragment. Results Altogether 19 Mesocestoides samples were analyzed, including 13 adult tapeworms from definitive hosts and six larval samples from 4 bank voles and 2 yellow-necked mice. Phylogenetic analyses revealed three well-supported trees of similar topology. In each case the Mesocestoides samples formed two separate clades. All isolates from foxes, the lynx isolate and two isolates from rodents grouped with Mesocestoides litteratus. Four isolates from rodents and all three isolates from Eurasian badgers were resolved in a separate clade, most similar to North American M. vogae (syn. M. corti). Examination of fixed, stained adult specimens from Eurasian badgers revealed consistency with the morphology of Mesocestoides melesi. Therefore, this clade is likely to represent M. melesi, a species first described in 1985 from the Eurasian badger Meles meles. Molecular analysis allowed also the identification of Taenia crassiceps, Hydatigera kamiyai and Cladotaenia globifera among larvae derived from rodents. Conclusions Molecular and phylogenetic analyses support the recognition of M. melesi as a valid species. Our data represent the first record of the larvae of this species in rodents. This is the first report on the occurrence of H. kamiyai in rodents from Poland.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Bajer
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Mohammed Alsarraf
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dorota Dwużnik
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewa J Mierzejewska
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Jolanta Behnke-Borowczyk
- Department of Forest Phytopathology, Faculty of Forestry, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Łukasz Banasiak
- Department of Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Żwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maciej Grzybek
- Department of Tropical Parasitology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, University of Gdansk, Powstania Styczniowego 9B, 81-519, Gdynia, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Tołkacz
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Natalia Kartawik
- Department of Forest Phytopathology, Faculty of Forestry, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Łukasz Stańczak
- Department of Game Management and Forest Protection, Faculty of Forestry, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Patrycja Opalińska
- Department of Game Management and Forest Protection, Faculty of Forestry, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Krokowska-Paluszak
- Department of Game Management and Forest Protection, Faculty of Forestry, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Górecki
- Department of Game Management and Forest Protection, Faculty of Forestry, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Mustafa Alsarraf
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jerzy M Behnke
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
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