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Yabsley MJ, Garrett KB, Thompson AT, Box EK, Giner MR, Haynes E, Barron H, Schneider RM, Coker SM, Beasley JC, Borchert EJ, Tumlison R, Surf A, Dukes CG, Olfenbuttel C, Brown JD, Swanepoel L, Cleveland CA. Otterly diverse - A high diversity of Dracunculus species (Spirurida: Dracunculoidea) in North American river otters ( Lontra canadensis). Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2024; 23:100922. [PMID: 38516639 PMCID: PMC10955650 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.100922] [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: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The genus Dracunculus contains numerous species of subcutaneous parasites of mammals and reptiles. In North America, there are at least three mammal-infecting species of Dracunculus. Reports of Dracunculus infections have been reported from river otters (Lontra canadensis) since the early 1900s; however, little is known about the species infecting otters or their ecology. Most reports of Dracunculus do not have a definitive species identified because females, the most common sex found due to their larger size and location in the extremities of the host, lack distinguishing morphological characteristics, and few studies have used molecular methods to confirm identifications. Thus, outside of Ontario, Canada, where both D. insignis and D. lutrae have been confirmed in otters, the species of Dracunculus in river otters is unknown. In the current study, molecular characterization of nematodes from river otters revealed a high diversity of Dracunculus species. In addition to confirming D. insignis infections, two new clades were detected. One clade was a novel species in any host and the other was a clade previously detected in Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) from the USA and a domestic dog from Spain. No infections with D. lutrae were detected and neither new lineage was genetically similar to D. jaguape, which was recently described from a neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) from Argentina. These data also indicate that Dracunculus spp. infections in otters are widespread throughout Eastern North America. Currently the life cycles for most of the Dracunculus spp. infecting otters are unknown. Studies on the diversity, life cycle, and natural history of Dracunculidae parasites in wildlife are important because the related parasite, D. medinensis (human Guinea worm) is the subject of an international eradication campaign and there are increasing reports of these parasites in new geographic locations and new hosts, including new species in humans and domestic dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
- Center for Ecology of Infectious Diseases, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Kayla B. Garrett
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Alec T. Thompson
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
- Center for Ecology of Infectious Diseases, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Erin K. Box
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Madeline R. Giner
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Ellen Haynes
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Heather Barron
- Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, Sanibel, FL, 33957, USA
| | | | - Sarah M. Coker
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - James C. Beasley
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA
| | - Ernest J. Borchert
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA
| | - Renn Tumlison
- Applied Science and Technology, Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, AR, 71999, USA
| | - Allison Surf
- Applied Science and Technology, Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, AR, 71999, USA
| | - Casey G. Dukes
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
- North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, NCSU Centennial Campus, 1751 Varsity Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
| | - Colleen Olfenbuttel
- North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, NCSU Centennial Campus, 1751 Varsity Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
| | - Justin D. Brown
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Liandrie Swanepoel
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Christopher A. Cleveland
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
- Center for Ecology of Infectious Diseases, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
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Fagundes-Moreira R, Bezerra-Santos MA, May-Junior JA, Baggio-Souza V, Rampim LE, Sartorello LR, Lia RP, Soares JF, Otranto D. The jaguar (Panthera onca) as a potential new host of Dracunculus sp. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:2951-2956. [PMID: 37823992 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07984-3] [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: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Nematode species of the genus Dracunculus (Spirurida: Dracunculoidea) infect tissues and body cavities of reptiles, domestic and wild carnivores, and humans. The definitive hosts acquire the infection by ingesting intermediate (i.e., cyclopoid copepod) or paratenic (i.e., amphibians and fishes) hosts. Here we report the jaguar (Panthera onca) as a potential new host for Dracunculus sp. The nematode was collected from an ulcerated cutaneous nodule on the left anterior limb of a female jaguar in the municipality of Miranda, Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil. Based on the morphology of first stage larvae collected from a small fragment of the uterus of the adult nematode, the species was identified as Dracunculus sp. Reichard, 1759. Additionally, the morphological identification was molecularly confirmed by sequencing the cox1 gene. This report advocates for further investigations into the transmission cycle of this parasite in the Brazilian Pantanal wetland, considering the role of wildlife hosts and the zoonotic potential of Dracunculus species in that area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Fagundes-Moreira
- Laboratório de Protozoologia E Rickettsioses Vetoriais, Faculty of Veterinary, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul (UFRGS), Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9090, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, 91540-000, Brazil
| | | | - Joares Adenilson May-Junior
- Laboratório de Protozoologia E Rickettsioses Vetoriais, Faculty of Veterinary, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul (UFRGS), Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9090, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, 91540-000, Brazil
- Onçafari Association, São Paulo, Brazil
- Panthera Corporation, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vinicius Baggio-Souza
- Laboratório de Protozoologia E Rickettsioses Vetoriais, Faculty of Veterinary, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul (UFRGS), Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9090, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, 91540-000, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - João Fabio Soares
- Laboratório de Protozoologia E Rickettsioses Vetoriais, Faculty of Veterinary, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul (UFRGS), Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9090, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, 91540-000, Brazil.
| | - Domenico Otranto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy
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3
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Using point-of-view cameras (Crittercams) to document potential risk behaviors for Guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis) transmission in domestic cats in Chad, Africa. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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4
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Coker SM, Box EK, Stilwell N, Thiele EA, Cotton JA, Haynes E, Yabsley MJ, Cleveland CA. Development and validation of a quantitative PCR for the detection of Guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis). PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010830. [PMID: 36206300 PMCID: PMC9581357 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Dracunculus medinensis (Guinea worm) is a parasitic nematode that can cause the debilitating disease dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease) in humans. The global Guinea Worm Eradication Program has led intervention and eradication efforts since the 1980s, and Guinea worm infections in people have decreased >99.99%. With the final goal of eradication drawing nearer, reports of animal infections from some remaining endemic countries pose unique challenges. Currently, confirmation of suspected Guinea worm infection relies on conventional molecular techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which is not specific to Guinea worm and, therefore, requires sequencing of the PCR products to confirm the identity of suspect samples, a process that often takes a few weeks. To decrease the time required for species confirmation, we developed a quantitative PCR assay targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene of Guinea worm. Our assay has a limit of detection of 10 copies per reaction. The mean analytical parameters (± SE) were as follows: efficiency = 93.4 ± 7.7%, y-intercept = 40.93 ± 1.11, slope = -3.4896 ± 0.12, and the R2 = 0.999 ± 0.004. The assay did not amplify other nematodes found in Guinea worm-endemic regions and demonstrated 100% diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. Implementation of this quantitative PCR assay for Guinea worm identification could eliminate the need for DNA sequencing to confirm species. Thus, this approach can be implemented to provide more rapid confirmation of Guinea worm infections, leading to faster execution of Guinea worm interventions while increasing our understanding of infection patterns. Guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis) is a parasitic nematode that causes debilitating disease in humans. The Guinea Worm Eradication Program would benefit from having a rapid molecular test that can confirm species identification without time-consuming DNA sequencing. We developed a qPCR protocol targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene of Guinea worm. The assay was validated analytically over 12 experiments using a standard serial dilution as well as diagnostically on DNA samples from non-target host species and other parasites (n = 180) and Guinea worm samples (n = 200) from a diversity of hosts and geographic regions. This assay could reliably detect 10 copies of the target DNA sequence and had a mean efficiency of 93.4% with 100% diagnostic sensitivity and specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M. Coker
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Erin K. Box
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Natalie Stilwell
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth A. Thiele
- Department of Biology, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York, United States of America
| | - James A. Cotton
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Ellen Haynes
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Michael J. Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Center for Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MJY); (CAC)
| | - Christopher A. Cleveland
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Center for Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MJY); (CAC)
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Richards RL, Holian LA. Infectious disease: Dog diets may drive transmission cycles in human Guinea worm disease. Curr Biol 2022; 32:R170-R173. [PMID: 35231412 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Domestic dogs have an important role in the ecology of transmission of the Guinea worm, a debilitating human parasite. A new study documents how fish content in dogs' diets can predict Guinea worm infection status, suggesting additional avenues for control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert L Richards
- Department of Biology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
| | - Lauren A Holian
- Department of Biology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
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Seasonal fishery facilitates a novel transmission pathway in an emerging animal reservoir of Guinea worm. Curr Biol 2021; 32:775-782.e4. [PMID: 34910949 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.11.050] [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: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Exploitation of natural resources is a driver of human infectious disease emergence. The emergence of animal reservoirs of Guinea worm Dracunculus medinensis, particularly in domestic dogs Canis familiaris, has become the major impediment to global eradication of this human disease. 93% of all Guinea worms detected worldwide in 2020 were in dogs in Chad. Novel, non-classical pathways for transmission of Guinea worm in dogs, involving consumption of fish, have been hypothesized to support the maintenance of this animal reservoir. We quantified and analyzed variation in Guinea worm emergence in dogs in Chad, across three climatic seasons, in multiple villages and districts. We applied forensic stable isotope analyses to quantify dietary variation within and among dogs and GPS tracking to characterize their spatial ecology. At the end of the hot-dry season and beginning of the wet season, when fishing by people is most intensive, Guinea worm emergence rates in dogs were highest, dogs ate most fish, and fish consumption was most closely associated with disease. Consumption of fish by dogs enables a non-classical transmission pathway for Guinea worm in Chad. Seasonal fisheries and the facilitation of dogs eating fish are likely contributing to disease persistence and to this key impediment to human disease eradication. Interrelated natural resource use, climatic variation, companion animal ecology, and human health highlight the indispensability of One Health approaches to the challenges of eradicating Guinea worm and other zoonotic diseases.
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Ribado JV, Li NJ, Thiele E, Lyons H, Cotton JA, Weiss A, Tchindebet Ouakou P, Moundai T, Zirimwabagabo H, Guagliardo SAJ, Chabot-Couture G, Proctor JL. Linked surveillance and genetic data uncovers programmatically relevant geographic scale of Guinea worm transmission in Chad. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009609. [PMID: 34310598 PMCID: PMC8341693 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis) was detected in Chad in 2010 after a supposed ten-year absence, posing a challenge to the global eradication effort. Initiation of a village-based surveillance system in 2012 revealed a substantial number of dogs infected with Guinea worm, raising questions about paratenic hosts and cross-species transmission. Methodology/principal findings We coupled genomic and surveillance case data from 2012-2018 to investigate the modes of transmission between dog and human hosts and the geographic connectivity of worms. Eighty-six variants across four genes in the mitochondrial genome identified 41 genetically distinct worm genotypes. Spatiotemporal modeling revealed worms with the same genotype (‘genetically identical’) were within a median range of 18.6 kilometers of each other, but largely within approximately 50 kilometers. Genetically identical worms varied in their degree of spatial clustering, suggesting there may be different factors that favor or constrain transmission. Each worm was surrounded by five to ten genetically distinct worms within a 50 kilometer radius. As expected, we observed a change in the genetic similarity distribution between pairs of worms using variants across the complete mitochondrial genome in an independent population. Conclusions/significance In the largest study linking genetic and surveillance data to date of Guinea worm cases in Chad, we show genetic identity and modeling can facilitate the understanding of local transmission. The co-occurrence of genetically non-identical worms in quantitatively identified transmission ranges highlights the necessity for genomic tools to link cases. The improved discrimination between pairs of worms from variants identified across the complete mitochondrial genome suggests that expanding the number of genomic markers could link cases at a finer scale. These results suggest that scaling up genomic surveillance for Guinea worm may provide additional value for programmatic decision-making critical for monitoring cases and intervention efficacy to achieve elimination. The global eradication effort for Guinea worm disease has dramatically decreased the global burden of the disease and enabled 187 countries to be certified by the World Health Organization to be free of endemic transmission. Despite this progress, several countries continue to have endemic transmission. In Chad, a long absence of reported cases was interrupted with the identification of new Guinea worm cases, prompting a substantial scale up of surveillance and intervention efforts. Here, we study the value of increasing genomic surveillance as a tool for programmatic evaluation of surveillance and intervention efforts in Chad. Linking surveillance and genomic samples, parsimonious spatial models help reveal a consistent geographic clustering of similar genetic sequences across Chad. We also demonstrate that expanding the sequencing can offer better resolution for distinguishing Guinea worm samples. In this retrospective study, we found evidence that scaling up genomic surveillance can be an important monitoring and evaluation tool for the eradication program in Chad.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica V. Ribado
- Institute for Disease Modeling, Global Health Division of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Nancy J. Li
- Institute for Disease Modeling, Global Health Division of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Thiele
- Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York, United States of America
| | - Hil Lyons
- Institute for Disease Modeling, Global Health Division of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - James A. Cotton
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Adam Weiss
- The Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | | | - Tchonfienet Moundai
- National Guinea Worm Eradication Program, Ministry of Public Health, N’Djamena, Chad
| | | | - Sarah Anne J. Guagliardo
- The Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Guillaume Chabot-Couture
- Institute for Disease Modeling, Global Health Division of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Joshua L. Proctor
- Institute for Disease Modeling, Global Health Division of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Box EK, Cleveland CA, Garrett KB, Grunert RK, Hutchins K, Majewska AA, Thompson AT, Wyckoff ST, Ehlers C, Yabsley MJ. Copepod consumption by amphibians and fish with implications for transmission of Dracunculus species. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2021; 15:231-237. [PMID: 34189031 PMCID: PMC8217678 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Parasitic nematodes in the genus Dracunculus have a complex life cycle that requires more than one host species in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. The most well-studied species, Dracunculus medinensis, is the causative agent of human Guinea worm disease (dracunculiasis). There are several other Dracunculus species that infect non-human animals, primarily wildlife (reptiles and mammals). The classic route of D. medinensis transmission to humans is through the ingestion of water containing the intermediate host, a cyclopoid copepod, infected with third-stage larvae (L3s). However, many animal hosts (e.g., terrestrial snakes, dogs) of other Dracunculus sp. appear unlikely to ingest a large number of copepods while drinking. Therefore, alternative routes of infection (e.g., paratenic or transport hosts) may facilitate Dracunculus transmission to these species. To better understand the role of paratenic and transport hosts in Dracunculus transmission to animal definitive hosts, we compared copepod ingestion rates for aquatic species (fish, frogs [tadpoles and adults], and newts) which may serve as paratenic or transport hosts. We hypothesized that fish would consume more copepods than amphibians. Our findings confirm that African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) and fish consume copepods, but that fish ingest, on average, significantly higher numbers (68% [34/50]) than adult African clawed frogs (36% [18/50]) during a 24-h time period. Our results suggest that amphibians and fish may play a role in the transmission of Dracunculus to definitive hosts. Still, additional research is required to determine whether, in the wild, fish or frogs are serving as paratenic or transport hosts. If so, they may facilitate Dracunculus transmission. However, if these animals simply act as dead-end hosts or as means of copepod population control, they may decrease Dracunculus transmission. Copepod ingestion during 24 h was assessed for fish and amphibians. Significant numbers of copepods were consumed by fish and adult Xenopus. Tadpoles and newts did not consume large numbers of copepods during this time. Fish and amphibians may facilitate Dracunculus transmission. Further studies may elucidate how copepod ingestion impact parasite transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin K Box
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, GA, USA
| | - Christopher A Cleveland
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, GA, USA
| | - Kayla B Garrett
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, GA, USA.,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, GA, USA
| | - Ryan K Grunert
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, GA, USA.,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, GA, USA
| | - Katherine Hutchins
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, GA, USA
| | - Ania A Majewska
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, 30322, GA, USA
| | - Alec T Thompson
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, GA, USA
| | - Seth T Wyckoff
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, GA, USA.,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, GA, USA
| | - Coles Ehlers
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, GA, USA.,Young Scholars Program at the University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, GA, USA
| | - Michael J Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, GA, USA.,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, GA, USA
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Susceptibility of anurans, lizards, and fish to infection with Dracunculus species larvae and implications for their roles as paratenic hosts. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11802. [PMID: 34083638 PMCID: PMC8175391 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91122-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Dracunculus spp. are parasitic nematodes that infect numerous species of mammals and reptiles. The life cycles of Dracunculus species are complex, and unknowns remain regarding the role of paratenic and transport hosts in transmission to definitive hosts. We had two primary objectives: to assess the susceptibility of several species of anurans, lizards, and fish as paratenic hosts for Dracunculus species, and to determine the long-term persistence of Dracunculus infections in African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis). Animals were orally exposed to copepods infected with infectious third-stage larvae (L3s) of either Dracunculus insignis or D. medinensis. Dracunculus L3s were recovered from four anuran species, two lizard species, and one fish species, demonstrating that Dracunculus can infect tissues of a diversity of species. In long-term persistence trials, D. medinensis L3s were recovered from African clawed frogs tissues up to 58 days post-infection, and D. insignis L3s were recovered up to 244 days post-infection. Our findings regarding the susceptibility of novel species of frogs, lizards, and fish to infection with Dracunculus nematodes, and long-term persistence of L3s in paratenic hosts, address pressing knowledge gaps regarding Dracunculus infection in paratenic hosts and may guide future research regarding the transmission of Dracunculus to definitive mammalian hosts.
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A mathematical model of Guinea worm disease in Chad with fish as intermediate transport hosts. J Theor Biol 2021; 521:110683. [PMID: 33744311 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2021.110683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Guinea-worm disease (GWD) was thought to be almost eliminated in Chad when it reemerged in 2010. The disease now shows a peculiar pattern of spreading along Chari River and its tributaries, rather than clustering around a particular drinking water source. We create a mathematical model of GWD that includes the population dynamics of the parasite as well as the dynamics of its hosts (copepods, fish, humans, and domestic dogs). We calibrate our model based on data from the literature and validate it on the recent GWD annual incidence data from Chad. The effective reproduction number predicted by our model agrees well with the empirical value of roughly 1.25 derived directly from the data. Our model thus supports the hypothesis that the parasite now uses fish as intermediate transport hosts. We predict that GWD transmission can be most easily interrupted by avoiding eating uncooked fish and by burying the fish entrails to prevent transmission through dogs. Increasing the mortality of copepods and even partially containing infected dogs to limit their access to water sources is another important factor for GWD eradication.
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11
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Dracunculiasis in a domestic dog in Brazil. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:1371-1377. [PMID: 33624148 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07098-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
We report and discuss the surprising encounter of a dog naturally infected by Dracunculus sp. in Brazil, a brief clinical history of the animal and a procedure for removing the nematode. We also present details on the morphology of the fragments collected from the nematode and a phylogenetic comparison of the partial sequences of the mitochondrial 18S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) genes, deposited with others in GenBank. The samples were an independent lineage forming a well-supported monophyletic assemblage with D. medinensis. We thus conclude that this species has not yet been sequenced or even described and will only be elucidated by more information because only two species of Dracunculus have been reported in Brazil, D. fuelleborni and D. brasiliensis.
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Cleveland CA, Eberhard ML, Garrett KB, Thompson AT, Swanepoel L, Miller EA, Stephens OL, Yabsley MJ. Dracunculus Species in Meso-mammals from Georgia, United States, and Implications for the Guinea Worm Eradication Program in Chad, Africa. J Parasitol 2021; 106:616-622. [PMID: 33009554 DOI: 10.1645/18-178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence and diversity of parasitic nematodes in wildlife have been well studied for certain species, yet for others considerable gaps in knowledge exist. The parasitic nematode Dracunculus insignis infects North American wildlife, and past research on this species has led to an increased understanding of the potential host diversity and transmission of the closely related human Guinea worm, Dracunculus medinensis (which is currently the focus of a global eradication program). Many definitive hosts have been documented for D. insignis; however, the life cycle has been studied only in laboratories, and only a single phylogenetic study has been conducted on D. insignis (from Canada). The goals of the present study were to investigate the prevalence of infections with Dracunculus species among wildlife at a single site (Di-Lane plantation) in the southeastern United States, evaluate the genetic diversity of parasites at this site, and investigate potential paratenic hosts that may be involved in transmission. Over 3 yr, we sampled 228 meso-mammals, reporting an overall prevalence of infection with Dracunculus insignis of 20% (46/228). Amphibians and fish were sampled in the same geographic area as infected meso-mammals. Dracunculus insignis third-stage larvae were recovered from 2 different species of amphibians, but all fish sampled were negative. Phylogenetic analysis of the partial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene showed very little diversity of Dracunculus at Di-Lane; however, we did recover a single nematode from a Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) that falls outside of the D. insignis clade, more closely aligns with Dracunculus lutrae, and may represent an undescribed species. This work documents the occurrence of D. insignis in frogs, a potential transmission pathway for D. insignis at a single geographic site in nature. When applied to the global Guinea Worm Eradication Program, and Chad, Africa, in particular, this work increases our knowledge of the potential role of aquatic animals in the transmission of Dracunculus species and informs on potential intervention strategies that may be applied to the eradication of Guinea worm in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A Cleveland
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia 589 D. W. Brooks Dr., Athens, Georgia 30602.,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E. Green St., Athens, Georgia 30602
| | - Mark L Eberhard
- (Retired) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30333
| | - Kayla B Garrett
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia 589 D. W. Brooks Dr., Athens, Georgia 30602
| | - Alec T Thompson
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia 589 D. W. Brooks Dr., Athens, Georgia 30602
| | - Liandrie Swanepoel
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia 589 D. W. Brooks Dr., Athens, Georgia 30602
| | - Elizabeth A Miller
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, Colorado 80526
| | - Odin L Stephens
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, Athens, Georgia 30602
| | - Michael J Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia 589 D. W. Brooks Dr., Athens, Georgia 30602.,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E. Green St., Athens, Georgia 30602
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Salikin NH, Nappi J, Majzoub ME, Egan S. Combating Parasitic Nematode Infections, Newly Discovered Antinematode Compounds from Marine Epiphytic Bacteria. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1963. [PMID: 33322253 PMCID: PMC7764037 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8121963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasitic nematode infections cause debilitating diseases and impede economic productivity. Antinematode chemotherapies are fundamental to modern medicine and are also important for industries including agriculture, aquaculture and animal health. However, the lack of suitable treatments for some diseases and the rise of nematode resistance to many available therapies necessitates the discovery and development of new drugs. Here, marine epiphytic bacteria represent a promising repository of newly discovered antinematode compounds. Epiphytic bacteria are ubiquitous on marine surfaces where they are under constant pressure of grazing by bacterivorous predators (e.g., protozoans and nematodes). Studies have shown that these bacteria have developed defense strategies to prevent grazers by producing toxic bioactive compounds. Although several active metabolites against nematodes have been identified from marine bacteria, drug discovery from marine microorganisms remains underexplored. In this review, we aim to provide further insight into the need and potential for marine epiphytic bacteria to become a new source of antinematode drugs. We discuss current and emerging strategies, including culture-independent high throughput screening and the utilization of Caenorhabditis elegans as a model target organism, which will be required to advance antinematode drug discovery and development from marine microbial sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nor Hawani Salikin
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; (N.H.S.); (J.N.); (M.E.M.)
- School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, USM, 11800 Penang, Malaysia
| | - Jadranka Nappi
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; (N.H.S.); (J.N.); (M.E.M.)
| | - Marwan E. Majzoub
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; (N.H.S.); (J.N.); (M.E.M.)
| | - Suhelen Egan
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; (N.H.S.); (J.N.); (M.E.M.)
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Perini T, Keskinocak P, Li Z, Ruiz-Tiben E, Swann J, Weiss A. Agent-Based Simulation for Seasonal Guinea Worm Disease in Chad Dogs. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 103:1942-1950. [PMID: 32901603 PMCID: PMC7646815 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The campaign to eradicate dracunculiasis (Guinea worm [GW] disease) and its causative pathogen Dracunculus medinensis (GW) in Chad is challenged by infections in domestic dogs, which far outnumber the dwindling number of human infections. We present an agent-based simulation that models transmission of GW between a shared water source and a large population of dogs. The simulation incorporates various potential factors driving the infections including external factors and two currently used interventions, namely, tethering and larvicide water treatments. By defining and estimating infectivity parameters and seasonality factors, we test the simulation model on scenarios where seasonal patterns of dog infections could be driven by the parasite’s life cycle alone or with environmental factors (e.g., temperature and rainfall) that could also affect human or dog behaviors (e.g., fishing versus farming seasons). We show that the best-fitting model includes external factors in addition to the pathogen’s life cycle. From the simulation, we estimate that the basic reproductive number, R0, is approximately 2.0; our results also show that an infected dog can transmit the infection to 3.6 other dogs, on average, during the month of peak infectivity (April). The simulation results shed light on the transmission dynamics of GWs to dogs and lay the groundwork for reducing the number of infections and eventually interrupting transmission of GW.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Perini
- Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | - Zihao Li
- Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | - Julie Swann
- North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina.,Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
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Durrant C, Thiele EA, Holroyd N, Doyle SR, Sallé G, Tracey A, Sankaranarayanan G, Lotkowska ME, Bennett HM, Huckvale T, Abdellah Z, Tchindebet O, Wossen M, Logora MSY, Coulibaly CO, Weiss A, Schulte-Hostedde AI, Foster JM, Cleveland CA, Yabsley MJ, Ruiz-Tiben E, Berriman M, Eberhard ML, Cotton JA. Population genomic evidence that human and animal infections in Africa come from the same populations of Dracunculus medinensis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008623. [PMID: 33253172 PMCID: PMC7728184 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Guinea worm-Dracunculus medinensis-was historically one of the major parasites of humans and has been known since antiquity. Now, Guinea worm is on the brink of eradication, as efforts to interrupt transmission have reduced the annual burden of disease from millions of infections per year in the 1980s to only 54 human cases reported globally in 2019. Despite the enormous success of eradication efforts to date, one complication has arisen. Over the last few years, hundreds of dogs have been found infected with this previously apparently anthroponotic parasite, almost all in Chad. Moreover, the relative numbers of infections in humans and dogs suggests that dogs are currently the principal reservoir on infection and key to maintaining transmission in that country. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS In an effort to shed light on this peculiar epidemiology of Guinea worm in Chad, we have sequenced and compared the genomes of worms from dog, human and other animal infections. Confirming previous work with other molecular markers, we show that all of these worms are D. medinensis, and that the same population of worms are causing both infections, can confirm the suspected transmission between host species and detect signs of a population bottleneck due to the eradication efforts. The diversity of worms in Chad appears to exclude the possibility that there were no, or very few, worms present in the country during a 10-year absence of reported cases. CONCLUSIONS This work reinforces the importance of adequate surveillance of both human and dog populations in the Guinea worm eradication campaign and suggests that control programs aiming to interrupt disease transmission should stay aware of the possible emergence of unusual epidemiology as pathogens approach elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Durrant
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth A. Thiele
- Department of Biology, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York, United States of America
| | - Nancy Holroyd
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen R. Doyle
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Guillaume Sallé
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
- INRA—U. Tours, UMR 1282 ISP Infectiologie et Santé Publique, Nouzilly, France
| | - Alan Tracey
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Geetha Sankaranarayanan
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Magda E. Lotkowska
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Hayley M. Bennett
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
- Present Address: Berkeley Lights Inc., Emeryville, California, United States of America
| | - Thomas Huckvale
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Zahra Abdellah
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Ouakou Tchindebet
- Guinea Worm Eradication Program, The Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Mesfin Wossen
- Guinea Worm Eradication Program, The Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | | | - Cheick Oumar Coulibaly
- Guinea Worm Eradication Program, The Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Adam Weiss
- Guinea Worm Eradication Program, The Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | | | - Jeremy M. Foster
- New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Christopher A. Cleveland
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Michael J. Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Ernesto Ruiz-Tiben
- Guinea Worm Eradication Program, The Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Matthew Berriman
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (JAC); (MB)
| | - Mark L. Eberhard
- Retired, Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - James A. Cotton
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (JAC); (MB)
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Boyce MR, Carlin EP, Schermerhorn J, Standley CJ. A One Health Approach for Guinea Worm Disease Control: Scope and Opportunities. Trop Med Infect Dis 2020; 5:E159. [PMID: 33066254 PMCID: PMC7709623 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed5040159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Guinea worm disease (GWD) is a neglected tropical disease that was targeted for eradication several decades ago because of its limited geographical distribution, predictable seasonality, straightforward diagnosis, and exclusive infection of humans. However, a growing body of evidence challenges this last attribute and suggests that GWD can affect both humans and animal populations. The One Health approach emphasizes the relatedness of human, animal, and environmental health. We reviewed epidemiological evidence that could support the utility of a One Health approach for GWD control in the six countries that have reported human GWD cases since 2015-Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Mali, and South Sudan. Human GWD cases have dramatically declined, but recent years have seen a gradual increase in human case counts, cases in new geographies, and a rapidly growing number of animal infections. Taken together, these suggest a need for an adjusted approach for eradicating GWD using a framework rooted in One Health, dedicated to improving disease surveillance and in animals; pinpointing the dominant routes of infection in animals; elucidating the disease burden in animals; determining transmission risk factors among animals and from animals to humans; and identifying practical ways to foster horizontal and multidisciplinary approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R. Boyce
- Center for Global Health Science & Security, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA; (E.P.C.); (J.S.); (C.J.S.)
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17
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Lemma GW, Müller O, Reñosa MD, Lu G. Challenges in the last mile of the global guinea worm eradication program. Trop Med Int Health 2020; 25:1432-1440. [PMID: 32946140 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to identify the existing challenges in the last mile of the global Guinea Worm Eradication Program. METHODS Systematic Review of articles published from 1 January 2000 until 31 December 2019. Papers listed in Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, ProQuest PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched and reviewed. RESULTS Twenty-five articles met inclusion criteria of the study and were selected for analysis. Hence, relevant data were extracted, grouped and descriptively analysed. Results revealed 10 main challenges complicating the last mile of global guinea worm eradication: unusual mode of transmission; rising animal guinea worm infection; suboptimal surveillance; insecurity; inaccessibility; inadequate safe water points; migration; poor case containment measures, ecological changes; and new geographic foci of the disease. CONCLUSION This systematic review shows that most of the current challenges in guinea worm eradication have been present since the start of the campaign. However, the recent change in epidemiological patterns and nature of dracunculiasis in the last remaining endemic countries illustrates a new twist. Considering the complex nature of the current challenges, there seems to be a need for a more coordinated and multidisciplinary approach of dracunculiasis prevention and control measures. These new strategies would help to make history by eradicating dracunculiasis as the first ever parasitic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Getahun Weldu Lemma
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Ruprecht-Karls Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Doctors Without Borders/MSF, DR-TB Comprehensive Care and Clinical Trial Project in Uzbekistan
| | - Olaf Müller
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa, Philippines
| | - Mark Donald Reñosa
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Ruprecht-Karls Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa, Philippines
| | - GuangYu Lu
- Department of Preventative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
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18
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Wilson-Aggarwal JK, Goodwin CED, Swan GJF, Fielding H, Tadesse Z, Getahun D, Odiel A, Adam A, Marshall HH, Bryant J, Zingeser JA, McDonald RA. Ecology of domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) as a host for Guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis) infection in Ethiopia. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 68:531-542. [PMID: 32615005 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The global programme for the eradication of Guinea worm disease, caused by the parasitic nematode Dracunculus medinensis, has been successful in driving down human cases, but infections in non-human animals, particularly domestic dogs (Canis familiaris), now present a major obstacle to further progress. Dog infections have mainly been found in Chad and, to a lesser extent, in Mali and Ethiopia. While humans classically acquire infection by drinking water containing infected copepods, it has been hypothesized that dogs might additionally or alternatively acquire infection via a novel pathway, such as consumption of fish or frogs as possible transport or paratenic hosts. We characterized the ecology of free-ranging dogs living in three villages in Gog woreda, Gambella region, Ethiopia, in April-May 2018. We analysed their exposure to potential sources of Guinea worm infection and investigated risk factors associated with infection histories. The home ranges of 125 dogs and their activity around water sources were described using GPS tracking, and the diets of 119 dogs were described using stable isotope analysis. Unlike in Chad, where Guinea worm infection is most frequent, we found no ecological or behavioural correlates of infection history in dogs in Ethiopia. Unlike in Chad, there was no effect of variation among dogs in their consumption of aquatic vertebrates (fish or frogs) on their infection history, and we found no evidence to support hypotheses for this novel transmission pathway in Ethiopia. Dog owners had apparently increased the frequency of clean water provision to dogs in response to previous infections. Variations in dog ranging behaviour, owner behaviour and the characteristics of natural water bodies all influenced the exposure of dogs to potential sources of infection. This initial study suggests that the classical transmission pathway should be a focus of attention for Guinea worm control in non-human animals in Ethiopia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cecily E D Goodwin
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
| | - George J F Swan
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
| | - Helen Fielding
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
| | | | | | - Anyaro Odiel
- Public Health Emergency Management Guinea Worm Focal Point, Gog Woreda Health Office, Pugnido, Ethiopia
| | - Alamo Adam
- Public Health Emergency Management Guinea Worm Focal Point, Gog Woreda Health Office, Pugnido, Ethiopia
| | - Harry H Marshall
- Centre for Research in Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour, University of Roehampton, London, UK
| | - Jessica Bryant
- Centre for Research in Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour, University of Roehampton, London, UK
| | | | - Robbie A McDonald
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
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19
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Cooking copepods: The survival of cyclopoid copepods (Crustacea: Copepoda) in simulated provisioned water containers and implications for the Guinea Worm Eradication Program in Chad, Africa. Int J Infect Dis 2020; 95:216-220. [PMID: 32173575 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The global Guinea Worm Eradication Program has reduced numbers of human infections of Guinea worm disease (dracunculiasis) to 49 cases in four countries. However, infections of domestic animals (dogs and cats) have recently been recognized and are increasing. Typically, Guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis) transmission occurs via the ingestion of copepods from water. Despite several interventions, including tethering of dogs while worms emerge, the number of infected dogs continue to increase. One hypothesis is that dogs could be infected through the ingestion of copepods in provisioned water. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine whether copepods can survive in water containers under typical Chadian temperatures. METHODS Four container types (plastic, glass, gourd, and metal) were seeded with copepods and exposed to simulated Chadian temperatures. RESULTS All copepods in the metal containers died within 4 h. Conversely, after 8 h live copepods were still present in plastic, glass, and gourd containers. CONCLUSIONS If provisioned water is provided to potential hosts of D. medinensis, metal containers create the most inhospitable environment for copepods. Plastic containers have little effect on copepod mortality. The use of metal containers for water provisions could be a useful tool assisting with the interruption of D. medinensis transmission among dogs.
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Abstract
Dracunculiasis is the first parasitic disease set for eradication. However, recent events related to the Dracunculus medinensis epidemiology in certain African countries are apparently posing new challenges to its eradication. Two novel facts have emerged: the existence of animal reservoirs (mainly dogs but also cats and baboons), and possibly a new food-borne route of transmission by the ingestion of paratenic (frogs) or transport (fish) hosts. Therefore, instead of being exclusively a water-borne anthroponosis, dracunculiasis would also be a food-borne zoonosis. The existence of a large number of infected dogs, mainly in Chad, and the low number of infected humans, have given rise to this potential food-borne transmission. This novel route would concern not only reservoirs, but also humans. However, only animals seem to be affected. Dracunculus medinensis is on the verge of eradication due to the control measures which, classically, have been exclusively aimed at the water-borne route. Therefore, food-borne transmission is probably of secondary importance, at least in humans. In Chad, reservoirs would become infected through the water-borne route, mainly in the dry season when rivers recede, and smaller accessible ponds, with a lower water level containing the infected copepods, appear, whilst humans drink filtered water and, thus, avoid infection. The total absence of control measures aimed at dogs (or at other potential reservoirs) up until the last years, added to the stimulating reward in cash given to those who find parasitized dogs, have presumably given rise to the current dracunculiasis scenario in Chad.
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21
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Cleveland CA, Eberhard ML, Thompson AT, Garrett KB, Swanepoel L, Zirimwabagabo H, Moundai T, Ouakou PT, Ruiz-Tiben E, Yabsley MJ. A search for tiny dragons (Dracunculus medinensis third-stage larvae) in aquatic animals in Chad, Africa. Sci Rep 2019; 9:375. [PMID: 30675007 PMCID: PMC6344555 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37567-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Dracunculus medinensis, or human Guinea worm (GW), causes a painful and debilitating infection. The global Guinea Worm Eradication Program (GWEP) has successfully reduced human GW cases from 3.5 million in 21 countries in 1986 to only 30 cases in three remaining countries in 2017. Since 2012, an increase in GW infections in domestic dogs, cats and baboons has been reported. Because these infections have not followed classical GW epidemiological patterns resulting from water-borne transmission, it has been hypothesized that transmission occurs via a paratenic host. Thus, we investigated the potential of aquatic animals to serve as paratenic hosts for D. medinensis in Chad, Africa. During three rainy and two dry season trips we detected no GW larvae in 234 fish, two reptiles and two turtles; however, seven GW larvae were recovered from 4 (1.4%) of 276 adult frogs. These data suggest GW infections may occur from ingestion of frogs but the importance of this route is unknown. Additional studies are needed, especially for other possible routes (e.g., ingestion of fish intestines that were recently shown to be a risk). Significantly, 150 years after the life cycle of D. medinensis was described, our data highlights important gaps in the knowledge of GW ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A Cleveland
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 589 D.W. Brooks Dr., Athens, GA, 30601, United States.
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E. Green St., Athens, GA, 30602, United States.
| | | | - Alec T Thompson
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 589 D.W. Brooks Dr., Athens, GA, 30601, United States
| | - Kayla B Garrett
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 589 D.W. Brooks Dr., Athens, GA, 30601, United States
| | - Liandrie Swanepoel
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 589 D.W. Brooks Dr., Athens, GA, 30601, United States
| | | | | | | | - Ernesto Ruiz-Tiben
- The Carter Center, 453 Freedom Pkwy NE, Atlanta, GA, 30307, United States
| | - Michael J Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 589 D.W. Brooks Dr., Athens, GA, 30601, United States.
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E. Green St., Athens, GA, 30602, United States.
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22
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Cleveland CA, Garrett KB, Cozad RA, Williams BM, Murray MH, Yabsley MJ. The wild world of Guinea Worms: A review of the genus Dracunculus in wildlife. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2018; 7:289-300. [PMID: 30094178 PMCID: PMC6072916 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2018.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Revised: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Nematodes are an extremely diverse and speciose group of parasites. Adult dracunculoid nematodes (Superfamily Dracunculoidea) occur in the tissues and serous cavities of mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and birds. Of the dracunculid group, perhaps best known is Dracunculus medinensis, the human Guinea Worm. Considerable work has been done on D. medinensis; however recent infections in peri-domestic dogs and the finding of naturally-infected paratenic hosts (previously unreported for D. medinensis) indicate we still have much to learn about these parasites. Furthermore, among eight species in the Old World and six species in the New World there is a lack of general life history knowledge as well as questions on species occurrence, host diversity, and transmission dynamics. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of the genus Dracunculus, in order of a theoretical evolutionary progression from reptilian to mammalian hosts. Species descriptions, where available, are provided but also show where gaps occur in our knowledge of various species. Additionally, many first reports of Dracunculus spp. were done prior to the development and use of molecular tools. This is especially important for this group of parasites as speciation based on morphology is only applicable to males of the genus, and males, given their size, are notoriously difficult to recover from definitive hosts. Therefore, we also discuss current molecular tools used in the investigation of this group of parasites. Given recent host-switching events, the dracunculids are of increasing importance and require further work to expand our understanding of this genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A. Cleveland
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Wildlife Health Building, 589 D.W, Brooks Dr, Athens, 30602, GA, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, GA, USA
| | - Kayla B. Garrett
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Wildlife Health Building, 589 D.W, Brooks Dr, Athens, 30602, GA, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, GA, USA
| | - Rebecca A. Cozad
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, GA, USA
| | - Brianna M. Williams
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Wildlife Health Building, 589 D.W, Brooks Dr, Athens, 30602, GA, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, GA, USA
| | - Maureen H. Murray
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, GA, USA
| | - Michael J. Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Wildlife Health Building, 589 D.W, Brooks Dr, Athens, 30602, GA, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, GA, USA
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Hopkins DR, Ruiz-Tiben E, Weiss AJ, Roy SL, Zingeser J, Guagliardo SAJ. Progress Toward Global Eradication of Dracunculiasis - January 2017-June 2018. MMWR-MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT 2018; 67:1265-1270. [PMID: 30439874 PMCID: PMC6290806 DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6745a3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Thiele EA, Eberhard ML, Cotton JA, Durrant C, Berg J, Hamm K, Ruiz-Tiben E. Population genetic analysis of Chadian Guinea worms reveals that human and non-human hosts share common parasite populations. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006747. [PMID: 30286084 PMCID: PMC6191157 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Revised: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Following almost 10 years of no reported cases, Guinea worm disease (GWD or dracunculiasis) reemerged in Chad in 2010 with peculiar epidemiological patterns and unprecedented prevalence of infection among non-human hosts, particularly domestic dogs. Since 2014, animal infections with Guinea worms have also been observed in the other three countries with endemic transmission (Ethiopia, Mali, and South Sudan), causing concern and generating interest in the parasites' true taxonomic identity and population genetics. We present the first extensive population genetic data for Guinea worm, investigating mitochondrial and microsatellite variation in adult female worms from both human and non-human hosts in the four endemic countries to elucidate the origins of Chad's current outbreak and possible host-specific differences between parasites. Genetic diversity of Chadian Guinea worms was considerably higher than that of the other three countries, even after controlling for sample size through rarefaction, and demographic analyses are consistent with a large, stable parasite population. Genealogical analyses eliminate the other three countries as possible sources of parasite reintroduction into Chad, and sequence divergence and distribution of genetic variation provide no evidence that parasites in human and non-human hosts are separate species or maintain isolated transmission cycles. Both among and within countries, geographic origin appears to have more influence on parasite population structure than host species. Guinea worm infection in non-human hosts has been occasionally reported throughout the history of the disease, particularly when elimination programs appear to be reaching their end goals. However, no previous reports have evaluated molecular support of the parasite species identity. Our data confirm that Guinea worms collected from non-human hosts in the remaining endemic countries of Africa are Dracunculus medinensis and that the same population of worms infects both humans and dogs in Chad. Our genetic data and the epidemiological evidence suggest that transmission in the Chadian context is currently being maintained by canine hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Thiele
- Biology Department, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York, United States of America
| | - Mark L. Eberhard
- Parasitic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - James A. Cotton
- Parasite Genomics Group, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Durrant
- Parasite Genomics Group, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Jeffrey Berg
- Biology Department, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York, United States of America
| | - Kelsey Hamm
- Biology Department, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York, United States of America
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25
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Hopkins DR, Ruiz-Tiben E, Eberhard ML, Weiss A, Withers PC, Roy SL, Sienko DG. Dracunculiasis Eradication: Are We There Yet? Am J Trop Med Hyg 2018; 99:388-395. [PMID: 29869608 PMCID: PMC6090361 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.18-0204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
This report summarizes the status of the global Dracunculiasis Eradication Program as of the end of 2017. Dracunculiasis (guinea worm disease) has been eliminated from 19 of 21 countries where it was endemic in 1986, when an estimated 3.5 million cases occurred worldwide. Only Chad and Ethiopia reported cases in humans, 15 each, in 2017. Infections of animals, mostly domestic dogs, with Dracunculus medinensis were reported in those two countries and also in Mali. Insecurity and infections in animals are the two main obstacles remaining to interrupting dracunculiasis transmission completely.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Sharon L. Roy
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
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26
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Eberhard ML, Ruiz-Tiben E, Hopkins DR. Dogs and Guinea worm eradication. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2018; 16:1225-1226. [PMID: 27788982 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(16)30380-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Revised: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mark L Eberhard
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Ernesto Ruiz-Tiben
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Donald R Hopkins
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
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27
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Williams BM, Cleveland CA, Verocai GG, Swanepoel L, Niedringhaus KD, Paras KL, Nagamori Y, Little SE, Varela-Stokes A, Nemeth N, Wyrosdick H, Tucker A, Deal L, Gauthier D, Prouty S, DeAngelo C, Marsh A, Piepgras D, Cook LH, Milliren KB, Becker JS, Lyons C, Clark J, Stumph J, Borst MM, Craig T, Tucker KL, Ward A, Baird EM, Burke KA, Camp JW, Davis CA, Pulaski CN, Yabsley MJ. Dracunculus infections in domestic dogs and cats in North America; an under-recognized parasite? VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2018; 13:148-155. [PMID: 31014864 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2018] [Revised: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/27/2018] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
We reviewed 62 new cases and 18 published reports of Dracunculus infections in domestic dogs and cats to describe the epidemiology of this parasite in dogs and cats in North America. We collected host and parasite data when available, including age, sex, and breed of dog, nematode location in the host, and any clinical signs at presentation and/or description of the apparent lesion. For dogs, infections were noted in six of the AKC breed groups, but none was reported from the toy group or the miscellaneous breed class. Age of infected dogs ranged from 7 months to 19 years (median 4 years; average 5.3 years), and infection rates were similar in male and female dogs. Most nematodes were associated with the distal extremities, but worms were also found in the chest/thorax, abdomen, head, and flank. Although most infected dogs had a single worm, three dogs had two or more worms that were collected from multiple lesions. Three new cat cases, with similar lesions, presentations and seasonality, were detected in Alabama, North Carolina and Texas. Cases were reported from a wide geographic range throughout eastern North America, during every month of the year, but 72% of infections were diagnosed in the late winter to early spring (December to May). All collected worms were larvigerous females which cannot be identified to species based on morphologic characters. Thus, we attempted to amplify and sequence a portion of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene for specific identification. Although 13 worms from 12 cases were available, sequences were obtained for only eight worms from seven cases. These eight worms were D. insignis, a common parasite of raccoons (Procyon lotor) and other primarily carnivorous mammals. Female worms are the most likely to be detected in dogs and cats because male worms do not emerge, parasites should be preserved in ethanol for molecular identification. Although this study used convenience sampling of available data, we found that the parasite is widespread throughout the eastern US and Canada and that Dracunculus infections in dogs are more common than is revealed in published literature. However, more research is needed to understand the epidemiology, including transmission route(s), prevalence, and distribution of this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianna M Williams
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Wildlife Health Building, 589 D.W. Brooks Dr., Athens, GA 30602, USA; Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| | - Christopher A Cleveland
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Wildlife Health Building, 589 D.W. Brooks Dr., Athens, GA 30602, USA; Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| | - Guilherme G Verocai
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
| | - Liandrie Swanepoel
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Wildlife Health Building, 589 D.W. Brooks Dr., Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| | - Kevin D Niedringhaus
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Wildlife Health Building, 589 D.W. Brooks Dr., Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| | - Kelsey L Paras
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
| | - Yoko Nagamori
- Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
| | - Susan E Little
- Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
| | - Andrea Varela-Stokes
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, MS 39762, USA..
| | - Nicole Nemeth
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Wildlife Health Building, 589 D.W. Brooks Dr., Athens, GA 30602, USA; Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph and Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Heidi Wyrosdick
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, 2407 River Drive, Knoxville, TN 37966, USA.
| | - Alison Tucker
- Rollins Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, North Carolina Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System, 2101 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA.
| | - Leigh Deal
- Beckley Veterinary Hospital, Beckley, WV 25801, USA.
| | - Dawn Gauthier
- Uxbridge Veterinary Hospital, Uxbridge, Ontario L9P 1M9, Canada.
| | - Susanne Prouty
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine, 1971 Commonwealth Ave, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.
| | - Christina DeAngelo
- Guilford Veterinary Hospital, 81 Saw Mill Road, Guilford, CT 06437, USA.
| | - Antoinette Marsh
- Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 1920 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Deborah Piepgras
- Lakeland Veterinary Hospital, 7372 Woida Road, Baxter, MN 56425, USA.
| | - Lyn H Cook
- Thomasville Veterinary Hospital, 724 National Hwy, Thomasville, NC 27360, USA.
| | - Karl B Milliren
- Thomasville Veterinary Hospital, 724 National Hwy, Thomasville, NC 27360, USA.
| | - Jackie S Becker
- T.B. Rescue Resources and Transport, Lafayette, IN 47909, USA.
| | - Cyndy Lyons
- Brinker Veterinary Hospital, 975 S Rd, Lake Orion, Lapeer, MI 48362, USA.
| | | | - Jessica Stumph
- First Flight Mobile Veterinary Services, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949, USA.
| | - Mindy M Borst
- Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine Diagnostic Laboratory, Texas A&M, College Station, TX 77841, USA.
| | - Thomas Craig
- Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine Diagnostic Laboratory, Texas A&M, College Station, TX 77841, USA.
| | - Kathy L Tucker
- South Haven Animal Hospital, South Haven, MI 49090, USA.
| | - Ashley Ward
- Bryson Veterinary Clinic, 11146 US Highway 231, Wetumpka, AL 36092, USA.
| | - Elaine M Baird
- Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, South University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
| | - Kathleen A Burke
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine West Lafayette, Purdue University, IN 47907, USA.
| | - Joseph W Camp
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine West Lafayette, Purdue University, IN 47907, USA.
| | | | - Cassan N Pulaski
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA.
| | - Michael J Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Wildlife Health Building, 589 D.W. Brooks Dr., Athens, GA 30602, USA; Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
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Cleveland CA, Eberhard ML, Thompson AT, Smith SJ, Zirimwabagabo H, Bringolf R, Yabsley MJ. Possible Role of Fish as Transport Hosts for Dracunculus spp. Larvae. Emerg Infect Dis 2018; 23:1590-1592. [PMID: 28820381 PMCID: PMC5572877 DOI: 10.3201/eid2309.161931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
To inform Dracunculus medinensis (Guinea worm) eradication efforts, we evaluated the role of fish as transport hosts for Dracunculus worms. Ferrets fed fish that had ingested infected copepods became infected, highlighting the importance of recommendations to cook fish, bury entrails, and prevent dogs from consuming raw fish and entrails.
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Hopkins DR, Ruiz-Tiben E, Eberhard ML, Roy SL, Weiss AJ. Progress Toward Global Eradication of Dracunculiasis, January 2016-June 2017. MMWR-MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT 2017; 66:1327-1331. [PMID: 29216028 PMCID: PMC5757633 DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6648a3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease) is caused by Dracunculus medinensis, a parasitic worm. Approximately 1 year after a person acquires infection from contaminated drinking water, the worm emerges through the skin, usually on a lower limb (1). Pain and secondary bacterial infection can cause temporary or permanent disability that disrupts work and schooling. The campaign to eradicate dracunculiasis worldwide began in 1980 at CDC. In 1986, the World Health Assembly called for dracunculiasis elimination,* and the global Guinea Worm Eradication Program, led by the Carter Center and supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children's Fund, CDC, and other partners, began assisting ministries of health in countries with endemic dracunculiasis. In 1986, an estimated 3.5 million cases occurred each year in 20 countries in Africa and Asia (2). Since then, although the goal of eradicating dracunculiasis has not been achieved, considerable progress has been made. Compared with the 1986 estimate, the annual number of reported cases in 2016 has declined by >99%, and cases are confined to three countries with endemic disease. This report updates published (3-4) and unpublished surveillance data reported by ministries of health and describes progress toward dracunculiasis eradication during January 2016-June 2017. In 2016, a total of 25 cases were reported from three countries (Chad [16], South Sudan [six], Ethiopia [three]), compared with 22 cases reported from the same three countries and Mali in 2015 (Table 1). The 14% increase in cases from 2015 to 2016 was offset by the 25% reduction in number of countries with indigenous cases. During the first 6 months of 2017, the overall number of cases declined to eight, all in Chad, from 10 cases in three countries (Chad [four], South Sudan [four] and Ethiopia [two]) during the same period of 2016. Continued active surveillance, aggressive detection, and appropriate management of cases are essential eradication program components; however, epidemiologic challenges, civil unrest, and insecurity pose potential barriers to eradication.
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Molyneux D, Sankara DP. Guinea worm eradication: Progress and challenges- should we beware of the dog? PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005495. [PMID: 28426663 PMCID: PMC5398503 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- David Molyneux
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Dieudonné P. Sankara
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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31
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Hopkins DR, Ruiz-Tiben E, Eberhard ML, Roy SL, Weiss AJ. Progress Toward Global Eradication of Dracunculiasis -January 2015-June 2016. MMWR-MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT 2016; 65:1112-1116. [PMID: 27736840 DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6540a5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease) is caused by Dracunculus medinensis, a parasitic worm. Approximately 1 year after a person acquires infection from drinking contaminated water, the worm emerges through the skin, usually on the leg. Pain and secondary bacterial infection can cause temporary or permanent disability that disrupts work and schooling. The campaign to eradicate dracunculiasis worldwide began in 1980 at CDC. In 1986, the World Health Assembly called for dracunculiasis elimination (1), and the global Guinea Worm Eradication Program, led by the Carter Center and supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), CDC, and other partners, began assisting ministries of health in countries where dracunculiasis was endemic. In 1986, an estimated 3.5 million cases were occurring each year in 20 countries in Africa and Asia (1,2). Since then, although the goal of eradicating dracunculiasis has not been achieved, substantial progress has been made. Compared with the 1986 estimate, the annual number of reported cases in 2015 has been reduced by >99%, and cases are confined to four countries with endemic disease. This report updates published (3-5) and unpublished surveillance data reported by ministries of health and describes progress toward dracunculiasis eradication during January 2015-June 2016. In 2015, a total of 22 cases were reported from four countries (Chad [nine cases], Mali [five], South Sudan [five], and Ethiopia [three]), compared with 126 cases reported in 2014 from the same four countries (Table 1). The overall 83% reduction in cases from 2014 to 2015 is the largest such annual overall reduction ever achieved during this global campaign. During the first 6 months of 2016, however, cases increased 25% compared with the same period in 2015. Continued active surveillance and aggressive detection and appropriate management of cases are essential eradication program components; however, epidemiologic challenges and civil unrest and insecurity pose potential barriers to eradication.
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