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Manzocchi S, Di Palma S, Peloso M, Pantchev N. Atypical case of subcutaneous filariosis in a cat caused by Dirofilaria immitis. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:141. [PMID: 38393410 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08163-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Subcutaneous dirofilariosis is a well-known disease caused mainly by Dirofilaria repens and described in several mammalian species including humans, dogs, and cats. Additionally, early developing stages of the heartworm Dirofilaria immitis are rarely reported in subcutaneous localization from humans and dogs. To our knowledge, confirmed clinical evidence of this condition has not been described in the cats yet, even if the feline hosts can be affected either by the classic adult-related heartworm form or heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD) caused by immature stages. A 2 year old, spayed male cat was presented for three subcutaneous nodules on the head and trunk. The cat lived in Northern Italy and was regularly vaccinated and treated monthly with an antiparasitic spot on formulation containing selamectin. One of the three nodules was surgically excised and examined. Histology showed the presence of a nodular lesion in the subcutis characterized by a severe inflammatory infiltrate composed of macrophages, small lymphocytes, with fewer eosinophils, and mast cells, supported by a proliferation of mature fibroblasts (fibrosis). Inflammatory cells were multifocally surrounding sections of parasites identified as adult nematodes. Microscopic features were compatible with D. immitis, which has been molecularly confirmed (98.2% identity to D. immitis isolate OP107739). The cat tested negative for D. immitis antigenemia and the two remaining nodules disappeared spontaneously in a few months. In region where heartworm is prevalent, aberrant localization of D. immitis should be considered in the differential diagnoses of subcutaneous filarial worms in cats and dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Manzocchi
- Novara Day Lab, IDEXX Laboratories, SP 9, 28060, Granozzo Con Monticello, NO, Italy.
| | - Stefano Di Palma
- IDEXX Laboratories, Grange House, Sandbeck Way, Wetherby, LS22 7DN, UK
| | - Martina Peloso
- Ambulatorio Veterinario, Via Terraglio 194, 31022, Preganziol, TV, Italy
| | - Nikola Pantchev
- IDEXX Laboratories, Humboldstr. 2, D-70806, Kornwestheim, Germany
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Geisen V, Pantchev N, Wuelfing K, Würthner C, Gierschner K, Urban C, Lambach Y, Hartmann K, Bergmann M. Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection associated with strong inflammatory response in 3 cats. Tierarztl Prax Ausg K Kleintiere Heimtiere 2024; 52:40-47. [PMID: 38412957 DOI: 10.1055/a-2202-4956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Anaplasmosis is a vector-borne disease caused by Anaplasma (A.) spp. which currently is still rarely diagnosed in cats. This article describes 3 independent cases of anaplasmosis in cats from different regions of Germany presented to veterinarians in 2021. All cats showed unspecific clinical signs, such as fever, reduced general condition, and decreased appetite. One cat additionally had generalized limb pain, another showed reluctance to move as well as vomiting. On complete blood cell count, only 1 of 3 cats showed mild thrombocytopenia. A. phagocytophilum was detected in blood samples of all 3 cats by polymerase chain reaction. Additionally, in 2 cats (in which blood smears were evaluated) morulae could be detected within neutrophilic granulocytes. Initially, all 3 cats had highly elevated serum amyloid A (SAA) concentrations. Treatment with doxycycline caused a rapid improvement of clinical signs, followed by a decrease of SAA concentrations to normal levels as well as negative PCR results after a treatment duration of at least 28 days. In cats with fever, otherwise unspecific clinical signs with only mild or no hematological changes, elevated SAA concentrations, and previous exposure to ticks, attending veterinarians should consider anaplasmosis as differential diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Geisen
- LMU Small Animal Clinic, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Katrin Hartmann
- LMU Small Animal Clinic, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Michèle Bergmann
- LMU Small Animal Clinic, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
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Rodríguez-Cariño C, López Loarte J, Marí-Martorell D, Pantchev N, Hernandez Martinez L. Unusual transformation of Leishmania spp. amastigotes to promastigotes in a bone marrow sample from a Greyhound dog. Vet Clin Pathol 2023; 52:503-506. [PMID: 37408304 DOI: 10.1111/vcp.13252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
The objective of the study was to confirm the presence of different morphological forms of Leishmania infantum promastigotes on bone marrow aspirates from a Spanish Greyhound with canine leishmaniosis.
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d'Ovidio D, Pantchev N, Santoro D. Hirstiella spp. Infestation in A Client-Owned Iguana (Iguana Iguana) Associated With Skin Lesions on its Owner. Top Companion Anim Med 2023; 55:100802. [PMID: 37499793 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcam.2023.100802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
A green iguana (Iguana iguana) was presented for severe pruritus, dysecdysis, reduced appetite, lethargy, and the presence of dark red spots on the entire body. A pruritic dermatitis was present on the owner's arms as well. Parasitological examination (light microscopy) performed on the affected iguana, via skin scraping and acetate tape test, revealed numerous Hirstiella spp. mites. Resolution of clinical signs occurred 3 weeks after daily water bath and 3 weekly applications of a 0.25% fipronil solution (sprayed on a glove and then rubbed on the skin of the lizard) along with application of diluted fipronil (1:5 in water). This is the first case report of potential Hirstiella spp. dermatitis in an adult human. Although uncommon, Hirstiella spp. infestation should be considered as a possible differential in pruritic pet lizards specifically in cases in which the owner presents a papular dermatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Domenico Santoro
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Morelli S, Diakou A, Frangipane di Regalbono A, Colombo M, Simonato G, Di Cesare A, Passarelli A, Pezzuto C, Tzitzoudi Z, Barlaam A, Beall M, Chandrashekar R, Pantchev N, Traversa D. Use of In-Clinic Diagnostic Kits for the Detection of Seropositivity to Leishmania infantum and Other Major Vector-Borne Pathogens in Healthy Dogs. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12050696. [PMID: 37242366 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12050696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Canine Vector-Borne Diseases (CVBDs) are widespread in Europe and enzootic in many other countries. Though severe illnesses may occur, dogs living in enzootic areas often show vague or no clinical signs of CVBDs. Undiagnosed infections/co-infections in subclinically infected animals favor the spread of CVBDs and increase the risk of transmission to other animals and, in some cases, humans. This study has evaluated the exposure of dogs living in key enzootic countries, i.e., Italy and Greece, to major CVBDs via the use of in-clinic diagnostic kits. Overall, 300 privately owned dogs without/with single mild clinical signs living in different regions of Italy (n. 150) and Greece (n. 150) were included in the study. As part of a clinical examination, a blood sample was collected from each dog and subjected to two serological rapid tests, i.e., the SNAP® 4Dx®Plus (IDEXX Laboratories Inc.) for the detection of antibodies against Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. and Dirofilaria immitis antigen and the SNAP®Leishmania (IDEXX Laboratories Inc.) for the detection of antibodies against Leishmania infantum. In all, 51 dogs (17%; 95% CI 12.9-21.7) were seropositive to at least 1 pathogen, i.e., 4 in Italy (2.7%; 95% CI 1.4-13.1) and 47 in Greece (31.3%; 95% CI 24-39.4). Dirofilaria immitis antigens were found in 39 dogs (13%; 95% CI 9.4-17.3), while antibodies against Ehrlichia, Anaplasma and Leishmania were detected in 25 (8.3%; 95% CI 5.5-12.1), 8 (2.7%; 95% CI 1.2-5.2) and 5 (1.7%; 95% CI 0.5-3.8) dogs, respectively. None of the dogs tested seropositive for B. burgdorferi s.l. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate associations between exposure to CVBDs and possible risk factors. The present results indicate that dogs living in enzootic areas may be seropositive for one or more CVBDs in absence of clinical signs. Rapid kits are among first line tools for the detection of CVBDs in clinical settings, as they are cost-effective, straightforward and quick to use. Also, in-clinic tests used herein allowed detection of co-exposure to CVBDs investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Morelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Anastasia Diakou
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Mariasole Colombo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Giulia Simonato
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Angela Di Cesare
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | | | - Carlo Pezzuto
- Ambulatorio Veterinario Pezzuto Carlo/Piano Noemi, 86010 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Zoe Tzitzoudi
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Alessandra Barlaam
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering, University of Foggia, Via Napoli 25, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Donato Traversa
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
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Miró G, Wright I, Michael H, Burton W, Hegarty E, Rodón J, Buch J, Pantchev N, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G. Seropositivity of main vector-borne pathogens in dogs across Europe. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:189. [PMID: 35668469 PMCID: PMC9169295 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05316-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Canine vector-borne disease (CVBD) has been an area of increasing interest in Europe over the last few decades, and there have been changes in the prevalence and distribution of many of these diseases. Monitoring CVBD infections in Europe is often done by individual countries, but aggregated data for the European countries are helpful to understand the distribution of CVBDs. METHODS We used an extensive retrospective database of results from point-of-care rapid enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests on dogs across Europe to identify distribution and seropositivity in animals tested for selected CVBDs (Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi, Leishmania spp., and Dirofilaria immitis) from 2016 through 2020. Geographic distribution of positive tests and relative percent positive values were mapped by the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics classification for regions with sufficient test results for reporting. RESULTS A total of 404,617 samples corresponding to 1,134,648 canine results were available from dogs tested in 35 countries over the 5-year study period. Over this period the number of test results per year increased whereas test positivity decreased. Leishmania spp. had the largest increase in total test results from 25,000 results in 2016 to over 60,000 results in 2020. Test positivity for Leishmania spp. fell from 13.9% in 2016 to 9.4% in 2020. Test positivity fell for Anaplasma spp. (7.3 to 5.3%), Ehrlichia spp. (4.3 to 3.4%), and Borrelia burgdorferi (3.3 to 2.4%). Dirofilaria immitis test positivity trended down with a high of 2.7% in 2016 and low of 1.8% in 2018. Leishmania spp. test positivity was highest in endemic areas and in several non-endemic countries with low numbers of test results. Co-positivity rates were significantly higher than expected for all pathogen test positive pairs except for Ehrlichia spp. with Borrelia burgdorferi and D. immitis with Borrelia burgdorferi. CONCLUSIONS This study represents the largest data set on CVBD seropositivity in Europe to date. The increase in the number of test results and decreasing test positivity over the study period may reflect changes in testing behavior and increased screening of healthy animals. The Europe-wide mapping of CVBD provides expected test positivity that can help inform veterinarians' decisions on screening and improve prevention and identification of these important, sometimes zoonotic, diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guadalupe Miró
- Department of Animal Health, Veterinary Faculty, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Ian Wright
- Mount Veterinary Practice, Fleetwood, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Jesse Buch
- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc, Westbrook, ME, USA
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Unterköfler MS, Eipeldauer I, Merz S, Pantchev N, Hermann J, Brunthaler R, Basso W, Hinney B. Strongyloides stercoralis infection in dogs in Austria: two case reports. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:168. [PMID: 35570317 PMCID: PMC9107779 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05270-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Strongyloides stercoralis is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions, but reports of infections in central and northern Europe have been recently increasing. Infections occur mainly in humans and dogs. In dogs, both dog-adapted and zoonotic S. stercoralis genotypes seem to occur. Clinical manifestations mainly include gastrointestinal and respiratory signs. The severity of the disease can vary greatly and depends on the immune status of the host. The infection is potentially fatal in immunosuppressed individuals, either medically induced or due to an underlying disease, in which hyperinfections and disseminated infections with extraintestinal parasite dissemination may occur. Methods Diagnosis was based on coproscopy, including flotation and the Baermann funnel technique, histology of small intestinal biopsies and molecular analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and hypervariable regions I and IV (HVR I and HVR IV) of the nuclear 18S rDNA loci. Results Two independent cases of severe canine S.stercoralis infection in Austria are presented. In both cases, S. stercoralis was detected in histological sections of the small intestine and with the Baermann funnel technique. Molecular analysis revealed strains with zoonotic potential. Case 1 was a 1-year-old female French bulldog with a long history of respiratory and gastrointestinal signs, severe emaciation and apathy before S.stercoralis infection was diagnosed. Treatment with moxidectin (2.5 mg/kg body weight [BW], oral route) did not eliminate the infection, but treatment with ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg BW, subcutaneously) was successful. Case 2 consisted of two 2-month-old Pomeranian puppies, one female and one male, from a litter of four, which died soon after presenting dyspnoea and haemorrhagic diarrhoea (female) or torticollis (male); S.stercoralis infection was first diagnosed post-mortem. Conclusion More attention should be paid to this nematode because although it appears to be rare in Austria, it is easily overlooked on standard coproscopy unless a Baermann funnel technique is used, and even then, it can be missed. Moxidectin is not always successful in eliminating the infection, and treatment with ivermectin should be considered in cases of infection. Graphical Abstract ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Iris Eipeldauer
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Josef Hermann
- Veterinary Practice Dipl.Tzt. Josef Hermann, Trautmannsdorf, Austria
| | - René Brunthaler
- Institute of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Walter Basso
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Hinney
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Lehmann V, Altherr B, Pantchev N, Öfner S, Zablotski Y, Murphy R, Coyne M, Kölle P. Symmetrical Dimethylarginine as a Diagnostic Parameter in Hermann's Tortoises (Testudo hermanni). Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:824748. [PMID: 35274022 PMCID: PMC8902294 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.824748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite improvements in habitational conditions, kidney disease is relatively common in tortoises. Objectives Purpose of this study was the establishment of Symmetrical dimethylarginine (SDMA) reference values for clinically healthy Hermann's Tortoises. Animals Clinically healthy Hermann's Tortoises (n = 131) were included in the period from October 2017 to September 2019. Methods Creatinine and other biomarkers were tested at IDEXX Laboratories, Germany using residual blood samples from Hermann's tortoises. SDMA was measured with the IDEXX test and verified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry at IDEXX Laboratories, USA. Results SDMA values ranged from 1 to 21 μg/dl (n = 131) for the IDEXX SDMA Test and SDMA values ranged from 1 to 17 μg/dl (n = 82) for LC-MS. For the comparison of the two measuring systems, the following results were obtained R2 = 0.75 (p < 0.001). Conclusion and Clinical Importance SDMA can be measured in Hermann's Tortoises and the reference values range in clinically healthy animals is comparable to that of dogs and cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Lehmann
- Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- *Correspondence: Verena Lehmann
| | | | | | | | - Yury Zablotski
- Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Rachel Murphy
- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., Westbrook, ME, United States
| | - Michael Coyne
- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., Westbrook, ME, United States
| | - Petra Kölle
- Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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Globokar M, Pantchev N, Hinney B, Leschnik M, Peschke R, Schaper R, Schnyder M. Serological and faecal detection of Angiostrongylus vasorum in dogs from Austria. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2021; 26:100641. [PMID: 34879952 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2021.100641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Canine angiostrongylosis is a potentially lethal parasitic disease that can manifest itself with a broad spectrum of clinical signs, including respiratory distress, neurological and bleeding disorders, or non-specific signs. The occurrence of Angiostrongylus vasorum is widely reported in Europe, but very little is known about its presence in Austria. In this first large-scale survey, 1279 sera were collected from Austrian dogs and tested by an ELISA for the detection of circulating antigen of A. vasorum (sensitivity: 95.7%, specificity 94.0%) and by a separate ELISA detecting specific antibodies (sensitivity 81.0%, specificity 98.8%). Furthermore, 1040 faecal samples were tested for the presence of lungworm first stage larvae (L1). One dog (0.1%, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.0-0.4%) was positive in both ELISAs, while 1.2% (n = 15, CI: 0.7-1.9%) of the tested dogs were antigen-positive and 1.5% (n = 19, CI: 0.9-2.3%) were positive for specific antibodies. Overall, 13 dogs (1.3%; CI: 0.7-2.1%) were positive for A. vasorum L1 while 31 dogs were positive for Crenosoma vulpis L1 (3.0%; CI: 2.0-4.2%). One dog shed L1 from both A. vasorum and C. vulpis (0.1%, CI: 0.0-0.5%). Dogs positive for A. vasorum originated from northeast, southeast and south Austria (antigen and/or antibody detection), but also from north, west and southwest Austria (antibody detection) and from northeast and west Austria (L1 detection). One of 88 blood samples (1.1%, CI: 0.0-6.2%) submitted from the eastern part of Austria was positive by a rapid assay for A. vasorum antigen detection (Angio Detect™). Crenosoma vulpis positive samples originated from northwest, north, northeast, south and west Austria. These results confirm the very sporadic occurrence of A. vasorum in the investigated areas of the country. However, due to the substantial infectious pressure from the surrounding countries and the free circulation of dogs and foxes acting as wildlife reservoirs and due to clinical relevance for infected dogs, it is crucial to maintain disease awareness also in areas where the parasite has not yet been detected.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Barbara Hinney
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, Vetmeduni Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Leschnik
- Clinical Unit of Internal Medicine Small Animals, University Hospital for Small Animals, Department/Hospital for Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Roman Peschke
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, Vetmeduni Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Manuela Schnyder
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
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Strobl A, Pantchev N, Martin L, Guija-De-Arespacochaga A, Hinney B, Fuehrer HP, Leschnik M. Co-infection with Babesia canis and Babesia gibsoni in a dog. Acta Vet Hung 2021; 69:347-353. [PMID: 34773454 DOI: 10.1556/004.2021.00048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
A four-year-old intact male Boxer, that had a history of travelling to Serbia, was referred for lethargy and anaemia. Shortly before the dog was referred, it was diagnosed twice with an infection with Babesia canis and was treated with imidocarb both times. A blood smear evaluation was indicative of the presence of intraerythrocytic piroplasms. After receiving inconclusive results regarding the type of piroplasm, the dog was diagnosed with simultaneous infections with B. canis and Babesia gibsoni via real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) testing. The dog was treated with imidocarb, atovaquone and azithromycin, and in a follow-up examination, the PCR results were negative for B. canis and B. gibsoni. Several weeks later, the dog was presented again, and a PCR was positive for B. gibsoni. After atovaquone and azithromycin failed to eliminate the parasites, a therapy attempt using metronidazole, clindamycin and doxycycline was initiated. Six months after diagnosis, the treatment appeared successful in eliminating B. gibsoni. This case report describes the clinical findings of the co-infection and the initiated diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Strobl
- 1 Clinical Unit of Internal Medicine Small Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Lukas Martin
- 1 Clinical Unit of Internal Medicine Small Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Barbara Hinney
- 4 Institute of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, Veterinary University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hans-Peter Fuehrer
- 4 Institute of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, Veterinary University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Leschnik
- 1 Clinical Unit of Internal Medicine Small Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
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Diekmann I, Alnassan AA, Globokar M, Pantchev N, Kurzrock L, Hernandez L, Lopez J, Ruano R, Herrero S, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Krücken J. Canine Dracunculus Nematode Infection, Toledo, Spain. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 26:1860-1863. [PMID: 32687046 PMCID: PMC7392431 DOI: 10.3201/eid2608.201661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A fragment of a Dracunculus-like worm was extracted from the hind limb of a 2-year-old dog from Toledo, Spain. Cytochrome oxidase I and rRNA sequences confirmed an autochthonous mammalian Dracunculus worm infection in Europe. Sequence analyses suggest close relation to a parasite obtained from a North American opossum.
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Langenwalder DB, Schmidt S, Gilli U, Pantchev N, Ganter M, Silaghi C, Aardema ML, von Loewenich FD. Corrigendum to "Genetic characterization of Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains from goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) and water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) by 16S rRNA gene, ankA gene and multilocus sequence typing" [Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 10 (2019) 101267]. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101640. [PMID: 33451970 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Denis B Langenwalder
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstrasse 67, Mainz, D-55131, Germany
| | - Sabine Schmidt
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstrasse 67, Mainz, D-55131, Germany
| | - Urs Gilli
- IDEXX Diavet, Schlyffistrasse 10, Bäch, CH-8806, Switzerland
| | - Nikola Pantchev
- IDEXX Laboratories, Mörikestrasse 28/3, Ludwigsburg, D-71636, Germany
| | - Martin Ganter
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, Hannover, D-30173, Germany
| | - Cornelia Silaghi
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, Greifswald - Insel Riems, D-17493, Germany
| | - Matthew L Aardema
- Department of Biology, Montclair State University, 1 Normal Ave., Montclair, NJ, 07043, USA; Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, The American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street, New York, NY, 10024, USA
| | - Friederike D von Loewenich
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstrasse 67, Mainz, D-55131, Germany.
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13
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Langenwalder DB, Schmidt S, Silaghi C, Skuballa J, Pantchev N, Matei IA, Mihalca AD, Gilli U, Zajkowska J, Ganter M, Hoffman T, Salaneck E, Petrovec M, von Loewenich FD. Correction to: The absence of the drhm gene is not a marker for human-pathogenicity in European Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:497. [PMID: 32998772 PMCID: PMC7526212 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04350-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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14
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Gómez M, García C, Maldonado I, Pantchev N, Taubert A, Hermosilla C, Moroni M, Muñoz P, Duran A, Mieres M, Ojeda J. Intra Vitam Diagnosis of Neglected Gurltia paralysans Infections in Domestic Cats (Felis catus) by a Commercial Serology Test for Canine Angiostrongylosis and Insights into Clinical and Histopathological Findings-Four-Case Report. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9110921. [PMID: 33172186 PMCID: PMC7694988 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9110921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Gurltia paralysans is a metastrongyloid nematode which belongs to the Angiostrongylidae family and presents tropism for veins of the subarachnoid space in vivo of domestic and wild felids causing a progressive and chronic clinical manifestation of paraparesis/paraplegia. The geographic distribution of G. paralysans includes rural and periurban areas of South America and was recently reported in Europe. To date, a definitive diagnosis of feline gurltiosis is still conducted by post-mortem examination of the spinal cord in affected animals. A presumptive diagnosis of feline gurltiosis can also be achieved based on data of compatible clinical signs and associated epidemiological risk factors. The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate the commercial serological test Angio Detect TM® (IDEXX Laboratories) as a possible diagnostic method of feline gurltiosis in vivo. For the study, 10 domestic felines (Felis catus) which originated from a high endemic area of Southern Chile, were analyzed. All felines presented chronic paraparesis or severe paraplegia. Subsequently, commercial Angio Detect TM® serological tests for the detection of closely related Angiostrongylus vasorum in canids were performed according to manufacturer’s instructions. Conducted serological tests were positive in seven of ten felines showing paraplegia/paraparesis and presumably infected with G. paralysans, and four of them were additionally necropsied, and presented macroscopic findings compatible with feline gurltiosis. Furthermore, the presence of adult female and male G. paralysans specimens at the level of the subarachnoid vasculature in affected spinal cord segments were observed during necropsy. Histopathology demonstrated severe eosinophilic meningomyelitis, coagulopathies with thrombosis in G. paralysans-parasitized leptomeningeal veins. Results of this preliminary study suggest a cross-reaction between A. vasorum-specific antigens, which also parasitize blood vessels in vivo, and G. paralysans when using an Angio Detect TM® test, which suggests its helpful use as a new diagnostic method for feline gurltiosis in live domestic felines. Additional specific antigen research will be required in order to better understand the sensitivity and specificity of A. vasorum antigens used in this test and for existing cross-reactivity with G. paralysans-derived antigens for future a suitable intra vitam immunodiagnosis of neglected feline gurltiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Gómez
- Instituto de Farmacología y Morfofisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja, Valdivia 5090000, Chile; (C.G.); (I.M.)
- Correspondence: (M.G.); (C.H.)
| | - Catalina García
- Instituto de Farmacología y Morfofisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja, Valdivia 5090000, Chile; (C.G.); (I.M.)
| | - Isabel Maldonado
- Instituto de Farmacología y Morfofisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja, Valdivia 5090000, Chile; (C.G.); (I.M.)
| | | | - Anja Taubert
- Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany;
| | - Carlos Hermosilla
- Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany;
- Correspondence: (M.G.); (C.H.)
| | - Manuel Moroni
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja, Valdivia 5090000, Chile; (M.M.); (P.M.)
| | - Pamela Muñoz
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja, Valdivia 5090000, Chile; (M.M.); (P.M.)
| | - Alejandra Duran
- Instituto de Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja, Valdivia 5090000, Chile; (A.D.); (M.M.); (J.O.)
| | - Marcelo Mieres
- Instituto de Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja, Valdivia 5090000, Chile; (A.D.); (M.M.); (J.O.)
| | - Javier Ojeda
- Instituto de Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja, Valdivia 5090000, Chile; (A.D.); (M.M.); (J.O.)
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15
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Reuschel M, Pantchev N, Vrhovec MG, Jung A, Gerhauser I, Sannella AR, Cacciò SM, Legler M. Occurrence and Molecular Typing of Giardia psittaci in Parakeets in Germany-A Case Study. Avian Dis 2020; 64:228-233. [PMID: 32550625 DOI: 10.1637/0005-2086-64.2.228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
A grey-hooded parakeet (Psilopsiagon aymara) and two budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) from different owners presented with decreased activity, vomitus, and diarrhea. A microscopic examination of feces showed trophozoites of the protozoan flagellate Giardia. A commercial immunochromatographic dipstick test for Giardia sp. antigens confirmed the infection. These findings were assured by PCR of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene and coproantigen ELISA. Sequencing of PCR products of the SSU rRNA (292 bp) and β-giardin genes (511 bp) identified Giardia psittaci as the species involved. Therefore, our results show that a GSA 65-based coproantigen ELISA, which was established for diagnosis of Giardia duodenalis is applicable for the detection of G. psittaci. A treatment with ronidazole was started. Additionally, fecal examination and dissection of the dead birds revealed coinfection with the fungal pathogen Macrorhabdus ornithogaster. One budgerigar survived and repeatedly tested negative after treatment with ronidazole. The described cases indicate that a single infection with G. psittaci has a good prognosis, whereas the prognosis is poor when coinfections occur, especially with M. ornithogaster.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Reuschel
- Clinic for Small Mammals, Reptiles, and Birds, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 9, 30559 Hannover, Germany,
| | - N Pantchev
- IDEXX Laboratories, Mörikestraße 28/3, 71636 Ludwigsburg, Germany
| | | | - A Jung
- Clinic for Poultry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - I Gerhauser
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - A R Sannella
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Instituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - S M Cacciò
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Instituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - M Legler
- Clinic for Small Mammals, Reptiles, and Birds, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 9, 30559 Hannover, Germany
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Margos G, Pantchev N, Globokar M, Lopez J, Rodon J, Hernandez L, Herold H, Salas N, Civit A, Fingerle V. First Cases of Natural Infections with Borrelia hispanica in Two Dogs and a Cat from Europe. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8081251. [PMID: 32824647 PMCID: PMC7464417 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8081251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Canine cases of relapsing fever (RF) borreliosis have been described in Israel and the USA, where two RF species, Borrelia turicatae and Borrelia hermsii, can cause similar clinical signs to the Borrelia persica in dogs and cats reported from Israel, including fever, lethargy, anorexia, thrombocytopenia, and spirochetemia. In this report, we describe the first clinical cases of two dogs and a cat from Spain (Cordoba, Valencia, and Seville) caused by the RF species Borrelia hispanica. Spirochetes were present in the blood smears of all three animals, and clinical signs included lethargy, pale mucosa, anorexia, cachexia, or mild abdominal respiration. Laboratory findings, like thrombocytopenia in both dogs, may have been caused by co-infecting pathogens (i.e., Babesia vogeli, confirmed in one dog). Anemia was noticed in one of the dogs and in the cat. Borrelia hispanica was confirmed as an infecting agent by molecular analysis of the 16S rRNA locus. Molecular analysis of housekeeping genes and phylogenetic analyses, as well as successful in vitro culture of the feline isolate confirmed the causative agent as B. hispanica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Margos
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany;
- Correspondence:
| | - Nikola Pantchev
- IDEXX Laboratories, 70806 Kornwestheim, Germany; (N.P.); (M.G.)
| | - Majda Globokar
- IDEXX Laboratories, 70806 Kornwestheim, Germany; (N.P.); (M.G.)
| | - Javier Lopez
- IDEXX Laboratories, 08038 Barcelona, Spain; (J.L.); (J.R.); (L.H.); (N.S.); (A.C.)
| | - Jaume Rodon
- IDEXX Laboratories, 08038 Barcelona, Spain; (J.L.); (J.R.); (L.H.); (N.S.); (A.C.)
| | - Leticia Hernandez
- IDEXX Laboratories, 08038 Barcelona, Spain; (J.L.); (J.R.); (L.H.); (N.S.); (A.C.)
| | - Heike Herold
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany;
| | - Noelia Salas
- IDEXX Laboratories, 08038 Barcelona, Spain; (J.L.); (J.R.); (L.H.); (N.S.); (A.C.)
| | - Anna Civit
- IDEXX Laboratories, 08038 Barcelona, Spain; (J.L.); (J.R.); (L.H.); (N.S.); (A.C.)
| | - Volker Fingerle
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany;
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17
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Le Guyader M, Fontana C, Simon-Dufay N, Balzer HJ, Pantchev N, Thibault JC, Cupillard L, Bomchil N, Kodjo A. Successful Leptospira genotyping strategy on DNA extracted from canine biological samples. J Microbiol Methods 2020; 176:106007. [PMID: 32710920 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2020.106007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is an emerging worldwide zoonosis with a changing epidemiology responsible for an acute disease in humans and dogs. A better knowledge of the responsible bacterium Leptospira and in particular its various serovars and serogroups prevalence is essential for better diagnosis and prevention of the disease. The gold standard for leptospirosis diagnosis is the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) but it requires long and fastidious laboratory work and sometimes results in controversial data. For these reasons, PCR-based techniques for detection of pathogenic leptospiral DNA in biological samples are currently replacing the MAT. However, these strategies do not provide any information regarding the infecting serovar or serogroup. In this study, an optimized genotyping method is described to allow the identification of Leptospira ssp. directly at serovars level using DNA extracted from canine blood and urine. 16S rDNA, Variable Number Tandem Repeat (VNTR) and Multispacer Sequence Typing (MST) protocols were adapted to biological samples. Eighty-eight DNA samples were analyzed from 72 different European canine clinical cases of leptospirosis confirmed by real-time PCR. 92% of DNA samples with Ct values below 34 were fully typed, and typing success decreased to about 30% for the other samples. Typing failure also showed a specie-specific correlation, with 63% of complete typing for L. interrogans and only 40% for L. kirschneri. Additionally, an exact match was observed between serological and molecular data for the few investigated cases where MAT data were available. This methodology is a suitable alternative to the MAT for determining the infecting serovar when Leptospira DNA from blood or urine is detected at Ct values below 34, contributing to clinical surveillance of leptospirosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Le Guyader
- VetAgro Sup, Laboratoire des Leptospires, 1 Avenue Bourgelat, 69280 Marcy-l'Étoile, France.
| | - Célia Fontana
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, R&D, 813 cours du 3ème Millénaire, 69800 Saint-Priest, France.
| | - Nathalie Simon-Dufay
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, R&D, 813 cours du 3ème Millénaire, 69800 Saint-Priest, France.
| | - Hans-Jörg Balzer
- IDEXX Laboratories, Mörikestraße 28/3, 71636 Ludwigsburg, Germany.
| | - Nikola Pantchev
- IDEXX Laboratories, Mörikestraße 28/3, 71636 Ludwigsburg, Germany.
| | - Jean-Christophe Thibault
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Global Technical Services, 29 Avenue Tony Garnier, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Lionel Cupillard
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, R&D, 813 cours du 3ème Millénaire, 69800 Saint-Priest, France.
| | - Natalia Bomchil
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, R&D, 813 cours du 3ème Millénaire, 69800 Saint-Priest, France.
| | - Angeli Kodjo
- VetAgro Sup, Laboratoire des Leptospires, 1 Avenue Bourgelat, 69280 Marcy-l'Étoile, France.
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L M R S, Spoerel S, Wiesner L, Klein M, Pantchev N, Taubert A, Hermosilla C. Ophthalmic Thelazia callipaeda infections: first feline and new canine imported cases in Germany. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:3099-3104. [PMID: 32627079 PMCID: PMC7431390 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06785-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The first case of feline ocular Thelazia callipaeda infection and two new canine imported infections in West Germany are here described. The three animals had a history of recent travel to/from other countries. The young adult cat imported from Spain presented an intermittent unilateral ocular discharge. During in-depth ophthalmic examination, a single alive nematode was removed from the conjunctival compartment of the affected eye. Referring to the canine cases, an adult female dog originated from Kenya presented epiphora and mucous whitish-grey discharge of the right eye. During flushing of the nasolacrimal duct two small, thin and long nematodes were removed. Furthermore, a male Borzoi racing dog with regular visit to racing tracks in different countries presented ocular mucous discharge. At ophthalmologic examination, two transparent-whitish vital nematodes were removed. All nematode specimens of the three cases were morphologically identified as adult T. callipaeda parasites. The animals were treated orally with milbemycin oxime (2.0 mg/kg; cat) or milbemycin oxime/praziquantel (0.5 mg/kg and 5.0 mg/kg; dogs) twice with 1-week interval resulting in complete resolution of symptoms. The repeated introduction of patent T. callipaeda-infected animals, especially from southern and eastern endemic countries, will ease the establishment of ophthalmic thelaziosis in Northern Europe. The male fruit fly, Phortica variegata, an intermediate host of T. callipaeda, is endemic within European countries. Considering the clinical and zoonotic relevance of ophthalmic thelaziosis, enhanced disease awareness of European medical and veterinarian doctors and in-depth eye examination for proper detection of T. callipaeda are crucial for appropriate anthelmintic treatments and to limit spreading of the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silva L M R
- Institute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubertstr. 81, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
| | - S Spoerel
- Tierarztpraxis Dr. Kindler, Saarbrücker Allee 7, 65201, Wiesbaden, Germany
| | - L Wiesner
- Tierarztpraxis Dr. Kindler, Saarbrücker Allee 7, 65201, Wiesbaden, Germany
| | - M Klein
- Tierarztpraxis Dr. Klein, Bahnhofstr. 30, 67251, Freinsheim, Germany
| | - N Pantchev
- IDEXX Laboratories, Mörikestr. 28/3, 71636, Ludwigsburg, Germany
| | - A Taubert
- Institute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubertstr. 81, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - C Hermosilla
- Institute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubertstr. 81, 35392, Giessen, Germany
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19
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Sangl L, Felten S, Matiasek K, Dörfelt S, Bergmann M, Balzer HJ, Pantchev N, Leutenegger C, Hartmann K. Detection of feline coronavirus RNA, spike gene mutations, and feline coronavirus antigen in macrophages in aqueous humor of cats in the diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis. J Vet Diagn Invest 2020; 32:527-534. [PMID: 32517543 PMCID: PMC7438658 DOI: 10.1177/1040638720927362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Uveitis is common in cats, and is often a feature of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). We evaluated 3 tools for detection of feline coronavirus (FCoV) in aqueous humor: 1) a 7b gene reverse-transcription real-time PCR (7b-RT-rtPCR) assay to detect FCoV RNA, 2) a spike gene mutation RT-rtPCR (S-RT-rtPCR) assay to detect 2 point mutations in the spike gene of FCoV in cats positive by 7b-RT-rtPCR, and 3) immunocytochemistry (ICC) for detection of FCoV antigen in aqueous humor macrophages. We studied 58 cats, including 31 cats with FIP and 27 control cats. FIP was excluded by postmortem examination and negative immunohistochemistry (IHC). Aqueous humor samples obtained postmortem were assessed using 7b-RT-rtPCR in all cats, and positive samples were evaluated with S-RT-rtPCR. ICC evaluation of aqueous humor samples from 36 of the 58 cats was done using an avidin-biotin complex method and monoclonal anti-FCoV IgG 2A. Sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values were calculated including 95% CIs. 7b-RT-rtPCR had a specificity of 100.0% (95% CI: 87.2-100.0) and sensitivity of 35.5% (95% CI: 19.2-54.6). Specificity of S-RT-rtPCR could not be determined because there were no FCoV 7b-RT-rtPCR-positive samples in the control group. Sensitivity of S-RT-rtPCR was 12.9% (95% CI 3.6-29.8). Sensitivity and specificity of ICC were 62.5% (95% CI: 40.6-81.2) and 80.0% (95% CI: 44.4-97.5), respectively. The combination of 7b-RT-rtPCR and IHC could be useful in diagnosing FIP; S-RT-rtPCR did not add value; and ICC of aqueous humor samples cannot be recommended for the diagnosis of FIP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Sangl
- Laura Sangl, Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Munich, Veterinaerstrasse 13, Munich, Bayern, 80539, Germany.
| | - Sandra Felten
- Clinic of Small Animal Medicine (Sangl, Hartmann, Dörfelt, Felten, Bergmann) and Section of Clinical and Comparative Neuropathology, Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Matiasek), Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Munich, Munich, Bayern, Germany
- Idexx Laboratories, Ludwigsburg, Germany (Balzer, Pantchev) and West Sacramento, CA (Leutenegger)
| | - Kaspar Matiasek
- Clinic of Small Animal Medicine (Sangl, Hartmann, Dörfelt, Felten, Bergmann) and Section of Clinical and Comparative Neuropathology, Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Matiasek), Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Munich, Munich, Bayern, Germany
- Idexx Laboratories, Ludwigsburg, Germany (Balzer, Pantchev) and West Sacramento, CA (Leutenegger)
| | - Stefanie Dörfelt
- Clinic of Small Animal Medicine (Sangl, Hartmann, Dörfelt, Felten, Bergmann) and Section of Clinical and Comparative Neuropathology, Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Matiasek), Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Munich, Munich, Bayern, Germany
- Idexx Laboratories, Ludwigsburg, Germany (Balzer, Pantchev) and West Sacramento, CA (Leutenegger)
| | - Michele Bergmann
- Clinic of Small Animal Medicine (Sangl, Hartmann, Dörfelt, Felten, Bergmann) and Section of Clinical and Comparative Neuropathology, Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Matiasek), Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Munich, Munich, Bayern, Germany
- Idexx Laboratories, Ludwigsburg, Germany (Balzer, Pantchev) and West Sacramento, CA (Leutenegger)
| | - Hans-Jörg Balzer
- Clinic of Small Animal Medicine (Sangl, Hartmann, Dörfelt, Felten, Bergmann) and Section of Clinical and Comparative Neuropathology, Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Matiasek), Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Munich, Munich, Bayern, Germany
- Idexx Laboratories, Ludwigsburg, Germany (Balzer, Pantchev) and West Sacramento, CA (Leutenegger)
| | - Nikola Pantchev
- Clinic of Small Animal Medicine (Sangl, Hartmann, Dörfelt, Felten, Bergmann) and Section of Clinical and Comparative Neuropathology, Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Matiasek), Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Munich, Munich, Bayern, Germany
- Idexx Laboratories, Ludwigsburg, Germany (Balzer, Pantchev) and West Sacramento, CA (Leutenegger)
| | - Christian Leutenegger
- Clinic of Small Animal Medicine (Sangl, Hartmann, Dörfelt, Felten, Bergmann) and Section of Clinical and Comparative Neuropathology, Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Matiasek), Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Munich, Munich, Bayern, Germany
- Idexx Laboratories, Ludwigsburg, Germany (Balzer, Pantchev) and West Sacramento, CA (Leutenegger)
| | - Katrin Hartmann
- Clinic of Small Animal Medicine (Sangl, Hartmann, Dörfelt, Felten, Bergmann) and Section of Clinical and Comparative Neuropathology, Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Matiasek), Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Munich, Munich, Bayern, Germany
- Idexx Laboratories, Ludwigsburg, Germany (Balzer, Pantchev) and West Sacramento, CA (Leutenegger)
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20
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Langenwalder DB, Schmidt S, Silaghi C, Skuballa J, Pantchev N, Matei IA, Mihalca AD, Gilli U, Zajkowska J, Ganter M, Hoffman T, Salaneck E, Petrovec M, von Loewenich FD. The absence of the drhm gene is not a marker for human-pathogenicity in European Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:238. [PMID: 32381072 PMCID: PMC7206706 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04116-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium that replicates in neutrophil granulocytes. It is transmitted by ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex and causes febrile illness in humans and animals. The geographical distribution of A. phagocytophilum spans the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. However, human disease predominantly occurs in North America but is infrequently reported from Europe and Asia. In North American strains, the absence of the drhm gene has been proposed as marker for pathogenicity in humans whereas no information on the presence or absence of the drhm gene was available for A. phagocytophilum strains circulating in Europe. Therefore, we tested 511 European and 21 North American strains for the presence of drhm and compared the results to two other typing methods: multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and ankA-based typing. RESULTS Altogether, 99% (478/484) of the analyzable European and 19% (4/21) of the North American samples from different hosts were drhm-positive. Regarding the strains from human granulocytic anaplasmosis cases, 100% (35/35) of European origin were drhm-positive and 100% (14/14) of North American origin were drhm-negative. Human strains from North America and Europe were both part of MLST cluster 1. North American strains from humans belonged to ankA gene clusters 11 and 12 whereas European strains from humans were found in ankA gene cluster 1. However, the North American ankA gene clusters 11 and 12 were highly identical at the nucleotide level to the European cluster 1 with 97.4% and 95.2% of identity, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The absence of the drhm gene in A. phagocytophilum does not seem to be associated with pathogenicity for humans per se, because all 35 European strains of human origin were drhm-positive. The epidemiological differences between North America and Europe concerning the incidence of human A. phagocytophilum infection are not explained by strain divergence based on MLST and ankA gene-based typing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis B Langenwalder
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstrasse 67, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Sabine Schmidt
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstrasse 67, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Cornelia Silaghi
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Jasmin Skuballa
- Chemical and Veterinary Investigations Office Karlsruhe (CVUA Karlsruhe), Weissenburgerstrasse 3, 76187, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Nikola Pantchev
- IDEXX Laboratories, Mörikestrasse 28/3, 71636, Ludwigsburg, Germany
| | - Ioana A Matei
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Manastur 3-5, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andrei D Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Manastur 3-5, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Urs Gilli
- IDEXX Diavet AG, Schlyffistrasse 10, 8806, Bäch, Switzerland
| | - Joanna Zajkowska
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Białystok, ul.Żurawia 14, 15-345, Białystok, Poland
| | - Martin Ganter
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173, Hannover, Germany
| | - Tove Hoffman
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology (IMBIM), Zoonosis Science Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Erik Salaneck
- Department of Medical Sciences, Zoonosis Science Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Miroslav Petrovec
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška 4, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Friederike D von Loewenich
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstrasse 67, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
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21
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Di Cesare A, Morelli S, Colombo M, Simonato G, Veronesi F, Marcer F, Diakou A, D'Angelosante R, Pantchev N, Psaralexi E, Traversa D. Is Angiostrongylosis a Realistic Threat for Domestic Cats? Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:195. [PMID: 32351980 PMCID: PMC7174740 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Three species of Angiostrongylus have been found in felids thus far, i.e., Angiostrongylus chabaudi, Angiostrongylus felineus and Angiostrongylus vasorum. Angiostrongylus chabaudi lives in the right heart and pulmonary arteries of the definitive natural host, the European wildcat (Felis silvestris), and non-patent infections have been reported in domestic cats (Felis catus). Angiostrongylus felineus, described in the Puma yaguarondi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi), has never been reported in domestic felids, while recently a non-patent infection by A. vasorum was unequivocally described in a F. catus. Nonetheless, epizootiological and clinical relevance of angiostrongylosis in domestic cats are practically unknown. This study investigated whether cases of angiostrongylosis may be missed in cats living in areas enzootic for Angiostrongylus spp. and other metastrongyloids. Overall, 100 cats that were either positive (n.50) or negative (n.50) for metastrongyloid larvae at the Baermann's test, were examined for Angiostrongylus spp. with DNA-based methods and with the serological test Angio Detect™ for circulating antigen. The PCR analysis confirmed the copromicroscopy results, where 25 cats scored positive for Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, 16 for Troglostrongylus brevior and 9 for both, while no cats were positive for Angiostrongylus-like larvae, including A. chabaudi. None of the 100 sera samples scored positive at the Angio Detect™ test. These data suggest that currently feline angiostrongylosis is a minor parasitosis for domestic cats. Nevertheless, it cannot be excluded that the epizootiological drivers which have favored the spillover of A. vasorum and T. brevior from wildlife to dogs and cats, could promote the emergence of feline angiostrongylosis, with an unpredictable health impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Di Cesare
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Simone Morelli
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | | | - Giulia Simonato
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Fabrizia Veronesi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Federica Marcer
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Anastasia Diakou
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | | | - Evanthia Psaralexi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Donato Traversa
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
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22
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Fischer D, Oberländer B, Peters M, Eley N, Pantchev N, Bangoura B, Lierz M. Central nervous signs, blindness and cerebral vermicosis in free-ranging peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) associated with aberrant larval migrations. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2020; 20:100410. [PMID: 32448538 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Four free-ranging peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) were submitted with a history of unilateral or bilateral blindness and central nervous signs to a veterinary clinic in Germany. There were no indications of trauma or ocular disease. Likewise, other differential diagnoses for CNS signs were ruled out within the diagnostic process. The clinical diagnostic panel in live falcons included general examination, radiography, endoscopy, hematology, ophthalmoscopy and parasitological examination of the feces, blood gas analysis and blood chemistry as well as computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A complete pathological and histopathological examination was performed post-mortem. The only common finding in all birds was an infection with the nematode parasite Serratospiculum tendo. The parasite was confirmed morphologically and via PCR. In two falcons intracerebral vermicoses was suspected in MRI and confirmed in subsequent histopathology, but molecular biological identification of the parasite species failed from brain tissue. Until today, S. tendo had been reported to affect the respiratory system, the liver and different parts of the gastrointestinal tract and to cause cachexia, inappetence, regurgitation, dyspnea and general signs of illness such as lethargy, poor plumage, and reduced reproduction. Our findings indicate that aberrant migration should be considered as cause for CNS signs in falcons. As S. tendo might be a possible cause for this, CNS signs might be included in the list of clinical signs of serratospiculiasis in falcons.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Fischer
- Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
| | - B Oberländer
- Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - M Peters
- Chemisches und Veterinaeruntersuchungsamt Westfalen, Arnsberg, Germany
| | - N Eley
- Small Animal Clinic, Surgical Department, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - N Pantchev
- VetMed Labor GmbH, IDEXX Laboratories Germany, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - B Bangoura
- Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - M Lierz
- Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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23
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Altheimer K, Jongwattanapisan P, Luengyosluechakul S, Pusoonthornthum R, Prapasarakul N, Kurilung A, Broens EM, Wagenaar JA, Goris MGA, Ahmed AA, Pantchev N, Reese S, Hartmann K. Leptospira infection and shedding in dogs in Thailand. BMC Vet Res 2020; 16:89. [PMID: 32178664 PMCID: PMC7077098 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-2230-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonosis and has been recognized as a re-emerging infectious disease in humans and dogs, but prevalence of Leptospira shedding in dogs in Thailand is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine urinary shedding of Leptospira in dogs in Thailand, to evaluate antibody prevalence by microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and to assess risk factors for Leptospira infection. In Northern, Northeastern, and Central Thailand, 273 stray (n = 119) or client-owned (n = 154) dogs from rural (n = 139) or urban (n = 134) areas were randomly included. Dogs that had received antibiotics within 4 weeks prior to sampling were excluded. No dog had received vaccination against Leptospira. Urine was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) specific for lipL32 gene of pathogenic Leptospira. Additionally, urine was cultured for 6 months in Ellinghausen-McCullough-Johnson-Harris (EMJH) medium. Antibodies were measured by ELISA and MAT against 24 serovars belonging to 15 serogroups and 1 undesignated serogroup. Risk factor analysis was performed with backwards stepwise selection based on Wald. RESULTS Twelve of 273 (4.4%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.0-6.8%) urine samples were PCR-positive. In 1/273 dogs (0.4%; 95% CI: 0.01-1.1%) Leptospira could be cultured from urine. MAT detected antibodies in 33/273 dogs (12.1%; 95% CI: 8.2-16.0%) against 19 different serovars (Anhoa, Australis, Ballum, Bataviae, Bratislava, Broomi, Canicola, Copenhageni, Coxi, Grippotyphosa, Haemolytica, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Khorat, Paidjan, Patoc, Pyrogenes, Rachmati, Saxkoebing, Sejroe). In 111/252 dogs (44.0%; 95% CI: 37.9-50.2%) immunoglobulin M (IgM) and/or immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies were found by ELISA. Female dogs had a significantly higher risk for Leptospira infection (p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS Leptospira shedding occurs in randomly sampled dogs in Thailand, with infection rates comparable to those of Europe and the USA. Therefore, the potential zoonotic risk should not be underestimated and use of Leptospira vaccines are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Altheimer
- Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, Veterinaerstrasse 13, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Prapaporn Jongwattanapisan
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Supol Luengyosluechakul
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Rosama Pusoonthornthum
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nuvee Prapasarakul
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Alongkorn Kurilung
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Els M. Broens
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jaap A. Wagenaar
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | - Marga G. A. Goris
- OIE and National Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Leptospirosis, Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ahmed A. Ahmed
- OIE and National Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Leptospirosis, Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Sven Reese
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Katrin Hartmann
- Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, Veterinaerstrasse 13, 80539 Munich, Germany
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24
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Emmler L, Felten S, Matiasek K, Balzer HJ, Pantchev N, Leutenegger C, Hartmann K. Feline coronavirus with and without spike gene mutations detected by real-time RT-PCRs in cats with feline infectious peritonitis. J Feline Med Surg 2019; 22:791-799. [PMID: 31729897 PMCID: PMC7206566 DOI: 10.1177/1098612x19886671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) emerges when feline coronaviruses (FCoVs) mutate within their host to a highly virulent biotype and the immune response is not able to control the infection. FCoV spike (S) gene mutations are considered to contribute to the change in virulence by enabling FCoV infection of and replication in macrophages. This study investigated the presence of FCoV with and without S gene mutations in cats with FIP using two different real-time RT-PCRs on different samples obtained under clinical conditions. METHODS Fine-needle aspirates (FNAs) and incisional biopsies (IBs) of popliteal and mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen, omentum and kidneys (each n = 20), EDTA blood (n = 13), buffy coat smears (n = 13), serum (n = 11), effusion (n = 14), cerebrospinal fluid (n = 16), aqueous humour (n = 20) and peritoneal lavage (n = 6) were obtained from 20 cats with FIP diagnosed by immunohistochemistry. Samples were examined by RT-PCR targeting the FCoV 7b gene, detecting all FCoV, and S gene mutation RT-PCR targeting mutations in nucleotides 23531 and 23537. The prevalence of FCoV detected in each sample type was calculated. RESULTS In 20/20 cats, FCoV with S gene mutations was present in at least one sample, but there was variation in which sample was positive. FCoV with mutations in the S gene was most frequently found in effusion (64%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 39-89), followed by spleen, omentum and kidney IBs (50%, 95% CI 28-72), mesenteric lymph node IBs and FNAs (45%, 95% CI 23-67), and FNAs of spleen and liver and liver IBs (40%, 95% CI 19-62). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In these 20 cats with FIP, FCoVs with S gene mutations were found in every cat in at least one tissue or fluid sample. This highlights the association between mutated S gene and systemic FCoV spread. Examining a combination of different samples increased the probability of finding FCoV with the mutated S gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Emmler
- Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sandra Felten
- Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kaspar Matiasek
- Section of Clinical and Comparative Neuropathology, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Katrin Hartmann
- Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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25
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Kokkinos P, Dimzas D, Pantchev N, Tamvakis A, Balzer J, Diakou A. Filarial infections in dogs in Cyprus, an apparently heartworm free island. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2019; 18:100330. [PMID: 31796181 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2019.100330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The current study investigated for the first time the occurrence of filarial infections in dogs in Cyprus. Blood samples of dogs from five districts of Cyprus (Lefkosia, Lemessos, Larnaka, Pafos and Ammochostos) were examined by the modified Knott's method and by serology, and the morphological classification of microfilariae was confirmed by molecular methods. A total of 200 dogs, 153 living in shelters and 47 owned dogs, were included in the study. Acanthocheilonema reconditum microfilariae were found in 9 (4.5%) samples and one (0.5%) sample was seropositive for D. immitis. No statistical significance was observed between microfilaraemic samples and the evaluated variables apart from the district (p = .005). The present study showed that dogs in Cyprus can be infected with blood circulating microfilariae and for the first time A. reconditum was reported as autochthonous infection in dogs in the country. No microfilariae of Dirofilaria spp. were detected. However, veterinarians should remain vigilant regarding Dirofilaria infections and should consider preventive protection to the animals, at least in case of travel in enzootic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Kokkinos
- General Veterinary Practitioner, MyVet Veterinary Centre, 6035 Larnaka, Cyprus.
| | - Dimitris Dimzas
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | | | - Androniki Tamvakis
- Laboratory of Ecology and System Dynamics, Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, Greece.
| | | | - Anastasia Diakou
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
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26
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Langenwalder DB, Schmidt S, Gilli U, Pantchev N, Ganter M, Silaghi C, Aardema ML, von Loewenich FD. Genetic characterization of Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains from goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) and water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) by 16S rRNA gene, ankA gene and multilocus sequence typing. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 10:101267. [PMID: 31444126 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium that replicates in neutrophil granulocytes. It is transmitted by ticks and causes tick-borne fever in domestic ruminants such as sheep, cattle and goats. However, in contrast to sheep and cattle little is known about the clinical course of infection in goats. We report here on three cases of symptomatic infection with A. phagocytophilum in two goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) and one water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). The animals showed symptoms and laboratory findings similar to sheep and cattle. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the symptomatic infection of water buffalos with A. phagocytophilum. The infecting strains were genetically characterized by 16S rRNA gene, ankA gene and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Four other strains from asymptomatically infected goats were also included. The ankA sequences from five goats were part of the formerly described ankA gene clusters I and IV that are known to contain A. phagocytophilum strains from sheep and cattle. However, the sequences from one goat and from the water buffalo belonged to ankA gene cluster II that was formerly described to be restricted to roe deer. A similar observation was made for MLST as three goats clustered with sequences from sheep and cattle, whereas three other goats and the water buffalo were found to be part of the roe deer cluster. However, since most of the strains from sheep and cattle were distinct from the roe deer strains, roe deer might not represent major reservoir hosts for tick-borne fever in domestic ruminants. When differing parts of the 16S rRNA gene were used for typing the results were conflicting. This shows that the use of a standardized typing method such as MLST is highly desirable to generate easily comparable results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis B Langenwalder
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstrasse 67, D-55131 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Sabine Schmidt
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstrasse 67, D-55131 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Urs Gilli
- IDEXX Diavet, Schlyffistrasse 10, CH-8806 Bäch, Switzerland.
| | - Nikola Pantchev
- IDEXX Laboratories, Mörikestrasse 28/3, D-71636 Ludwigsburg, Germany.
| | - Martin Ganter
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, D-30173 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Cornelia Silaghi
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, D-17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany.
| | - Matthew L Aardema
- Department of Biology, Montclair State University, 1 Normal Ave., Montclair, NJ, 07043, USA; Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, The American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street, New York, NY, 10024, USA.
| | - Friederike D von Loewenich
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstrasse 67, D-55131 Mainz, Germany.
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27
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Basso W, Görner D, Globokar M, Keidel A, Pantchev N. First autochthonous case of clinical Hepatozoon felis infection in a domestic cat in Central Europe. Parasitol Int 2019; 72:101945. [PMID: 31228586 PMCID: PMC7108250 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2019.101945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 06/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Three different Hepatozoon (Apicomplexa, Hepatozoidae) species have been described infecting domestic cats in Europe (i.e. H. felis, H. canis and H. silvestris), however, reports on clinical hepatozoonosis are uncommon and treatment protocols are not clearly defined. A six-year-old male European short-hair cat from Austria presented poor general condition, lethargy, anorexia, icterus, a painful abdomen, fever, ruffled hair and a tick infestation, and it had never left Austria. Laboratory tests revealed leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and increased serum levels of symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) and bilirubin. In May Grünwald-Giemsa-stained blood smears, structures resembling Hepatozoon gamonts were observed inside neutrophil granulocytes. A PCR targeting a fragment of the 18S rRNA gene of Hepatozoon spp. and DNA sequencing allowed the diagnosis of H. felis-DNA in blood samples. The cat was treated with imidocarb dipropionate (6 mg/kg body weight, repeated after 14 days) and doxycycline monohydrate (5 mg/kg body weight twice a day, p.o., for four weeks) and recovered completely. A broad haematological and biochemical laboratory control after six months showed all evaluated parameters under normal ranges. Coinfection with other feline pathogens (i.e. feline leukaemia virus, feline immunodeficiency virus, feline Coronavirus, Leishmania and Dirofilaria immitis) could not be detected. This study reveals the presence of H. felis in Austria and provides more evidence on the geographical distribution and pathogenicity of this parasite for domestic cats. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first autochthonous case of feline hepatozoonosis in Central Europe. Clinical Hepatozoon felis infection in a domestic cat was diagnosed in Austria. The diagnosis was achieved by microscopy of blood smears, PCR and DNA-sequencing. Possible coinfections with other feline pathogens were ruled-out. The cat recovered completely after treatment with imidocarb and doxycycline. This represents the first autochthonous case of feline hepatozoonosis in Central Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter Basso
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Dagmar Görner
- Tierarztpraxis Görner, Gölbeszeile 28, A-7000 Eisenstadt, Austria
| | - Majda Globokar
- IDEXX Laboratories, Mörikestrasse 28/3, D-71636 Ludwigsburg, Germany
| | - Anke Keidel
- IDEXX Laboratories, Mörikestrasse 28/3, D-71636 Ludwigsburg, Germany
| | - Nikola Pantchev
- IDEXX Laboratories, Mörikestrasse 28/3, D-71636 Ludwigsburg, Germany
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28
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Springer A, Montenegro VM, Schicht S, Globokar Vrohvec M, Pantchev N, Balzer J, Strube C. Seroprevalence and Current Infections of Canine Vector-Borne Diseases in Costa Rica. Front Vet Sci 2019; 6:164. [PMID: 31214605 PMCID: PMC6558105 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Domestic dogs may carry several vector-borne pathogens, including zoonotic agents, especially in tropical regions like Central America. The epidemiology of these pathogens is prone to change due to urbanization, trade and travel as well as climate change, necessitating repeated monitoring. This study aims to present a comprehensive picture of canine vector-borne diseases in Costa Rica, combining data on seroprevalence with molecular species identification of the causative pathogens. In this survey, 294 dogs from all seven provinces of Costa Rica were included. After a clinical examination, diagnostic blood samples were analyzed with regard to packed cell volume (PCV) and presence of microfilaria. Serum samples were tested for antibodies against Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) as well as antigen of Dirofilaria immitis. Seropositive and microfilaremic blood samples were analyzed by PCR to detect current infections and identify the pathogen species. Overall, 45.24% (133/294, 95% CI: 39.45–51.11%) of dogs were seropositive for at least one of the tested pathogens. Seroprevalence was highest for Ehrlichia spp. (39.46%, 116/294, 95% CI: 33.83–45.29%), followed by Babesia spp. (23.13%, 68/294, 95% CI: 18.43–28.38%), Anaplasma spp. (13.27%, 39/294, 95% CI: 9.61–17.69%), and B. burgdorferi s.l. (0.34%, 1/294, 95% CI: 0.01–1.88%). Generalized linear mixed models indicated a significant association of Ehrlichia-, Anaplasma- and Babesia-seropositivity, as well as a significant effect of age and breed on Ehrlichia-seropositivity. Furthermore, a statistically significant negative effect of Ehrlichia-, Anaplasma-, and Babesia-seropositivity on PCV was found. Regarding current infections, Ehrlichia canis DNA was detected in 51.72% (60/116, 95% CI: 42.26–61.10%) of Ehrlichia-seropositive dogs, while Ehrlichia ewingii and Ehrlichia chaffeensis were not detected. Furthermore, 10.26% (4/39, 95% CI: 2.87–24.22%) of Anaplasma-seropositive dogs were coinfected with Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Anaplasma platys, while one animal (2.56%, 95% CI: 0.65–13.48%) was infected with A. phagocytophilum only. Among Babesia-seropositive dogs, Babesia vogeli and Hepatozoon canis were detected in one animal each (1.47%, 1/68, 95% CI: 0.04–7.92%). Dirofilaria immitis antigen was detected in 4.42% (13/294, 95% CI: 2.38–7.44%) of dogs. In microfilaremic animals, D. immitis as well as Acanthocheilonema reconditum infections were identified. This survey demonstrates that canine vector-borne pathogens, including zoonotic agents like A. phagocytophilum and D. immitis, are widespread in Costa Rica. Thus, protection of dogs from disease-transmitting vectors is recommended from an animal welfare as well as public health perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Springer
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Víctor M Montenegro
- Laboratory of Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, National University of Costa Rica, Campus Benjamín Núñez, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Sabine Schicht
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Christina Strube
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
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Angelou A, Gelasakis AI, Verde N, Pantchev N, Schaper R, Chandrashekar R, Papadopoulos E. Prevalence and risk factors for selected canine vector-borne diseases in Greece. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:283. [PMID: 31159843 PMCID: PMC6547445 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3543-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) represent a wide group of diseases of major significance for canine health. In addition to their veterinary importance, many of these diseases are of great zoonotic concern, posing a risk of potential transmission to humans. To date, there has been scant knowledge regarding the prevalence, distribution and risk factors of CVBDs in Greece. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to update the current knowledge on the seroprevalence of Dirofilaria immitis, Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) in dogs in Greece and, furthermore, to assess possible environmental and any other risk factors associated with these infections. A total of 1000 apparently healthy and randomly selected dogs, presented in veterinary clinics, were involved at the national level (n = 66 municipalities). Serum samples were obtained from each individual dog and were tested using the SNAP® 4Dx® Plus kit from IDEXX Laboratories. Possible risk factors were assessed using binary regression models, including dogs’ lifestyle, climatological parameters and the altitude of the region. Results Overall, 21.8% (95% CI: 19.4–24.5%) of the sampled dogs were found to be seropositive to at least one of the four pathogens examined. The most prevalent pathogen was Ehrlichia spp. (12.5%, 95% CI: 10.6–14.7) followed by D. immitis (9.0%, 95% CI: 7.8–11.5) and Anaplasma spp. (6.2%, 95% CI: 4.9–7.9). The lowest prevalence (0.1%) was recorded for B. burgdorferi (s.l.) where only one dog was found to be positive. Among the examined risk factors, low mean temperature was found to increase the prevalence of Ehrlichia spp. (P ≤ 0.001) and Anaplasma spp. (P ≤ 0.001), while low minimum temperature increased the prevalence of D. immitis (P ≤ 0.001). In addition, low total annual rainfall had an effect of the prevalence of Ehrlichia spp. (P ≤ 0.01). Altitude also had a significant effect on the prevalence of D. immitis (P ≤ 0.05) and Anaplasma spp. (P ≤ 0.01). Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first large-scale seroepidemiological study of CVBDs in Greece. It has been evidenced that environmental factors such as temperature, rainfall and altitude can influence the prevalence and distribution of CVBDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Angelou
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, PO Box: 393, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Athanasios I Gelasakis
- Laboratory of Farm Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, School of Agricultural Production, Infrastructure and Environment, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855, Iera Odos, Greece
| | - Natalia Verde
- Laboratory of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Department of Cadastre, Photogrammetry and Cartography, Faculty of Rural and Surveying Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | | | | | - Elias Papadopoulos
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, PO Box: 393, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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Tsachev I, Baymakova M, Pantchev N. Seroprevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi infections in horses: first report from Northern Bulgaria - Short communication. Acta Vet Hung 2019; 67:197-203. [PMID: 31238733 DOI: 10.1556/004.2019.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis, granulocytic anaplasmosis and monocytic ehrlichiosis are well studied in humans and dogs. In horses, these diseases are not widely investigated and limited information is available about their occurrence. The purpose of this study was to present the first ELISA-based report on the seroprevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi in horses from Northern Bulgaria. A total of 192 horses were investigated from three regions in Northern Bulgaria (Northwestern, North-Central and Northeastern Bulgaria). All equine sera were tested for A. phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia spp. and B. burgdorferi antibodies by a commercial rapid ELISA test. Antibodies against A. phagocytophilum were found in all the three regions at a mean frequency of 12% (23/192), ranging from 9.38 to 15.63% by region. Antibodies against Ehrlichia spp. were found in horses from one region (Northeastern) at a rate of 0.5% (1/192). Anti-B. burgdorferi antibodies were detected in all the three regions with a mean frequency of 15.1% (29/192), ranging from 14.06 to 17.19% by region. A co-exposure to A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi was observed in 6.3% of the cases (12/192). This is the first report on the natural exposure of horses to these bacteria (A. phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia spp. and B. burgdorferi) in Northern Bulgaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilia Tsachev
- 1Department of Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Magdalena Baymakova
- 2Department of Infectious Diseases, Military Medical Academy, 1606 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Nikola Pantchev
- 3Department of Infectious Diseases, IDEXX Laboratories, Ludwigsburg, Germany
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo David Jimenez Castro
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 244 Eaglewood Court, Athens, Georgia, 30606 US, Grupo de Parasitología Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
| | - Maaike Pietzsch
- Health Protection Practitioner, Public Health England South East, Thames Valley PHEC, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RQ
| | - Nikola Pantchev
- Veterinary Specialist for Parasitology, Key Account Manager for Infectious Diseases, IDEXX Laboratories, D-71636 Ludwigsburg, Germany
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Tsachev I, Pantchev N, Marutsov P, Petrov V, Gundasheva D, Baymakova M. Serological Evidence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia Spp. Infections in Horses from Southeastern Bulgaria. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2018; 18:588-594. [PMID: 29969382 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2018.2293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme Borreliosis and granulocytic anaplasmosis are less extensively studied in horses than in dogs and humans. Equine ehrlichiosis is not known in Europe and is in the initial stage of investigation in South, Central, and North America. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of these infections in Bulgaria. A total of 155 horses were investigated from five regions in Southeastern Bulgaria. Horses were tested for Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Ehrlichia spp. antibodies by a commercial rapid ELISA test. B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum antibodies were found in all five regions (Burgas, Sliven, Stara Zagora, Haskovo, and Kardzhali) at frequencies of 36/155 (23.2%; 95% CI: 16.8-30.7%; ranging by region from 6.4% to 50%) and 31/155 (20%; 95% CI: 14-27.2%; ranging by region from 10% to 30.8%), respectively. Antibodies against Ehrlichia spp. were found in horses from three regions (Burgas, Stara Zagora, and Haskovo) at a rate of 6/155 (3.9%; 95% CI: 1.4-8.2%; ranging by region from 5.7% to 6.4%). The combination of B. burgdorferi/A. phagocytophilum (11/155; 7.1%; 95% CI: 3.6-12.3%) was the most common coexposure observed, followed by B. burgdorferi/Ehrlichia spp. (2/155; 1.3%; 95% CI: 0.2-4.6%) and A. phagocytophilum/Ehrlichia spp. (1/155; 0.6%; 95% CI: 0-3.5%). The study shows that horses in Bulgaria are exposed or coexposed to three tick-transmitted zoonotic bacterial species. Furthermore, it reports Ehrlichia spp. seroreactivity in equines in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilia Tsachev
- 1 Department of Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University , Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Nikola Pantchev
- 2 Department of Infectious Diseases, IDEXX Laboratories , Ludwigsburg, Germany
| | - Plamen Marutsov
- 1 Department of Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University , Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Vladimir Petrov
- 1 Department of Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University , Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Dimitrina Gundasheva
- 3 Department of General and Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University , Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Magdalena Baymakova
- 4 Department of Infectious Diseases, Military Medical Academy , Sofia, Bulgaria
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Sangl L, Matiasek K, Felten S, Gründl S, Bergmann M, Balzer HJ, Pantchev N, Leutenegger CM, Hartmann K. Detection of feline coronavirus mutations in paraffin-embedded tissues in cats with feline infectious peritonitis and controls. J Feline Med Surg 2018. [PMID: 29542369 DOI: 10.1177/1098612x18762883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The amino acid substitutions M1058L and S1060A in the spike protein of feline coronavirus (FCoV) have been postulated to be responsible for the development of the pathogenic feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV), which causes feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). The aim of the following study was to investigate the presence of mutated virus in tissue samples of cats with and without FIP. METHODS The study population consisted of 64 cats, 34 of which were diagnosed with FIP and 30 control cats. All cases underwent autopsy, histopathology and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for FCoV. Furthermore, a genotype-discriminating quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed on shavings of paraffin-embedded tissues to discriminate between cats with FIP and controls, and the sensitivity and specificity of this discriminating RT-qPCR were calculated using 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS Specificity of genotype-discriminating RT-qPCR was 100.0% (95% CI 88.4-100.0), and sensitivity was 70.6% (95% CI 52.5-84.9). In cats with FIP, 24/34 tested positive for FIPV. In samples of three control cats and in seven cats with FIP, FCoV was found, but genotyping was not possible owing to low FCoV RNA concentrations. Out of the positive samples, 23 showed the amino acid substitution M1058L in the spike protein and none the substitution S1060A. One sample in a cat with FIP revealed a mixed population of non-mutated FCoV and FIPV (mixed genotype). For one sample genotyping was not possible despite high viral load, and two samples were negative for FCoV. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE As none of the control animals showed FCoV amino acid substitutions previously demonstrated in cats with FIP, it can be presumed that the substitution M1058L correlates with the presence of FIP. FCoV was detected in low concentration in tissues of control animals, confirming the ability of FCoV to spread systemically. The fact that no negative controls were included in the IHC protocol could potentially lead to an underestimation of the sensitivity of the RT-qPCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Sangl
- 1 Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Kaspar Matiasek
- 2 Section of Clinical and Comparative Neuropathology, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Sandra Felten
- 1 Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, LMU, Munich, Germany
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Dyachenko V, Pantchev N, Stöckel F, Dittmar K, Daugschies A, Sassnau R. Dirofilaria-repens-Befall in einem Schlittenhunde-Rudel im Land Brandenburg. Tierarztl Prax Ausg K 2018. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1622777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Zusammenfassung
Gegenstand und Ziel: In den letzten Jahren hat Dirofilaria (D.) repens erheblich an Bedeutung gewonnen. Infolge der globalen Erwärmung und des zunehmenden internationalen Haustierverkehrs ist eine weitere Ausbreitung des vektorgebundenen Parasiten aus seinen angestammten Habitaten Richtung Nordeuropa denkbar. Bei einem Tier aus einem Rudel von 29 Schlittenhunden wurden bei einer Routineuntersuchung Mikrofilarien im Blut festgestellt. Dies gab Anlass zur Untersuchung des ganzen Rudels. Ziele waren Art-diagnose der Filarien, Darstellung des Vorkommens der Filariose im Rudel und Prüfung einer neuen filariziden Behandlungsstrategie. Material und Methoden: Neben der Untersuchung auf Filarien erfolgte eine hämatologische Untersuchung. Zur Detektion der Mikrofilarien diente der Knott-Test. Aus den Proben der positiven Tiere wurde eine PCR zur Artdiagnose durchgeführt. Die für Mikrofilarien positiven Hunde wurden mit Doxycyclin und Ivermectin behandelt. Ergebnisse: Fünf von 29 Tieren waren mit D. repens infiziert. Ein Patient zeigte Hautveränderungen, die anderen Hunde präsentierten sich klinisch unauffällig. Bei den hämatologischen Parametern wiesen sie jedoch signifikante Abweichungen auf. Vier und 19 Wochen nach Abschluss der 6-wöchigen Behandlung waren mittels Knott-Test keine Mikrofilarien mehr nachweisbar. Schlussfolgerung und klinische Relevanz: Die kanine kutane Dirofilariose (D. repens) ist in Deutschland nicht mehr als ausschließlich importierte Krankheit anzusehen. Für die Wahl einer adäquaten Therapie hat eine Artdiagnose entscheidende Bedeutung. Die PCR stellt hierfür eine sichere Methode dar. Durch die Kombinationstherapie mit Ivermectin und Doxycyclin kann eine Amikrofilarämie erreicht werden. Da sich ein Befall der Endwirte nur selten klinisch äußert, sind prophylaktische Maßnahmen zur Limitierung einer Ausbreitung des Parasiten in potenziellen Risikogebieten zu diskutieren. Bei Hunden mit pruriginösen, nodulären Dermatitiden sollte D. repens differenzialdiagnostisch in Erwägung gezogen werden.
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Abstract
Zusammenfassung
Gegenstand der Untersuchung: Der vorliegenden Arbeit liegen labordiagnostische Befunde (2002–2004) von Kot-, Serum- und Urinproben der Kleinsäuger Kaninchen, Meerschweinchen, Frettchen, Hörnchen, Degu, Chinchilla, Ratte, Maus und Hamster aus privater Haltung sowie von Igeln zugrunde. Ziel/Problemstellung: Mithilfe einschlägiger parasitologischer Diagnoseverfahren wurden von Tierärzten eingesandte Proben auf Endoparasiten untersucht, um einen Überblick über Vorkommen und Häufigkeit der verschiedenen parasitären Erreger bei den unterschiedlichen Tierarten zu bekommen. Ergebnisse: Die wichtigsten Endoparasitosen der kleinen Heimsäuger und Igel sind Kokzidiose, Enzephalitozoonose, verschiedene Helminthosen sowie Giardiose. Die koprologische Untersuchung ergab einen negativen Befund bei 73,9% der Kaninchen-, 94,3% der Meerschweinchen-, 90,8% der Frettchen- und 29,0% der Igelproben. Andererseits waren 63% der Kaninchen serologisch positiv für Encephalitozoon cuniculi und 66,6% der Chinchillas zeigten einen positiven Giardienbefund. Schlussfolgerung: Heimtiere erfreuen sich immer größerer Beliebtheit. Dies erfordert eine intensive Beschäftigung mit deren Parasitenbefall, auch wenn die Prävalenzen oft gering sind. Die Kenntnis über die praxisrelevanten Endoparasiten beim Kleinsäuger, ihr Vorkommen und ihre Häufigkeit bei den verschiedenen Tierspezies machen eine adäquate Diagnostik und effiziente, zielführende Therapie erst möglich, wodurch parasitäre Erreger rasch und nachhaltig abgetötet werden und zum Beispiel gastrointestinale Störungen rasch abklingen.
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Dandrieux JRS, Sacchini F, Harms G, Globokar M, Balzer HJ, Pantchev N. Canine Leishmania infantum infection: an imported case in UK after staying in the Canary Islands. Parasitol Res 2017; 117:331-334. [PMID: 29164321 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-017-5681-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniosis is reported in the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, but the Canary Islands are deemed free. In the present communication, we report a clinical leishmaniosis due to Leishmania infantum in a dog that was presumptively infected during its stay on Tenerife. The result of Leishmania serology (whole-cell based ELISA with L. infantum antigen) was high positive (test score of 82.2 at a cut-off value of 12.0). This result was further confirmed with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for Leishmania spp. on a blood sample. A medium load of parasites was detected (48 parasites/ml blood). L. infantum was identified by RFLP analysis of the ITS-1 PCR product. Confirmation that leishmaniosis is endemic to the Canary Islands would further require study on local dogs with no travel history as well as reassessment on frequency and distribution of Phlebotomus spp. as well as Leishmania spp. detection in the sand fly vector. However, this case strongly suggests that L. infantum is present on the Canary Islands. Although transmission seems to be still exceptional, preventive measures in dogs travelling to the Canaries should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- J R S Dandrieux
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC, Australia
| | - F Sacchini
- IDEXX Laboratories, Sandbeck Way, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS22 7DN, UK
| | - G Harms
- Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Virchow-Campus, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - M Globokar
- IDEXX Laboratories, Moerikestrasse 28/3, 71636, Ludwigsburg, Germany
| | - H-J Balzer
- IDEXX Laboratories, Moerikestrasse 28/3, 71636, Ludwigsburg, Germany
| | - Nikola Pantchev
- IDEXX Laboratories, Moerikestrasse 28/3, 71636, Ludwigsburg, Germany.
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Vrhovec MG, Pantchev N, Failing K, Bauer C, Travers-Martin N, Zahner H. Retrospective Analysis of Canine Vector-borne Diseases (CVBD) in Germany with Emphasis on the Endemicity and Risk Factors of Leishmaniosis. Parasitol Res 2017; 116:131-144. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-017-5499-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Manzocchi S, Venco L, Piseddu E, Pantchev N, Masserdotti C, Bonfanti U, Albanese F, Kramer LH, Bertazzolo W. Positive PCR alone should not be considered sufficient to establish Dirofilaria repens
as the cause of subcutaneous nodular lesions in the absence of a clear cytologic picture. Vet Clin Pathol 2017; 46:389-390. [DOI: 10.1111/vcp.12512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Luigi Venco
- Private Consulting Practitioner; Pavia Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Laura Helen Kramer
- Dipartimento di Scienze Medico Veterinarie; Università degli Studi di Parma; Parma Italy
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Maksimov P, Hermosilla C, Taubert A, Staubach C, Sauter-Louis C, Conraths FJ, Vrhovec MG, Pantchev N. GIS-supported epidemiological analysis on canine Angiostrongylus vasorum and Crenosoma vulpis infections in Germany. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:108. [PMID: 28241853 PMCID: PMC5330135 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2054-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Angiostrongylus vasorum infections are the cause of severe cardiopulmonary diseases in dogs. In the past, canine angiostrongylosis has largely been neglected in Europe, although some recent studies indicated an expansion of historically known endemic areas, a phenomenon that might also apply to Crenosoma vulpis. The aim of the present study was to analyse temporal and spatial trends of canine A. vasorum and C. vulpis infections and to perform GIS-supported risk factor analysis to evaluate the role of landscape, age and seasonality in the life-cycle of these nematodes. METHODS A total of 12,682 faecal samples from German dogs (collected in 2003-2015) with clinical suspicion for lungworm infection were examined for the presence of A. vasorum and C. vulpis larvae by the Baermann funnel technique and respective epidemiological data (location and age of the sampled dogs, date of sampling) were subjected to GIS-supported risk factor analysis. RESULTS Overall, A. vasorum and C. vulpis larvae were detected in 288 (2.3%) and 285 (2.2%) faecal samples, respectively. In general, both lungworm infections were found to be widely spread in Germany. GIS-supported analyses demonstrate spatial differences in the occurrence of canine A. vasorum and C. vulpis infections in Germany. also, risk factor analyses revealed an overlap but also diverging risk and protective factors for A. vasorum and C. vulpis infections. The current data also indicate a significant increase of A. vasorum and C. vulpis prevalences from 2003 to 2015 and from 2008 until 2015, respectively, and a potential spread of A. vasorum endemic areas to the northeastern part of Germany. CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study show an insight into the epidemiological situation of lungworm infections (A. vasorum and C. vulpis) of the past 13 years in Germany. The data clearly demonstrate an increase of diagnosed A. vasorum prevalence in the tested dog population between 2003 and 2015 as well as spatial differences in the occurrence of diagnosed A. vasorum and C. vulpis infections of dogs in Germany. Risk factor analyses suggest possible differences in the biology of these parasites, presumably at the intermediate host level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavlo Maksimov
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany. .,Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
| | - Carlos Hermosilla
- Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Anja Taubert
- Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Christoph Staubach
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Carola Sauter-Louis
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Franz J Conraths
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
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Simón F, Kartashev V, González-Miguel J, Rivera A, Diosdado A, Gómez PJ, Morchón R, Siles-Lucas M, Kartashev V, Bastrikov N, Ilyasov B, Ermakov A, Kartashov S, Dontsov D, Ambalov Y, Pavlikovska T, Sagach O, Nikolaenko S, Chizh N, Korzan A, Salauyova A, González-Miguel J, Morchón R, Siles-Lucas M, Simon F, Fok É, Kucsera I, Übleis SS, Cuk C, Nawratil M, Wimmer V, Zittra C, Butter J, Obwaller A, Lebl K, Zechmeister T, Weiss S, Duscher GG, Auer H, Joachim A, Fuehrer HP, Savic S, Pudar D, Petric D, Capelli G, Montarsi F, Silaghi C, Kramer L, Carretón E, Peña L, Caceres S, Silvan G, Illera JC, Montoya-Alonso JA, Yilmaz E, Fritzenwanker M, Pantchev N, Lendner M, Wongkamchai S, Otranto D, Kroidl I, Dennebaum M, Ramünke S, Schaper R, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Poppert S, Krücken J, Florea CICN, Tudor PG, Olaru SP, Dobrica AM, Dobrzyński A, Klockiewicz M, Wysmołek M, Czopowicz M, Parzeniecka-Jaworska M, Nowakowska J, Długosz E, Diakou A, Mylonakis M, Polizopoulou Z, Koutinas C, Manzocchi S, Di Palma S, Peloso M, Pantchev N, Milojković N, Aranđelović M, Ćurčin L, Mitková B, Novotná M, Juránková J, Hofmannová L, Bowman DD, Modrý D, Leschnik M, Alho AM, Cortes HCE, Lopes AP, Vila-Viçosa MJ, Cardoso L, Belo S, de Carvalho LM, Alho AM, Vilhena H, Oliveira AC, Granada S, Lopes AP, Belo S, de Carvalho LM, Cardoso L, Blaga R, Daniel-Lesnard V, Polack B, Beurlet S, Martin C, Guillot J, Ciuca L, Morchón R, Moroti RV, Arbune M, Hurjui L, Constantin R, Acatrinei D, Miron L, Kramer L, Rinaldi L, Simón F, Długosz E, Szmidt A, Dobrzyński A, Wysmołek M, Klockiewicz M, Džamić AM, Kalezić T, Čalovski IČ, Rašić D, Cvetković M, Mitrović S, Morchón R, Carretón E, Gómez PJ, Diosdado A, González-Miguel J, Diosdado A, González-Miguel J, Simón F, Morchón R, Panic V, Bekvalac R, Fenjac I, Potkonjak A, Otasevic S, Savic S, Papadopoulos E, Angelou A, Gallidis E, Spanoudis K, Schaper R, Chandrashekar R, Kosic LS, Lalosevic V, Naglic A, Simin S, Kuruca L, Spasovic A, Krzysztof T, Klaudiusz S, Maciek G, Junkuszew A, Dudko P, Nikola P, Marzena S, Ryszard I, Wimmer V, Ionică AM, Zittra C, Leitner N, Votýpka J, Modrý D, Mihalca AD, Fuehrer HP, Schnyder M, Lange M, Penagos F, Hermosilla C, Schaper R, Taubert A, Grandi G, Osterman-Lind E, Schaper R, Forshell U, Schnyder M, Čabanová V, Hurníková Z, Miterpáková M, Conboy G, Murphy N, Hofstede T, Barutzki D, Dyachenko V, Schaper R, Lempereur L, Martinelle L, Bayrou C, Marechal F, Dalemans AC, Losson BJ, Elsheikha HM, Holmes SB, Gillis-Germitsch N, Schnyder M, Conboy G, Guselle N, Schaper R, Diakou A, Migli D, Di Cesare A, Psalla D, Youlatos D, Traversa D, Gherman CM, Deak G, Ionică AM, D’Amico G, Otranto D, Mihalca AD, Lange M, Penagos F, Muñoz-Caro T, Magdowski G, Gärtner U, Mejer H, Schaper R, Hermosilla C, Taubert A, Szczepaniak K, Tomczuk K, Grzybek M, Iwanicki R, Bedel B, Blaga R, Gouni V, Chetboul V, Benchekroun G, Blot S, Verwaerde P, Polack B, Hansen AP, Vinther LM, Skarbye LK, Olsen CS, Mejer H, Willesen JL, Di Cesare A, Venco L, Manzocchi S, Grillotti E, Auriemma E, Pampurini F, Garofani C, Ibba F, Traversa D, Penagos F, Gutiérrez J, Velez JD, Piedrahita D, Lange M, Hermosilla C, Taubert A, Chaparro J, Macchioni F, Magi M, Ulivieri E, Gori F, Schnyder M. Fifth European Dirofilaria and Angiostrongylus Days (FiEDAD) 2016. Parasit Vectors 2017. [PMCID: PMC5259908 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1902-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Kummerfeld M, Muller S, Pantchev N, Kühn N. Cytological and Histological Charaterization of Cutaneous Phaeohyphomycosis in a Cat. J Comp Pathol 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2016.11.249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Deak G, Gherman CM, Ionică AM, Daskalaki AA, Matei IA, D'Amico G, Domşa C, Pantchev N, Mihalca AD, Cozma V. Use of a commercial serologic test for Angiostrongylus vasorum for the detection of A. chabaudi in wildcats and A. daskalovi in badgers. Vet Parasitol 2016; 233:107-110. [PMID: 28043379 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2016] [Revised: 12/04/2016] [Accepted: 12/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Three species of the genus Angiostrongylus are known to infect European carnivores: A. vasorum (mainly in canids but also in other carnivores), A. chabaudi (in felids) and A. daskalovi (in mustelids). A. vasorum is responsible for clinically severe disease in domestic dogs, most commonly diagnosed based on fecal examination and serological detection of circulating antigens. Considering the poorly known host range and the challenging larval differentiation in the feces between the three species of Angiostrongylus infecting European carnivores, our aim was to evaluate the cross-reactivity of A. chabaudi and A. daskalovi with A. vasorum using a commercial serologic test developed for domestic dogs. Badgers (Meles meles) (n=10) and wildcats (Felis silvestris) (n=8) were examined between 2015 and 2016 by full parasitological necropsy with subsequent morphological and molecular identification of nematodes and by serology, using IDEXX Angio Detect™ tests. Five out of the ten badgers and two out of the eight wildcats were harboring nematodes in the pulmonary arteries. All nematodes were identified morphologically as A. daskalovi in badgers and A. chabaudi in wildcats, respectively. Serological examination of the plasma samples revealed the positivity of the same animals as found in necropsy. None of the animals negative at necropsy was positive at serology. The 100% correlation between the necropsy results and the serologic positivity to IDEXX Angio Detect™ in badgers infected with A. daskalovi and wildcats infected with A. chabaudi suggest that these rapid tests are able to identify circulating antigens of all species of Angiostrongylus found in European carnivores: A. vasorum, A. daskalovi and A. chabaudi. The possibility for future in-clinic use of this test in domestic cats should be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgiana Deak
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca 400372, Romania
| | - Călin Mircea Gherman
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca 400372, Romania.
| | - Angela Monica Ionică
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca 400372, Romania
| | - Aikaterini Alexandra Daskalaki
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca 400372, Romania
| | - Ioana Adriana Matei
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca 400372, Romania
| | - Gianluca D'Amico
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca 400372, Romania
| | - Cristian Domşa
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca 400372, Romania
| | - Nikola Pantchev
- IDEXX Laboratories, Moerikestr. 28/3, D-71636 Ludwigsburg, Germany
| | - Andrei Daniel Mihalca
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca 400372, Romania
| | - Vasile Cozma
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca 400372, Romania
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Manzocchi S, Lendner M, Piseddu E, Sebastiani V, Morabito S, Daugschies A, Pantchev N. Nodular presentation of Dirofilaria repens infection in a cat mimicking a fibrosarcoma. Vet Clin Pathol 2016; 46:158-163. [PMID: 27935633 DOI: 10.1111/vcp.12433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A cat with multiple subcutaneous nodules suggesting a soft tissue sarcoma by physical and computed tomographic examination was diagnosed as being affected by subcutaneous filariosis based on cytologic and ultrasonographic assessments. Nodules were surgically removed and extracted nematodes were identified by PCR as Dirofilaria repens. Furthermore, DNA of Dipetalonema dracunculoides (syn. Acantocheilonema dracunculoides) was detected by PCR, with no evidence of circulating microfilariae. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this represents the first report describing adults of D repens in multiple subcutaneous nodules in a cat. Cytopathologic examination allowed characterization of the parasitic nature of the nodules. Veterinary practitioners should be aware of the possible nodular presentation of D repens in cats and should include D repens in the differential diagnosis of subcutaneous neoformations in the cat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Manzocchi
- Novara Day Lab - IDEXX Laboratories Italia srl, Granozzo con Monticello, Italy
| | - Matthias Lendner
- Institute of Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Eleonora Piseddu
- Novara Day Lab - IDEXX Laboratories Italia srl, Granozzo con Monticello, Italy
| | | | - Simona Morabito
- Istituto Veterinario di Novara, Granozzo con Monticello, Italy
| | - Arwid Daugschies
- Institute of Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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d'Ovidio D, Pantchev N, Noviello E, Del Prete L, Maurelli MP, Cringoli G, Rinaldi L. Survey of Baylisascaris spp. in captive striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in some European areas. Parasitol Res 2016; 116:483-486. [PMID: 27866266 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-016-5307-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Skunks are popular carnivore species kept both in zoological institutions and in households where they are hand raised as exotic pets. These small carnivores are considered the main definitive hosts of the roundworm Baylisascaris columnaris. The purpose of this survey was to investigate the occurrence of Baylisascaris spp. in striped skunks kept as pets or in private zoo collections in some European areas. Copromicroscopic data from two laboratories, one in Italy and one in Germany, were used. A total of 60 animals were selected. Samples came from Germany (n = 30), Italy (n = 23), United Kingdom (n = 5), Austria (n = 1), and the Netherlands (n = 1). Twenty-eight animals were certainly kept as pets in private households in Italy and the UK. Fifteen out of 60 animals (25%) were positive for Baylisascaris spp. Molecular identification of adult parasites was performed in ten of those animals, revealing B. columnaris in all cases. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first survey of Baylisascaris spp. in captive skunks in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- D d'Ovidio
- Veterinari Esotici Campani, Clinica Veterinaria VetLan, Via G. Brodolini, Battipaglia, SA, 84091, Italy
| | - N Pantchev
- IDEXX Laboratories, Mörikestr. 28/3, Ludwigsburg, 71636, Germany
| | - E Noviello
- Veterinari Esotici Campani, Clinica Veterinaria VetLan, Via G. Brodolini, Battipaglia, SA, 84091, Italy
| | - L Del Prete
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR Regione Campania, Via della Veterinaria 1, Naples, 80137, Italy
| | - M P Maurelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR Regione Campania, Via della Veterinaria 1, Naples, 80137, Italy
| | - G Cringoli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR Regione Campania, Via della Veterinaria 1, Naples, 80137, Italy
| | - Laura Rinaldi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR Regione Campania, Via della Veterinaria 1, Naples, 80137, Italy.
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Yilmaz E, Fritzenwanker M, Pantchev N, Lendner M, Wongkamchai S, Otranto D, Kroidl I, Dennebaum M, Le TH, Anh Le T, Ramünke S, Schaper R, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Poppert S, Krücken J. The Mitochondrial Genomes of the Zoonotic Canine Filarial Parasites Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens and Candidatus Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) hongkongensis Provide Evidence for Presence of Cryptic Species. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0005028. [PMID: 27727270 PMCID: PMC5058507 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cutaneous dirofilariosis is a canine mosquito-borne zoonosis that can cause larva migrans disease in humans. Dirofilaria repens is considered an emerging pathogen occurring with high prevalence in Mediterranean areas and many parts of tropical Asia. In Hong Kong, a second species, Candidatus Dirofilaria hongkongensis, has been reported. The present study aimed to compare mitochondrial genomes from these parasites and to obtain population genetic information. Methods and Findings Complete mitochondrial genomes were obtained by PCR and Sanger sequencing or ILLUMINA sequencing for four worms. Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 sequences identified three as D. repens (all from Europe) and one as C. D. hongkongensis (from India). Mitochondrial genomes have the same organization as in other spirurid nematodes but a higher preference for thymine in the coding strand. Phylogenetic analysis was in contradiction to current taxonomy of the Onchocercidae but in agreement with a recent multi-locus phylogenetic analysis using both mitochondrial and nuclear markers. D. repens and C. D. hongkongensis sequences clustered together and were the common sister group to Dirofilaria immitis. Analysis of a 2.5 kb mitochondrial genome fragment from macrofilaria or canine blood samples from Europe (42), Thailand (2), India (1) and Vietnam (1) revealed only small genetic differences in the D. repens samples including all European and the Vietnam sample. The Indian C. D. hongkongensis and the two Thai samples formed separate clusters and differences were comparatively large. Conclusion Genetic differences between Dirofilaria spp. causing cutaneous disease can be considerable whereas D. repens itself was genetically quite homogenous. C. D. hongkongensis was identified for the first time from the Indian subcontinent. The full mitochondrial genome sequence strengthens the hypothesis that it represents an independent species and the Thai samples might represent another cryptic species, Candidatus Dirofilaria sp. ‘Thailand II’, or a quite divergent population of C. D. hongkongensis. The mitochondrial genomes of the zoonotic parasite species Dirofilaria repens and Candidatus Dirofilaria hongkongensis were characterized and compared to the genomes of other filariae. The resulting phylogeny is largely in agreement with recent molecular data. C. D. hongkongensis was placed as a sister group to D. repens and both as a common sister to D. immitis. The large genetic difference between D. repens and C. D. hongkongensis further supports the hypothesis that both are distinct valid species. Two canine samples from Thailand that were diagnosed as D. repens are either from a C. D. hongkongensis population that is quite divergent from the Indian population or might represent another currently unrecognized species in the genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esra Yilmaz
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Moritz Fritzenwanker
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Giessen-Marburg-Langen, Campus Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | | | - Mathias Lendner
- Institut für Parasitologie, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sirichit Wongkamchai
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Domenico Otranto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Inge Kroidl
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Centre of the University of Munich (LMU); German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Dennebaum
- Section Clinical Tropical Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thanh Hoa Le
- Immunology Department, Institute of Biotechnology, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | - Tran Anh Le
- Department of Parasitology, Viet Nam Veterinary Medical University, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | - Sabrina Ramünke
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - Sven Poppert
- University Medical Center, Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - Jürgen Krücken
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Weis S, Rettinger A, Bergmann M, Llewellyn JR, Pantchev N, Straubinger RK, Hartmann K. Detection of Leptospira DNA in urine and presence of specific antibodies in outdoor cats in Germany. J Feline Med Surg 2016; 19:470-476. [PMID: 26927819 DOI: 10.1177/1098612x16634389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Clinical manifestation of infection with Leptospira species in cats is rare. Nevertheless, cats can develop specific antibodies against the spirochetes after infection. In Canada, Taiwan and the USA it was recently demonstrated that naturally infected cats can also shed DNA from pathogenic Leptospira species in their urine, but the zoonotic potential of infected cats is still unclear. The objective of this study was to demonstrate if outdoor cats in Germany shed DNA from pathogenic Leptospira species in their urine. As a second aim, antibody prevalence was determined. Methods Two hundred and fifteen outdoor cats were prospectively recruited. Urine samples were tested by real-time PCR targeting the lipL32 gene of pathogenic Leptospira species. Antibody titres against eight serovars (Australis, Autumnalis, Bratislava, Canicola, Copenhageni, Grippotyphosa, Pomona, Saxkoebing) belonging to seven serogroups (Australis, Autumnalis, Canicola, Grippotyphosa, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pomona, Sejroe) were determined by microscopic agglutination test. Results Urine samples from 7/215 cats (3.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.9-5.7) were PCR-positive. Specific antibodies were detected in 35/195 cats (17.9%; 95% CI: 12.5-23.3) with titres ranging from 1:100 to 1:6400. Australis, Bratislava and Grippotyphosa were the most common serovars. Conclusions and relevance Outdoor cats in Germany can shed DNA from pathogenic Leptospira species. Therefore, outdoor cats should be considered as a possible source of infection for dogs or humans. Further studies are needed to determine the role of Leptospira species as a cause of disease in cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Weis
- 1 Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Anna Rettinger
- 2 Bacteriology and Mycology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Reinhard K Straubinger
- 2 Bacteriology and Mycology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Katrin Hartmann
- 1 Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
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Pantchev N, Vrhovec MG, Pluta S, Straubinger RK. Seropositivity of Borrelia burgdorferi in a cohort of symptomatic cats from Europe based on a C6-peptide assay with discussion of implications in disease aetiology. Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr 2016; 129:333-339. [PMID: 27529996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
There are only few reports on Lyme borreliosis (LB) in cats. The reasons might be a different tick infestation in cats compared to dogs, a low susceptibility for tick-borne infections or a low awareness of veterinarians for tick-borne diseases in feline patients. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) in feline sera, to compare the significance of feline versus canine LB, as well as to evaluate possible implications on disease occurrence. Specific antibodies against the C6-peptide of Bbsl in cats were detected by a rapid test based on enzyme immunoassay technique. The serum samples were sent to a diagnostic laboratory by veterinarians from Germany and other European countries with request for Borrelia serology in the years 2009-2011. Veterinarians were asked for information regarding the cats' location, age, gender, clinical signs, treatment and follow-up. In six of 271 (2.2%; 95% CI: 0.8-4.8%) cat sera, antibodies against the C6-peptide of Bbsl were detected. Proportion of Borrelia antibody-positive cat sera was significantly lower than the one determined for dogs during the same time period. All positive cats lived in countries endemic for LB (Germany, Sweden and Belgium), and all C6-antibody positive cats with the exception of one cat showed clinical signs. Possible implications on disease occurrence are discussed. Data presented here demonstrate a lower prevalence of Borrelia specific C6-antibodies in European cats when compared to dogs residing in the same regions. The absence of antibodies against Bbsl in 97.8% (95% CI: 95.2-99.2%) of the submitted samples indicate that diagnosis "feline LB"is rare in cats. Nevertheless, LB should be considered in cats with compatible clinical signs (e.g. shifting leg lameness, to less extent neurological signs) when other differential diagnoses are ruled out.
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Schares G, Ziller M, Herrmann D, Globokar M, Pantchev N, Conraths F. Seasonality in the proportions of domestic cats shedding Toxoplasma gondii or Hammondia hammondi oocysts is associated with climatic factors. Int J Parasitol 2016; 46:263-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2015.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Revised: 12/11/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Pantchev N, Pluta S, Huisinga E, Nather S, Scheufelen M, Vrhovec MG, Schweinitz A, Hampel H, Straubinger RK. Tick-borne Diseases (Borreliosis, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis) in German and Austrian Dogs: Status quo and Review of Distribution, Transmission, Clinical Findings, Diagnostics and Prophylaxis. Parasitol Res 2016; 114 Suppl 1:S19-54. [PMID: 26152408 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4513-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases (TBD) in dogs have gained in significance in German and Austrian veterinary practices. The widespread European tick species Ixodes ricinus represents an important vector for spirochaetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato group and Rickettsiales such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The meadow or ornate dog tick (Dermacentor reticulatus) is an important vector for Babesia canis, as is the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) for Babesia vogeli in the Mediterranean region. The present work covers pathogen transmission by tick vectors, including the mechanisms and the minimum intervals required, in conjunction with possible non-vector-borne transmission routes. It also addresses the incubation periods, pathogenicity and clinical findings associated with each pathogen and genospecies and presents case examples. Current data on prevalence, annual fluctuations and distribution in various pre-selected dog populations (symptomatic versus asymptomatic) in both countries are depicted in maps. Reasons for changes in prevalence (especially of Borrelia) are discussed. Criteria and algorithms for clinical diagnosis and monitoring in dogs, including case history, direct detection (blood smears, molecular detection by species-specific PCR and sequencing) and indirect methods (whole-cell and peptide-based antibody tests), are presented, together with laboratory abnormalities (haematology, clinical chemistry, urine). The role of anti-C6 antibody concentration (ACAC) and its correlation with proteinuria and Lyme nephritis are assessed on the basis of new data. Consideration is also given to the importance of blood smears, PCR and serology in the case of anaplasmosis and babesiosis, and the diagnostic value of combining these methods. The relevance of molecular differentiation of Anaplasma species (A. phagocytophilum versus A. platys) and Babesia spp. (large versus small forms) in cases of serological cross-reaction is emphasized. A summary is given of methods for prophylaxis using acaricide products (collars, spot-on solutions and oral treatments in both countries), vaccination (Borrelia and Babesia vaccines) and imidocarb-based chemoprophylaxis for large Babesia.
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