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Parasitic Diseases in Canines and Felines and Their Vectors

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A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Companion Animals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 26633

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Rodrigo Morchón García

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Guest Editor

Zoonotic Disease and One Heatlh Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, Campus Miguel Unamuno, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
Interests: human-animals interactions; parasitology; zoonotic parasite; one health; vector-borne disease; host-parasite relationship
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Simona Gabrielli

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Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: tropical diseases; parasitic diseases; infectious disease epidemiology; PCR; molecular biology; antibodies; ELISA; genetics; DNA; infection
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Fabio Macchioni

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Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Interests: parasite diagnostic tools; parasites

Dr. Elena Carretón

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Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Interests: small animals; zoonosis; host–parasite relationship; cardiorespiratory medicine; vector-borne disease; one health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Parasitic diseases in dogs and cats, both domestic and wild, are one of the most important problems for these living creatures. They are caused by various parasites, including protozoa, trematodes, cestodes, nematodes, and arthropods. These diseases cause severe and potentially fatal damage to their hosts, many of them being cosmopolitan diseases. Moreover, they cause important economic losses, both for the administration in the case of wild or stray animals, and for the owners in the case of domestic animals. Knowledge of the biology, the current epidemiological status in any region, parasite diagnosis and antiparasitic treatments, and control measures have an important role to play in society. In addition, it should be noted that many of these diseases are zoonotic, meaning that people can be affected, as well as the health care system, which is important from a One Health perspective; controlling these diseases and their consequences has a direct impact on the environment and human health.

We invite you to share your recent findings through this Special Issue, focused on all kinds of parasitic diseases in dogs and cats.

Dr. Rodrigo Morchón
Dr. Simona Gabrielli
Dr. Fabio Macchioni
Dr. Elena Carretón
Guest Editors

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Keywords

parasitic diseases
dogs
cats
protozoa
trematodes
cestodes
nematodes
arthropods
vectors
One Health

Published Papers (14 papers)

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Research

9 pages, 3491 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Interventional Heartworm Extraction in Two Dogs: The Clinical Application of Impedance Cardiography

by Daesik Kim, Seol-Gi Park and Minsu Kim

Animals 2023, 13(19), 3127; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani13193127 - 07 Oct 2023

Viewed by 948

Abstract

Heartworm (HW) disease, caused by Dirofilaria immitis, is a life-threatening ailment in dogs. HW disrupts blood flow and decreases cardiac output (CO). The accurate monitoring of CO during HW extraction is pivotal for patient survival and overall health. Objective: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of using impedance cardiography (ICG) as a non-invasive approach for monitoring CO during interventional HW extraction. Methods: Two cases of HW infections were treated via surgical extraction. The CO and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were monitored using the ICG technique during the anesthesia stabilization, extraction process, and post-extraction phases. Results: In Case 1, the CO increased by 115% post-procedure, and in Case 2, the CO increased by 116%. In contrast, the MAP varied between the two cases. The ICG method provided real-time CO data without major disruptions during the extraction surgery. Conclusion: The ICG technique for CO monitoring during interventional HW extractions is effective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Diseases in Canines and Felines and Their Vectors)

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17 pages, 697 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Antibody-Based Survey of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum Infection in Client-Owned Cats from Portugal

by Maria Aires Pereira, Carmen Nóbrega, Teresa L. Mateus, Daniela Almeida, Andreia Oliveira, Catarina Coelho, Rita Cruz, Paula Oliveira, Ana Faustino-Rocha, Maria J. Pires, João R. Mesquita and Helena Vala

Animals 2023, 13(14), 2327; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani13142327 - 17 Jul 2023

Viewed by 841

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are obligate intracellular protozoan parasites infecting a wide range of hosts worldwide. However, information on the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis and neosporosis in cats from Portugal is limited. Thus, this study aims to evaluate anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum seroprevalence in client-owned cats from Portugal and to identify risk factors using a panel of well-characterized sera. A total of 183 domestic cats were sampled and screened for antibodies against T. gondii and N. caninum using commercial ELISA assays, and their owners answered an online questionnaire designed to obtain background information. The overall anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum seroprevalences were 13.1% (CI: 8.97–18.77) and 3.8% (CI: 1.87–7.68), respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that living strictly indoors was a significant protection factor (cOR: 0.053; CI: 0.005–0.627), and the presence of a chronic disease a significant risk factor (cOR: 3.106; CI: 1.062–9.082) to T. gondii seroprevalence. When performing multivariate analysis, only chronic disease (aOR: 57.527; CI: 1.7–1976.7) and seropositivity to N. caninum (aOR: 7.929; CI:0.8–82.9) were found to be a significant risk factor to anti-T. gondii antibodies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of N. caninum seropositivity in cats from Portugal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Diseases in Canines and Felines and Their Vectors)

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12 pages, 972 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Molecular Survey and Genetic Characteristics of Vector-Borne Pathogens in Domestic Dogs from Four Regions of China

by Fangyuan Yin, Chuanjiang Guo, Dong Li, Zhuojia Tian and Facai Li

Animals 2023, 13(11), 1867; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani13111867 - 03 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1265

Abstract

Canine vector-borne diseases are widely distributed around the world. They are transmitted by arthropods, and many seriously threaten the health of animals and humans. In China, our knowledge of Ehrlichia, Hepatozoon, and Mycoplasma species circulating in dogs is still poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to understand the prevalence and genetic characteristics of canine Ehrlichia spp., Hepatozoon spp., and Mycoplasma spp. in Chongqing (southwest), Fujian (southeast), Shandong (southeast), and Hubei (central) Provinces of China. Blood samples from healthy pet dogs were processed to detect Ehrlichia, Hepatozoon, and Mycoplasma DNA with PCR. Haplotype and phylogenetic analyses were performed on 18S rRNA sequences. Among 306 dogs, no Ehrlichia spp. or Mycoplasma spp. were detected, whereas one Hepatozoon sp. was detected in 10 (3.27%) of the animals. Only Hepatozoon canis was identified and was endemic to Chongqing (2.46%) and Hubei (8.77%). A haplotype analysis identified eight haplotypes among the H. canis isolates. A phylogenetic analysis showed that the H. canis isolates in this study clustered into four clades, together with isolates from different countries and hosts, forming a large group that was clearly separate from other Hepatozoon species. These findings provided new information on the epidemiological characteristics of canine vector-borne diseases in China and will be helpful in the development of efficient measures to safeguard the health and well-being of companion animals and their owners. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Diseases in Canines and Felines and Their Vectors)

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14 pages, 1641 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Giardia duodenalis Colonization Slightly Affects Gut Microbiota and Hematological Parameters in Clinically Healthy Dogs

by Arianna Peruzzo, Marta Vascellari, Andrea Massaro, Marzia Mancin, Annalisa Stefani, Massimiliano Orsini, Patrizia Danesi, Sara Petrin, Antonio Carminato, Michele Matteo Santoro, Roberto Speranza, Carmen Losasso and Gioia Capelli

Animals 2023, 13(6), 958; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani13060958 - 07 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1524

Abstract

Giardia duodenalis (Giardia) is a worldwide cause of acute diarrheal disease both in humans and animals. The primary aim of this study was to investigate possible variations in gut microbiota in a population of asymptomatic dogs (n = 31), naturally infected or not by Giardia. Gut microbiota and the hematological, biochemical, and fecal parameters related to intestinal function were investigated. Giardia infection was associated with a significant shift of beta diversity, showing a relevant reduction of Gammaproteobacteria and an increase of Fusobacteria in male-positive dogs if compared with negatives. A significant imbalance of different bacterial taxa, with particular reference to the Erysipelotrichales, Lactobacillales, Clostridiales, and Burkholderiales orders, was observed, with the first two being higher in Giardia-positive dogs. Giardia-positive males displayed significantly higher values of cCRP than negative males as well as positive females, supporting the presence of a pro-inflammatory state. Taken together, these results indicate that the presence of Giardia does not substantially modify the microbial ecology of the intestine nor the hematological markers of disease. Thus treatments against Giardia should be considered with caution in asymptomatic subjects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Diseases in Canines and Felines and Their Vectors)

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10 pages, 1476 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Echocardiographic Assessment of the Pulmonary Vein to Pulmonary Artery Ratio in Canine Heartworm Disease

by Jorge Isidoro Matos, Alicia Caro-Vadillo, Yaiza Falcón-Cordón, Sara Nieves García-Rodríguez, Noelia Costa-Rodríguez, Elena Carretón and José Alberto Montoya-Alonso

Animals 2023, 13(4), 703; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani13040703 - 17 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1903

Abstract

Background:Dirofilaria immitis produces proliferative pulmonary endarteritis and pulmonary thromboembolism in infected dogs. The pulmonary vascular lesions lead to irreversible and persistent structural damage and, as a consequence, sustained precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH). The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of the pulmonary vein to pulmonary artery ratio (PV:PA ratio) to determine moderate or severe PH (>50 mmHg) in dogs with heartworm disease. Methods: A total of 151 naturally heartworm-infected and 66 healthy dogs were included in the study. The presence/absence of PH was based on the right pulmonary artery distensibility index (RPAD index < 29.5%), and the PV:PA ratio was echocardiographically measured by the time–motion mode (M mode) and two-dimensional mode (2D mode). Other echocardiographic parameters were also assessed (pulmonary trunk to aorta ratio, tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient, and AT:ET ratio). Results: The results of the PV:PA ratio showed a highly positive correlation between the M and 2D modes (r = 0.928). The PV:PA ratio obtained by the M mode was identified as the strongest predictor for RPAD index (R² 0.628, p < 0.0001) with a good diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.99). The results of PV/PA by the 2D mode showed a similar prediction for the RPAD index (R² 0.606, p < 0.0001) with a good diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.98). Both of the 2D and M modes’ PV:PA ratios decreased significantly with the presence of PH. A cut-off value of ≤0.845 showed high sensitivity and specificity for the M mode (97% and 94%, respectively) and the 2D mode (96% and 93%, respectively). Conclusions: The PV:PA ratio may be useful as a complementary diagnostic method for the estimation of moderate or severe PH in dogs with heartworm. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Diseases in Canines and Felines and Their Vectors)

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12 pages, 1174 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Right Pulmonary Artery Distensibility Index in Heartworm Infected Dogs: Are the Different Methods Leading to Same Results?

by Angelo Basile, Ettore Napoli, Emanuele Brianti and Luigi Venco

Animals 2023, 13(3), 418; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani13030418 - 26 Jan 2023

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Abstract

Canine Heartworm Disease (HWD) is mainly a pulmonary vascular disease. The reduction of the Pulmonary Artery Distensibility (PAD) is an early index of pulmonary vascular disease. Echocardiographic evaluation of the Right Pulmonary Artery Distensibility index (RPADi) is calculated as the percentage change in diameter of the right pulmonary artery (RPA) between systole and diastole. Historically, two main methods have been used for RPADi calculation: The Venco method and Visser method; however, different hybrid methods have also been used by other authors. Therefore, it could be difficult for a clinician to decide which method to apply and how to interpret the results based on the reference values reported. The aim of this study was to compare the RPADi obtained by five different techniques (Venco classic, Venco modified, Visser classic, Visser modified 1, and Visser modified 2). The study design was a retrospective, single center, observational study. Forty-seven client-owned dogs were included. The measurements were performed off-line as an average of three consecutive cardiac cycles by a single investigator blinded to the dogs’ diagnosis. The RPADi was satisfactorily obtained by all methods in all dogs. Intra-observer measurement variability was clinically acceptable both for systolic and diastolic measurements. Although the Bland–Altman test showed a statistical agreement between the various methods used to calculate the RPADi, these methods cannot be used interchangeably in a clinical setting. Instead, the measurement method and reference values should always be specified. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Diseases in Canines and Felines and Their Vectors)

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8 pages, 2106 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Molecular Detection of Babesia gibsoni in Cats in China

by Fangyuan Yin, Daoe Mu, Zhuojia Tian, Dong Li, Xiting Ma, Jinming Wang, Guiquan Guan, Hong Yin and Facai Li

Animals 2022, 12(22), 3066; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani12223066 - 08 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1796 | Correction

Abstract

As there are few studies of Babesia spp. infection in cats in China, or anywhere in the world, the aim of this study was to explore the epidemic features of babesiosis in pet cats in China. In total, 429 blood samples were randomly collected in four different geographical regions. The 18S rRNA gene fragment of Babesia spp. was amplified by nest polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and haplotype and phylogenetic analysis of Babesia were performed to analyze the relationship of this protozoa. The total positive rate of infection was 2.8%. BLAST analysis indicated that Babesia gibsoni was detected in 12 cats. Among these, 4.3%, 3.1%, 0.8% and 2.0% were from Chongqing, Fujian, Hubei and Shandong, respectively. Haplotype and phylogenetic analysis showed that there were nine haplotypes and no obvious genetic variation among B. gibsoni populations. These findings will be helpful for understanding the epidemiology of Babesia spp. in China, and provide a foundation for developing effective preventative strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Diseases in Canines and Felines and Their Vectors)

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17 pages, 2223 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Glycosylation Analysis of Feline Small Intestine Following Toxoplasma gondii Infection

by Bintao Zhai, Shichen Xie, Junjie Peng, Yanhua Qiu, Yang Liu, Xingquan Zhu, Junjun He and Jiyu Zhang

Animals 2022, 12(20), 2858; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani12202858 - 20 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1550

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is responsible for severe human and livestock diseases, huge economic losses, and adversely affects the health of the public and the development of animal husbandry. Glycosylation is a common posttranslational modification of proteins in eukaryotes, and N-glycosylation is closely related to the biological functions of proteins. However, glycosylation alterations in the feline small intestine following T. gondii infection have not been reported. In this study, the experimental group was intragastrically challenged with 600 brain cysts of the Prugniuad (Pru) strain that were collected from infected mice. The cats’ intestinal epithelial tissues were harvested at 10 days post-infection and then sent for protein glycosylation analysis. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry was used to analyze the glycosylation alterations in the small intestine of cats infected with T. gondii. The results of the present study showed that 56 glycosylated peptides were upregulated and 37 glycosylated peptides were downregulated in the feline small intestine infected by T. gondii. Additionally, we also identified eight N-glycosylated proteins of T. gondii including eight N-glycopeptides and eight N-glycosylation sites. The protein A0A086JND6_TOXGO (eEF2) and its corresponding peptide sequence were identified in T. gondii infection. Some special GO terms (i.e., cellular process and metabolic process, cell and cell part, and catalytic activity) were significantly enriched, and the Clusters of Orthologous Groups of proteins (COG) function prediction results showed that posttranslational modification, protein turnover, and chaperones (11%) had the highest enrichment for T. gondii. Interestingly, eEF2, a protein of T. gondii, is also involved in the significantly enriched T. gondii MAPK pathway. The host proteins ICAM-1 and PPT1 and the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway may play an important role in the glycosylation of Toxoplasma-infected hosts. This is the first report showing that T. gondii oocysts can undergo N-glycosylation in the definitive host and that eEF2 is involved, which may provide a new target for T. gondii detection to prevent the spread of T. gondii oocysts in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Diseases in Canines and Felines and Their Vectors)

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9 pages, 638 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of a Commercial Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) with the Modified Agglutination Test (MAT) for the Detection of Antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in a Cohort of Hunting Dogs

by Aicha Yasmine Bellatreche, Riad Bouzid, Amandine Blaizot, Dominique Aubert, Radu Blaga, Khatima Ait-Oudhia and Delphine Le Roux

Animals 2022, 12(20), 2813; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani12202813 - 18 Oct 2022

Viewed by 1591

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease, caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, affecting most warm-blooded animals. Assessing the seroprevalence of T. gondii in different animal species gives a good estimate of the global circulation of the parasite and the risk for human infections. However, the seroprevalence of T. gondii in dogs is not studied as much as other species, despite their close contact with wildlife and humans in rural or urban environments and evidence that dogs can also be a potential source for human contaminations. A commercial enzyme-inked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit to detect anti-T. gondii antibodies in sera of hunting dogs potentially naturally infected, was compared to the modified agglutination test (MAT), used as the reference method. The ELISA presented a sensitivity of 76.5% (CI 95%: 60.0–87.6) and a specificity of 87.7% (CI 95%: 76.7–93.9) and a substantial agreement with the MAT for the detection of canine anti-T. gondii antibodies. Both tests can therefore be used widely for epidemiology studies on T. gondii infections in dogs. With a mean seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in hunting dogs from northern Algeria of 36.8% (CI 95%: 34.9–38.7), this study also highlights the importance of T. gondii seroprevalence studies in companion animals to assess infectious risk for human populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Diseases in Canines and Felines and Their Vectors)

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15 pages, 4298 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Atypical Lesions in Canine Leishmaniosis: Description of New Cases

by María Paz Peris, Paula Ortega-Hernández, Mariano Morales, Juan Antonio Castillo and Bernardino Moreno

Animals 2022, 12(20), 2784; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani12202784 - 15 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2293

Abstract

Pathological characteristics are well described in canine leishmaniosis (CanL). However, atypical lesions that can be confused with other pathologies or trigger unusual clinical signs are sporadically reported. Atypical lesions were observed during routine postmortem examination in three Leishmania-infected dogs and samples were taken for histopathological and immunohistochemical studies. Clinical signs, biochemical parameters, level of antibodies, and parasite detection by PCR were also evaluated. Atypical lesions were found in the peritoneal cavity, liver, and spleen. Splenomegalia and hepatomegalia were observed in all dogs. In addition, multifocal dark to white nodules of variable size were observed in the peritoneal cavity, liver, and spleen of one dog and in the spleen of the other two dogs. One dog presented diffuse irregular whitish lines with a threadlike appearance and another an intense fibrotic depression in the intermediate lobe. Microscopically, an intense granulomatous inflammation with abundant macrophages, a variable number of lymphocytes, and a low to moderate number of parasites was observed. This study represents the first description of granulomatous peritonitis associated with Leishmania in dogs. It also shows atypical macroscopic expression of hepatitis in CanL. In the absence of an adequate clinical history and laboratory analyses, certain lesions observed in CanL could admit alternative diagnoses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Diseases in Canines and Felines and Their Vectors)

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11 pages, 1329 KiB

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Differential Spleen miRNA Expression Profile of Beagle Dogs Infected with Toxocara canis

by Yue Xu, Hao-Yu Li, Lang Cai, Shi-Chen Xie, Yang Zou, Xing-Quan Zhu and Wen-Bin Zheng

Animals 2022, 12(19), 2638; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani12192638 - 30 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1316

Abstract

Toxocara canis is an unnoticed zoonotic helminth that causes severe disease in animals and humans. The spleen has a wide range of immunological functions in protecting the host against infection by many pathogens, but the function of the spleen in T. canis infection is still to be clarified, especially for the role of spleen microRNAs (miRNAs). In this study, deep sequencing of spleen RNA samples of 18 Beagle puppies was conducted to uncover the miRNAs expression profiling at 24 h post-infection (hpi), 96 hpi, and 36 days post infection (dpi). A total of 20, 34, and 19 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) were identified at 24 hpi, 96 hpi, and 36 dpi, respectively. These DEmiRNAs (e.g., cfa-miR-206, cfa-miR-331, and cfa-miR-339) could play critical roles in Beagle puppies against T. canis infection, such as influencing inflammatory and immune-related cells and cytokines, by regulating target genes that are tightly associated with host immune function and enriched in immune response and immune pathways based on GO annotation and KEGG enrichment analysis. The current study discovered marked alterations of spleen miRNAs after T. canis infection, with potential effects on the pathogenesis of toxocariasis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Diseases in Canines and Felines and Their Vectors)

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11 pages, 963 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comprehensive Map of Canine Angiostrongylosis in Dogs in Spain

by Elena Carretón, Rodrigo Morchón, Sara Nieves García-Rodríguez, Iván Rodríguez-Escolar, Jorge Isidoro Matos, Noelia Costa-Rodríguez and José Alberto Montoya-Alonso

Animals 2022, 12(17), 2217; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani12172217 - 29 Aug 2022

Viewed by 2075

Abstract

Canine angiostrongylosis is an emerging disease caused by Angiostrongylus vasorum, mainly affecting wild carnivores and dogs. In Spain, there are studies reporting infections in foxes, wolves, and badgers in different regions of the country. However, there are hardly any publications on its prevalence in dogs. The aim of this study was to complete and update the epidemiologic map of A. vasorum in dogs in Spain. A total of 5619 canine blood samples from all autonomous cities and provinces of Spain were collected and tested for the presence of circulating A. vasorum antigens. The overall apparent prevalence of canine A. vasorum infection in Spain was 1.39%. No significant differences were found for sex or age, but significant differences between outdoor and indoor/outdoor dogs were found. A high prevalence was also observed in the northern third of the country, where an oceanic climate prevails, being humid and rainy and where abundant vegetation can be found, thus favoring the proliferation of intermediate hosts. The results suggest that A. vasorum canine infections are heterogeneously present in a large part of the territory, demonstrating its expansion throughout the country, and therefore, awareness and prevention campaigns for this disease should be promoted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Diseases in Canines and Felines and Their Vectors)

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13 pages, 2059 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Expansion of Canine Heartworm in Spain

by José Alberto Montoya-Alonso, Rodrigo Morchón, Sara Nieves García-Rodríguez, Yaiza Falcón-Cordón, Noelia Costa-Rodríguez, Jorge Isidoro Matos, Iván Rodríguez Escolar and Elena Carretón

Animals 2022, 12(10), 1268; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani12101268 - 14 May 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3803

Abstract

The climate of Spain has favourable characteristics for the development of D. immitis in dogs, being an endemic country. Given that vector-borne diseases are spreading rapidly through Europe, due to factors such as climate change, the expansion of vectors and the increased mobility of reservoir animals, the aim was to update the epidemiology of heartworm in dogs and analyse the results based on climate and other epidemiological and geo-environmental factors. To this aim, 9543 blood samples from dogs from all provinces and autonomous cities of Spain were analysed for the detection of antigens of D. immitis, obtaining a prevalence of 6.47%. The northwestern and southern provinces showed the highest prevalences, as well as in the Balearic and Canary Islands. Prevalences were higher in dogs outdoors. Furthermore, most of the positive dogs were found in regions with high humidity and water availability. This study shows, for the first time, positive cases in provinces and islands where no cases had previously been described and demonstrates the continuous expansion and consolidation of heartworm in Spain. Considering its zoonotic character, the implementation of control and awareness programmes for the prevention of D. immitis in pets is necessary. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Diseases in Canines and Felines and Their Vectors)

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7 pages, 763 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Molecular Survey of Dirofilaria and Leishmania Species in Dogs from Central Balkan

by Suzana Tasić-Otašević, Sara Savić, Maja Jurhar-Pavlova, Jovana Stefanovska, Marko Stalević, Aleksandra Ignjatović, Marina Ranđelović, Bojan Gajić, Aleksandar Cvetkovikj and Simona Gabrielli

Animals 2022, 12(7), 911; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani12070911 - 02 Apr 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2416

Abstract

Dirofilariosis and leishmaniosis are severe parasitic diseases in dogs, and their causative agents can also be pathogenic to humans. In this study, we conducted a multicentric survey in the regions of Serbia and North Macedonia with the goal to establish an epidemiological scenario of dirofilariosis and leishmaniosis in the territory of Central Balkan. Using molecular analyses, a total of 535 dogs from Northern Serbia (NS), Southern Serbia (SS) and North Macedonia (NM) were screened for the presence of Dirofilaria spp. and Leishmania spp. We confirmed that Central Balkan is an endemic region for Dirofilaria (D.) immitis, as it was found to be the dominant species in this area, with the highest prevalence of 8.75% in NM, followed by NS (6.68%) and a significantly lower prevalence in SS (1.51%). Two dogs (2.5%) from NM were positive for Leishmania (L.) infantum infection. None of the dogs from Serbia tested positive for Leishmania spp. High prevalence and dominance of D. immitis species, and the rising threat of L. infantum spread to the territory of Serbia, suggest that preventive measures are of a great necessity to combat the spread of these vector-borne zoonoses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Diseases in Canines and Felines and Their Vectors)

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