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Pereira MA, Vila-Viçosa MJ, Coelho C, Santos C, Esteves F, Cruz R, Gomes L, Henriques D, Vala H, Nóbrega C, Mega AC, de Melo C, Malva M, Braguez J, Mateus TL. Pulmonary and Gastrointestinal Parasitic Infections in Small Ruminant Autochthonous Breeds from Centre Region of Portugal-A Cross Sectional Study. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1241. [PMID: 38672389 PMCID: PMC11047328 DOI: 10.3390/ani14081241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The production of small ruminant autochthonous breeds in the Centre region of Portugal is practiced in a semi-extensive husbandry system, exposing animals to parasitic infections. The main objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of lungworm infection and identify risk factors. Fecal samples of 203 goats and 208 sheep from 30 herds were collected per rectum and subjected to the modified Baermann test. The overall prevalence of infection was 57.7%, significantly higher in goats (95.6%) than in sheep (20.7%) (p < 0.001). According to the binary logistic regression model, sheep dewormed with albendazole, mebendazole plus closantel, or ivermectin plus clorsulon presented a risk of Protostrongylidae infection 29.702, 7.426, or 8.720 times higher, respectively, than those dewormed with eprinomectin. Additionally, the presence of gastrointestinal parasites was investigated in 307 fecal samples using Mini-FLOTAC®. The overall prevalence of infection was 86.3%, also significantly higher in goats (93.2%) than in sheep (79.9%) (p < 0.001). Strongyle-type eggs were the most frequently identified, both in sheep (69.8%) and goats (87.8%), followed by Eimeria oocysts (40.3% in sheep and 68.9% in goats). Considering the high prevalence and the burden of lungworm parasitic infection, it is urgent to determine its economic impact and the repercussions in animal health in the Centre region of Portugal to establish appropriate therapeutic guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Aires Pereira
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal; (C.C.); (C.S.); (F.E.); (R.C.); (L.G.); (D.H.); (H.V.); (C.N.); (A.C.M.)
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
- CERNAS-IPV Research Centre, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, Repeses, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal
| | - Maria João Vila-Viçosa
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Victor Caeiro, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Évora—Pólo da Mitra, Apartado 94, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal;
- MED, Instituto Mediterrâneo para a Agricultura, Ambiente e Desenvolvimento, Universidade de Évora—Pólo da Mitra, Apartado 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
| | - Catarina Coelho
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal; (C.C.); (C.S.); (F.E.); (R.C.); (L.G.); (D.H.); (H.V.); (C.N.); (A.C.M.)
- CERNAS-IPV Research Centre, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, Repeses, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal
- Veterinary and Animal Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS) Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal;
| | - Carla Santos
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal; (C.C.); (C.S.); (F.E.); (R.C.); (L.G.); (D.H.); (H.V.); (C.N.); (A.C.M.)
| | - Fernando Esteves
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal; (C.C.); (C.S.); (F.E.); (R.C.); (L.G.); (D.H.); (H.V.); (C.N.); (A.C.M.)
- CERNAS-IPV Research Centre, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, Repeses, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal
| | - Rita Cruz
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal; (C.C.); (C.S.); (F.E.); (R.C.); (L.G.); (D.H.); (H.V.); (C.N.); (A.C.M.)
- Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), EpiUnit—Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas, nº 135, 4050-091 Porto, Portugal
| | - Liliana Gomes
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal; (C.C.); (C.S.); (F.E.); (R.C.); (L.G.); (D.H.); (H.V.); (C.N.); (A.C.M.)
| | - Diogo Henriques
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal; (C.C.); (C.S.); (F.E.); (R.C.); (L.G.); (D.H.); (H.V.); (C.N.); (A.C.M.)
| | - Helena Vala
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal; (C.C.); (C.S.); (F.E.); (R.C.); (L.G.); (D.H.); (H.V.); (C.N.); (A.C.M.)
- CERNAS-IPV Research Centre, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, Repeses, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Carmen Nóbrega
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal; (C.C.); (C.S.); (F.E.); (R.C.); (L.G.); (D.H.); (H.V.); (C.N.); (A.C.M.)
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Ana Cristina Mega
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal; (C.C.); (C.S.); (F.E.); (R.C.); (L.G.); (D.H.); (H.V.); (C.N.); (A.C.M.)
- CERNAS-IPV Research Centre, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, Repeses, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal
| | - Carolina de Melo
- Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Alameda de Santa Apolónia 253, 5300-252 Bragança, Portugal;
| | - Madalena Malva
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal; (M.M.); (J.B.)
| | - Joana Braguez
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal; (M.M.); (J.B.)
- CIAC—Centro de Investigação em Artes e Comunicação Universidade do Algarve, Campus Gambelas, Sala 0.28, Edifício 1, FCHS, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
- CEIS20—Centro de Estudos Interdisciplinares, Rua Filipe Simões nº 33, 3000-186 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Teresa Letra Mateus
- Veterinary and Animal Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS) Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal;
- Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), EpiUnit—Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas, nº 135, 4050-091 Porto, Portugal
- CISAS—Center for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems and Sustainability, Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua Escola Industrial e Comercial de Nun’Àlvares, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
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Marcer F, Cassini R, Parisotto N, Tessarin C, Marchiori E. A Comparative Study of Mini-FLOTAC With Traditional Coprological Techniques in the Analysis of Cetacean Fecal Samples. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:908486. [PMID: 35832329 PMCID: PMC9271992 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.908486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Free-ranging cetaceans are considered sentinels for the marine ecosystem's health. New and non-invasive methods have been set up for the collection of fecal samples from free-ranging big whales at sea, permitting to gain an excellent epidemiological picture of parasitic infections in wild populations. To select the best protocol to be used for copromicroscopic examination in cetaceans stool samples, we evaluated the sensitivity of two commonly used techniques, i.e., a sedimentation-floatation method and the Mini-FLOTAC through validation by helminth isolation from the digestive tract. For this aim, gastrointestinal content and fecal samples were collected during necropsy from 44 cetaceans, including bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus), Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris), pilot whale (Globicephala melas), and fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus). Helminths were recovered through washing and filtering of the gastrointestinal contents and morphologically identified. Copromicroscopic examinations were performed on formalin-preserved fecal samples, using a sodium nitrate, sodium thiosulphate, and sucrose solution (s.g. = 1.450) for both methods. Helminths belonging to 9 taxa (i.e., the trematodes Synthesium tursionis, Synthesium delamurei, Campula palliata, Braunina cordiformis, Pholeter gastrophilus, the nematode Anisakis sp., cestodes of the family Tetrabothriidae and the acanthocephalan Bolbosoma sp.) were isolated. Eggs referable to the same taxa, with the exception of cestodes, were found in copromicroscopic analyses. Sensitivity of the Mini-FLOTAC method appeared higher or equal for all taxa, proving superior to the sedimentation-flotation method for the detection of all except Anisakis sp. The concordance of the two tests indeed revealed a moderate to perfect agreement (kappa values 0.42–1). Not excluding the limitations inherent to the techniques themselves, explanations for false-negative results at copromicroscopy could be linked to parasite-related factors, including prepatent infections, low parasitic burdens, or intermittent egg shedding. Notwithstanding these limitations, this study evidenced that the Mini-FLOTAC protocol approximates more accurately the composition of the gastrointestinal helminthic community of cetaceans from copromicroscopic examination, providing at the same time a quantitative estimation.
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Moroni B, Granados Torres JE, López-Olvera JR, Espinosa Cerrato J, Ráez Bravo A, Mentaberre G, Fandos P, Pazzi M, Romagnoli M, Gardini G, Rossi L, Valldeperes M, Serrano E, Ramos B, Odore R. Ivermectin Plasma Concentration in Iberian Ibex (Capra pyrenaica) Following Oral Administration: A Pilot Study. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:830157. [PMID: 35433921 PMCID: PMC9011188 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.830157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sarcoptic mange is considered the main driver of demographic declines occurred in the last decades in Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica) populations. Mass treatment campaigns by administration of in-feed acaricides are used as a measure to mitigate the impact of mange in the affected populations. However, there are no data on ivermectin (IVM) pharmacokinetics in this wild caprine, and the treatment through medicated feed is not endorsed by evidence on its effectiveness. The aim of this study is to determine the pharmacokinetic profile of IVM in plasma samples of ibexes after the experimental oral administration of IVM, using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with automated solid phase extraction and fluorescence detection. A dose of 500 μg of IVM per body weight was orally administered in a feed bolus to nine healthy adult ibexes (seven males and two females). Blood samples were collected by jugular venipuncture into heparin-coated tubes at day 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 15, and 45 post-administration (dpa). The highest plasma concentration of IVM (Cmax = 3.4 ng/ml) was detected 24 h after the oral administration (T1), followed by a rapid decrease during the first week post-administration. Our results reveal that plasma IVM concentration drops drastically within 5 days of ingestion, questioning the effectiveness of a single in-feed dose of this drug to control sarcoptic mange. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on plasma availability of oral IVM in ibexes and in any wild ungulate species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Moroni
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- *Correspondence: Barbara Moroni
| | | | - Jorge Ramón López-Olvera
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H) and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Espinosa Cerrato
- Departamento Sanidad Animal, Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-ULE), Facultad de Veterinaria, León, Spain
| | - Arián Ráez Bravo
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H) and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gregorio Mentaberre
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group and Departament de Ciència Animal, Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria Agraria (ETSEA), Universitat de Lleida (UdL), Lleida, Spain
| | | | - Marco Pazzi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Giulia Gardini
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Luca Rossi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Marta Valldeperes
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H) and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Emmanuel Serrano
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H) and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Blanca Ramos
- Parque Nacional y Parque Natural de Sierra Nevada Carretera Antigua Sierra Nevada, Granada, Spain
| | - Rosangela Odore
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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