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Cancino-Faure B, González CR, Piñeiro González A, Pinochet S, Bustos S, Morchón R, Piñeiro Cazaux A, Quezada Aguilar I, Salas Espinoza M, Acevedo Salgado R, Barra Díaz C, Segovia C, Lozada-Yavina R, Álvarez Rojas CA. Filarial nematodes in domestic dogs and mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) from semi-rural areas in Central Chile. Front Vet Sci 2024; 10:1334832. [PMID: 38260205 PMCID: PMC10800365 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1334832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Climate change, competent vectors, and reservoir animals are the main factors for developing vector-borne zoonotic diseases. These diseases encompass a significant and widespread category of pathogens (e.g., viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and helminths) transmitted by blood-feeding arthropods, including ticks, fleas, lice, triatomines, mosquitoes, sandflies, and blackflies. In Chile, several studies have explored the role of dogs as reservoirs of vector-borne pathogens; however, there is a lack of research investigating the presence of pathogens in arthropods. Specifically, within the order Diptera, limited knowledge exists regarding their roles as carriers of pathogens. This study aimed to examine the presence of zoonotic filarial nematodes in mosquitoes and dogs within a previously unstudied semi-rural area of Central Chile. Two hundred samples of dog blood and seven hundred and twenty-four mosquitoes were collected during 2021-2022 and studied for filarial nematodes by PCR. The prevalence of microfilaremic dogs detected by Knott's test was 7.5%, with Acanthocheilonema reconditum being the only species identified. Aedes (Ochlerotatus) albifasciatus was the most abundant mosquito species collected, and 15 out of 65 pools were positive for filarial nematodes. Among these pools, 13 tested positive for Acanthocheilonema reconditum, and two tested positive for Setaria equina through PCR. Additionally, five Culex pipiens specimens were positive for Acanthocheilonema reconditum. Despite the absence of zoonotic filarial species, these findings underscore the significance of monitoring pathogens in mosquitoes and animal hosts and continued research into the dynamics of vector-borne diseases, particularly in unexplored regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Cancino-Faure
- Laboratorio de Microbiología y Parasitología, Departamento de Ciencias Preclínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Christian R. González
- Instituto de Entomología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alejandro Piñeiro González
- Laboratorio de Microbiología y Parasitología, Departamento de Ciencias Preclínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Soledad Pinochet
- Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Postgrado, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Sofía Bustos
- Laboratorio de Microbiología y Parasitología, Departamento de Ciencias Preclínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Morchón
- Zoonotic Disease and One Health Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, Campus Miguel Unamuno, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Carmen Barra Díaz
- Clínica Veterinaria del Dr. Alejandro Piñeiro Cazaux, San Clemente, Chile
| | - Christian Segovia
- Laboratorio de Microbiología y Parasitología, Departamento de Ciencias Preclínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
- Programa de Doctorado en Salud Ecosistémica, Centro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del Maule, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Rafael Lozada-Yavina
- Laboratorio de Microbiología y Parasitología, Departamento de Ciencias Preclínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
- Programa de Doctorado en Modelamiento Matemático Aplicado, Departamento de Matemática, Física y Estadística, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Cristian A. Álvarez Rojas
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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