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Qu J, Xu H, Lv X. Disseminated alveolar echinococcosis in a patient diagnosed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing: A case report. Front Public Health 2022; 10:972619. [PMID: 36091563 PMCID: PMC9454002 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.972619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a parasitic zoonosis with high mortality and disability rates. Diverse clinical manifestations and mimicking of differential diagnoses such as tuberculosis and malignancy pose a diagnostic dilemma. With the rapid development of molecular diagnostic techniques in recent years, metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has become an attractive approach for the etiological diagnosis of infectious diseases. Case presentation we report a case of 51-year-old Chinese Tibetan male presented with 3-year low-back pain and 4-month discomfort in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. He had been in good health. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis and was given anti-tuberculosis treatment a month prior to the visit, but the symptoms were not relieved. Abdominal computerized tomography (CT) revealed a hypodense lesion with uneven enhancement in the liver, and two ring-enhancing cystic lesions in the right abdominal wall. Lumbar spine enhanced MRI showed lesions of mixed density with uneven enhancement in the L1 vertebra and paraspinal tissue. The pathological results of the liver biopsy revealed parasitic infection and possibly echinococcosis. The metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of the puncture fluid of abdominal cysts using Illumina X10 sequencer revealed 585 sequence reads matching Echinococcus multilocularis. Disseminated AE was diagnosed. Albendazole (400 mg, twice daily) was used, and the patient was in stable condition during follow-up. Conclusions mNGS may be a useful tool for the diagnosis of AE. The case would help clinicians to improve their diagnostic skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyan Qu
- Center of Infectious Disease, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Huan Xu
- Pathology Department, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoju Lv
- Center of Infectious Disease, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China,*Correspondence: Xiaoju Lv
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Ito A, Budke CM. Perspectives on intestinal tapeworm infections: An evaluation of direct and indirect life-cycles with a special emphasis on species of Hymenolepis. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PARASITOLOGY & VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES 2021; 1:100023. [PMID: 35284891 PMCID: PMC8906094 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2021.100023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Numerous experimental studies have been conducted on the rodent tapeworm, Hymenolepis microstoma. In contrast, less is known about the life-cycle and immunobiology of the zoonotic dwarf tapeworm, Hymenolepis nana. However, H. nana appears to be unique in that; (i) it can complete its entire life-cycle within a single mammalian host, and (ii) cysticercoids that develop in beetle intermediate hosts are tailed, while those that develop in the intestinal tissue of mammals are tailless. This is in contrast to all other Hymenolepis spp., which only appear to develop tailed cysticercoids in beetles or experimentally infected immunodeficient rodents. Even though H. microstoma and H. nana are phylogenetically much closer to each other than to Hymenolepis diminuta, when mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) were inoculated with H. microstoma eggs, hatched oncospheres invaded the intestinal tissue and developed into infective tailed cysticercoids in approximately 11 days. Therefore, H. nana appears to be truly unique in its ability to develop tailed cysticercoids in beetles and tailless cysticercoids in mammals. These unique evolutionary characteristics are discussed in relation to other cyclophyllidean cestodes, including Taenia solium and Echinococcus spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Ito
- Department of Parasitology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa 078-8510, Japan
| | - Christine M. Budke
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Campbell-Palmer R, Rosell F, Naylor A, Cole G, Mota S, Brown D, Fraser M, Pizzi R, Elliott M, Wilson K, Gaywood M, Girling S. Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) health surveillance in Britain: Assessing a disjunctive reintroduced population. Vet Rec 2021; 188:e84. [PMID: 33891731 DOI: 10.1002/vetr.84] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Numerous translocations of Eurasian beavers have occurred with little implementation of standardised health screening. Pre-release health screening enables the selection of individuals with the best survival prospects and reduces potential health risks, but this is by-passed during unofficial releases. Beaver reintroduction to Britain has been haphazard and currently disjunctive populations of varying status exist. METHODS This observational cross section study investigated the health status of three beaver populations, with 90 live beavers tested for a range of pathogens comprising 56 from Tayside (unofficially released Scotland), nine from Knapdale (officially released Scotland) and 25 from Devon (unofficially released England). In addition, a further 32 cadavers were screened (25 from Tayside and seven from Knapdale). RESULTS All beavers were in good physical condition, did not harbour any non-native disease or parasites of concern and demonstrated remarkably low levels of any disease or parasite exposure. CONCLUSION Beavers are establishing and adapting well to British landscapes and are not acting as reservoirs of significant zoonotic diseases. Official, licensed reintroduction programmes may appear overly convoluted; however, reputational damage of unofficial releases should be considered, along with the health and welfare of the animals involved and collateral damage to other wildlife, domestic animals and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Frank Rosell
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Environmental Health Studies, University of Southeast Norway, B⊘, Norway
| | - Adam Naylor
- Veterinary Department, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Scotland, UK
| | - Georgina Cole
- Veterinary Department, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Scotland, UK
| | - Stephanie Mota
- Veterinary Department, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Scotland, UK
| | - Donna Brown
- Veterinary Department, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Scotland, UK
| | | | - Romain Pizzi
- Veterinary Department, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Scotland, UK
| | | | | | | | - Simon Girling
- Veterinary Department, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Scotland, UK
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Kołodziej-Sobocińska M, Dvorožňáková E, Hurníková Z, Reiterová K, Zalewski A. Seroprevalence of Echinococcus spp. and Toxocara spp. in Invasive Non-native American Mink. ECOHEALTH 2020; 17:13-27. [PMID: 31989366 PMCID: PMC7109198 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-020-01470-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Invasive non-native species can become reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens and cause their spread during colonization, increasing the risk of zoonoses transmission to both wild hosts and humans. American mink (Neovison vison) are considered an important invasive mammal species responsible for carrying endoparasites. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of feral American mink as a possible transmission vector of Echinococcus spp. and Toxocara spp. in wildlife. We analysed the frequency of American mink exposure to both parasites, the spatial distribution in Poland, and the variability over time on the basis of specific antibody presence using ELISA and Western blot. Alimentary tract analyses revealed that American mink do not serve as definitive hosts for these parasites. Altogether, 1100 American mink were examined. The average seropositivity for American mink was 14.2% for echinococcosis and 21.7% for toxocarosis; dual-seropositivity was detected in only 6.0%. Seroprevalence of both parasites differed between study sites and significantly increased over time in Toxocara spp. Thus, our study revealed that free-living American mink are exposed to parasites and likely to be involved in the maintenance of both Echinococcus spp. and Toxocara spp. in the wild as paratenic hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emília Dvorožňáková
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Zuzana Hurníková
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Katarína Reiterová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Andrzej Zalewski
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Stoczek 1, 17-230, Białowieża, Poland
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Trimmel NE, Walzer C. Infectious Wildlife Diseases in Austria-A Literature Review From 1980 Until 2017. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:3. [PMID: 32154271 PMCID: PMC7046627 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
This literature review examines infectious wildlife disease research in Austria. We analyzed 226 research papers, published between 1980 and 2017. We determined that wildlife disease papers increased significantly from 0.8 ± 0.8 publications per year in the first decade (1980–1989) when compared to 2008–2017 with an average of 12.9 ± 4.1 publications per year. We illustrate information about the most investigated diseases and highlight the lack of research into certain wildlife pathogens. A special emphasis was given to diseases with zoonotic potential. The review showed that research focused on a few select species like the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), red deer (Cervus elaphus), and wild boar (Sus scrofa), all game species. Moreover, diseases affecting livestock and human health were seen more often. The review also found that only a low number of publications actually stated disease prevalence and confidence interval data. The reported diseases identified were classified according to their notifiable status and the distribution at the wildlife–human and wildlife–livestock interface. Furthermore, we try to argue why research into some diseases is prioritized, and why other diseases are underrepresented in current Austrian research. While spatiotemporal indicators could not be assessed due to the variability in methodologies and objectives of various studies, the information provided by this review offers the first comprehensive evaluation of the status of infectious wildlife disease research in Austria. Therefore, this study could assist investigators to identify further areas of priorities for research and conservation efforts and for wildlife management professionals to inform policy and funding strategies. With this review, we want to encourage research in the field of wildlife diseases in Austria to enhance current knowledge in the prevention of further loss in biodiversity and to find new measures to promote “One Health” on a global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Eva Trimmel
- Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Chris Walzer
- Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, United States
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6
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Girling SJ, Naylor A, Fraser M, Campbell‐Palmer R. Reintroducing beaversCastor fiberto Britain: a disease risk analysis. Mamm Rev 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Simon J. Girling
- Veterinary Department Royal Zoological Society of Scotland 134 Corstorphine Road EdinburghEH12 6TSUK
| | - Adam Naylor
- Veterinary Department Royal Zoological Society of Scotland 134 Corstorphine Road EdinburghEH12 6TSUK
| | - Mary Fraser
- G&F Training and Consultancy PerthshirePH2 9QDUK
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Frey CF, Marreros N, Renneker S, Schmidt L, Sager H, Hentrich B, Milesi S, Gottstein B. Dogs as victims of their own worms: Serodiagnosis of canine alveolar echinococcosis. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:422. [PMID: 28915832 PMCID: PMC5602927 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2369-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Besides acting as definitive hosts for Echinococcus multilocularis, dogs can become infected by the larval form of this parasite and thereby develop life-threatening alveolar echinococcosis (AE). Although AE is a zoonotic disease, most therapeutic and diagnostic approaches have been developed for human patients. In dogs, AE is typically diagnosed in the advanced stage of the disease when the parasitic mass has already caused abdominal distension. At that stage, complete resection of the parasitic mass is often impossible, leaving a guarded prognosis for the affected dogs. For humans, sensitive and specific diagnostic protocols relying on serology have been validated and are now widely used. In contrast, sensitive and specific laboratory diagnostic tools that would enable early diagnosis of canine AE are still lacking. The aim of the current study was to establish a serological protocol specifically adapted to dogs. Methods We tested several native and recombinant antigens (EmVF, Em2, recEm95, recEm18) in in-house ELISA, an in-house Western blot (WB), as well as a commercially available WB developed for serodiagnosing human AE (Anti-Echinococcus EUROLINE-WB®), using a panel of known status dog sera. Results RecEm95-antigen was revealed to be the most promising antigen for use in ELISA, demonstrating 100% (95% CI: 72–100%) sensitivity and 100% (95% CI: 93–100%) specificity in our study. The in-house WB using EmVF antigen performed as well as the recEm95-ELISA. The commercial WB also correctly identified all infected dogs, coupled with a specificity of 98% (95% CI: 91–100%). Conclusion The recEm95-ELISA alone or in combination with either the in-house WB or the Anti-Echinococcus EUROLINE-WB® (IgG) with a minor modification should be considered as the best current approach for the serological diagnosis of dogs infected with the larval stage of E. multilocularis. However, larger studies with a focus on potentially cross-reacting sera should be undertaken to verify these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- C F Frey
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Parasitology, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, CH-3001, Bern, Switzerland. .,Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Centre for Food-borne and Animal Parasitology, 116 Veterinary Road, Saskatoon, S7N 2R3, Canada.
| | - N Marreros
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Parasitology, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, CH-3001, Bern, Switzerland
| | - S Renneker
- EUROIMMUN AG, Seekamp 31, 23560, Luebeck, Germany
| | - L Schmidt
- EUROIMMUN AG, Seekamp 31, 23560, Luebeck, Germany
| | - H Sager
- Elanco Animal Health, Schwarzwaldallee 215, CH-4058, Basel, Switzerland
| | - B Hentrich
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Parasitology, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, CH-3001, Bern, Switzerland
| | - S Milesi
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Parasitology, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, CH-3001, Bern, Switzerland
| | - B Gottstein
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Parasitology, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, CH-3001, Bern, Switzerland
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Goodman G, Meredith A, Girling S, Rosell F, Campbell-Palmer R. Outcomes of a 'One Health' Monitoring Approach to a Five-Year Beaver (Castor fiber) Reintroduction Trial in Scotland. ECOHEALTH 2017; 14:139-143. [PMID: 27655648 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-016-1168-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Revised: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The Scottish Beaver Trial, involving the translocation and release of 16 wild Norwegian beavers (Castor fiber) to Scotland, provides a good example of a 'One Health' scientific monitoring approach, with independent monitoring partners on ecology and public health feeding into veterinary health surveillance. Pathogen detection did not prohibit beaver release, although eight beavers were seropositive for Leptospira spp. Six deaths (37.5%) occurred during Rabies quarantine, followed by the death of two animals shortly after release and two wild-born kits due to suspected predation. Two host-specific parasites, the beaver fluke (Stichorchis subtriquetrus) and beaver beetle (Platypsyllus castoris) were also reintroduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gidona Goodman
- Exotic Animal and Wildlife Unit, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, EBVC, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK.
| | - Anna Meredith
- Exotic Animal and Wildlife Unit, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, EBVC, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Simon Girling
- Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Edinburgh Zoo, 134 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, EH12 6TS, UK
| | - Frank Rosell
- Department of Environmental and Health Studies, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University College of Southeast Norway, Bø i Telemark, Norway
| | - Roisin Campbell-Palmer
- Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Edinburgh Zoo, 134 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, EH12 6TS, UK
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Laboratory Diagnosis of Echinococcus spp. in Human Patients and Infected Animals. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2017; 96:159-257. [PMID: 28212789 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2016.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Among the species composing the genus Echinococcus, four species are of human clinical interest. The most prevalent species are Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis, followed by Echinococcus vogeli and Echinococcus oligarthrus. The first two species cause cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE) respectively. Both diseases have a complex clinical management, in which laboratory diagnosis could be an adjunctive to the imaging techniques. To date, several approaches have been described for the laboratory diagnosis and followup of CE and AE, including antibody, antigen and cytokine detection. All of these approaches are far from being optimal as adjunctive diagnosis particularly for CE, since they do not reach enough sensitivity and/or specificity. A combination of several methods (e.g., antibody and antigen detection) or of several (recombinant) antigens could improve the performance of the adjunctive laboratory methods, although the complexity of echinococcosis and heterogeneity of clinical cases make necessary a deep understanding of the host-parasite relationships and the parasite phenotype at different developmental stages to reach the best diagnostic tool and to make it accepted in clinical practice. Standardization approaches and a deep understanding of the performance of each of the available antigens in the diagnosis of echinococcosis for the different clinical pictures are also needed. The detection of the parasite in definitive hosts is also reviewed in this chapter. Finally, the different methods for the detection of parasite DNA in different analytes and matrices are also reviewed.
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Conraths FJ, Deplazes P. Echinococcus multilocularis: Epidemiology, surveillance and state-of-the-art diagnostics from a veterinary public health perspective. Vet Parasitol 2015; 213:149-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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Knapp J, Gottstein B, Saarma U, Millon L. Taxonomy, phylogeny and molecular epidemiology of Echinococcus multilocularis: From fundamental knowledge to health ecology. Vet Parasitol 2015; 213:85-91. [PMID: 26260408 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.07.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Alveolar echinococcosis, caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, is one of the most severe parasitic diseases in humans and represents one of the 17 neglected diseases prioritised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2012. Considering the major medical and veterinary importance of this parasite, the phylogeny of the genus Echinococcus is of considerable importance; yet, despite numerous efforts with both mitochondrial and nuclear data, it has remained unresolved. The genus is clearly complex, and this is one of the reasons for the incomplete understanding of its taxonomy. Although taxonomic studies have recognised E. multilocularis as a separate entity from the Echinococcus granulosus complex and other members of the genus, it would be premature to draw firm conclusions about the taxonomy of the genus before the phylogeny of the whole genus is fully resolved. The recent sequencing of E. multilocularis and E. granulosus genomes opens new possibilities for performing in-depth phylogenetic analyses. In addition, whole genome data provide the possibility of inferring phylogenies based on a large number of functional genes, i.e. genes that trace the evolutionary history of adaptation in E. multilocularis and other members of the genus. Moreover, genomic data open new avenues for studying the molecular epidemiology of E. multilocularis: genotyping studies with larger panels of genetic markers allow the genetic diversity and spatial dynamics of parasites to be evaluated with greater precision. There is an urgent need for international coordination of genotyping of E. multilocularis isolates from animals and human patients. This could be fundamental for a better understanding of the transmission of alveolar echinococcosis and for designing efficient healthcare strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Knapp
- Department of Chrono-environnement, UMR UFC/CNRS 6249 aff. INRA, University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; Department of Parasitology-Mycology, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France.
| | - Bruno Gottstein
- Institute of Parasitology, Faculty Vetsuisse, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Urmas Saarma
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Laurence Millon
- Department of Chrono-environnement, UMR UFC/CNRS 6249 aff. INRA, University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; Department of Parasitology-Mycology, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
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Campbell-Palmer R, Del Pozo J, Gottstein B, Girling S, Cracknell J, Schwab G, Rosell F, Pizzi R. Echinococcus multilocularis Detection in Live Eurasian Beavers (Castor fiber) Using a Combination of Laparoscopy and Abdominal Ultrasound under Field Conditions. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0130842. [PMID: 26167927 PMCID: PMC4500463 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Echinococcus multilocularis is an important pathogenic zoonotic parasite of health concern, though absent in the United Kingdom. Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) may act as a rare intermediate host, and so unscreened wild caught individuals may pose a potential risk of introducing this parasite to disease-free countries through translocation programs. There is currently no single definitive ante-mortem diagnostic test in intermediate hosts. An effective non-lethal diagnostic, feasible under field condition would be helpful to minimise parasite establishment risk, where indiscriminate culling is to be avoided. This study screened live beavers (captive, n = 18 or wild-trapped in Scotland, n = 12) and beaver cadavers (wild Scotland, n = 4 or Bavaria, n = 11), for the presence of E. multilocularis. Ultrasonography in combination with minimally invasive surgical examination of the abdomen by laparoscopy was viable under field conditions for real-time evaluation in beavers. Laparoscopy alone does not allow the operator to visualize the parenchyma of organs such as the liver, or inside the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract, hence the advantage of its combination with abdominal ultrasonography. All live beavers and Scottish cadavers were largely unremarkable in their haematology and serum biochemistry with no values suspicious for liver pathology or potentially indicative of E. multilocularis infection. This correlated well with ultrasound, laparoscopy, and immunoblotting, which were unremarkable in these individuals. Two wild Bavarian individuals were suspected E. multilocularis positive at post-mortem, through the presence of hepatic cysts. Sensitivity and specificity of a combination of laparoscopy and abdominal ultrasonography in the detection of parasitic liver cyst lesions was 100% in the subset of cadavers (95%Confidence Intervals 34.24–100%, and 86.7–100% respectively). For abdominal ultrasonography alone sensitivity was only 50% (95%CI 9.5–90.6%), with specificity being 100% (95%CI 79.2–100%). For laparoscopy alone sensitivity was 100% (95% CI 34.2–100%), with specificity also being 100% (95% CI 77.2–100%). Further immunoblotting, PCR and histopathological examination revealed one individual positive for E. multilocularis, whilst the other individual was positive for Taenia martis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Róisín Campbell-Palmer
- Veterinary Department and Conservation Programmes, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Department of Environment and Health Studies, Telemark University College, Bø, Norway
- * E-mail:
| | - Jorge Del Pozo
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Bruno Gottstein
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Simon Girling
- Veterinary Department and Conservation Programmes, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - John Cracknell
- Longleat Safari and Adventure Park, Warminster, United Kingdom
| | | | - Frank Rosell
- Department of Environment and Health Studies, Telemark University College, Bø, Norway
| | - Romain Pizzi
- Veterinary Department and Conservation Programmes, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, National Wildlife Rescue Centre, Fishcross, United Kingdom
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