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Thilakarathne SS, Yuen NKY, Hassan MM, Yahathugoda TC, Abdullah S. Animal and Human Dirofilariasis in India and Sri Lanka: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13091551. [PMID: 37174588 PMCID: PMC10177550 DOI: 10.3390/ani13091551] [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: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Dirofilariasis is an emerging vector-borne tropical disease of public health importance that mainly affects humans and dogs. Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens are the two well-documented dirofilariasis-causing filarioid helminths of both medical and veterinary concerns in India and Sri Lanka. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to describe and summarize the current evidence of dirofilariasis prevalence and distribution in India and Sri Lanka. Interestingly, D. repens is reported to circulate in both dogs (prevalence of 35.8% (95% CI: 11.23-60.69)) and humans (97% of published case reports) in India and Sri Lanka, but D. immitis is reported to be present in the dog populations in India (prevalence of 9.7% (95% CI: 8.5-11.0%)), and so far, it has not been reported in Sri Lanka. This peculiar distribution of D. immitis and D. repens in the two neighbouring countries could be due to the interaction between the two parasite species, which could affect the pattern of infection of the two worm species in dogs and thus influence the geographical distribution of these two filarial worms. In medical and veterinary practice, histopathology was the most commonly used diagnostic technique (31.3%; 95% CI 2.5-60.2%). The low specificity of histopathology to speciate the various Dirofilaria spp. may lead to misdiagnosis. It was identified in this study that several regions of India and Sri Lanka have not yet been surveyed for dirofilariasis. This limits our understanding of the geographical distribution and interspecies interactions of the two parasites within these countries. Parasite distribution, disease prevalence, and interspecies interactions between the vectors and the host should be targeted for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandani S Thilakarathne
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, Galle P.O. Box 70, Sri Lanka
| | - Nicholas K Y Yuen
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia
| | - Mohammad Mahmudul Hassan
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chattogram 4225, Bangladesh
| | - Thishan C Yahathugoda
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, Galle P.O. Box 70, Sri Lanka
| | - Swaid Abdullah
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia
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Espinosa N, Rosero A, Villegas CL, Garcia IC, Gaviria-Cantin T, Nieto AP, Ferro BE, Nieto Ramirez LM. First Report of Acanthocheilonema reconditum Outbreak in Canines with Clinical Signs of Anemia from Southwestern Colombia. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11121434. [PMID: 36558769 PMCID: PMC9788614 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11121434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Different nematodes affect canines, however Acanthocheilonema reconditum was considered mostly a non-pathogenic parasite. Climate change, animal migration, and other factors transformed the dynamics of vector-borne diseases, including filariasis. Since 2016, a sudden increase in the number of dogs with microfilaremia was reported by different veterinary centers in Cali, southwest Colombia. The objective of this study was to molecularly identify the etiologic agent of this filariasis outbreak detected in this city, using PCR−RFLP and evaluating dogs’ clinical signs. From 2018−2019, canine filariasis cases were prospectively evaluated after a microscopic test, recruiting 82 cases and 43 healthy controls from 2971 samples. Acanthocheilonema reconditum (Nematoda, Onchocercidae) was identified in 61.3% of the cases (49/82) by PCR−RFLP. Sanger sequencing of the 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene and internal transcribed spacer-2 fragment was additionally performed on seven cases, confirming A. reconditum in all of them. The filariasis cases are statistically associated with male dogs who have clinical signs of anemia, low levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit (p < 0.0001), and high levels of plasma proteins (p < 0.001). This emerging canine disease constitutes an important public health concern among veterinarians and active surveillance is advised to explore its zoonotic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaly Espinosa
- Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Santiago de Cali 760035, Colombia
| | - Angelo Rosero
- Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Santiago de Cali 760035, Colombia
| | | | | | - Tania Gaviria-Cantin
- Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Santiago de Cali 760035, Colombia
| | - Alejandra Peña Nieto
- Departamento Administrativo de Planeación Municipal, Santiago de Cali 760045, Colombia
| | - Beatriz E. Ferro
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Icesi, Santiago de Cali 760031, Colombia
| | - Luisa Maria Nieto Ramirez
- Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Santiago de Cali 760035, Colombia
- Correspondence:
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Culda CA, Dionnet R, Barbu AC, Cârstolovean AS, Dan T, Grijalva J, Espin P, Vinueza RL, Cruz M, Páez-Rosas D, Renato L, Mihalca AD. The Presence of Dirofilaria immitis in Domestic Dogs on San Cristobal Island, Galapagos. Pathogens 2022; 11:1287. [PMID: 36365038 PMCID: PMC9696258 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11111287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
This study's concept was outlined around the principle of conservation medicine in a biodiversity hotspot from the Neotropical realm: the Galapagos Islands. The wildlife balance has been modified by multi-host parasites introduced with some domestic animals (dogs and cats). The endemic and endangered species, the Galapagos sea lion (GSL, Zalophus wollebaeki), has been exposed to pathogens of canine and feline origin that could become a significant conservation problem for this species. One of these potential cases is the filarial heartworm infection, Dirofilaria immitis, which has been reported on other pinnipeds, with fatalities and clinical symptoms. Therefore, this study evaluated the presence of the microfilaria of D. immitis in dogs from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal Island, where the largest rookery of GSLs lives and where the proximity to domestic dogs is the most intimate compared to other rookeries of the archipelago. Between July and September 2021, 587 blood samples were collected from owned dogs of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Overall, 10 dogs (1.7%) were positive for the presence of the microfilaria of D. immitis with a confidence interval of 0.7%-2.8%. No other filarial species were identified. Significant differences in prevalence between different dog categories were observed only for the age (p = 0.001). This study represents the first report of D. immitis, the agent of canine heartworm disease, in dogs from San Cristobal Island. Hence, the presence of the microfilaria of D. immitis in the blood of dogs could increase the risk of infection to which the GSL is exposed in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Andreea Culda
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Romane Dionnet
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andra Celia Barbu
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andrada Silvia Cârstolovean
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Teodora Dan
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Jaime Grijalva
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Cumbayá, Quito 150157, Ecuador
| | - Priscilla Espin
- Agencia de Regulación y Control de la Bioseguridad y Cuarentena para Galápagos, Isla San Cristóbal 200152, Galápagos, Ecuador
| | - Rommel Lenin Vinueza
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Cumbayá, Quito 150157, Ecuador
- Laboratorio de Entomología Médica & Medicina Tropical LEMMT, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Cumbayá, Quito 150157, Ecuador
| | - Marylin Cruz
- Agencia de Regulación y Control de la Bioseguridad y Cuarentena para Galápagos, Isla San Cristóbal 200152, Galápagos, Ecuador
| | - Diego Páez-Rosas
- Galapagos Science Center, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Isla San Cristóbal 200150, Islas Galápagos, Ecuador
- Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos, Unidad Técnica Operativa San Cristóbal, Isla San Cristóbal 200150, Islas Galápagos, Ecuador
| | - Leon Renato
- Laboratorio de Entomología Médica & Medicina Tropical LEMMT, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Cumbayá, Quito 150157, Ecuador
| | - Andrei Daniel Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Rimal S, Adhikari A, Acharya R, Singh DK, Joshi NP, Shrestha B, Kaphle K, El-Dakhly KM, Giannelli A. Occurrence of Dirofilaria immitis in Stray Dogs from Nepal. Acta Parasitol 2021; 66:1222-1228. [PMID: 33880716 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-021-00380-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nematodes of the genus Dirofilaria are widespread vector-borne helminths (VBH) of veterinary relevance. Dirofilariosis caused by D. immitis is frequently diagnosed in dogs often showing a severe clinical condition known as heartworm disease. Assessing the distribution pattern of canine dirofilariosis is pivotal to undertake appropriate control measures and define the risk of infection in animals and humans. This study provides original data on the occurrence of D. immitis in naive stray dogs from Nepal. METHODS An epidemiological study was performed on stray dogs from Siddharthanagar, Lumbini region, Nepal. Alive animals were blood sampled and examined for microfilariae using direct microscopy, buffy coat centrifugation and modified Knott's method. In addition, hematobiochemical parameters, including packed cell volume (PCV), alanine aminotransferase (SGPT), aspartate aminotransferase (SGOT), alkaline phosphate (ALP), creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), urea and total protein were analysed, along with a clinical scoring (body temperature and respiratory rate). During the observation period, data on autopsies performed on stray dogs showing canine heartworm disease were also included. RESULTS The overall prevalence of D. immitis in both alive and necropsied dogs was 22.49% (38/169). Out of 150 alive dogs, 29 (19.3%) were positive for D. immitis microfilariae. The prevalence of the infection varied according to the technique used, ranging from 16.0 to 19.3% based on direct blood smear microscopy and modified Knott's technique, respectively. The infection rate was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in dogs aging more than 3 years. A positive correlation was observed between SGPT and SGOT and the presence of microfilariae (p < 0.05). Among the 19 dead stray dogs, 9 animals showed adult D. immitis nematodes. CONCLUSION Results of this survey account for the presence of D. immitis in stray dogs from Nepal, thus supporting the existence of a local transmission cycle of diroflariosis in the region. Further investigations are warranted to accurately define the prevalence of the infection in the canine population and to undertake appropriate control measures to reduce the burden on the infection in dogs and, accordingly, the risk of transmission to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subash Rimal
- Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University, Kritipur, Nepal.
| | - Anil Adhikari
- Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University, Kritipur, Nepal
| | - Rabin Acharya
- Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University, Kritipur, Nepal
| | - Dinesh Kumar Singh
- Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University, Kritipur, Nepal
| | - Naresh Prasad Joshi
- Livestock Service Department, The Government of Nepal, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal
| | - Birendra Shrestha
- Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University, Kritipur, Nepal
| | - Krishna Kaphle
- Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University, Kritipur, Nepal
| | - Khaled Mohamed El-Dakhly
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62511, Egypt
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