Long Time No Hear, Magnificent Wohlfahrtia! Morphological and Molecular Evidence of Almost Forgotten Flesh Fly in Serbia and Western Balkans

The "beautiful viviparous fly", Wohlfahrtia magnifica, may have a magnificent appearance due to its striking morphology; however, it is a potentially deadly agent of obligate traumatic myiasis in humans and animals, with a serious impact on welfare and economics. The fly is found across the Palearctic realm, including the Western Balkan region, with reports from former Yugoslavian countries from the first half of the 20th century. In this paper, a recent case of wohlfahrtiosis recorded in Northern Serbia is evidenced using morphological and molecular techniques. Larvae were collected from two adult sheep with severe hoof myiasis and two young sheep with genital and interdigital myiasis. Morphological identification was performed for adults bred from the infested vulva and third-stage larvae (L3) collected from the hoof wounds, supported with barcoding sequences of the COI gene obtained from larval pairs from the hoof wounds of older and the genitalia of younger sheep. W. magnifica was identified according to the appearance of male fly terminalia and the morphology of L3, which was confirmed after the comparison of representative sequences of the COI gene (deposited in GenBank™ under accession numbers MT027108-MT027114) to those available in GenBank™. This finding represents the first reported case of wohlfahrtiosis in the Western Balkans in 80 years, highlighting the need to re-inform relevant stakeholders to achieve adequate disease control.

Subcutaneous Taenia crassiceps Cysticercosis in a Ring-Tailed Lemur (Lemur catta) in a Serbian Zoo

BACKGROUND

Different rodent species serve as natural intermediate hosts for carnivore tapeworm Taenia crassiceps. However, this cestode occasionally infects various dead-end hosts including humans and other primates and may cause serious pathological implications with potentially fatal outcome. In this paper, we present subcutaneous cysticercosis caused by T. crassiceps, found in a previously healthy 17-years-old male ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) in a Serbian Zoo.

CASE PRESENTATION

The animal was presented to a veterinarian with a history of periarticular subcutaneous swelling in medial right knee region. After fine needle aspiration revealed cycticerci-like structures, a surgery was performed for complete extraction of the incapsulated multicystic mass containing numerous cysticerci. Collected material was sent for parasitological, histological and molecular analysis. One month after surgery, the lemur died due to respiratory failure unrelated to cysticercosis. Based on morphological features of large and small hooks and characteristic proliferation of cysticerci, a metacestode of T. crassiceps was identified, which was confirmed after sequencing of obtained amplicons and comparing them to the GenBank database.

CONCLUSIONS

This is one of the few reported cases of T. crassiceps cysticercosis in a ring-tailed lemur, and the first one in Serbia. This endangered species seem to be more sensitive for T. crassiceps than other non-human primates, which represents serious conservation challenge for captive animals. Due to zoonotic nature of the parasite, challenging diagnosis, severity of the disease, difficult treatment and possible fatalities, high biosecurity measures are of particular importance, especially in endemic regions.

Quantitative determination of αs1–casein in goat’s milk using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP–HPLC)

The chemical, technological and allergy properties of goat’s milk are significantly affected by the level of αs1-casein. Despite indications that more than 90% of cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) children reacted similarly to goat's milk in typical IgE-mediated forms, the availability of goat's milk without αs1-casein appeared to be a potential alternative for patients with cow's milk allergy. In Malaysia, there is a lack of quantitative data on αs1-casein in raw and commercial goat’s milk. To address this problem, this study aimed to quantify αs1-casein in goat’s milk using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP–HPLC). The procedure was developed using a total of twenty samples comprised of commercial and raw goat’s milk. For the calibration curve, a linear relationship with R² > 0.999 was obtained using cow’s α-casein standard and peak areas were observed over the concentration range, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.025 mg/ mL and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.075 mg/mL, respectively. The amount of αs1- casein in the twenty samples ranged from 0.08±0.01 to 1.45±0.17 mg/mL. Three samples which were claimed as goat’s milk infant formula were not found to contain αs1-casein. Repeatability and reproducibility were satisfactory for both retention times and peak areas. The RSD of peak areas ranged from 0.01 - 8.07% within an analytical day and from 0.61 - 1.77% across analytical days. This study will contribute as a reference method for analysis and surveillance data of αs1-casein, in private or national laboratories, as well as milk and milk product manufacturers.

Increasing importance of anthelmintic resistance in European livestock: creation and meta-analysis of an open database

Helminth infections are ubiquitous in grazing ruminant production systems, and are responsible for significant costs and production losses. Anthelmintic Resistance (AR) in parasites is now widespread throughout Europe, although there are still gaps in our knowledge in some regions and countries. AR is a major threat to the sustainability of modern ruminant livestock production, resulting in reduced productivity, compromised animal health and welfare, and increased greenhouse gas emissions through increased parasitism and farm inputs. A better understanding of the extent of AR in Europe is needed to develop and advocate more sustainable parasite control approaches. A database of European published and unpublished AR research on gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) and liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) was collated by members of the European COST Action "COMBAR" (Combatting Anthelmintic Resistance in Ruminants), and combined with data from a previous systematic review of AR in GIN. A total of 197 publications on AR in GIN were available for analysis, representing 535 studies in 22 countries and spanning the period 1980-2020. Reports of AR were present throughout the European continent and some reports indicated high within-country prevalence. Heuristic sample size-weighted estimates of European AR prevalence over the whole study period, stratified by anthelmintic class, varied between 0 and 48%. Estimated regional (country) prevalence was highly heterogeneous, ranging between 0% and 100% depending on livestock sector and anthelmintic class, and generally increased with increasing research effort in a country. In the few countries with adequate longitudinal data, there was a tendency towards increasing AR over time for all anthelmintic classes in GIN: aggregated results in sheep and goats since 2010 reveal an average prevalence of resistance to benzimidazoles (BZ) of 86%, macrocyclic lactones except moxidectin (ML) 52%, levamisole (LEV) 48%, and moxidectin (MOX) 21%. All major GIN genera survived treatment in various studies. In cattle, prevalence of AR varied between anthelmintic classes from 0-100% (BZ and ML), 0-17% (LEV) and 0-73% (MOX), and both Cooperia and Ostertagia survived treatment. Suspected AR in F. hepatica was reported in 21 studies spanning 6 countries. For GIN and particularly F. hepatica, there was a bias towards preferential sampling of individual farms with suspected AR, and research effort was biased towards Western Europe and particularly the United Kingdom. Ongoing capture of future results in the live database, efforts to avoid bias in farm recruitment, more accurate tests for AR, and stronger appreciation of the importance of AR among the agricultural industry and policy makers, will support more sophisticated analyses of factors contributing to AR and effective strategies to slow its spread.

A Qualitative Market Analysis Applied to Mini-FLOTAC and Fill-FLOTAC for Diagnosis of Helminth Infections in Ruminants

Helminth infections, mainly by gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN), are one of the main concerns for animal health, welfare and productivity in grazing ruminant livestock worldwide. The use of a sensitive, precise, accurate, low-cost, and easy-to-perform copromicroscopic technique is of pivotal importance to perform reliable fecal egg count (FEC) and fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT), in order to determine the need of anthelmintic treatment, but also anthelmintic efficacy or resistance. This approach is fundamental to a correct and efficient control of GIN. Unfortunately, in worldwide ruminant farm practice, repeated anthelmintic treatments are carried out, without prior diagnosis of infection, contributing to the spread of Anthelmintic Resistance (AR). Tackling this phenomenon, improving mainly the GIN diagnosis and AR status in farm animals, is a priority of the European COST Action “COMBAR—COMBatting Anthelmintic Resistance in Ruminants” and of the STAR-IDAZ International Research Consortium on Animal Health. One of the specific objectives of the COMBAR Working Group 1 (WG1) is to conduct an European market analysis of new diagnostics and develop a business plan for commercial test introduction, leveraging technical know-how of participants. Since the Mini-FLOTAC in combination with the Fill-FLOTAC may be considered a good candidate for a standardized FEC and FECRT in the laboratory, as well as directly in the field, the aim of this study was to conduct SWOT (Strength—Weaknesses—Opportunities—Threats) and PESTEL (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal) analyses of these tools in 20 European countries involved in the COMBAR WG1, in order to identify the opportunities, barriers, and challenges that might affect the Mini-FLOTAC and Fill-FLOTAC commercialization in Europe.

DIROFILARIOSIS AND ANGIOSTRONGILOSIS IN PET AND HUNTING DOGS IN NOVI SAD, VOJVODINA, SERBIA

The aim of this study is to update the data on the prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis (D. immitis) and Dirofi laria repens (D. repens) infections inpet dogs, to report a preliminary result of the prevalence of Angiostrongylus vasorum (A. vasorum) in hunting dogs, and to assess the presence ofconcurrent infection with D. immitis and A. vasorum in hunting and pet dogs in Novi Sad. Th e methods used to estimate the prevalence of dirofilaria infections were modifi ed Knott test and detection of antigen of D.immitis. Th e prevalence of A. vasorum was determined using Baermannfecal technique and detection of A. vasorum antigen. Concurrent infection with D. immitis and A. vasorum was assessed only by detection of antigens of each parasite. Overall prevalence values for D. immitis and D. repens were 18.95% (24/143) and 16.32% (27/143), respectively. Th e prevalence of A.vasorum in hunting dogs was 1.96% (1/51). Concurrent infection with D.immitis and A. vasorum did not exist in examined hunting and pet dogs. Further studies with larger number of examined dogs and samples from other region of the country are needed to determine the prevalence of these parasites.

Moving the boundaries to the South-East: first record of autochthonous Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in a dog in Vojvodina province, northern Serbia

Background

Angiostrongylus vasorum is a cardiopulmonary canine nematode, potentially fatal to its host. In the last decade, there has been an increasing number of autochthonous cases in areas previously considered non-endemic. However, information about the parasite’s occurrence and distribution among Central and Eastern (Southeastern) European countries are scarce. This paper reports the first recorded case of autochthonous A. vasorum infection in a hunting dog from Serbia.

Findings

In March 2013, a female hunting dog was presented to a veterinary clinic in Novi Sad, Serbia, for examination of a chronic skin problem. The dog had no history of respiratory or cardiovascular diseases. Faecal and urine samples were collected and examined for the presence of parasite ova/cysts. A modified Baermann test detected 8.8 larvae per gram of faeces. Based on their overall body length (mean 381.7 ± 15.9 μm; range from 342.5 to 404.3 μm; n = 12) and characteristic tail morphology, they were identified as the first-stage larvae of A. vasorum.

Conclusions

The spread of A. vasorum to the southeast of Europe is further confirmed after finding autochthonous infected dog from Serbia. Therefore, veterinary professionals in Serbia should consider A. vasorum in differential diagnosis of dogs.

Neospora caninum antibodies in dairy cows and domestic dogs from Vojvodina, Serbia

Neospora caninum, the causative agent of neosporosis, is a protozoan parasite responsible for high rate of abortion in cattle worldwide. In dogs, consequences of infection vary from severe neuromuscular disorders to asymptomatic infection and shedding of environmentally resistant oocysts. In this study, we determined the occurrence of N. caninum antibodies in dairy cattle and dogs in Vojvodina (Northern Province of Serbia) and possible risk factors. N. caninum antibodies were found in 15.4% (55/356, CI 95%:12.0–19.6) of cows and 17.2% (17/99, CI 95%: 10.8–26.2) of dogs. Cows from smallholdings showed significantly greater odds (OR = 5.28, CI 95%: 2.0–13.6, p = 0.0006) of being seropositive in comparison to the farm cows. Epidemiological importance of results is discussed.

ENDOPARASITES IN HUNTING DOGS IN VOJVODINA

Concerning infectious diseases in hunting dogs, parasites represent an important etiological agent. Among zoonotic diseases, parasitosis, and in particular, helminthosis can cause serious public health concern. This study was performed to investigate infestations with endoparasites in hunting dogs. A total of 43 faecal samples from owned hunting dogs were collected, and were examined for the presence of endoparasites. The overall prevalence of endoparasitic infestation was 65, 15% and six species were found: Trichuris vulpis (44.19%), Ancylostoma caninum (27.91%), Capillaria spp. (16.28%), Isospora spp. (11.63%), Toxocara canis (9.30%), Toxascaris leonina (2.32%). The prevalence of endoparasites with zoonotic potential was 39.53%. These data are of importance for veterinarians in clinical practice, dealing with antiparasitic treatment and choosing appropriate antiparasitic drug for hunting dogs. Due to this, veterinarians should play an important role in helping to prevent or minimize zoonotic transmission of the parasites.