Survey of lungworm infection of domestic cats in Hungary

From 61 settlements of 12 Hungarian counties, 303 domestic cats were included in this survey. Between autumn 2016 and spring 2018, fresh faecal samples were randomly collected and examined by flotation and by the Baermann–Wetzel method for the presence of lungworm infection. No eggs of Eucoleus aerophilus were detected. Morphological identification of first instar larvae (L1) was also carried out. In the faeces of 60 cats (19.8%) from 17 settlements and Budapest, L1 of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus were found. More than half of the cats were from the western part of the country. The average number of larvae per gram of faeces was 190.2 ± 304.88. These results are in line with the former findings on the prevalence of aelurostrongylosis of domestic cats in Hungary. In addition, Oslerus rostratus was also found for the first time in the faecal samples of three cats from the eastern part of the country, infected also with Ae. abstrusus. The average age (2.51 ± 1.26 years) of infected cats indicates that lungworm infection is more common among younger cats. No relationship was found between the lung-worm infection and the sex of cats. Non-neutered cats had a significantly higher proportion of lungworm infections. Two-thirds of the infected cats were apparently healthy, and only 19 individuals showed clinical signs of respiratory disorders.

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First Case of Clinical Cat Aelurostrongylosis in the Brazilian Amazon: Clinical and Molecular Insights

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10050595 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 595

Author(s):

Wilison da Silva Lima ◽

Enny Caroline Ferreira Farago ◽

Millena Mesquita do Nascimenta ◽

Acácio Duarte Pacheco ◽

Patrícia Fernandes Nunes da Silva Malavazi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Brazilian Amazon ◽

Research Unit ◽

Domestic Cats ◽

Important Species ◽

Aelurostrongylus Abstrusus ◽

First Case ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

First Time ◽

Radiographic Changes ◽

Apparently Healthy

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is the most important respiratory parasite infecting domestic cats worldwide. Nevertheless, most records and epizootiological data come from Europe, whilst poor and fragmentary information are available for other regions, including the Americas. The present article describes the first description of cat aelurostrongylosis from Amazonia, Brazil. Eighty-one cats, 13 from a shelter and 68 admitted at the Teaching and Research Unit in Veterinary Medicine (UV) at the Federal University of Acre (UFAC), Brazil, were included in the study. For all cats, three faecal samples from consecutive defecations were examined using the Baermann’s technique. Nematode first stage larvae (L1), retrieved in 2/81 (2.5%) samples, were microscopically identified as A. abstrusus and then subjected to a molecular assay able to identify the three most important species of metastrongyloids infecting felids. This test confirmed the A. abstrusus identity in one sample, while the second scored negative. The cat with confirmed aelurostrongylosis showed radiographic changes, i.e., an interstitial pattern, compatible with the infection. The other cat, which scored positive at the Baermann’s examination, was apparently healthy at the physical examination and showed no thoracic alterations. The occurrence of A. abstrusus in domestic cats from Brazilian Amazon is herein demonstrated for the first time. Clinical, epizootiological and molecular implications are discussed.

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Molecular Characterization of Some Equine Vector-Borne Pathogens and Identification of Their Vectors in Egypt

10.21203/rs.3.rs-26089/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hend H.A.M. Abdullah ◽

Dina Aboelsoued ◽

Tarek K Farag ◽

Kadria N Abdel Megeed ◽

Sobhy Abdel-Shafy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Techniques ◽

Ixodid Ticks ◽

Morphological Identification ◽

Vector Borne Diseases ◽

Maldi Tof ◽

Vector Borne ◽

First Time ◽

Multiple Pathogens ◽

Apparently Healthy

Abstract Background Equine vector borne diseases (EVBD) have been considered emerging and reemerging diseases transmitted by arthropods and most of these diseases have zoonotic concern. This study was designed to screen EVBD in equines and their vectors using molecular analyses and identify vectors by MALDI-TOF and molecular techniques.Methods A total of 335 blood samples were collected from apparently healthy equines (320 from horses and 15 from donkeys) from Cairo and Beni-Suef provinces in Egypt. A total of 166 arthropods (105 sucking flies and 61 ticks) were collected from the same animals. MALDI-TOF and molecular techniques were used to confirm the findings of morphological identification of vector. Quantitative PCR and Standard PCR coupled with sequencing were performed in equines and vectors DNA for screening multiple pathogens.Results MALDI-TOF and molecular techniques confirmed that Hippoposca equina (louse fly), Rhipicephalus annulatus (Rh. annulatus) and Rh. microplus ixodid ticks were found. In vectors, we identified Anaplasma marginale (A. marginale; 1.6%), A. platys-like (1.6%) and a new Ehrlichia sp. (4.9%) in Rh. microplus, while Ehrlichia rustica (E. rustica) was found in Rh. microplus and Rh. annulatus. Likewise, Borrelia theileri was identified in Rh. microplus (3.3%). For H. equina, Anaplasma and Borrelia sp. DNA were detected by qPCR only. In equines, A. marginale (0.6%), A. ovis (0.6%) and Theileria ovis (T. ovis; 0.6%) were found in donkeys. In horses, T. equi (1.2%) and a new Theileria sp. Africa (2.7%) were identified.Conclusions For the first time, we reported here the presence of Rh. microplus as a competent tick for Rh. annulatus in Egypt using MALDI-TOF and molecular identification. To the best of our knowledge, we provided the first detection of different pathogens as A. marginale, A. platys-like, E. rustica, new Ehrlichia sp., B. theileri in Rh. microplus, A. marginale, A. ovis and T. ovis in donkeys and a new Theileria sp. Africa in horses in Egypt.

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Diagnostic Challenges in Canine Parvovirus 2c in Vaccine Failure Cases

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v12090980 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (9) ◽

pp. 980 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hiu Ying Esther Yip ◽

Anne Peaston ◽

Lucy Woolford ◽

Shiow Jing Khuu ◽

Georgia Wallace ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diagnostic Tests ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Canine Parvovirus ◽

Vaccination Status ◽

Negative Results ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

Healthy Dogs ◽

Antigen Tests ◽

Low Sensitivity ◽

Apparently Healthy

In this study, three different diagnostic tests for parvovirus were compared with vaccination status and parvovirus genotype in suspected canine parvovirus cases. Faecal samples from vaccinated (N17) and unvaccinated or unknown vaccination status (N41) dogs that had clinical signs of parvovirus infection were tested using three different assays of antigen tests, conventional and quantitative PCR tests. The genotype of each sample was determined by sequencing. In addition to the suspected parvovirus samples, 21 faecal samples from apparently healthy dogs were tested in three diagnostic tests to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the tests. The antigen test was positive in 41.2% of vaccinated dogs and 73.2% of unvaccinated diseased dogs. Conventional PCR and qPCR were positive for canine parvovirus (CPV) in 82.4% of vaccinated dogs and 92.7% of unvaccinated dogs. CPV type-2c (CPV-2c) was detected in 82.75% of dogs (12 vaccinated and 36 unvaccinated dogs), CPV-2b was detected in 5.17% dogs (one vaccinated and two unvaccinated) and CPV-2a in 1.72% vaccinated dog. Mean Ct values in qPCR for vaccinated dogs were higher than the unvaccinated dogs (p = 0.049), suggesting that vaccinated dogs shed less virus, even in clinical forms of CPV. CPV-2c was the dominant subtype infecting dogs in both vaccinated and unvaccinated cases. Faecal antigen testing failed to identify a substantial proportion of CPV-2c infected dogs, likely due to low sensitivity. The faecal samples from apparently healthy dogs (n = 21) showed negative results in all three tests. Negative CPV faecal antigen results should be viewed with caution until they are confirmed by molecular methods.

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Clinical and Epidemiological Study on Aelurostrongylus Abstrusus Infection in Cats, Romania; Preliminary Data

“Agriculture for Life Life for Agriculture” Conference Proceedings ◽

10.2478/alife-2018-0064 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 428-431

Author(s):

Roxana Mihaela Ciopașiu ◽

Elena Florina Berbece ◽

Mariana Ioniță ◽

Ioan Liviu Mitrea

Keyword(s):

Epidemiological Study ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Nasal Discharge ◽

Toxocara Cati ◽

Aelurostrongylus Abstrusus ◽

Worldwide Distribution ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

Respiratory Pathology ◽

Abdominal Breathing ◽

Flotation Method

Abstract The lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (Nematoda: Angiostrongylidae) is a parasite of domestic and wild felids with worldwide distribution. The parasite lives in bronchioles and alveolar ducts, and its presence is associated with respiratory clinical signs. Cat lungworms are still considered by many clinicians sporadic and rarely are taken into account in the cat pathology. Therefore, in this paper we present a clinical and epidemiological study on cats with natural A. abstrusus infection. For this, 131 cats, with exclusive outdoor or outdoor and indoor access, of different gender (49 males, 82 females) and age (between 2 months and 11 years), from Southern and Center Romania, were included in the study. Of them, individual fresh faecal samples were collected and analyzed to identify first-stage larvae (L1) of lungworms, using a Baermann technique, and eggs/oocysts of other endoparasites, by a flotation method. Subsequently, of the examined samples, 6.10% (8/131) were positive for A. abstrusus. The positive cats aged between 3 months and 2 years. Of them, 3 cats were co-infected: two with Toxocara cati and one with Ancylostoma tubaeforme. Clinically, 75% (6/8) of the infected cats displayed respiratory signs varying from mild (sporadic coughing, sneezing) (n=3) to severe symptoms (mucopurulent nasal discharge, abdominal breathing) (n=3), while 25% (2/8) showed no respiratory signs. The three cats with severe respiratory disease were infected only with A.abstrusus. In conclusion, veterinary practitioners should include Aelurostrongylus infection in the differential diagnosis of catʼs respiratory pathology.

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Molecular Survey of Metastrongyloid Lungworms in Domestic Cats (Felis silvestris catus) from Romania: A Retrospective Study (2008–2011)

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens9020080 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 80 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Adriana Gyӧrke ◽

Mirabela Oana Dumitrache ◽

Zsuzsa Kalmár ◽

Anamaria Ioana Paştiu ◽

Viorica Mircean

Keyword(s):

Significant Risk ◽

Felis Silvestris ◽

Domestic Cats ◽

Felis Silvestris Catus ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Aelurostrongylus Abstrusus ◽

Clinical Presentations ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Respiratory Conditions

Background: Lungworms are recognized as important agents in the pathology of the respiratory system in domestic cats. While Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is worldwide known and studied, Troglostrongylus brevior has gained the attention of the scientific community only in the last decade. The pathogenicity of this species seems to be higher than A. abstrusus, causing more severe clinical presentations and being potentially fatal, especially in young animals. Methods: In this study, 371 DNA isolates of faecal samples were tested by multiplex polymerase chain reaction for the presence of A. abstrusus, T. brevior, and Angiostrongylus chabaudi. Results: The results showed that 30.2% and 6.7% of the investigated domestic cats were positive for A. abstrusus and T. brevior respectively, stressing out the importance of these parasites as agents of respiratory conditions in domestic cats from Romania. None of the samples were positive for A. chabaudi. The age, the outdoor access, and the lack of deworming were identified as significant risk factors for infection with A. abstrusus. Conclusions: This paper represents the first report of T. brevior in domestic cats from Romania. Moreover, it presents the most northern localization in Europe of T. brevior.

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Fatal Pulmonary Hypertension and Right-Sided Congestive Heart Failure in a Kitten Infected with Aelurostrongylus abstrusus

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10122263 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 2263 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tommaso Vezzosi ◽

Stefania Perrucci ◽

Francesca Parisi ◽

Simone Morelli ◽

Michela Maestrini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Congestive Heart Failure ◽

Pulmonary Hypertension ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Pathological Findings ◽

Severe Pulmonary Hypertension ◽

Domestic Cats ◽

Thoracic Radiography ◽

Aelurostrongylus Abstrusus ◽

The University

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is considered the most important respiratory nematode of domestic cats worldwide. This parasite inhabits the alveoli, alveolar ducts, and bronchioles and causes a subacute to chronic respiratory clinical disease. Clinical signs may occur in domestic cats of any age, though they are more often described in young animals. Physical examination, echocardiography, thoracic radiography, pulmonary and cardiac pathological findings, classical, and molecular parasitological analysis of a six-month-old kitten referred at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Pisa (Italy) led to a diagnosis of parasitic bronchopneumonia caused by A. abstrusus, which was complicated by severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right-sided congestive heart failure (R-CHF) that caused the death of the animal. Cases of reversible PH associated with A. abstrusus infection have been seldom reported in cats. This is the first report of fatal PH and R-CHF in a kitten with clinical aelurostrongylosis.

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Molecular Detection and Phylogeny of Anaplasmaphagocytophilum and Related Variants in Small Ruminants from Turkey

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11030814 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 814

Author(s):

Münir Aktaş ◽

Sezayi Özübek ◽

Mehmet Can Uluçeşme

Keyword(s):

16S Rrna ◽

Small Ruminants ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Infection Rates ◽

Sheep And Goats ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Pcr Rflp ◽

First Time ◽

Japan And China ◽

Apparently Healthy

Anaplasma phagocytophilum causes tick-borne fever in small ruminants. Recently, novel Anaplasma variants related to A. phagocytophilum have been reported in ruminants from Tunisia, Italy, South Korea, Japan, and China. Based on 16S rRNA and groEL genes and sequencing, we screened the frequency of A. phagocytophilum and related variants in 433 apparently healthy small ruminants in Turkey. Anaplasma spp. overall infection rates were 27.9% (121/433 analyzed samples). The frequency of A. phagocytophilum and A. phagocytophilum-like 1 infections was 1.4% and 26.5%, respectively. No A. phagocytophilum-like 2 was detected in the tested animals. The prevalence of Anaplasma spp. was comparable in species, and no significant difference was detected between sheep and goats, whereas the prevalence significantly increased with tick infestation. Sequencing confirmed PCR-RFLP data and showed the presence of A. phagocytophilum and A. phagocytophilum-like-1 variant in the sampled animals. Phylogeny-based on 16S rRNA gene revealed the A. phagocytophilum-like 1 in a separate clade together with the previous isolates detected in small ruminants and ticks. In this work, A. phagocytophilum-like 1 has been detected for the first time in sheep and goats from Turkey. This finding revealed that the variant should be considered in the diagnosis of caprine and ovine anaplasmosis.

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First instar larvae of endemic Australian Miltogramminae (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-80139-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Krzysztof Szpila ◽

Kinga Walczak ◽

Nikolas P. Johnston ◽

Thomas Pape ◽

James F. Wallman

Keyword(s):

Laser Scanning ◽

Instar Larva ◽

Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽

Confocal Laser ◽

Maxillary Palpus ◽

Larval Morphology ◽

First Instar ◽

Morphological Differences ◽

Thoracic And Abdominal ◽

First Time

AbstractThe first instar larva of a species of the Australian endemic genus Aenigmetopia Malloch is described for the first time, along with the first instar larvae of three other Australian species representing the genera Amobia Robineau-Desvoidy and Protomiltogramma Townsend. Larval morphology was analysed using a combination of light microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The following morphological structures are documented: pseudocephalon, antennal complex, maxillary palpus, facial mask, modifications of thoracic and abdominal segments, anal region, spiracular field, posterior spiracles and details of the cephaloskeleton. Substantial morphological differences are observed between the three genera, most notably in the labrum and mouthhooks of the cephaloskeleton, sensory organs of the pseudocephalon, spinulation, sculpture of the integument and form of the spiracular field. The first instar larval morphology of Aenigmetopia amissa Johnston, Wallman, Szpila & Pape corroborates the close phylogenetic affinity of Aenigmetopia Malloch with Metopia Meigen, inferred from recent molecular analysis. The larval morphology of Amobia auriceps (Baranov), Protomiltogramma cincta Townsend and Protomiltogramma plebeia Malloch is mostly congruent with the morphology of Palaearctic representatives of both genera.

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Cryptosporidium myocastoris n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporidiidae), the Species Adapted to the Nutria (Myocastor coypus)

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9040813 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 813

Author(s):

Jana Ježková ◽

Zlata Limpouchová ◽

Jitka Prediger ◽

Nikola Holubová ◽

Bohumil Sak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Prepatent Period ◽

Cryptosporidium Species ◽

The Novel ◽

Myocastor Coypus ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Molecular Analyses ◽

Cryptosporidium Spp ◽

Faecal Samples

Cryptosporidium spp., common parasites of vertebrates, remain poorly studied in wildlife. This study describes the novel Cryptosporidium species adapted to nutrias (Myocastor coypus). A total of 150 faecal samples of feral nutria were collected from locations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and examined for Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts and specific DNA at the SSU, actin, HSP70, and gp60 loci. Molecular analyses revealed the presence of C. parvum (n = 1), C. ubiquitum subtype family XIId (n = 5) and Cryptosporidium myocastoris n. sp. XXIIa (n = 2), and XXIIb (n = 3). Only nutrias positive for C. myocastoris shed microscopically detectable oocysts, which measured 4.8–5.2 × 4.7–5.0 µm, and oocysts were infectious for experimentally infected nutrias with a prepatent period of 5–6 days, although not for mice, gerbils, or chickens. The infection was localised in jejunum and ileum without observable macroscopic changes. The microvilli adjacent to attached stages responded by elongating. Clinical signs were not observed in naturally or experimentally infected nutrias. Phylogenetic analyses at SSU, actin, and HSP70 loci demonstrated that C. myocastoris n. sp. is distinct from other valid Cryptosporidium species.

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The Hydraenidae of Cuba (Insecta: Coleoptera) II: Morphology of preimaginal stages of six species and notes on their biology

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4238.4.1 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4238 (4) ◽

pp. 451 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

ALBERT DELER-HERNÁNDEZ ◽

JUAN A. DELGADO

Keyword(s):

Instar Larva ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Larval Instars ◽

First Instar ◽

Preimaginal Stages ◽

First Time ◽

Third Instar Larvae

Preimaginal stages of the six species of Hydraenidae presently known from Cuba were obtained by rearing adults in the laboratory. Eggs of Hydraena perkinsi Spangler, 1980, H. decui Spangler, 1980 and H. franklyni Deler-Hernández & Delgado, 2012 are described and illustrated for the first time. The first instar larva of Gymnochthebius fossatus (LeConte, 1855) is redescribed, adding some new remarkable morphological characters including what could be the first abdominal egg-burster reported for this family. All larval instars of H. perkinsi, H. guadelupensis Orchymont, 1923 and Ochthebius attritus LeConte, 1878 are described and illustrated for the first time, with a special emphasis on their chaetotaxy. The second instar larva of G. fossatus along with first and third instar larvae of H. decui and H. franklyni are also studied for the first time. The pupal morphology and vestiture of a species belonging to the genus Hydraena are described for the first time, based on the pupa of H. perkinsi. Biological notes for several preimaginal stages of the studied species are also given.

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