scholarly journals Angiostrongylosis in Animals and Humans in Europe

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1236
Author(s):  
Eric R. Morgan ◽  
David Modry ◽  
Claudia Paredes-Esquivel ◽  
Pilar Foronda ◽  
Donato Traversa
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Risk Assessments ◽  
Veterinary Science ◽  
Disease Emergence ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Medical Practitioners ◽  
Rat Lungworm ◽  
South Of Europe ◽  
Recent Establishment

Lungworms in the genus Angiostrongylus cause disease in animals and humans. The spread of Angiostrongylus vasorum within Europe and the recent establishment of Angiostrongylus cantonensis increase the relevance of these species to veterinary and medical practitioners, and to researchers in parasitology, epidemiology, veterinary science and ecology. This review introduces the key members of the genus present in Europe and their impacts on health, and updates the current epidemiological situation. Expansion of A. vasorum from localized pockets to wide distribution across the continent has been confirmed by a rising prevalence in foxes and increasing reports of infection and disease in dogs, while the list of carnivore and mustelid definitive hosts continues to grow. The tropically distributed rat lungworm A. cantonensis, meanwhile, has been recorded on islands south of Europe, previously the Canary Islands, and now also the Balearic Islands, although so far with limited evidence of zoonotic disease. Other members of the genus, namely, A. chabaudi, A. daskalovi and A. dujardini, are native to Europe and mainly infect wildlife, with unknown consequences for populations, although spill-over can occur into domestic animals and those in zoological collections. The epidemiology of angiostrongylosis is complex, and further research is needed on parasite maintenance in sylvatic hosts, and on the roles of ecology, behaviour and genetics in disease emergence. Improved surveillance in animals and humans is also required to support risk assessments and management.

ANDROGENS AND RELATED COMPOUNDS IN THE SPERMATIC VEIN BLOOD OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS

1961 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. R. LINDNER
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin ◽  
Spermatic Vein ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Hormone Synthesis ◽  
Secretory Products ◽  
Related Compounds

SUMMARY Testosterone, androstenedione and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone were identified as secretory products of the bull testis by concurrent analyses of the arterial and spermatic vein blood. The testes of prepuberal calves aged 3–6 months (86–200 kg. body weight) were shown to secrete testosterone at rates varying from 14 to 231 μg.hr./testis. In calves of less than 125 kg. body weight, the testicular venous blood contained androstenedione in amounts exceeding those of testosterone, whereas in calves above 175 kg. in body weight and in mature bulls the androstenedione/testosterone ratio was well below 1:10. Administration of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG; 2000 i.u./48 hr., intramuscularly, for 7 weeks) did not abolish the high androstenedione/testosterone ratio which characterizes the secretion of the immature bull testis. Intravenous administration of HCG to mature bulls (2–5 i.u./kg.) was followed within 20 min. by an increased output of testosterone into the spermatic vein blood. This response was attended by a rise in the testosterone content of the testis, and was therefore attributed to an increased rate of hormone synthesis, rather than to a release of preformed hormone stored in the gland. There was a significant positive correlation between testosterone content of the testis and rate of testosterone release into the spermatic vein blood. A time interval of 18·0 min. ± 6·6 s.d. (mean of 22 determinations) was sufficient for the release into the testicular effluent of an amount of testosterone equal to the entire content of the gland, and for its replacement by newly synthesized hormone. 17α-Hydroxyprogesterone constituted <3% of the αβ-unsaturated 3-oxosteroids released by the testis. Limited evidence was obtained for the occurrence of progesterone in the spermatic vein blood of calves treated with HCG, but was not regarded as conclusive; the concentration of this steroid in spermatic vein blood plasma of untreated bulls would appear to be < 1·5 μg.%. Dehydroepiandrosterone was not detectable in the spermatic vein blood by a method sensitive to a plasma concentration of 5–10 μg.% of this steroid.

scholarly journals Drivers of disease emergence and spread: Is wildlife to blame?

2014 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Kock
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Domestic Animal ◽  
Emerging Infections ◽  
Disease Emergence ◽  
Emerging Pathogens ◽  
Wildlife Reservoirs ◽  
Animal Populations ◽  
Increasing Trend ◽  
Changing Demographics

The global focus on wildlife as a major contributor to emerging pathogens and infectious diseases (EIDs) in humans and domestic animals is not based on field, experimental or dedicated research, but mostly on limited surveys of literature, opinion and the assumption that biodiversity harbours pathogens. The perceived and direct impacts of wildlife, from being a reservoir of certain human and livestock pathogens and as a risk to health, are frequently overstated when compared to the Global burden of disease statistics available from WHO, OIE and FAO. However organisms that evolve in wildlife species can and do spill-over into human landscapes and humans and domestic animal population and, where these organisms adapt to surviving and spreading amongst livestock and humans, these emerging infections can have significant consequences. Drivers for the spill-over of pathogens or evolution of organisms from wildlife reservoirs to become pathogens of humans and domestic animals are varied but almost without exception poorly researched. The changing demographics, spatial distribution and movements, associated landscape modifications (especially agricultural) and behavioural changes involving human and domestic animal populations are probably the core drivers of the apparent increasing trend in emergence of new pathogens and infectious diseases over recent decades.

scholarly journals Toxoplasmosis

1967 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Fulton
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Clinical Manifestation ◽  
Experimental Work ◽  
Tissue Specificity ◽  
Helminth Infection ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Curative Treatment ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Means Of Transmission

Summary Toxoplasma is unique among protozoa in its wide distribution and lack of host or tissue specificity. It is a successful parasite in so far as it rarely causes death of the host. The infection is frequently inapparent and this type of infection may be passed from mother to foetus with disastrous results. In domestic animals, it is a cause of serious economic losses, especially among lambs in this country and New Zealand. It may be associated with concomitant infections such as distemper in dogs and helminth infection in cats. In man lymphadenopathy is the commonest clinical manifestation; various affections of the eye and pneumonia also occur. The means of transmission in nature is still unknown apart from the congenital form. It is, however, regarded as a zoonosis and women should take special care where sick animals are concerned. They should be excluded from experimental work on toxoplasmosis. The reaction of the parasite to drugs is unlike that of most protozoa, but curative treatment is possible.

scholarly journals Wide distribution of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected triatomines in the State of Bahia, Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilmar Ribeiro ◽  
Carlos G. S. dos Santos ◽  
Fernanda Lanza ◽  
Jamylle Reis ◽  
Fernanda Vaccarezza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Analysis ◽  
Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Blood Meal ◽  
Species Complex ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
The State ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Epidemiologic Surveillance

Abstract Background The identification of Trypanosoma cruzi and blood-meal sources in synanthropic triatomines is important to assess the potential risk of Chagas disease transmission. We identified T. cruzi infection and blood-meal sources of triatomines caught in and around houses in the state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil, and mapped the occurrence of infected triatomines that fed on humans and domestic animals. Methods Triatominae bugs were manually captured by trained agents from the Epidemiologic Surveillance team of Bahia State Health Service between 2013 and 2014. We applied conventional PCR to detect T. cruzi and blood-meal sources (dog, cat, human and bird) in a randomized sample of triatomines. We mapped triatomine distribution and analyzed vector hotspots with kernel density spatial analysis. Results In total, 5906 triatomines comprising 15 species were collected from 127 out of 417 municipalities in Bahia. The molecular analyses of 695 triatomines revealed a ~10% T. cruzi infection rate, which was highest in the T. brasiliensis species complex. Most bugs were found to have fed on birds (74.2%), and other blood-meal sources included dogs (6%), cats (0.6%) and humans (1%). Trypanosoma cruzi-infected triatomines that fed on humans were detected inside houses. Spatial analysis showed a wide distribution of T. cruzi-infected triatomines throughout Bahia; triatomines that fed on dogs, humans, and cats were observed mainly in the northeast region. Conclusions Synanthropic triatomines have a wide distribution and maintain the potential risk of T. cruzi transmission to humans and domestic animals in Bahia. Ten species were recorded inside houses, mainly Triatoma sordida, T. pseudomaculata, and the T. brasiliensis species complex. Molecular and spatial analysis are useful to reveal T. cruzi infection and blood-meal sources in synanthropic triatomines, identifying areas with ongoing threat for parasite transmission and improving entomological surveillance strategies.

scholarly journals The African mosquito-borne diseasosome: Geographical patterns and range expansion

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tovi Lehmann ◽  
Cedric Kouam ◽  
Joshua Woo ◽  
Mawlouth Diallo ◽  
Richard Wilkerson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Range Expansion ◽  
System Analysis ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Eastern Africa ◽  
Striking Similarity ◽  
Disease Emergence

Mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) such as malaria, dengue, and Rift Valley fever threaten public health and food security globally. Despite their cohesive nature, they are typically treated as distinct entities. Applying biological system analysis to the African MBDs from a One Health perspective, we provide the first biogeographic description of the African mosquito fauna corresponding with the pathogens they transmit. After compiling records accumulated over a century, we find that there are 677 mosquito species in Africa, representing 16 genera, and 151 mosquito-borne pathogens (MBPs) circulating primarily among wild tetrapods, dominated by viruses (95) and protozoans (47). We estimate that reported MBPs represent ~1% of the actual number. Unlike mosquitoes, African arboviruses and mammalian plasmodia represent a higher share of the World's total based on the area- species richness relationship (P<0.0001), explaining the disproportional large share of global MBPs that originated from Africa. Species richness of African mosquitoes and MBPs are similarly concentrated along the equator, peaking in central Africa, with a secondary ridge along eastern Africa. Moderate diversity and low endemicity in mosquitoes across the Sahel reveals a fauna with high propensity for long-range migration. Regional differences in species richness, endemicity, and composition agreed with country-based results. The composition of mosquitoes and MBPs separates sub-Saharan Africa from north Africa, in accordance with the Palearctic and Afrotropical faunal realms, and west and central Africa are clustered together distinctly from the cluster of eastern and southern Africa. With ~25% of the species occupying a single country, ~50% in 1-3 countries and <5% found in >25 countries, the typical ranges of both mosquitoes and MBPs are surprisingly small. The striking similarity in diversity and especially in range distributions of mosquitoes and MBPs suggest that most MBPs are transmitted by one or few narrow-range mosquito vectors. Exceptionally widespread mosquito species (e.g., Ae. aegypti, Cx. quinquefasciatus, and 10 Anopheles species) feed preferentially on people and domestic animals, and nearly half are windborne migrants. Likewise, exceptionally widespread MBPs are transmitted between people or domestic animals and are vectored by one or more of the aforementioned widespread mosquitoes. Our results suggest that few MBPs have undergone a dramatic range expansion, after adapting to people or domestic animals as well as to exceptionally-widespread mosquitoes. During the intermediate phase of range expansion, MBPs extend their vector and vertebrate host ranges with a concomitant gradual increase in geographical range. Because range size may serve as a marker of the phase of range expansion, ranking the African MBPs according to range, we identified several MBPs that pose elevated risk for disease emergence (e.g., Wesselsbron virus). Taken together, our database, approach, and results can help improve MBD surveillance and lead to a better understanding of disease emergence. This knowledge has the potential to improve capacity to prevent and mitigate new and emerging MBD threats.

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