Evidence of Pathogenic Leptospira Infection in a Free-Ranging Andean Fox (Lycalopex culpaeus) from Central Chile

Abstract Background: Canine vector-borne pathogens (CVBP) comprises a relevant and globally distributed group of disease agents. The aim of this study is to determine de co-occurrence of the most relevant CVBP of veterinary and zoonotic interest, in free-ranging, owned, rural dogs of central Chile, and to evaluate risk factors and potential “hidden” hematological alterations associated to pathogen co-infection by two or more pathogens.Methods: Nine groups of canine vector-borne pathogens (CVBP) were molecularly investigated in 111 free-ranging, owned rural dogs in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. Results: At least one pathogen was detected in 75% of the dogs. The most prevalent agent was Anaplasma platys (36%), followed by Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum (CMhp; 31%), Mycoplasma haemocanis (Mhc; 28%), Trypanosoma cruzi (17%), Leishmania spp. (4.5%) and Acanthocheilonema reconditum (1%). DNA of Ehrlichia spp., Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., Piroplasmida and Hepatozoon spp. was not detected. Thirty-eight dogs (34%) were coinfected, either by two (n=20), three (n=7), or four agents (n=1). The most common co-infection pattern was CMhp – Mhc (n=14). CMhp was involved in 71%, Mhc in 58%, and A. platys in 50% of the co-infections. Prevalence of A. platys was higher in juvenile than in adult dogs, whereas the opposite was found for CMhp and Mhc. Adult dogs had five times more probabilities of being coinfected than young animals. Dogs positive for A. platys were infested by a larger number of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks than uninfected individuals. At clinical evaluation, most of the animals were considered healthy, with only eight dogs (7%) presenting pale mucous membranes. Co-infected animals showed higher white blood cell count, segmented neutrophil count and GGT levels than non-co-infected dogs. Conclusions: This study represents the first report of Leishmania sp. in Chile. Clinically healthy but infected dogs as those studied here may act as reservoirs of CVBP, potentially contributing to the spread of these pathogens to other tick-exposed dogs as well as human beings or protected wild carnivores.

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Distribution and Diversity of Pathogenic Leptospira Species in Peri-domestic Surface Waters from South Central Chile

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

10.1371/journal.pntd.0004895 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. e0004895 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Meghan R. Mason ◽

Carolina Encina ◽

Srinand Sreevatsan ◽

Claudia Muñoz-Zanzi

Keyword(s):

Surface Waters ◽

Pathogenic Leptospira ◽

Central Chile ◽

South Central ◽

Leptospira Species

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Canine vector-borne pathogens in rural dogs in Chile: molecular survey and co-infection patterns

10.21203/rs.2.22960/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Aitor Cevidanes ◽

Sophia Di Cataldo ◽

Catalina Muñoz-San Martín ◽

Claudia Hernández ◽

Maria Stefania Latrofa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rhipicephalus Sanguineus ◽

Metropolitan Region ◽

Human Beings ◽

Central Chile ◽

Widespread Occurrence ◽

Infection Pattern ◽

Acanthocheilonema Reconditum ◽

Vector Borne ◽

Free Ranging ◽

Globally Distributed

Abstract Background: Canine vector-borne pathogens (CVBP) comprise a relevant and globally distributed group of disease agents. The aim of this study is to determine de co-occurrence of the most relevant CVBP of veterinary and zoonotic interest, in free-ranging, owned, rural dogs of central Chile, and to evaluate risk factors and potential non-apparent hematological alterations associated to pathogen co-infection by two or more agents.Methods: Nine groups of canine vector-borne pathogens (CVBP) were molecularly investigated in 111 free-ranging, owned rural dogs in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. Results: At least one pathogen was detected in 75% of the dogs. The most prevalent agent was Anaplasma platys (36%), followed by Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum (CMhp; 31%), Mycoplasma haemocanis (Mhc; 28%), Trypanosoma cruzi (17%), Leishmania spp. (4.5%) and Acanthocheilonema reconditum (1%). DNA of Ehrlichia spp., Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., Piroplasmida and Hepatozoon spp. was not detected. Thirty-eight dogs (34%) were coinfected, either by two (n=20), three (n=7), or four agents (n=1). The most common co-infection pattern was CMhp – Mhc (n=14). CMhp was involved in 71%, Mhc in 58%, and A. platys in 50% of the co-infections. Prevalence of A. platys was higher in juvenile than in adult dogs, whereas the opposite was found for CMhp and Mhc. Adult dogs had five times more probabilities of being coinfected than young animals. Dogs positive for A. platys were infested by a larger number of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks than uninfected individuals. At clinical evaluation, most of the animals were considered healthy, with only eight dogs (7%) presenting pale mucous membranes. Co-infected animals showed higher white blood cell count, segmented neutrophil count and GGT levels than non-co-infected dogs. Conclusions: Widespread occurrence of and co-infection by CVBP was found in rural free-ranging dogs of central Chile. This study represents the first report of Leishmania spp. in Chile. Clinically healthy but infected dogs as those studied here may act as reservoirs of CVBP, potentially contributing to the spread of these pathogens to other tick-exposed dogs as well as human beings or wild carnivores.

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Parasitic survey on introduced monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) in Santiago, Chile

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612017023 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 129-135 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Cristóbal Briceño ◽

Dominique Surot ◽

Daniel González-Acuña ◽

Francisco Javier Martínez ◽

Fernando Fredes

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Zoonotic Potential ◽

Conservation Priority ◽

Central Chile ◽

Monk Parakeet ◽

Myiopsitta Monachus ◽

High Conservation ◽

Potential Impact ◽

Free Ranging ◽

Anthropic Pressure

Abstract Central Chile has been identified as a unique ecosystem with high conservation priority because of its high levels of endemism and intensive anthropic pressure. Over a period of almost four decades, the monk parakeet has been successful in establishing and dispersing in urban Santiago, although little is known about its potential impact. Furthermore, nothing is known about its epidemiological risks towards animals or even humans. For this reason, we conducted the first parasitic survey of monk parakeets in Chile through capture, necropsy and thorough external and internal inspection of 92 adult individuals. Among these, 45.7% presented lice that were identified as Paragoniocotes fulvofasciatum, 1.1% had mesostigmatid acari and 8.9% had free-ranging acari. Among 89 parakeets, 19.1% had structures identified as Cryptosporidium sp. This study provides the first description of Cryptosporidium sp. in monk parakeets. Along with the presence of a mesostigmatid acarus in one parakeet, this serves as a public health warning, given that both of these parasites have zoonotic potential.

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Supplemental Material for Sociability of Indian Free-Ranging Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) Varies With Human Movement in Urban Areas

Journal of Comparative Psychology ◽

10.1037/com0000241.supp ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Canis Lupus ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Human Movement ◽

Canis Lupus Familiaris ◽

Free Ranging

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Lateralization in trunk and forefoot movements in a population of free-ranging Asian elephants (Elephas maximus).

Journal of Comparative Psychology ◽

10.1037/com0000013 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 129 (4) ◽

pp. 377-387 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

P. Keerthipriya ◽

Rachna Tewari ◽

T. N. C. Vidya

Keyword(s):

Elephas Maximus ◽

Asian Elephants ◽

Free Ranging

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Investigation of duck plague virus in hoar areas of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Journal of Livestock Research ◽

10.3329/bjlr.v26i1-2.49939 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (1-2) ◽

pp. 73-78

Author(s):

A Hossen ◽

MH Rahman ◽

MZ Ali ◽

MA Yousuf ◽

MZ Hassan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cytopathic Effect ◽

Clinical Sample ◽

Chorioallantoic Membrane ◽

Clinical Samples ◽

Isolation And Identification ◽

Duck Plague Virus ◽

Pcr Method ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

The Individual ◽

Free Ranging

Duck plague (DP) is the most important infectious disease of geese, ducks and free-ranging water birds. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of duck plague virus followed by isolation and identification. For these purposes, a total of 155 cloacal swabs samples were collected randomly from duck of different haor areas of Bangladesh including 45 (41 surveillance and 4 clinical) samples from Netrokona; 42 (40 surveillance and 2 clinical) samples from Kishoregonj; 30 samples from Brahmanbaria and 38 samples from Sunamganj. The samples were processed and pooled (1:5 ratio) for initial screening of target polymerase gene of duck plague virus by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. All the samples of a positive pool were then tested individually for identifying the individual positive samples. The result showed that out of 155 samples, 41 (26.45%) were found positive in which 17 were from Netrokona, where 15 (36.58%) were from surveillance samples and 2 (50%) were from clinical sample; 16 were from Kishoregonj, where 14 (35%) were from surveillance samples and 2 (100%) were from clinical sample; 2 (6.6%) were from Brahmanbaria and 5 (13.15%) were from Sunamganj. These positive samples were inoculated into 9-10 days embryonated duck eggs (EDE) through chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) route for the isolation of virus. The EDE died earlier was also chilled, and in a similar way, the CAMs were collected and again performed PCR for id entification of virus. Out of 41 PCR positive samples, 26 samples were isolated and reconfirmed by PCR. Subsequently, DPV was isolated in primary duck embryo fibroblasts cell culture and confirmed by observing cytopathic effect (CPE). Bang. J. Livs. Res. Vol. 26 (1&2), 2019: P. 73-78

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Clinical signs in free-ranging Guiana dolphins Sotalia guianensis during a morbillivirus epidemic: case study in Sepetiba Bay, Brazil

Diseases of Aquatic Organisms ◽

10.3354/dao03343 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 133 (3) ◽

pp. 175-180 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

L Flach ◽

MB Alonso ◽

T Marinho ◽

K Van Waerebeek ◽

MF Van Bressem

Keyword(s):

Clinical Signs ◽

Sepetiba Bay ◽

Sotalia Guianensis ◽

Free Ranging

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Pulmonary hair embolism in a rescued free-ranging Eurasian otter Lutra lutra in Kinmen, Taiwan

Diseases of Aquatic Organisms ◽

10.3354/dao03532 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 142 ◽

pp. 55-61

Author(s):

WT Li ◽

YL Chiang ◽

TY Chen ◽

CL Lai

Keyword(s):

Foreign Body ◽

Traumatic Injury ◽

Lung Parenchyma ◽

Giant Cells ◽

Hair Shaft ◽

Lutra Lutra ◽

Lung Lobe ◽

Eurasian Otter ◽

Foreign Body Giant Cells ◽

Free Ranging

Eurasian otters Lutra lutra are listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List and are imperiled by habitat loss, water pollution, and poaching. Harassment and attacks by stray animals are also recognized threats to the health of wild Eurasian otters. Pulmonary hair embolism is a possible complication in animals with deep traumatic injury, but to date no cases have been reported in wildlife. A free-ranging, adult male Eurasian otter was rescued due to severe emaciation and multiple bite wounds. The otter died 3 d after rescue and was necropsied. Grossly, a 1.5 × 1.5 × 1.5 cm firm nodule was observed in the left cranial lung lobe. Histologically, a fragment of hair shaft surrounded by multinucleated foreign body giant cells was observed in a medium-sized vein, and extensive eosinophilic infiltration was noted in the adjacent vascular wall and lung parenchyma. Based on the gross and histological findings, the pulmonary lesion was consistent with eosinophilic pneumonia and vasculitis induced by hair embolism. The presence of well-formed multinucleated foreign body giant cells and eosinophils may imply a late stage of foreign body reaction, and thus the presumptive source of hair embolism is an animal bite. This is the first report of pulmonary hair embolism associated with animal bite in a rescued free-ranging Eurasian otter.

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