Prevalence and Risk Factors of Bovine and Ovine Lungworm Infection at Durame District, Southern Ethiopia

Background. Lungworms are parasitic nematodes of the order Strongylidae that infect the lungs of cattle and sheep and cause bronchitis or pneumonia. Methods. An abattoir-based cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2018 to April 2019 to determine the comparative prevalence and the possible risk factors of lungworm infection in sheep and cattle of Durame district of Kembata Tembaro zone. For this purpose, a total of 410 animals (209 sheep and 201 cattle) were randomly selected and examined for the presence of different lungworm species using the modified Baermann technique and postmortem examination. The sensitivity and specificity of fecal sample test considering necropsy as reference/gold standard was conducted. Results. Accordingly, the overall prevalence of lungworm infection in sheep and cattle was 24.39%. Dictyocaulus filaria and D. viviparous were the only species of lungworm identified in sheep and cattle with a respective prevalence of 44.02% and 3.98%. Putative risk factors such as species and poor body condition have a significant association ( p < 0.05 ) with the occurrence of lungworms in sheep and cattle. The lungworm infection was higher in the young age group (25.30%) and poor body conditioned (32.14%) animals. Season-wise prevalence revealed that a higher lungworm infection was recorded during autumn (32.14%) as compared to winter (22.81%) and spring (16.2%). Most of the sheep and cattle in the current study were heavily (45.0%) and moderately (39.0%) infected with lungworms whereas the rest 16.0% were infected with a low degree of lungworm infection. The specificity, sensitivity, PPV, and NPV of the modified Baermann technique against the gold standard test were 89.4%, 42%, 56.0%, and 82.7%, respectively. Conclusion. The study revealed that lungworm infection is prevalent in sheep and cattle of the study area and that was commonly occurs during autumn and affects poorly conditioned sheep and cattle. Thus, routine and strategic deworming for the control and prevention of lungworms in domestic animals should be recommended to overwhelm the prevalence of lungworm infection.

Prevalence of strongyloidiasis in Peru: systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Strongyloidiasis is a disease of great public health significance, caused by the parasitic nematodes Strongyloides stercoralis, Strongyloides fuelleborni, and Strongyloides fuelleborni subsp. kellyi. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis infection in Peru. Methods The review was based on a literature search in PubMed, SciELO and Google Scholar using the key words or root words “strongyl*” AND “Peru” on 15 July 2020. Eligible studies were published from 1 January 1981 to 15 July 2020 and written in English, Spanish, Italian, or French. Results We included 21 papers in the analysis. Studies were heterogeneous in terms of study population and diagnostic methods (e.g. Baermann technique, agar, Dancescu or charcoal cultures, serology, string capsule). Prevalence of S. stercoralis ranged from 0.3 to 45%. The pooled proportion of Strongyloides in the general population was 7.34% (95% CI 4.97 to 10.13%). Half the studies were designed to detect parasites in general. In studies designed to detect S. stercoralis, the most widely used diagnostic method was the Baermann technique. Conclusion Prevalence of S. stercoralis in Peru was high but varied by geographic area, techniques for stool examination, and participant characteristics.

Occurrence of Endoparasites in Adult Swedish Dogs: A Coprological Investigation

The occurrence of endoparasites in Swedish adult dogs (n = 303) was investigated between January and October 2014. Included dogs had to be clinically healthy, older than 1 year and untreated with anthelmintics or endectocides for at least 3 months prior to sampling. They were grouped according to age, category of dog and time since last antiparasitic treatment. Samples were analyzed by flotation to detect parasitic eggs and cysts/oocysts. Among these, 129 (43%) dogs were also analyzed with the Baermann-technique to detect cardiopulmonary larval stages. Parasite dispersal stages were found in 24 (7.9%, CI 95% 4.9–10.1) of the dogs at flotation, while no dog shed cardiopulmonary larval stages. Giardia sp. cysts were observed in 2.6% (n = 8) of dogs examined, cysts of Sarcocystis spp. were observed in 0.6% (n = 2), oocysts of Cystosisopora ohioensis were found in one dog (0.3%). Eggs of Toxocara canis (2.3%, n = 7), Uncinaria stenocephala (1.3%, n = 4) and Trichuris vulpis (0.3%, one dog) were found. None of the dogs were diagnosed with more than one species. Although the occurrence of endoparasites was above the average in dogs ≤ 2 years of age (11.5%), nematodes were more common in older dogs ≥4 years (77.0%). Although the occurrence was lower in working/exhibition dogs (5.9%) than in companion dogs (8.4%) and hunting-dogs (8.6%), these differences were not significant. However, dogs exposed to prey according to the owner had a statistically significant higher prevalence than other dogs (20.5 vs. 5.7%). The Odds Ratio (OR) was 4.0 (CI 95%, 1.58–10.11) for dogs having access to prey, 2.4 (CI 95%, 0.37–8.06) for dogs staying at day-care, and 2 (CI 95%, 0.96–5.96) for bitches. Furthermore, a significant association was observed between infection with nematodes and exposures to prey (p = 0.006). As a reference, data on the endoparasites in canine fecal samples submitted to the National Veterinary Institute (SVA, Uppsala) during 2014 are presented. Overall, this study shows a low occurrence of endoparasites among dogs in Sweden. Any risk-assessment on zoonotic parasites as well as deworming recommendations will take advantage from these updated figures.

Prevalence of Strongyloidiasis in Peru: Systematic Review

Strongyloidiasis is a disease of great public health significance. We aimed to assess the prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis infection in Peru.Methods.This systematic review was based on a literature search in PubMed, SciELO and Google Scholar using the key words or root words “strongyl*” AND “Peru” on 15 July 2020. Eligible studies were published from 1 January 1981 to 15 July 2020 and written in English, Spanish, Italian, or French.Results.We included 21 papers in the analysis. Studies were heterogeneous regarding the study population, diagnostic methods, and the prevalence of S. stercoralis, which ranged from 0.3–45%. Half were designed to detect parasites in general. In studies designed to detect S. stercoralis, the most widely used diagnostic method was the Baermann technique.Conclusion.Prevalence of S. stercoralis in Peru was high but varied by geographic area, techniques for stool examination, and participant characteristics.

Coprological survey of protostrongylid infections in antelopes from Souss-Massa National Park (Morocco)

SummaryProtostrongylids, small nematode lungworms, are an integral part of the wild ruminant helminth community, which can damage animals’ health when they are held in captivity or semi-captive conditions. The Sahelo-Saharan antelope species dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas), the scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah), and the addax (Addax nasomacculatus), reintroduced to Souss-Massa National Park in Morocco, could be host to many species of Protostrongylids. This study was conducted from January to July 2015 to identify infecting parasite species, and determine their prevalence and abundance in all three antelope species. A total of 180 individual fecal samples were collected, morphologically examined by the Baermann technique, and molecularly identified by PCR amplification and sequencing of the second internal transcribed spacer region of the rDNA (ITS-2).Two parasite species were found in the three antelope populations: Muellerius capillaris and Neostrongylus linearis. The prevalence scores recorded for M. capillaris were 98.40 % in the addax, 96.70 % in dorcas gazelle, and 28.40 % in the oryx. The prevalence rates of N. linearis were 60 % in the addax, 23.40 % in dorcas gazelle, and 90 % in the oryx. Excreted larvae were quantified by LPG (larvae per gram) counting: for M. capillaris, the LPG mean values were 92.94 in the addax, 133.09 in dorcas gazelle, and 1.48 in the oryx; and for N. linearis, the LPG mean values were 6.02 in the addax, 1.37 in dorcas gazelle, and 32.81 in the oryx. These findings indicate that the three species of antelopes are infected with Muellerius capillaris and Neostrongylus linearis to varying degrees in intensity and prevalence.

Strongyloides stercoralis prevalence and diagnostics in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Background Despite the high prevalence of strongyloidiasis in the Laotian population, Laotian hospitals still lack diagnostic capacity to appropriately diagnose Strongyloides stercoralis infections. This cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted to assess the prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis infection among hospitalized patients treated at Mahosot Hospital, the primary reference hospital of Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), and to validate feasible methods for diagnosing S. stercoralis infection at hospital’s laboratory. Methods Between September and December 2018, stool samples of 104 inpatients were investigated for S. stercoralis infection by wet smear, Baermann technique, Koga Agar plate culture (KAPC), and real-time detection polymerase chain reaction (RTD-PCR) at the Infectious Diseases Ward of the Mahosot Hospital in Vientiane. The sensitivity, the specificity, the negative predictive value (NPV) of each diagnostic test, as well as their combination(s) was calculated using a composite reference standard (CRS). The correlation of the different test methods was assessed by chi-square or Fisher’s exact test. Cohen’s kappa coefficient was used to assess the diagnostic agreement of the different test methods. Results The overall prevalence of S. stercoralis infections among the study population was 33.4%. The cumulative infection prevalence statistically significantly increased from the lowest age group of 40 years and below (22.4%), to the medium (40.0%) and to the oldest age group of 61 year and above (72.7%)(P = 0.003). The cumulative infection prevalence of CRS was considerably higher in male (40.4%) compared to female patients (28.1%), but not statistically different (P = 0.184). The diagnostic sensitivity of Baermann technique, KAPC, RTD-PCR, and the combination of Baermann technique and KAPC were 60.0, 60.0, 74.3, and 77.1%, respectively. Only 13 patients (37.1%) of the total 35 S. stercoralis patients diagnosed with any technique had a simultaneously positive diagnostic test with Baermann, KAPC and RTD-PCR. Conclusions We identified Baermann technique and KAPC to be currently the most feasible and implementable standard methods for diagnosing S. stercoralis at a hospital setting such as Mahosot Hospital and provincial and district hospitals in Lao PDR and other low- and middle income countries in Southeast Asia. Trial registration This study was approved by the National Ethics Committee for Health Research in Lao PDR (reference no. 083/NECHR) and by the Ethics Committee Northwest and Central Switzerland (reference no. 2018–00594).

Aelurostrongilosis en un gato (Felis silvestris catus) de la Ciudad de México

Clínica Veterinaria: abordaje diagnóstico y terapéutico ISSN: 2395-8766Una forma de citar este artículo:Tovar-Dorantes M de J, Díaz-Hernández T, Larios-Barajas MK, Lima-Melo A, Núñez-Ochoa L. Aelurostrongilosis en un gato (Felis silvestris catus) de la Ciudad de México. Clínica veterinaria: abordaje diagnóstico y terapéutico. 2020;6.e57202064. doi: 10.22201/fmvz.23958766e.2020.6.57Descripción del caso. Gato doméstico macho de cinco meses de edad con taquipnea, dificultad respiratoria y patrón restrictivo con un patrón intersticial no estructurado generalizado observado en el estudio radiográfico de campos pulmonares.Hallazgos clínicos. El diagnóstico se obtuvo mediante la observación de larvas de Aelurostrongylus abstrusus en el lavado traqueobronquial y se corroboró en heces por la técnica de Baermann seriada.Tratamiento y evolución. Se eligió un esquema de tratamiento con doxiciclina a 5 mg/kg vía oral cada 12 h por quince días; fenbendazol 50 mg/kg con pamoato de pirantel 20 mg/kg y prazicuantel 5 mg/kg vía oral cada 24 h por tres días consecutivos; prednisolona a 1 mg/kg vía oral cada 12 h dosis reducción por quince días; omeprazol a 1.25 mg/kg vía oral cada 12 h por diez días y pipeta tópica de imidacloprid 10 % y moxidectina 1 % al cuarto día de iniciado el tratamiento. El paciente mostró mejoría clínica.Pruebas de laboratorio. Los estudios radiográficos de los días 37 y 143 de evolución y el resultado negativo del estudio coproparasitoscópico por la técnica de Baermann seriada los días 53 y 143 de evolución corroboraron la mejora clínica; así el tratamiento fue efectivo.Relevancia clínica. Este es el segundo caso informado en México de Aelurostrongylus abstrusus en gatos domésticos y en una ciudad diferente a la del primer caso. Abstract Case description. A 5-month-old, male, indoor-outdoor domestic shorthair cat from Mexico City with cough, tachypnea and respiratory distress. Thoracic radiographs revealed a generalized unstructured interstitial pattern. Diagnostic and interpretation. Diagnosis of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus was obtained by observing larvae in a tracheobronchial lavage sample and corroborated through Baermann funnel technique.Treatment and clinical response. The chosen treatment scheme was doxycycline at 5 mg/kg orally every 12 h for 15 days; fenbendazole 50 mg/kg with pyrantel pamoate 20 mg/kg and praziquantel 5 mg/kg orally every 24 h for 3 consecutive days; prednisolone at 1 mg/kg oral every 12 h reduction dose over 15 days; omeprazole at 1.25 mg/kg orally every 12 h for 10 days and topical imidacloprid 10% and moxidectin 1% pippete at fourth day of treatment. The patient had clinical improvement.Laboratory tests. The patient improvement was corroborated by the radiographic studies on days 37 and 143 of evolution and in the coproparasitoscopic study, by serial Baermann technique, negative on day 53 and 143 of evolution.Clinical relevance. This is the second case report of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in domestic cats in Mexico, happening in a different city from the first case.

A Cross-Sectional Study of Seroprevalence of Strongyloidiasis in Pregnant Women (Peruvian Amazon Basin)

Strongyloidiasis is a soil-transmitted helminthiasis with a high global prevalence. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis infection and assess strongyloidiasis serology as a screening technique in the Peruvian Amazon. Material and Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of strongyloidiasis in 300 pregnant women in Iquitos (Peru) from 1 May 2019 to 15 June 2019. Women were tested using serology (Strongyloides IgG IVD-ELISA kit) as an index test and the modified Baermann technique and/or charcoal fecal culture as the parasitological reference standard. Results: The reference tests showed S. stercoralis in the stool of 30 women (prevalence: 10%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 7.1% to 13.9%), while 101 women tested positive on the blood test (prevalence: 33.7%; 95% CI 28.6% to 39.4%). Fourteen of the 15 women (93.3%) with positive results according to the modified Baermann technique, and 14 of the 23 women (56.5%) with positive charcoal cultures also had positive serological results. Serology showed a sensitivity of 63.3% and a negative predictive value of 94.4%. Conclusion: In Iquitos, pregnant women have a high prevalence of S stercoralis. S. stercoralis ELISA could be an excellent tool for population-based screening, as it has a high negative predictive value that can help to rule out the presence of active infection.

Parasitological monitoring of European bison in the Bieszczady Mountains

The aim of our study was to determine the level of parasitic infections in European bison (Bison bonasus) in the Bieszczady Mountains on the basis of coprological methods: flotation, decantation and the Baermann technique. 429 faecal samples were collected from European bison in the following Forest Districts: Baligród, Komańcza, Lutowiska, Stuposiany, Lesko and Cisna. Examination of faeces revealed the presence of eggs of gastrointestinal nematodes from the Trichostrongylidae family, as well as Nematodirus sp., Aonchotheca sp. and Trichuris sp., larvae of lung nematodes Dictyocaulus viviparus, eggs of tapeworms Moniezia sp. and oocysts of 7 species of coccidia, belonging to the genus Eimeria (E. bovis, E. zuernii, E. pellita, E. bukidnonensis, E. subspherica, E. ellipsoidalis and E. brasiliensis). The population of European bison in the Bieszczady Mountains turned out to be the only free-living herd not infected with the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica. The level of parasitic infections, observed during present study, was low and did not indicate clinical signs of parasitic disease, thus it did not require deworming.

New approaches to studying morphological details of intramolluscan stages of Angiostrongylus vasorum

Angiostrongylus vasorum is a pulmonary artery parasite of domestic and wild canid. On molluscs, intermediate host, first stage larvae (L1) are found after the first day of infection, in the 8th L2 and in the 30 th L3. It was evaluated L1, L2 and L3 recovered by Baermann technique from Achatina fulica infected with 1000 L1. Fifty larvae/stage were incubated with antibodies anti-β-tubulin, anti-α-tubulin, anti- α-actin, anti-β-actin and anti-collagen, and then with Alexa 633. Fifty larvae/stage were observed with picrosirius red and Oil Red O. It was also observed in the anterior region of L1 the beginning of the chitinous stems development, in the initial portion of the intestine and genital primordium. In L2 anterior region, the papillae, chitinous canes juxtaposed to the mouth and intestines bigger than L1. The L3 musculature is well defined, next to the chitinous stems, there are two round distally arranged from each other. It was observed the whole extension of the intestine genital primordium and intense cellularity in the L3 distal portion. With the picrosirius red the L1, L2 and L3 musculature could be observed, as the nerve ganglia on L3. Oil Red O revealed that L1, L2 and L3 store energy on lipid droplets.