Fatal Parastrongylus dujardini Infection in Captive Callitrichids

Abstract

Intravascular nematodes were considered the cause of death of 14 captive callitrichids. All animals were captive born at zoos in France and died with little or no premonitory signs of disease. No consistent gross lesions were observed at necropsy, although in certain cases intracardiac adult parasites were noted. The most significant histologic findings were verminous pneumonia and pulmonary endarteritis. In all cases except one, intravascular adult nematodes were observed with eggs and larvae in the lungs. Adult nematodes were obtained from 8 animals and in all cases were identified as Parastrongylus dujardini. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of intravascular angiostrongylosis with primary cardiopulmonary location in callitrichids in France.

Angiostrongylosis in Animals and Humans in Europe

“…Greater understanding of the biology, ecology and epidemiology of this genus is needed if the prospects of future spread and disease in Europe are to be evaluated and managed. A. daskalovi [8,[58][59][60][61], A. dujardini [11,91,92], A. vasorum [13,[30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37].…”

“…Outbreaks in zoological collections have been reported, involving callitrichid monkeys (tamarins and marmosets) and meerkats. Generalized migration of larvae was observed to tissues including the lungs, liver, heart, kidneys and intestinal wall, and signs varied from sudden death to general malaise, anorexia and dyspnoea [11,92]. In some cases, adult worms were recovered from the heart, and lesions in some tissues surrounded eggs and larvae that must have been shed from mature adults; however, no larvae were identified in the faeces.…”

“…The reported outbreaks in zoological gardens were also in Southern Europe, and presumably arose from the invasion of enclosures by infected rodent and/or gastropod hosts. Infected Apodemus mice were found in one zoo [92], and in the other the outbreak followed an unusually rainy period during which gastropods were noted to be abundant [11]. Diagnosis is almost impossible in living animals, and even post-mortem requires awareness of the possibility of A. dujardini infection; therefore, it is probable that the distribution of the parasite and associated disease are underestimated, whereas this lack of information precludes the assessment of possible range expansion and future threats.…”

“…Maps show the location of reports by country (and, for A.cantonensis, by island), and not distribution within countries or islands. Sources: A. cantonensis[10,78], A. chabaudi[47][48][49], A. daskalovi[8,[58][59][60][61], A. dujardini[11,91,92], A. vasorum[13,[30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37].…”

Annotated catalogue of species of Angiostrongylus and the related genera Gallegostrongylus, Rodentocaulus and Stefanskostrongylus (Nematoda: Metastrongyloidea, Angiostrongylidae)

“…in Portugal (Doby et al ., 1971: 59); also Apodemus flavicollis (Melchior) (yellow-necked field mouse), Microtus subterraneus (de Selys-Longchamps) (as ‘ Pitymys ’; common pine vole) in Hungary (Mészáros, 1972: 163); Apodemus mystacinus (Danford & Alston) (eastern broad-toothed field mouse) added to the list without country location by Kontrimavichus (1979a: 105). Reported as accidental hosts in zoo individuals of various callitrichid monkeys in France (Graille et al ., 2015) and Italy (Eleni et al ., 2016) and Suricata suricatta (Schreber) (Herpestidae; meerkat) in Italy (Eleni et al ., 2016). Intermediate hosts .…”