First detection of Onchocerca lupi infection in dogs in southern Spain

Miró, Guadalupe; Montoya, Ana; Checa, Rocío; Gálvez, Rosa; Mínguez, Juan José; Marino, Valentina; Otranto, Domenico

doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1587-1

Cited by 25 publications

(18 citation statements)

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“…Only Simulium tribulatum was suggested as the putative vector of this filarial worm in California (USA), but proof of its intermediate host competence is currently absent [ 10 ]. Onchocerca lupi belongs to the spirurids in the Nematode clade III [ 11 ] was first detected from a Caucasian wolf ( Canis lupus ) in Georgia [ 12 ], and, only recently, diagnosed in dogs and cats from Europe (Greece, Portugal, Spain, Germany, Hungary) and USA [ 13 – 20 ]. The reports of O .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A real-time PCR tool for the surveillance of zoonotic Onchocerca lupi in dogs, cats and potential vectors

et al. 2018

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The ocular onchocercosis is caused by the zoonotic parasite Onchocerca lupi (Spirurida: Onchocercidae). A major hindrance to scientific progress is the absence of a reliable diagnostic test in affected individuals. Microscopic examination of skin snip sediments and the identification of adults embedded in ocular nodules are seldom performed and labour-intensive. A quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay was herein standardized for the detection of O. lupi DNA and the results compared with microscopic examination and conventional PCR (cPCR). The specificity of qPCR and cPCR was assessed by processing the most common filarial nematodes infecting dogs, skin samples from O. lupi infected (n = 35 dogs) or uninfected animals (n = 21 dogs; n = 152 cats) and specimens of potential insect vector (n = 93 blackflies; n = 59 mosquitoes/midges). The analytical sensitivity of both assays was assessed using 10-fold serial dilutions of DNA from adult specimen and from a pool of microfilariae. The qPCR on skin samples revealed an analytical specificity of 100% and a sensitivity up to 8 x 10−1 fg/2μl O. lupi adult-DNA and up to 3.6 x 10−1 pg/2μl of mfs-DNA (corresponding to 1 x 10−2 mfs/2μl). Only 9.5% O. lupi-infected skin samples were positive for cPCR with a sensitivity of 8 x 10−1 pg/2μl of DNA. Out of 152 blackflies and mosquitoes/midges, eight specimens experimentally infected (n = 1 S. erythrocephalum; n = 1 S. ornatum; n = 6 Simulium sp.) were positive by qPCR. The qPCR assay herein standardized represents an important step forward in the diagnosis of zoonotic onchocercosis caused by O. lupi, especially for the detection and quantification of low number of mfs. This assay provides a fundamental contribution for the establishment of surveillance strategies aiming at assessing the presence of O. lupi in carnivores and in insect species acting as potential intermediate hosts. The O. lupi qPCR assay will enable disease progress monitoring as well as the diagnosis of apparently clinical healthy dogs and cats.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A real-time PCR tool for the surveillance of zoonotic Onchocerca lupi in dogs, cats and potential vectors

et al. 2018

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“…volvulus is a well-known parasite estimated to infect 37 million people globally ( www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/ntd/diseases/oncho_burden.html ), infection by O . lupi has been reported from dogs and cats in Hungary, Greece, Germany, Portugal, Romania and Spain [ 4 – 11 ], and also in the U.S. and Canada [ 12 – 18 ]. Adult O .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of oxfendazole in the treatment of zoonotic Onchocerca lupi infection in dogs

et al. 2018

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The genus Onchocerca encompasses parasitic nematodes including Onchocerca volvulus, causative agent of river blindness in humans, and the zoonotic Onchocerca lupi infecting dogs and cats. In dogs, O. lupi adult worms cause ocular lesions of various degrees while humans may bear the brunt of zoonotic onchocercosis with patients requiring neurosurgical intervention because of central nervous system localization of nematodes. Though the zoonotic potential of O. lupi has been well recognized from human cases in Europe, the United States and the Middle East, a proper therapy for curing this parasitic infection in dogs is lacking. To evaluate the efficacy of oxfendazole, 11 out of the 21 client-owned dogs (21/123; 17.1%) positive for skin-dwelling O. lupi microfilariae (mfs), were enrolled in the efficacy study and were treated with oxfendazole (50 mg/kg) per OS once a day for 5 (G2) or 10 (G3) consecutive days or were left untreated (G1). The efficacy of oxfendazole in the reduction of O. lupi mfs was evaluated by microfilarial count and by assessing the percentage of mfs reduction and mean microfilaricidal efficacy, whereas the efficacy in the reduction of ocular lesions was evaluated by ultrasound imaging. All dogs where subjected to follow-ups at 30 (D30), 90 (D90) and 180 (D180) days post-treatment. The percentage of reduction of mfs was 78% for G2 and 12.5% for G3 at D180. The mean microfilaricidal efficacy of oxfendazole in the treatment of canine onchocercosis by O. lupi at D30, D90 and D180 was 41%, 81% and 90%, in G2 and 40%, 65% and 70%, in G3, respectively. Retrobulbar lesions did not reduce from D0 to D180 in control group (dogs in G1), whereas all treated dogs (in G2 and G3) had slightly decreased ocular lesions. Percentage of reduction of ocular lesions by ultrasound examination was 50% and 47.5% in G2 and G3 at D180, respectively. Despite the decrease in ocular lesions in all treated dogs (G2 and G3), oxfendazole was ineffective in reducing ocular lesions and skin-dwelling O. lupi mfs in treated dogs (G2 and G3) in a six-month follow-up period. Here we discuss the need for more reliable diagnostic techniques and efficient treatment protocols to better plan future intervention strategies.

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“…Onchocerca lupi (Spirurida, Onchocercidae) is an arthropod‐transmitted parasite that inhabits the connective tissue of the sclera of animals and humans, causing acute or chronic ocular disease (Otranto et al., ). After its first description in a Caucasian wolf from Georgia (Rodonaja, ), O. lupi has been diagnosed in dogs and cats in Hungary, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Romania and the United States (Maia et al., ; Miró et al., ; Otranto et al., , ; Sréter & Széll, ; Tudor et al., ). The zoonotic potential of this nematode was confirmed by human cases reported in several countries (Otranto et al., ; reviewed in Otranto et al., ), including Germany (Bergua et al., ).…”

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A case of ocular infection with Onchocerca lupi in a dog from Germany

Hodžić

Hinney

König³

et al. 2017

Transbound Emerg Dis

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Onchocerca lupi is an emerging zoonotic parasite infecting the ocular connective tissue of dogs, cats and humans. The only known case of canine ocular onchocerciasis in Germany was documented in 2002 in a shelter dog. However, the species of Onchocerca causing the infection could not be identified. Here, we report a case of the ocular infection with O. lupi in a dog, confirmed by PCR and sequencing of the cox1 gene. Further investigations are required to assess the risk factors for transmission and spread of the parasite in Germany.

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First detection of Onchocerca lupi infection in dogs in southern Spain

Cited by 25 publications

References 18 publications

A real-time PCR tool for the surveillance of zoonotic Onchocerca lupi in dogs, cats and potential vectors

A real-time PCR tool for the surveillance of zoonotic Onchocerca lupi in dogs, cats and potential vectors

Evaluation of oxfendazole in the treatment of zoonotic Onchocerca lupi infection in dogs

A case of ocular infection with Onchocerca lupi in a dog from Germany

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