First report of the molecular detection of Ancylostoma caninum in Lahore, Pakistan: the threat from pets

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The molecular prevalence of Ancylostoma caninum was determined in stray and pet dogs in Lahore, Pakistan from July 2014 to August 2015. A total of 500 dog faecal samples were first evaluated using a sedimentation technique and further through a PCR assay targeting the ITS-2 region of the A. caninum genome. Overall, 130 (26%) samples were positive for hookworm infestation by microscopic examination. Only microscopically positive samples were processed for PCR and 89 (17.6%) were positive for A. caninum. Sequence analysis of amplicons showed 100% homology with A. caninum and the genotypes clustered in one clade with Brazilian A. caninum hookworms. There was a significantly (P < 0.05) increased prevalence in male dogs younger than six months old. Labrador retrievers had higher A. caninum incidence compared to German shepherds and other breeds. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the molecular prevalence of A. caninum in dogs in Pakistan. The novel results of the present study allow us to conclude that A. caninum is more prevalent in pet dogs, especially puppies, and this can be a potential threat for humans that come into contact with such animals. Therefore, the routine monitoring of pets, especially the more susceptible breeds, is essential for disease control.

Development of a New LAMP Assay for the Detection of Ancylostoma caninum DNA (Copro-LAMPAc) in Dog Fecal Samples

“…Herein, we developed for the first time, a simple LAMP reaction for A. caninum copro-detection. The Copro-LAMPAc was able to detect 100 fg of gDNA from A. caninum adult worms, which is more sensitive than previously reported values for other PCR assays (33)(34)(35)66). This analytical sensitivity value is included in the femtograms range, similar to what has been obtained in other studies (38,49,74).…”

“…Coproantigen detection methods through Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) have shown a wide range of sensitivity and specificity values (32). Moreover, the detection of nucleic acids through the use of molecular techniques has generated improvements in sensitivity and specificity values (33)(34)(35)(36). However, these techniques cannot generally be performed in endemic areas because they require sophisticated equipment and highly qualified personnel, complicating its implementation.…”

Prevalence and distribution of soil-transmitted helminth infection in free-roaming dogs in Bali Province, Indonesia

“…This would lead to cutaneous larva migration to the site of infection and inflammation [34]. Meanwhile, their clinical manifestations include eosinophilic enteritis, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and less frequent symptoms such as localized myositis and erythema multiforme, and ophthalmological complications may also occur [34,35]. A. ceylanicum is the only hookworm species that causes a patent infection, which is the second most common human ancylostomiasis in Asian countries [36,37].…”

The mitochondrial genome of the dog hookworm Ancylostoma caninum (Nematoda, Ancylostomatidae) from Southwest China

“…However, current diagnosis of this zoonotic infection is still largely based on faecal microscopy and often misdiagnosed even by experienced microscopists due to the inability to morphologically distinguish A. caninum eggs from those of other hookworms (Monis et al 2002). Therefore, it has become urgent to obtain a more efficient and reliable approach to identify A. caninum infection for clinical diagnosis and epidemiological investigation, and achieving this goal is foreseeable only through utilization of molecular methodologies (Rehman et al 2017). Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is regarded as an efficient molecular marker and has been widely used for species-specific identification and differentiation of many zoonotic nematodes (Hu et al 2004;Hu and Gasser 2006).…”

“…Therefore, it has become urgent to obtain a more efficient and reliable approach to identify A. caninum infection for clinical diagnosis and epidemiological investigation, and achieving this goal is foreseeable only through utilization of molecular methodologies (Rehman et al. 2017 ). Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is regarded as an efficient molecular marker and has been widely used for species-specific identification and differentiation of many zoonotic nematodes (Hu et al.…”