Implications of wild dog ecology on the sylvatic and domestic life cycle of Neospora caninum in Australia

King, Jessica S.; Dj, Jenkins; Ellis, John; Fleming, Peter J. S.; Windsor, Peter; Šlapeta, Jan

doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2010.03.002

Cited by 47 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 90 publications

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“…However, it has been speculated that in Australia there may be a marsupial host capable of shedding T. gondii oocysts [28]. While we know that dingoes shed N. caninum oocysts, the life cycle of N. caninum in Australia is not fully understood [5]. Therefore, oocyst production by infected dunnarts was investigated.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Australian dingo, together with the domestic dog, is a definitive host for the apicomplexan parasite Neospora caninum [2]. Neosporosis is a major protozoal reproductive disease in cattle and a recognised neurological disease in dogs [3-5]. Currently, the majority of research on neosporosis has focused on cattle because the cattle industry identified the disease as a significant economic burden worldwide.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Australia a sylvatic life cycle of N. caninum is hypothesised between the dingo and an undefined range of small marsupials and eutherian mammals [5]. The cost to wildlife due to disease transmitted from domestic and farm animals is unknown [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Extensive production of Neospora caninum tissue cysts in a carnivorous marsupial succumbing to experimental neosporosis

King

McAllan

Spielman

et al. 2011

Vet Res

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Experimental infections of Sminthopsis crassicaudata, the fat-tailed dunnart, a carnivorous marsupial widely distributed throughout the arid and semi-arid zones of Australia, show that this species can act as an intermediate host for Neospora caninum. In contrast to existing models that develop relatively few N. caninum tissue cysts, dunnarts offer a new animal model in which active neosporosis is dominated by tissue cyst production. The results provide evidence for a sylvatic life cycle of N. caninum in Australia between marsupials and wild dogs. It establishes the foundation for an investigation of the impact and costs of neosporosis to wildlife.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Extensive production of Neospora caninum tissue cysts in a carnivorous marsupial succumbing to experimental neosporosis

King

McAllan

Spielman

et al. 2011

Vet Res

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“…However, King et al (2011) it is possible for a single infected dog to excrete in excess of 500,000 oocytes (Gondim et al, 2005).…”

Section: Neospora Caninummentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence, risk factors, and geographical distribution of zoonotic pathogens carried by peri-urban wild dogs

Harriott¹

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Established wildlife populations within peri-urban and urban environments provide an opportunity for the spread of zoonotic pathogens to and from human-associated environments. Wild dogs, including dingoes (Canis lupus dingo), feral domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), and their cross breeds (hybrids) are common across the Australian mainland, and hybrid populations are particularly frequent within peri-urban environments. Previous studies have shown that wild dogs carry zoonotic pathogens of public health significance, however, data relating to peri-urban wild dogs has been limited to a few studies with a small geographical range and / or small sample size.To address the potential public health implications of peri-urban wild dogs, information regarding pathogen diversity, prevalence, risk factors and geographical distribution are required.To investigate the diversity and prevalence of zoonotic pathogens in peri-urban wild dogs, a cross sectional survey was undertaken. Utilising council management programs and private trappers, 201 wild dogs were collected for necropsy. Analysis of faecal and blood samples indicated that helminth parasites were common, detected within 79.6  5.4 % of wild dogs tested, however bacterial pathogens were much less prevalent. Echinococcus granulosus was the most prevalent parasite detected by necropsy, (prevalence 50.7  6.9 %). Hookworms were found to comprise the second most common pathogen of zoonotic significance with an overall prevalence of 28.8% ( 7.1%).Molecular characterisation identified the majority as Ancylostoma caninum. Several pathogens of zoonotic interest were not detected during the study, namely Brucella suis and Neospora caninum.This study provided essential baseline data on the prevalence of pathogens carried by peri-urban wild dog populations in north-eastern Australia, which is required to inform the management of wild dogs in peri-urban areas.Characteristics of the most prevalent parasitic pathogens and their lifecycles suggested possible associations between the diet composition of wild dogs and their infection status. Whole stomachs were collected during necropsy and analysed for dietary composition and biomass. The majority of food items detected were mammalian prey species, most commonly: swamp wallaby (20.6  6.08%); canine species (prey) (10.6  4.62%); eastern grey kangaroo (10.0  4.51 %); and deer species (10.0  4.51%). Wild dogs that consumed swamp wallaby (OR 1.79, p<0.05) or unidentified species of macropods (OR 4.18, p<0.01) were found to be significantly more likely to be infected with E. granulosus than dogs who had consumed non-macropod species. Wild dogs that had consumed various bird (OR 7.80, p<0.01) or bandicoot species (OR 3.09, p<0.01) were found to be significantly more likely to be infected with hookworm compared to dogs that had consumed ii macropods. These findings suggest that diet composition is an important contributing factor to the infection status of wild dogs.To explore the geographical distribution of pathogens a...

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“…Although canids such as dogs and dingoes are known to be definitive hosts for this parasite (2), the main form of transmission among cattle is transplacental in utero from the dam to its fetus. Abortion and fetal loss are the clinical manifestation of this route of transmission, as a consequence of a recrudescent parasitemia occurring during pregnancy (3).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Efficacy and Safety of Vaccination with Live Tachyzoites of Neospora caninum for Prevention of Neospora-Associated Fetal Loss in Cattle

Weber

Jackson

Sobecki

et al. 2013

Clin Vaccine Immunol

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bInfection of cattle with Neospora caninum may result in abortion or the birth of a congenitally infected calf. Vaccination with live N. caninum protects against experimental infection of cattle and mice, and the naturally attenuated Nc-Nowra strain of N. caninum is of particular interest as a potential vaccine candidate. Vaccination of heifers prior to breeding with live Nc-Nowra tachyzoites by either the subcutaneous or the intravenous route reduced the rate of abortion and the presence of the parasite in calves as determined by PCR and serology after infection of cows with a virulent isolate. Protected fractions were 55.6% to 85.2% depending on the route of vaccination and growth conditions of the vaccine strain, with cryopreserved Nc-Nowra tachyzoites being less effective, with a 25.9% protected fraction. Vaccination appeared to reduce the rate of pregnancy after artificial insemination in some groups compared to nonvaccinated, nonchallenged controls. One animal that was vaccinated but not challenged experienced an abortion, but Nc-Nowra could not be detected in any of the cows in this group or their progeny. This study confirms that live vaccination can be an effective method of preventing neosporosis in cattle and yet highlights the technical hurdle of preservation of live parasites that must be overcome for a vaccine to be commercially successful.

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Implications of wild dog ecology on the sylvatic and domestic life cycle of Neospora caninum in Australia

Cited by 47 publications

References 90 publications

Extensive production of Neospora caninum tissue cysts in a carnivorous marsupial succumbing to experimental neosporosis

Extensive production of Neospora caninum tissue cysts in a carnivorous marsupial succumbing to experimental neosporosis

Prevalence, risk factors, and geographical distribution of zoonotic pathogens carried by peri-urban wild dogs

On the Efficacy and Safety of Vaccination with Live Tachyzoites of Neospora caninum for Prevention of Neospora-Associated Fetal Loss in Cattle

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