Letter to the Editor: Onchocerca lupi infection

Cantey, Paul T.; Eberhard, Mark L.; Weeks, Jessica; Swoboda, Sara; Ostovar, Gholamabbas Amin

doi:10.3171/2015.6.peds15344

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…lupi from the U.S. displayed more severe diseases (e.g. spinal and orbital localization) but not subconjunctival nodules [ 16 ]. A recent phylogenetic analysis indicates that Onchocerca species form a monophyletic group encompassing three clades, one of which composed of Onchocerca gutturosa , O .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Humans may bear the brunt of zoonotic onchocercosis by O . lupi with patients requiring neurosurgical intervention because of nematode localization in the cervical spine of an infant [ 22 ] and children [ 16 , 23 ], thus making central the development of treatment strategies of reservoir animals. However, though the zoonotic potential of O .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, though the zoonotic potential of O . lupi has been well recognized from cases reported in Europe, the United States and Middle East [ 15 , 16 , 24 ], scientific knowledge on the biology, pathogenesis and treatment of this parasitosis is minimal. A proper treatment regimen for curing this parasitic infection is lacking and the surgical removal of the parasitic nodule has been the therapy of choice in canine patients.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2018

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“…A TaqMan-based specific and sensitive assay without sequencing is expected to assist high-throughput analysis of samples, eventually leading to improve disease monitoring under the frame of a Public Health perspective. This would be particularly relevant considering that, since its first description of its zoonotic potential [ 7 ], cases of zoonotic onchocercosis are being detected increasingly in people from Europe, Iran and the USA [ 44 – 47 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

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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“…The public health impact of O. volvulus in Africa is estimated to about 25 million individuals annually infected in the Middle East in Yemen and Americas (e.g., Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil), making this infection one of the most important neglected tropical diseases (http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/onchocerciasis/gen_info/faqs.html). Conversely, the zoonotic potential of O. lupi has only recently been recognised (Otranto et al, 2011b) and, since then, human cases have been reported in Europe, Middle East regions and US (Mowlavi et al, 2014; Otranto et al, 2015c; Cantey et al, 2016). Since the first report of the parasite in a Caucasian wolf ( Canis lupus ) from Gruziya (Georgia, former USSR, Rodonaja, 1967), which was the main reason for naming the nematode as O. lupi , the infection has been diagnosed in dogs and cats from Portugal, Spain, Germany, Greece, Hungary, and Romania (Széll et al, 2001; Komnenou et al, 2002; Hermosilla et al, 2005; Faísca et al, 2010; Maia et al, 2015; Tudor et al, 2015; Hodžić et al, 2017), as well as in the U.S. and Canada (Labelle et al, 2011, 2013; Otranto et al, 2015c).…”

Section: Vector Borne Transmitted Nematodesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zoonotic nematodes of wild carnivores

Otranto

Deplazes

2019

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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For a long time, wildlife carnivores have been disregarded for their potential in transmitting zoonotic nematodes. However, human activities and politics (e.g., fragmentation of the environment, land use, recycling in urban settings) have consistently favoured the encroachment of urban areas upon wild environments, ultimately causing alteration of many ecosystems with changes in the composition of the wild fauna and destruction of boundaries between domestic and wild environments. Therefore, the exchange of parasites from wild to domestic carnivores and vice versa have enhanced the public health relevance of wild carnivores and their potential impact in the epidemiology of many zoonotic parasitic diseases. The risk of transmission of zoonotic nematodes from wild carnivores to humans via food, water and soil (e.g., genera Ancylostoma , Baylisascaris , Capillaria , Uncinaria , Strongyloides , Toxocara , Trichinella ) or arthropod vectors (e.g., genera Dirofilaria spp., Onchocerca spp., Thelazia spp.) and the emergence, re-emergence or the decreasing trend of selected infections is herein discussed. In addition, the reasons for limited scientific information about some parasites of zoonotic concern have been examined. A correct compromise between conservation of wild carnivores and risk of introduction and spreading of parasites of public health concern is discussed in order to adequately manage the risk of zoonotic nematodes of wild carnivores in line with the ‘One Health’ approach.

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Letter to the Editor: Onchocerca lupi infection

Cited by 5 publications

References 7 publications

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

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

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

Zoonotic nematodes of wild carnivores

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