The global prevalence of Spirometra parasites in snakes, frogs, dogs, and cats: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract

Background: Spirometra infection is aneglected food-and waterborne disease with worldwide distribution.Objectives: The present study aims to estimate the global prevalence of Spirometra species in snakes, frogs, dogs and cats. Methods: Multiple databases (PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science and Google Scholar) were searched for relevant literatures published up to March 2022.Results: Among 131 data sets (including 113 articles) that met the inclusion, 15 investigations reported Spirometra infection in snakes, 23 in frogs, 41 in dogs and 52 in cats.The pooled prevalence (95% confidence interval) in intermediate hosts and definitive hosts was found to be 0.313% and 0.089%, respectively. Based on continent, the infection was most prevalent in Asia for studies on snakes (0.696%) and frogs (0.181%), while Africa (0.224%) and Oceania (0.203%) were the regions with the highest pooled prevalence rates of the infection in dogs and cats, respectively. Among different diagnostic methods, the highest pooled prevalence was related to morphological method for studies on snakes, frog and cats with rate of 0.665%, 0.189% and 0.104%, respectively. Regarding studies on dogs, the highest pooled prevalence was observed for molecular technique (0.101%). Conclusions:The results presented here revealed the importance of establishing a prevention and control measure focused on protection of aquaculture systems from being contaminated with faeces of dogs and cats, and raising awareness of parasitic zoonotic diseases to decrease the transmission risk.

Zoonotic parasites associated with predation by dogs and cats

“…A meta-analysis review estimated the global prevalence of Spirometra in dogs to be 0.0723%, with S. mansoni being the most prevalent species (0.141%) in low-income countries (0.288%) of Africa (0.224%). In the same study, cats presented a higher prevalence (0.1040%), with S. erinaceieuropaei as the most prevalent species (0.268%) in lower-middle income countries (0.134%) of Oceania (0.203%) [ 129 , 132 ].…”

“…Another group of medical and veterinary important cestodes are the water-associated tapeworms of the genus Spirometra (Pseudophyllidea: Diphyllobothriidae), which use dogs, cats and other carnivores as definitive hosts. The most common species found in dogs is Spirometra mansoni , and in cats Spirometra erinaceieuropaei [ 129 ]. Intermediate hosts are represented by aquatic crustaceans (first intermediate hosts, harboring procercoids) and aquatic or semi-aquatic vertebrates, such a fish, amphibians and reptiles (second intermediate hosts, harboring plerocercoids).…”

Aquaculture of Animal Species: Their Eukaryotic Parasites and the Control of Parasitic Infections

“…Several parasites including Protista, trematodes, nematodes, and cestodes (Table 2), some of which could be zoonotic, are found in Anurans. In some areas, especially in Asia, Spirometra is a neglected food-and water-borne disease but the parasite is found worldwide [100][101][102].…”

Global prevalence of Trichinella in pigs: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Foodborne pathogens continue to be a serious health and economic concern in developed and developing countries (Sekamatte et al., 2018 ; Zhao et al., 2014 ; Badri, Olfatifar, KarimiPourSaryazdi et al., 2022 ). A broad range of protozoan and helminthic parasites are responsible for foodborne diseases, some of which are zoonotic with the potential to be fatal for humans (e.g., Trichinella spp., Taenia solium ) (Murrell, 2013 ).…”

“…Foodborne pathogens continue to be a serious health and economic concern in developed and developing countries (Sekamatte et al, 2018;Zhao et al, 2014;Badri, Olfatifar, KarimiPourSaryazdi et al, 2022).…”