The role of wild canids and felids in spreading parasites to dogs and cats in Europe

Otranto, Domenico; Cantacessi, Cinzia; Pfeffer, Martin; Dantas‐Torres, Filipe; Brianti, Emanuele; Deplazes, Peter; Genchi, C.; Gubertì, Vittorio; Capelli, Gioia

doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.04.022

Cited by 98 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 156 publications

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“…Changing scenarios promote alterations in the dynamic balance between host, vector, and pathogen populations that interact spatially [31]. These events are causing the redistribution of pathogens adapted to new hosts and environments, and are likely to become a public health issue of major relevance [32]. In the framework of this outbreak, there was a reported increased density of lagomorphs, both hares and rabbits [21, 33], and of sand fly populations breeding in the same environment [18, 19].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological role of dogs since the human leishmaniosis outbreak in Madrid

et al. 2017

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BackgroundCanine leishmaniosis (CanL) has been in the spotlight since the 2009 outbreak of human leishmaniosis in Madrid. In the framework of the Leishmaniosis Surveillance Programme set up in Madrid, this study examines Leishmania-specific seroprevalences in stray dogs for the outbreak area and rest of the Madrid region over the period spanning from the outbreak to the present (2009–2016). These data are of interest because stray dogs could be sentinels for disease surveillance in endemic areas. Since 2011, we have also been monitoring owned dogs in the outbreak area.MethodsOver the study period, Leishmania infantum seroprevalence was determined in 2,123 stray dogs from the outbreak and non-outbreak areas. A serological study was also performed for owned dogs in the outbreak area: high-risk dogs such as hunting or farm dogs (n = 1,722) and pets (n = 1372). All dogs were examined and blood was collected. The variables recorded for each animal were: breed, age, sex, and clinical history indicating if the animal was healthy or clinically suspected of having any disease, and if they showed a clinical picture compatible with CanL.ResultsSeroprevalences of L. infantum in stray dogs were similar in the two areas examined: 4.7% (20 out of 346) in the outbreak area and 5.4% (96 out of 1,777) in the remaining Madrid region (χ 2 = 0.080, P = 0.777). A significant association was found between seroprevalence and age (z = -6.319; P < 0.001). Seroprevalence in owned dogs in the outbreak area was 2.1% in high-risk dogs (37 out of 1,722) and 1.2% in pets (17 out of 1,372) (χ 2 = 3.561, P = 0.0591).ConclusionsBoth stray and owned dogs do not seem to play an important role in maintaining the transmission cycle of L. infantum in the Madrid outbreak area. The stable seroprevalence of infection observed in sentinel dogs suggests the good clinical management and prevention of CanL by local practitioners in owned dogs.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological role of dogs since the human leishmaniosis outbreak in Madrid

et al. 2017

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“…The parasite is transmitted to vertebrate hosts by bites of infected female phlebotomine sand flies, being Phlebotomus perniciosus and P. ariasi its vector species in Western Europe (Campino et al, ; Martin‐Sanchez, Gramiccia, Di Muccio, Ludovisi, & Morillas‐Márquez, ). Whilst the dog is the main reservoir host of the parasite in the domestic environment, humans are considered an accidental host (Otranto et al, ; Quinnell & Courtenay, ). Moreover, other mammals, including a wide range of wildlife, have been molecularly diagnosed as L. infantum ‐positive (Del Río et al, ; Millán, Ferroglio, & Solano‐Gallego, ; Risueño et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships between Leishmania infantum from dogs, humans and wildlife in south‐east Spain

Ortuño

Latrofa

Iborra

et al. 2019

Zoonoses and Public Health

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Leishmania infantum causes human and canine leishmaniosis. The parasite, transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies, infects species other than dogs and people, including wildlife, although their role as reservoirs of infection remains unknown for most species. Molecular typing of parasites to investigate genetic variability and evolutionary proximity can help understand transmission cycles and designing control strategies. We investigated Leishmania DNA variability in kinetoplast (kDNA) and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequences in asymptomatically infected wildlife (n = 58) and symptomatically and asymptomatically infected humans (n = 38) and dogs (n = 15) from south‐east Spain, using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and in silico restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses. All ITS2 sequences (n = 76) displayed a 99%–100% nucleotide identity with a L. infantum reference sequence, except one with a 98% identity to a reference Leishmania panamensis sequence, from an Ecuadorian patient. No heterogeneity was recorded in the 73 L. infantum ITS2 sequences except for one SNP in a human parasite sequence. In contrast, kDNA analysis of 44 L. infantum sequences revealed 11 SNP genotypes (nucleotide variability up to 4.3%) and four RFLP genotypes including B, F and newly described S and T genotypes. Genotype frequency was significantly greater in symptomatic compared to asymptomatic individuals. Both methods similarly grouped parasites as predominantly or exclusively found in humans, in dogs, in wildlife or in all three of them. Accordingly, the phylogenetic analysis of kDNA sequences revealed three main clusters, two as a paraphyletic human parasites clade and a third including dogs, people and wildlife parasites. Results suggest that Leishmania infantum genetics is complex even in small geographical areas and that, probably, several independent transmission cycles take place simultaneously including some connecting animals and humans. Investigating these transmission networks may be useful in understanding the transmission dynamics, infection risk and therefore in planning L. infantum control strategies.

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“…Recent studies have reported that demographic and political changes, increased global transport, deforestation, urbanization, abundance of wildlife hosts, climate alterations and the availability of more accurate diagnostic tools may have accounted for this expansion [8–10]. In Europe there are reports of canine VBDs spreading to non-endemic countries; examples include dirofilariosis caused by Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens , which is spreading to northern and Eastern Europe [11], and babesiosis caused by Babesia canis which is extending towards northern European countries [12, 13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular detection of vector-borne pathogens in dogs and cats from Qatar

Alho

Lima²,

Latrofa

et al. 2017

Parasites Vectors

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BackgroundVector-borne diseases (VBDs) have been increasingly reported in dogs and cats worldwide. However, no data are currently available regarding canine and feline VBDs in Qatar and limited information is available from other Persian Gulf countries.MethodsBlood samples from 98 client-owned animals (i.e. 64 dogs and 34 cats) living in Doha (Qatar) were collected and the presence of genomic DNA of Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp., Dirofilaria spp., Ehrlichia spp., Hepatozoon spp., Mycoplasma spp. and Rickettsia spp. was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real time-PCR (rt-PCR) and sequence analysis.ResultsOf the 64 dogs, 12 (18.8%) were infected with at least one pathogen (i.e. 7.8% with Mycoplasma spp., 4.7% with Babesia vogeli, 3.1% with Ehrlichia canis, and 1.6% with Anaplasma platys, Babesia gibsoni and Hepatozoon canis, each). One of the 12 dogs was co-infected with B. vogeli and E. canis. Of the 34 cats, seven (20.6%) animals were infected with at least one pathogen (i.e. 5.9% were positive for Mycoplasma spp., and 2.9% for Babesia felis, B. vogeli, E. canis, “Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum” and Mycoplasma haemofelis, each). No dogs or cats were positive for Dirofilaria spp. or Rickettsia spp.ConclusionsAlthough the sample sizes of dogs and cats herein analysed was moderately small, data from this study report the occurrence of A. platys, B. vogeli, B. gibsoni, E. canis, H. canis and Mycoplasma spp. in domestic dogs and of B. felis, B. vogeli, “Candidatus M. haemominutum”, E. canis and M. haemofelis in domestic cats from Qatar. Further investigations along with prophylactic measures are strongly recommended in order to reduce the risk of dogs and cats acquiring VBDs in Qatar.

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The role of wild canids and felids in spreading parasites to dogs and cats in Europe

Cited by 98 publications

References 156 publications

Epidemiological role of dogs since the human leishmaniosis outbreak in Madrid

Epidemiological role of dogs since the human leishmaniosis outbreak in Madrid

Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships between Leishmania infantum from dogs, humans and wildlife in south‐east Spain

Molecular detection of vector-borne pathogens in dogs and cats from Qatar

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