@article {96139, title = {Haematological and biochemical abnormalities in hunting dogs infected with Acanthocheilonema reconditum, associated risk factors, and a European overview}, journal = {Parasitology Research}, volume = {120}, year = {2021}, month = {May-08-2021}, pages = {2109-2124}, abstract = {

Acanthocheilonema reconditum is a filarial parasite transmitted by arthropods (fleas, lice, and ticks) that infect dogs. There is minimal published data available to date on potential haematological and biochemical changes associated with this parasitic infection. Study aims were (i) provide an overview of A. reconditum in Europe, (ii) define A. reconditum prevalence and risk factors in a specific dog population (hunting) from southern Italy, and (iii) assess the frequency of haemato-biochemical abnormalities associated with infection. Blood samples collected from 3020 dogs were tested by a modified Knott\’s technique to count and identify microfilariae. Eighty-four dogs were infected by A. reconditum (2.78\%; 95\% CI 2.19\–3.37\%). Microfilariae ranged from 1 to 212/ml. Based on clinical examination, all but six dogs with non-specific symptoms were healthy. Haematological abnormalities included leucocytosis (n = 15), with eosinophilia (n = 14) and monocytosis (n = 13). Serum biochemical abnormalities included increased total serum proteins (n = 19), albumins (n = 7), total globulins (n = 14), ALT (n = 1), and ALP (n = 1); one dog was hypoalbuminemic, and BUN was mildly increased in 2 dogs. Risk factors included the province origin (Napoli, OR=5.4, 95\%CI: 2.1\–14.0; Caserta, OR=5.1, 95\%CI: 2.5\–10.6), hunting wild mammals (OR=2.8, 95\% 95\%CI: 1.6\–4.8), and ectoparasite infestation (OR=1.9, 95\%CI: 1.1\–3.1). There was a negative correlation between microfilaraemic load and decreased albumin level (\−0.37; p=0.021). Our results showed that A. reconditum circulates within the hunting dog population of southern Italy, with seemingly low pathogenic potential.

}, keywords = {Acanthocheilonema spp., CVBDs, Filarial nematodes, Hunting dogs}, issn = {0932-0113, 1432-1955}, doi = {10.1007/s00436-021-07179-8}, url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00436-021-07179-8}, author = {Laura Pacifico and Nicola Ferrari and Claudia Romeo and Francesco Buono and Paolo Varuzza and Giovanni Sgroi and Benedetto Neola and Jesse Buch and Melissa Beall and Edward B. Breitschwerdt and Ramaswamy Chandrashekar and Vincenzo Veneziano and Diego Piantedosi} } @article {95699, title = {Detection of Brucella abortus DNA and RNA in different stages of development of the sucking louse Haematopinus tuberculatus}, journal = {BMC Veterinary Research}, volume = {9}, year = {2013}, month = {12-2013}, pages = {9 pp}, type = {Op}, abstract = {

Background: Brucellosis is considered the world\’s most widespread zoonotic infection. It causes abortion and sterility in livestock leading to serious economic losses and has even more serious medical impact in humans, since it can be a trigger to more than 500,000 infections per year worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of Haematopinus tuberculatus, a louse that can parasitize several ruminants, as a new host of brucellosis. Louse specimens were collected from seropositive and seronegative water buffaloes and divided in 3 developmental stages: adults, nymphs and nits. All samples were separately screened for Brucella spp. DNA and RNA detection by Real Time PCR. In particular, primers and probes potentially targeting the 16S rRNA and the Brucella Cell Surface 31 kDalton Protein (bcsp31) genes were used for Real Time PCR and buffalo \β actin was used as a housekeeping gene to quantify host DNA in the sample. A known amount of B. abortus purified DNA was utilized for standard curve preparation and the target DNA amount was divided by the housekeeping gene amount to obtain a normalized target value. A further molecular characterization was performed for Brucella strain typing and genotyping by the Bruce-ladder, AMOS-PCR and MLVA assays. Data were statistically analysed by ANOVA.

Results: Brucella abortus DNA and RNA were detected in all developmental stages of the louse, suggesting the presence of viable bacteria. Data obtained by MLVA characterization support this finding, since the strains present in animals and the relative parasites were not always identical, suggesting bacterial replication. Furthermore, the detection of Brucella DNA and RNA in nits samples demonstrate, for the first time, a trans-ovarial transmission of the bacterium into the louse.

Conclusions: These findings identified H. tuberculatus as a new host of brucellosis. Further studies are needed to establish the role of this louse in the epidemiology of the disease, such as vector or reservoir.

}, keywords = {Brucella spp, louse, Real time PCR, zoonosis}, issn = {1746-6148}, doi = {10.1186/1746-6148-9-236}, url = {https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1746-6148-9-236}, author = {Gianluca Neglia and Vincenzo Veneziano and De Carlo, Esterina and Giorgio Galiero and Giorgia Borriello and Matteo Francillo and Giuseppe Campanile and Luigi Zicarelli and Laura Manna} }