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Veterinary World Nov 2018The present investigation was conducted to study the prevalence of microfilaremia in dogs in Gujarat.
AIM
The present investigation was conducted to study the prevalence of microfilaremia in dogs in Gujarat.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 418 adult dogs aged between 2 and 14 years with signs of weakness and non-specified complaints, presented at TVCC, Deesa (North Gujarat), Nandini Veterinary Hospital, Surat (South Gujarat), and Private Clinics, Ahmedabad (Central Gujarat), were included in the present investigation for studying the prevalence of microfilaremia from July 2016 to May 2017.
RESULTS
A total of 418 dogs were screened, of which 33 were found positive for circulating microfilariae with the prevalence rate of 7.89% in the population. Among microfilaremic dogs, the finding of microfilariae of () reconditum was more common (23 cases; 69.69%) than (10 cases; 30.30%) making their prevalence in the population of 418 dogs as 5.50% and 2.39%, respectively. Breed-wise distribution of microfilaremic dogs revealed that 12 (36.36%), 8 (24.24%), 5 (15.15%), 4 (12.12%), 2 (6.06%), 1 (3.03%), and 1 (3.03%) cases were observed in Pomeranian, non-descript, German Shepherd, Labrador, Great Dane, Lhasa Apso, and Pug dogs, respectively. Of 10 cases of , 5, 2, 2, and 1 were observed in Pomeranian, Labrador, non-descript, and Great Dane dogs, respectively. Cases of were highest in Pomeranian (7), followed by non-descript (6), German Shepherd (5), Labrador (2), Great Dane (1), Lhasa Apso (1), and Pug (1). Age-wise distribution recorded significantly (p≤0.01) higher number of cases in adult dogs (4-14 years) for (30.30%) and (39.39%). Sex-wise distribution of microfilaremic dogs showed that male (22/33, 66.66%) was more predisposed to microfilaremia rather than females (11/33, 33.34%). It is apparent from the study that the number of dogs with microfilaremia due to was significantly (p≤0.01) higher than that of .
CONCLUSION
The present study revealed that microfilaremia due to and is prevalent in the state of Gujarat. The infection with was associated with severe lung and cardiac pathological manifestations.
PubMed: 30587889
DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2018.1564-1568 -
The Biochemical Journal Dec 1985The present study deals with the discovery and partial characterization of specific binding proteins for retinol and retinoic acid from filarial parasites (worms of the...
The present study deals with the discovery and partial characterization of specific binding proteins for retinol and retinoic acid from filarial parasites (worms of the superfamily Filarioidea), including those from two species of Onchocerca. These binding proteins, which are distinct in their physicochemical properties and in the mode of ligand interactions from the host-tissue retinoid-binding proteins, may be involved in the mediation of the putative biological roles of retinoids in the control of parasitic growth, differentiation and reproduction. Parasite retinol-binding protein and retinoic acid-binding protein exhibited specificity for binding retinol and retinoic acid respectively. Both the binding proteins showed an s20,w value of 2.0 S. On gel filtration, both proteins were retarded to a position corresponding to the same molecular size (19.0 kDa). On preparative columns, the parasite binding proteins exhibited isoelectric points at pH 5.7 and 5.75. Unlike the retinoid-binding proteins of mammalian and avian origin, the parasite retinoid-binding proteins showed a lack of mercurial sensitivity in ligand binding. The comparative amounts of retinoic acid-binding protein in five parasites, Onchocerca volvulus, Onchocerca gibsoni, Dipetalonema viteae, Brugia pahangi and Dirofilaria immitis, were between 2.7 and 3.1 pmol of retinoic acid bound/mg of extractable protein. However, the levels of parasite retinol-binding protein were between 4.8 and 5.8 pmol/mg, which is considerably higher than the corresponding levels of cellular retinol-binding protein of mammalian and avian origin. Both retinol- and retinoic acid-binding-protein levels in O. volvulus-infected human nodules and O. gibsoni-infected bovine nodules were similar to their levels in mammalian tissues. Also, these nodular binding proteins, like the host-binding proteins, exhibited mercurial sensitivity to ligand interactions.
Topics: 4-Chloromercuribenzenesulfonate; Animals; Carrier Proteins; Centrifugation, Density Gradient; Filarioidea; Isoelectric Focusing; Macromolecular Substances; Molecular Weight; Protein Binding; Receptors, Retinoic Acid; Retinol-Binding Proteins; Retinol-Binding Proteins, Cellular; Tretinoin; Vitamin A
PubMed: 3004410
DOI: 10.1042/bj2320577 -
Acta Tropica Nov 2022Filarial nematode infections are common in primates, but have received little attention in the Neotropics. Epidemiological data on filarial infections in primates are...
Filarial nematode infections are common in primates, but have received little attention in the Neotropics. Epidemiological data on filarial infections in primates are still too sparse to fully understand the complex of this parasitism, especially because of the difficulty in studying the ecology and epidemiology of wild primates.. We describe natural infections by Dipetalonema parasitizing 211 primates belonging to eight free-living primate genera in Amazonia, and assess the relationships between parasitic indicators and climatic (rainfall and river level), ecological (fruiting periods of plants) and biological (sex, species' body mass, group size and density) factors. The overall prevalence was 64.4% (95% CI: 64.0 - 64.9); parasitic mean abundance (N filariae per individual) and parasitic mean intensity (N filariae per infected host) of infection were 11.9 (95% CI: 8.3 - 15.6) and 18.4 (95% CI: 13.4 - 23.4) filariae/individual, respectively. Although we observed differences in parasitic parameters among primate genera, there was no correlation between parasitic parameters with density, body mass or group size. Sapajus, Cebus and Lagothrix had the highest prevalence and parasitic mean intensity. Using Lagothrix lagotricha poeppigii, the most sampled species (n = 92), as a model, we found that the number of filariae per infected host was associated with fruit production in swamp forests during the dry season, the time of food scarcity. The long periods of food shortage may cause environmental stress on primates, impairing their immune defenses and leading to increased parasite load but not affecting infection prevalence. However, the lack of information on vector ecology, key to understand risk factors associated to infection rate, prevents confirming the existence of an infection pattern dependent on food availability.
Topics: Animals; Brazil; Forests; Fruit; Seasons
PubMed: 36037980
DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106670 -
British Medical Journal Jan 1969
Topics: Arthritis; Dipetalonema; Humans; Nematode Infections
PubMed: 5812535
DOI: No ID Found -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2022Different nematodes affect canines, however Acanthocheilonema reconditum was considered mostly a non-pathogenic parasite. Climate change, animal migration, and other...
Different nematodes affect canines, however Acanthocheilonema reconditum was considered mostly a non-pathogenic parasite. Climate change, animal migration, and other factors transformed the dynamics of vector-borne diseases, including filariasis. Since 2016, a sudden increase in the number of dogs with microfilaremia was reported by different veterinary centers in Cali, southwest Colombia. The objective of this study was to molecularly identify the etiologic agent of this filariasis outbreak detected in this city, using PCR−RFLP and evaluating dogs’ clinical signs. From 2018−2019, canine filariasis cases were prospectively evaluated after a microscopic test, recruiting 82 cases and 43 healthy controls from 2971 samples. Acanthocheilonema reconditum (Nematoda, Onchocercidae) was identified in 61.3% of the cases (49/82) by PCR−RFLP. Sanger sequencing of the 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene and internal transcribed spacer-2 fragment was additionally performed on seven cases, confirming A. reconditum in all of them. The filariasis cases are statistically associated with male dogs who have clinical signs of anemia, low levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit (p < 0.0001), and high levels of plasma proteins (p < 0.001). This emerging canine disease constitutes an important public health concern among veterinarians and active surveillance is advised to explore its zoonotic potential.
PubMed: 36558769
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11121434 -
Parasite Immunology Dec 1999ES-62 is a phosphorylcholine (PC)-containing glycoprotein which is secreted by the rodent filarial nematode Acanthocheilonema viteae. A homologue exists in the human... (Review)
Review
ES-62 is a phosphorylcholine (PC)-containing glycoprotein which is secreted by the rodent filarial nematode Acanthocheilonema viteae. A homologue exists in the human filarial nematode Brugia malayi and indeed PC is found attached to glycoproteins of many, if not all, filarial species. At concentrations equivalent to those found for PC-containing molecules in the bloodstream of parasitized humans, ES-62 is able to polyclonally activate certain protein tyrosine kinase and mitogen-activating protein kinase signal-transduction elements in B and T lymphocytes following in-vitro exposure. Although this interaction is insufficient to cause lymphocyte proliferation per se, it serves to desensitize the cells to subsequent activation of the phosphoinositide-3-kinase, protein kinase C and Ras mitogen-activating protein kinase pathways and hence also to proliferation via the antigen receptors. The active component of ES-62 appears to be PC, as the results obtained with ES-62 are broadly mimicked by PC conjugated to BSA or PC alone. Although PC can also be shown to desensitize B cells following in-vivo administration, not all cells are affected, as it is still possible to generate an antibody response. Dissection of this response indicates that it is of the Th2 type.
Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Helminth; B-Lymphocytes; Dipetalonema; Glycoproteins; Helminth Proteins; Humans; Interleukin-4; Molecular Sequence Data; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Phosphorylcholine; Protein Kinase C; Signal Transduction; T-Lymphocytes; ras Proteins
PubMed: 10583862
DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-3024.1999.00267.x -
Journal of Parasitic Diseases :... Dec 2019The prevalence and species spectrum of some blood and intestinal parasites affecting imported camels was studied on a total of 120 clinically suspected camels (males)...
The prevalence and species spectrum of some blood and intestinal parasites affecting imported camels was studied on a total of 120 clinically suspected camels (males) imported to Egypt from Sudan during the period from January till July 2016 in Abu-Simbel quarantine station, Aswan governorate. Blood and fecal samples were collected from all camels under the study. The fecal samples were collected and examined by sedimentation-floatation techniques for detection of parasitic eggs/oocysts. Coprological examination revealed that the prevalence rate of the parasitic infection was 60% (72 out of 120). Eighteen species of helminthes/protozoan parasites eggs/oocysts were encountered stongyles species were the hightest prevalent of nematodes 12.5%. Four genera of flat worms were identified in the present study including sp. 0.8%, sp. 3.3%, sp. 7.5% and sp. 0.8%. Four species of were identified (, , and ) in infected camels the commenst one is 15.8%, sp. and were recorded with a prevalence rate about 15.8%, 8.3% and 6.7% respectively. Blood smears from jugular vein revealed that 2.5% of camels were infected with Wide spectrum and high prevalence of internal parasites were observed in the present study which may be lead to severe economic losses, so the application of control measures and treatment of infected camels with specific and effective drugs during the quarantine period are most important to prevent spreading of parasitic infestation and/or introduction of parasites previously not exist in our country.
PubMed: 31749532
DOI: 10.1007/s12639-019-01138-y -
Parasites & Vectors Feb 2013Considering the increasing importance of small animals travel medicine and the spread of filariae with zoonotic potential to non-endemic European areas, routine filarial...
Morphometric analyses of canine blood microfilariae isolated by the Knott's test enables Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens species-specific and Acanthocheilonema (syn. Dipetalonema) genus-specific diagnosis.
BACKGROUND
Considering the increasing importance of small animals travel medicine and the spread of filariae with zoonotic potential to non-endemic European areas, routine filarial diagnosis in dogs is becoming important. Dirofilaria immitis, D. repens, Acanthocheilonema dracunculoides and A. reconditum are the most common canine filarial nematodes presenting blood circulating microfilariae (mf) which can be differentiated to species level by the acid phosphatase activity patterns or by PCR. Available data on the size of the mf vary considerably in the literature. The aim of this study was to validate morphometric criteria for filarial identification in blood samples of dogs after concentration of mf with the modified Knott's technique.
METHODS
Morphometric analysis of 10 mf from samples identified to species level by acid phosphatase activity and partially confirmed by PCR were performed with specimens from 377 dogs.
RESULTS
The mean length and width of D. immitis mf from 60 dogs were 301.77 ± 6.29 μm and 6.30 ± 0.26 μm, of D. repens mf from 171 dogs 369.44 ± 10.76 μm 8.87 ± 0.58 μm, of A. dracunculoides mf from 133 dogs 259.43 ± 6.69 μm and 5.09 ± 0.47 μm and of A. reconditum mf from 13 dogs 264.83 ± 5.47 μm and 4.63 ± 0.52 μm.For a subset of 30 samples, morphometric analysis was repeated with identical results in two laboratories. Furthermore, the size of mf concentrated and fixed by the Knott's technique was shown to be stable over 105 days.
CONCLUSIONS
The Knott's test enables to clearly distinguish between D. immitis, D. repens and Acanthocheilonema spp. However, due to the overlapping size ranges of A. dracunculoides and A. reconditum, biochemical or molecular methods are required to distinguish these two species.
Topics: Acanthocheilonema; Acanthocheilonemiasis; Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Body Size; Dirofilaria immitis; Dirofilaria repens; Dirofilariasis; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Female; Helminth Proteins; Male; Microfilariae; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Species Specificity
PubMed: 23442771
DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-48 -
Parasite (Paris, France) 2024Filarial nematodes of the Dipetalonema lineage include tick-borne filarioids that infect both domestic and wild vertebrate hosts, but they remain understudied in many...
Filarial nematodes of the Dipetalonema lineage include tick-borne filarioids that infect both domestic and wild vertebrate hosts, but they remain understudied in many cases. In this study, we conducted a molecular characterization of a Dipetalonema-like filarioid (DLF) recently identified in two tick species in French Guiana, South America. While the cox1 mitochondrial gene was the sole marker initially sequenced for describing DLF, its classification and phylogenetic relationship with other members of the Dipetalonema lineage were unclear. Therefore, we better characterized DLF through the sequencing of six additional gene markers and conducted phylogenetic analyses. Based on this multi-locus typing scheme, DLF exhibited significant divergence from known genera and species of filarioids, or other sequences available in public databases, suggesting its potential classification as a novel genus within the Dipetalonema lineage. Phylogenetic analyses further unveiled a close evolutionary relationship between DLF and all other filarioids associated with Acari (ticks and mites) within a robust monophyletic subclade in the Dipetalonema lineage. Overall, these findings confirm the existence of a specialized, Acari-borne group of filarioids and underscore the need for comprehensive investigations into their epidemiology and potential impact on animal health.
Topics: Animals; Ticks; Phylogeny; French Guiana; Acari; Sequence Analysis; Nematoda
PubMed: 38488705
DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2024015 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Oct 2011The filarial parasites Loa loa and Mansonnella perstans are endemic in the central and western African forest block. Loa loa is pathogenic and represents a major...
BACKGROUND
The filarial parasites Loa loa and Mansonnella perstans are endemic in the central and western African forest block. Loa loa is pathogenic and represents a major obstacle to the control of co-endemic filariae because its treatment can cause fatal complications such as encephalitis.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS
4392 individuals aged over 15 years were studied both by direct examination and a concentration technique. The overall prevalence rates were 22.4% for Loa loa microfilaremia, 10.2% for M. perstans microfilaremia, and 3.2% for mixed infection. The prevalence of both filariae was higher in the forest ecosystem than in savannah and lakeland (p<0.0001). The intensity of microfilariae (mf) was also higher in the forest ecosystem for both parasites. The prevalence and intensity of microfilaria were both influenced by age and gender. Correlations were found between the prevalence and intensity of Loa loa microfilariae (r = 0.215 p = 0.036), and between the prevalence of Loa loa and the prevalence of individuals with microfilaria >8000 mf/ml (r = 0.624; p<0.0001) and microfilariae >30 000 mf/ml (r = 0.319, p = 0.002). In contrast, the prevalence of pruritis and Calabar swellings correlated negatively with the prevalence of Loa loa microfilaria (r = -0.219, p = 0.032; r = -0.220; p = 0.031, respectively). Pruritis, Calabar swellings and eye worm were not associated with L. loa mf intensity (r = -0.144, p = 0.162; r-0.061, p = 0.558; and r = 0.051, p = 0.624, respectively), or with the prevalence or intensity of M. perstans microfilariae.
CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE
This map of the distribution of filariae in Gabon should prove helpful for control programs. Our findings confirm the spatial uniformity of the relationship between parasitological indices. Clinical manifestations point to a relationship between filariae and allergy.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Coinfection; Comorbidity; Dipetalonema Infections; Endemic Diseases; Female; Gabon; Geography; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Loiasis; Male; Mansonella; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Sex Factors; Young Adult
PubMed: 22022623
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001329