Review
Microbiology
Fabrizia Veronesi, Georgiana Deak, Anastasia Diakou
Summary: Wild mesocarnivores in Europe, such as the red fox, golden jackal, European wildcat, Mustelidae, raccoon dog, raccoons, and American mink, play a significant role in the introduction and transmission of parasitic zoonoses. This article discusses the importance of these animals as reservoirs, spreaders, or sentinels for endoparasites and emphasizes the need for surveillance and vigilance in studying their impact on human and domestic animal health.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Patricia Perez Perez, Ivan Rodriguez-Escolar, Elena Carreton, Jose Angel Sanchez Agudo, Jacob Lorenzo-Morales, Jose Alberto Montoya-Alonso, Rodrigo Morchon
Summary: This study analyzed the prevalence and distribution of canine vector-borne diseases caused by Dirofilaria immitis, Leishmania infantum, Anaplasma platys, and Ehrlichia canis in Castilla y Leon, Spain. The results showed that infected animals were mainly located in areas with stagnant water, irrigated agriculture, or riverbanks, always near forest and woodland vegetation. Dogs in this region should take prophylactic measures to prevent infections.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Parasitology
Izabella Mysliwy, Agnieszka Perec-Matysiak, Joanna Hildebrand
Summary: Raccoons and raccoon dogs are considered two of the most successful invasive alien species due to their ability to adapt to urban environments. Their growing populations pose a threat in maintaining and transmitting vector-borne pathogens. This review summarizes current data on the occurrence, diversity, and prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in raccoons and raccoon dogs, and highlights the need for further research to understand their epidemiology and assess potential risks to wildlife.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Lorenza Urbani, Alessandro Tirolo, Andrea Balboni, Roberta Troia, Francesco Dondi, Mara Battilani
Summary: This report describes the concomitant infection of CPV-2, H. canis, and E. canis in two puppy dogs from Southern Italy. Multiple diagnostic methods were used to confirm the infection, and it was found that CPV-2 belonged to the 2c variant and that H. canis and E. canis preferred to infect the same cells. It is important to carefully evaluate the movement of puppies from areas where vector-borne pathogens are endemic and to adopt appropriate preventive measures.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Cassandra Davitt, Rebecca Traub, Basan Batsukh, Banzragch Battur, Martin Pfeffer, Anke K. Wiethoelter
Summary: This study investigates the overall knowledge, perceptions and practices of Mongolian veterinarians towards canine vector-borne diseases (CVBD). The study reveals that Mongolian veterinarians have a low overall knowledge of CVBD, with a discrepancy between self-rated and actual knowledge. It also finds that female veterinarians and those with frequent canine consultations have higher knowledge levels.
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Maria Teresa Gomez-Munoz
Summary: The present Special Issue focuses on zoonotic infections of parasitic diseases transmitted from wild animals, discussing the prevalence data and diagnostic techniques of several key parasites.
Article
Microbiology
Barbara Tuska-Szalay, Sandor A. Boldogh, Robert Farkas, Luca Rompos, Nora Takacs, Viktor Beresnyak, Adam Izso, Jeno Kontschan, Jozsef Lanszki, Sandor Hornok
Summary: Among vector-borne protozoa, Hepatozoon felis and Cytauxzoon europaeus are emerging species in felids in Europe. This study investigated the presence of these two protozoa in domestic cats and wildcats in Hungary, and found that H. felis genogroup II can emerge in free-roaming domestic cats in regions where this protozoan parasite is endemic in wildcats.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Fatma Nurhayat Saydam, Hakan Erdem, Handan Ankarali, Manar Ezz El-Arab Ramadan, Nagwa Mostafa El-Sayed, Rok Civljak, Natalia Pshenichnaya, Ruxandra Valentina Moroti, Fatemeh Moradi Mahmuodabad, Agah Victor Maduka, Amjad Mahboob, Pilli Hema Prakash Kumari, Roman Stebel, Roxana Cernat, Lenka Fasanekova, Serhat Uysal, Meltem Tasbakan, Jurica Arapovic, Dumitru Irina Magdalena, Kumar Angamuthu, Nesrin Ghanem-Zoubi, Meliha Meric-Koc, Yvon Ruch, Andrea Marino, Ainur Sadykova, Ayse Batirel, Ejaz Ahmed Khan, Sholpan Kulzhanova, Samir Al-Moghazi, Ravilya Yegemberdiyeva, Emanuele Nicastri, Nenad Pandak, Nasim Akhtar, Safak Ozer-Balin, Antonio Cascio, Marija Dimzova, Hakan Evren, Edmond Puca, Alma Tokayeva, Marta Vecchi, Ilkay Bozkurt, Mustafa Dogan, Natalia Dirani, Amangul Duisenova, Mumtaz Ali Khan, Stanislav Kotsev, Zarema Obradovic, Rosa Fontana Del Vecchio, Fahad Almajid, Aleksandra Barac, Gorana Dragovac, Maria Pishmisheva-Peleva, Md Tanvir Rahman, Taufiquer Rahman, Marion Le Marechal, Yasemin Cag, Aamer Ikram, Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales
Summary: This international study aimed to analyze the distribution of vector-borne and zoonotic infections (VBZIs) in different regions and economic levels. The results showed significant differences in the prevalence of different pathogens across regions, with higher VBZI prevalence in lower-middle income countries. The study highlights the importance of evidence-based surveillance data and multidisciplinary efforts for the control and eradication of VBZIs.
TRAVEL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Juergen Kruecken, Gabor A. Czirjak, Sabrina Ramunke, Maria Serocki, Sonja K. Heinrich, Joerg Melzheimer, M. Carolina Costa, Heribert Hofer, Ortwin H. K. Aschenborn, Nancy A. Barker, Stefano Capodanno, Luis Madeira de Carvalho, Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna, Marion L. East, Bettina Wachter
Summary: A study on brown and spotted hyenas in Namibia and Tanzania revealed high frequencies of various pathogens, with frequent co-infections observed in the samples. Ecological conditions were found to have a greater impact on pathogen diversity and frequency than host taxonomy.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Giovanni Sgroi, Francesco Buono, Roberta Iatta, Melissa Beall, Ramaswamy Chandrashekar, Jesse Buch, Diego Piantedosi, Vincenzo Veneziano, Domenico Otranto
Summary: Hunting dogs in rural areas of southern Italy are commonly exposed to vector-borne pathogens. A study found a high prevalence of various pathogens, with Ehrlichia spp. and Acanthocheilonema reconditum being the most common. Serological and molecular methods were effective in detecting these infections, and there was high concordance among different diagnostic tools.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Aitor Cevidanes, Sophia Di Cataldo, Catalina Munoz-San Martin, Maria Stefania Latrofa, Claudia Hernandez, Pedro E. Cattan, Domenico Otranto, Javier Millan
Summary: The co-occurrence of canine vector-borne pathogens was investigated in rural dogs in Chile. Most dogs tested positive for at least one pathogen, with Anaplasma platys being the most common. Coinfection was found in 34% of the dogs, with Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum and Mycoplasma haemocanis being the most prevalent in these cases. Adult dogs were more likely to be co-infected and showed higher blood cell counts compared to non-co-infected dogs.
VETERINARY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Elton J. R. Vasconcelos, Chayan Roy, Joseph A. Geiger, Kristina M. Oney, Melody Koo, Songyang Ren, Brian B. Oakley, Pedro Paulo V. P. Diniz
Summary: The study introduces a method for genetic characterization of VBPs using NGS and computational approaches, showing its effectiveness in detecting multiple pathogens in a single sample. This approach has the potential to expand the molecular diagnostic toolbox in veterinary and human medicine and provide significant improvements in VBP diagnostics.
BMC VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Maria Teresa Antognoni, Marta Vascellari, Graziana Da Rold, Federica Toniolo, Sofia Sgubin, Claudia Zanardello, Antonio Carminato, Arianna Miglio
Summary: Dogs in central Italy were tested for the prevalence of vector-borne pathogens in their blood. The study found that hemoplasmas were more prevalent in older dogs, highlighting the challenges of selecting healthy blood donor dogs in endemic areas. The collaboration between specialists is important in interpreting positive test results. Additionally, the study concluded that blood donors play an important role in active surveillance against canine vector-borne diseases.
Article
Microbiology
Maria Cristina Carrasquilla, Mario Ivan Ortiz, Daniela Amortegui-Hernandez, Sebastian Garcia-Restrepo, Cielo Leon, Sergio Mendez-Cardona, Camila Gonzalez
Summary: This study investigated the ecology of vector-borne diseases in La Mesa, Colombia, and identified potential vectors and reservoir species. The findings suggest the presence of transmission cycles for diseases like leishmaniasis and Chagas disease in the area.
BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Laura Grassi, Michele Drigo, Hana Zelena, Daniela Pasotto, Rudi Cassini, Alessandra Mondin, Giovanni Franzo, Claudia Maria Tucciarone, Martina Ossola, Elena Vidorin, Maria Luisa Menandro
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence of tick-borne zoonotic pathogens and flaviviruses in wild ungulates in Europe. The results showed a high prevalence of these pathogens and a significant seroprevalence for flaviviruses. Wild ungulates play a crucial role in the circulation and spread of these diseases.
BMC VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Branka Bilbija, Caecilia Spitzweg, Ivo Papousek, Uwe Fritz, Gabor Foeldvari, Martin Mullett, Flora Ihlow, Hein Sprong, Kristina Civanova Krizova, Nikolay Anisimov, Oxana A. Belova, Sarah I. Bonnet, Elizabeth Bychkova, Aleksandra Czulowska, Georg G. Duscher, Manoj Fonville, Olaf Kahl, Grzegorz Karbowiak, Ivan S. Kholodilov, Dorota Kiewra, Stjepan Krcmar, Gulzina Kumisbek, Natalya Livanova, Igor Majlath, Maria Teresa Manfredi, Andrei D. Mihalca, Guadalupe Miro, Sara Moutailler, Igor V. Nebogatkin, Snezana Tomanovic, Zati Vatansever, Marya Yakovich, Sergio Zanzani, Pavel Siroky
Summary: The population structure of the ornate dog tick in Eastern Europe exhibits an east-west gradient, which may be influenced by geographic factors and genetic evolution. This finding is crucial for assessing disease transmission risks and predicting future spread.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Mathilde Uiterwijk, Lea Vojta, Nikica Sprem, Ana Beck, Daria Jurkovic, Marja Kik, Georg G. G. Duscher, Adnan Hodzic, Slaven Reljic, Hein Sprong, Relja Beck
Summary: The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence and distribution of Hepatozoon parasites in wild mammals and ticks in Europe. The results showed that out of the 2801 mammal samples tested, 370 (13.2%) were positive. Hepatozoon canis was the most common species detected, primarily infecting carnivores such as dogs. These findings are important for monitoring and controlling the spread of these parasites and protecting the health of domestic animals.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Maria Sophia Unterkoefler, Alexandra Huck, Katja Silbermayr, Hans-Peter Fuehrer
Summary: A case of autochthonous O. lupi infection in a dog from Austria, confirming the potential zoonotic risk of this emerging canine ocular pathogen.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Review
Parasitology
Anja Joachim, Maria Sophia Unterkoefler, Anja Strobl, Karin Bakran-Lebl, Hans -Peter Fuehrer, Michael Leschnik
Summary: A retrospective study assessed 699 cases of canine babesiosis in eastern Austria, with 542 cases acquired in Austria and the rest from neighboring countries. The majority of cases were found in Vienna, eastern Lower Austria, and Burgenland. The tick vector of Babesia canis, Dermacentor reticulatus, showed a patchy distribution in Austria. The data suggest that tick control should be advised throughout the year.
VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Miguel Pena-Espinoza, Daniel Em, Bita Shahi-Barogh, Dominik Berer, Georg G. Duscher, Lara van der Vloedt, Walter Glawischnig, Steffen Rehbein, Josef Harl, Maria S. Unterkoefler, Hans-Peter Fuehrer
Summary: In this study, molecular genetics were used to detect and characterize vector-borne pathogens in hippoboscid flies infesting domestic and wild animals in Austria. Several pathogens were found, including some with zoonotic potential. The presence of Trypanosoma sp. in H. equina, a louse fly, was also reported for the first time in Austria. Further research and monitoring are needed to understand the role of these ectoparasites as vectors of infectious agents in a One-Health context.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Mustafa Alsarraf, Gad Baneth, Anna Bogucka-Kocka, Lavinia Ciuca, Dorota Dwuznik-Szarek, Hans -Peter Fuehrer, Agnieszka Kloch, Przemyslaw Kolodziej, Viktoria Levytska, Ewa Julia Mierzejewska, Andrei D. Mihalca, Angela Monica Ionica, Andrii Mushynskyi, Yaarit Nachum-Biala, Mohammed Alsarraf, Anna Bajer
Summary: Subcutaneous dirofilariosis is a rapidly spreading infection that affects dogs, carnivores, and even humans. This study aimed to assess the genetic diversity of the parasite and its spread across Europe, finding that climate change, movement of infected hosts, and the diversity of wild reservoirs contribute to the spread of the disease.
VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Vicky Frisch, Hans-Peter Fuehrer, Jessika-M. V. Cavalleri
Summary: In equine stables, various insects act as pests or potential vectors, transmitting infectious agents to horses. A systematic review was conducted to investigate the role of Brachycera insects, including Tabanidae, Muscidae, Glossinidae, and Hippoboscidae, in transmitting pathogens to horses. Out of the 38 identified articles, only 7 pathogens were shown to be transmitted by Brachycera. Further studies are needed to understand the significance of Brachycera as vectors for equine health.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jorge Garrido-Bautista, Josef Harl, Hans-Peter Fuehrer, Mar Comas, Steve Smith, Dustin J. Penn, Gregorio Moreno-Rueda
Summary: This study examines the prevalence and associations of microfilariae in a wild population of blue tits, as well as characterizes the filarioid lineages using genetic sequencing. The results show a moderate prevalence of microfilariae in the blue tit population, and a negative association between parasite presence and host body mass. Phylogenetic analyses reveal the presence of five filarioid lineages, four of which belong to the Splendidofilaria clade.
Article
Parasitology
Mustafa Alsarraf, Elena Carreton, Lavinia Ciuca, Anastasia Diakou, Dorota Dwuznik-Szarek, Hans-Peter Fuehrer, Marco Genchi, Angela Monica Ionica, Agnieszka Kloch, Laura Helen Kramer, Andrei D. Mihalca, Martina Miterpakova, Rodrigo Morchon, Elias Papadopoulos, Mateusz Pekacz, Laura Rinaldi, Mohammed Alsarraf, Mariia Topolnytska, Alice Vismarra, Anna Zawistowska-Deniziak, Anna Bajer
Summary: This study analyzed heartworm isolates from Europe and Bangladesh, and found that the genetic diversity of Dirofilaria immitis is lower and expands slower compared to Dirofilaria repens. The NADH gene shows lower genetic diversity in the Dirofilaria species.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Maria Sophia Unterkoefler, Patrick Dengg, Miriam Niederbacher, Sarah Lindorfer, Antonia Eberle, Alexandra Huck, Katalina Staufer, Carina Zittra, Licha Natalia Wortha, Adnan Hodzic, Georg Gerhard Duscher, Josef Harl, Gerhard Schluesslmayr, Marcos Antonio Bezerra-Santos, Domenico Otranto, Katja Silbermayr, Hans-Peter Fuehrer
Summary: The zoonotic nematode Thelazia callipaeda and its vector Phortica variegata were found to naturally occur in Austria. Their presence was confirmed through DNA analysis and morphological identification. However, T. callipaeda was not detected in any of the Phortica specimens.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Perrine Keiser, Christoph Hoerweg, Anna Kuebber-Heiss, Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck, Bita Shahi-Barogh, Katharina Reitl, Hanna Vielgrader, Thomas Voracek, Hans-Peter Fuehrer, David Ebmer
Summary: This study reports a case of chronic Sarcoptes scabiei infestation in a captive lowland tapir at Vienna Zoo. The infestation was successfully diagnosed and treated using deep-skin scrapings and medication. However, the tapir ultimately died from bacterial pneumonia. The study highlights the role of cross-species transmission in the spread of this disease, with urban wildlife potentially serving as a bridge between reservoirs and zoo animals.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Moritz Stummer, Vicky Frisch, Frauke Glitz, Barbara Hinney, Joachim Spergser, Juergen Kruecken, Irina Diekmann, Katharina Dimmel, Christiane Riedel, Jessika-Maximiliane V. Cavalleri, Till Ruemenapf, Anja Joachim, Manolis Lyrakis, Angelika Auer
Summary: Acute abdominal pain in horses is a significant global health threat, requiring intensive veterinary care and often surgery. Equine coronavirus (ECoV) infections, although rarely considered, can cause colic in horses. A study was conducted to determine the frequency of undetected ECoV infections in horses with acute colic, revealing that 5.7% of colic horses and 2.8% of control horses tested positive for Betacoronaviruses. Furthermore, sequences closely related to bovine coronaviruses (BCoV) were found in three out of six coronavirus-positive horses with colic, indicating a need for further investigation into the pathogenic potential of BCoV in horses.
Article
Microbiology
Betim Xhekaj, Ina Hoxha, Katharina Platzgummer, Edwin Kniha, Julia Walochnik, Kurtesh Sherifi, Agim Rexhepi, Behlul Behluli, Vit Dvorak, Hans-Peter Fuehrer, Adelheid G. Obwaller, Wolfgang Poeppl, Jovana Stefanovska, Aleksandar Cvetkovikj
Summary: This study conducted an extensive survey of sand flies in all districts of Kosovo and reported the first detection of Leishmania infantum DNA in sand flies, indicating local transmission of the pathogen.