Imported disease of dogs and cats exotic to Ireland: Echinococcus multilocularis

Changes in legislation that facilitate the movement of animals within the European Union may increase the risk that some microbial and parasitic organisms, currently exotic to Ireland, will be introduced by travelled pet animals. It is possible that the fox tapeworm, Echinococcus multilocularis, might be introduced in that manner from any of the several member states in which it is endemic. Red foxes are the principal definitive hosts of E. multilocularis but dogs and cats can also be infected. Infection in the definitive host is of little clinical significance, but aberrant infection of humans results in alveolar echinococcosis, a debilitating disease that has a high mortality rate. Humans acquire the organism by ingestion of Echinococcus multilocularis eggs excreted by definitive hosts; the larval metacestodes develop primarily in the liver, in the initial asymptomatic phase as small, well-encapsulated cysts. Over time, perhaps five to 15 years, progressive local infiltration and secondary cyst development at distant sites occur with resultant clinical signs. Patients with infiltrative liver disease present with cholestatic jaundice, epigastric pain, fatigue, weight loss and hepatomegaly. If left untreated, the disease can be fatal.This paper recounts the life cycle of the parasite, and discusses the control measures on which its exclusion from Ireland depend. Strict adherence to the routine worming of travelled dogs with praziquantel, at appropriate doses, 24 to 48 hours prior to entry into the country will minimise the likelihood of introduction of this zoonosis.     

Cystic echinococcosis in slaughtered sheep in Sardinia (Italy)

Of 771 regularly slaughtered Sardinian breed sheep, 580 (75%) were found infected with Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cysts. Seventy-nine sheep (10.3%) had at least 1 fertile cyst. The prevalence of sheep infected with purulent/caseous cysts, calcified cysts and sterile cysts was 13, 59 and 28%, respectively. The age of sheep was positively associated with the probability of infection that increased 1.15 fold for each further year of age. Fertile cysts were found in the lungs of 46 sheep (6%) and in the liver of 13 sheep (1.7%), and in the lung and the liver of 20 sheep (2.6%). Most fertile cysts were found in the lungs (314) and most sheep were infected with less than 10 cysts. When analyzed by a mixed-effect logistic model, the probability to find fertile cysts in the lungs was three times higher compared to the liver and it increased with the age of the sheep (rho = 0.70, p < 0.001). Of 4072 collected cysts, 532 were fertile, 178 purulent/caseous, 2339 calcified and 1023 sterile.     

细粒棘球蚴-原头蚴体外培养成囊模型的建立

建立原头蚴体外成囊发育的技术方法,为包虫病研究提供实验材料。在CO2培养箱中37℃条件下,单相培养体系中体外培养原头蚴,并用显微镜定期观察其大小及形态变化。结果发现:第10天原头蚴开始向囊发育;在第35～40天出现肉眼可见的囊,存活时间达100 d,最大囊可达2 mm,原头蚴成囊率达90%。     

The first finding of Echinococcus multilocularis in dogs in Slovakia: an emerging risk for spreading of infection

Alveolar echinococcosis, caused by the metacestode Echinococcus multilocularis, is a zoonosis of public health significance. Apart from red foxes, other carnivore species can also serve as definitive hosts of this parasite. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of E. multilocularis in dogs in the Slovak Republic and identify risk factors for acquiring the infection. Out of 289 dogs examined, E. multilocularis was detected in eight samples (2.8%). Positive results were observed in shepherd dogs (12.5%), guard dogs (7.1%), hunting dogs (2.4%) and in one dog with unknown usage (2.5%). Catching rodents and feeding with raw viscera were confirmed to be the most important risk factors for E. multilocularis infection. On the contrary, the way of dog use, frequency of going to the rural areas, the age and gender of animals seem not to be risk factors for infection. No significant association was observed between the positivity of dogs coming from high endemic or non-endemic regions. This is the first report of E. multilocularis in dogs in the Slovak Republic that confirms substantial contribution of dogs to the transmission of the tapeworm in this territory and urges the necessity of prophylactic measures for dog owners.     

Encroachment of Echinococcus granulosus into urban areas in eastern Queensland, Australia

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of Echinococcus granulosus in wild dogs (dingos and dingo-domestic dog hybrids) living in and around human habitation on Fraser Island and in townships of the Maroochy Shire, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, Australia. DESIGN: Wild dogs were humanely killed on Fraser Island and in the Maroochy Shire because they were deemed a potential danger to the public. Their intestines were collected and the contents examined for intestinal parasites. PROCEDURE: Intestines were removed as soon after death as possible, packed in plastic bags and kept frozen until examination. The intestinal contents were washed, sieved and examined microscopically for the presence of helminths, which were identified and counted. RESULTS: Intestines from 108 wild dogs, 7 foxes and 18 Fraser Island dingoes were examined. Echinococcus granulosus was only present in the wild dogs from Maroochy Shire (46.3%) with worm burdens of between 30 and 104,000. Other helminths included Spirometra erinacei, Dipylidium caninum, Taenia spp., Ancylostoma caninum and Toxocara canis. Two specimens of a trematode (Haplorchinae sp.) usually found infecting fish and seabirds were recovered from a Fraser Island dingo. CONCLUSION: Dingoes on Fraser Island are not infected with E. granulosus and do not pose a hydatid disease public health risk to residents or visitors. However, wild dogs examined from the Maroochy Shire do present a potential hydatid disease public health risk.     

Mutation scan screening of Echinococcus granulosus isolates of Indian origin

During the present investigation a total of forty Indian animal isolates were screened by single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) collected from sheep, goat, cattle and buffalo. The result of the study indicated that nuclear variants of Echinococcus granulosus were present in both small and large ruminants. SSCP phenotypes of AgB, intron of actin II and Hbx-2 have been deduced. Presence of nuclear variants due to mutation of E. granulosus has been discussed depending on hypotheses imparted earlier in literature. High polymophism of AgB demands further investigation because the gene is related with immune evasion and infectivity. This communication reports for the first time the comparative profile of Indian goat, sheep, cattle and buffalo isolates of E. granulosus complex.     

棘球蚴病综合防治技术推广应用

１９９６ —１９９８ 年在海北州３ 县５ 场进行棘球蚴病综合防治技术推广,对项目区２１ 万只犬应用吡喹酮药物采取“犬犬投药、季节驱虫”的模式,连续三年累计驱虫达３４８３ 万只（ 次） ,平均驱虫密度达９５ ％ ,犬细粒棘球绦虫感染率由综防前的６２０７ ％ 下降到零;１ ～３ 岁幼年羊棘球蚴感染率由综防前的３６３１ ％ 、４００６ ％ 和５７８６ ％ 分别下降到７８０ ％ 、１０１６ ％ 、１３４３ ％ ;幼年羊多头蚴感染率由综防前的４２９ ％ 下降到０３２ ％ ;１ ～３ 岁牛棘球蚴由综防前的１９４０ ％ 、４２６１ ％ 和５９２６ ％ 分别下降到零和２４３ ％ 、５６６ ％ ,效果明显、经济效益显著。     

细粒棘球蚴重组St-Eg 95-Eg.ferritin疫苗构建及生物学特性检测

构建表达细粒棘球蚴Eg95-Eg.ferritin融合蛋白的重组口服减毒鼠伤寒沙门菌活载体疫苗株并评价其生物学特性。将细粒棘球蚴Eg95-Eg.ferritin融合基因插入到表达载体pYA3341中,构建重组质粒pYA3341-Eg95-Eg.ferritin,将重组质粒分别电转入减毒鼠伤寒沙门菌X3770和X4550,获得重组疫苗菌株St-Eg95-Eg.ferritin,对重组菌的稳定性、生长状态及安全性进行分析。结果表明,经PCR和酶切鉴定成功构建重组质粒pYA3341-Eg95-Eg.ferritin,Western blot检测Eg95-Eg.ferritin蛋白在重组菌中获得表达;生物学特性研究结果表明,重组质粒可稳定存在,且不影响重组菌的生长状态,小鼠口服试验证实,重组菌安全无毒性。成功构建能稳定表达细粒棘球蚴Eg95-Eg.ferritin融合蛋白的口服减毒鼠伤寒沙门菌活载体疫苗株,将为研究包虫病口服基因工程疫苗奠定基础。     

Factors associated with Echinococcus multilocularis infection in coyotes in southern Ontario

Echinococcus multilocularis was recently reported in wild canids across southern Ontario, a newly recognized endemic area in Canada. In such areas, a comprehensive understanding of factors associated with infection in definitive hosts (wild canids) is critical for mitigating risk of transmission to humans. However, little is known about the transmission dynamics of the parasite in definitive hosts for this region. A study was therefore carried out to investigate the association of host‐level (sex, body condition), environmental (southern Ontario region, land cover), temporal (season, hunting season, calendar year) and extraneous factors (submitter type) with E. multilocularis infection in coyotes in southern Ontario. Between November 2015 and March 2017, 416 coyotes were collected from across the region as part of a study that investigated the prevalence and distribution of the parasite in wild canids; approximately 24% of coyotes were positive for E. multilocularis. Associations between infection and factors of interest were assessed via a mixed‐effects logistic regression model with a random intercept for submitter to account for clustering. Coyotes with poor body condition were at greater odds of E. multilocularis infection than those in good condition (odds ratio [OR] 2.14; 95% CI: 1.08–4.26; p = .030). A negative association was observed between infection in coyotes and the proportion of natural land in a coyote's estimated home range (OR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.52–0.85; p = .001). Coyotes from the western region of southern Ontario had lower odds of infection compared to coyotes from the central region (OR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.12–0.55; p < .001). These results can be used to help guide future public health prevention strategies for human alveolar echinococcosis.     

Echinococcus granulosus in the Northern Territory,Australia: hydatid disease reported in beef cattle from the region

Hydatid disease in beef cattle has been reported to be widespread throughout Australia, but cattle bred and raised in the Northern Territory were previously believed to be free of the disease. Between 2010 and 2016, 1061 cattle from the Northern Territory were slaughtered at a New South Wales abattoir and inspected for hydatid disease. The proportion of cattle reported infected with hydatid disease was 3.5%. Individual cattle identification numbers indicated that the cattle included in the study had most likely remained within the Northern Territory from birth until immediately prior to slaughter, so were assumed to have become infected within the region. We suspect that the sylvatic cycle of Echinococcus granulosus transmission could be responsible for infection of cattle in this region.