Martina Miterpáková

Dirofilariosis in Slovakia - a new endemic area in Central Europe

SummaryThe first systematic research on canine dirofilariosis in Slovakia started in February 2007. In total 287 dogs of various age, sex, breeds, and utilization from southern Slovakia were examined within the study until September 2007. Microfilariaemia was detected in 99 (34.5 %) blood samples. Histochemical staining and PCR approach were used for Dirofilaria species identification. Dirofilaria repens was confirmed in all infected dogs; it occurred in 92 (32.1 %) dogs as a single infection and in 6 (2.1 %) dogs in mixed infection with Dirofilaria immitis. For the first time both species were detected in Eastern Slovakia. Outdoor keeping and age higher 3 years become evident as important risk factors. Male individuals and dogs with long hair were significantly more frequently infected when compared with females and short hair breeds.The present study revealed the occurrence of highly endemic area of dirofilariosis in Slovakia and certified that climatic conditions in the country are favourable for development of the parasite and for further spread of this zoonotic infection.

Endoparasites of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in the Slovak Republic with the emphasis on zoonotic species Echinococcus multilocularis and Trichinella spp.

SummaryDue to specific geographical localization, climatic and geomorphologic conditions, several serious parasitic diseases circulate in the territory of the Slovak Republic that makes this area an ideal model territory of the central European red fox system. The red fox is an important reservoir host of parasites, which can be spread to another animals and humans. Our study was aimed at determining the current prevalence of certain parasites in red foxes from the entire territory of the Slovak Republic and identifies some ecological factors influencing their epidemiology. Within the first systematic investigation of red foxes carried out between the years 2000 and 2006 in total 4026 foxes were examined for Echinococcus multilocularis (prevalence 31.1 %) and 4699 foxes were investigated for the presence of Trichinella spp. larvae (10.4 % infected). The results of the next separate study revealed that 83.3 % of 1198 red foxes in the Slovak Republic had coccidian oocysts and helminth eggs in their faeces. Fifteen helminth species including two trematode, four cestode and nine nematode species were detected by coprological examination. Nine of these parasite taxa have zoonotic potential: Capillaria spp. (prevalence 22.4 %), Ancylostoma caninum (18.1 %), Toxocara canis (12.5 %), Taenia spp. (12.2 %), Mesocestoides spp. (5.8 %), Strongyloides stercoralis (1.6 %), Hymenolepis diminuta (0.6 %), Dipylidium caninum (0.4 %) and Opisthorchis felineus (0.3 %). Toxascaris leonina was the most common helminth species found in this survey (42.9 %).

Echinococcus multilocularis is a frequent parasite of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Latvia

Summary45 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from various regions of Latvia were examined by necropsy between 2003 and 2008 for the presence and infection intensity of Echinococcus multilocularis. The overall prevalence was 35.6 %, with the intensity of infection ranging from 1 to 1438. Although a limited number of foxes were examined, the prevalence was high and infected animals were found throughout the country. Considering the increasing number of humans infected with echinococcosis in Latvia since 2002, the situation is highly suggestive of a recent emergence of E. multilocularis. DNA sequences of four fox isolates were examined by multilocus analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear genes (cox1, nad1, rrnS, atp6, actII). All isolates were allocated to the predominant genetic form in Europe, with partial affinity of one isolate to a genotype that had previously been reported from southern Germany.

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.

First autochthonous case of canine Angiostrongylus vasorum in Slovakia

Angiostrongylus vasorum is a metastrongyloid nematode that may cause cardiopulmonary disease, neurological signs and coagulopathies in dogs. The parasite has an indirect life cycle with molluscs as intermediate hosts, in which the infective third larval stage develops. Recently, A. vasorum has been repeatedly reported in dogs outside the endemic areas, indicating that this parasite is widely distributed over Europe. This is the first record of an autochthonous infection in a dog from Slovakia that was casually diagnosed during routine preventive parasitological examination. A. vasorum first-stage larvae were recovered using the Baermann technique and identified by length and characteristic tail morphology. The animal originated from Slovakia and had not travelled abroad. The dog had been regularly walked on grass fields with a concentrated presence of common species of Gastropoda and frogs. The owner reported that the dog had been licking and eating grass and it had shown curiosity for molluscs and frogs. The first finding of A. vasorum-infected dog in Slovakia has confirmed that the parasite is spreading beyond the traditional hyperendemic foci, which accentuates the need for monitoring and increasing of disease awareness in primary care clinical practice.

Molecular and morphological circumscription of Mesocestoides tapeworms from red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in central Europe.

Here we examine 3157 foxes from 6 districts of the Slovak Republic in order to determine for the first time the distribution, prevalence and identity of Mesocestodes spp. endemic to this part of central Europe. During the period 2001-2006, an average of 41.9% of foxes were found to harbour Mesocestoides infections. Among the samples we confirmed the widespread and common occurrence of M. litteratus (Batsch, 1786), and report the presence, for the first time, of M. lineatus (Goeze, 1782) in the Slovak Republic, where it has a more restricted geographical range and low prevalence (7%). Using a combination of 12S rDNA, CO1 and ND1 mitochondrial gene sequences together with analysis of 13 morphometric characters, we show that the two species are genetically distinct and can be differentiated by discrete breaks in the ranges of the male and female reproductive characters, but not by the more commonly examined characters of the scolex and strobila. Estimates of interspecific divergence within Mesocestoides ranged from 9 to 18%, whereas intraspecific variation was less than 2%, and phylogenetic analyses of the data showed that despite overlapping geographical ranges, the two commonly reported European species are not closely related, with M. litteratus more closely allied to North American isolates of Mesocestoides than to M. lineatus. We confirm that morphological analysis of reproductive organs can be used to reliably discriminate between these often sympatric species obtained from red foxes.

Fox tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) in Slovakia — summarizing the long-term monitoring

SummaryDetailed epidemiological survey on distribution of fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis was carried out in the territory of Slovakia between 2000 and 2010. A total of 4 761 red foxes from all districts of Slovakia were investigated using modified sedimentation and counting method. E. multilocularis was found in small intestines of 1 441 animals that represent an overall prevalence of 30.3 %. The number of tapeworms found in individual foxes varied between 1 and 245 000 specimens with mean worm burden of 1 777. The results of decennial epizootological research confirmed the existence of highly endemic localities with E. multilocularis occurrence in northern regions of Slovakia. Till today, 16 human cases of alveolar echinococcosis were registered whereas 14 of them were diagnosed in patients living in endemic localities.

Molecular detection of co-infections with Anaplasma phagocytophilum and/or Babesia canis canis in Dirofilaria-positive dogs from Slovakia

Recently, several arthropod-borne infections have been introduced into previously non-endemic regions in Europe as the result of various global changes. At the same time, endemic regions are expanding and the risk of co-infections is rising, due to climate change that allows vectors to move and spread infectious diseases into new areas. The aim of the current study was to confirm simultaneous infections with Anaplasma phagocytophilum and/or Babesia canis canis in Dirofilaria-infected dogs from Slovakia, central Europe. Genomic DNA was isolated from 366 blood samples of microfilaraemic dogs without clinical signs of infection. Samples were further screened for the presence of canine tick-borne pathogens using PCR and sequencing. This survey revealed co-infection with four arthropod-borne pathogens, in particular, Dirofilaria repens, Dirofilaria immitis, A. phagocytophilum, and B. canis canis. While D. repens, responsible for canine subcutaneous dirofilariosis, is scattered through the whole territory of the country, D. immitis occurs only in endemic areas of southeastern and southwestern Slovakia in mixed infection with D. repens. Co-infection with A. phagocytophilum was reported in 3.27% of the dogs positive for D. repens; mixed infection with D. repens and B. canis canis was detected in 3.55% of the tested blood samples. Eastern Slovak Lowland represents a natural focus of B. canis canis and is a highly endemic area for canine dirofilariosis. The presence of triple infection with D. repens, A. phagocytophilum, and B. canis canis was detected in one dog originating from the eastern lowland region of Slovakia. This study highlights the importance of co-infected, clinically healthy dogs in the spreading of several different arthropod-borne pathogens and the necessity for detailed epidemiological surveys, especially in newly infested areas.

Parasitic infections of the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778) in south -western Slovakia

SummaryA total of 74 European brown hares (Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778), hunted during the winter seasons of 2006 and 2007, were examined by dissection for the presence of helminths and coprologically for protozoa. The animals came from five districts with a high population density of this species. Our results revealed 54.5 % of specimens being infected with one or more helminth species and a high prevalence of eimeriid coccidia (91.89 %). The most prevalent helminth species was Trichuris leporis (55.41 %). Lower prevalence was found for Passalurus ambiguus (12.16 %) and Trichostrongylus retortaeformis (6.76 %). The intensity of infection was low for all parasite species. As for coccidia, Eimeria semisculpta (74.35 %) and E. leporis (61.54%) were recorded in all districts. Other coccidia showed lower prevalence rates: E. robertsoni (15.38 %), E. europaea (12.82 %), E. babatica (12.82 %), E. hungarica (5.13 %) and E. towsendi (2.56 %), occurring only in some districts. The highest infection rate was observed in E. semisculpta, 7657.8 oocysts per gram of faeces (OPG). The potential effect of protozoan infection on hare mortality is discussed.

Influence of anthelmintic baits on the occurrence of causative agents of helminthozoonoses in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

SummaryRed fox (Vulpes vulpes) presents major wildlife reservoir of parasitozoonoses, transmissible to humans and domestic animals. The study was aimed to find out the effect of anthelmintic baits on the occurrence of Echinococcus multilocularis and other intestinal helminths in red foxes. In two bait areas (B1 and B2) 20 baits per km2 were distributed monthly between August 2004 and April 2005. Fox fecal samples were collected in both bait areas and two control areas (C1 and C2) between August 2004 and August 2005. In bait area B1 the decrease of parasite species number, decrease of their prevalence and prevalence of E. multilocularis was observed. No significant decline was observed in bait area B2, probably due to consumption of baits by wild boars. Bait distribution represents the possibility of reduction of environmental contamination with parasites and their propagation stages. Especially on the periphery of towns and villages and in recreational areas it seems to be suitable way of human health protection.