1,167 research outputs found
Arthropod-borne pathogens of dogs and cats: From pathways and times of transmission to disease control
No full textVector-borne pathogens have developed a close relationship with blood feeding arthropod ectoparasites (e.g., mosquitoes, ticks, phlebotomine sand flies, black flies, fleas, kissing bugs, lice) and exploited a huge variety of vector transmission routes. Therefore, the life cycles of these pathogens result in a long evolved balance with the respective arthropod biology, ecology and blood feeding habits, instrumentally to the infection of several animal species, including humans. Amongst the many parasite transmission modes, such as ingestion of the arthropod, with its faeces or secretions, blood feeding represents the main focus for this article, as it is a central event to the life of almost all arthropod vectors. The time frame in which pathogens are transmitted to any animal host is governed by a large number of biological variables related to the vector, the pathogen, the host and environmental factors. Scientific data available on transmission times for each pathogen are discussed relative to their impact for the success of vector-borne disease control strategies. Blocking pathogen transmission, and thus preventing the infection of dogs and cats, may be achievable by the use of chemical compounds if they are characterised by a fast onset of killing activity or repellence against arthropods. The fast speed of kill exerted by systemic isoxazoline, as well as the repellent effect of pyrethroids have renewed the interest of the scientific community and pharmaceutical companies towards reducing the burden of vector-borne diseases under field conditions. However, endosymbionts and vaccines targeting arthropods or pathogen antigens should be further investigated as alternative strategies towards the goal of achieving an effective integrated control of vector-borne diseases
The immunology of Myiasis: Parasite survival and host defense strategies
No full textInfestations by dipterous larvae that feed on dead or living vertebrate tissues for a variable period are known as myiases; these infestations reduce host physiological functions, destroy host tissues and cause significant economic losses to livestock worldwide. Recent advances in understanding the specific and nonspecific immune responses of hosts to infestation by myiasis-causing larvae and the immunological strategies evolved by larvae against the host are reviewed here. The practical implications of immunological knowledge for diagnostic and vaccination strategies are also discussed, with a view to developing environmentally sustainable control methods to be used as an alternative to chemical treatments. Copyright © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd
Umoral response against Przhevalskiana silenus: antibody kinetics in naturally infested goats
No full textDiagnostic challenges and the unwritten stories of dog and cat parasites
No full textIs it still possible to discover new parasites of dogs and cats? Do we really know enough about them? To what extent do limitations in the diagnosis of dog and cat parasites represent an obstacle for a deeper understanding of their biology? Diagnosis in parasitology has a profound impact on animal health and welfare and, in some cases, public health. Although, over the last few years, advances in the diagnosis of parasitic diseases have largely paralleled knowledge of their biology, gaps in the diagnosis of cat and dog parasites still exist. For instance, difficulties in obtaining samples for research purposes (due to ethical issues or to the invasive nature of the sampling procedures), inappropriate sample storage and poor sensitivity of the commonly used techniques, may represent major obstacles in diagnosing parasitic diseases. Other hurdles are often associated with the biology of parasites (e.g., the intermittent presence in blood of tick-borne pathogens) or, simply, through the fact that some parasites of pets are largely ignored by the scientific community. This article provides key examples of parasites of dogs and cats, which are currently considered of minor importance, also because of the limitations in their diagnosis. Among them, new or, in some cases, previously “misdiagnosed parasites” with overlapping morphological features, biology or ecology, represent a major challenge when trying to correctly diagnose “unknown parasites” (for which only occasional reports are available). Further research is needed in order to provide the scientific community with more reliable, cost-effective diagnostic tools, which ultimately, will assist our understanding of some mis- or less-diagnosed parasitoses
Correction to: Hepatic Capillaria hepatica (Bancroft, 1893) infection in cat (Felis catus)—histopathological findings and first report from Iran (Parasitology Research, (2021), 120, 4, (1489-1491), 10.1007/s00436-021-07056-4)
No full textAffiliation of Monireh Khordadmehr was incorrectly assigned as 2 in the original version of this article when in fact it should have been 3. Also affiliation of Domenico Otranto was incorrectly assigned as 1,3,4 in the original version of this article when in fact it should have been 1,4. Correct affiliations are presented here. The original article has been corrected
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