1,721,317 research outputs found
Biotechnological advances in the diagnosis of little known parasitoses of pets: clinical insights and future prospects
No full textDogs, cats, and horses are popular pets in many countries of the World and they have lived in close proximity with human beings for thousands of years. The effect of pet ownership on human health is well known and there is significant merit in preserving the health and welfare of these animals. Some infections caused by parasitic nematodes and arthropods of dogs, cats, and horses are now spreading in several areas of the world. This is the case of canine spirocercosis, feline aelurostrongylosis, and equine gastro-intestinal and nasal nematode and botfly infections. These diseases affect animal health and welfare and may be life-threatening. In spite these infections causing illnesses of major importance in clinical practice are spreading in new geographical foci, they are little known and underestimated also as an effect of difficulties in traditional diagnostics. Importantly, the limited reliability of conventional methodologies has also limited our knowledge of epidemiology, ecology, and biology of these parasitoses. This article reviews the DNA-based assays that have been recently developed for diagnosing these neglected pet parasitic diseases focusing on the advantages they have over classical techniques. Moreover, the opportunities for further epidemiological, ecological, and biological investigations are discussed
Molecular characterization of the first internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) of ribosomal DNA of the most common species of eyeworms (Thelazioidea: Thelazia)
No full textSpirurid nematodes of the genus Thelazia cause ocular infection in several mammals and are transmitted by dipteran flies. Of the 10 described species, T. gulosa, T. rhodesi, T. skrjabini (affecting cattle), T. lacrymalis (affecting horses), and T. callipaeda (affecting carnivores and humans) are the most common. The aim of this study was to characterize the first internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) ribosomal DNA sequences of these 5 species. The length of the ITS1 sequences ranged from 357 bp (T. lacrymalis) to 905 bp (T. callipaeda). Interspecific differences ranged from 35 to 77%. Polymorphic sites were detected in each species. Intraspecific variation varied from 0.3 to 2.5%. The characteristics of the ITS1 of Thelazia spp. show similarities to those of other Spirurida. The findings of this present study show that the ITS1 represent a powerful genetic marker for the molecular identification of eyeworms and a useful tool for developing molecular epidemiological techniques to study Thelazia spp. transmission patterns and prevalence in definitive and intermediate host
Molecular evidence indicating that Przhevalskiana silenus, Przhevalskiana aegagri and Przhevalskiana crossii (Dipterae: Oestridae) are one species
No full textGoat warble fly infestation is a subcutaneous myiasis present in many European and Asian countries. The causative agents of this myiasis have been assumed to be Przhevalskiana silenus (Brauer, 1858), P. aegagri (Brauer, 1863) and P. crossii (Patton, 1922) (Diptera, Oestridae). On the basis of morphological and biochemical data, some authors have considered P. silenus, P. aegagri and P. crossii as a single species. To clarify this taxonomic issue, the most variable regions of the mitochondrial gene encoding for the subunit I of cytochrome oxidase (COI) and of the 28S rRNA gene, were characterized molecularly for larvae morphologically identified as P. silenus, P. aegagri and P. crossii. The high genetic homology among the sequences of these putative species (≥ 99.71% for the COI gene and 100% for the 28S gene), indicates that P. aegagri and P. crossii are morphotypes of the single species P. silenus
Habronemosis
No full textAbstract
Equid habronemosis is a widespread parasitic disease caused by the dioecious nematodes Habronema microstoma, Habronema muscae, and Draschia megastoma (Spirurida, Habronematidae). These parasites live as both larvae and adults in the stomach of domestic and wild equids (i.e., horses, donkeys, mules, and zebras), while as larvae they live on the skin and occasionally on other sites, such as ocular and genital mucosa and lung parenchyma. Their life cycle requires an intermediate host, represented by dung-inhabiting secretophagous or hematophagous muscid flies. Habronemosis causes mild to severe clinical symptoms in affected animals, depending on the parasite’s stage of development stage and on localization. Larvae and adults living in the stomach cause gastric habronemosis, while larvae on the skin cause cutaneous habronemosis (known as “summer sores”). When larvae infect other sites, such as the ocular and genital mucosa of horses, they cause mucocutaneous habronemosis. Habronemosis causes severe economic losses, which mainly regard sportive horses, because their performance is impaired and the infection is unaesthetic. Clinical diagnosis of habronemosis is quite difficult, because the symptoms may overlap those of other diseases. Molecular diagnosis is a useful tool for both clinicians and epidemiologists. Macrocyclic lactones are effective against clinical habronemosis, while disease prevention relies on control of flies
Response to Giannelli et al.-comments on potential efficacy of monthly administrations of spot-on moxidectin 2.5 %/imidacloprid 10 % in the simultaneous prevention of major canine filarioses.
No full textSome comments have been done on an article describing a pilot trial evaluating the potential use of moxidectin contained in a spot-on formulation in the prevention of canine filarioses in a confined area where the three major canine filariae live in sympatry. We herein present our response to these comments
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