Dogs are reservoir hosts of the zoonotic Dirofilaria sp. ‘hongkongensis’ and potentially of Brugia sp. Sri Lanka genotype in Sri Lanka
In 2016, the World Health Organization declared Sri Lanka as having successfully eliminated lymphatic filariasis as a public health concern. However, in recent decades, several infections with subperiodic filarial species suggestive of zoonotic infections have been recorded across the country. The a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-12-01
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| Series: | One Health |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771423001453 |
| _version_ | 1827587925497348096 |
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| author | Ushani Atapattu Anson V. Koehler Lucas G. Huggins Anke Wiethoelter Rebecca J. Traub Vito Colella |
| author_facet | Ushani Atapattu Anson V. Koehler Lucas G. Huggins Anke Wiethoelter Rebecca J. Traub Vito Colella |
| author_sort | Ushani Atapattu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In 2016, the World Health Organization declared Sri Lanka as having successfully eliminated lymphatic filariasis as a public health concern. However, in recent decades, several infections with subperiodic filarial species suggestive of zoonotic infections have been recorded across the country. The arthropod-borne filarioids Dirofilaria repens, Brugia malayi, Brugia ceylonensis, and Acanthocheilonema reconditum are historically known to be endemic in dogs in Sri Lanka. Despite this, limited information on the prevalence, diversity, and predictors of filarial infections in dogs in the country has resulted in suboptimal control and prevention of these parasites, some of which are known to be zoonotic. To address this, whole blood and metadata were collected and analysed from 423 pet dogs across three geo-climatic zones within Sri Lanka. Blood samples were screened using the Modified Knott's Test (MKT) and PCR followed by Sanger sequencing. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess predictors for canine filarial infections. Dirofilaria sp. ‘hongkongensis’ (Dirofilaria sp. HK) and Brugia sp. Sri Lanka (SL) genotype were identified infecting dogs. The overall prevalence of filarial infection in pet dogs by PCR was 36.9% (95% CI 32.3–41.7%, n = 156), compared to 18.8% (95% CI 15.2–22.9%, n = 79) detected using the MKT. >80% of filarial-positive dogs were infected by Dirofilaria sp. HK, while the remaining dogs were infected by Brugia sp. SL genotype. Increasing age (p < 0.001) and residing in the low-country wet zone (p < 0.001), which includes regions that were endemic for human filariasis in Sri Lanka, were associated with filarial infections in dogs. No clear pathognomonic signs for filarial infection were identified, indicating that dogs act as reservoirs for these potentially zoonotic pathogens. Given the morphological similarity of Dirofilaria HK and Brugia sp. SL microfilariae with those of D. repens and B. malayi, respectively, it is likely that these species have been misidentified in the past. Prevention and control measures of these potentially zoonotic canine filarial infections are highly advocated to safeguard both canine and human health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:25:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2638526a56dd4b6fbf637cc436c292f6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2352-7714 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:25:00Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | One Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-2638526a56dd4b6fbf637cc436c292f62023-12-12T04:35:11ZengElsevierOne Health2352-77142023-12-0117100625Dogs are reservoir hosts of the zoonotic Dirofilaria sp. ‘hongkongensis’ and potentially of Brugia sp. Sri Lanka genotype in Sri LankaUshani Atapattu0Anson V. Koehler1Lucas G. Huggins2Anke Wiethoelter3Rebecca J. Traub4Vito Colella5Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; Corresponding authors.Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, AustraliaMelbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, AustraliaMelbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, AustraliaMelbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, AustraliaMelbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; Corresponding authors.In 2016, the World Health Organization declared Sri Lanka as having successfully eliminated lymphatic filariasis as a public health concern. However, in recent decades, several infections with subperiodic filarial species suggestive of zoonotic infections have been recorded across the country. The arthropod-borne filarioids Dirofilaria repens, Brugia malayi, Brugia ceylonensis, and Acanthocheilonema reconditum are historically known to be endemic in dogs in Sri Lanka. Despite this, limited information on the prevalence, diversity, and predictors of filarial infections in dogs in the country has resulted in suboptimal control and prevention of these parasites, some of which are known to be zoonotic. To address this, whole blood and metadata were collected and analysed from 423 pet dogs across three geo-climatic zones within Sri Lanka. Blood samples were screened using the Modified Knott's Test (MKT) and PCR followed by Sanger sequencing. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess predictors for canine filarial infections. Dirofilaria sp. ‘hongkongensis’ (Dirofilaria sp. HK) and Brugia sp. Sri Lanka (SL) genotype were identified infecting dogs. The overall prevalence of filarial infection in pet dogs by PCR was 36.9% (95% CI 32.3–41.7%, n = 156), compared to 18.8% (95% CI 15.2–22.9%, n = 79) detected using the MKT. >80% of filarial-positive dogs were infected by Dirofilaria sp. HK, while the remaining dogs were infected by Brugia sp. SL genotype. Increasing age (p < 0.001) and residing in the low-country wet zone (p < 0.001), which includes regions that were endemic for human filariasis in Sri Lanka, were associated with filarial infections in dogs. No clear pathognomonic signs for filarial infection were identified, indicating that dogs act as reservoirs for these potentially zoonotic pathogens. Given the morphological similarity of Dirofilaria HK and Brugia sp. SL microfilariae with those of D. repens and B. malayi, respectively, it is likely that these species have been misidentified in the past. Prevention and control measures of these potentially zoonotic canine filarial infections are highly advocated to safeguard both canine and human health.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771423001453FilarialB. malayiD. repensVector-borneMosquitoCanine |
| spellingShingle | Ushani Atapattu Anson V. Koehler Lucas G. Huggins Anke Wiethoelter Rebecca J. Traub Vito Colella Dogs are reservoir hosts of the zoonotic Dirofilaria sp. ‘hongkongensis’ and potentially of Brugia sp. Sri Lanka genotype in Sri Lanka One Health Filarial B. malayi D. repens Vector-borne Mosquito Canine |
| title | Dogs are reservoir hosts of the zoonotic Dirofilaria sp. ‘hongkongensis’ and potentially of Brugia sp. Sri Lanka genotype in Sri Lanka |
| title_full | Dogs are reservoir hosts of the zoonotic Dirofilaria sp. ‘hongkongensis’ and potentially of Brugia sp. Sri Lanka genotype in Sri Lanka |
| title_fullStr | Dogs are reservoir hosts of the zoonotic Dirofilaria sp. ‘hongkongensis’ and potentially of Brugia sp. Sri Lanka genotype in Sri Lanka |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dogs are reservoir hosts of the zoonotic Dirofilaria sp. ‘hongkongensis’ and potentially of Brugia sp. Sri Lanka genotype in Sri Lanka |
| title_short | Dogs are reservoir hosts of the zoonotic Dirofilaria sp. ‘hongkongensis’ and potentially of Brugia sp. Sri Lanka genotype in Sri Lanka |
| title_sort | dogs are reservoir hosts of the zoonotic dirofilaria sp hongkongensis and potentially of brugia sp sri lanka genotype in sri lanka |
| topic | Filarial B. malayi D. repens Vector-borne Mosquito Canine |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771423001453 |
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