Intermediate gastropod hosts of major feline cardiopulmonary nematodes in an area of wildcat and domestic cat sympatry in Greece
Abstract Background The metastrongyloid nematodes Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, Troglostrongylus brevior and Angiostrongylus chabaudi are cardiopulmonary parasites affecting domestic cats (Felis catus) and wildcats (Felis silvestris). Although knowledge on these nematodes has been improved in the past...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-020-04213-z |
| _version_ | 1818217868984057856 |
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| author | Dimitris Dimzas Simone Morelli Donato Traversa Angela Di Cesare Yoo Ree Van Bourgonie Karin Breugelmans Thierry Backeljau Antonio Frangipane di Regalbono Anastasia Diakou |
| author_facet | Dimitris Dimzas Simone Morelli Donato Traversa Angela Di Cesare Yoo Ree Van Bourgonie Karin Breugelmans Thierry Backeljau Antonio Frangipane di Regalbono Anastasia Diakou |
| author_sort | Dimitris Dimzas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The metastrongyloid nematodes Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, Troglostrongylus brevior and Angiostrongylus chabaudi are cardiopulmonary parasites affecting domestic cats (Felis catus) and wildcats (Felis silvestris). Although knowledge on these nematodes has been improved in the past years, gaps in our knowledge of their distribution and role of gastropods as intermediate hosts in Europe still exist. This study reports on the presence of these nematodes and their intermediate hosts in an area in Greece where domestic cats and wildcats occur in sympatry. Methods Terrestrial gastropods were collected in the field and identified morphologically and by mitochondrial DNA-sequence analysis. Metastrongyloid larvae were detected by artificial digestion, morphologically identified to the species and stage level and their identity was molecularly confirmed. Results Aelurostrongylus abstrusus was found in the snails Massylaea vermiculata and Helix lucorum, T. brevior in the slug Tandonia sp., and A. chabaudi in the slug Limax sp. and the snails H. lucorum and M. vermiculata. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge this study provides the first reports of (i) terrestrial gastropods being naturally infected with A. chabaudi, (ii) T. brevior naturally infecting terrestrial gastropods in Europe, and (iii) A. abstrusus naturally infecting terrestrial gastropods in Greece. Furthermore, the present study describes for the first time developmental stages of A. chabaudi and T. brevior in naturally infected gastropods. The biological characteristics of various intermediate gastropod hosts that could influence the distribution and expansion of feline cardiopulmonary nematodes are discussed, along with epizootiological implications and perspectives. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T07:14:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-502fe4c890754246a439187bba9398e1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T07:14:43Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-502fe4c890754246a439187bba9398e12022-12-22T00:33:33ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052020-07-0113111210.1186/s13071-020-04213-zIntermediate gastropod hosts of major feline cardiopulmonary nematodes in an area of wildcat and domestic cat sympatry in GreeceDimitris Dimzas0Simone Morelli1Donato Traversa2Angela Di Cesare3Yoo Ree Van Bourgonie4Karin Breugelmans5Thierry Backeljau6Antonio Frangipane di Regalbono7Anastasia Diakou8School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Teaching Veterinary HospitalFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Teaching Veterinary HospitalFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Teaching Veterinary HospitalRoyal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (BopCo - LifeWatch Belgium)Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (BopCo - LifeWatch Belgium)Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (BopCo - LifeWatch Belgium)Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of PaduaSchool of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiAbstract Background The metastrongyloid nematodes Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, Troglostrongylus brevior and Angiostrongylus chabaudi are cardiopulmonary parasites affecting domestic cats (Felis catus) and wildcats (Felis silvestris). Although knowledge on these nematodes has been improved in the past years, gaps in our knowledge of their distribution and role of gastropods as intermediate hosts in Europe still exist. This study reports on the presence of these nematodes and their intermediate hosts in an area in Greece where domestic cats and wildcats occur in sympatry. Methods Terrestrial gastropods were collected in the field and identified morphologically and by mitochondrial DNA-sequence analysis. Metastrongyloid larvae were detected by artificial digestion, morphologically identified to the species and stage level and their identity was molecularly confirmed. Results Aelurostrongylus abstrusus was found in the snails Massylaea vermiculata and Helix lucorum, T. brevior in the slug Tandonia sp., and A. chabaudi in the slug Limax sp. and the snails H. lucorum and M. vermiculata. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge this study provides the first reports of (i) terrestrial gastropods being naturally infected with A. chabaudi, (ii) T. brevior naturally infecting terrestrial gastropods in Europe, and (iii) A. abstrusus naturally infecting terrestrial gastropods in Greece. Furthermore, the present study describes for the first time developmental stages of A. chabaudi and T. brevior in naturally infected gastropods. The biological characteristics of various intermediate gastropod hosts that could influence the distribution and expansion of feline cardiopulmonary nematodes are discussed, along with epizootiological implications and perspectives.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-020-04213-zAelurostrongylus abstrususAngiostrongylus chabaudiCardiopulmonary parasitesDomestic catGastropodsSlugs |
| spellingShingle | Dimitris Dimzas Simone Morelli Donato Traversa Angela Di Cesare Yoo Ree Van Bourgonie Karin Breugelmans Thierry Backeljau Antonio Frangipane di Regalbono Anastasia Diakou Intermediate gastropod hosts of major feline cardiopulmonary nematodes in an area of wildcat and domestic cat sympatry in Greece Parasites & Vectors Aelurostrongylus abstrusus Angiostrongylus chabaudi Cardiopulmonary parasites Domestic cat Gastropods Slugs |
| title | Intermediate gastropod hosts of major feline cardiopulmonary nematodes in an area of wildcat and domestic cat sympatry in Greece |
| title_full | Intermediate gastropod hosts of major feline cardiopulmonary nematodes in an area of wildcat and domestic cat sympatry in Greece |
| title_fullStr | Intermediate gastropod hosts of major feline cardiopulmonary nematodes in an area of wildcat and domestic cat sympatry in Greece |
| title_full_unstemmed | Intermediate gastropod hosts of major feline cardiopulmonary nematodes in an area of wildcat and domestic cat sympatry in Greece |
| title_short | Intermediate gastropod hosts of major feline cardiopulmonary nematodes in an area of wildcat and domestic cat sympatry in Greece |
| title_sort | intermediate gastropod hosts of major feline cardiopulmonary nematodes in an area of wildcat and domestic cat sympatry in greece |
| topic | Aelurostrongylus abstrusus Angiostrongylus chabaudi Cardiopulmonary parasites Domestic cat Gastropods Slugs |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-020-04213-z |
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