Cutaneous filarioid nematodes of dogs in the United States: Are they emerging, neglected, or underdiagnosed parasites?
Filarioid nematodes, which are vector-borne parasites of cosmopolitan distribution, of dogs are medically important. They are represented by species in which microfilariae were found to be circulating in the bloodstream (e.g., Dirofilaria sp., Acanthocheilonema sp., and Brugia sp.) or skin-dwelling...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1128611/full |
| _version_ | 1797897083806547968 |
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| author | Jeff Gruntmeir Jeff Gruntmeir Jeff Gruntmeir Maureen Kelly Rafael Antonio Nascimento Ramos Guilherme Gomes Verocai |
| author_facet | Jeff Gruntmeir Jeff Gruntmeir Jeff Gruntmeir Maureen Kelly Rafael Antonio Nascimento Ramos Guilherme Gomes Verocai |
| author_sort | Jeff Gruntmeir |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Filarioid nematodes, which are vector-borne parasites of cosmopolitan distribution, of dogs are medically important. They are represented by species in which microfilariae were found to be circulating in the bloodstream (e.g., Dirofilaria sp., Acanthocheilonema sp., and Brugia sp.) or skin-dwelling (e.g., Cercopithifilaria sp. and Onchocerca sp.). Those species whose microfilariae are detected in blood have been extensively studied, especially Dirofilaria immitis, due to their clinical importance. In recent decades, there has been an increased interest by the scientific community in filarioid nematodes whose microfilariae are detected in the skin because of the zoonotic aspect of Onchocerca lupi. In the United States (US), although D. immitis has been considered the main filarioid infecting dogs, the intense animal movement and global canine filarioid diversity may indicate that the likely presence of cutaneous filarioid nematodes is more common than previously expected. Hence, a question remains: Are these canine filarioid nematodes emerging, neglected, or simply underdiagnosed in the US? In this review, we provide an overview of pertinent information that briefly summarizes the biology of the different canine filarioid nematode species, clinical signs associated with infections, and currently available diagnostic tools using molecular and microscopy-based methods and highlight knowledge gaps where research and surveillance efforts remain necessary. The data herein presented serve as an alert to the scientific community about the importance of filarioid nematodes infecting dogs other than D. immitis. Additionally, the zoonotic potential of several filarioid species reinforces the necessity of a proper diagnosis and the need for broader surveillance to understand their diversity and distribution, to highlight the potential introduction of certain species, and mitigate their establishment in the country and new animal and human cases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T07:52:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-72877eca7def4df9a1ede0c6c0f4bab5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T07:52:06Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-72877eca7def4df9a1ede0c6c0f4bab52023-02-23T08:50:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692023-02-011010.3389/fvets.2023.11286111128611Cutaneous filarioid nematodes of dogs in the United States: Are they emerging, neglected, or underdiagnosed parasites?Jeff Gruntmeir0Jeff Gruntmeir1Jeff Gruntmeir2Maureen Kelly3Rafael Antonio Nascimento Ramos4Guilherme Gomes Verocai5Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United StatesDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United StatesSoutheastern Center of Excellence in Vector Borne Diseases, Gainesville, FL, United StatesDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biological Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United StatesLaboratory of Parasitology, Federal University of the Agreste of Pernambuco, Garanhuns, PE, BrazilDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biological Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United StatesFilarioid nematodes, which are vector-borne parasites of cosmopolitan distribution, of dogs are medically important. They are represented by species in which microfilariae were found to be circulating in the bloodstream (e.g., Dirofilaria sp., Acanthocheilonema sp., and Brugia sp.) or skin-dwelling (e.g., Cercopithifilaria sp. and Onchocerca sp.). Those species whose microfilariae are detected in blood have been extensively studied, especially Dirofilaria immitis, due to their clinical importance. In recent decades, there has been an increased interest by the scientific community in filarioid nematodes whose microfilariae are detected in the skin because of the zoonotic aspect of Onchocerca lupi. In the United States (US), although D. immitis has been considered the main filarioid infecting dogs, the intense animal movement and global canine filarioid diversity may indicate that the likely presence of cutaneous filarioid nematodes is more common than previously expected. Hence, a question remains: Are these canine filarioid nematodes emerging, neglected, or simply underdiagnosed in the US? In this review, we provide an overview of pertinent information that briefly summarizes the biology of the different canine filarioid nematode species, clinical signs associated with infections, and currently available diagnostic tools using molecular and microscopy-based methods and highlight knowledge gaps where research and surveillance efforts remain necessary. The data herein presented serve as an alert to the scientific community about the importance of filarioid nematodes infecting dogs other than D. immitis. Additionally, the zoonotic potential of several filarioid species reinforces the necessity of a proper diagnosis and the need for broader surveillance to understand their diversity and distribution, to highlight the potential introduction of certain species, and mitigate their establishment in the country and new animal and human cases.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1128611/fullOnchocercaCercopithifilariaDirofilariadiagnosisvector-borne diseaseszoonosis |
| spellingShingle | Jeff Gruntmeir Jeff Gruntmeir Jeff Gruntmeir Maureen Kelly Rafael Antonio Nascimento Ramos Guilherme Gomes Verocai Cutaneous filarioid nematodes of dogs in the United States: Are they emerging, neglected, or underdiagnosed parasites? Frontiers in Veterinary Science Onchocerca Cercopithifilaria Dirofilaria diagnosis vector-borne diseases zoonosis |
| title | Cutaneous filarioid nematodes of dogs in the United States: Are they emerging, neglected, or underdiagnosed parasites? |
| title_full | Cutaneous filarioid nematodes of dogs in the United States: Are they emerging, neglected, or underdiagnosed parasites? |
| title_fullStr | Cutaneous filarioid nematodes of dogs in the United States: Are they emerging, neglected, or underdiagnosed parasites? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cutaneous filarioid nematodes of dogs in the United States: Are they emerging, neglected, or underdiagnosed parasites? |
| title_short | Cutaneous filarioid nematodes of dogs in the United States: Are they emerging, neglected, or underdiagnosed parasites? |
| title_sort | cutaneous filarioid nematodes of dogs in the united states are they emerging neglected or underdiagnosed parasites |
| topic | Onchocerca Cercopithifilaria Dirofilaria diagnosis vector-borne diseases zoonosis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1128611/full |
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