Genotyping and comparative pathology of Spirocerca in black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) in South Africa
Abstract Background The pathology of spirocercosis, a disease caused by the infestation of carnivores with the nematode Spirocerca lupi, has been extensively described in domestic dogs and coyotes. However, it has not been described in wild carnivores in South Africa. The aim of this study was to ev...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2017-08-01
|
| Series: | BMC Veterinary Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12917-017-1175-4 |
| _version_ | 1819013020312928256 |
|---|---|
| author | M. M. Bumby M. C. Williams J. C. A. Steyl R. Harrison-White H. Lutermann G. T. Fosgate P. J. de Waal J. Mitha S. J. Clift |
| author_facet | M. M. Bumby M. C. Williams J. C. A. Steyl R. Harrison-White H. Lutermann G. T. Fosgate P. J. de Waal J. Mitha S. J. Clift |
| author_sort | M. M. Bumby |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The pathology of spirocercosis, a disease caused by the infestation of carnivores with the nematode Spirocerca lupi, has been extensively described in domestic dogs and coyotes. However, it has not been described in wild carnivores in South Africa. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether black-backed jackals are a host for Spirocerca species and to provide a detailed description of the associated pathology. Jackals were also stratified according to age and the Spirocerca species recovered were characterized using molecular techniques. Methods Standard necropsies were performed on routinely culled jackals from three of the nine provinces of South Africa during the period June 2012 to February 2013. Jackals were screened for the presence of pathognomonic Spirocerca-induced lesions and for evidence of aberrant migration. Relevant samples were submitted for histopathology and collected larvae were genotyped at nine microsatellite loci. Results Spirocerca lupi-associated aortic lesions were found in 16 of 93 (17%) black-backed jackals. Of these, four (25%) were associated with S. lupi larvae. Genotyping of the larvae revealed amplification of all nine loci that amplified dog-derived S. lupi, with the same level of polymorphism in the allele size ranges. Only 1 of 93 jackals had an esophageal nodule with concurrent S. lupi-induced aortic aneurysms. The single esophageal nodule found did not contain adult nematodes, nor did it communicate with the esophageal lumen. None of the jackals that were examined had macroscopically evident spondylitis, which is frequently reported in the dog. Histopathology of the S. lupi-induced aortic lesions in the jackal revealed replacement of elastic and smooth muscle fibers by fibrous connective tissue. In cases where inflammation was present, the inflammatory infiltrate consisted predominantly of eosinophils. The single esophageal nodule histologically resembled the early inflammatory nodule described in dogs and consisted of fibrous connective tissue, multifocal accumulation of lymphocytes, plasma cells and rare hemosiderin-laden macrophages. Conclusions These lesions suggest that the life cycle of S. lupi may not or only rarely be completed in jackals. A possible explanation might be that jackals are relatively resistant to developing significant pathology associated with S. lupi-infection. However, before any conclusions can be drawn, many more jackals, including those that die naturally will have to be investigated for evidence of S. lupi infection. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T01:53:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-748234570cb949f0b0ad1e78ae64c0b1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1746-6148 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T01:53:18Z |
| publishDate | 2017-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Veterinary Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-748234570cb949f0b0ad1e78ae64c0b12022-12-21T19:19:51ZengBMCBMC Veterinary Research1746-61482017-08-011311910.1186/s12917-017-1175-4Genotyping and comparative pathology of Spirocerca in black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) in South AfricaM. M. Bumby0M. C. Williams1J. C. A. Steyl2R. Harrison-White3H. Lutermann4G. T. Fosgate5P. J. de Waal6J. Mitha7S. J. Clift8Section Pathology, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of PretoriaSection Pathology, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of PretoriaSection Pathology, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of PretoriaWildlife Damage- Research and Management, North West Parks and Tourism Board, Madikwe and SA Lombard Nature ReservesMammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of PretoriaDepartment of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of PretoriaDepartment of Genetics, University of PretoriaDepartment of Genetics, University of PretoriaSection Pathology, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of PretoriaAbstract Background The pathology of spirocercosis, a disease caused by the infestation of carnivores with the nematode Spirocerca lupi, has been extensively described in domestic dogs and coyotes. However, it has not been described in wild carnivores in South Africa. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether black-backed jackals are a host for Spirocerca species and to provide a detailed description of the associated pathology. Jackals were also stratified according to age and the Spirocerca species recovered were characterized using molecular techniques. Methods Standard necropsies were performed on routinely culled jackals from three of the nine provinces of South Africa during the period June 2012 to February 2013. Jackals were screened for the presence of pathognomonic Spirocerca-induced lesions and for evidence of aberrant migration. Relevant samples were submitted for histopathology and collected larvae were genotyped at nine microsatellite loci. Results Spirocerca lupi-associated aortic lesions were found in 16 of 93 (17%) black-backed jackals. Of these, four (25%) were associated with S. lupi larvae. Genotyping of the larvae revealed amplification of all nine loci that amplified dog-derived S. lupi, with the same level of polymorphism in the allele size ranges. Only 1 of 93 jackals had an esophageal nodule with concurrent S. lupi-induced aortic aneurysms. The single esophageal nodule found did not contain adult nematodes, nor did it communicate with the esophageal lumen. None of the jackals that were examined had macroscopically evident spondylitis, which is frequently reported in the dog. Histopathology of the S. lupi-induced aortic lesions in the jackal revealed replacement of elastic and smooth muscle fibers by fibrous connective tissue. In cases where inflammation was present, the inflammatory infiltrate consisted predominantly of eosinophils. The single esophageal nodule histologically resembled the early inflammatory nodule described in dogs and consisted of fibrous connective tissue, multifocal accumulation of lymphocytes, plasma cells and rare hemosiderin-laden macrophages. Conclusions These lesions suggest that the life cycle of S. lupi may not or only rarely be completed in jackals. A possible explanation might be that jackals are relatively resistant to developing significant pathology associated with S. lupi-infection. However, before any conclusions can be drawn, many more jackals, including those that die naturally will have to be investigated for evidence of S. lupi infection.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12917-017-1175-4Aortic aneurysmsBlack-backed jackalGenotypingEsophageal noduleResistanceSpirocerca lupi |
| spellingShingle | M. M. Bumby M. C. Williams J. C. A. Steyl R. Harrison-White H. Lutermann G. T. Fosgate P. J. de Waal J. Mitha S. J. Clift Genotyping and comparative pathology of Spirocerca in black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) in South Africa BMC Veterinary Research Aortic aneurysms Black-backed jackal Genotyping Esophageal nodule Resistance Spirocerca lupi |
| title | Genotyping and comparative pathology of Spirocerca in black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) in South Africa |
| title_full | Genotyping and comparative pathology of Spirocerca in black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Genotyping and comparative pathology of Spirocerca in black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genotyping and comparative pathology of Spirocerca in black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) in South Africa |
| title_short | Genotyping and comparative pathology of Spirocerca in black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) in South Africa |
| title_sort | genotyping and comparative pathology of spirocerca in black backed jackals canis mesomelas in south africa |
| topic | Aortic aneurysms Black-backed jackal Genotyping Esophageal nodule Resistance Spirocerca lupi |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12917-017-1175-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mmbumby genotypingandcomparativepathologyofspirocercainblackbackedjackalscanismesomelasinsouthafrica AT mcwilliams genotypingandcomparativepathologyofspirocercainblackbackedjackalscanismesomelasinsouthafrica AT jcasteyl genotypingandcomparativepathologyofspirocercainblackbackedjackalscanismesomelasinsouthafrica AT rharrisonwhite genotypingandcomparativepathologyofspirocercainblackbackedjackalscanismesomelasinsouthafrica AT hlutermann genotypingandcomparativepathologyofspirocercainblackbackedjackalscanismesomelasinsouthafrica AT gtfosgate genotypingandcomparativepathologyofspirocercainblackbackedjackalscanismesomelasinsouthafrica AT pjdewaal genotypingandcomparativepathologyofspirocercainblackbackedjackalscanismesomelasinsouthafrica AT jmitha genotypingandcomparativepathologyofspirocercainblackbackedjackalscanismesomelasinsouthafrica AT sjclift genotypingandcomparativepathologyofspirocercainblackbackedjackalscanismesomelasinsouthafrica |