First report of Echinococcus multilocularis in cats in Poland: a monitoring study in cats and dogs from a rural area and animal shelter in a highly endemic region
Abstract Background Alveolar echinococcosis is a dangerous zoonotic disease caused by larval forms of Echinococcus multilocularis. In its life-cycle, the principal definitive host is the red fox; however, domesticated carnivorous animals (dogs and cats) can also act as definitive hosts. Until now, t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-019-3573-x |
| _version_ | 1818843496143912960 |
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| author | Jacek Karamon Jacek Sroka Joanna Dąbrowska Ewa Bilska-Zając Jolanta Zdybel Maciej Kochanowski Mirosław Różycki Tomasz Cencek |
| author_facet | Jacek Karamon Jacek Sroka Joanna Dąbrowska Ewa Bilska-Zając Jolanta Zdybel Maciej Kochanowski Mirosław Różycki Tomasz Cencek |
| author_sort | Jacek Karamon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Alveolar echinococcosis is a dangerous zoonotic disease caused by larval forms of Echinococcus multilocularis. In its life-cycle, the principal definitive host is the red fox; however, domesticated carnivorous animals (dogs and cats) can also act as definitive hosts. Until now, there were no data concerning this infection in cats in Poland. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of E. multilocularis in cats and dogs originating from rural areas and animal shelters in a region characterised by a high prevalence of E. multilocularis in red foxes. Methods Samples of faeces were collected from 67 cats and 268 dogs from a rural area (villages and animal shelters) of a highly endemic region in southeastern Poland. Samples were examined using nested PCR (E. multilocularis), multiplex PCR (E. multilocularis, Taenia spp.) and PCR [E. granulosus (s.l.)]. Additionally, faeces were examined microscopically (flotation). Moreover, intestines from 110 red foxes shot in the investigated area were examined (sedimentation and counting technique). Results Positive PCR results for E. multilocularis were obtained in 4 cats (6.0%) and 4 dogs (1.5%). There were no significant differences between groups of animals (from a shelter and with an owner) concerning the prevalence of E. multilocularis in both cats and dogs. Taenia spp. were found in 10 cats (14.9%) (Taenia taeniaeformis and T. hydatigena) and 26 dogs (9.7%) (T. hydatigena, T. serialis, T. taeniaeformis, T. crassiceps, T. pisiformis and T. ovis) and Mesocestoides litteratus was found in 4 cats (6.0%) and 3 dogs (1.1%). All samples were negative for E. granulosus by PCR. Taking into consideration PCR and flotation results, 29 cats (43.3%) and 73 dogs (27.2%) were infected with helminths (26.9 and 11.9%, respectively, were infected with tapeworms). The highly endemic status of the investigated area was confirmed by examination of red foxes: 48.2% of examined red foxes were infected with E. multilocularis. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this study reports the presence of E. multilocularis in cats for the first time in Poland and confirms the role of dogs in this infection in highly endemic areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T04:58:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d0573f6c0a7845afb051f2aad1aab89f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T04:58:47Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-d0573f6c0a7845afb051f2aad1aab89f2022-12-21T20:35:10ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052019-06-011211810.1186/s13071-019-3573-xFirst report of Echinococcus multilocularis in cats in Poland: a monitoring study in cats and dogs from a rural area and animal shelter in a highly endemic regionJacek Karamon0Jacek Sroka1Joanna Dąbrowska2Ewa Bilska-Zając3Jolanta Zdybel4Maciej Kochanowski5Mirosław Różycki6Tomasz Cencek7National Veterinary Research InstituteNational Veterinary Research InstituteNational Veterinary Research InstituteNational Veterinary Research InstituteNational Veterinary Research InstituteNational Veterinary Research InstituteNational Veterinary Research InstituteNational Veterinary Research InstituteAbstract Background Alveolar echinococcosis is a dangerous zoonotic disease caused by larval forms of Echinococcus multilocularis. In its life-cycle, the principal definitive host is the red fox; however, domesticated carnivorous animals (dogs and cats) can also act as definitive hosts. Until now, there were no data concerning this infection in cats in Poland. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of E. multilocularis in cats and dogs originating from rural areas and animal shelters in a region characterised by a high prevalence of E. multilocularis in red foxes. Methods Samples of faeces were collected from 67 cats and 268 dogs from a rural area (villages and animal shelters) of a highly endemic region in southeastern Poland. Samples were examined using nested PCR (E. multilocularis), multiplex PCR (E. multilocularis, Taenia spp.) and PCR [E. granulosus (s.l.)]. Additionally, faeces were examined microscopically (flotation). Moreover, intestines from 110 red foxes shot in the investigated area were examined (sedimentation and counting technique). Results Positive PCR results for E. multilocularis were obtained in 4 cats (6.0%) and 4 dogs (1.5%). There were no significant differences between groups of animals (from a shelter and with an owner) concerning the prevalence of E. multilocularis in both cats and dogs. Taenia spp. were found in 10 cats (14.9%) (Taenia taeniaeformis and T. hydatigena) and 26 dogs (9.7%) (T. hydatigena, T. serialis, T. taeniaeformis, T. crassiceps, T. pisiformis and T. ovis) and Mesocestoides litteratus was found in 4 cats (6.0%) and 3 dogs (1.1%). All samples were negative for E. granulosus by PCR. Taking into consideration PCR and flotation results, 29 cats (43.3%) and 73 dogs (27.2%) were infected with helminths (26.9 and 11.9%, respectively, were infected with tapeworms). The highly endemic status of the investigated area was confirmed by examination of red foxes: 48.2% of examined red foxes were infected with E. multilocularis. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this study reports the presence of E. multilocularis in cats for the first time in Poland and confirms the role of dogs in this infection in highly endemic areas.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-019-3573-xCatDogEchinococcus multilocularisHelminthsHookwormsMesocestoides |
| spellingShingle | Jacek Karamon Jacek Sroka Joanna Dąbrowska Ewa Bilska-Zając Jolanta Zdybel Maciej Kochanowski Mirosław Różycki Tomasz Cencek First report of Echinococcus multilocularis in cats in Poland: a monitoring study in cats and dogs from a rural area and animal shelter in a highly endemic region Parasites & Vectors Cat Dog Echinococcus multilocularis Helminths Hookworms Mesocestoides |
| title | First report of Echinococcus multilocularis in cats in Poland: a monitoring study in cats and dogs from a rural area and animal shelter in a highly endemic region |
| title_full | First report of Echinococcus multilocularis in cats in Poland: a monitoring study in cats and dogs from a rural area and animal shelter in a highly endemic region |
| title_fullStr | First report of Echinococcus multilocularis in cats in Poland: a monitoring study in cats and dogs from a rural area and animal shelter in a highly endemic region |
| title_full_unstemmed | First report of Echinococcus multilocularis in cats in Poland: a monitoring study in cats and dogs from a rural area and animal shelter in a highly endemic region |
| title_short | First report of Echinococcus multilocularis in cats in Poland: a monitoring study in cats and dogs from a rural area and animal shelter in a highly endemic region |
| title_sort | first report of echinococcus multilocularis in cats in poland a monitoring study in cats and dogs from a rural area and animal shelter in a highly endemic region |
| topic | Cat Dog Echinococcus multilocularis Helminths Hookworms Mesocestoides |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-019-3573-x |
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