Clinical case presentation and a review of the literature of canine onchocercosis by Onchocerca lupi in the United States
Abstract Background Onchocerca lupi, a filarioid of zoonotic concern, infects dogs and cats causing ocular lesions of different degrees, from minor to severe. However, infected animals do not always display overt clinical signs, rendering the diagnosis of the infection obscure to the majority of vet...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2015-02-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-015-0699-3 |
| _version_ | 1797811931598290944 |
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| author | Domenico Otranto Alessio Giannelli Nicole Scotty Trumble Matt Chavkin Gavin Kennard Maria Stefania Latrofa Dwight D Bowman Filipe Dantas-Torres Mark L Eberhard |
| author_facet | Domenico Otranto Alessio Giannelli Nicole Scotty Trumble Matt Chavkin Gavin Kennard Maria Stefania Latrofa Dwight D Bowman Filipe Dantas-Torres Mark L Eberhard |
| author_sort | Domenico Otranto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Onchocerca lupi, a filarioid of zoonotic concern, infects dogs and cats causing ocular lesions of different degrees, from minor to severe. However, infected animals do not always display overt clinical signs, rendering the diagnosis of the infection obscure to the majority of veterinarians. Canine onchocercosis has been reported in the Old World and the information on its occurrence in the United States, as well as its pathogenesis and clinical management is still meagre. This study reports on the largest case series of O. lupi infection from the United States and reviews previous cases of canine onchocercosis in this country. Methods Information on the clinical history of a series of eight cases of O. lupi infection in dogs diagnosed in Minnesota, New Mexico, Colorado and Florida, from 2011 to 2014, was obtained from clinical records provided the veterinary practitioners. Nematodes were morphologically identified at species level and genetically analyzed. Results All dogs displayed a similar clinical presentation, including subconjunctival and episcleral nodules, which were surgically removed. Each dog was subjected to post-operative therapy. Whitish filaria-like parasites were morphologically and molecularly identified as O. lupi. Conclusions This study confirms that O. lupi is endemic in the United States, indicating that the distribution of the infection is probably wider than previously thought. With effect, further studies are urgently needed in order to improve the diagnosis and to assess the efficacy of therapeutic protocols, targeting the parasite itself and/or its endosymbionts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:31:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f0f19dc157644f53b7c3af149b3f9065 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:31:03Z |
| publishDate | 2015-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-f0f19dc157644f53b7c3af149b3f90652023-06-04T11:08:02ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052015-02-01811810.1186/s13071-015-0699-3Clinical case presentation and a review of the literature of canine onchocercosis by Onchocerca lupi in the United StatesDomenico Otranto0Alessio Giannelli1Nicole Scotty Trumble2Matt Chavkin3Gavin Kennard4Maria Stefania Latrofa5Dwight D Bowman6Filipe Dantas-Torres7Mark L Eberhard8Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, ValenzanoDipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, ValenzanoBluePearl Veterinary PartnersVRCC Animal Eye SpecialistsAlbuquerque PracticeDipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, ValenzanoCornell UniversityDipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, ValenzanoDivision of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centres for Disease Control and PreventionAbstract Background Onchocerca lupi, a filarioid of zoonotic concern, infects dogs and cats causing ocular lesions of different degrees, from minor to severe. However, infected animals do not always display overt clinical signs, rendering the diagnosis of the infection obscure to the majority of veterinarians. Canine onchocercosis has been reported in the Old World and the information on its occurrence in the United States, as well as its pathogenesis and clinical management is still meagre. This study reports on the largest case series of O. lupi infection from the United States and reviews previous cases of canine onchocercosis in this country. Methods Information on the clinical history of a series of eight cases of O. lupi infection in dogs diagnosed in Minnesota, New Mexico, Colorado and Florida, from 2011 to 2014, was obtained from clinical records provided the veterinary practitioners. Nematodes were morphologically identified at species level and genetically analyzed. Results All dogs displayed a similar clinical presentation, including subconjunctival and episcleral nodules, which were surgically removed. Each dog was subjected to post-operative therapy. Whitish filaria-like parasites were morphologically and molecularly identified as O. lupi. Conclusions This study confirms that O. lupi is endemic in the United States, indicating that the distribution of the infection is probably wider than previously thought. With effect, further studies are urgently needed in order to improve the diagnosis and to assess the efficacy of therapeutic protocols, targeting the parasite itself and/or its endosymbionts.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-015-0699-3Onchocerca lupiCanine onchocercosisZoonosisUnited StatesClinical presentation |
| spellingShingle | Domenico Otranto Alessio Giannelli Nicole Scotty Trumble Matt Chavkin Gavin Kennard Maria Stefania Latrofa Dwight D Bowman Filipe Dantas-Torres Mark L Eberhard Clinical case presentation and a review of the literature of canine onchocercosis by Onchocerca lupi in the United States Parasites & Vectors Onchocerca lupi Canine onchocercosis Zoonosis United States Clinical presentation |
| title | Clinical case presentation and a review of the literature of canine onchocercosis by Onchocerca lupi in the United States |
| title_full | Clinical case presentation and a review of the literature of canine onchocercosis by Onchocerca lupi in the United States |
| title_fullStr | Clinical case presentation and a review of the literature of canine onchocercosis by Onchocerca lupi in the United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | Clinical case presentation and a review of the literature of canine onchocercosis by Onchocerca lupi in the United States |
| title_short | Clinical case presentation and a review of the literature of canine onchocercosis by Onchocerca lupi in the United States |
| title_sort | clinical case presentation and a review of the literature of canine onchocercosis by onchocerca lupi in the united states |
| topic | Onchocerca lupi Canine onchocercosis Zoonosis United States Clinical presentation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-015-0699-3 |
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