On a Cercopithifilaria sp. transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus : a neglected, but widespread filarioid of dogs
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RESEARCH
Open Access
On a Cercopithifilaria sp. transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus: a neglected, but widespread filarioid of dogs Domenico Otranto1*, Emanuele Brianti2, Maria Stefania Latrofa1, Giada Annoscia1, Stefania Weigl1, Riccardo Paolo Lia1, Gabriella Gaglio2, Ettore Napoli2, Salvatore Giannetto2, Elias Papadopoulos3, Guadalupe Mirò4, Filipe Dantas-Torres1 and Odile Bain5
Abstract Background: This study was aimed at investigating the distribution of a Cercopithifilaria sp. sensu Otranto et al., 2011 with dermal microfilariae recently identified in a dog from Sicily (Italy). A large epidemiological survey was conducted by examining skin samples (n = 917) and ticks (n = 890) collected from dogs at different time points in Italy, central Spain and eastern Greece. Results: The overall prevalence of Cercopithifilaria sp. in the sampled animal populations was 13.9% and 10.5% by microscopy of skin sediments and by PCR on skin samples, respectively. Up to 21.6% and 45.5% of dogs in Spain were positive by microscopical examination and by PCR. Cumulative incidence rates ranging from 7.7% to 13.9% were estimated in dogs from two sites in Italy. A low level of agreement between the two diagnostic tests (microscopical examination and PCR) was recorded in sites where samples were processed in parallel. Infestation rate as determined by tick dissection (from 5.2% to 16.7%) was higher than that detected by PCR (from 0% to 3.9%); tick infestation was significantly associated with Cercopithifilaria sp. infestation in dogs from two out of four sites. Developing larvae found in ticks were morphometrically studied and as many as 1469 larvae were found in a single tick. Conclusions: Our data suggest that, in addition to the most common species of filarioids known to infest dogs (i. e., Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilaria repens and Acanthocheilonema reconditum), Cercopithifilaria sp. with dermal microfilariae should be considered due to its widespread distribution in southern Europe and high frequency in tick-exposed dogs. Keywords: canine filarioids, Cercopithifilaria, Cercopithifilaria bainae, Cercopithifilaria grassii, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, vector, epidemiology, Europe
Background Among veterinarians and parasitologists, canine filariae with haematic microfilariae (e.g., Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilaria repens, Acanthocheilonema reconditum and Acanthocheilonema dracunculoides) are known better than those with only dermal microfilariae (e.g., Onchocerca lupi and Cercopithifilaria spp.). This is probably due to the fact that dermal filariae cause limited or no * Correspondence: [email protected] 1 Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Zootecnia, Università degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, BA, Italy Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
clinical alterations (with the exception of O. lupi) and that skin samples are difficult to collect since this procedure is invasive and thus not easily accepted by pet owners. Additionally, blood microfilariae are easily visible in blood smears d
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