Title:
Induction of patent Toxocara canis infections in previously exposed and in helminth free, regularly treated or untreated young dogs after low dose inoculations with embryonated eggs
Authors:
Fahrion A., Stäbler S., Deplazes P.
Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
Name of presenting author: Fahrion A.
Corresponding author: Deplazes P.
Abstract:
The onset of patent infection with Toxocara canis in the dog depends on the migratory pathway of parasite larvae (somatic or tracheal) which is considered to be largely related to the host's age and its immune status. Therefore, adult canids are not regarded as main shedder of eggs of this zoonotic parasite. However, epidemiological surveys show age independent prevalences of patent T. canis infections in healthy adult animals. In a study with 18 dogs (8-9 months of age, 10 females, 8 males), the controlled induction of patent infections after repeated egg inoculations in treated and untreated dogs was investigated in 3 groups of 6 animals over a period of 7 months. Animals of group nos. 1 and 3 were inoculated twice with 100 infective T. canis eggs followed 10 days later by anthelminthic treatment with Milbemax® in group 1 (group 3 remained untreated). The animals of the non-inoculated control group 2 were treated as in group 1. We succeeded in inducing patent infections in all animals of group 3. Following a three-month observation period, all 18 animals were treated with piperazine citrate to prove or exclude intestinal worm infestation and all were administered 100 infectious eggs. Patent infections were detected in all groups (group 1, 1 dog; group 2, 5 dogs; group 3, 4 dogs). Observed prepatency periods were 40-56 days. The findings are significant regarding veterinary public health aspects. Based on the prepatency, anthelminthic treatments of adult dogs in 6 weeks intervals could prevent patent infection and thus minimize the zoonotic hazard.
Title:
Evidence based strategies for control of worms in dogs and cats
Authors:
1,3Deplazes, P., 2,3Thamsborg, S. M,
1Institute for Parasitology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
2Danish Centre for Experimental Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen
3ESCCAP (Reg. No. 5821601), ESCCAP Secretariat: Shernacre Cottage, Lower Howsell Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 1UX, United Kingdom
Abstract:
Recent epidemiological investigations in different areas in Europe have revealed high nematode prevalences in the normal domestic dog and cat population. At least for some of the endemic areas this result is surprising. Based on highly efficient chemotherapeutic agents and detailed biological and epidemiological knowledge of the key nematodes, optimal control strategies can theoretically be designed. However, even in the parasitological community the aim of such strategies is discussed controversially. For example agreement on "zero-tolerance" for the excretion of zoonotic helminths in dogs and cats is of veterinary public health importance, but not significant for veterinarians arguing with the low pathogenicity of these parasites in adult dogs. The symposium aims to present some recent epidemiological and experimental data focussed on intestinal nematodes (especially Toxocara) and heartworms (Dirofilaria and Angiostrongylus) as a basis for the discussion of control strategies as proposed by the last presentation of the ESCCAP group in a first guideline focussing on worms in dogs and cats.
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Title:
The ESCCAP Guideline for worm control in dogs and cats
Authors:
Epe C. 1,9, Deplazes P. 2,9, Guillot J. 3,9, Fisher M. 4,9, Genchi C. 5,9, Miro G. 6,9, van Knapen F. 7,9, Thamsborg S. M 8,9
1 Institute for Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
2 Institute for Parasitology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
3 Parasitologie-Mycologie, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France
4 Shernacre Cottage, Lower Howsell Road, Malvern Worcs, UK
5 Department of Animal Pathology, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
6 Universidad Complutense de Madrid Facultad de Veterinaria Madrid, Spain
7 Faculty of Life Sciences, Copenhagen University, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Division of Public Health and Food Safety, Utrecht, The Netherlands
8 Danish Centre for Experimental Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen
9 ESCCAP (Reg. No. 5821601), ESCCAP Secretariat: Shernacre Cottage, Lower Howsell Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 1UX, United Kingdom
Abstract:
European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) was formed in 2005 when it was perceived that there was a gap in Europe for a consistent approach to the diagnosis and treatment of companion animal parasites. ESCCAP's objective is to develop guidelines for the control of major parasitic infections in companion animals in order to protect the health of pets, enhance the safety of the public and preserve the bond between pets and people. The guidelines will be subject to regular revision in dialogue with practitioners and researchers across Europe, as the great diversity in parasites and their importance is recognised. Guidelines and other news for vets and pet owners will be presented on the website (www.esccap.org) and will also be disseminated by other means. Guideline No.1: Worm control in dogs and cats, was launched on the website December 2006. The guideline deals with geographical distribution and prevention by environmental control of parasite transmission, animal management and treatment. It identifies three "key" parasite groups that cause severe disease and/or pose a zoonotic risk and have high prevalence in some or all areas of Europe. ESCCAP is an independent, non-profit making organisation registered in UK, expecting to get charitable status in 2007. It is presently sponsored by a number of pharmaceutical companies. ESCCAP has 8 members (and 3 trustees) with a solid background in parasitological research and/or clinical practice. Members are responsible for a region of Europe and all are rotated within 7 years.
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Title: Geographical information systems in health application: experience on filariosis and other vector-borne diseases
Authors:
Rinaldi L. 1, Musella V. 1, Marzatico G. 1, Genchi C. 2, Cringoli G. 1
1 Dipartimento di Patologia e Sanità Animale, Settore di Parassitologia Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Napoli, Italy;
2 Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Igiene e Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, Sezione di Patologia Generale e Parasitologia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
Abstract:
Climatic changes, together with an increase in the movement of cats and dogs across Europe, have caused an increase in the geographical range of several vector-borne parasites, e.g. Dirofilaria, and in the risk of infection for animals and humans. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are increasingly used to study the epidemiology of parasitic diseases, particularly arthropod-borne diseases, and to spatial and temporal predictions based on the climatic and/or environmental characteristics of a certain area and the climatic and/or environmental requirement(s) of a certain species. Climate-based forecast systems, employing the concept of growing degree days (GDD), have been developed for different diseases of parasitological importance. Regarding heartworm (HW) disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis, a GIS-based model has been developed using temperature records from 2,256 meteorological stations in 58 European countries, spanning a 15-year period. This model was based on the fact that: (i) the D. immitis rate of maturation to infective L3 in the mosquitoes depends mainly on temperature, (ii) there is a threshold of 14°C below which development will not proceed, (iii) there is a requirement of 130 GDD for larvae to reach infectivity and a maximum life expectancy of 30 days for a vector mosquito. As result of this model, predictive maps have been drawn, assessing the duration of the HW transmission risk period and the efficient timing of HW chemoprophylaxis. The meteorological data used for the HW model, can also be extrapolated to study spatial and temporal transmission risk of other climate-based vector-borne parasites of companion animals.
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Title:
Infection biology of Angiostrongylus vasorum in foxes (Vulpes vulpes) with emphasis on the impact of host age, infection dose and exposure
Authors:
Webster, P. 1, Monrad, J. 1, Kapel, C.M.O. 2, & Thamsborg, S.M. 1,
1 Danish Centre for Experimental Parasitology, Dep. of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. 2 Section for Zoology, Dep. of Ecology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Name of presenting author: Webster, P.
Corresponding author: Webster, P.
Abstract:
Wild foxes are considered to form an important reservoir for A. vasorum to dogs but extremely little is known about the infection dynamics in foxes, or in dogs. Two experimental studies in foxes were performed in order to determine the impact of host age and infection dose (study 1) as well as that of repeated infections on the establishment and persistence of adult A. vasorum (study 2). In the first study, 14 farm bred female adult foxes (1½ -3 years old) and 14 juvenile foxes (4 months of age) were inoculated orally with either 50 (low dose) or 200 (high dose) A. vasorum third stage larvae. Six uninfected foxes served as controls. Ten weeks post infection (p.i.) the foxes were euthanized and the adult worm burdens (WB) were assessed. Patency was reached from week 6 p.i. in the juvenile groups compared to week 7 p.i. in the adult groups. Mean worm burdens differed significantly between the two juvenile groups (mean worm burden of 69 in the high dose and 30 in the low dose group). This difference was not present between the two adult fox groups with mean worm burdens of 16 and 20 respectively. Thus, the onset of patency and establishment of adult worms appeared to be dependent on host age. In the second study foxes were inoculated with either a single, two or three doses of 100 larvae and euthanized at different times. The experiment will end in May 2007, and the results will be presented at the conference.
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Title:
Toxocara canis in Swiss dogs: temporal aspects of different anthelminthic treatment procedures
Authors:
Gottstein B. 1, Sager H. 1, Deplazes, P 2
1 Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
2 Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
Abstract
Coproscopic examination of 505 dogs of Switzerland revealed an overall prevalence of 7.1% for Toxocara canis, as compared to hookworms (6.9%), Trichuris vulpis (5.5%), Toxascaris leonina (1.3%), Taeniidae (1.3%), Capillaria sp. (0.8%), and Diphyllobothrium latum (0.4%). Potential risk factors for infection were identified by a questionnaire, including dogs from rural versus urban areas, access to small rodents, offal and carrion and feeding of fresh and uncooked meat. In order to study the incidence upon different treatment strategies, a group of 111 dogs was treated every 3 months with a combined medication of pyrantel embonate, praziquantel and febantel, and another group of 112 dogs with a monthly treatment based upon milbemycine and praziquantel. Fecal samples were collected for coproscopy in monthly intervals. The yearly incidence of T. canis, hookworms, T. vulpis, Capillaria sp. and Taeniidae was assessed, and findings indicated that an infection risk with potential zoonotic pathogens cannot be completely ruled out for the dog owner, this, however, in dependence of the different deworming strategies used.
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Title:
ESCCAP-a consistent approach to the diagnosis and treatment of companion animal parasites in Europe
Authors:
Guillot Jacques 1.2, Epe Christian 2.3, Fisher Maggie 2.4, Genchi Claudio 2.5, Miro Guadalupe 2.6, Thamsborg Stig 2.7, van Knapen Franz 2.8 and Deplazes Peter 2.9
1 Ecole Nationale Veterinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France
2 ESCCAP (European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites)
3 Institut fur Parasitologie, Hannover, Germany
4 Shernacre Cottage, Malvern, Worcs., UK
5 Universita degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
6 Facultad de Veterinaria, Madrid, Spain
7 Danish Centre for Experimental Parasitology, Copenhagen, Denmark
8 Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht, The Netherlands
9 Institute fur Parasitologie, Zurich, Switzerland
Abstract:
European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) is an independent, non-profit making organization registered in UK. ESCCAP's objective is to develop guidelines for the control and treatment of parasites in companion animals. The organisation currently comprises 8 European members with a solid background in parasitological research and/or clinical practice and 3 trustees. Members are responsible for a region of Europe and all are rotated within 7 years. ESCCAP was created in 2005 when it was perceived that there was a gap in Europe for a consistent approach to the diagnosis and treatment of companion animal parasites. The long term goal for ESCCAP is that parasites of companion animals are no longer an issue for pets or humans across Europe. The guidelines will be subject to regular revision in dialogue with practitioners and researchers across Europe, as the great diversity in the parasites and their importance is recognised. Guidelines and other news for vets are presented on the website (www.esccap.org) and will also be promoted by other means. ESCCAP is sponsored by a number of pharmaceutical companies. ESCCAP's Guideline No.1 (Worm control in dogs and cats) was launched on the website in December 2006, and guidelines about the control of Ectoparasites, Vector borne parasitic diseases and dermatophtosis will follow in 2007-2008. the first guideline identifies three "key" parasite groups that cause severe disease and/or pose a zoonotic risk and have high prevalence in some or all areas of Europe: Toxocara spp. and hookworms, Echinococcus spp. and Dirofilaria immitis. The guideline deals with geographical distribution and prevalence, and prevention by environmental control of parasite transmission and treatment.
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Title:
Zoonotic worms from pet carnivores: risks assessment and prophylactic strategies
Authors: Jacques GUILLOT, Patrice BOUREE
Abstract:
There is a wide range of parasites that can infect pet carnivores. some of these parasites are more important than others because of their prevalence, their pathogenicity for the animals or their zoonotic potential (or because of the combination of both). The present article focuses on roundworms (Toxocara spp.) and tapeworms (Echinococcus spp.) that must be viewed as emerging public health hazards in France. when a human ingests infective Toxocara eggs, the eggs hatch and release larvae that can migrate anywhere in the body, a condition known as visceral larva migrans. Organs commonly affected are the eyes, brain, liver, and lungs, where infections can cause permanent visual, neurologic, or other tissue damage. Epidemiological studies implicate the presence of dogs, particularly puppies, in a household, and geography as the principal risk factors for human toxocarosis. Childrens' play habits and their attraction to pets put them at higher risk for infection than adults. When a human ingests embryophores from the dog tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus, the eggs hatch and release embryos that migrate in different organs and form voluminous cysts, a condition known as cystis echinococcosis. Human alveolar echinococcosis is caused by the larval stage of the fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, that usually develops in the liver. Slow larval growth results in an asymptomatic phase of several years before diagnosis. When left untreated, the condition may be lethal. In Central and Eastern European endemic areas of Echinococcus multilocularis, dogs that have access to rodents should be considered as potential risks to humans. Rational control measures to prevent animal and/or human infection include pet owner education and regular deworming procedures of dogs and cats. education of pet owners should focus on prevention and include practicing personal hygiene, clearing up pet feces regularly to reduce environmental contamination, and minimising exposure of children to potentially contaminated environments. Because puppies, kittens, pregnant and nursing animals, as well as hunting dogs are at highest risk for roundworm or tapeworm infections, and therefore responsible for most of the environmental contamination and human disease, anthelmintic treatments are most effective when they are initiated early and targeted at these populations. Various guidelines for treatment and control of parasitic infections in pet carnivores have been proposed in the United States (by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Companion Animal Parasitology Council) and in Europe (by the European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasitology). In France the group CEPHA (Comite d'Experts en Parasitologie Humaine et Animale) has recently been created. This is a non profit organisation whose objective is to participate to the prevention of parasitic zoonoses due to companion animals.
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Title:
Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in dogs - Clinical presentation and unanswered questions
Authors: BRENNAN, S., MULCAHY, G.
School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
Abstract:
Recent reports suggest that the prevalence of infection of dogs with the heartworm, Angiostrongylus vasorum, is increasing beyond previously-recognised endemic foci. Our knowledge of the fundamental biology of this parasite, and the pathogenic mechanisms associated with infection, is remarkably scanty. The time is right for a renewed focus on research on this parasite. Some of the priorities that need to be addressed include improved diagnostics, studies of transmission, including the range of possible intermediate hosts, and characterisation of the parasite molecules responsible for effects such as interference with blood coagulation.
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Title:
Devising guidelines on parasite control in companion animals amidst uncertainty - ESCCAP
Authors: Fisher, M.A., Deplazes, P., Epe, C., Genchi, C., Guillot, J., Miro, G., Van Knapen, F.
Corresponding Author: Shernacre Enterprise, Shernacre Cottage, Lower Howsell Road, Malvern, Worcs. WR14 1UX
Abstract:
It may be extremely useful to provide guidance for veterinary surgeons and pet owners in the form of guidelines, and taking abroad European perspective may be a constructive approach. In 2005, ESCCAP, a group with veterinary, medical and public health expertise, was initiated in Europe. Its objective is to define suitable parasite control guidelines for cats and dogs in Europe. It follows a previous initiative in 2002, when a group of parasitologists, veterinary surgeons and public health professionals from across the US gathered under the title "CAPC", with a mission "to foster animal and human health, while preserving the human-animal bond, through recommendations for the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of parasitic infection". The CAPC guidelines can be seen at www.capcvet.org. ESCCAP used the CAPC guidelines as a starting point but found customisation to be necessary as, for example, heartworm caused by Dirofilaria immitis is not endemic across the whole of Europe as it is in the US, and control of parasites associated with travelling pets is critical in Europe. Other challenges include creating clear advice where there is no or limited scientific evidence to use as a basis, as is the case with anthelmintic resistance in small animal parasites.
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