Infection with <i>Paragonimus westermani</i> of boar-hunting dogs in Western Japan maintained via artificial feeding with wild boar meat by hunters

Abstract

Infection of boar-hunting dogs with Paragonimus westermani was investigated in Western Japan. Blood and rectal feces were collected from 441 dogs in the three districts (205 in Kinki, 131 in Chugoku and 105 in Shikoku District). In a screening ELISA for serum antibody against P. westermani antigen, 195 dogs (44.2%) showed positive reaction. In the 195 dogs, 8 dogs were found excreting P. westermani eggs after molecular analysis of fecal eggs, and additional 7 were identified serologically for the parasite infection because of their stronger reactivity against P. westermani antigen than against antigens of other species of Paragonimus. A spatial analysis showed that all of the P. westermani infections were found in Kinki and Chugoku Districts. In this area, dogs’ experience of being fed with raw boar meat showed high odds ratio (3.35) to the sero-positivity in the screening ELISA, and the frequency of such experiences was significantly higher in sero-positive dogs. While clear relationship was not obtained between predation of boars by dogs during hunting and their sero-positivity. Therefore, it is suggested that human activity of feeding with wild boar meat is the risk factor for P. westermani infection in boar-hunting dogs. Considering that hunting dogs could play as a major definitive host and maintain the present distribution of P. westermani in Western Japan, control measures for the infection in hunting dogs, such as prohibition of raw meat feeding and regular deworming, should be undertaken.

Pseudorabies Virus Associations in Wild Animals: Review of Potential Reservoirs for Cross-Host Transmission

“…Because of the recent incidents of PRV infecting people, the dog in PRV infection has aroused great concern. PRV is prevalent in dogs, including working and hunting dogs, in the USA [ 17 , 89 , 90 ], Belgium [ 91 ], Italy [ 19 , 75 , 92 ], France [ 93 ], Spain [ 85 , 94 ], Japan [ 95 , 96 ], Austria [ 97 , 98 , 99 ], China [ 18 ], Serbia [ 100 ], Argentina [ 101 ], and Germany [ 74 ], with infection via direct or indirect contact with wild boars and pigs [ 6 , 74 ]. Dogs with PRV infection display neurological signs, anorexia, intense muzzle itch, and respiratory distress [ 1 , 96 ], and usually die within 48 h of clinical symptom onset [ 19 ].…”

Differentially expressed homologous genes reveal interspecies differences of Paragonimus proliferus based on transcriptome analysis

“…The natural definitive or paratenic hosts of P. proliferus include rats, but not monkeys, dogs, or cats ( Ben-jiang, 2004 ). In contrast, dogs and cats are suitable hosts for other Paragonimus species, such as P. kellicotti ( Harrus, Nyska, Colorni, & Markovics, 1997 ; Peregrine, Nykamp, Carey, & Kruth, 2014 ) , P. skrjabini ( Doanh et al, 2016 ), Paragonimus miyazakii ( Madarame et al, 2009 ), and P. westermani ( Doanh et al, 2016 ; Irie et al, 2017 ). The distinct host permissiveness of different Paragonimus species strongly suggests that their virulence and pathogenicity may also differ considerably.…”

A case of a dog with paragonimiasis after consumption of raw deer meat

“…Freshwater crustaceans are thought to be the infection source [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 17 , 18 , 20 ]. However, in recent years, paragonimiasis has been frequently observed in wild boar-hunting dogs, indicating that wild boar meat could be a source of Paragonimus in dogs [ 8 , 9 , 15 ]. To the best of our knowledge, no deer meat-derived Paragonimus infection has been reported in dogs.…”