New insights into the ecology and biology of Acanthocheilonema reconditum (Grassi, 1889) causing canine subcutaneous filariosis

Abstract

In spite of its wide distribution among dogs and the evidence of its implication as a zoonotic agent, scant information is available on the biology of Acanthocheilonema reconditum (Spirurida, Onchocercidae). In this study, blood samples from 152 Sicilian dogs were examined for A. reconditum microfilariae at the beginning of the study and 1 year later. The periodicity of microfilaraemia was investigated by bleeding 2 highly microfilaraemic dogs twice a day for 10 days and, later on, every 2 weeks for 1 year and a third animal every 3 h for 96 h. Fleas and ticks infesting dogs were collected and dissected for the detection of A. reconditum larvae. The prevalence of infestation was 11·2% (17/152) and 13·3% (16/120) at the beginning and at the end of the study, with a 1 year cumulative incidence of 5·9%. Although dogs bled twice a day showed a higher number of microfilariae in most of the morning samples, the absence of any circadian rhythm was suggested by data of the third experiment conducted by bleeding a dog every 3 h for 4 days. A. reconditum developing forms were detected in 5·1% (4/78) of dissected fleas, but not in any of the 272 ticks. The study provides new insights into the biology and ecology of this dog filarioid in its definitive and intermediate hosts.

Filarial infections in domestic dogs in Lusaka, Zambia

“…The microfilariae were sheath-less and relatively small when compared to those of D. immitis, D. repens and C. grassi, and morphological assessment indicated a close resemblance to A. reconditum (Genchi et al, 2007;Brianti et al, 2012;Magnis et al, 2013). Subsequent PCR analysis on whole blood samples from the microfilaraemic dogs confirmed the presence of A. reconditum in 13 of these.…”

Filarioid infections in wild carnivores: a multispecies survey in Romania

“…Microfilariae develop and become infective in fleas or lice [47] and require proximity between infected and uninfected hosts [48]. So far, in Europe, among wild carnivores, this parasite has been documented only in red foxes from Italy, with relatively high prevalence values, suggesting their reservoir competence [7, 13].…”

Vector-borne helminths of dogs and humans in Europe

“…Acanthocheilonema reconditum has a global distribution and, in many geographical areas of the Mediterranean Basin (Figure 3), Middle East, South Africa, South America and Oceania, it is the sole or the most prevalent filarioid species, infesting dogs [9]. Differently from other filarioids transmitted by mosquitoes (e.g., D. immitis and D. repens ) or ticks (e.g., Cercopithifilaria spp.)…”