Onchocerciasis caused by Onchocerca lupi: an emerging zoonotic infection. Systematic review

Abstract

Globalization has increased circulation of people, their food, livestock and pets in the world, and changes in the environment, climate and human behaviour have led to the rapid expansion of emerging infections throughout the world. One of the reasons of a new pathogen affecting humans is the passage from an animal to a human being. Onchocerca (O.) lupi, a filarial worm first described in a wolf in 1967, is an emerging pathogen which has been incriminated as the etiological agent for 205 canine, 2 feline and 18 human infections in Europe, Tunisia, Turkey, Iran and the USA. Most frequent findings in animals and humans are monolateral or asymmetrical variably painful subconjunctival swellings and nodules containing immature or mature worms affecting the eye and/or adjacent tissues accompanied by conjunctival hyperemia. Occasionally, subcutaneous nodules and masses affecting the spinal cord have been observed in humans. Diagnosis of O. lupi is achieved by microscopy of excised adult female worms which exhibit a particular cuticular structure and molecular analysis. Treatment consists in worm removal accompanied by antihelminthic, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory therapy.

Linear epitopes in Onchocerca volvulus vaccine candidate proteins and excretory‐secretory proteins

“…Biotinylated synthetic peptide OVOC9988; [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] was synthesized by standard procedures and purchased from…”

Prevalence of intestinal parasites in companion dogs with diarrhea in Beijing, China, and genetic characteristics of Giardia and Cryptosporidium species

“…Furthermore, a number of parasite species can cause mild to severe diseases in dogs (Robertson and Thompson 2002). Many parasites carried by pet dogs may be transmittable to humans, including cestodes (e.g., echinococcosis), nemotodes (e.g., toxocariosis, dirofilariosis and onchocerciasis), and protozoa (e.g., leishmaniosis, giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis) (Baneth et al 2016;Gracio et al 2015;Grinnage-Pulley et al 2016;Tasic-Otasevic et al 2015). Additionally, people with immature, weakened, and/or compromised immune systems (e.g., infants, elderly, AIDS patients, and organ transplantation recipients) are susceptible to infections with a wider range of parasitic species, such as Cryptosporidium canis that typically do not infect immunocompetent humans (Adamu et al 2014;Cama et al 2007).…”

Aberrant laryngeal location of Onchocerca lupi in a dog

“…Nevertheless, O. lupi DNA has recently been detected in the black fly Simulium tribulatum in the USA [14]. Clinical manifestations of canine ocular onchocercosis range from no apparent clinical signs to blindness [1,10]. In an initial phase, it is generally associated with the onset of nonspecific ocular discomfort (i.e., epiphora, photophobia, serous or mucopurulent discharge, conjunctivitis, blepharitis, exophthalmos, periorbital swelling, uveitis, chemosis, protrusion of the nictitating membrane or even corneal oedema or ulcers) [2].…”

“…Onchocerca lupi (Rodonaja, 1967) originates an arthropod-borne infection of zoonotic potential [1]. After its first description in the sclera of a wolf (Canis lupus) in the Republic of Georgia [2], several cases have been increasingly reported in domestic dogs worldwide, including Hungary [3], Greece [4], Germany [5], Switzerland [6], Portugal [7,8] and the USA [9,10].…”

“…After its first description in the sclera of a wolf (Canis lupus) in the Republic of Georgia [2], several cases have been increasingly reported in domestic dogs worldwide, including Hungary [3], Greece [4], Germany [5], Switzerland [6], Portugal [7,8] and the USA [9,10]. Onchocerca lupi infects ocular tissues causing acute or chronic ocular lesions of different degrees, with clinical features ranging from no apparent clinical signs to blindness [1,10]. From where the infection is reported in dogs, zoonotic ocular infection may also occur in humans, mostly in the ocular region [11].…”