The Emergence of Zoonotic<i>Onchocerca lupi</i>Infection in the United States – A Case-Series

Cantey, Paul T.; Weeks, Jessica; Edwards, Morven S.; Rao, Suchitra; Ostovar, Gholamabbas Amin; Dehority, Walter; Alzona, Maria; Swoboda, Sara; Christiaens, Brooke; Ballan, Wassim; Hartley, John C.; Terranella, Andrew; Dunn, James J.; Marx, Douglas P.; Hicks, M. John; Rauch, Ronald A.; Smith, Christiana; Dishop, Megan K.; Handler, Michael H.; Dudley, Roy; Chundu, Kote; Hobohm, Dan; Feiz-Erfan, Iman; Hakes, Joseph; Berry, Roberta M.; Stepensaski, Shelly; Greenfield, Benjamin; Shroeder, Laura; Bishop, Henry; Almeida, Marcos de; Mathison, Blaine A.; Eberhard, Mark L.

doi:10.1093/cid/civ983

Cited by 49 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The only confirmed reports of another species of Onchocerca , based on molecular sequence data, in the southwestern USA, are for the zoonotic O. lupi [ 20 , 40 – 44 ]. In the LAC, O. lupi was found in clinical canine cases of ocular onchocercosis and in S. tribulatum , which was then considered a putative vector for this species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

A cryptic species of Onchocerca (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) in blackflies (Simulium spp.) from southern California, USA

Verocai

Nelson²,

Callahan

et al. 2018

Parasites Vectors

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BackgroundEntomological surveillance for pathogens based on molecular screening of putative arthropod vectors such as blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) is becoming increasingly important. Surveillance provides a means to understand host and geographical patterns of underestimated biodiversity among North American species of Onchocerca and a pathway to identify and track expanding emergence of the zoonotic Onchocerca lupi. Herein, we have screened two blackfly species, Simulium tescorum and Simulium vittatum (s.l.), from Los Angeles County, southern California, USA for DNA of filarioid nematodes to better understand species richness and limits within the genus Onchocerca.MethodsA total of 1056 and 378 female blackflies was collected using CO2-baited mosquito traps from March to November of 2015 and 2016, respectively. All blackflies during 2015 were individually processed for DNA extraction and PCR targeting of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Specimens of S. tescorum collected in 2016 were processed individually with heads and bodies extracted separately, whereas those of S. vittatum (s.l.) were processed in pooled samples with heads and bodies extracted separately. A subset of filarioid-positive samples from 2015 and all samples from 2016 were screened using a PCR targeting the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (nad5) gene (mtDNA).ResultsIn 2015, 356 S. tescorum (33.7%) and 683 S. vittatum (s.l.) (64.7%) were collected, and an additional 17 specimens were not assessed morphologically. In 2016, a total of 378 blackflies was collected. Of these, 43 (11.6%) were S. tescorum and 327 (88.4%) were S. vittatum (s.l.), and an additional 8 specimens were not assessed morphologically. In 2015, Onchocerca sequences were detected in 4.8% (n = 17) of S. tescorum samples, and only one S. vittatum (0.15%). In 2016, only a single S. vittatum pool was positive for the same cryptic Onchocerca species. In phylogenetic comparisons based on nad5, the Onchocerca sequences from California formed a clade with those isolates in white-tailed deer from upstate New York, suggesting these belong to a single widespread cryptic species.ConclusionsAn uncharacterized species of Onchocerca associated with cervid hosts was found in blackflies from southern California. Sequence data demonstrated it is likely conspecific with an unnamed species of Onchocerca previously found in white-tailed deer from upstate New York. Current data support recognition of a broad geographical distribution across North America for an apparently cryptic species of Onchocerca that is discrete from O. cervipedis, considered to be a typical filarioid among cervids. Our data suggest that this cryptic species of Onchocerca may infect subspecies of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and mule and black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus) at temporal latitudes. The blackflies Simulium tescorum and S. vittatum (s.l.) (presumably, S. tribulatum) are putative vectors. Discovery of a cryptic complex indicates that species diversity and p...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

A cryptic species of Onchocerca (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) in blackflies (Simulium spp.) from southern California, USA

Verocai

Nelson²,

Callahan

et al. 2018

Parasites Vectors

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“…O. lupi nematodes have been found in masses compressing the cervical spinal canal of young children in Arizona and New Mexico ( 1 , 11 , 12 ). Additional human cases have been found in the same region ( 13 ).…”

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confidence: 90%

Onchocerca lupiNematodes in Dogs Exported from the United States into Canada

Verocai¹,

Conboy²,

Lejeune³

et al. 2016

Emerg. Infect. Dis.

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

Section: Total Igg Peptide Elisamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A strong response was however detected against this peptide in the two samples from W. bancrofti infected individuals that were collected in Tahiti and in one sample from a Malaria patient in Vietnam.Although there are no reports on O. volvulus occurrence in French Polynesia, to which Tahiti belongs, neither in Vietnam, it has been described that Onchocerca. lupi, the closely related species that infects dogs and that is transmitted by the same vector, occurs in that region and can even lead to zoonotic infection in humans [27][28][29][30]. It can therefore not be excluded that the response we detected in those individuals was in fact induced by exposure to O. lupi.…”

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confidence: 99%

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

Lagatie

Verheyen

Dorst

et al. 2018

Parasite Immunology

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SummaryIn our previous study, a proteome‐wide screen was conducted to identify linear epitopes in this parasite's proteome, resulting in the discovery of three immunodominant motifs. Here, we investigated whether such antigenic peptides were found in proteins that were already known as vaccine candidates and excretome/secretome proteins for Onchocerca volvulus This approach led to the identification of 71 immunoreactive stretches in 46 proteins. A deep‐dive into the immunoreactivity profiles of eight vaccine candidates that were chosen as most promising candidates for further development (Ov‐CPI‐2, Ov‐ALT‐1, Ov‐RAL‐2, Ov‐ASP‐1, Ov‐103, Ov‐RBP‐1, Ov‐CHI‐1, and Ov‐B20), resulted in the identification of a poly‐glutamine stretch in Ov‐RAL‐2 that has properties for use as a serodiagnostic marker for O. volvulus infection. A peptide ELISA was developed, and the performance of this assay was evaluated. Based on this assessment, it was found that this assay has a sensitivity of 75.0% [95% CI: 64.9%‐83.5%] and a specificity of 98.5% [95% CI: 94.6%‐99.8%]. Furthermore, 8.7% reactivity in Asian parasite‐infected individuals (8 out of 92) was observed. Besides this identification of a linear epitope marker, the information on the presence of linear epitopes in vaccine candidate proteins might be useful in the study of vaccines for river blindness.

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The Emergence of ZoonoticOnchocerca lupiInfection in the United States – A Case-Series

Cited by 49 publications

References 32 publications

A cryptic species of Onchocerca (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) in blackflies (Simulium spp.) from southern California, USA

A cryptic species of Onchocerca (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) in blackflies (Simulium spp.) from southern California, USA

Onchocerca lupiNematodes in Dogs Exported from the United States into Canada

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

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