Zoonotic nematodes of wild carnivores

Abstract

For a long time, wildlife carnivores have been disregarded for their potential in transmitting zoonotic nematodes. However, human activities and politics (e.g., fragmentation of the environment, land use, recycling in urban settings) have consistently favoured the encroachment of urban areas upon wild environments, ultimately causing alteration of many ecosystems with changes in the composition of the wild fauna and destruction of boundaries between domestic and wild environments. Therefore, the exchange of parasites from wild to domestic carnivores and vice versa have enhanced the public health relevance of wild carnivores and their potential impact in the epidemiology of many zoonotic parasitic diseases. The risk of transmission of zoonotic nematodes from wild carnivores to humans via food, water and soil (e.g., genera Ancylostoma , Baylisascaris , Capillaria , Uncinaria , Strongyloides , Toxocara , Trichinella ) or arthropod vectors (e.g., genera Dirofilaria spp., Onchocerca spp., Thelazia spp.) and the emergence, re-emergence or the decreasing trend of selected infections is herein discussed. In addition, the reasons for limited scientific information about some parasites of zoonotic concern have been examined. A correct compromise between conservation of wild carnivores and risk of introduction and spreading of parasites of public health concern is discussed in order to adequately manage the risk of zoonotic nematodes of wild carnivores in line with the ‘One Health’ approach.

Prevalence of Toxocara and Toxascaris infection among human and animals in Iran with meta-analysis approach

“…Patent T. canis infections are generally higher in young foxes (under 6 months of age); although, a relatively high prevalence rate have also been among adult foxes in endemic territories, representing weak immune status against intestinal [61]. The prevalence of T. canis in European foxes varies between 9.0% (in Italy) and 65.0% (in Denmark), as well as 32.5 and 71.0% prevalence in Canada and Japan, respectively [61]. The lowest and highest T. leonina prevalence in red fox was reported from Kirghizstan (5.9%) and the Slovak Republic (47.1%), respectively [60].…”

The current situation of canine dirofilariosis in Hungary

“…Dirofilaria repens, the causative agent of subcutaneous dirofilariosis of domestic dogs, occurs in Europe, Asia and Africa only. Both species can infect several other mammalian species, especially wild canids, such as red foxes, golden jackals, wolves, ferrets and rarely cats (Otranto and Deplazes 2019). In addition, they are zoonotic parasites: D. repens causes ocular/subcutaneous while D. immitis benign pulmonary dirofilariosis in humans (McCall et al 2008;Simón et al 2012;Morchón et al 2012;Capelli et al 2018).…”

A broad insight onto the distribution pattern of Dirofilaria immitis in community dogs in Nepal

“…Canine heartworm disease is a vector-borne helminth (VBH) infection caused by Dirofilaria immitis [1], being particularly notorious for its implications in veterinary and human medicine [2][3][4]. Infected dogs might suffer from a potentially-fatal clinical condition featured by cardiorespiratory alterations, such as pulmonary hypertension, dyspnoea, ascites, caused by the localization of adult worms within the pulmonary arteries and right heart chamber [5].…”

“…Nonetheless, the inflammatory response against the parasites induces so-called "coin lesions" potentially misdiagnosed as tumors [6]. Overall, dirofilariosis in dogs and humans is extremely relevant and requires attention by public health authorities and veterinary bodies, ultimately involving a constant need for up to date epidemiological information on the distribution of the parasite [2,7,8].…”