Role of domestic dogs in diseases of significance to humans and wildlife health in central Chile

The higher proximity among humans, domestic animals and wildlife favours disease spill-over both from wildlife to domestic animals and vice versa, which is a potential risk for the extinction of wildlife populations and could be influencing the emergence and/or re-emergence of zoonotic diseases. The domestic dog (Canis familiaris) is the most abundant and widely distributed carnivore worldwide and is known to be carrying many infectious diseases. Among these diseases, domestic dogs are known to be source of canine distemper virus (CDV), canine parvovirus (CPV) and Echinococcus granulosus to wild carnivores and human being. Populations of domestic dogs inhabiting urban areas can be the source of infection of directly transmitted pathogens, since in these areas a high density of domestic dogs can facilitate the maintenance of these infections to both domestic and wild carnivore populations. In addition, the knowledge of the diseases present in the domestic dog populations in close proximity to wildlife is essential for conservation planning and for control of both zoonotic diseases and diseases of conservation concern. This thesis explores the effect of urbanization on the epidemiology of CDV, CPV, and E granulosus in domestic dogs and wild carnivores of the Coquimbo region of Chile as for example, chilla (L. griseus) and culpeo (L. culpaeus) foxes and assess the risk factors that could be facilitate disease transmission between canid inhabiting urban and rural areas. The first of the chapters containing original data, Chapter 3, describe the demography of dogs in the study area, indicating that urban sites have a greater population and a higher density of domestic dogs, a high growth rate and therefore a high turnover of susceptible than rural areas, which can be of relevance for the differences in diseases transmission patterns between these sites. Chapter 4 describe the degree of interaction between wild and domestic carnivores and its effect on interespecific disease transmission; indicating that in the study area there are many opportunities for domestic/wild carnivores interactions, as for example livestock predation by carnivores, by approaching to peridomestic environments, facilitating in this scenario the transmission of CDV, CPV and also E. granulosus by predating on livestock contaminated with cyst echinococcosis. Chapter 5 indicate that urban areas hold domestic dog populations with higher CDV seroprevalence than rural sites and probably these areas are the source of infection to rural sites. In contrast, a more stable CPV seroprevalence was found between urban and rural areas, indicating that possibly this pathogen follow an endemic state across the study area. Chapter 6 describe the factors for E. granulosus prevalence in domestic dogs, livestock and human being, suggesting that more cases of E. granulosus in livestock and in humans are found in provinces of the Coquimbo region with higher percentage of rural population; however, and unexpectedly, more cases of E. granulosus in domestic dogs were found in urban areas, although analysis of risk factors indicated that those domestic dogs inhabiting in the borders of urban areas, were at greater risk of being infected with E. granulosus than those in the centre of these areas. The results of this study exemplify how three pathogens are found in urban areas which can be source of infection to domestic and wild carnivores in the study area

Descripción del parasitismo gastrointestinal mediante análisis coprológico en zorro de Darwin, Lycalopex fulvipes (Martin 1837), y güiña, Leopardus guigna (Molina 1782), en isla de Chiloé, Chile

We aimed to identify faeces belonging to either Darwin’s fox (Lycalopex fulvipes) or kodkod (Leopardus guigna) by using molecular genetic techniques, and to describe and compare the gastrointestinal parasites harbored by both carnivores in Chiloé Island. We found that 60% (25/42) and 88% (28/32) of faeces of Darwin’s fox and kodkod had parasite eggs. This study provided the fi rst record of Aspiculuris sp. and trematodes in Darwin’s fox and Aspiculuris sp., Trichuris sp., Capillaria sp., Isospora sp. and trematodes in kodkod, which may correspond to either prey- or host-originated parasites.Nuestro objetivo fue identifi car heces pertenecientes a zorro de Darwin (Lycalopex fulvipes) o güiña (Leopardus guigna) utilizando técnicas de genética molecular, y describir y comparar los parásitos gastrointestinales albergados por ambos carnívoros en la isla de Chiloé. Encontramos que 60% (25/42) y 88% (28/32) de heces de zorro de Darwin y güiña tuvo huevos de parásito. Este estudio entregó el primer registro de Aspiculuris sp. y tremátodos en zorro de Darwin y Aspiculuris sp., Trichuris sp., Capillaria sp., Isospora sp. y tremátodos en güiña, que podrían corresponder a parásitos de presas u hospederos

Archivos de Medicina Veterinaria

Flea and ticks species from dogs in urban and rural areas in four districts in Chile Pulgas y garrapatas en perros urbanos y rurales en cuatro regiones en Chile ABSTRACT. Fleas and ticks frequently parasitise canines worldwide and their prevalence in dogs is influenced by many factors including climate and geography, among others. Different studies worldwide have shown no clear pattern of an urban or rural preference by different species of fleas and ticks infesting dogs. The aim of this study is to identify species of fleas and ticks present in urban and rural dogs from different ecoregions of Chile. A cross-sectional study was conducted in four urban-rural paired sites at four districts: Arica y Parinacota, Coquimbo, Metropolitana and Araucanía. A random and a convenience sampling of households in the urban and rural areas was carried out, collecting fleas and ticks from 112-114 dogs per locality. The frequency of fleas and ticks infestation between urban and rural areas was compared through Chi-square or Fisher's tests. A total of 921 dogs were examined, identifying four species of fleas (Ctenocephalides canis, Ctenocephalides felis, Pulex irritans and Echidnophaga gallinacea) and three species of ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Amblyomma tigrinum and Amblyomma triste). In general, a higher prevalence of dogs with fleas were observed in rural areas, being C. canis the most frequent species globally; there were significant variations in the distribution of different species according to district. R. sanguineus was the predominant tick in all the studied areas. Amblyomma species were found exclusively in rural areas; A. triste only in Arica y Parinacota and A. tigrinum in rural areas of Coquimbo and Araucanía districts

Финно-угорские народы в контексте российского федерализма

© 2017 Porte et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.Background Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) is a new and revolutionary identification method for microorganisms and has recently been introduced into clinical microbiology in many industrialized countries in Europe and North America. Objectives Our study aimed to compare the performance and practicality of two commercial MALDITOF MS platforms in a head-to head manner at a routine laboratory in Chile. Methods During a five-month period in 2012-13, the diagnostic efficiency (correct identification rate) and agreement between Microflex LT (Bruker Daltonics) and Vitek MS (bioMerieux) was compared in a parallel manner to conventional identification including genotypic analysis fo

Echinococcus granulosus infection in foxes in Coquimbo region, Chile

Echinococcus granulosus is a cestode of zoonotic importance that infects a wide range of animals. The main definitive host of this parasite is the domestic dog, which most commonly becomes infected by ingestion of infected tissues from ruminant livestock. In some areas, however, wild carnivores have been reported to be infected with E. granulosus and to potentially have a role in the maintenance of infection. This study explores E. granulosus infection in free-ranging foxes in rural areas of the Coquimbo region. Fecal samples of live-trapped culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus) and chilla (L. griseus) foxes were obtained in six of previously designed rural sites of the Coquimbo region in Chile between 2005 and 2006. Overall, Echinococcus granulosus coproantigen prevalence in wild foxes by a coproELISA test was 6% (2/33) and ranged from 0% to 20% in the different study sites. The presence of E. granulosus in wild carnivores for the maintenance of this parasite in this region is discussed

How many species of grey foxes (Canidae, carnivora) are there in Southern South America?

Two species of grey foxes are recognized in the Southern Cone of America: Lycalopex griseus, and L. gymnocercus, which were traditionally separated by size and some cranial differences. Morphometric analyses of the skull showed that both species could be the same and that they show clinal variation, while DNA studies based on one mitochondrial marker suggested that they belong to different species. Our objective is to evaluate the systematic status of these foxes using three mitochondrial markers (cytochrome B, cytochrome oxidase I, and control region), and a large sample covering a wide geographic range. The results indicate that there are two clades, that are not sister taxa, a finding that is more congruent with the hypothesis of two species, but their geographic distribution is not coincident with the accepted distribution of L. griseus and L. gymnocercus. Consequently, the distribution of L. griseus is extended eastern including north and center of Argentina, towards the west and south of the Paraná, Paraguay and Río de la Plata rivers. On the other hand, the clade that probably represents L. gymnocercus is restricted to the east of those rivers, except for a few specimens collected in Santa Fe, close to the Paraná river. However, an analysis of a wider sample using nuclear DNA is needed to confirm the taxonomic identity of these species of grey foxes.Dos especies de zorros grises se reconocen en el Cono Sur de América: Lycalopex griseus y L. gymnocercus, que tradicionalmente estaban separadas por tamaño y algunas diferencias craneales. Análisis morfométricos del cráneo mostraron que estas especies podrían ser una sola que muestra variación clinal, mientras que estudios de ADN basados en un marcador mitocondrial sugirieron que pertenecen a especies diferentes. Nuestro objetivo es evaluar el estado sistemático de estos zorros utilizando tres marcadores mitocondriales (citocromo B, citocromo oxidasa I y región control) y una muestra grande que cubre un amplio rango geográfico. Los resultados indican que hay dos clados, que no son taxones hermanos, un hallazgo que es más congruente con la hipótesis de dos especies, pero su distribución geográfica no es coincidente con la distribución aceptada de L. griseus y L. gymnocercus. Consecuentemente, la distribución de L. griseus se extiende hacia el este, incluyendo el norte y centro de la Argentina, hacia el este y el sur de los ríos Paraná, Paraguay y Río de la Plata. Por el otro lado, el clado que probablemente representa a L. gymnocercus está restringido hacia el este de esos ríos, excepto por algunos especímenes colectados en Santa Fe, cerca del río Paraná. Sin embargo, se necesita un análisis de una muestra más amplia que utilice ADN nuclear para confirmar la identidad taxonómica de estas especies de zorros grisesFil: Chemisquy, Maria Amelia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Provincia de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja; ArgentinaFil: Prevosti, Francisco Juan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Provincia de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja; ArgentinaFil: Martínez, Pablo. Universidade Federal de Sergipe. Campus Itabaiana; BrasilFil: Raimondi, Vanina Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentina. Universidad de Ginebra; SuizaFil: Cabello Stom, Javier E.. Universidad San Sebastián Sede de la Patagonia; ChileFil: Acosta Jamett, Gerardo. Universidad Austral de Chile; ChileFil: Montoya Burgos, Juan Ignacio. Universidad de Ginebra; Suiz

New mitogenome and nuclear evidence on the phylogeny and taxonomy of the highly zoonotic tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto

Cystic echinococcosis, a zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.), is a significant global public health concern. Echinococcus granulosus s. l. is currently divided into numerous genotypes (G1-G8 and G10) of which G1-G3 are the most frequently implicated genotypes in human infections. Although it has been suggested that G1-G3 could be regarded as a distinct species E. granulosus sensu stricto (s. s.), the evidence to support this is inconclusive. Most importantly, data from nuclear DNA that provide means to investigate the exchange of genetic material between G1-G3 is lacking as none of the published nuclear DNA studies have explicitly included G2 or G3. Moreover, the commonly used relatively short mtDNA sequences, including the complete coxl gene, have not allowed unequivocal differentiation of genotypes G1-G3. Therefore, significantly longer mtDNA sequences are required to distinguish these genotypes with confidence. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the phylogenetic relations and taxonomy of genotypes G1-G3 using sequences of nearly complete mitogenomes (11,443 bp) and three nuclear loci (2984 bp). A total of 23 G1-G3 samples were analysed, originating from 5 intermediate host species in 10 countries. The mtDNA data demonstrate that genotypes G1 and G3 are distinct mitochondrial genotypes (separated by 37 mutations), whereas G2 is not a separate genotype or even a monophyletic cluster, but belongs to G3. Nuclear data revealed no genetic separation of G1 and G3, suggesting that these genotypes form a single species due to ongoing gene flow. We conclude that: (a) in the taxonomic sense, genotypes G1 and G3 can be treated as a single species E. granulosus s. s.; (b) genotypes G1 and G3 should be regarded as distinct genotypes only in the context of mitochondrial data; (c) we recommend excluding G2 from the genotype list. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Large-scale survey for canine vector-borne parasites in free-ranging dogs and foxes from six diverse bioclimatic regions of Chile

Chile is a large country with a marked range of climate conditions that make it an ideal scenario for the study of vector-borne parasites (VBPs); however, knowledge about their distribution is limited to a few confined areas of this country. The presence of Hepatozoon spp., piroplasmids, Leishmania spp. and filarioids was investigated through molecular and serological methods in blood and serum samples of 764 free-ranging rural dogs, 154 Andean foxes (Lycalopex culpaeus), and 91 South American grey foxes (Lycalopex griseus) from six bioclimatic regions across Chile. Hepatozoon spp. DNA was exclusively detected in foxes (43% prevalence), including sequences closely related to Hepatozoon felis (24.1%; only Andean foxes), Hepatozoon americanum (16.2%; only grey foxes), and Hepatozoon canis (1.25%; in one grey fox). Risk factor assessment identified a higher probability of Hepatozoon infection in juvenile foxes. DNA of piroplasmids was detected in 0.7% of dogs (Babesia vogeli) but in no fox, whilst antibodies against Babesia sp. were detected in 24% of the dogs and 25% of the foxes, suggesting a wider circulation of canine piroplasmids than previously believed. A positive association between the presence of antibodies against Babesia and high Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato burden was observed in dogs. Leishmania spp. DNA and antibodies were detected in 0.8% and 4.4% of the dogs, respectively. Acanthocheilonema reconditum was the only blood nematode detected (1.5% of the dogs and no fox). Differences in prevalence among bioregions were observed for some of the VBPs. These results expand our knowledge about the occurrence of vector-borne parasites in Chile, some of which are firstly reported herein. This information will facilitate the diagnosis of vector-borne diseases in domestic dogs and improve the control measures for both domestic and wild canids

Distribution, transmission, and risk factors of infection with canine vector-borne pathogens in wild foxes and free-ranging dogs in Chile

Canine vector-borne pathogens (CVBP) distribution tends to be circumscribed to certain areas with climatic features where their vectors are able to persist. In this aspect, Chile possesses a marked variety of bioclimates that provides an ideal scenario to study the distribution of vector-borne pathogens, considering that ticks of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus species group are widely distributed in the country. Despite this, information about the presence, distribution, and impact of CVBP in domestic and wild canines in Chile is very scarce. In this study, blood and serum samples of 981 dogs, 155 Andean foxes (Lycalopex culpaeus), and 90 grey foxes (L. griseus) were obtained from six different bioclimatic regions throughout Chile.Para acceder a la videoconferencia completa, hacer clic en "Enlace externo".Sociedad Latinoamericana de Ecología de Vectore