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

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

Widespread infection with hemotropic mycoplasmas in free-ranging dogs and wild foxes across six bioclimatic regions of chile

Indexación ScopusBlood samples of 626 rural dogs, 140 Andean foxes (Lycalopex culpaeus), and 83 South American grey foxes (L. griseus) from six bioregions of Chile spanning 3000 km were screened for Mycoplasma DNA by conventional PCR and sequencing. Risk factors of infection were inferred using Generalized Linear Mixed Models and genetic structure by network analyses. Overall, Mycoplasma haemocanis/Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhc/Mhf) and Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum (CMhp) observed prevalence was 23.8% and 12.8% in dogs, 20.1% and 7.2% in Andean foxes, and 26.5% and 8.4% in grey foxes, respectively. Both hemoplasmas were confirmed in all the bioregions, with higher prevalence in those where ticks from the Rhipicephalus sanguineus species group were absent. Candidatus M. haematominutum and a Mycoplasma sp. previously found in South American carnivores were detected in one fox each. Although the most prevalent Mhc/Mhf and CMhp sequence types were shared between dogs and foxes, network analysis revealed genetic structure of Mhc/Mhf between hosts in some regions. Male sex was associated with a higher risk of Mhc/Mhf and CMhp infection in dogs, and adult age with CMhp infection, suggesting that direct transmission is relevant. No risk factor was identified in foxes. Our study provides novel information about canine hemoplasmas with relevance in distribution, transmission routes, and cross-species transmission. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/5/91

Human and Canine Echinococcosis Infection in Informal, Unlicensed Abattoirs in Lima, Peru

Echinococcus granulosus infections are a major public health problem in livestock-raising regions around the world. The life cycle of this tapeworm is sustained between dogs (definitive host, canine echinococcosis), and herbivores (intermediary host, cystic hydatid disease). Humans may also develop cystic hydatid disease. Echinococcosis is endemic in rural areas of Peru; nevertheless, its presence or the extension of the problem in urban areas is basically unknown. Migration into Lima, an 8-million habitant's metropolis, creates peripheral areas where animals brought from endemic areas are slaughtered without veterinary supervision. We identified eight informal, unlicensed abattoirs in a peripheral district of Lima and performed a cross-sectional study in to assess the prevalence of canine echinococcosis, evaluated by coproELISA followed by PCR evaluation and arecoline purge. Eight of 22 dogs (36%) were positive to coproELISA, and four (18%) were confirmed to be infected with E. granulosus tapeworms either by PCR or direct observation (purge). Later evaluation of the human population living in these abattoirs using abdominal ultrasound, chest X-rays and serology, found 3 out of 32 (9.3%) subjects with echinococcal cysts in the liver (two viable, one calcified), one of whom had also lung involvement and a strongly positive antibody response. Autochthonous transmission of E. granulosus is present in Lima. Informal, unlicensed abattoirs may be sources of infection to neighbouring people in this urban environment