Sníkjuþráðormurinn Strongyloides stercoralis staðfestur á Íslandi í innfluttum hundum, heimilishundum og í hundaræktunarstöð.

The aim of this paper is to report cases of the intestinal parasitic nematode Strongyloides stercoralis in dogs in Iceland. The nematode was diagnosed in 20 (0.6%) of imported dogs in quaratine in Iceland during 1989-2016. Household dogs: The first case of S. stercoralis infection diagnosed outside quaratine in Iceland was in an unhealthy household puppy purchased from an Icelandic breeding kennel (Kennel A) in 2012. A total of nine puppies purchased from Kennel A, and two dogs which had contact with dogs from the kennel, were diagnosed with S. stercoralis. Kennel dogs: In 2012 S. stercoralis was confirmed in dozens of dogs in Kennel A. Follow-up examinations after anthelmintic treatments indicated a successful removal of worms in imported and household dogs. In spite of more than a dozen anthelmintic treatment actions and other arrangements in Kennel A since 2012, recurrent infections have repeatedly been confirmed, the last one in 2015. The nematode is believed to have been introduced to the breeding kennel with an imported dog, in spite of anthelmintic treatments in quarantine.Markmið þessa yfirlits er að greina frá tilfellum sem greinst hafa af sníkjuþráðorminum Strongyloides stercoralis í hundum á Íslandi. Ormurinn hefur greinst í saursýnum úr 20 (0.6%) hundum sem fluttir voru til landins um einungrunarstöðvar á árunum 1989-2016. Heimilishundar: Fyrsta tilfelli utan einangrunarstöðva greindist í veikum heimilishvolpi sem keyptur var á íslenskri hundaræktunarstöð 2012. Ormurinn greindist í alls níu hvolpum sem keyptir voru á stöðinni og í tveimur heimilishundum sem höfðu haft samgang við hunda frá stöðinni. Hundaræktunarstöðin: S. stercoralis greindist í tugum hunda í stöðinni í byrjun árs 2012, bæði í hvolpum og fullorðnum hundum. Innfluttu hundarnir og heimilishundarnir fengu ormalyfjameðferð og eftirfylgnirannsóknir bentu til að tekist hefði að uppræta ormana. Margendurteknar ormalyfjagjafir á árunum 2012-2016 og aðrar aðgerðir í hundaræktunarstöðinni virðast hafa borið umtalsverðan árangur en ormurinn hefur þó greinst í stökum saursýnum á undanförnum árum, síðast í nóvember 2015. Talið er að þráðormurinn hafi borist inn í hundaræktunarstöðina með innfluttum hundi, þrátt fyrir endurteknar ormalyfjagjafir í einangrunarstöð,smitast milli hunda í ræktunarstöðinni og borist þaðan út með seldum hundum.Peer Reviewe

Feather holes of rock ptarmigan are associated with amblyceran chewing lice

Feather holes have traditionally been suggested to be feeding traces of chewing lice (mallophagans). There is controversy whether mallophagans are the real source of feather holes. We studied mallophagan infestations and holes in tail feathers of 528 rock ptarmigan Lagopus muta collected 2007–2012 in northeast Iceland. Three mallophagans were found, Amyrsidea lagopi (prevalence 13%), Goniodes lagopi (72%) and Lagopoecus affinis (51%). The prevalence of feather holes was 15% and based on pattern the holes could be separated into two groups termed feather hole swarms (FHS), prevalence 9%, and single holes (SH), prevalence 6%. Holes for FHS were concentrated in the central tail feathers and decreased outwards, but holes for SH did not show any such pattern. There was a significant positive relationship between the number of holes for FHS birds and A. lagopi number, and the prevalence was similar. No other combinations of FHS or SH and the mallophagans indicated any relationship. The observed differences between FHS and SH suggest that feather holes have different origin. Our thesis based on known feeding habits of amblycerans like A. lagopi is that the holes in FHS are created during the pin feather stage when the lice bite the pin feather to draw blood. The holes in FHS were often in lines parallel to the feather shaft and the distance between adjacent holes was similar to the daily growth band, and where apparent the holes were sitting in the light portion of the band suggesting diurnal rhythm in lice feeding activity. Concluding, feather holes in ptarmigan may have various origins, but there is a clear correlation between the presence and numbers of A. lagopi and FHS. This is a novel finding for the grouse family and the genus Amyrsidea and should be a valuable contribution to the studies of feather hole formation.This project was funded by the Icelandic Research Fund (grant no. 090207021), Icelandic Hunter's Fund, Landsvirkjun Energy Fund, Inst, for Experimental Pathology, Keldur, Univ. of Iceland and Icelandic Inst, of Natural History.Peer Reviewe

Host-Parasite Interactions and Population Dynamics of Rock Ptarmigan

Populations of rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in Iceland fluctuate in multiannual cycles with peak numbers c. every 10 years. We studied the ptarmigan-parasite community and how parasites relate to ptarmigan age, body condition, and population density. We collected 632 ptarmigan in northeast Iceland in early October from 2006 to 2012; 630 (99.7%) were infected with at least one parasite species, 616 (98%) with ectoparasites, and 536 (85%) with endoparasites. We analysed indices for the combined parasite community (16 species) and known pathogenic parasites, two coccidian protozoans Eimeria muta and Eimeria rjupa, two nematodes Capillaria caudinflata and Trichostrongylus tenuis, one chewing louse Amyrsidea lagopi, and one skin mite Metamicrolichus islandicus. Juveniles overall had more ectoparasites than adults, but endoparasite levels were similar in both groups. Ptarmigan population density was associated with endoparasites, and in particular prevalence of the coccidian parasite Eimeria muta. Annual aggregation level of this eimerid fluctuated inversely with prevalence, with lows at prevalence peak and vice versa. Both prevalence and aggregation of E. muta tracked ptarmigan population density with a 1.5 year time lag. The time lag could be explained by the host specificity of this eimerid, host density dependent shedding of oocysts, and their persistence in the environment from one year to the next. Ptarmigan body condition was negatively associated with E. muta prevalence, an indication of their pathogenicity, and this eimerid was also positively associated with ptarmigan mortality and marginally inversely with fecundity. There were also significant associations between fecundity and chewing louse Amyrsidea lagopi prevalence (negative), excess juvenile mortality and nematode Capillaria caudinflata prevalence (positive), and adult mortality and skin mite Metamicrolichus islandicus prevalence (negative). Though this study is correlational, it provides strong evidence that E. muta through time-lag in prevalence with respect to host population size and by showing significant relations with host body condition, mortality, and fecundity could destabilize ptarmigan population dynamics in Iceland.This work was supported by the Icelandic Research Fund, grant number 090207021: salary including funding of this work; Hunting Card Fund: salary including funding of this work; Landsvirkjun Energy Fund: salary and funding of this work; Institute for Experimental Pathology, Keldur, University of Iceland:Peer Reviewe

Presence of eimerid oocysts in faeces of a quarantined dog in Iceland is explained by coprophagic behaviour prior to its importation. Case report

Publisher's version (útgefin grein)Background: All dogs imported into Iceland must undergo mandatory quarantine in a special station before introduction into the country. A faecal sample is collected from the first stool passed by the dog in this station and subsequently examined for the presence of intestinal parasite stages. Case presentation: In May 2019 unsporulated oocysts were detected in faeces from a 7-year-old household dog that had been imported from Sweden. Most of the oocysts studied strongly resembled those of Eimeria canis Wenyon, 1923. As this species is not valid, the purpose of the present article was to identify the correct species and examine their possible origin. Studies confirmed the presence of two distinct unsporulated oocyst morphotypes in the faeces; measurements and photomicrographs confirmed their identification as Eimeria magna Pérard, 1925 and Eimeria stiedai (Lindemann, 1865) Kisskalt and Hartmann, 1907, both common parasites of European rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus (L., 1758). When the owner of the dog was questioned about the food administrated to the dog prior to its import to Iceland, it turned out that it had exclusively been fed dry dog food pellets. However, the owner also reported that on the morning prior to transportation to Iceland, the dog was allowed to move freely in a grassland area where rabbits are common and heaps of their faeces are present. Furthermore, the owner confirmed that the dog consumed rabbit faeces that morning. Conclusion: It is believed that this coprophagic behaviour can explain the detection of rabbit eimerids in the dog's faeces, and that such behaviour must be taken into consideration by veterinarians and other diagnostic personnel when they detect atypical cysts or eggs during coprological examinations.No funding was received.Peer Reviewe

Sníkjudýr staðfest í innfluttum hundum og köttum á Íslandi á árunum 1989 - 2017 ásamt upplýsingum um sníkjudýr sem fundist hafa í hundum og köttum innanlands

Importing dogs into Iceland was prohibited or restricted from 1909 until 1989, when the ban was lifted and importing dogs and cats permitted, with the proviso of an enforced period of quarantine and the requirement of specific medical treatments and examinations. Prior to importation pets must be treated against cestodes and external parasites. From 1989 until the end of 2017, a total of 3822 dogs and 900 cats were imported from 67 countries from all continents of the world, except Antarctica. Routine examinations for endoparasites revealed one or more species in 10.6% of the dogs and 4.2% of the cats. In spite of the required treatment, ectoparasites were detected on 0.2% of the dogs and 0.2% of the cats. Eighteen endoparasite species and six ectoparasite species have been identified from imported pets. Six species (one nematode, five ectoparasites) are believed to have been introduced to native dogs or cats with imported animals that were apparently still infected/infested when they left quarantine and were handed over to the owners. Three of them are believed to have been eliminated after a temporary local occurrence, but two or three species of mites have become permanently resident.Innflutningur hunda til Íslands var bannaður nema með sérstakri undanþágu á árunum 1909 til 1989. Þá var banninu aflétt og innflutningur hunda og katta leyfður að uppfylltum skilyrðum um dvöl í einangrunarstöð, heilbrigðisskoðun og ákveðnar lyfjameðhöndlanir. Þá eru gerðar kröfur um lyfjameðhöndlun gegn bandormum og ytri sníkjudýrum fyrir komu dýranna til landsins. Frá 1989 fram til ársloka 2017 voru 3822 hundar og 900 kettir fluttir til landsins. Dýrin hafa komið frá 67 löndum í öllum heimsálfum. Leit að innsníklum leiddi í ljós eina eða fleiri tegundir sníkjudýra í 10,6% hunda og 4,2% katta, óværa hefur fundist við komuna til landsins á 0,2% hunda og 0,2% katta. Alls hafa 18 tegundir innri sníkjudýra og sex tegundir óværu fundist í eða á innfluttum gæludýrum. Talið er að sex þeirra (þráðormur og fimm óværutegundir) hafi borist yfir í innlenda hunda eða ketti með gæludýrum sem enn voru smituð þegar einangrunarvist lauk. Tvær eða þrjár tegundanna virðast hafa náð fótfestu á Íslandi en talið er að tekist hafi að útrýma þremur þeirra.Peer Reviewe

Cystic echinococcosis in Iceland: a brief history and genetic analysis of a 46-year-old Echinococcus isolate collected prior to the eradication of this zoonotic disease

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is considered the most severe parasitic disease that ever affected the human population in Iceland. Before the start of eradication campaign in the 1860s, Iceland was a country with very high prevalence of human CE, with approximately every fifth person infected. Eradication of CE from Iceland by 1979 was a huge success story and served as a leading example for other countries on how to combat such a severe One Health problem. However, there is no genetic information on Echinococcus parasites before eradication. Here, we reveal the genetic identity for one of the last Echinococcus isolates in Iceland, obtained from a sheep 46 years ago (1977). We sequenced a large portion of the mitochondrial genome (8141 bp) and identified the isolate as Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto genotype G1. As G1 is known to be highly infective genotype to humans, it may partly explain why such a large proportion of human population in Iceland was infected at a time . The study demonstrates that decades-old samples hold significant potential to uncover genetic identities of parasites in the past

Sníkjudýr í hænsnum á Íslandi fyrr og nú.

Publisher's version (útgefin grein)For centuries flocks of free-ranging hens, Gallus gallus, have been kept on farms in rural Iceland and egglaying hens are occasionally kept in backyards in urban areas. Studies on poultry parasites started in Iceland in the late 1940s, but have been sporadic since the 1970. Recently, 18 birds from nine flocks were examined for endo- and ectoparasites. An eimerid, a nematode, three mites and four mallophagan species were identified. However, altogether, 22 parasite species have been reported from poultry in Iceland; Cryptosporidium, at least three eimerids, two flagellates, six nematodes, five mallophagans, three acarines, a bed bug, and at least one flea species. Haematozoans, trematodes, cestodes, and acanthocephalans have never been detected. Additional dozens of other species parasitize poultry elsewhere in the world, many of them causing severe diseases that demand use of environmentally harmful compounds. Strict import regulations and active surveillance have to be imposed to prevent the introduction of these parasites into Iceland.Peer Reviewe

Rumen ciliate fauna of Icelandic cattle, sheep, goats and reindeer

Fuente, Gabriel De La, Skirnisson, Karl, Dehority, Burk A. (2006): Rumen ciliate fauna of Icelandic cattle, sheep, goats and reindeer. Zootaxa 1377 (1): 47-60, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1377.1.