Strongyloides stercoralis in Swiss dogs - a retrospective study suggests an increasing occurrence of this potentially zoonotic parasite as a consequence of dog imports.

INTRODUCTION: Strongyloides stercoralis is a worldwide occurring nematode infecting canids and primates (including humans), responsible for a largely underestimated zoonotic disease. We here present 18 cases including overall 20 dogs affected by S. stercoralis, diagnosed in Switzerland between 2010 and 2020. The Baermann examination was positive for S. stercoralis larvae in 10, suspicious in 4, negative in one and not performed in 2 dogs. In 3 dogs the infection was identified only at necropsy by histology or by direct faecal or mucosal smears from intestinal tissue. Confirmation of suspected, necropsied and Baermann-negative dogs relied on genetic analyses. Twelve dogs had a history of import from Eastern Europe (n=4), the Mediterranean basin (n=5) or Germany (n=3). They were 7 weeks to 9,5 months old, and also the dogs supposedly born in Switzerland were younger than one year (except two, aged 15 months and 14 years). Thirteen dogs were males and 6 females (1 unknown). The most represented breeds were Chihuahuas (n=5), French Bulldogs (n=4) and Pomeranians (n=3). The most frequent clinical sign and reason for presentation was diarrhoea, occurring in 11/20 animals. Further gastrointestinal symptoms were vomiting, anorexia/hyporexia, adipsia, dehydration, tense abdomen and tenesmus. Respiratory symptoms were the second most frequent, with coughing in 7/20 animals, followed by tachypnoea/dyspnoea in 5 and (reverse) sneezing in 3 dogs. Treatment with 50 mg/kg BW fenbendazole p.o. over 5 days was successful in 4 cases in which a follow-up examination was performed 3-6 weeks later; prolonged treatment over 21 days was also effective. Ivermectin off-label protocols described in the literature, e.g. 0,8 mg/kg BW s.c. or 0,5 mg/kg BW i.m. repeated after 2 weeks, were successful based on control examinations performed 3-10 weeks later. Strongyloides stercoralis infections are clinically relevant, potentially zoonotic and need to be included in differential diagnoses in case of canine gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders, especially in young and imported dogs.

INTRODUCTION: Strongyloides stercoralis est un nématode présent dans le monde entier et infectant les canidés et les primates (y compris les humains), responsable d'une zoonose largement sous-estimée. Nous présentons ici 18 cas incluant au total 20 chiens atteints de S. stercoralis, diagnostiqués en Suisse entre 2010 et 2020. L'examen de Baermann était positif pour les larves de S. stercoralis chez 10, suspect chez 4, négatif chez un et non réalisé chez 2 chiens. Chez 3 chiens, l'infection n'a été identifiée qu'à l'autopsie par histologie ou par frottis fécal ou muqueux de tissu intestinal. La confirmation des chiens suspects, autopsiés et Baermann-négatifs reposait sur des analyses génétiques. Douze chiens avaient des antécédents d'importation d'Europe de l'Est (n=4), du bassin méditerranéen (n=5) ou d'Allemagne (n=3). Ils étaient âgés de 7 semaines à 9,5 mois, et les chiens supposément nés en Suisse avaient moins d'un an (sauf deux, âgés de 15 mois et 14 ans). Treize chiens étaient des mâles et six des femelles (1 inconnu). Les races les plus représentées étaient les Chihuahuas (n=5), les Bouledogues français (n=4) et les Poméraniens (n=3). Le signe clinique et le motif de présentation les plus fréquents étaient la diarrhée, survenant chez 11/20 animaux. D'autres symptômes gastro-intestinaux étaient des vomissements, anorexie/hyporexie, adipsie, déshydratation, tension abdominale et ténesme. Les symptômes respiratoires étaient les seconds plus fréquents, avec une toux chez 7/20 animaux, suivie d'une tachypnée/dyspnée chez 5 et d'éternuements (inverses) chez 3 chiens. Un traitement avec 50 mg/kg de poids corporel de fenbendazole p.o. durant 5 jours a réussi dans les 4 cas dans lesquels un examen de suivi a été effectué 3 à 6 semaines plus tard ; un traitement prolongé sur 21 jours a également été efficace. Les protocoles hors AMM avec de l'ivermectine décrits dans la littérature, par ex. 0,8 mg/kg de poids corporel s.c. ou 0,5 mg/kg de poids corporel i.m. répétés après 2 semaines, ont été couronnés de succès sur la base de contrôles effectués 3 à 10 semaines plus tard. Les infections à Strongyloides stercoralis sont cliniquement pertinentes, potentiellement zoonotiques et doivent être incluses dans les diagnostics différentiels en cas de troubles gastro-intestinaux et respiratoires canins, en particulier chez les jeunes chiens et les chiens importés.

Prognostic Markers in Acute Babesia canis Infections.

BACKGROUND: Canine babesiosis, caused by Babesia canis, is a prevalent and clinically relevant disease in Europe. Severe acute babesiosis is characterized by a high mortality but prognosis is not always correlated with clinical signs nor with the level of parasitemia. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated prognostic markers associated with poor outcomes in acute Babesia canis infections. ANIMALS AND METHODS: We compared the results of routine laboratory profiles, hand-held lactate and glucose analyzer, and the acute phase response in 2 groups of naturally infected dogs (7 survivors and 8 nonsurvivors). Samples were collected at the time of first admission and before any treatment. Subsequently, the course of prognostic markers was followed in 3 dogs experimentally inoculated with B. canis. RESULTS: Nonsurvivors showed significantly higher concentrations of lactate, triglycerides and phosphate and lower hematocrit, leukocyte counts, total serum protein concentrations, and thrombocyte counts when compared to survivors. All nonsurvivors (8/8) had hyperlactatemia, whereas most survivors (6/7) had values within the reference range. All survivors had leucocyte counts within the reference range, unlike the nonsurvivors, which showed leukopenia. During the course of acute babesiosis, the variables serum lactate, triglyceride, and phosphate concentrations, and thrombocyte count only exceeded a prognostic threshold during acute crisis. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Poor outcome in acute B. canis infection is indicated by changes in the laboratory profile. Intensive care should be considered for dogs presenting with moderate anemia, severe thrombocytopenia, mild to moderate leukopenia, hyperlactatemia, moderately increased serum phosphate, and triglyceride concentrations, and moderately decreased total serum protein concentrations.

Multi-test analysis and model-based estimation of the prevalence of Taenia saginata cysticercus infection in naturally infected dairy cows in the absence of a 'gold standard' reference test.

The diagnostic values of seven serological tests (ELISAs) and of the obligatory European Union-approved routine visual meat inspection for the detection of Taenia saginata cysticercosis were investigated. A total of 793 slaughtered dairy cows were selected in three European Union approved abattoirs in Switzerland, an endemic area (apparent prevalence by enhanced meat inspection up to 4.5%) with typically low parasite burdens. ELISAs based on a somatic larval antigen, isoelectric focused somatic larval antigen, larval excretory/secretory antigens, peptide HP6-2, peptide Ts45S-10, pooled peptide solution and a monoclonal antibody antigen capture assay were initially screened. As there is no perfect diagnostic 'gold standard' reference test, the obligatory meat inspection and four selected serological tests were further analysed using Bayesian inference to estimate the "true" prevalence and the diagnostic test sensitivities and specificities. The ELISA for specific antibody detection based on excretory/secretory antigens showed highest sensitivity and specificity with 81.6% (95% credible interval: 70-92) and 96.3% (95% credible interval: 94-99), respectively. The Bayesian model estimated the specificity of the ELISA, based on the synthetic peptide Ts45S-10 as 55.2% (95% credible interval: 46-65) and sensitivity as 84.7% (95% credible interval: 82-88). The sensitivity of the ELISA based on mAbs, detecting circulating antigen, was 14.3% (95% credible interval: 9-23) with a specificity of 93.7% (95% credible interval: 92-96). The diagnostic sensitivity of the obligatory standard European Union meat inspection procedure for the detection of T. saginata cysticercus infection at the abattoir was estimated to be 15.6% (95% credible interval: 10-23). Based on these data, the modelled prevalence of cysticercosis in dairy cows presented at abattoirs in Switzerland was estimated to be 16.5% (95% credible interval: 13-21). These cattle also had a high prevalence of infection with Dicrocoelium dendriticum (60.8%) and Fasciola hepatica (13.5%).