[Zoonoses from ticks and fleas in dogs and cats]. / Zoönosen van teken- en vlooien bij honden en katten.

Fleas and ticks may transmit zoonotic diseases. This is an overview of tick- and flea-borne zoonoses where dogs and cats are involved in the epidemiology.

[Flea and tick control in dogs and cats]. / Bestrijding van vlooien en teken bij hond en kat.

Fleas and ticks may cause skin problems in dogs and cats and transmit (zoonotic) diseases. This is an overview about the present situation of the ectoparasites control.

[A worm infection in the skin of a dog. First autochthonous Dirofilaria repens infection ofa dog in the Netherlands]. / Een worminfectie in de huid bij de hond. Eerste autochtone geval van Dirofilaria repens in Nederland.

The history of an 18-month-old English bulldog with a painful lump in the skin on its thigh is described. After opening the nodule a few Dirofilaria repens nematodes were found. Oval-shaped transparent eggs with moving larvae were seen microscopically. The dog was treated with milbemycin and made a complete recovery. The dog had never been abroad, but 6 months earlier in early May had been on a campsite in the middle of the Netherlands where many mosquitoes were present. This is the first described case of an autochthonous D. repens infection of a dog in the Netherlands.

[Pulmonary problems in dogs in the Netherlands with alarming cause (angiostrongylus vasorum)]. / Longklachten bij honden in Nederland met een verontrustende oorzaak.

Two 9 month old dogs, that were presented with a history of increasing dyspnoea, are discussed. Examination of blood and lung lavage material gave indications for a parasitic cause. Using the Baermann method of fresh feces, larvae of the French heartworm Angiostrongylus vasorum were found. This worm is transferred via snakes and to a lesser extent by other (paratenic) hosts and has been reported regularly as autochthonous infection in The Netherlands during the last two years. Treatment with a licensed product with a combination of the active ingredients moxidectin and imidacloprid was effective.

Prevalence and zoonotic risks of Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Cheyletiella spp. in guinea pigs and rabbits in Dutch pet shops.

Young rabbits and guinea pigs are often purchased as pets for children and may be infected with zoonotic skin infections. To assess the risk of acquiring such an infection from rabbits or guinea pigs, this study investigated the prevalence of the fungus Trichophyton mentagrophytes and the fur mite Cheyletiella parasitovorax in asymptomatic rabbits and guinea pigs in Dutch pet shops. In 91 pet shops a total of 213 rabbits and 179 guinea pigs were sampled using the Mackenzie technique and cultured. Clean cultures were examined microscopically and a PCR was performed on at least one sample from each pet shop. All animals were investigated for fur mite using a flea comb, a magnifying glass and white paper. From the fur of 3.8% (8/213) of the rabbits and 16.8% (30/179) of the guinea pigs, T. mentagrophytes was isolated. From 1 guinea pig (0,6%) Chrysosporium keratinophilum was isolated. Dermatophyte-positive rabbits and guinea pigs originated from 5.6% (5/90) and 27.3% (24/88) of the investigated pet shops, respectively. Fur mites were not found. Pet shops can play an important role in preventing transmission of zoonotic ringworm infections (dermatophytosis) and educating their customers. Specific preventive measures such as routine screening examinations and (prophylactic) treatment of rabbits and guinea pigs are recommended next to regular hygiene when handling animals.

[Immobilization of cattle and bison with a combination of xylazine, zolazepam-tiletamine and ketamine]. / Immobilisatie van runderen en bizons met een combinatie van zolazepam-tiletamine, ketamine en xylazine.

The aim of this study was to find a safe and reliable alternative to Immobilon for the immobilization of (feral) cattle. A combination of xylazine, zolazepam-tiletamine and ketamine was tested in Limousin cattle, Scottish Highland cattle, and American bison. Bodyweight, induction time, arterial O2 saturation and the total downtime were measured. Arterial blood was taken for pH and blood gas analysis. The animals were then injected with atipamezole and the recovery time was recorded. A combination of 500 mg zolazepam, 500 mg tiletamine, 500 mg xylazine, and 1000 mg (10 ml) ketamine, administered in a dosage of 1 ml per 100-150 kg bodyweight (depending on the species), proved to be most reliable and effective. The combination resulted in a fast immobilization. In all animals slight respiratory depression was seen, which indicates that oxygen suppletion may be needed for long-lasting immobilization. After reversal of the xylazine component, almost all animals recovered within 4 minutes. No long term adverse effects were reported by the owners.

Prevalence of intestinal nematodes of dogs and cats in The Netherlands.

Faecal samples from 272 dogs and 236 cats from Dutch households were examined for nematode eggs. Toxocara eggs were found in 8 dogs (2.9%) and 11 cats (4.7%). Toxascaris eggs were found in 1 dog (0.4%) and Trichuris eggs in 2 dogs (0.7%). Examination of faeces from 56 stray cats revealed Toxocara in 12 cases (21%) and Toxascaris eggs in 3 cases (5.4%). No hookworm eggs were found. The percentage of positive samples was significantly higher in young animals than in older animals. Toxocara eggs were found significantly more frequently in stray cats than in cats kept in households.

A survey of Toxocara infections in cat breeding colonies in The Netherlands.

Faecal samples from 225 adults cats and 112 kittens and dust and soil samples from 25 catteries in the Netherlands were examined for Toxocara eggs. The results of this survey showed a low nematode infection rate in the investigated Dutch catteries since only four adult cats (2%) from two catteries (8%) were found to shed Toxocara cati eggs. No other helminth eggs were seen in the faecal samples. Nematode eggs were not present in the environmental dust and soil samples from houses and kennels; only Dipylidium caninum eggs were found in only two samples of household dust.

Nematode infections in dog breeding kennels in The Netherlands, with special reference to Toxocara.

Faecal samples from 286 adult dogs and 159 pups and dust and soil samples from 32 dog breeding kennels in the Netherlands were examined for nematode eggs. Dogs that shed nematode eggs were found in 41% of the kennels. The kennel prevalence of nematode infection of adult dogs was 33%. The kennel prevalence for infection of adult dogs and pups with nematode species was 21% and 48% for Toxocara canis, respectively, 29% and 0% for Trichuris vulpis, and 20% and 0% for Toxascaris leonina. Kennels with more than two litters per year and with regular import of new animals had a significantly higher prevalence of T. canis (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05 respectively). T. vulpis infections in adult dogs occurred significantly more often in kennels that used deworming products other than benzimidazoles (p < 0.05). Embryonated T. canis ova were recovered from 20% of the house and kennel dust samples and from 50% of the soil samples. This survey shows that the nematode infection rate in dog breeding kennels is high. Better deworming strategies should be used to improve the health status of the dogs and to reduce the risk of zoonotic infection in humans.

Anthelmintic efficacy of oxibendazole against some important nematodes in dogs and cats.

The anthelmintic efficacy and safety of the oxibendazole component in a combination oxibendazole-niclosamide paste were investigated in dogs and cats and in litters of pups with naturally acquired nematode infections. A single dose of 15 mg oxibendazole/kg body weight given to 70 dogs and to 29 cats reduced faecal worm egg counts (EPG) by 97.6% for Toxocara canis, 95.7% for Trichuris vulpis, 94.6% for Ancylostoma caninum, and 100% for Toxascaris leonina. In cats, 96.7% efficacy was demonstrated against Toxocara cati. In a second trial, 119 pups in 22 litters were treated with the same dosage at 2, 4, and 6 weeks of age. After treatment on two consecutive days, 95% of the pups did not shed T. canis eggs, compared with 85% after only a single treatment. Side effects were rare and only recorded in young animals. A 2-day treatment schedule is recommended for unweaned pups.

Incidence of patent Toxocara canis infection in bitches during the oestrous cycle.

The incidence of patent Toxocara canis infection as result of reactivation of somatic larvae with subsequent tracheal migration was investigated by faecal examination during 23 oestrous cycles of 15 bitches. Blood samples were collected for determination of total and differential leukocyte counts, prolactin concentration, and Toxocara titre. Five pregnant dogs were used as controls. In the cyclic dogs there were no alterations in white blood cell counts or prolactin concentration, in contrast with the pregnant dogs, in which both variables increased, starting 10 days after onset of the luteal phase. The difference was significant at day 40 and day 60 (both p < 0.005). No significant differences were observed in the number of eosinophils or in the Toxocara antibody titre. T. canis eggs were only found in the faeces of three 1-year-old, cyclic dogs at 1, 60, and 140 days, respectively, after the onset of the luteal phase. It is concluded that cyclic beagle bitches, in which prolactin levels increase in the second half of the luteal phase, are unlikely to be at higher risk for patent T. canis infection than in other phases.

[No effects of the educational campaign among family physicians on Toxocara infections in humans]. / Geen effect van de voorlichtingscampagne onder huisartsen over Toxocara-infecties bij de mens.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect on general practitioners of an educational campaign about Toxocara and toxocariasis in man. DESIGN: Descriptive. SETTING: General practices in the Netherlands. METHOD: Telephone interviews of two groups of general practitioners before (n = 135) and 6 months after (n = 105) an educational campaign in 1993. RESULTS: No significant difference in knowledge concerning Toxocara and toxocariasis was observed in the two interviews. From the general practitioners interviewed, 44% considered Toxocara infections a zoonosis and 13-15% knew that 90-100% of puppies are infected. The clinical symptoms that were mentioned, agreed very little with the actual symptoms of toxocariasis. CONCLUSION: The knowledge of this important zoonosis was in general inadequate and the campaign to improve the awareness failed.

[Negligible risk of visceral or ocular larva migrans from petting a dog]. / Verwaarloosbaar risico op viscerale of oculaire larva migrans door het aaien van een hond.

In a recent publication it was suggested that human toxocarosis, including ocular larva migrans, may result from petting dogs infected with Toxocara canis, the dog roundworm. Recalculating the eggs per gram in the dog's coat revealed that in 7 of the 15 positive dogs only one Toxocara egg per dog was found. Only 4% of all eggs were embryonated and hence infectious. It is, however, very plausible that this is contamination originating from the environment. The authors found also many other parasite eggs and free-living larvae in their samples, which points to the dog being merely a passive transport host. The risk to man of acquiring the infection by stroking a dog is therefore considered to be extremely limited.

[Assessment of an educational campaign by practicing veterinarians in The Netherlands on human and animal Toxocara infections]. / Evaluatie van een voorlichtingscampagne bij in Nederland praktiserende dierenartsen over Toxocara-infecties bij mens en dier.

In 1993 the Dutch Ministry of Public Health initiated a campaign about Toxocara and toxocariasis. Before and after the campaign, 200 and 105 veterinarians, respectively, were interviewed by telephone to get an impression about awareness of the problem. Before the campaign, 29% and 51% of veterinarians knew when puppies and kittens, respectively should be dewormed for the first time. Fourteen percent of respondents knew the correct anthelmintic dosing interval, and 60% knew the prevalence of T. canis infection in newborn pups. Of the respondent 90% advised, wrongly, anthelmintic treatment during pregnancy and 17% correctly advised post-partum deworming. Seventy-three percent of the respondents correctly estimated the risk of infection of humans with T. cati and T. canis. After the campaign, which was remembered by 99% of the respondents, there was a significant improvement in the number of veterinarians who knew the correct interval for deworming, routine and post-partum deworming, and infection risk for humans. It can be concluded that while this campaign improved knowledge of certain aspects of the zoonosis, in general, knowledge was still inadequate.