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New insights into the ecology and biology of Acanthocheilonema reconditum (Grassi, 1889) causing canine subcutaneous filariosis.
- Source :
-
Parasitology [Parasitology] 2012 Apr; Vol. 139 (4), pp. 530-6. Date of Electronic Publication: 2012 Feb 16. - Publication Year :
- 2012
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Abstract
- In spite of its wide distribution among dogs and the evidence of its implication as a zoonotic agent, scant information is available on the biology of Acanthocheilonema reconditum (Spirurida, Onchocercidae). In this study, blood samples from 152 Sicilian dogs were examined for A. reconditum microfilariae at the beginning of the study and 1 year later. The periodicity of microfilaraemia was investigated by bleeding 2 highly microfilaraemic dogs twice a day for 10 days and, later on, every 2 weeks for 1 year and a third animal every 3 h for 96 h. Fleas and ticks infesting dogs were collected and dissected for the detection of A. reconditum larvae. The prevalence of infestation was 11·2% (17/152) and 13·3% (16/120) at the beginning and at the end of the study, with a 1 year cumulative incidence of 5·9%. Although dogs bled twice a day showed a higher number of microfilariae in most of the morning samples, the absence of any circadian rhythm was suggested by data of the third experiment conducted by bleeding a dog every 3 h for 4 days. A. reconditum developing forms were detected in 5·1% (4/78) of dissected fleas, but not in any of the 272 ticks. The study provides new insights into the biology and ecology of this dog filarioid in its definitive and intermediate hosts.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Dogs
Filariasis epidemiology
Filariasis parasitology
Filarioidea isolation & purification
Filarioidea pathogenicity
Incidence
Microfilariae isolation & purification
Microfilariae pathogenicity
Microfilariae physiology
Parasitemia epidemiology
Parasitemia parasitology
Prevalence
Skin Diseases, Parasitic epidemiology
Skin Diseases, Parasitic parasitology
Dog Diseases epidemiology
Dog Diseases parasitology
Filariasis veterinary
Filarioidea physiology
Parasitemia veterinary
Skin Diseases, Parasitic veterinary
Subcutaneous Tissue parasitology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1469-8161
- Volume :
- 139
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Parasitology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 22336052
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182011002198