ABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Arthrodermataceae/isolation & purification , Dermatomycoses/veterinary , Mite Infestations/veterinary , Mites/classification , Trichophyton/isolation & purification , Animals , Dermatomycoses/epidemiology , Dermatomycoses/microbiology , Female , Guinea Pigs , Humans , Male , Mite Infestations/epidemiology , Mite Infestations/parasitology , Netherlands/epidemiology , Prevalence , Rabbits , Skin/microbiology , Trichophyton/classification , ZoonosesSubject(s)
Antiprotozoal Agents/therapeutic use , Giardia lamblia , Giardiasis/veterinary , Animals , Cat Diseases/parasitology , Cat Diseases/prevention & control , Cats , Dog Diseases/parasitology , Dog Diseases/prevention & control , Dogs , Giardia lamblia/pathogenicity , Giardia lamblia/physiology , Giardiasis/prevention & control , Life Cycle Stages , Treatment FailureSubject(s)
Bartonella Infections/veterinary , Bartonella henselae/isolation & purification , Cat Diseases/transmission , Rickettsia Infections/veterinary , Rickettsia felis/isolation & purification , Animals , Arachnid Vectors/microbiology , Bartonella Infections/epidemiology , Bartonella Infections/transmission , Bartonella henselae/pathogenicity , Cat Diseases/epidemiology , Cat Diseases/microbiology , Cat-Scratch Disease/epidemiology , Cat-Scratch Disease/transmission , Cat-Scratch Disease/veterinary , Cats , Humans , Insect Vectors/microbiology , Rickettsia Infections/epidemiology , Rickettsia Infections/transmission , Rickettsia felis/pathogenicity , Siphonaptera , Ticks , ZoonosesABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Arachnid Vectors/microbiology , Cat Diseases/transmission , Disease Reservoirs/veterinary , Dog Diseases/transmission , Insect Vectors/microbiology , Zoonoses , Animals , Cat Diseases/epidemiology , Cats , Dog Diseases/epidemiology , Dogs , Flea Infestations/epidemiology , Flea Infestations/transmission , Flea Infestations/veterinary , Humans , Public Health , Tick Infestations/epidemiology , Tick Infestations/transmission , Tick Infestations/veterinaryABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Cat Diseases/prevention & control , Dog Diseases/prevention & control , Ectoparasitic Infestations/veterinary , Flea Infestations/veterinary , Tick Infestations/veterinary , Animals , Cat Diseases/transmission , Cats , Dog Diseases/transmission , Dogs , Ectoparasitic Infestations/prevention & control , Ectoparasitic Infestations/transmission , Female , Flea Infestations/prevention & control , Flea Infestations/transmission , Humans , Insecticides/pharmacology , Male , Tick Control/methods , Tick Infestations/prevention & control , ZoonosesABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Angiostrongylus/isolation & purification , Anthelmintics/therapeutic use , Dog Diseases/diagnosis , Lung Diseases, Parasitic/veterinary , Strongylida Infections/veterinary , Animals , Dog Diseases/drug therapy , Dog Diseases/epidemiology , Dogs , Female , Lung Diseases, Parasitic/diagnosis , Lung Diseases, Parasitic/drug therapy , Lung Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology , Netherlands/epidemiology , Strongylida Infections/diagnosis , Strongylida Infections/drug therapy , Strongylida Infections/epidemiology , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Dirofilaria/isolation & purification , Dirofilariasis/epidemiology , Dog Diseases/epidemiology , Animals , Antinematodal Agents/therapeutic use , Culicidae/parasitology , Dirofilariasis/drug therapy , Dirofilariasis/surgery , Dirofilariasis/transmission , Dog Diseases/drug therapy , Dog Diseases/surgery , Dog Diseases/transmission , Dogs , Female , Insect Vectors/parasitology , Life Cycle Stages , Macrolides/therapeutic use , Netherlands/epidemiology , Treatment Outcome , ZoonosesSubject(s)
Castration/veterinary , Cats/surgery , Dogs/surgery , Age Factors , Animals , Animals, Newborn/surgery , Castration/adverse effects , Castration/methods , Female , Male , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Anesthetics, Combined , Bison/physiology , Cattle/physiology , Immobilization/veterinary , Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists/pharmacology , Anesthesia , Anesthesia Recovery Period , Animals , Animals, Domestic , Bison/blood , Blood Gas Analysis/veterinary , Body Weight/physiology , Cattle/blood , Imidazoles/pharmacology , Immobilization/methods , Injections, Intramuscular/veterinary , Ketamine , Male , Respiration/drug effects , Tiletamine , Time Factors , Xylazine , ZolazepamABSTRACT
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.