Prevalence of microfilaraemia in episodic weakness and clinically normal dogs belonging to hunting breeds.

Blood samples from 50 dogs with episodic weakness and 50 clinically normal dogs, all belonging to hunting breeds, were examined for microfilariae using the modified Knott's method. The prevalence of microfilaraemia in dogs belonging to the episodic weakness group was 10% for Dirofilaria immitis, 30% for Dirofilaria repens and 8% for Acanthocheilonema reconditum. In the clinically normal group, the figures were 14% for Dirofilaria repens and 4% for Acanthocheilonema reconditum. The overall percentage of dogs with microfilaremia in the episodic weakness group was 44 and that of the clinically normal group 16, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.01). The prevalence of microfilaremia due to the nonpathogenic filarial species (Dirofilaria repens, Acanthocheilonema reconditum) was 34% and 16% for the episodic weakness group and the clinically normal dogs, respectively, with no significant difference.

Latex agglutination test for detecting Trichinella spiralis infections in pigs using muscle extract.

The latex agglutination (LA) test, using muscle-juice samples of pigs experimentally infected with Trichinella spiralis and slaughtered 95 days post-infection (p.i.), gave visible results in 3 min; even in a pig receiving an infection dose as low as 10 larvae. The test appeared reliable and easy to perform without the need for special equipment or sample treatments which are necessary for ante-mortem diagnostic methods. The muscle-juice sample could be obtained by compressing the muscle pieces with the fingers at any time post-mortem and was used undiluted. The results of the LA test using serum or muscle-juice samples correlated with those of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Positive results in the LA test and ELISA appeared 27 days p.i. with the use of sera from the pigs infected with greater than or equal to 600 larvae and 56 days p.i. with the serum of a pig infected with 10 larvae. The complement-fixing antibodies were detected in the sera using complement ELISA 86 days p.i. This assay was negative when muscle-juice samples were used.

A survey on the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of dogs in the area of Thessaloniki, Greece.

Faecal specimens randomly taken from 232 healthy dogs living in the area of Thessaloniki were screened for internal parasites. In 39.2% of the examined dogs excretion of Sarcocystis bovicanis (1.3%), Isospora ohioensis/burrowsi (3.9%), Giardia lamblia (0.8%), Hammondia heydorni (0.4%), Dicrocoelium dendriticum (0.8%) Diplopylidium nolleri (0.4%), Joyeuxiella pasqualei (0.8%), taeniids (0.4%), Toxocara canis (22.4%), Toxascaris leonina (1.3%), Uncinaria stenocephala (3.0%), Trichuris vulpis (2.6%), Spirocerca lupi (0.4%), or Linguatula serrata (0.4%) was detected. The overall rate of infection did not show any significant difference concerning sex or age. T. canis, however, was significantly more often found in the youngest age group (1-3 months).

Immunodiagnosis of giardiasis by ELISA and studies on cross-reactivity between the anti-Giardia lamblia antibodies and some heterologous parasitic antigens and fractions.

Specific antibodies against Giardia lamblia in 92 sera from asymptomatic carriers were investigated by ELISA. Using cyst antigen, antibodies were detected in 91 of the sera, by means of alkaline phosphatase-labelled antispecies immunoglobulin. The E/405nm values of the positive sera ranged between 0.350 and 1.700, whereas in the 78 control sera they were 0.270 +/- 0.220. Cross-reactivity between the anti-G. lamblia antibodies and 18 heterologous parasitic antigens and fractions was also studied. Cross-reactions were observed with antigens of Toxoplasma gondii, Sarcocystis spp., Leishmania donovani, Fasciola hepatica Y, F. hepatica I, Echinococcus granulosus AM, Cysticercus tenuicollis, Taenia saginata, Dipylidium caninum Y, D. caninum I, Trichuris suis Y, T. suis I, Trichinella spiralis and Litomosoides carinii. No cross-reactions were observed with the antigens and fractions of Entamoeba histolytica, Dicrocoelium dendriticum, Schistosoma mansoni and Echinococcus granulosus Y. The results show that the ELISA could be easily and very successfully applied for routine diagnosis of giardiasis.