[Ocular thelaziosis in a dog in Germany - an autochthonous case?] / Okuläre Thelaziose bei einem Hund in Deutschland ­ ein autochthoner Fall?

Thelazia callipaeda is a vector-borne nematode transmitted by Phortica spp. (fruit flies) and one of the causes of mild to severe conjunctivitis and keratitis in dogs, cats, rabbits and humans. It has been formerly known as the oriental eye worm based on its geographic occurrence. By now, it has been shown to be endemic in several southern and eastern European countries as well as extending its geographic distribution further throughout Europe. In the present case report, T. callipaeda infection was diagnosed in a female dog from Germany. The dog was referred by a local veterinarian due to a treatment-resistant conjunctivitis. A comprehensive ophthalmologic examination revealed 3 adult eye worms in the conjunctival sac as well as on the bulbar side of the nictitating membrane of the left eye. These were identified by morphological features and molecular techniques as T. callipaeda and represented the primary cause of the dog's unilateral blepharospasm, hyperemic conjunctiva and epiphora. Treatment consisted of manual collection of the adult worms and the administration of moxidectin/imidacloprid as spot on (Advocate®, Bayer). All clinical signs resolved within one week after treatment. In Germany, ocular thelaziosis still represents a rare disease. Usually, it is diagnosed in cats and dogs either imported from abroad or accompanying the owners on holiday travels to endemic countries. The dog presented in this case report was born in Germany. Except for a one-week stay in the Netherlands 11 months before the symptoms began, it had never traveled abroad. Considering the prepatency of T. callipaeda, an autochthonous transmission in this case is highly probable.

First report of canine ocular thelaziosis in the Republic of Moldova.

BACKGROUND: Countries of eastern Europe are considered, due to several risk factors, more vulnerable to infections with newly (re)emerging pathogens. During the last decade, in several European countries, reports of autochthonous cases of ocular thelaziosis due to Thelazia callipaeda have been published, posing a great concern from both veterinary and public health perspective. However, in the Republic of Moldova only limited epidemiological data are available regarding zoonotic vector-borne pathogens and, until now, no data exist on the zoonotic nematode T. callipaeda. METHODS: In September 2018, an 11-year-old dog, mixed-breed, intact male was referred to a private veterinary clinic from Chișinau, Republic of Moldova, with a history of 2 weeks of an ocular condition affecting the right eye. The ophthalmological exam revealed the presence of nematode parasites in the conjunctival sac and under the third eyelid. The collected parasites were identified by morphological techniques and molecular analysis. RESULTS: A total of 7 nematodes were collected, and 5 females and 2 males of T. callipaeda were identified morphologically. The BLAST analysis confirmed the low genetic variability of this parasite in Europe. The travel history of the patient allowed us to confirm the autochthonous character of the case. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of thelaziosis in dogs from the Republic of Moldova, which confirms the spreading trend of T. callipaeda and the existence of an autochthonous transmission cycle of this zoonotic parasite in the country.

Pathological Response of Northern Bobwhites to Oxyspirura petrowi Infections.

The effects of Oxyspirura petrowi infections in northern bobwhites ( Colinus virginianus ) are not well understood. While studies have reported O. petrowi infections, none has histopathologically examined the eye surface and intraorbital glands to assess cellular-level impacts associated with infection. This study is the first to document the histopathology associated with O. petrowi infections. Oxyspirura petrowi occurred on the eye surface as well as in the conjunctiva, lacrimal ducts, lacrimal glands, and Harderian glands. Histopathology showed infections of O. petrowi caused cellular damage to these tissues, scarring and interstitial keratitis of the cornea, and acinar atrophy of the Harderian gland.

Evaluation of the presence of Leishmania spp. by real-time PCR in the lacrimal glands of dogs with leishmaniosis.

Leishmania infantum infection is highly prevalent in endemic areas. Dogs with leishmaniosis may develop keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). The goals of this study were (1) to quantify Leishmania amastigotes in the Meibomian glands (MG), main lacrimal gland (MLG) and nictitating membrane gland (NMG) from dogs with leishmaniosis; (2) to compare these results to immunohistochemistry (IHC), and (3) to explore the association between the Leishmania parasite load and the presence of ocular clinical signs. Twenty-five dogs diagnosed with leishmaniosis were included. MG, MLG and NMG from both eyes were collected. Histopathology, IHC and real-time PCR were performed. All specimens yielded positive real-time PCR results. For all three glands, samples from dogs with ocular clinical signs had mean ΔCt (cycle threshold) values significantly lower (higher parasite loads) than those from dogs without signs. Cut-off values of ΔCt<0, ΔCt<4 and ΔCt<4.9 for MG, MLG and NMG, resulted in a likelihood ratio of positives of 5.9, 6.38 and 6.38, respectively. Samples with ΔCt values below the reported cut-off were significantly more likely to display clinical signs related to KCS than those with results above the cut-off, for all three glands. Similarly, ΔCt values below the cut-off were significantly associated with positive IHC. In this study real-time PCR has been standardised for use in MG, MLG and NMG. A cut-off value established for each of these tissues may aid the clinician in the discrimination between ocular signs related to Leishmania from those associated with other causes of KCS.

Nuevo foco de infección de Oxyspirura mansoni en gallos de pelea de municipios del estado Zulia Venezuela / New focal infection of Oxyspirura mansoni in gamecock of Municipalities of Zulia state Venezuela

El propósito de esta investigación fue determinar la existencia de un foco de infección de Oxispirurosis cuyo agente etiológico es un nematodo Thelazzidae: Oxyspirura mansoni (Cobbold, 1879). Este nematodo es responsable de la filariosis ocular de las aves. Este estudio se refiere a gallos de pelea ubicados en los siguientes municipios: Maracaibo, San Francisco, Mara y Jesús Enrique Lossada del estado Zulia. Venezuela. Estos parásitos están localizados debajo de la membrana nictitante de los ojos ocasionando absoluta ceguera. En el presente estudio el muestreo fue tomado de gallos de pelea de cuatro Municipios para un total de 630 aves. En una gallera del municipio Maracaibo, sector La Rotaria, 50,77 por ciento de los animales evaluados resultaron positivos. Los parásitos fueron extraídos directamente de los ojos después de haberles colocado una gota de ivermectina solución oftálmica (1 por ciento), mientras que otra gallera ubicada en el sector Delicias, 20 por ciento de las muestras de las aves estuvieron positivas; en una gallera del sector Lacteos San José, los animales estaban negativos; en el municipio San Francisco y en el sector Los Cortijos, 32 por ciento de las aves resultaron positivas. En el municipio Jesús Enrique Lossada las aves muestreadas resultaron negativas y en el municipio Mara, sector Los Lirios, 35 muestras resultaron negativas. Fueron colectadas numerosas cucarachas en las jaulas de los gallos infectados, identificadas y clasificadas: en el Orden: Dictyoptera, Suborden: Blattaria, Familia Blattidae, especie: Picnoscelus surinamensis, designada hospedador intermediario, la disección demostró larvas del nematodo Oxyspirura mansoni en la cavidad general. En las galleras negativas no estuvieron presentes los insectos. Se concluye que la cucaracha colectada en las galleras es la misma especie (Picnoscelus surinamensis) asociada con la enfermedad del primer trabajo reportado, pero las lesiones de las aves fueron relativamente moderadas.

The purpose of this research was to determine the existence of the source of an Oxispirurosis infection which ethiological agent is a nematode known as Thelaziidae: Oxyspirura mansoni (Cobbold, 1869). This nematode is responsible of ocular filariosis of birds. This study is related with gamecock birds located in the following Municipalities: Maracaibo, San Francisco, Jesus Enrique Lossada and Mara of Zulia State, Venezuela. These parasites are located under the nictitante membrane of the eye causing an absolute blindness. In the present study samples were taken from cocpits of four Municipalities of Zulia State with a total of 630 gamecock birds sampled. In Maracaibo, La Rotaria sector, 50.77 percent of evaluated animals were positive. The parasites were directly extracted from the eyes after treatment with an ivermectine ophthalmic solution (1 percent). In other cockpits located in Las Delicias sector, 20 percent of sampled birds were positive. In the San Francisco Municipality, Los Cortijos sector, 32 percent of sampled birds were positive, while in the second cockpit Lacteos San Jose the animals were negative. In the Jesús Enrique Lossada Municipality, all sampled birds resulted negative; in the Mara Municipality, Los Lirios sector, all 35 samples were negative. Were found in the cages of the gamecock birds that were positive, many cockroachs were identify and classified (Dictyoptera, Blattaria, Blattidae, specie: Picnoscelus surinamensis).This cockroach has been designated as the intermediary host. Larvae of nematode Oxyspirura mansoni were found in the general cavity of the cockroach. In the negative cockpits, the cockroachs were not present. It was concluded that the same cockroach species (Picnoscelus surinamensis) is associated with the disease as in previous work, but the degree of the lesions was relatively moderated.

First report of Oxyspirura sp. from a captive fulvous owl (Strix fulvescens) in Mexico.

Nematodes similar to Oxyspirura sp. were recovered from the cornea and nictitating membrane of a fulvous owl (Strix fulvescens). The bird had been captive for several months, but died suddenly. It had no clinical history of prior diseases, including ocular lesions.

First report of immature Thelazia skrjabini (Nematoda: Thelazioidea) from the eye of a white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus.

The eyes from 103 hunter-killed white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and 19 mule deer (O. hemionus) killed between 28 November to 14 December 1991 from Wainwright, Alberta were examined for Thelazia spp. One immature male and two immature female Thelazia skrjabini were collected from beneath the third eyelid of one adult female O. virginianus. This is the first report of T. skrjabini in a member of the Cervidae.

The effects of crowding on adults of Philophthalmus gralli (Trematoda) grown in chickens.

Chickens were infected with six, 10, 30, 50, or 100 metacercariae of Philophthalmus gralli per eye and the adults were harvested 9, 14, 21, 35, and 50 days later. The worms recovered were measured and assessed for maturity. Significantly more adults from infections of six and 10 metacercariae per eye were recovered than from infections of 100 per eye. When metacercariae were placed in one eye, over one-fourth of the resulting adults were found in the opposite eye. Worms recovered from groups of zero to 10 were significantly longer than those in groups of 41 to 50 and 51 to 60 at all ages sampled. The normal movement of worms from the conjunctival sac to the outside of the nictitating membrane was hindered by crowding; when more than 10 were present, some worms developed in the sac to mature adults. Worms in all groups produced eggs in which miracidia developed at the same rate.