Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
First case of Trichinella britovi infection in an Algerian dog
By Mechouk, Noureddine et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports·2024·Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: First identification of Trichinella britovi in a domestic dog (Canis familiaris) from Algeria.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A domestic dog in Algeria was found to have a parasitic infection called Trichinella britovi, which can be transmitted through eating infected meat, such as jackal. This was the first time this specific parasite was identified in a dog in the country. The researchers conducted thorough examinations of various carnivorous animals and discovered the infection in one dog. This finding emphasizes the importance of monitoring domestic dogs for this parasite, especially in areas where they may consume wild animal meat.
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Abstract
Trichinellosis is a parasitic disease affecting various mammals (including humans), birds, and reptiles, and is widespread across multiple continents except Antarctica. The disease can be caused by several species of the genus Trichinella and there are documented cases of T. britovi globally. In Algeria, human cases of Trichinella have been reported and a study identifying T. britovi linked the infection to the consumption of jackal meat., with no reports of Trichinella spp. in animals. This preliminary study aimed to investigate the presence of Trichinella spp. infection among carnivorous species in Algeria. Between February 2022 and August 2023, 33 road-killed mammals, mainly carnivores were collected from different locations across five departments: El Tarf, Annaba, Constantine, Algiers, and Oued Souf. Comprehensive parasitological necropsies were conducted, and muscle samples from the dorsal and ventral musculature of the forelimb and the diaphragm of each animal were examined using trichinoscopy. DNA was isolated from positive muscle tissue samples and analyzed using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Trichinella spp. cysts were detected in one domestic dog (Canis familiaris) from Ain Kerma, El Tarf. Molecular analysis confirmed all cysts as T. britovi. This study presents the first report of the genus T. britovi in an animal host in Algeria, highlighting the role of domestic dogs in maintaining the sylvatic life cycle of T. britovi in the region.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39550190/