Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Redescription of Cercopithifilaria bainae parasite from a dog
By Otranto, Domenico et al.·Published in Parasites & vectors·2013·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Redescription of Cercopithifilaria bainae Almeida & Vicente, 1984 (Spirurida, Onchocercidae) from a dog in Sardinia, Italy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A dog in Sardinia, Italy, was found to have a skin condition caused by a type of parasite called Cercopithifilaria bainae. This parasite was previously known only from Brazil, but this case shows it is also present in southern Europe. The researchers identified the parasite by examining its genetic material and found a high number of adult parasites in the dog's skin tissue. This discovery highlights the spread of this parasite in dog populations in Europe. Treatment options for this type of infection typically involve antiparasitic medications, so it's important for pet owners to consult their veterinarian if they suspect their dog has a skin issue.
People also search for: dog skin infection treatment · Cercopithifilaria in dogs · dog parasites Europe
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Three species of the genus Cercopithifilaria have been morphologically and molecularly characterized in dog populations in southern Europe: Cercopithifilaria grassii (Noè, 1907), Cercopithifilaria sp. sensu Otranto et al., 2011 (reported as Cercopithifilaria sp. I), and Cercopithifilaria sp. II sensu Otranto et al., 2012. The adults of Cercopithifilaria sp. I have remained unknown until the present study. METHODS: The material originated from a dog from Sardinia (Italy) diagnosed with dermal microfilariae of Cercopithifilaria sp. I. The holotype and three paratypes of Cercopithifilaria bainae Almeida & Vicente, 1984, described from dogs in Brazil, were studied as comparative material. A cox1 (~689 bp) and 12S (~330 bp) gene fragments were amplified and phylogenetic analysis carried out. RESULTS: The highest numbers of adult nematodes (82%) were collected in the sediment of the subcutaneous tissues of the trunk (n = 37) and forelimbs (n = 36). The morphology of the adult nematodes and microfilariae collected from the dog in Sardinia corresponded to those of C. bainae. All cox1 and 12S gene sequences showed a high homology (99-100%) with sequences from microfilariae of Cercopithifilaria sp. I CONCLUSIONS: The morphological and molecular identity of the microfilariae of C. bainae overlap those described previously as Cercopithifilaria sp. sensu Otranto et al., 2011 (=Cercopithifilaria sp. I). Therefore, the present study reports the occurrence of C. bainae in Europe, for the first time after its description and the single record in Brazil. C. bainae appears to be highly diffused in dog populations in southern Europe. The phylogenetic analyses based on cox1 and 12S do not reveal the three species of Cercopithifilaria parasitizing dogs as a monophyletic group, which suggests that they have derived independently by host switching.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23642161/