PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
BACKGROUND: The zoonotic hookworms Ancylostoma caninum and Uncinaria stenocephala are widespread soil-transmitted helminths in dogs in Europe. Given the veterinary and public health importance of hookworms in dogs and the recent changes in the molecular epidemiology of some species, there is a need to continuously monitor the epidemiological and molecular prevalence of these parasites also at the \"local\" level. The present study aimed to update the epidemiological scenario of hookworm infections in both owned and stray dogs in southern Italy and to discriminate between different hookworm species (A. caninum and U. stenocephala) through molecular analyses. For this purpose, a retrospective analysis was performed over 10 years (2011-2021), including a total of 7008 owned dogs and 5642 stray dogs referred to our laboratory for copromicroscopic examinations. Moreover, 72 faecal samples, from dogs naturally infected by hookworms, were used to discriminate between A. caninum and U. stenocephala using two PCR protocols. Prior to molecular analyses, a subsample of 40/72 positive faecal samples was used for morphometric investigations on hookworm eggs.
RESULTS: The results of the ten-year retrospective analysis (2011-2021) showed an overall prevalence of hookworm infection of 9.16%, specifically 5.1% in owned dogs and 14.2% in stray dogs. Logistic regression showed a significant association between positivity to hookworms and the variable \"puppies\" both in stray (13.84%; OR = 2.4) and owned (7.07%; OR = 2.2) dogs. The results of molecular analyses showed that positivity was confirmed only in 21/72 samples, specifically, 6 samples using protocol A and 19 with protocol B. Sequencing revealed 15 samples positive to U. stenocephala and 6 to A. caninum.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study showed a high prevalence of hookworm infections in dogs in southern Italy, updating the epidemiological scenario of the last decade. Moreover, the results of the study revealed the first identification of hookworm species in dogs in Italy by molecular studies, highlighting that U. stenocephala is more prevalent than A. caninum.
RESULTS: The results of the ten-year retrospective analysis (2011-2021) showed an overall prevalence of hookworm infection of 9.16%, specifically 5.1% in owned dogs and 14.2% in stray dogs. Logistic regression showed a significant association between positivity to hookworms and the variable \"puppies\" both in stray (13.84%; OR = 2.4) and owned (7.07%; OR = 2.2) dogs. The results of molecular analyses showed that positivity was confirmed only in 21/72 samples, specifically, 6 samples using protocol A and 19 with protocol B. Sequencing revealed 15 samples positive to U. stenocephala and 6 to A. caninum.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study showed a high prevalence of hookworm infections in dogs in southern Italy, updating the epidemiological scenario of the last decade. Moreover, the results of the study revealed the first identification of hookworm species in dogs in Italy by molecular studies, highlighting that U. stenocephala is more prevalent than A. caninum.
摘要：
背景：人畜共患钩虫Ancyclostomacaninum和Uncinariastenocphala是欧洲狗中广泛分布的土壤传播蠕虫。鉴于钩虫在狗中的兽医和公共卫生重要性以及某些物种分子流行病学的最新变化，有必要在“本地”水平上持续监测这些寄生虫的流行病学和分子流行情况。本研究旨在更新意大利南部自有犬和流浪狗中钩虫感染的流行病学情况，并区分不同的钩虫种类（A.caninum和U.stenocphala）通过分子分析。为此,进行了10年(2011-2021年)的回顾性分析，包括总共7008只拥有的狗和5642只流浪狗转诊到我们的实验室进行共显微镜检查。此外，72个粪便样本，来自自然感染钩虫的狗，使用两种PCR方案区分A.caninum和U.stenocphala。在分子分析之前，使用40/72个阳性粪便样本的子样本对钩虫卵进行形态计量学研究。
结果：十年回顾性分析（2011-2021年）的结果显示，钩虫感染的总体患病率为9.16％，特别是5.1%的狗和14.2%的流浪狗。Logistic回归显示，在流浪犬（13.84％；OR=2.4）和拥有犬（7.07％；OR=2.2）中，钩虫的阳性与变量“小狗”之间存在显着关联。分子分析结果表明，阳性仅在21/72样品中得到证实，具体来说,使用方案A的6个样品和使用方案B的19个样品。测序显示15个样品对U.stenocphala呈阳性，6个样品对A.caninum呈阳性。
结论：这项研究的结果表明，在意大利南部的狗中，钩虫感染的患病率很高，更新了过去十年的流行病学情景。此外，这项研究的结果揭示了通过分子研究在意大利的狗中首次鉴定出钩虫物种，突出表明，美国斯登头孢比犬A.caninum更普遍。
结果：十年回顾性分析（2011-2021年）的结果显示，钩虫感染的总体患病率为9.16％，特别是5.1%的狗和14.2%的流浪狗。Logistic回归显示，在流浪犬（13.84％；OR=2.4）和拥有犬（7.07％；OR=2.2）中，钩虫的阳性与变量“小狗”之间存在显着关联。分子分析结果表明，阳性仅在21/72样品中得到证实，具体来说,使用方案A的6个样品和使用方案B的19个样品。测序显示15个样品对U.stenocphala呈阳性，6个样品对A.caninum呈阳性。
结论：这项研究的结果表明，在意大利南部的狗中，钩虫感染的患病率很高，更新了过去十年的流行病学情景。此外，这项研究的结果揭示了通过分子研究在意大利的狗中首次鉴定出钩虫物种，突出表明，美国斯登头孢比犬A.caninum更普遍。
