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Background Parasitic infections, particularly those caused by protozoa, represent a considerable public health problem in developing countries. Blastocystis , Giardia duodenalis , Cryptosporidium spp. and the Entamoeba complex ( Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar and Entamoeba moshkovskii) are the most common etiological causes of intestinal parasitic infections. Methods We carried out a descriptive cross-sectional study in school-age children attending a daycare institution in commune eight of Popayán, Cauca (Southwest Colombia). A total of 266 fecal samples were collected (258 from children and eight from pets). Blastocystis , G. duodenalis , Cryptosporidium spp. and the Entamoeba complex were identified by microscopy, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and conventional PCR. The concordance of qPCR and microscopy was assessed using the Kappa index. Molecular characterization was conducted to identify Blastocystis subtypes (18S), G. duodenalis assemblages ( tpi and gdh ) and Cryptosporidium species/subtypes (18S and GP60). Potential associations between intestinal parasitism and sociodemographic factors were examined using bivariate analyses. Results A total of 258 fecal samples from children were analyzed by microscopy and 255 samples were analyzed by qPCR. The prevalence of Blastocystis was between 25.19% (microscopy) and 39.22% (qPCR), that of G. duodenalis was between 8.14% (microscopy) and 10.59% (qPCR), that of Cryptosporidium spp. was estimated at 9.8% (qPCR), and that of the Entamoeba complex was between 0.39% (conventional PCR) and 0.78% (microscopy). The concordance between microscopy and qPCR was very low. Blastocystis ST1 (alleles 4, 8, and 80), ST2 (alleles 11, 12, and 15), ST3 (alleles 31, 34, 36, 38,57, and 151), and ST4 (alleles 42 and 91), G. duodenalis assemblages AII, BIII, BIV and D, C. parvum subtype IIa and C. hominis subtype IbA9G3R2 were identified. The only identified member of the Entamoeba complex corresponded to E. histolytica . No statistically significant association was identified between parasitic infection and any sociodemographic variable. Conclusion This study revealed the usefulness of molecular methods to depict the transmission dynamics of parasitic protozoa in southwest Colombia. The presence of some of these protozoa in domestic animals may be involved in their transmission.

This paper reviews the occurrence and impact of threadworms, Strongyloides spp., in companion animals and large livestock, the potential zoonotic implications and future research. Strongyloides spp. infect a range of domestic animal species worldwide and clinical disease is most often encountered in young animals. Dogs are infected with Strongyloides stercoralis while cats are infected with different species according to geographical location (Strongyloides felis, Strongyloides tumefaciens, Strongyloides planiceps and perhaps S. stercoralis). In contrast to the other species, lactogenic transmission is not a primary means of infection in dogs, and S. stercoralis is the only species considered zoonotic. Strongyloides papillosus in calves has been linked to heavy fatalities under conditions of high stocking density. Strongyloides westeri and Strongyloides ransomi of horses and pigs, respectively, cause only sporadic clinical disease. In conclusion, these infections are generally of low relative importance in livestock and equines, most likely due to extensive use of macrocyclic lactone anthelmintics and/or improved hygiene. Future prevalence studies need to include molecular typing of Strongyloides species in relation to different hosts. More research is urgently needed on the potential zoonotic capacity of Strongyloides from dogs and cats based on molecular typing, information on risk factors and mapping of transmission routes.

Background Ticks and fleas are considered amongst the most important arthropod vectors of medical and veterinary concern due to their ability to transmit pathogens to a range of animal species including dogs, cats and humans. By sharing a common environment with humans, companion animal-associated parasitic arthropods may potentially transmit zoonotic vector-borne pathogens (VBPs). This study aimed to molecularly detect pathogens from ticks and fleas from companion dogs and cats in East and Southeast Asia. Methods A total of 392 ticks and 248 fleas were collected from 401 infested animals (i.e. 271 dogs and 130 cats) from China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam, and molecularly screened for the presence of pathogens. Ticks were tested for Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. while fleas were screened for the presence of Rickettsia spp. and Bartonella spp. Result Of the 392 ticks tested, 37 (9.4%) scored positive for at least one pathogen with Hepatozoon canis being the most prevalent (5.4%), followed by Ehrlichia canis (1.8%), Babesia vogeli (1%), Anaplasma platys (0.8%) and Rickettsia spp. (1%) [including Rickettsia sp. (0.5%), Rickettsia asembonensis (0.3%) and Rickettsia felis (0.3%)]. Out of 248 fleas tested, 106 (42.7%) were harboring at least one pathogen with R. felis being the most common (19.4%), followed by Bartonella spp. (16.5%), Rickettsia asembonensis (10.9%) and “ Candidatus Rickettsia senegalensis” (0.4%). Furthermore, 35 Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks were subjected to phylogenetic analysis, of which 34 ticks belonged to the tropical and only one belonged to the temperate lineage ( Rh. sanguineus ( sensu stricto )). Conclusion Our data reveals the circulation of different VBPs in ticks and fleas of dogs and cats from Asia, including zoonotic agents, which may represent a potential risk to animal and human health.

Background Apicomplexan tick-borne pathogens that cause disease in companion animals include species of Babesia Starcovici, 1893, Cytauxzoon Neitz & Thomas, 1948, Hepatozoon Miller, 1908 and Theileria Bettencourt, Franca & Borges, 1907. The only apicomplexan tick-borne disease of companion animals that is known to occur in Australia is babesiosis, caused by Babesia canis vogeli Reichenow, 1937 and Babesia gibsoni Patton, 1910 . However, no molecular investigations have widely investigated members of Apicomplexa Levine, 1980 in Australian ticks that parasitise dogs, cats or horses, until this present investigation. Results Ticks ( n = 711) removed from dogs ( n = 498), cats ( n = 139) and horses ( n = 74) throughout Australia were screened for piroplasms and Hepatozoon spp. using conventional PCR and Sanger sequencing. The tick-borne pathogen B. vogeli was identified in two Rhipicephalus sanguineus Latreille ticks from dogs residing in the Northern Territory and Queensland (QLD). Theileria orientalis Yakimov & Sudachenkov, 1931 genotype Ikeda was detected in three Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann ticks from dogs in New South Wales. Unexpectedly, the exotic tick-borne pathogen Hepatozoon canis James, 1905 was identified in an Ixodes holocyclus Neumann tick from a dog in QLD. Eight novel piroplasm and Hepatozoon species were identified and described in native ticks and named as follows: Babesia lohae n. sp., Babesia mackerrasorum n. sp., Hepatozoon banethi n. sp., Hepatozoon ewingi n. sp., Theileria apogeana n. sp., Theileria palmeri n. sp., Theileria paparinii n. sp. and Theileria worthingtonorum n. sp. Additionally, a novel cf. Sarcocystidae sp. sequence was obtained from Ixodes tasmani Neumann but could not be confidently identified at the genus level. Conclusions Novel species of parasites in ticks represent an unknown threat to the health of companion animals that are bitten by these native tick species. The vector potential of Australian ticks for the newly discovered apicomplexans needs to be assessed, and further clinical and molecular investigations of these parasites, particularly in blood samples from dogs, cats and horses, is required to determine their potential for pathogenicity.

Ticks and fleas are vectors of medically important infectious diseases globally, such as Rickettsiae. These pathogens are frequently reported in Southeast Asia, including Laos; however, there are very few comprehensive reports on their prevalence and vector diversity in urban areas. This study collected ectoparasites from companion animals to assess pathogen prevalence and exposure risk. In five veterinary clinics across Vientiane capital, ectoparasites were collected from dogs and cats and identified to the species level using both morphological and molecular methods. Ectoparasite DNA samples were screened for bacteria ( 17-kDa and 16S rRNA gene). Ticks were submitted to evaluate the potential of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for species identification. A total of 3,771 arthropod vectors (3,658 ticks, 105 fleas, 8 lice) were removed from dogs and cats. Ticks were morphologically identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.) tropical lineage (currently recognised as Rhipicephalus linnaei ), whilst fleas were classified as either Ctenocephalides felis felis (57.1%) or C. f. orientis (42.9%) and lice were Heterodoxus spiniger . The MALDI-TOF spectra in this study revealed similar mass-to-charge (m/z) peak profiles to those reported in previous studies for Rhipicephalus sanguineus . Rickettsia spp. ( Rickettsia asembonensis and Rickettsia felis ) were detected in 44.4% of pooled flea samples collected from 12 dogs and 4 cats, as well as 3.5% of tick pools collected from 142 dogs and 50% of lice pools collected from 2 dogs. In addition, Anaplasmataceae ( Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma platys ) were detected in 22.5% of ticks collected from dogs. This study highlights the diversity of ectoparasite species collected from dogs and cats and provide preliminary insights into the use of MALDI-TOF MS for tick species identification. While promising, further research is needed to enhance the reliability and efficacy of this approach. The findings also reveal a high prevalence of pathogens in ectoparasites, emphasizing the need for increased awareness among pet owners, veterinarians, and addressing public health concerns.

Pet ownership can have health, emotional and social benefits; however, pets can serve as a source of zoonotic pathogens. One large, regional survey reported more than 75% of households having contact with a pet,1 and close, intimate interactions with pets (e.g., sleeping in beds with owners, face licking) are common.1,2 Additional surveys suggest that the general public and people at high risk for pet-associated disease are not aware of the risks associated with highrisk pet practices or recommendations to reduce them; for example, 77% of households that obtained a new pet following a cancer diagnosis acquired a high-risk pet.1,3 This statistic is not surprising - studies suggest physicians do not regularly ask about pet contact, nor do they discuss the risks of zoonotic diseases with patients, regardless of the patient's immune status.1,3,4 Patient surveys and epidemiologic studies on the topic suggest that the occurrence of pet-associated disease is low overall.1,8 Owing to a relative absence of reportable pathogens and complicating factors (e.g., non-pet exposure pathways, frequent subclinical shedding by pets), the proportion of human disease attributable to pets is unknown, and any reported frequency of such infections is likely underestimated. Yet, pet contact has been identified as a risk factor for many diseases, with case-control studies and molecular typing data strongly supporting pet sources for bacterial (e.g., Campylobacter, Salmonella), fungal (e.g., dermatophytes), parasitic (e.g., Toxoplasma gondii) and viral pathogens (e.g., lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus).6,9-12 Although pets do not typically directly transmit arthropod-borne diseases to people (e.g., Lyme borreliosis, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis), they do bring the zoonotic disease vectors - ticks and fleas - in close proximity to people, potentially increasing disease risk. In immunocompetent people, salmonellosis most often results in self-limiting gastrointestinal disease, although serious disease can develop. The disease can be more severe in patients at high risk, resulting in bacteremia or serious systemic and localized infections, such as meningitis (in newborns) and osteomyelitis (in patients with sickle cell anemia). Although many pet species have been implicated in human disease, amphibians, reptiles, exotic animals, rodents and young poultry pose the greatest risk. Reptiles and amphibians are estimated to be responsible for 11% of all sporadic Salmonella infections among patients less than 21 years of age,11 and direct contact with such animals is not required for zoonotic transmission. In one study, 31% of reptile-associated salmonellosis cases occurred in children less than 5 years of age and 17% occurred in children aged 1 year or younger; these findings highlight the heightened risk in children and the potential for reptile-associated Salmonella to be transmitted without direct contact with the animal or its enclosure.12 Outbreaks of pet-associated salmonellosis involving hedgehogs, rodents, young poultry, frogs and turtles have recently been reported, in which children accounted for a high proportion of cases (35%-70%).23 In addition, various animal foods (e.g., raw meat, raw eggs and raw treats such as pig's ears) are commonly contaminated with Salmonella species. The feeding of these products are well-established risk factors for salmonellosis in pets, and associated human outbreaks have been identified.24,25

Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Leishmania infantum in the Mediterranean area and transmitted by phlebotomine sand fly vectors. The domestic dog is the main reservoir host. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of different individual, environmental and spatial risk factors on the dog exposure to L . infantum and to estimate the seroprevalence among owned and kennel dogs, in the Lazio region (central Italy), where canine leishmaniasis is endemic. In the period 2010–2014, 13,292 sera from kennel and owned dogs were collected by official and private veterinarians. The presence of anti- Leishmania IgG was analysed by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), using a 1:80 titre cut-off. At the univariable analysis, CanL seropositivity was associated with sex, size, breed, coat length, living with other dogs and forest/semi-natural land cover. At the multivariable analysis, age, ownership and attitude were confirmed as risk factors, being more than 2 years old, owned, and hunting dogs at higher risk. Being a Maremma sheepdog was a protective factor. A true overall seroprevalence of 6.7% (95% CI: 6.2–7.2) was estimated in the whole population while 7.3% (95% CI: 6.8–7.8) was estimated in kennel dogs and 74.3% (95% CI: 70.8–77.6) in owned dogs. The role of kennels as a key component for CanL active and passive surveillance was also highlighted. This study confirmed the endemicity of CanL in the Lazio region and focused some factors that can influence the seropositivity of dogs in a Mediterranean region.

Cryptosporidium spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi are two well-known protist pathogens which can result in diarrhea in humans and animals. To examine the occurrence and genetic characteristics of Cryptosporidium spp. and E. bieneusi in pet red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris), 314 fecal specimens were collected from red squirrels from four pet shops and owners in Sichuan province, China. Cryptosporidium spp. and E. bieneusi were examined by nested PCR targeting the partial small subunit rRNA (SSU rRNA) gene and the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene respectively. The infection rates were 8.6% (27/314) for Cryptosporidium spp. and 19.4% (61/314) for E. bieneusi. Five Cryptosporidium species/genotypes were identified by DNA sequence analysis: Cryptosporidium rat genotype II (n = 8), Cryptosporidium ferret genotype (n = 8), Cryptosporidium chipmunk genotype III (n = 5), Cryptosporidium rat genotype I (n = 4), and Cryptosporidium parvum (n = 2). Additionally, a total of five E. bieneusi genotypes were revealed, including three known genotypes (D, SCC-2, and SCC-3) and two novel genotypes (RS01 and RS02). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that genotype D fell into group 1, whereas the remaining genotypes clustered into group 10. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report Cryptosporidium spp. and E. bieneusi in pet red squirrels in China. Moreover, C. parvum and genotype D of E. bieneusi, previously identified in humans, were also found in red squirrels, suggesting that red squirrels may give rise to cryptosporidiosis and microsporidiosis in humans through zoonotic transmissions. These results provide preliminary reference data for monitoring Cryptosporidium spp. and E. bieneusi infections in pet red squirrels and humans.

Background Cryptosporidium spp. is a ubiquitous, globally distributed intestinal protozoan infecting humans and at least 260 animal hosts. Due to close human contact with pet dogs and identification of zoonotic Cryptosporidium species and subtypes in these animals, dog health is not only a veterinarian issue but also a public health issue. This study aimed to understand occurrence and genetic characterization at both genotype and subtype levels in pet dogs in Yunnan Province, China. Results A total of 589 fresh fecal specimens were collected from adult pet dogs in the rural areas of eight cities/autonomous prefectures of Yunnan Province, China. 16 fecal specimens were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and sequence analysis of the small subunit ribosomal RNA ( SSU rRNA ) gene, with an average occurrence rate of 2.7% (16/589) being observed. Three zoonotic Cryptosporidium species were identified: C. parvum ( n  = 7), C. suis ( n  = 5) and C. canis ( n  = 4). At the 60-kDa glycoprotein ( gp60 ) locus, only three C. parvum and two C. canis specimens were successfully amplified and sequenced, with subtype IIaA17G2R1 ( n  = 3) and subtypes XXa4 ( n  = 1) and XXa5 ( n  = 1) being identified, respectively. Conclusions The present finding of three zoonotic Cryptosporidium species in dogs implied that dogs infected with Cryptosporidium spp. may pose a threat to human health. C. suis was identified in dogs in this study for the first time, expanding the host range of this species. Identification of C. parvum subtype IIaA17G2R1 and C. canis subtypes XXa4 and XXa5 will be helpful to explore the source attribution of infection/contamination and assess the transmission dynamics of C. parvum and C. canis in the investigated areas in the future.

Background Flea infestations remain a major issue in veterinary medicine. Highly effective flea control for dogs and cats remains the foundation for eliminating infestations from homes and improving skin conditions associated with flea-feeding. Methods Homes with pet cats were screened by flea-history questionnaire. Qualifying homes were subselected into “high” (≥ 5 fleas on ≥ 1 cat, and ≥ 5 fleas collected in environmental flea traps over a 16–24 h period), “low” (< 5 fleas on all cats, < 5 in traps), and “no” homes (no evidence of fleas on cats or traps). All cats and dogs in a household were treated with a lotilaner oral tablet (Credelio ® CAT and Credelio ® , respectively) in weeks 0, 4, and 8. On-animal and trap counts were performed for: “high” at weeks 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 11–12; “low” at week 0 and at approximately 2-week intervals through week 11–12; and “no” only at week 0. During each visit, one owner completed a pruritus assessment (PVAS) and a veterinary dermatologist assessed dermatologic lesions using the feline allergic dermatitis (SCORFAD) scale. Results A total of 46 homes met inclusion criteria and completed the study: 19 “high” (35 cats); 17 “low” (27); and 10 “no” (14). By week 1, relative to pretreatment, there was a 99.3% reduction in flea counts on “high” cats, with 31 of 34 cats (91.2%) flea-free. By week 11–12, flea counts across all study cats and traps were zero. Prior to the first treatment, mean PVAS scores were: “high” 6.6; “low” 5.5; and “no” 1.9. By week 1 there was a significant decrease in mean PVAS score of cats from “high” homes to 2.9 ( P  < 0.0001), and mean week 11–12 scores were 0.5 and 0.8 for “high” and “low” homes, respectively. For SCORFAD, by week 11–12, relative to week 0, there was a significant decline in mean scores of cats from both “high” (8.0 to 1.7) ( P  < 0.0001) and “low” homes (3.3 to 0.9) ( P  < 0.0001). Conclusions Lotilaner was 100% efficacious in eliminating flea infestations from animals and their homes. The monthly lotilaner treatments of cats and dogs in flea-infested homes resulted in clinical resolution of pruritus and dermatologic lesions. Graphical abstract