Haematological and biochemical abnormalities in hunting dogs infected with Acanthocheilonema reconditum, associated risk factors, and a European overview

• DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07179-8
• Publication Date: 2021-05-08T03:33:29Z
• Authors: Laura Pacifico; Nicola Ferrari; Claudia Romeo; Francesco Buono; Paolo Varuzza; Giovanni Sgroi; Benedetto Neola; Jesse Buch; Melissa Beall; Edward B. Breitsc...; Ramaswamy Chandra...; Vincenzo Veneziano; Diego Piantedosi
• Keywords: Male; Acanthocheilonema spp; CVBDs; Filarial nematodes; Hunting dogs; Acanthocheilonema; Acanthocheilonemiasis; Animals; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Hematologic Diseases; Italy; Male; Microfilariae; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Working Dogs; 0303 health sciences; Acanthocheilonema; Hunting dogs; Hematologic Diseases; 3. Good health; Helminthology - Original Paper; 03 medical and health sciences; Dogs; CVBDs; Italy; Risk Factors; Working Dogs; Prevalence; Animals; Acanthocheilonema spp; Dog Diseases; Filarial nematodes; Acanthocheilonemiasis; Microfilariae

AbstractAcanthocheilonema reconditum is a filarial parasite transmitted by arthropods (fleas, lice, and ticks) that infect dogs. There is minimal published data available to date on potential haematological and biochemical changes associated with this parasitic infection. Study aims were (i) provide an overview of A. reconditum in Europe, (ii) define A. reconditum prevalence and risk factors in a specific dog population (hunting) from southern Italy, and (iii) assess the frequency of haemato-biochemical abnormalities associated with infection. Blood samples collected from 3020 dogs were tested by a modified Knott’s technique to count and identify microfilariae. Eighty-four dogs were infected by A. reconditum (2.78%; 95% CI 2.19–3.37%). Microfilariae ranged from 1 to 212/ml. Based on clinical examination, all but six dogs with non-specific symptoms were healthy. Haematological abnormalities included leucocytosis (n = 15), with eosinophilia (n = 14) and monocytosis (n = 13). Serum biochemical abnormalities included increased total serum proteins (n = 19), albumins (n = 7), total globulins (n = 14), ALT (n = 1), and ALP (n = 1); one dog was hypoalbuminemic, and BUN was mildly increased in 2 dogs. Risk factors included the province origin (Napoli, OR=5.4, 95%CI: 2.1–14.0; Caserta, OR=5.1, 95%CI: 2.5–10.6), hunting wild mammals (OR=2.8, 95% 95%CI: 1.6–4.8), and ectoparasite infestation (OR=1.9, 95%CI: 1.1–3.1). There was a negative correlation between microfilaraemic load and decreased albumin level (−0.37; p=0.021). Our results showed that A. reconditum circulates within the hunting dog population of southern Italy, with seemingly low pathogenic potential.