Echinococcus granulosus complex infection in wild boar hunters and auxiliary hunting dogs

IF 4.1 2区医学 Q1 INFECTIOUS DISEASES

One Health Pub Date : 2024-10-04 DOI:10.1016/j.onehlt.2024.100908

Mariaelisa Carbonara , Francesco Buono , Anna Morea , Giovanni Sgroi , Maria Paola Maurelli , Francesco Locantore , Paolo Trerotoli , Francesca Indraccolo , Angela Stufano , Valentina Schino , Nicola D'Alessio , Vincenzo Veneziano , Piero Lovreglio , Domenico Otranto , Roberta Iatta

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Abstract

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) is a zoonotic neglected tropical disease endemic in Italy, which perpetuates in several intermediate hosts, including wild boars, and dogs as definitive hosts. People living in rural and livestock-raising areas are exposed to E. granulosus s.l. infection, as well as people leading outdoor activities in endemic regions. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the exposure to Echinococcus spp. in wild boar hunters, the role of their hunting dogs as parasite reservoirs, along with hunter's knowledge on the infection risk.

From December 2022 to May 2023, wild boar hunters (n = 122) from southern Italy were recruited on volunteer basis for blood and serum sampling and a questionnaire enquiring socio-demographic, anamnestic data and knowledge on CE was also filled out. Sera were tested for Echinococcus spp. IgG by a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Euroimmun ELISA®, Germany). In addition, faecal samples from their hunting dogs (n = 208) were screened for Taeniidae eggs by parasitological and molecular approaches.

Overall, six (4.9 %) hunters scored either positive or borderline for IgG anti-Echinococcus spp., of which one presented a calcified hepatic cyst at abdominal ultrasonography. In addition, 6.3 % Taeniidae prevalence was recorded in faecal samples (13/208) of hunting dogs, and E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.) was molecularly identified in two samples. The statistical analysis revealed the risk factors (odds ratio > 1, p < 0.05) associated with parasitic exposure, including the hunter geographical provenience, and the presence of animals around or in the house.

The E. granulosus s.l. exposure of hunters herein detected, coupled with the parasite molecular positivity of their hunting dogs and the limited awareness on Echinococcus spp. life cycle/infection risk, highlight the relevance to promote health surveillance and educational programs within the hunting category, for minimizing the cestode circulation in the wildlife-urban premises.

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野猪猎人和辅助猎犬的棘球蚴肉芽肿复合体感染

由普通棘球蚴引起的囊性棘球蚴病（CE）是一种在意大利流行的人畜共患的被忽视的热带疾病，它在包括野猪在内的多个中间宿主和作为最终宿主的狗身上长期存在。生活在农村和畜牧业地区的人以及在流行地区从事户外活动的人都有可能感染肉毒梭状芽孢杆菌。因此，本研究旨在评估野猪猎人接触棘球蚴的情况、猎犬作为寄生虫储库的作用以及猎人对感染风险的认识。从 2022 年 12 月到 2023 年 5 月，研究人员自愿招募了意大利南部的野猪猎人（n = 122）进行血液和血清采样，并填写了一份调查问卷，其中询问了社会人口学、动物学数据以及对棘球蚴的认识。血清通过商用酶联免疫吸附试验（Euroimmun ELISA®，德国）检测棘球蚴属 IgG。此外，还通过寄生虫学和分子方法对猎犬（n = 208）的粪便样本进行了筛查，以确定是否含有棘球蚴卵。总体而言，有 6 名猎人（4.9 %）的棘球蚴抗体 IgG 检测结果呈阳性或边缘阳性，其中 1 人在腹部超声波检查中发现肝钙化囊肿。此外，在狩猎犬的粪便样本（13/208）中记录到 6.3% 的棘球蚴感染率，并在两个样本中分子鉴定出了严格意义上的颗粒棘球蚴 (s.s.)。统计分析显示了与寄生虫接触相关的风险因素（几率比为 1，p 为 0.05），包括猎人的地理来源、房屋周围或房屋内是否有动物。本文检测到的狩猎者暴露于颗粒棘球蚴，加上其猎犬的寄生虫分子呈阳性，以及对棘球蚴生命周期/感染风险的认识有限，都凸显了在狩猎类别中促进健康监测和教育计划的相关性，以最大限度地减少野生动物-城市场所中的绦虫循环。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

One Health Medicine-Infectious Diseases

CiteScore

8.10

自引率

4.00%

发文量

审稿时长

18 weeks

期刊介绍： One Health - a Gold Open Access journal. The mission of One Health is to provide a platform for rapid communication of high quality scientific knowledge on inter- and intra-species pathogen transmission, bringing together leading experts in virology, bacteriology, parasitology, mycology, vectors and vector-borne diseases, tropical health, veterinary sciences, pathology, immunology, food safety, mathematical modelling, epidemiology, public health research and emergency preparedness. As a Gold Open Access journal, a fee is payable on acceptance of the paper. Please see the Guide for Authors for more information. Submissions to the following categories are welcome: Virology, Bacteriology, Parasitology, Mycology, Vectors and vector-borne diseases, Co-infections and co-morbidities, Disease spatial surveillance, Modelling, Tropical Health, Discovery, Ecosystem Health, Public Health.