Zoonotic Dirofilaria sp. "hongkongensis" in subcutaneous nodules from dogs and cats, Hong Kong SAR.

IF 3 2区医学 Q1 PARASITOLOGY

Parasites & Vectors Pub Date : 2024-11-15 DOI:10.1186/s13071-024-06544-7

Thamali Manathunga, May Tse, Livia Perles, Frederic Beugnet, Vanessa Barrs, Domenico Otranto

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Dirofilaria sp. "hongkongensis" is a putative Dirofilaria species, initially identified in subcutaneous nodules in humans in Hong Kong and in other South and Southeast Asian regions. While it differs genetically from the better-known zoonotic species, Dirofilaria repens and Dirofilaria immitis, information on the lesions caused by Dirofilaria sp. "hongkongensis" in the hosts as well as on its biology is scarce. This study documents for the first time the presence of this filarioid nematode in subcutaneous nodules in dogs and cats in Hong Kong, where it was originally described in human patients, therefore providing evidence for the zoonotic nature of this parasite.

Methods: Records of Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory of City University of Hong Kong were searched between 2019 and 2024 for histological reports of possible filarioid-associated lesions. Tissue samples were collected by excisional surgical biopsy and processed with routine paraffin techniques. Selected slides were stained using various staining techniques [i.e., hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), Grocott methenamine silver (GMS) or Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) and Gram stain]. DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue were extracted, submitted to conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR) and sequencing (i.e., cox1 and 12S rRNA genes) and phylogenetic analyzed.

Results: A total of five subcutaneous nodules from four cats and one from a dog with histopathology suggestive of filariosis were selected. The presence of Dirofilaria sp. "hongkongensis" was morphologically and molecularly confirmed in one dog and one cat. Both histopathological presentation and phylogenetic analysis enabled classification of this species close to D. repens and within the subgenus Nochtiella. In the remaining three cases, one showed histological evidence of aberrant nematode migration, while non-parasitic causes were identified in the other two.

Conclusions: This study provides the first evidence of Dirofilaria sp. "hongkongensis" in subcutaneous nodules in cats and dogs. The histology of clinical lesions of this filarioid species herein described is closely related to those caused by D. repens. Overall, this species should be considered in differential diagnoses of subcutaneous lesions in both animals and humans in the region.

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香港特别行政区猫狗皮下结节中的人畜共患二螺旋体 "香港虫"。

背景：香港盘尾丝螨是一种假定的盘尾丝螨，最初在香港和其他南亚及东南亚地区的人类皮下结节中发现。虽然它在基因上不同于较著名的人畜共患病种--代森氏二螺旋体（Dirofilaria repens）和密螺旋体（Dirofilaria immitis），但有关 "香港 "二螺旋体在宿主体内引起的病变及其生物学特性的信息却很少。本研究首次记录了这种丝状线虫出现在香港猫狗的皮下结节中，而这种线虫最初是在人类患者身上发现的，因此为这种寄生虫的人畜共患病性质提供了证据：方法：检索香港城市大学兽医诊断实验室在2019年至2024年期间的记录，寻找可能与丝虫相关病变的组织学报告。组织样本通过切除手术活检采集，并采用常规石蜡技术进行处理。选定的切片采用各种染色技术[即苏木精和伊红、周期性酸-希夫（PAS）、Grocott methenamine silver（GMS）或 Ziehl-Neelsen（ZN）和革兰氏染色法]进行染色。提取福尔马林固定石蜡包埋组织中的 DNA，进行常规聚合酶链反应（cPCR）和测序（即 cox1 和 12S rRNA 基因），并进行系统发育分析：结果：共从四只猫和一只狗的五个皮下结节中筛选出组织病理学提示丝虫病的病原体。在一只狗和一只猫身上，通过形态学和分子学证实了 "香港 "狄罗菲拉丝虫的存在。组织病理学表现和系统发育分析都使这一物种被归类为D. repens和Nochtiella亚属。在其余三个病例中，有一个病例的组织学证据显示线虫迁移异常，而另外两个病例的病因则与寄生虫无关：本研究首次提供了猫和狗皮下结节中存在 "香港 "狄罗菲拉丝虫的证据。本研究中描述的这种丝虫临床病变的组织学与 D. repens 引起的病变密切相关。总之，在该地区人畜皮下病变的鉴别诊断中应考虑该种丝虫。

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

Parasites & Vectors 医学-寄生虫学

CiteScore

6.30

自引率

9.40%

发文量

433

审稿时长

1.4 months

期刊介绍： Parasites & Vectors is an open access, peer-reviewed online journal dealing with the biology of parasites, parasitic diseases, intermediate hosts, vectors and vector-borne pathogens. Manuscripts published in this journal will be available to all worldwide, with no barriers to access, immediately following acceptance. However, authors retain the copyright of their material and may use it, or distribute it, as they wish. Manuscripts on all aspects of the basic and applied biology of parasites, intermediate hosts, vectors and vector-borne pathogens will be considered. In addition to the traditional and well-established areas of science in these fields, we also aim to provide a vehicle for publication of the rapidly developing resources and technology in parasite, intermediate host and vector genomics and their impacts on biological research. We are able to publish large datasets and extensive results, frequently associated with genomic and post-genomic technologies, which are not readily accommodated in traditional journals. Manuscripts addressing broader issues, for example economics, social sciences and global climate change in relation to parasites, vectors and disease control, are also welcomed.