Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-08T02:22:38.939Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Levels of infection, pathology and nodule size of Onchocerca flexuosa (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) in red deer (Cervus elaphus) from northern Spain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2014

M.R. Hidalgo*
Affiliation:
Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of León, 24071, León, Spain
A. Martínez
Affiliation:
Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of León, 24071, León, Spain
R.A. Carreño
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH43015, USA
S. González
Affiliation:
Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of León, 24071, León, Spain
M.C. Ferreras
Affiliation:
Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of León, 24071, León, Spain
N. Díez
Affiliation:
Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of León, 24071, León, Spain
*
*Fax: +0034 987 29 1340 E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Between 2005 and 2007, the presence of Onchocerca flexuosa (Wedl, 1856) was discovered and investigated in 110 red deer (Cervus elaphus) shot in the Riaño Regional Hunting Reserve, in the province of León (north-western Spain). Nodules containing O. flexuosa were located in the dorsal region and flanks of the deer. These were collected and measured, and some adult parasites were extracted from the nodules and identified by morphology and by obtaining mitochondrial 12S rDNA sequences, which were identical to those of previously published sequences for O. flexuosa. Some nodules were prepared for histology, embedded in paraffin, sectioned and stained with haematoxylin–eosin. Histologically, the worms were found in several compartments separated by an infiltrated fibrous tissue. These compartments were inhabited by several females and males, surrounded by a fibrous capsule. A total of 85.45% (95% confidence interval (CI): 78.86–92.04%) of red deer were parasitized, with a mean intensity of 9.53 ± 12.27 nodules/host, ranging between 1 and 74 nodules/deer. Significant differences in prevalence and intensity of infection were found between young and adult red deer, and also between seasons. However, no significant differences between males and females were observed. Five hundred and ninety-seven nodules were measured (15.81 ± 3.94 mm) and classified by sizes into small ( < 10 mm), medium (10–20 mm) and large (>20 mm). No relation was found between the size of the nodules and the time of infection. The high values found in the studied parameters show that northern Spain is an area of high-intensity infection for deer.

Type
Research Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adler, P.H. & Crosskey, R.W. (2012) World blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae): a comprehensive revision of the taxonomic and geographical inventory. Available at http://entweb.clemson.edu/biomia/pdfs/blackflyinventory.pdf (accessed 20 March 2013).Google Scholar
AEMET, State Metereology Station (2009) Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Management. Available at http://www.aemet.es (accessed 15 February 2014).Google Scholar
Bain, O. (1981) Le genre Onchocerca: hypothèses sur son évolution et clé dichotomique des espèces. Annales de Parasitologie Humaine et Comparée 56, 503526.Google Scholar
Bain, O. & Schulz-Key, H. (1974) Les onchocerques du cerf européen: redescription d'O. flexuosa (Wedl, 1856) et description d'O. tubingensis n. sp. et O. tarsicola n. sp. Tropenmedizin und Parasitologie 25, 437449.Google Scholar
Bush, A.O., Lafferty, K.D., Lotz, J.M. & Shostak, A.W. (1997) Parasitology meets ecology on its own terms: Margolis et al. revisited. Journal of Parasitology 83, 575583.Google Scholar
Colwell, D.D., Dantas Torres, F. & Otranto, D. (2011) Vector-borne parasitic zoonosis: Emerging scenarios and new perspectives. Veterinary Parasitology 182, 1421.Google Scholar
Cordero del Campillo, M., Castañón Ordóñez, L. & Reguera Feo, A. (1994) Índice Catálogo de Zooparásitos Ibéricos. 2nd edn. 650 pp. Secretariado de Publicaciones, Universidad de León, León, España.Google Scholar
Demiaszkiewicz, A.W. (1989) Occurrence of tissue Filarioidea in ruminants in Poland. Wiadomósci Parazytologiczne 35, 315321.Google Scholar
Demiaszkiewicz, A.W. (1995) Studies on tissue nematodes from subfamily Onchocercinae Leiper, 1911 in free living and domestic ruminants in Poland. 104 pp. Warsaw, Poland, Warsaw Agricultural University Press.Google Scholar
Demiaszkiewicz, A.W. (1998) Prevalence of Onchocercinae in deer. Magazyn Weterynaryjny 7, 1314.Google Scholar
Demiaszkiewicz, A.W. & Dróżdż, J. (1990) The roe deer, Capreolus capreolus (L.) as a new host of Onchocerca flexuosa (Wedl, 1856) (Nematoda, Filarioidea). Acta Parasitologica Polonica 35, 315318.Google Scholar
Díez-Baños, N., Martínez-Delgado, A. & Hidalgo-Argüello, M.R. (2007) Parasitosis cutáneas en ciervo (Cervus elaphus) del norte de España. Proceedings of the Xth Iberian Congress of Parasitology, Madrid, Spain , p. 124.Google Scholar
Dikmans, G. (1933) Onchocerca flexuosa from the subcutaneous tissues of an antelope and subcutaneous abscesses of a deer. Journal of Parasitology 19, 246.Google Scholar
Dróżdż, J., Demiaszkiewicz, A.W. & Lachowicz, J. (1993) Seasonal changes in the helminth fauna of Cervus elaphus (L.) from Slowinski National Park (Poland). Acta Parasitologica 38, 8587.Google Scholar
Dulceanu, N. & Ghitescu, F. (1986) Incidentá si unele aspecte morfopatologice in oncocercoza subcutana la cerb (Cervus elaphus). Cercetari Agronomice Moldova 19, 107109.Google Scholar
Dyková, I. (1972) Results of studies on the potential vectors of microfilariae of Onchocerca flesuosa (Weld, 1856) and Wehrdikmansia cervipedis (Wehr et Dikmans, 1935). Acta Veterinaria, Brno 41, 203206.Google Scholar
Ferreras-Estrada, M.C., García-Iglesias, M.J., Pérez-Martínez, C., Manga-González, M.Y., Ramajo-Martín, V., Escudero-Diez, A. & García-Marín, J.F. (1998) A pathological study of experimental long-standing Schistosoma bovis infection in sheep. Journal of Comparative Pathology 119, 479484.Google Scholar
Ferri, E., Barbuto, M., Bain, O., Galimberti, A., Uni, S., Guerrero, R., Ferté, H., Bandi, C., Martin, C. & Casiraghi, M. (2009) Integrated taxonomy: traditional approach and DNA barcoding for the identification of filarioid worms and related parasites (Nematoda). Frontiers in Zoology 6, 112.Google Scholar
Frank, W., Wenk, P. & Scherb, H. (1968) Untersuchungen an Onchocerca flexuosa (Nematoda: Filarioidea) eines Parasiten des Rothirsches Cervus elaphus . Verhandlungen der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft, Innsbruk 3, 540550.Google Scholar
Franz, M., Schulz-Key, H. & Copeman, D.B. (1987) Electron-microscopic observations on the female worms of six Onchocerca species from cattle and red deer. Parasitology Research 74, 7383.Google Scholar
Hernández-Rodríguez, S., Acosta-García, I. & Hernández-Redondo, E. (2010) Parasitic infections in red deer in the Sierra Morena region. pp. 2559 in Hernández-Rodríguez, S., Hidalgo-Argüello, M.R. & De la Fuente-López, C. (Eds) Parasitic diseases of wild animals and sustainable environment: the wild/domestic animal interface. Madrid, Spain, Universidad Complutense de Madrid.Google Scholar
Hidalgo-Argüello, M.R., Díez-Baños, M.N. & Martínez-Delgado, A. (2010) Parasitic infections in red deer and their repercussions on animal and human health: a study in the north of the province of León. pp. 6395 in Hernández-Rodríguez, S., Hidalgo-Argüello, M.R. & De la Fuente-López, C. (Eds) Parasitic diseases of wild animals and sustainable environment: The wild/domestic animal interface. Madrid, Spain, Universidad Complutense de Madrid.Google Scholar
Hussein, M.R. (2008) Mucocutaneous Splendore-Hoeppli phenomenon. Journal of Cutaneous Pathology 35, 979988.Google Scholar
Koehsler, M., Soleiman, A., Aspöck, H., Auer, H. & Walochnik, J. (2007) Onchocerca jakutensis filariasis in humans. Emerging Infectious Diseases 13, 17491752.Google Scholar
Krueger, A., Fischer, P. & Morales-Hojas, R. (2007) Molecular phylogeny of the filaria genus Onchocerca with special emphasis on Afrotropical human and bovine parasites. Acta Tropica 101, 114.Google Scholar
Larkin, M.A., Blackshields, G., Brown, N.P., Chenna, R., McGettigan, P.A., McWilliam, H., Valentin, F., Wallace, I.M., Wilm, A., Lopez, R., Thompson, J.D., Gibson, T.J. & Higgins, D.G. (2007) Clustal W and Clustal X version 2.0. Bioinformatics 23, 29472948.Google Scholar
Lovejoy, T. (2008) Climate change and biodiversity. Revue Scientifique et Technique de l'Office International des Epizooties 27, 331338.Google Scholar
Madke, B., Doshi, B., Pande, S. & Khopkar, U. (2011) Phenomena in dermatology. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology 77, 264275.Google Scholar
Martin, C., Pastoret, P.-P., Brochier, B., Humblet, M.-F. & Saegerman, C. (2011) A survey of the transmission of infectious diseases/infections between wild and domestic ungulates in Europe. Veterinary Research 42, 7086.Google Scholar
Martin, S.W., Meek, A.H. & Willeberg, P. (1988) Veterinary epidemiology: principles and methods. 343 pp. Ames, Iowa State University Press.Google Scholar
Morales-Hojas, R., Cheke, R.A. & Post, R.J. (2006) Molecular systematics of five Onchocerca species (Nematoda: Filarioidea) including the human parasite, O. volvulus, suggest sympatric speciation. Journal of Helminthology 80, 281290.Google Scholar
Páv, J. & Zajíček, D. (1981) Health conditions of ungulates in the region with air pollution. Práce VÚLHM 58, 213228.Google Scholar
Plenge-Bönig, A., Krömer, M. & Büttner, D.W. (1995) Light and electron microscopy studies on Onchocerca jakutensis and O. flexuosa of red deer show different host–parasite interactions. Parasitology Research 81, 6673.Google Scholar
Rodig, S.J. & Dorfman, D.M. (2001) Splendore–Hoeppli phenomenon. Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine 125, 15151516.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rommel, M., Eckert, J., Kutzer, E., Körting, W. & Schnieder, T. (2000) Veterinärmedizinische Parasitologie. 915 pp. Berlin, Germany, Parey Verlag.Google Scholar
Rózsa, L., Reiczigel, J. & Majoros, G. (2000) Quantifying parasites in samples of hosts. Journal of Parasitology 86, 228232.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
San-Miguel, J.M., Álvarez, G., Rodríguez-Vigal, C. & Luzón, M. (2003) Nodular onchocercosis of red deer in central Spain. Veterinary Parasitology 114, 7579.Google Scholar
Santín-Durán, M., Alunda, J.M., De la Fuente, C. & Hoberg, E.P. (2001) Onchocercosis in red deer (Cervus elaphus) from Spain. Journal of Parasitology 87, 12131215.Google Scholar
Schulz-Key, H. (1975a) Untersuchungen über die Filarien der Cerviden in Süddeutschland. 2. Die Filarien des Rothirsches (Cervus elaphus). Tropenmedizin und Parasitologie 26, 348358.Google Scholar
Schulz-Key, H. (1975b) Untersuchungen über die Filarien der Cerviden in Süddeutschland. 1. Knotenbildung, Geschlechterfindung und Mikrofilarienausschüttung bei Onchocerca flexuosa (Weld, 1856) im Rothirsch (Cervus elaphus). Tropenmedizin und Parasitologie 26, 6069.Google Scholar
Schulz-Key, H. & Wenk, P. (1981) The transmission of Onchocerca tarsicola (Filarioidea: Onchocercidae) by Odagmia ornata and Prosimulium nigripes (Diptera: Simuliidae). Journal of Helminthology 55, 161166.Google Scholar
Schulz-Key, H., Bain, O. & Wenk, P. (1976) Untersuchungen über die Filarien der Cerviden in Süddeutschland. 4. Onchocerca garmsi Bain und Schulz-Key, 1976, eine subkutane Filarie des Rothirsches (Cervus elaphus). Tropenmedizin und Parasitologie 27, 229232.Google Scholar
Shimalov, V.V. & Shimalov, V.T. (2003) Helminth fauna of cervids in Belorussian Polesie. Parasitology Research 89, 7576.Google Scholar
Wildenburg, G., Plenge-Bönig, A., Renz, A., Fischer, P. & Büttner, D.W. (1997) Distribution of mast cells and their correlation with inflammatory cells around Onchocerca gutturosa, O. tarsicola, O. ochengi, and O. flexuosa . Parasitology Research 83, 109120.Google Scholar
World Health Organization (2011) Onchocerciasis (river blindness) disease information. Available at http://www.who.int/blindness/partnerships/onchocerciasis_disease_information/en/index.html (accessed 24 February 2014).Google Scholar
Zhelizniak, P.P. (2003) New species Filaria (Spirurida, Onchocercidae) in fauna of Ukraine. Vestnik Zoologii 37, 7375.Google Scholar