Autochthonous Onchocerca lupi infection of a domestic dog in Austria

Maria Sophia Unterköfler; Alexandra Huck; Katja Silbermayr; Hans-Peter Fuehrer

doi:10.1186/s13071-023-05681-9

Autochthonous Onchocerca lupi infection of a domestic dog in Austria

Parasit Vectors. 2023 Feb 1;16(1):46. doi: 10.1186/s13071-023-05681-9.

Authors

Maria Sophia Unterköfler¹, Alexandra Huck², Katja Silbermayr³, Hans-Peter Fuehrer⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
² Small Animal Practice Dr. Alexandra Huck, Ziegelgasse 20, Güttenbach, 7536, Güssing, Austria.
³ Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Dr. Boehringer Gasse 5-11, 1121, Vienna, Austria.
⁴ Institute of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Hans-Peter.Fuehrer@vetmeduni.ac.at.

Abstract

Onchocerca lupi is an emerging canine ocular pathogen with zoonotic potential. In Europe, known endemic areas are the Iberian Peninsula and Greece, but the parasite has also been found in Romania, Hungary, and Germany. A 5-year-old Irish Wolfhound was presented in August 2021 with ocular discharge. A subconjunctival granulomatous nodule containing several nematode fragments was removed. Molecular analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene confirmed the presence of O. lupi genotype 1. This is the first report of autochthonous O. lupi infection in a dog from Austria.

Keywords: Canine onchocercosis; Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI); Ocular helminthosis; PCR; Zoonotic.

MeSH terms

Animals
Austria
Dog Diseases* / diagnosis
Dog Diseases* / parasitology
Dogs
Filariasis*
Onchocerca / genetics
Onchocerciasis, Ocular* / diagnosis
Onchocerciasis, Ocular* / drug therapy
Onchocerciasis, Ocular* / veterinary