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Occurrence of Hookworm and the First Molecular and Morphometric Identification of Uncinaria stenocephala in Dogs in Central Europe

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Abstract

Purpose

Hookworms are hematophagous parasitic nematodes that occur in the intestinal tract of various mammals, including humans. The objective of this work was to develop a two-step morphology-molecular analysis-based strategy to identify the genus and the species of eggs and larvae of the Ancylostomatidae family in dogs, which were kept in various living conditions in Slovakia.

Methods

Faecal samples were collected from 270 dogs kept in two different shelters (160 samples) and in a marginalised Roma community (110 samples). Faecal samples were processed using the flotation method. Microscopically positive faecal samples with hookworm eggs were subjected to a coproculture and the hatched larvae were identified morphometrically, prior to molecular testing. The faecal samples with hookworm´s eggs and individual larvae were identified by a molecular assay based on the amplification of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene fragment. Further, species-specific primer sets were designed for the internal transcribed spacer (ITS 1 region) and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COX1) gene section.

Results

Hookworm eggs were microscopically detected in 9.6% (26/270) of the total number of faecal samples. The prevalence in the Roma settlement was higher, 14.5% (16/110), than in shelters, 6.3% (10/160). Using PCR and subsequent Sanger sequencing, we identified the canine hookworm species Uncinaria stenocephala in all positive samples.

Conclusion

Our results have provided new data on the molecular identification of the neglected species U. stenocephala affecting dogs in Slovakia and supplemented the missing information on the prevalence and incidence of hookworms in dogs in Europe.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the projects of the Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, VEGA 1/0536/18.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epizootiology and Parasitology and Protection of One Health, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Košice, Slovak Republic

    Gabriela Štrkolcová, Kristína Mravcová & Andrea Schreiberová

  2. Institute of Neurobiology of Biomedical Research Centre, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic

    Rastislav Mucha

  3. Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya

    Erastus Mulinge

Authors
  1. Gabriela Štrkolcová
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  2. Kristína Mravcová
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  3. Rastislav Mucha
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  4. Erastus Mulinge
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  5. Andrea Schreiberová
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Contributions

GŠ, KM were responsible for laboratory examination of samples and evaluation of results; GŠ, KM, EM were involved in collection of samples and data; AŠ, RM provided the molecular identification; GŠ, EM contributed to the preparation of the manuscript; all authors reviewed the manuscript and participated in the final version.

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Correspondence to Gabriela Štrkolcová.

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Štrkolcová, G., Mravcová, K., Mucha, R. et al. Occurrence of Hookworm and the First Molecular and Morphometric Identification of Uncinaria stenocephala in Dogs in Central Europe. Acta Parasit. 67, 764–772 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-021-00509-x

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