Human ocular filariasis: further evidence on the zoonotic role of Onchocerca lupi
Open accessAbstract
Background: Among ocular vector-borne pathogens,Onchocerca volvulus, the agent of the so-called “river blindness”, affects about 37 million people globally. Other Onchocerca spp. have been sporadically reported as zoonotic agents. Cases of canine onchocerciasis caused by Onchocerca lupi are on the rise in the United States and Europe. Its zoonotic role has been suspected but only recently ascertained in a single case from Turkey. The present study provides further evidence on the occurrence of O. lupi infesting human eyes in two patients from Turkey (case 1) and Tunisia (case 2). The importance of obtaining a correct sample collection and preparation of nematodes infesting human eyes is highlighted. Methods: In both cases the parasites were identified with morpho-anatomical characters at the gross examination, histological analysis and anatomical description and also molecularly in case 1. Results: The nematode from the first case was obviously O. lupi based on their morphology at the gross examination, histological analysis and anatomical description. In the second case, although the diagnostic cuticular characters were not completely developed, other features were congruent with the identification of O. lupi. Furthermore, the morphological identification was also molecularly confirmed in the Turkish case. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that O. lupi infestation is not an occasional finding but it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of other zoonotic helminths causing eye infestation in humans (e.g.,D. immitis and Dirofilaria repens). Both cases came from areas where no cases of canine onchocerciasis were previously reported in the literature, suggesting that an in depth appraisal of the infestation in canine populations is necessary. Physicians and ophthalmologists are advised on how to preserve nematode samples recovered surgically, to allow a definitive, correct etiological diagnosis.
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Onchocerca lupi has been unambiguously identified morphologically and molecularly in two patients from Turkey and one from Tunisia who exhibited clinical features similar to those of the infestation in dogs.
“Indeed, O. lupi has only been suspected to act as a causative agent of infestation in humans until recently [92], when this species has been unambiguously identified morphologically and molecularly in two patients from Turkey and one from Tunisia who exhibited clinical features similar to those of the infestation in dogs [92,93].”
From Vector-borne helminths of dogs and humans in Europe (2013) · cites this paper as [93]
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Cited by
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Vector-borne helminths of dogs and humans in Europe
Otranto, D., Dantas-Torres, F., Brianti, E., Traversa, D., Petrić, D., Genchi, C., & Capelli, G. (2013) · Parasites & Vectors · doi:10.1186/1756-3305-6-16 · Cited by 336 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Otranto, D., Dantas-Torres, F., Cebeci, Z., Yeniad, B., Buyukbabani, N., Boral, O. B., Gustinelli, A., Mounir, T., Mutafchiev, Y., & Bain, O.
- Affiliations
- University of Bari Aldo Moro (IT)
- Istanbul University (TR)
- University of Bologna (IT)
- Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BG)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Otranto, Domenico
- ORCID
- Venue
- Parasites & Vectors
- Published
- 2012-04-27
- Volume
- 5
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 84-84
- ISSN
- 1756-3305 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3407723
- OpenAlex
- W2163531154
- Cited by
- 69
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 6.88
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Parasites & Vectors (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Archivio istituzionale della ricerca (Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna) (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- CINECA IRIS Institutional Research Information System (University of Bari Aldo Moro) (submittedVersion)
- Greater South Information System
- Funders
- Szent István Egyetem
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Helminth infection and control
- Keywords
- Onchocerca lupi, ocular filariasis, zoonotic transmission, Onchocerca volvulus, Dirofilaria repens, Dirofilaria immitis, molecular identification, Turkey, Tunisia
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Animals, Child, Dirofilaria, Dogs, Eye Diseases, Filariasis, Humans, Onchocerca, Onchocerciasis, Tunisia, Turkey
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