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Background: Pets are increasingly becoming part of the family and interactions between pets and their owners is changing. This results in extended and more intimate contact between owners and their pets, which give rise to zoonotic risks. Objective: To establish the presence of potential zoonotic pathogens in pets that sleep with their owner. Methods: As a pilot study, a group of 28 healthy dogs and 22 healthy cats were monitored for the presence of the zoonotic parasites Cheyletiella, Ctenocephalides spp. and Toxocara spp., the dermatophyte Microsporum canis, and the bacteria Clostridium difficile, Salmonella spp., Campylobacter jejuni and Enterobacteriaceae. This was investigated by taking samples from the fur, the footpads and the animal bed. The owners filled in a questionnaire. Results: In total, 29 of the 50 pets (58%) slept on the bed, of which 15 pets (30%) slept in the bed (under the blankets). A total of 19/22 dogs (86%) and 7/22 cats (32%) tested positive for Enterobacteriaceae on the fur or footpads. Fleas were found in 5/22 of the cats' (23%) and 2/28 of the dogs' (7%) favourite sleeping spots. High levels of aerobic colonies were found, up to 216 colony forming units/cm2. Other pathogens were not found in this study. Conclusions: The results of this preliminary study confirm literature reports that pets may constitute a potential risk in the transmission of zoonotic pathogens to their owner, especially during direct contact when sleeping in the same bed. Owners should therefore be informed about these risks and educated to interact with their pets in a more responsible way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Awareness for flea- and tick-borne infections has grown in recent years and the range of microorganisms associated with these ectoparasites is rising. Bartonella henselae, the causative agent of Cat Scratch Disease, and other Bartonella species have been reported in fleas and ticks. The role of Ixodes ricinus ticks in the natural cycle of Bartonella spp. and the transmission of these bacteria to humans is unclear. Rickettsia spp. have also been reported from as well ticks as also from fleas. However, to date no flea-borne Rickettsia spp. were reported from the Netherlands. Here, the presence of Bartonellaceae and Rickettsiae in ectoparasites was investigated using molecular detection and identification on part of the gltA- and 16S rRNA-genes. Results The zoonotic Bartonella clarridgeiae and Rickettsia felis were detected for the first time in Dutch cat fleas. B. henselae was found in cat fleas and B. schoenbuchensis in ticks and keds feeding on deer. Two Bartonella species, previously identified in rodents, were found in wild mice and their fleas. However, none of these microorganisms were found in 1719 questing Ixodes ricinus ticks. Notably, the gltA gene amplified from DNA lysates of approximately 10% of the questing nymph and adult ticks was similar to that of an uncultured Bartonella-related species found in other hard tick species. The gltA gene of this Bartonella-related species was also detected in questing larvae for which a 16S rRNA gene PCR also tested positive for "Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii". The gltA-gene of the Bartonella-related species found in I. ricinus may therefore be from this endosymbiont. Conclusions We conclude that the risk of acquiring Cat Scratch Disease or a related bartonellosis from questing ticks in the Netherlands is negligible. On the other hand fleas and deer keds are probable vectors for associated Bartonella species between animals and might also transmit Bartonella spp. to humans.

Objectives: To provide an overview of Toxocara prevalences in dogs and cats in Europe from the last 25 years. Method: Systematic review of the literature. Results: Over the past 25 years, prevalence studies of Toxocara spp. have been published from 26 European countries. The average prevalences were 14.6% for T. canis in all dogs and 24.5% for T. cati in all cats. Specified for young dogs until 6 months old this was 41.2%, for young cats until 6 months old 25%, adult owned dogs 11.1%, adult owned cats 16.3%, stray dogs 17.6%, and stray cats 33.5%. A recent study in seven European countries showed a prevalence of 3.4% for adult dogs and 4.2% for adult cats. The prevalences seem not to decrease over the years. Conclusion: The prevalence of patent Toxocara infections over the last 25 years did not show a distinct declining trend. Prevalence data provided by recent modern antigen tests showed much lower results than from older studies. Results from studies using less diverse methods and well-defined study-populations could provide more clarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Embryonated Toxocara eggs in the environment are considered to be the most important source of human toxocariasis. These eggs, however, are also a source of infection for the definitive and paratenic hosts. Most available literature focuses on Toxocara canis in dogs, or other canids. There are, however, other Toxocara species with their accompanying definitive hosts. Results from studies that modelled patent infections in dogs, cats and foxes show that although dogs are a very important source for environmental contamination with Toxocara eggs, other sources cannot be ignored. For a good understanding of the relative contributions of different definitive hosts to environmental contamination with Toxocara eggs, computational models should be built and fed with data from different fields of expertise as is discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bartonella species are highly endemic among wild rodents in many parts of the world. Blood and/or blood clot cultures from 38 rodents, including 27 Yucatan deer mouse ( Peromyscus yucatanicus), 7 Gaumer's spiny pocket mouse ( Heteromys gaumeri), 2 black rats ( Rattus rattus) and 2 big-eared climbing rats ( Ototylomys phyllotis) captured near Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, led to the isolation in 3-4 days of small gram-negative bacilli, which were identified as Bartonella spp. based on colony morphology. DNA extraction and PCR testing were also performed from heart samples of 35 of these 38 rodents. Overall, Bartonella spp. were isolated from the blood/blood clots of 22 (58%) rodents. All Bartonella-positive rodents were Yucatán deer mice from San José Pituch. Sequencing of a fragment of the gltA gene showed that all but one rodent isolates were closest to B. vinsonii subsp. vinsonii and one isolate was intermediate between B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii and B. vinsonii subsp. arupensis. Further analysis of concatenated housekeeping genes ( gltA, ftsZ, rpoB, and 16S rRNA) suggests that this outlier isolate is a new subspecies within the B. vinsonii genogroup, for which we proposed the name B. vinsonii subsp. yucatanensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Awareness for flea- and tick-borne infections has grown in recent years and the range of microorganisms associated with these ectoparasites is rising. Bartonella henselae, the causative agent of Cat Scratch Disease, and other Bartonella species have been reported in fleas and ticks. The role of Ixodes ricinus ticks in the natural cycle of Bartonella spp. and the transmission of these bacteria to humans is unclear. Rickettsia spp. have also been reported from as well ticks as also from fleas. However, to date no flea-borne Rickettsia spp. were reported from the Netherlands. Here, the presence of Bartonellaceae and Rickettsiae in ectoparasites was investigated using molecular detection and identification on part of the gltA- and 16S rRNA-genes. Results: The zoonotic Bartonella clarridgeiae and Rickettsia felis were detected for the first time in Dutch cat fleas. B. henselae was found in cat fleas and B. schoenbuchensis in ticks and keds feeding on deer. Two Bartonella species, previously identified in rodents, were found in wild mice and their fleas. However, none of these microorganisms were found in 1719 questing Ixodes ricinus ticks. Notably, the gltA gene amplified from DNA lysates of approximately 10% of the questing nymph and adult ticks was similar to that of an uncultured Bartonella-related species found in other hard tick species. The gltA gene of this Bartonella-related species was also detected in questing larvae for which a 16S rRNA gene PCR also tested positive for "Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii". The gltA-gene of the Bartonella-related species found in I. ricinus may therefore be from this endosymbiont. Conclusions: We conclude that the risk of acquiring Cat Scratch Disease or a related bartonellosis from questing ticks in the Netherlands is negligible. On the other hand fleas and deer keds are probable vectors for associated Bartonella species between animals and might also transmit Bartonella spp. to humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Pets may carry zoonotic pathogens for which owners are at risk. The aim of the study is to investigate whether healthy pets harbour zoonotic parasitic infections and to make an inventory of the interactions between pet-owners and their companion animals in the Netherlands. Fecal and hair samples were collected from healthy household dogs and cats in Dutch veterinary practices. Owners were interviewed about interaction with their pets. The samples were investigated by microscopy, ELISA, and PCR. From 159 households, 152 dogs (D) and 60 cats (C), information and samples were collected and examination for several zoonotic parasites was performed. Toxocara eggs were found in 4.4% (D) and 4.6% (C) of the fecal samples and in 12.2% (D) and 3.4% (C) of the fur samples. The median epg in the fur was 17 (D) and 28 (C) and none of these eggs were viable. From 15.2% of the dog and 13.6% of the cat feces Giardia was isolated. One canine and one feline Giardia isolate was a zoonotic assemblage A (12%). Cryptosporidium sp. were present in 8.7% (D) and 4.6% (C) of the feces. Fifty percent of the owners allow the pet to lick their faces. Sixty percent of the pets visit the bedroom; 45–60% (D–C) are allowed on the bed, and 18–30% (D–C) sleep with the owner in bed. Six percent of the pets always sleep in the bedroom. Of the cats, 45% are allowed to jump onto the kitchen sink. Nearly 39% of the dog owners never clean up the feces of their dog. Fifteen percent of the dog owners and 8% of the cat owners always wash their hands after contact with the animals. Close physical contact between owners and their pets is common and poses an increased risk of transmission of zoonotic pathogens. Education of owners by the vet, specifically about hygiene and potential risks, is required. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL) is a parasitic disease affecting dogs and humans, which is transmitted by female sandflies. Over the last decade, disease prevalence has increased fivefold in parts of southern Europe, where an estimated 2.5 million dogs are infected. This increase is mainly due to an expansion in sandfly distribution due to climate change and to the greater numbers of dogs travelling among European countries. To combat the spread of ZVL in Europe, international guidelines have been drawn up that describe strategies to prevent, control and monitor the disease. To investigate whether these strategies are being implemented in the field, we conducted an online survey among veterinarians in Spain (endemic for ZVL) and France (south: emerging; north: non-endemic). Of the 889 respondents, 459 veterinarians completed all questions. Although 60% of all veterinarians were aware of the current ZVL increase in Europe, 70% were not familiar with any guidelines for controlling the disease. Most of their preventive and treatment actions were, however, in line with intervention strategies recommended by the guidelines. From the veterinarians in this survey, 76% had received no reports regarding confirmed cases of canine leishmaniosis (CanL) or human visceral leishmaniasis in their region or country. The fact that 88% of confirmed cases of clinical CanL were not reported suggests inadequate disease monitoring and evaluation. We therefore recommend that an easy-to-use and accessible international online network be developed, where both veterinarians and physicians can report confirmed cases of leishmaniosis in dogs and humans. This is crucial for monitoring, controlling and preventing the further spread of ZVL in Europe at regional, national and international level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented which discusses the autochthonous case of Dirofilaria repens in an 18-month-old female English bulldog in the Netherlands.

Embryonated Toxocara eggs in the environment are considered to be the most important source of human toxocariasis. These eggs, however, are also a source of infection for the definitive and paratenic hosts. Most available literature focuses on Toxocara canis in dogs, or other canids. There are, however, other Toxocara species with their accompanying definitive hosts. Results from studies that modelled patent infections in dogs, cats and foxes show that although dogs are a very important source for environmental contamination with Toxocara eggs, other sources cannot be ignored. For a good understanding of the relative contributions of different definitive hosts to environmental contamination with Toxocara eggs, computational models should be built and fed with data from different fields of expertise as is discussed in this paper., (© 2020 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To provide an overview of Toxocara prevalences in dogs and cats in Europe from the last 25 years., Method: Systematic review of the literature., Results: Over the past 25 years, prevalence studies of Toxocara spp. have been published from 26 European countries. The average prevalences were 14.6% for T. canis in all dogs and 24.5% for T. cati in all cats. Specified for young dogs until 6 months old this was 41.2%, for young cats until 6 months old 25%, adult owned dogs 11.1%, adult owned cats 16.3%, stray dogs 17.6%, and stray cats 33.5%. A recent study in seven European countries showed a prevalence of 3.4% for adult dogs and 4.2% for adult cats. The prevalences seem not to decrease over the years., Conclusion: The prevalence of patent Toxocara infections over the last 25 years did not show a distinct declining trend. Prevalence data provided by recent modern antigen tests showed much lower results than from older studies. Results from studies using less diverse methods and well-defined study-populations could provide more clarity., (© 2020 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.)

Bartonella species are highly endemic among wild rodents in many parts of the world. Blood and/or blood clot cultures from 38 rodents, including 27 Yucatan deer mouse (Peromyscus yucatanicus), 7 Gaumer's spiny pocket mouse (Heteromys gaumeri), 2 black rats (Rattus rattus) and 2 big-eared climbing rats (Ototylomys phyllotis) captured near Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, led to the isolation in 3-4 days of small gram-negative bacilli, which were identified as Bartonella spp. based on colony morphology. DNA extraction and PCR testing were also performed from heart samples of 35 of these 38 rodents. Overall, Bartonella spp. were isolated from the blood/blood clots of 22 (58%) rodents. All Bartonella-positive rodents were Yucatán deer mice from San José Pituch. Sequencing of a fragment of the gltA gene showed that all but one rodent isolates were closest to B. vinsonii subsp. vinsonii and one isolate was intermediate between B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii and B. vinsonii subsp. arupensis. Further analysis of concatenated housekeeping genes (gltA, ftsZ, rpoB, and 16S rRNA) suggests that this outlier isolate is a new subspecies within the B. vinsonii genogroup, for which we proposed the name B. vinsonii subsp. yucatanensis.