title: Molecular diagnosis of certain nematode infections can save life and beauty, and preserve breeds of socially relevant and sporting animals.
abstract: The recognition that the health and welfare of some humans are improved through contact and relationships with animals is now established. Two commonly recognized assistance animals are dogs and horses. Both provide therapeutic benefits to humans with some physical and mental illnesses and both assist people with disabilities. Moreover, the public and scientific attention to the health and conservation of many animal breeds is also increasing worldwide. In the past few years, two potentially life-threatening nematode infections that can induce tumours or tumour-like masses in canids and equids, spirocercosis and draschiosis/habronemosis, respectively, are emerging in several areas of the world. This article reviews and comments how recent insights into the molecular early diagnosis of these diseases can save and preserve life, beauty and breeds of socially relevant and sporting animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Piazza Aldo Moro 45, 64100 Teramo, Italy. dtraversa@unite.it
authors.forename: Donato
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Traversa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D006736:Horses; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*