title: Characterization of Onthophagus sellatus as the major intermediate host of the dog esophageal worm Spirocerca lupi in Israel.
abstract: Spirocerca lupi is a parasitic nematode of dogs, that causes significant morbidity and mortality. Its intermediate hosts in Israel have never been described. The aim of this study was therefore to identify the intermediate hosts of S. lupi in Israel and to describe their abundance and annual infection rate with the nematode, in different microenvironments (i.e., the effects of irrigation and shade) in an endemic area. Dog dung pads were collected every 2 months from two different public parks for 1 year. Dung beetles were identified to the species level in infested dog feces and were examined for the presence of S. lupi larvae through dissection. The Scarabid beetle Onthophagus sellatus was the most abundant dung beetle species in dog dung pads and the only one infected with S. lupi larvae. The minimal period for development of the S. lupi L3 infective stage was 7 days. Significant differences were observed between the two different microenvironments and along the year. The highest risk for infection of dogs with the nematode was during the summer, in an irrigated, shady microenvironment.
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, POB 12, Herzel St., Rehovot 76100, Israel. yuvalgd@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Yuval
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gottlieb
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Markovics
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Klement
authors.forename: Shachar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naor
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Samish
authors.forename: Itamar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aroch
authors.forename: Eran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lavy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000469:parasitology*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission; D004285:Dogs; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D017205:Spirurida Infections / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D013802:Thelazioidea