title: Strongyloides spp. infections of veterinary importance.
abstract: This paper reviews the occurrence and impact of threadworms, Strongyloides spp., in companion animals and large livestock, the potential zoonotic implications and future research. Strongyloides spp. infect a range of domestic animal species worldwide and clinical disease is most often encountered in young animals. Dogs are infected with Strongyloides stercoralis while cats are infected with different species according to geographical location (Strongyloides felis, Strongyloides tumefaciens, Strongyloides planiceps and perhaps S. stercoralis). In contrast to the other species, lactogenic transmission is not a primary means of infection in dogs, and S. stercoralis is the only species considered zoonotic. Strongyloides papillosus in calves has been linked to heavy fatalities under conditions of high stocking density. Strongyloides westeri and Strongyloides ransomi of horses and pigs, respectively, cause only sporadic clinical disease. In conclusion, these infections are generally of low relative importance in livestock and equines, most likely due to extensive use of macrocyclic lactone anthelmintics and/or improved hygiene. Future prevalence studies need to include molecular typing of Strongyloides species in relation to different hosts. More research is urgently needed on the potential zoonotic capacity of Strongyloides from dogs and cats based on molecular typing, information on risk factors and mapping of transmission routes.
authors.affiliation: University of Copenhagen,Veterinary Parasitology Group,100 Dyrlægevej,DK-1870 Frederiksberg C,Denmark.
authors.forename: Stig M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Thamsborg
authors.affiliation: Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine,P. O. Box 334,Basseterre,St. Kitts,West Indies.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ketzis
authors.affiliation: University of Miyazaki,Faculty of Agriculture,Veterinary Parasitic Diseases,Gakuen-kibanadai,Nishi 1-1,Miyazaki 889-2192,Japan.
authors.forename: Yoichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Horii
authors.affiliation: Moredun Research Institute,Pentlands Science Park,Edinburgh,Midlothian,EH26 0PZ,UK.
authors.forename: Jacqueline B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Matthews
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000469:parasitology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D057805:Pets / Q000469:parasitology*; D013321:Strongyloides / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*
keywords: 
                 Strongyloides
              ; cats; cattle; companion animals; dogs; horses; livestock; pigs; sheep