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Autochthonous, zoonotic Onchocerca lupi in a South Texas dog, United States
  • +2
  • Guilherme Verocai,
  • Caroline Sobotyk,
  • Allegra Lamison,
  • Mindy Borst,
  • Erin Edwards
Guilherme Verocai
Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Caroline Sobotyk
Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
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Allegra Lamison
North 10th Street Animal Hospital
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Mindy Borst
Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
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Erin Edwards
Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
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Abstract

Onchocerca lupi is an emerging, zoonotic filarioid nematode associated with ocular disease in companion animals. We report the first autochthonous case of O. lupi in a dog from Hidalgo County, southern Texas, USA. An 11-year-old, castrated male, Pitbull dog from McAllen, Hidalgo County, southern Texas with no travel history, was diagnosed with a perforating corneal ulceration of the right eye. Enucleation was performed, and tissues submitted for histopathology. Sections of two filarioid nematodes were observed. Parasite identification relied on morphological features seen on histopathology and molecular confirmation by PCR of the cox1 gene of the mitochondrial DNA, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Our finding suggests Texas as an additional endemic state for this zoonotic nematode. Further investigations are required to understand the epidemiology of this parasite along the United States/Mexico border.