Publications by authors named "Athanasios Angelou"

Article Synopsis
  • Canine leishmaniosis is a zoonotic disease prevalent in dogs globally, with Greece being a notable hotspot, highlighting the need for updated information on its distribution.
  • A study analyzed serum samples from 1,265 asymptomatic dogs across Greece to determine the seropositivity rate and identify climatic and other risk factors.
  • Results indicated a 13.8% seropositivity rate, with factors like outdoor living, high humidity, low wind speed, and high annual rainfall linked to increased risk, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and prevention in the region.
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Article Synopsis
  • Giardia infections in dogs cause diarrhea and have zoonotic potential, but are often misdiagnosed due to diagnostic challenges.
  • This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Speed Giardia immunochromatographic test compared to gold standard methods (enzyme immunoassay and PCR) and traditional microscopy.
  • Results show that the Speed Giardia test is significantly more sensitive (86.2%) than microscopy (58.6%) while both methods have 100% specificity, making it a more efficient and reliable option for diagnosing Giardia infections in dogs.
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The poultry red mite ), an obligatory blood feeding ectoparasite, is primarily associated with laying hens where it is estimated to cause losses of ~€231 million per annum to European farmers. Moderate to high infestation levels result in negative impacts on hen welfare, including increased cannibalism, irritation, feather pecking, restlessness, anemia, and mortality. Acaricides are currently the prevailing method of population control for , although resistance against some classes of acaricide has been widely reported.

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Canine vector-borne disease transmission can be reduced with regular use of repellent insecticides. The objective of this year-long experimental study was to assess the efficacy of a topical formulation of fipronil/permethrin (Frontline Tri-Act®) in preventing transmission of by sandflies. This clinical field trial was conducted in Xanthi (Northern Greece), an area highly endemic for canine leishmaniosis, from April 2018 to March 2019.

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Filarioids of the genus Cercopithifilaria (Spirurida, Onchocercidae) are parasites of wild and domestic animals in tropical and subtropical regions being transmitted by ixodid ticks. Though this filarioid species have been studied in canine and tick populations in Europe, data on their species diversity and geographical distribution in Greece is scant. Thus, the aims of this study were to investigate the presence of Cercopithifilaria spp.

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Angiostrongylus vasorum is a nematode of the superfamily Metastongyloidea and was first described in the south of France in the nineteenth century where its biology was extensively studied in the 1960ies, leading to the common use of the byname "the French heartworm". The life cycle of the parasite is indirect including slugs and snails as intermediate hosts, while the adults live in the right heart and pulmonary arteries. Since then, many studies have been conducted in different European countries.

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Canine vector-borne disease transmission can be reduced with regular use of repellent insecticides. The objective of this year-long experimental study was to assess the efficacy of a topical formulation of fipronil/permethrin (Frontline Tri-Act®) in preventing transmission of Leishmania infantum by sandflies. This clinical field trial was conducted in Xanthi (Northern Greece), an area highly endemic for canine leishmaniosis, from April 2018 to March 2019.

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Article Synopsis
  • Canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) are significant for both dog health and potential transmission to humans; this study focuses on their prevalence in Greece.
  • A study involving 1,000 healthy dogs found a 21.8% seroprevalence for pathogens like Ehrlichia spp. (12.5%) and Dirofilaria immitis (9.0%), but only 0.1% for Borrelia burgdorferi.
  • Environmental factors such as low temperatures and total annual rainfall were linked to higher prevalence rates of some pathogens, indicating climatic influences on these diseases.
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Background: Feline gastrointestinal parasitism constitutes an issue of concern for veterinarians since parasites are widespread and affect animals' health and welfare. Furthermore, some of these pathogens have zoonotic potential. To provide detailed data on the current epizootiology of feline endoparasitism, a multicentric survey was conducted during 2016.

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Canine vector-borne diseases are highly endemic in European countries of the Mediterranean basin. The use of repellent insecticides aids to reduce the risk of pathogen transmission. The primary objective of this 5-month serological field study conducted in a highly endemic area of canine leishmaniosis in Greece was to comparatively assess the effectiveness of a topical formulation of fipronil/permethrin (Frontline Tri-Act®/Frontect®) and of a deltamethrin collar (Scalibor®) for the prevention of Leishmania infantum transmission.

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