Publications by authors named "Torsten Naucke"

Background: In Europe, canine leishmaniasis is commonly caused by Leishmania infantum. Allopurinol is the main drug for long-term management of the disease, and clinical relapses of L. infantum infection treated with this drug are described.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Equine granulocytic anaplasmosis (EGA) is a tick-borne disease caused by (.) . In Central, Northern, Western, and Eastern Europe, ticks of the (.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Mammary tumors are one of the most common neoplasms in female dogs, and cytology represents a non-invasive diagnostic method. The protozoal pathogen spp. was previously demonstrated in canine mammary glands.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: In Europe, feline leishmaniosis is commonly caused by Leishmania infantum. There is little knowledge regarding pathogenesis, ocular manifestations and long-term follow-ups in cats with leishmaniosis.

Findings: A 6-year-old female, spayed European Shorthair cat was imported from Spain to Germany 2 years prior to its first clinical presentation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Canine infections with () are gaining significance in Germany due to rising numbers of dogs imported from endemic countries, frequent travel and changing of climatic conditions in Central Europe. Dogs without any clinical signs suspicious for vector-borne infections imported from other countries to Germany should be tested immediately after import and 6 months later. In dogs with clinical signs suspicious for leishmaniosis, direct and indirect detection methods of the pathogen as well as hematology, biochemistry, serum protein electrophoresis and C-reactive protein are recommended.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Large populations of unowned cats constitute an animal welfare, ecological, societal and public health issue worldwide. Their relocation and homing are currently carried out in many parts of the world with the intention of relieving suffering and social problems, while contributing to ethical and humane population control in these cat populations. An understanding of an individual cat's lifestyle and disease status by veterinary team professionals and those working with cat charities can help to prevent severe cat stress and the spread of feline pathogens, especially vector-borne pathogens, which can be overlooked in cats.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Hepatozoon canis is a protozoal agent that is known to be transmitted by oral uptake of H. canis-infected Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks in dogs. Vertical transmission of H.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Flavivirus diagnostics are complicated by substantial cross-reactivity of antibodies between different flavivirus species. This is of particular importance in regions with multiple endemic flaviviruses in co-circulation. Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is the causative agent of tick-borne encephalitis, the most common infection of the central nervous system in endemic regions of Europe and Asia.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The Companion Vector-Borne Diseases (CVBD) World Forum is a working group of leading international experts who meet annually to evaluate current scientific findings and future trends concerning the distribution, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis and prevention of vector-borne infections of dogs and cats. At the 14th Symposium of the CVBD World Forum in Trieste, Italy (March 25-28, 2019), we identified the need to (i) bring attention to the potential spread of parasites and vectors with relocated dogs, and (ii) provide advice to the veterinary profession regarding the importance of surveillance and treatment for parasites and vector-borne infections when rehoming dogs. This letter shares a consensus statement from the CVBD World Forum as well as a summary of the problem faced, including the role of veterinary professionals in parasite surveillance, causal issues, and the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation in addressing the problem.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Vector-borne diseases (VBD) are of growing global importance. Sand flies are potential vectors for phleboviruses (family Phenuiviridae) including Toscana virus (TOSV), Sicilian virus, Sandfly fever, Naples virus, and Leishmania parasites in Europe. To date, only two phlebotomine species have been recorded for Germany: Phlebotomus perniciosus and Phlebotomus mascittii.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Dogs are the main reservoir of Leishmania infantum and in some countries have been regularly culled as part of government policy to control visceral leishmaniasis. At the 13th Symposium of the Companion Vector-Borne Diseases World Forum in Windsor, UK, March 19-22, 2018, we consolidated a consensus statement regarding the usefulness of dog culling as a means of controlling visceral leishmaniasis. The statement highlighted the futility of culling infected dogs, whether healthy or sick, as a measure to control the domestic reservoir of L.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Babesia canis is the predominant Babesia species in dogs in Europe and is responsible for a severe and fatal disease. An increase in global pet tourism and a widening of the geographic distribution of the tick vector has led to the emergence of infections in areas where previously only imported cases have been reported. Due to the potential for rapid and serious disease progression, direct parasite detection by stained blood smears and light microscopy or DNA-based methods have traditionally been used for the diagnosis of acute infections.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) is an important zoonosis caused by Leishmania (L.) infantum. Transmission of L.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Dirofilaria repens causes subcutaneous infection in dogs and cats, and is the main agent of human dirofilariosis in Europe. Detection of D. repens is described in a dog from Portugal, a finding that simultaneously represents the first presumable case of autochthonous infection with the parasite in any animal host species in the country.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Angiostrongylus vasorum is a potentially fatal canine nematode. Due to the high variability of clinical signs and the often chronic and subtle course of the infections, the diagnosis is particularly challenging. A rapid in-clinic assay (Angio Detect Test, IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, Maine, USA) for the serological detection of circulating antigen and intended for routine in-clinic diagnosis has been evaluated.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The possible existence of autochthonous sandfly populations in Central Europe north of the Alps has long been excluded. However, in the past years, sandflies have been documented in Germany, Belgium, and recently, also in Austria, close to the Slovenian border. Moreover, autochthonous human Leishmania and Phlebovirus infections have been reported in Central Europe, particularly in Germany.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Considering the increasing importance of small animals travel medicine and the spread of filariae with zoonotic potential to non-endemic European areas, routine filarial diagnosis in dogs is becoming important. Dirofilaria immitis, D. repens, Acanthocheilonema dracunculoides and A.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * A case was reported in Germany involving a boxer dog that had never been in an endemic area, where both the dog and one of her puppies tested positive for Leishmania antibodies.
  • * The absence of sandflies in the dog’s area suggests that the infection may have occurred through vertical (from mother to offspring) or horizontal (between dogs) transmission, marking a possible first for these transmission methods in Germany.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The human-animal bond has been a fundamental feature of mankind's history for millennia. The first, and strongest of these, man's relationship with the dog, is believed to pre-date even agriculture, going back as far as 30,000 years. It remains at least as powerful today.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: In the Old World, sandfly species of the genus Phlebotomus are known vectors of Leishmania, Bartonella and several viruses. Recent sandfly catches and autochthonous cases of leishmaniasis hint on spreading tendencies of the vectors towards Central Europe. However, studies addressing potential future distribution of sandflies in the light of a changing European climate are missing.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

During an entomology survey in July 2009 and July 2010, 4 males and 22 females of Phlebotomus (Transphlebotomus) mascittii were caught in southeastern Carinthia. These are the first documented records of the occurrence of Phlebotominae in Austria.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: With the import of pets and pets taken abroad, arthropod-borne diseases have increased in frequency in German veterinary practices. This is reflected by 4,681 dogs that have been either travelled to or relocated from endemic areas to Germany. The case history of these dogs and the laboratory findings have been compared with samples collected from 331 dogs living in an endemic area in Portugal.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In non-endemic areas, malaria is rare and locally acquired infections, particularly with Plasmodium falciparum, are exceptional events. The diagnosis is, therefore, likely to be delayed or missed in patients without a relevant travel history. This report describes a case of falciparum malaria in Berlin, Germany, in a patient who had not been to an endemic area for more than a decade.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF