High-throughput sequencing of Strongyloides stercoralis - a fatal disseminated infection in a dog

Abstract The rhabditid nematode Strongyloides stercoralis is known worldwide as the causative agent of strongyloidiasis in humans. In addition to public health concerns, S . stercoralis also infects dogs, which represent a possible reservoir for potentially zoonotic transmissions. We describe the first confirmed case of fatal disseminated infection in a dog in the Czech Republic. The microscopic and histological results were supported by a complex genotyping approach. Using high-throughput sequencing of the hypervariable region (HVR-IV) of 18S rDNA and Sanger sequencing of the partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene ( cox1 ), the potentially zoonotic haplotype/lineage A of S . stercoralis was confirmed, while the solely canine haplotype/lineage B was not found. The development of the disease is mainly associated with immunodeficiency, and in this case, it was triggered by inappropriate treatment, in particular the use of corticosteroids.