Georgios Sioutas

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki | AUTH · Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases (Department of Infectious, Parasitic Diseases and Pathology)

This study evaluated the effectiveness of phytobiotic supplementation in managing coccidiosis in broiler chickens, a disease that impacts productivity. Three hundred sixty Ross-308 one-day-old chicks were assigned to five treatment groups: control negative (CN), phyto negative (PN), control infected (CI), phyto infected (PI), and salinomycin infect...

Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, is a zoonotic disease that affects various animal species, including dogs, that can serve as sentinels for indirectly estimating the environmental contamination. The current study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies in dogs across different regions of Gr...

Although Dirofilaria immitis in dogs is considered enzootic in northern Greece, the available data on the occurrence of infection in southern parts of the country demonstrate its scarcity. The aim of this study was to update the current knowledge on D. immitis infection in dogs in areas of Greece previously considered non-enzootic (Central Greece,...

While research on the parasitic fauna of wildlife in Greece is currently limited, conducted studies have provided valuable insights into the prevalence of parasitic infections in wild carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores. This review consolidates the existing data on the endoparasites detected in wild animals in Greece, specifically focusing on th...

Dermanyssus gallinae, the poultry red mite (PRM), is the most prevalent and harmful ec-toparasite of laying hens globally. Although prevalence and risk factor studies can help veterinarians make decisions regarding farm treatments, relevant data are scarce. The present study investigated the prevalence and infestation severity of PRM in poultry far...

Background Canine leishmaniosis, which causes severe chronic systemic and/or cutaneous signs, has become one of the most important imported canine diseases in Central Europe (Mettler et al., 2005), and makes this parasite one of the main causes of death in dogs all over Southern Europe. The causative agent is a flagellate protozoan parasite (Leishm...

Introduction: The nematode Cheilospirura hamulosa (C. hamulosa) belongs to the Acuarioidea family and typically parasitizes the gizzard of birds, resulting in severe gross lesions, hemorrhages, or potentially fatal consequences. Case reports concerning pigeons are scarce, and in Greece, there is no official documentation confirming the presence of...

Dirofilaria immitis is a ubiquitous nematode parasite with zoonotic potential, transmitted by mosquitoes, that causes heartworm disease in various animal species. Dogs are the parasite’s typical final host, and wild carnivores represent the parasite’s reservoir in nature. Studies on D. immitis infections in wild animals are essential to assess infe...

Digital PCR (dPCR) is an emerging technology that enables the absolute quantification of the targeted nucleic acids. The body of research on the potential applications of this novel tool is growing in human and veterinary medicine. Most of the research on dPCR applications in veterinary parasitology is concentrated on developing and validating new...

Background: Dermanyssus gallinae, also known as the Poultry Red Mite (PRM), is the most common blood-sucking arthropod in the commercial laying hen industry. Its haematophagous action causes stress, anaemia and mortality in hens. Simultaneously, egg production drops and the weight, mass, and overall quality of eggs are reduced, thus leading to subs...

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoon with a complex life cycle and the second most important foodborne pathogen in Europe. Surveillance of toxoplasmosis is based on national considerations since there are no mandatory controls along the food chain in the European Union, and underreporting of meat is still a problem in many countries like Greec...

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) causes tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), affecting human health in Europe and Asia. Reports on canine clinical cases of TBE are rare, although dogs are used as sentinels for assessing human health risks. The first canine clinical TBE case in Greece is reported in this case report. The dog had a history of tick infe...

Background and aims The poultry red mite (PRM), Dermanyssus gallinae, is the most common haematophagous ectoparasite in laying hens. Currently, chemical acaricides are used to control the PRM, but several compounds have been banned due to drug residues in eggs/tissues or removed from the market due to low efficacy/resistance reports. Silver nanopar...

Leishmaniosis caused by the protozoon Leishmania infantum that is transmitted through the bites of infected phlebotomine sandflies is of major veterinary concern in Greece. The country is endemic with particularly favourable environmental conditions for the spread of this infection. Moreover, Greece remains a popular touristic destination, and the...

Histomoniasis is a parasitic disease caused by Histomonas meleagridis, a protozoan that can cause necrotizing typhlitis and hepatitis in several bird species. Currently, only a few cases have been reported in peafowl, and as a result, little is known about the pathogenicity of the parasite in this species. The present study aimed to investigate a h...

Introduction: Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous zoonotic parasite, with felines being the only definitive hosts. Cats shed oocysts with their faeces, and seroprevalence studies are used to indirectly assess the environmental contamination. The current study aimed to evaluate T. gondii seroprevalence in Greek cats and identify possible risk factors....

Introduction: In recent years there have been increasing reports of the development of resistance to commonly used drugs to combat ectoparasites, such as the tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to control ticks is an alternative solution, while their particular mechanism of action reduces the risk of developing re...

Dermanyssus gallinae (PRM) is the most common blood-sucking ectoparasite in laying hens and is resistant against numerous acaricides. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) represent an innovative solution against PRM. The current study aimed to assess the in vitro acaricidal activity of AgNPs against PRM and describe their potential mechanism of action. Nan...

The One Health approach, which attracts nowadays significant interest among the scientific communities, is a transdisciplinary combination targeting the optimal, sustainable and balanced health of people, animals and the environment, simultaneously. Under the One Health umbrella fit well the parasites (protozoa, helminths and arthropods), both of m...

The poultry red mite (PRM), Dermanyssus gallinae, is arguably the most harmful, ubiquitous haematophagous ectoparasite infesting egg-laying hens. PRM is a vector of various microorganisms, with some being important for food microbiology and public health. The present study aimed to investigate the presence of specific pathogens, including Escherich...

Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous zoonotic parasite, with felines being the only definitive hosts. Cats shed oocysts with their faeces, and seroprevalence studies can be used to indirectly assess the environmental contamination. The current study aimed to evaluate T. gondii seroprevalence in Greek cats and identify possible risk factors. In total,...

Introduction Backyard poultry flocks could be an important introduction pathway for infectious agents into commercial poultry operations or even the human population. Aim The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence and distribution of gastrointestinal parasites and haemoparasites in selected backyard poultry farms in the region of Ioann...

Introduction: In recent years there have been increasing reports of the development of resistance to commonly used drugs to combat ectoparasites, such as the mite Dermanyssus gallinae, the tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus, and the flea Ctenocephalides canis. The use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to combat them is an alternative solution, while their...

Background and aims: The Poultry Red Mite (PRM), Dermanyssus gallinae, is one of the most damaging haematophagous ectoparasites in the modern egg-laying industry with a worldwide distribution. PRM has been incriminated as a vector of various pathogens, including bacteria and viruses. Some of them are zoonotic and important for food microbiology and...

Background Canine leishmaniosis (Leishmania infantum) is a zoonotic disease that affects millions of dogs worldwide and remains a challenge for veterinary practitioners in terms of diagnosis and control. Seropositivity within the canine population can reach as high as 57.1% in some enzootic areas of Southern Europe, where leishmaniosis constitutes...

Canine leishmaniosis (Leishmania infantum) is a zoonotic disease that affects dogs worldwide. Greece is enzootic for this disease, and updated data for its current distribution are of major importance. The aim of this cross-sectional serological study was primarily to update the current knowledge of Leishmania infantum seropositivity status within...

Dermanyssus gallinae, also known as the poultry red mite (PRM), is one of the most important ectoparasites in the modern laying hen industry. PRM can also infest humans, causing gamasoidosis or avian mite dermatitis, which is manifested as skin lesions commonly characterized by rash and itching. In recent years, there has been an increase in the re...

Domestic rabbits are commercially farmed for their meat whilst gastrointestinal diseases can hinder their production. Passalurus ambiguus and Eimeria spp. are two common rabbit intestinal parasites that can cause diarrhoea, among other symptoms, and in severe cases, death. C. guttulatus is a commensal yeast of the rabbits’ stomach that is considere...

Dermanyssus gallinae (the poultry red mite, PRM) is an important ectoparasite in the laying hen industry. PRM can also infest humans, causing gamasoidosis, which is manifested as skin lesions characterized by rash and itching. Recently, there has been an increase in the reported number of human infestation cases with D. gallinae, mostly associated...

Pearsonema (syn. Capillaria) plica is a nematode that resides in the urinary bladder of canids, felids and mustelids (definitive hosts) and is classified in the same class as Trichuris spp. Epidemiological and clinical data on Pearsonema plica infection in domestic animals are limited. The nematode has an indirect lifecycle that involves earthworms...

Intramammary infections (IMIs) caused by various pathogens may lead to clinical or subclinical mastitis, challenging the health and welfare status of infected animals and decreasing the quantity and quality of the produced milk. Additionally, the zoonotic potential of some of the pathogens isolated from IMI cases, the emergence of antibiotic resist...

Dioctophyma renale is the largest nematode that infects domestic mammals and is the aetiologic agent of a serious renal disease, dioctophymatosis. It has an indirect life cycle with carnivores serving as final hosts and earthworms as intermediate hosts. The parasite can infect humans with signifi cant zoonotic potential. The pathogenesis of dioctop...