Dirofilaria repens and Dirofilaria immitis DNA findings in mosquitoes in Germany: Temperature data allow autochthonous extrinsic development
Abstract
After the repeated demonstration of Dirofilaria repens infections in German dogs, D. repens and Dirofilaria immitis DNA was detected in mosquitoes trapped in 2011, 2012 and 2013 in northeastern and southwestern Germany within the framework of culicid monitoring projects. As temperature is the most important factor dictating the extrinsic development of dirofilarial larvae in the potential vector, data of the German Weather Service (DWD) were analysed for the regions where the positive mosquitoes had been collected. Based on the mean daily temperatures recorded by weather stations most closely to the collection sites of the mosquitoes, it can be concluded that the mosquitoes were trapped in time periods that allowed for the completion of the developmental cycle of the worms in the mosquitoes and a subsequent transmission to a vertebrate host. The results of this study confirm the principal climatic suitability of certain German regions for the establishment of natural dirofilarial transmission cycles. Moreover, the theoretical climatic considerations, together with findings of D. repens infections in German dogs and mosquitoes, strongly suggest that the continuing spread of at least D. repens from its traditional habitats in the Mediterranean has reached southwestern and northeastern Germany.
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D. immitis is invading new areas due to, among other factors, climate change and expansion of the vectors that transmit the disease.
“This indicates that the parasite is invading new areas due to, among other factors, climate change and the expansion of the vectors that transmit the disease [55], so the status of Germany as an endemic or pre-endemic country should be considered.”
From What has happened to heartworm disease in Europe in the last 10 years? (2022) · cites this paper as [55]
More optimal conditions created by temperature increases allow the spread of mosquitoes to other areas where previously climatic conditions prevented their presence.
“This has led to the creation of more optimal conditions that allow the spread of mosquitoes to other areas where previously the climatic conditions prevented their presence [1,55,78,166,167].”
From What has happened to heartworm disease in Europe in the last 10 years? (2022) · cites this paper as [55]
In Germany, a study using average daily temperatures recorded by weather stations close to locations where vectors infected with D. immitis were evidenced confirmed the suitability of the climate in certain German regions for establishment of natural cycles of heartworm transmission, elevating the risk of infection.
“In Germany, a study was carried out using data on average daily temperatures recorded by weather stations close to the locations where the presence of vectors infected with D. immitis was evidenced, confirming the suitability of the climate in certain German regions for the establishment of natural cycles of heartworm transmission [55], which elevated the risk of infection.”
From What has happened to heartworm disease in Europe in the last 10 years? (2022) · cites this paper as [55]
Our results are in agreement with predictions of occurrence and seasonality of Dirofilaria spp., with peaks of infection in Summer (June to September).
“Our results are in agreement with predictions of occurrence and seasonality of Dirofilaria spp., with peaks of infection in Summer, from June to September”
From First molecular identification of mosquito vectors of Dirofilaria immitis in continental Portugal (2015) · cites this paper as [42]
Both federal states were considered climatically suitable for dirofilarial development in the mosquito vector and classified as risk regions for stable endemicity.
“Moreover, both federal states were considered to be climatically suitable for dirofilarial development in the mosquito vector and classified as risk regions for stable endemicity”
From Dirofilaria spp. and Angiostrongylus vasorum: current risk of spreading in Central and Northern Europe. (2021) · cites this paper as [102]
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- Authors
- Sassnau, R., Czajka, C., Kronefeld, M., Werner, D., Genchi, C., Tannich, E., & Kampen, H.
- Affiliations
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (DE)
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (DE)
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (DE)
- University of Milan (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Sassnau, R.
- Venue
- Parasitology Research
- Published
- 2014-06-07
- Volume
- 113
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 3057-3061
- ISSN
- 0044-3255 (ISSN-L)
- 0932-0113
- 1432-1955
- OpenAlex
- W2047454276
- Semantic Scholar
- 13868d5579f46ce8aa4303ecd23fc4ffdb9dffaf
- Cited by
- 36
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 2
- FWCI
- 4.23
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Parasitology Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Helminth infection and control
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Keywords
- Dirofilaria repens, Dirofilaria immitis, mosquitoes, temperature, autochthonous transmission, climate suitability, canine heartworm disease, vector competence, disease spread, Germany
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Climate, Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilariasis, Dog Diseases, Dogs, Germany, Insect Vectors, Culicidae, Temperature, Time Factors, DNA, Helminth, Dirofilaria repens
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