Detection of Dirofilaria repens and Dirofilaria immitis DNA in mosquitoes from Belarus
Open accessAbstract
During the last two decades, Belarus faces an increase of human cases of Dirofilaria (Nematoda, Spirurida, Onchocercidae) infections. However, comprehensive analyses explaining this development and the identification of mosquito vector species are missing. Here, we present results using temperature data from Belarus and show that the annual number of human Dirofilaria cases is significantly correlated with the yearly average temperatures (Spearman's rho = 0.49, p < 0.05) and the average sum of potential Dirofilaria transmission days (Spearman's rho = 0.46, p < 0.05), suggesting that autochthonous transmission is at least in part responsible for the increasing number of clinical Dirofilaria cases in the country. In addition, 467 female mosquitoes were collected from different sampling sites in the regions of Brest and Minsk, which were analyzed by molecular methods for the presence of Dirofilaria repens and Dirofilaria immitis DNA, respectively. Two pools (5.56 %) were tested positive for Dirofilaria (estimated infection rate per 100 specimens = 0.44, 95 % confidence interval = 0.08-1.43), comprising one Anopheles claviger s.l. pool that was positive for D. repens and one Culex pipiens s.l./Culex torrentium pool positive for D. immitis DNA. This, to our knowledge, is the first molecular evidence for the presence of Dirofilaria in mosquitoes from Belarus, suggesting a high probability of autochthonous Dirofilaria transmission in the country.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In Moldova, An. maculipennis, Cx. pipiens/torrentium, Aedes behningi, and Anopheles pseudopictus have been identified as vectors for transmission of D. immitis.
“In Moldova, An. maculipennis, Cx. pipiens/torrentium, Aedes behningi, and Anopheles pseudopictus were identified as vectors for the transmission of D. immitis [159].”
From What has happened to heartworm disease in Europe in the last 10 years? (2022) · cites this paper as [159]
In Belarus, a country with no data on occurrence of D. immitis in animals, Cx. pipiens/torrentium has been identified as a vector of heartworm disease.
“In Belarus, a country with no data on the occurrence of D. immitis in animals, Cx. pipiens/torrentium was identified as a vector of heartworm disease [159].”
From What has happened to heartworm disease in Europe in the last 10 years? (2022) · cites this paper as [159]
Climate change, among other factors, has surely played an important role in the appearance of competent vectors in new regions and countries where their presence had not previously been reported.
“In addition, climate change (among other factors) has surely played an important role in the appearance of competent vectors in new regions and countries where their presence had not previously been reported [159,162,163].”
From What has happened to heartworm disease in Europe in the last 10 years? (2022) · cites this paper as [159]
Cites
Haylock, M. R., Hofstra, N., Tank, A. K., Klok, E. J., Jones, P. D., & New, M. G. (2008) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/2008jd010201 · Cited by 2,439 · see citing works
Becker, N., Petric, D., Zgomba, M., Boase, C., Madon, M., Dahl, C., & Kaiser, A. (2010) · doi:10.1007/978-3-540-92874-4 · Cited by 1,403 · see citing works
Human and animal dirofilariasis: The emergence of a zoonotic mosaic
Simón, F., Siles-Lucas, M., Morchón, R., González-Miguel, J., Mellado, I., Carretón, E., & Montoya-Alonso, J. A. (2012) · Clinical Microbiology Reviews · doi:10.1128/cmr.00012-12 · Cited by 834 · see citing works
Vector-borne helminths of dogs and humans in Europe
Otranto, D., Dantas-Torres, F., Brianti, E., Traversa, D., Petrić, D., Genchi, C., & Capelli, G. (2013) · Parasites & Vectors · doi:10.1186/1756-3305-6-16 · Cited by 336 · see citing works
Pampiglione, S., & Rivasi, F. (2000) · PubMed · Cited by 264 · see citing works
Is heartworm disease really spreading in Europe?
Genchi, C., Rinaldi, L., Cascone, C., Mortarino, M., & Cringoli, G. (2005) · Veterinary Parasitology · doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2005.04.009 · Cited by 222 · see citing works
<i>Dirofilaria repens</i>Infection and Concomitant Meningoencephalitis
Poppert, S., Hodapp, M., Krueger, A., Hegasy, G., Niesen, W.-D., Kern, W. V., & Tannich, E. (2009) · Emerging Infectious Diseases · doi:10.3201/eid1511.090936 · Cited by 70 · see citing works
Self-citationHelminth fauna of the wolf ( Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758) in Belorussian Polesie
Shimalov, V. V., & Shimalov, V. T. (2000) · Parasitology Research · doi:10.1007/s004360050026 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Diagnosis of Imported Canine Filarial Infections in Germany 2008 – 2010
Pantchev, N., Etzold, M., Daugschies, A., & Dyachenko, V. (2011) · Parasitology Research · doi:10.1007/s00436-011-2403-7 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Heartworm infection in humans and animals
Autores, V., Simón, F., & Genchi, C. (2001) · Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja) · Cited by 68 · see citing works
Survey of canine dirofilariasis in Vojvodina, Serbia
Tasić, A., Rossi, L., Tasić, S., Miladinović-Tasić, N., Ilić, T., & Dimitrijević, S. (2008) · Parasitology Research · doi:10.1007/s00436-008-1132-z · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Current Surveys on the Prevalence and Distribution of Dirofilaria spp. in Dogs in Germany
Pantchev, N., Norden, N., Lorentzen, L., Rossi, M., Rossi, U., Brand, B., & Dyachenko, V. (2009) · Parasitology Research · doi:10.1007/s00436-009-1497-7 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
Bhat, K., Wilson, G., & Mallya, S. (2003) · Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology · doi:10.1016/s0255-0857(21)03088-7 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
Human dirofilariosis in Poland: the first cases of autochthonous infections with Dirofilaria repens.
Cielecka, D., Hanna, Ż.-P., Masny, A., Sałamatin, R., Wesołowska, M., & Gołąb, E. (2012) · PubMed · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Dirofilaria repens microfilariae in Aedes vexans mosquitoes in Slovakia
Bocková, E., Rudolf, I., Kočišová, A., Betášová, L., Venclíková, K., Mendel, J., & Hubálek, Z. (2013) · Parasitology Research · doi:10.1007/s00436-013-3526-9 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Zoonotic Dirofilaria repens (Nematoda: Filarioidea) in Aedes vexans mosquitoes, Czech Republic
Rudolf, I., Šebesta, O., Mendel, J., Betášová, L., Bocková, E., Jedličková, P., Venclíková, K., Blažejová, H., Šikutová, S., & Hubálek, Z. (2014) · Parasitology Research · doi:10.1007/s00436-014-4191-3 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
A case of autochthonous human Dirofilaria infection, Germany, March 2014
Tappe, D., Plauth, M., Bauer, T., Muntau, B., Dießel, L., Tannich, E., & Herrmann-Trost, P. (2014) · Eurosurveillance · doi:10.2807/1560-7917.es2014.19.17.20790 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Self-citationSassnau, R., Czajka, C., Kronefeld, M., Werner, D., Genchi, C., Tannich, E., & Kampen, H. (2014) · Parasitology Research · doi:10.1007/s00436-014-3970-1 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Self-citationBorkowski, P. K., Rymkiewicz, G., Gołębiewska, J., Nestoros, N., Romejko‐Jarosińska, J., Hanna, Ż.-P., Masny, A., Pałucki, J., & Cielecka, D. (2015) · Infectious Agents and Cancer · doi:10.1186/1750-9378-10-1 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Human subcutaneous/ocular dirofilariasis in the Russian Federation and Belarus, 1997-2013
Kartashev, V., Tverdokhlebova, T., Korzan, A., Vedenkov, A., Simón, L., González-Miguel, J., Morchón, R., Siles-Lucas, M., & Simón, F. (2015) · International Journal of Infectious Diseases · doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2015.02.017 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Bocková, E., Iglódyová, A., & Kočišová, A. (2015) · Parasitology Research · doi:10.1007/s00436-015-4692-8 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Sassnau, R., & Genchi, C. (2013) · Parasitology Research · doi:10.1007/s00436-013-3431-2 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Fedianina, L. V., Sm, S., Rakova, V. M., Шайтанов, В. М., Lebedeva, M. N., Frolova, A. A., En, M., & Lf, M. (2013) · PubMed · Cited by 11 · see citing works
[Human dirofilariasis in Russia].
Fedianina, L. V. (2010) · PubMed · Cited by 8 · see citing works
[Human dirofilariasis: diagnosis and the pattern of pathogen-host relations].
Sergiev, V. P., Vg, S., En, M., & Zhukova, L. A. (2009) · PubMed · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Human Dirofilariasis in Latvia - the First Case in Surgical Practice
Melbārde-Gorkuša, I., Āboliņš, A., Štrumfa, I., Martinsons, A., & Gardovskis, J. (2011) · Acta Chirurgica Latviensis · doi:10.2478/v10163-012-0037-1 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
[Cases confirming the concept that the human being is a facultative host of Dirofilaria repens].
Fedianina, L. V., Frolova, A. A., Gl, P., Chernyshenko, A. I., En, M., & Rakova, V. M. (2011) · PubMed · Cited by 4 · see citing works
[Notification of cases of dirofilariasis in the Gomel region].
Naralenkova, E. I. (2004) · PubMed · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Fifth European Dirofilaria and Angiostrongylus Days (FiEDAD) 2016: Vienna, Austria. 11–13 July 2016
Simón, F., Kartashev, V., González-Miguel, J., Rivera, A., Diosdado, A., Gómez, P. J., Morchón, R., Siles-Lucas, M., Kartashev, V., Bastrikov, N., et al. (2017) · Parasites & Vectors · doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1902-x · Cited by 85 · see citing works
What has happened to heartworm disease in Europe in the last 10 years?
Morchón, R., Montoya-Alonso, J. A., Rodríguez-Escolar, I., & Carretón, E. (2022) · Pathogens · doi:10.3390/pathogens11091042 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Bertola, M., Mazzucato, M., Pombi, M., & Montarsi, F. (2022) · Parasites & Vectors · doi:10.1186/s13071-022-05204-y · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Shaikevich, E., Bogacheva, A., & Ganushkina, L. (2019) · Parasite · doi:10.1051/parasite/2019002 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Alsarraf, M., Levytska, V. A., Mierzejewska, E. J., Poliukhovych, V., Rodo, A., Alsarraf, M., Kavalevich, D., Dwużnik-Szarek, D., Behnke, J. M., & Bajer, A. (2021) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-020-80208-1 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Circulation of Dirofilaria repens and Dirofilaria immitis in Moldova
Șuleșco, T., von Thien, H., Toderaș, L., Toderaș, I., Lühken, R., & Tannich, E. (2016) · Parasites & Vectors · doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1916-4 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Self-citationDirofilaria repens in dogs and humans in Lithuania
Sabūnas, V., Radzijevskaja, J., Sakalauskas, P., Petkevičius, S., Karvelienė, B., Žiliukienė, J., Lipatova, I., & Paulauskas, A. (2019) · Parasites & Vectors · doi:10.1186/s13071-019-3406-y · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Tomazatos, A., Cadar, D., Török, E., Maranda, I., Horváth, C., Keresztes, L., Spinu, M., Jansen, S., Jöst, H., Schmidt-Chanasit, J., et al. (2018) · Parasites & Vectors · doi:10.1186/s13071-018-2980-8 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Self-citationSmith, R. C., Murillo, D. F. B., Chenoweth, K., Barua, S., Kelly, P. J., Starkey, L. A., Blagburn, B. L., Wood, T., & Wang, C. (2022) · Parasites & Vectors · doi:10.1186/s13071-022-05459-5 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Vector Potential of Mosquito Species (Diptera: Culicidae) Occurring in Central Europe
Kampen, H., & Walther, D. (2018) · Parasitology research monographs · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-94075-5_5 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Demırcı, B., Bedir, H., TAŞÇI, G. T., & Vatansever, Z. (2020) · Journal of Medical Entomology · doi:10.1093/jme/tjaa233 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Detection of Dirofilaria immitis antigen in cats in Mosul city
ALOBAIDII, W. A., Zaki, Z. D. M., & Hasan, M. H. (2021) · Al-mağallaẗ al-ʻirāqiyyaẗ li-l-ʻulūm al-bayṭariyyaẗ/Iraqi journal of veterinary sciences · doi:10.33899/ijvs.2021.128997.1616 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Kirik, H., Burtin, V., Tummeleht, L., & Kurina, O. (2021) · Insects · doi:10.3390/insects12040352 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
First report of heartworm ( <i>Dirofilaria immitis</i> ) infection in an imported dog in Lithuania
Sabūnas, V., Radzijevskaja, J., Sakalauskas, P., & Paulauskas, A. (2019) · Helminthologia · doi:10.2478/helm-2018-0036 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
An unexpected case of a dog from Poland co-infected with Dirofilaria repens and Dirofilaria Immitis
Pękacz, M., Basałaj, K., Miterpáková, M., Rusiecki, Z., Stopka, D., Graczyk, D., & Zawistowska‐Deniziak, A. (2024) · BMC Veterinary Research · doi:10.1186/s12917-024-03921-3 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Rydzanicz, K., Gołąb, E., Rożej-Bielicka, W., & Masny, A. (2018) · Parasitology Research · doi:10.1007/s00436-018-6134-x · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Monitoring of Animal Dirofilariosis Incidence in Kharkiv Region of Ukraine
Paliy, А., Сумакова, Н. В., Павліченко, О. В., Palii, А. P., Решетило, О. І., Коваленко, Л. М., Grebenik, N. P., & Була, Л. В. (2022) · Zoodiversity · doi:10.15407/zoo2022.02.153 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Veterinary Diagnosis of Filarial Infection
Evans, C. C., Pilotte, N., Williams, S. A., & Moorhead, A. R. (2022) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9783527823413.ch6 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Shcherbakov, O. V., Aghayan, S. A., Gevorgyan, H. S., Burlak, V. A., Fedorova, V. S., & Николаевич, А. Г. (2023) · Journal of Vector Borne Diseases · doi:10.4103/0972-9062.374035 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Mehlhorn, H. (2016) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-46403-9_5 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Mõttus, M., Mõtsküla, P. F., & Jokelainen, P. (2024) · Parasites & Vectors · doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06217-5 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Murillo, D. F. B., Campbell, E. J., Moorhead, A. R., & Wang, C. (2024) · Parasites & Vectors · doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06337-y · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Suslo, D. S., & Khalin, A. V. (2022) · Entomological Review · doi:10.1134/s001387382207003x · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Vector Control Approaches for Canine Filariasis
Todorovic, S., McKay, T., & Kaufman, P. E. (2022) · doi:10.1002/9783527823413.ch23 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
A Rare Case of Dirofilariasis in the Genian Region
Nicolau, A., Sava, F. P., Severin, F., Ciofu, M. L., Ferariu, D., Dodu, D., & Costan, V. V. (2024) · Diagnostics · doi:10.3390/diagnostics14060628 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Human dirofilariasis: current situation and possibilities for diagnosis
Chakarova, B., & Mitev, M. A. (2020) · Trakia Journal of Sciences · doi:10.15547/tjs.2020.04.013 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) of the Republic of Belarus
Suslo, D. S., & Khalin, A. V. (2025) · Entomological Review · doi:10.1134/s0013873825010026 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Human subcutaneous dirofilariasis infection in Grodno Region, Belarus
Ruslan, S., Kulasinghe, K. A. N. A., Dissanayake, S. R. A., & Senarathna, W. S. C. (2025) · International Surgery Journal · doi:10.18203/2349-2902.isj20250577 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Murillo, D. F. B., Campbell, E. J., Moorhead, A. R., & Wang, C. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26733523
Murillo, D. F. B., Campbell, E. J., Moorhead, A. R., & Wang, C. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26733517
Murillo, D. F. B., Campbell, E. J., Moorhead, A. R., & Wang, C. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26733526
Murillo, D. F. B., Campbell, E. J., Moorhead, A. R., & Wang, C. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26733520
Smith, R., Murillo, D. F. B., Chenoweth, K., Barua, S., Kelly, P. J., Starkey, L. A., Blagburn, B. L., Wood, T., & Wang, C. (2022) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.21332840
Infection of Mosquitoes with Dirofilariasis Agents in Urban Areas of Belarus
Suslo, D. S., & Довнар, Д. В. (2026) · Problems of Particularly Dangerous Infections · doi:10.21055/0370-1069-2026-1-182-185
The impact of global climate change on the spread of parasitic nematodes
(2017) · PubMed · doi:10.17420/ap6301.79 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
- Authors
- Șuleșco, T., Volkova, T., Yashkova, S., Tomazatos, A., von Thien, H., Lühken, R., & Tannich, E.
- Affiliations
- National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (BY)
- Ministry of Health (BY)
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Lühken, Renke
- Venue
- Parasitology Research
- Published
- 2016-05-11
- Volume
- 115
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 3535-3541
- ISSN
- 0044-3255 (ISSN-L)
- 0932-0113
- 1432-1955
- OpenAlex
- W2462488818
- Cited by
- 31
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2
- FWCI
- 3.08
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Update notices
- correction (2016-06-02)
- Open access
- green
- ibn.idsi.md
- Licence
- other-oa
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Parasitology Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- EurgVec COST Action TD1303
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Parasitology › Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Keywords
- Dirofilaria repens, Dirofilaria immitis, mosquito vectors, autochthonous transmission, human filariasis, Anopheles claviger, Culex pipiens, Culex torrentium, Belarus
- MeSH terms
- Mosquito Vectors, Animals, Anopheles, Republic of Belarus, Culex, Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilariasis, Dog Diseases, Dogs, Female, Humans, Temperature, Weather, DNA, Helminth, Dirofilaria repens
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
