First report of a naturally patent infection with Dirofilaria immitis in an otter (Lutra lutra)

Penezić, Aleksandra; Moriano, Roberta; Spasić, Marija; Ćirović, Duško

doi:10.1007/s00436-018-5769-y

Cited by 35Parasitic Diseases Research and TreatmentHelminth infection and controlResearch on Leishmaniasis Studies

First report of a naturally patent infection with Dirofilaria immitis in an otter (Lutra lutra)

Penezić, Aleksandra, Moriano, Roberta, Spasić, Marija, Ćirović, Duško·2018·Parasitology Research

DOI 10.1007/s00436-018-5769-y

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Abstract

Dirofilaria immitis causes a severe and life-threatening cardio-pulmonary disease in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas; also, zoonotic infections have been reported. This parasitic vector-borne disease is mostly common in domestic and wild canids and felids. Here, we present a rare finding of this roundworm in the heart of a Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra). Four mature specimens of D. immitis were found in the right ventricle of the heart. Necropsy was performed after the animal was found road-killed in Eastern Serbia, close to the Danube River. Two heartworms were females, one was male and sex for one remained unidentified. Microfilariae were present in the uterus of one of the female heartworms, indicating that otters can act as reservoirs of dirofilariasis in the wild. This is the first report of a patent infection in a free-ranging otter.

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In the last ten years, Serbia was the country where most studies on heartworm in wild carnivores have been carried out, reporting naturally occurring patent infection with D. immitis in otters near the Danube River in eastern regions.
“In the last ten years, Serbia was the country where most studies have been carried out, reporting naturally occurring patent infection with D. immitis in otters in areas near the Danube River in eastern regions of the country.”
From What has happened to heartworm disease in Europe in the last 10 years? (2022) · cites this paper as [133]

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Authors: Penezić, A., Moriano, R., Spasić, M., & Ćirović, D.
Affiliations: University of Belgrade (RS)
University of Turin (IT)
Corresponding author: Penezić, Aleksandra
ORCID: Penezić, Aleksandra
Ćirović, Duško
Venue: Parasitology Research
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2018-01-26
Volume: 117
Issue: 3
Pages: 929-931
ISSN: 0044-3255 (ISSN-L)
0932-0113
1432-1955
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-5769-y
OpenAlex: W2794028274
Cited by: 35
References: 11
Citations by year: 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 18 · 2019: 1
FWCI: 3.61
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations: Parasitology Research (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: Ministarstvo Prosvete, Nauke i Tehnološkog Razvoja (173006)
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 immitis, Lutra lutra, dirofilariasis, patent infection, right ventricle, microfilariae, reservoir hosts, wild carnivores, zoonoses
MeSH terms: Animals, Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilariasis, Female, Male, Otters, Serbia

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First report of a naturally patent infection with Dirofilaria immitis in an otter (Lutra lutra)

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