Hyperendemic Dirofilaria immitis infection in a sheltered dog population: An expanding threat in the Mediterranean region
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A study on the occurrence of Dirofilaria immitis and its vectors was carried out in order to assess the prevalence of the disease in dogs in previously non-endemic areas of southern Italy. Blood samples (n = 385) and mosquitoes (n = 1540) were collected in two dog shelters and analysed by Knott's test and duplex real-time PCR, respectively. Dirofilaria immitis was the most prevalent filarioid (44.2%), while Culex pipiens was the most prevalent mosquito species (68.8%). This high prevalence of D. immitis infection confirms this location as one of the most hyperendemic foci of dirofilariosis in Europe.
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In Italy, culicid vectors of Dirofilaria have been demonstrated in different regions, including Cx. pipiens in north-eastern Italy, Ae. albopictus, Cq. richiardii, Cs. annulate, Cx. pipiens, and Och. caspius in southern Italy, and Ae. albopictus in Pelagie Archipelago.
“In Italy, several studies have continued to demonstrate the existence of culicid vectors of Dirofilaria in different regions of the country, such as Cx. pipiens in north-eastern Italy [150], Ae. albopictus, Cq. richiardii, Cs. annulate, Cx. pipiens, and Och. caspius in southern Italy [34,151], and Ae. albopictus in Pelagie Archipelago [40].”
From What has happened to heartworm disease in Europe in the last 10 years? (2022) · cites this paper as [151]
Sardinia has the environmental, climatic and human activities (e.g., tourism with animal transportation) that could allow these nematodes to spread.
“Specifically, Sardinia has the environmental, climatic and human activities (e.g. tourism with animal transportation) that could allow these nematodes to spread [5, 30].”
From Leishmania infantum and Dirofilaria immitis infections in Italy, 2009–2019: Changing distribution patterns (2020) · cites this paper as [30]
Hyperendemic D. immitis infection has been recorded in sheltered dogs from the Apulia region (southern Italy), with the highest prevalence of infection (44.2%) in Europe.
“Hyperendemic D. immitis infection has been recorded in sheltered dogs from Apulia region (southern Italy) with the highest prevalence of infection (i.e. 44.2%) in Europe [30].”
From Leishmania infantum and Dirofilaria immitis infections in Italy, 2009–2019: Changing distribution patterns (2020) · cites this paper as [30]
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- Authors
- Panarese, R., Iatta, R., Latrofa, M. S., Zatelli, A., Ignjatović Ćupina, A., Montarsi, F., Pombi, M., Mendoza-Roldan, J. A., Beugnet, F., & Otranto, D.
- Affiliations
- University of Bari Aldo Moro (IT)
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IT)
- Sapienza University of Rome (IT)
- Bu-Ali Sina University (IR)
- Corresponding author
- Otranto, Domenico
- Venue
- International Journal for Parasitology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2020-07
- Volume
- 50
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 555-559
- ISSN
- 0020-7519 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3029547282
- Cited by
- 42
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 6
- FWCI
- 1.12
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- Locations
- International Journal for Parasitology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- IRIS Research product catalog (Sapienza University of Rome) (submittedVersion)
- CINECA IRIS Institutional Research Information System (University of Bari Aldo Moro) (submittedVersion)
- CINECA IRIS Institutional Research Information System (University of Bari Aldo Moro) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Boehringer Ingelheim
- 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, canine dirofilariasis, dog shelters, Culex pipiens, mosquito vectors, Southern Italy, Mediterranean, emerging zoonoses
- MeSH terms
- Mosquito Vectors, Animals, Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilariasis, Dog Diseases, Dogs, Italy, Prevalence, Mediterranean Region, Endemic Diseases
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