Is Wolbachia complicating the pathological effects of Dirofilaria immitis infections?
Abstract
Human and animal parasitic filarial nematodes, which often are the cause of severe disease, harbor intracellular bacteria of the genus Wolbachia (Rickettsiaceae). It is thought that these bacteria play an important role in the pathogenesis and immune response to filarial infection. In order to determine the possible role of Wolbachia in heartworm disease, dogs naturally infected with Dirofilaria immitis were studied for specific antibody response to Wolbachia surface protein (WSP). Antibody subclasses were analyzed to determine immune response polarization. Dogs that died from heartworm disease were necropsied, and various organs were studied by immunohistochemistry to determine whether Wolbachia-derived molecules were present in tissue from infected dogs. Humoral response to the WSP was present in all infected dogs and appeared to be predominantly of the Th1-type. Several organs, including lung, liver, and kidney, contained positive-staining cells for WSP, confirming that the canine host does come into contact with Wolbachia-derived molecules.
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Blocking Wolbachia can decrease or eliminate secondary reactions derived from bacterial elimination by the host when worms are destroyed by filaricides.
“decrease or eliminate the secondary reactions that are derived from bacterial elimination by the host organism when worms are destroyed by filaricides (216).”
From Human and animal dirofilariasis: The emergence of a zoonotic mosaic (2012) · cites this paper as [216]
The antibody response in dirofilariasis is linked to both the parasitological status and the clinical status of the host.
“All of these data suggest that the antibody response is linked to both the parasitological status and the clinical status of the host (216).”
From Human and animal dirofilariasis: The emergence of a zoonotic mosaic (2012) · cites this paper as [216]
Wolbachia is present in multiple tissues and immune cells of dogs with heartworm disease, as shown by immunohistochemical staining.
“immunohistochemical staining with polyclonal antibodies against WSP has revealed the presence of Wolbachia in multiple tissues and immune cells of dogs with heartworm disease (215,216,288).”
From Human and animal dirofilariasis: The emergence of a zoonotic mosaic (2012) · cites this paper as [216]
Wolbachia or its molecules are present in cytoplasm of leukocytes of dogs and humans with cardiopulmonary or subcutaneous dirofilariasis.
“the presence of Wolbachia or of its molecules in the cytoplasm of leukocytes of dogs and humans with cardiopulmonary or subcutaneous dirofilariasis has been shown by immunohistochemistry (162, 216)”
From Human and animal dirofilariasis: The emergence of a zoonotic mosaic (2012) · cites this paper as [216]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Kramer, L., Simón, F., Tamarozzi, F., Genchi, M., & Bazzocchi, C.
- Affiliations
- University of Parma (IT)
- Universidad de Salamanca (ES)
- University of Milan (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Kramer, L.
- Venue
- Veterinary Parasitology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2005-10
- Volume
- 133
- Issue
- 2-3
- Pages
- 133-136
- ISSN
- 0304-4017 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2045777067
- Cited by
- 44
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 1 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 1.49
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Veterinary Parasitology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Helminth infection and control
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Parasitology › Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Keywords
- Wolbachia, Dirofilaria immitis, heartworm disease, filarial nematodes, Wolbachia surface protein, humoral immune response, Th1 response, antibody subclasses, intracellular bacteria, dogs
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Antibodies, Bacterial, Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins, Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilariasis, Dog Diseases, Dogs, Immunoglobulin G, Immunohistochemistry, Wolbachia
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