Molecular survey of Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens by new real-time TaqMan® PCR assay in dogs and mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Corsica (France)
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Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens are filarioid nematodes of animals and humans, transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes. Domestic and wild canids are a major natural host and reservoir for these parasites. In this study, we designed a duplex real-time PCR protocol targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, detecting both D. immitis and D. repens using two primer pairs and two Dirofilaria-specific hydrolysable probes. The sensitivity and specificity of the primers and probes were tested in both experimental and naturally infected samples. The detection limits of this assay were evaluated using plasmid DNA from D. immitis and D. repens. No cross-reaction was observed when testing this system against DNA from other filarial nematodes. The detection limit of the real-time PCR system was one copy per reaction mixture containing 5μl of template DNA. Field application of the new duplex real-time assay was conducted in Corsica. The prevalence rate of D. immitis was 21.3% (20/94) in dogs. In a locality where most dogs with Dirofilaria spp. infection were found, D. immitis and D. repens were detected in 5% (20/389) and 1.5% (6/389) of the Aedes albopictus population, respectively. These results suggest that this sensitive assay is a powerful tool for monitoring dirofilariosis in endemic or high risk areas.
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In Corsica, canine heartworm prevalence was 21.3%, showing no changes with respect to previous studies.
“Finally, in Corsica, the prevalence was 21.3% [45], showing no changes with respect to previous studies [46].”
From What has happened to heartworm disease in Europe in the last 10 years? (2022) · cites this paper as [45]
The present data show for the first time the presence of Dirofilaria spp. DNA in Oc. caspius and Cx. pipiens s.l. in France.
“the present data show for the first time the presence of Dirofilaria spp. DNA in Oc. caspius and Cx. pipiens s.l. in France, as reported in previous European studies [5–22].”
From Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens in mosquitoes from Corsica Island, France (2021) · cites this paper as [6]
Aedes albopictus was found to be highly infested with D. immitis (MIR = 3%, EIR = 3.8%).
“Aedes albopictus was found to be highly infested with D. immitis (MIR = 3%, EIR = 3.8%), as shown previously [6, 15, 51].”
From Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens in mosquitoes from Corsica Island, France (2021) · cites this paper as [6]
Both Dirofilaria spp. were detected in Oc. caspius from Solaro, an area endemic for dirofilariasis.
“Both Dirofilaria spp. were detected in Oc. caspius from Solaro, an area endemic for dirofilariasis [6, 31].”
From Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens in mosquitoes from Corsica Island, France (2021) · cites this paper as [6]
Previous epidemiological studies confirmed the circulation of Dirofilaria spp. in human, dog and mosquito (Ae. albopictus) populations from Corsica.
“Previous epidemiological studies confirmed the circulation of Dirofilaria spp. in human, dog and mosquito (i.e., Ae. albopictus) populations from the island [6, 30, 31].”
From Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens in mosquitoes from Corsica Island, France (2021) · cites this paper as [6]
Previous molecular xenomonitoring studies revealed the presence of at least three filarioid nematodes (D. immitis, D. repens and Setaria tundra) in several mosquito species in Europe.
“Previous molecular xenomonitoring studies revealed the presence of at least three filarioid nematodes (i.e., D. immitis, D. repens and Setaria tundra) in several mosquito species in Europe, mostly belonging to the genera Aedes, Anopheles, Coquillettidia, Culex, Culiseta and Ochlerotatus [5–22].”
From Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens in mosquitoes from Corsica Island, France (2021) · cites this paper as [6]
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- Authors
- Tahir, D., Bittar, F., Barré-Cardi, H., Sow, D., Dahmani, M., Mediannikov, O., Raoult, D., Davoust, B., & Parola, P.
- Affiliations
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Parola, Philippe
- ORCID
- Venue
- Veterinary Parasitology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-02
- Volume
- 235
- Pages
- 1-7
- ISSN
- 0304-4017 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2568113261
- Cited by
- 41
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 4
- FWCI
- 4.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- amu.hal.science
- Licence
- cc-by-nc-nd
- www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
- Locations
- Veterinary Parasitology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HAL AMU (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Funders
- Fondation Méditerranée Infection
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche
- 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, Dirofilaria repens, canine dirofilariasis, filarioid nematodes, duplex PCR assay, mitochondrial COI gene, dogs, Aedes albopictus, mosquitoes, molecular detection, prevalence, Corsica
- MeSH terms
- Aedes, Animals, Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilariasis, Dog Diseases, Dogs, Female, France, Insect Vectors, Culicidae, Sensitivity and Specificity, DNA Primers, DNA, Helminth, Dirofilaria repens, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
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