Cited by 336Parasitic Diseases Research and TreatmentHelminth infection and controlVector-borne infectious diseases

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 126 of the 128 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 3 of the 138 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Vector-borne helminths of dogs and humans in Europe

Open access
Otranto, Domenico, Dantas-Torres, Filipe, Brianti, Emanuele, Traversa, Donato, Petrić, Dusan, Genchi, Claudio, Capelli, Gioia·2013·Parasites & Vectors

Abstract

Presently, 45% of the total human population of Europe, as well as their domestic and companion animals, are exposed to the risk of vector-borne helminths (VBH) causing diseases. A plethora of intrinsic biological and extrinsic factors affect the relationship among helminths, vectors and animal hosts, in a constantly changing environment. Although canine dirofilarioses by Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens are key examples of the success of VBH spreading into non-endemic areas, another example is represented by Thelazia callipaeda eyeworm, an emergent pathogen of dogs, cats and humans in several regions of Europe. The recent finding of Onchocerca lupi causing canine and human infestation in Europe and overseas renders the picture of VBH even more complicated. Similarly, tick-transmitted filarioids of the genus Cercopithifilaria infesting the skin of dogs were recently shown to be widespread in Europe. Although for most of the VBH above there is an increasing accumulation of research data on their distribution at national level, the overall impact of the diseases they cause in dogs and humans is not fully recognised in many aspects. This review investigates the reasons underlying the increasing trend in distribution of VBH in Europe and discusses the diagnostic and control strategies currently available. In addition, this article provides the authors' opinion on some topics related to VBH that would deserve further scientific investigation.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This narrative review examines vector-borne helminths (VBH) of dogs and humans in Europe, focusing on Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilaria repens, Thelazia callipaeda, Onchocerca lupi, Cercopithifilaria spp., and Acanthocheilonema spp. It argues that VBH distribution is increasing due to vector spread, environmental change, and host-vector factors, while diagnosis, prevention, and control remain uneven and under-recognized.

Key findings

  • 45% of Europe’s total human population, along with domestic and companion animals, is exposed to the risk of VBH.
  • Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens are key spreading filarioids; adult females develop in 120–180 and 189–259 days, respectively, and main European vectors include Aedimorphus vexans, Culex pipiens pipiens, and Stegomyia albopicta.
  • Thelazia callipaeda is endemic in France, Switzerland, Spain, and Portugal at latitudes between 39° and 46° N; in southern Italy, prevalence reaches about 60% in dogs and 49.3% in foxes, with human cases reported in north-western Italy, south-eastern France, and Spain.
  • Cercopithifilaria sp.1 has been diagnosed in dogs from Spain, Greece, and southern Italy with prevalence rates up to 21.6%, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus has been experimentally demonstrated as its intermediate host; Onchocerca lupi has been found in dogs in southern and Central Europe and the United States, with human cases in Turkey and Tunisia.

Methods

  • Narrative review; no systematic search strategy, inclusion criteria, or meta-analysis is described.
  • Synthesizes published literature on VBH distribution, vectors, host-vector interactions, human impact, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, and includes the authors’ opinion on research priorities.
  • Includes distribution maps and a table of macrocyclic lactones licensed for prevention of Dirofilaria immitis and/or D. repens in dogs.

Limitations

  • Stated: the overall impact of VBH diseases in dogs and humans is not fully recognized; biological mechanisms behind increased VBH cases remain uncertain; vector roles for many VBH are lacking; some VBH are poorly investigated, and lack of awareness constrains management and control.
  • Stated: human VBH impact in Europe is likely underestimated because physicians may lack awareness of exotic parasites and misidentify cases.
  • Evident from the text: as a narrative review, it provides no primary data, no systematic search or quality appraisal, and its conclusions and future-research opinions are authors’ synthesis.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1186/1756-3305-6-16

Cites

126 of 126 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Figures

Figure 1 Culex pipiens pipiens. Culex pipiens pipiens feeding on a human host (Courtesy of Fabrizio Montarsi).
Figure 1 Culex pipiens pipiens. Culex pipiens pipiens feeding on a human host (Courtesy of Fabrizio Montarsi).CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 Stegomyia albopicta. Stegomyia albopicta feeding on a human host (Courtesy of Nediljko Landeka).
Figure 2 Stegomyia albopicta. Stegomyia albopicta feeding on a human host (Courtesy of Nediljko Landeka).CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 3 Distribution of Acanthocheilonema reconditum, Cercopithifilaria spp., Onchocerca lupi and Thelazia callipaeda in Europe. Map of Europe showing the distribution of Acanthocheilonema reconditum, Cercopithifilaria sp.1, Onchocerca lupi and Thelazia callipaeda.
Figure 3 Distribution of Acanthocheilonema reconditum, Cercopithifilaria spp., Onchocerca lupi and Thelazia callipaeda in Europe. Map of Europe showing the distribution of Acanthocheilonema reconditum, Cercopithifilaria sp.1, Onchocerca lupi and Thelazia callipaeda.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 4 Distribution of Stegomyia albopicta, Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens in Italy. Map of Italy showing the spread of the distribution of the mosquito Stegomyia albopicta [Ae. albopictus] (left), of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs (centre) and Dirofilaria repens (right). For D. immitis and D. repens the classes after 1997 correspond to the first report in the region [47,53] and/or an upsurge of the prevalence in dogs compared to the past.
Figure 4 Distribution of Stegomyia albopicta, Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens in Italy. Map of Italy showing the spread of the distribution of the mosquito Stegomyia albopicta [Ae. albopictus] (left), of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs (centre) and Dirofilaria repens (right). For D. immitis and D. repens the classes after 1997 correspond to the first report in the region [47,53] and/or an upsurge of the prevalence in dogs compared to the past.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 5 Dirofilaria immitis in Europe. Distribution of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs up to 2001 and later on. Modified from [3].
Figure 5 Dirofilaria immitis in Europe. Distribution of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs up to 2001 and later on. Modified from [3].CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 6 Dirofilaria repens in Europe. Distribution of Dirofilaria repens in dogs up to 2001 and later on. Modified from [3].
Figure 6 Dirofilaria repens in Europe. Distribution of Dirofilaria repens in dogs up to 2001 and later on. Modified from [3].CC BY · PubMed Central

Verification

Claims the paper makes

77 Not checked yet · 15 Own interpretation · 4 No basis given · 1 Partly supported · accuracy not yet measured

Verify all 135 references — free account

Show all 59 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 33
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 7
38 of 38
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The overall impact of the diseases caused by vector-borne helminths in dogs and humans is not fully recognised in many aspects.

    “Although for most of the VBH above there is an increasing accumulation of research data on their distribution at national level, the overall impact of the diseases they cause in dogs and humans is not fully recognised in many aspects.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The availability of suitable hosts for a given vector-borne helminth and the vector’s feeding behaviour are among the most important factors impacting on vector-borne helminth distribution.

    “The availability of suitable hosts for a given VBH and the vector’s feeding behaviour are among the most important factors impacting on VBH distribution.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    No specific pharmacological treatments have been reported for O. lupi infestation in dogs.

    “No specific pharmacological treatments have been reported yet for O. lupi infestation in dogs.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    No similar antigen tests are available for filarioids other than D. immitis.

    “No similar tests are available for the other filarioids.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The biological mechanisms behind the increased number of cases of vector-borne helminths in Europe remain uncertain and research on the role played by insect vectors for many of them is lacking.

    “The biological mechanisms behind the increased number of cases of VBH in Europe remain uncertain and research on the role played by insect vectors for many of them is lacking.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The number of cases of vector-borne helminths in Europe is increasing.

    “The increasing trend of VBH in Europe”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Some vector-borne helminths are relatively poorly investigated.

    “some VBH are relatively poorly investigated”
7 of 7

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Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Citations

Cites

Show all 128 references

Research works printed but not linked: 9

  1. Petrić D, Zgomba M, Bellini R, Becker N: Surveillance of Mosquito Populations: A Key Element to Understanding the Spread of Invasive Vector Species and Vector-Borne Diseases in Europe. Essays on Fundamental and Applied Environmental Topics. Edited by: Mihailović D. 2012, Hauppauge, New York: Nova Science Publishers, 192-224.
  2. Bain O, Uni S, Takaoka H: A synthetic look at a twenty years old taxon, Cercopithifilaria its probable evolution. Proceedings of the 10th International Congress of Parasitology (ICOPA):. 2002, Vancouver
  3. Sabatini A, Raineri V, Trovato G, Coluzzi M: Aedes albopictus in Italia e possibile diffusione della specie nell’area del mediterraneo. Parassitologia. 1990, 32: 301-304.
  4. Ignjatovic Cupina A, Petric D, Papadopoulos E, Ptochos S, Otranto D, Dantas-Torres F, Mutafchiev J, Bain O: Notes on blackfly fauna in Western Thrace (northeastern Greece). Тhe British Simuliid Group Bulletin. in press
  5. Genchi C, Di Sacco B, Cancrini G: Epizootiology of canine and feline heartworm infection in northern Italy: possible mosquito vectors. Proceedings of heartworm Symposium. 1992
  6. Versteirt V, De Clercq E, Dekoninck W, Damiens D, Ayrinhac A, Jacobs F, Van Bortel W: Mosquito vectors of disease: spatial biodiversity, drivers of change, and risk". Final Report. 2009, Brussels: Belgian Science Policy, 152-(Research Programme Science for a Sustainable Development); available online at http://www.belspo.be/belspo/SSD/science/Reports/FinalReport_MODIRISK%20ML.pdf
  7. Kirkova Z, Ivanov A, Georgieva D: Dirofilariosis in dogs and wild carnivores in Bulgaria. Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens in Dog and Cat and Human Infections. Edited by: Genchi C, Rinaldi L, Cringoli G. 2007
  8. Atkins C, Miller MW: Is there a better way to administer heartworm adulticidal therapy?. Vet Med. 2003, 98: 310-317.
  9. Rossi L, Peruccio C: Thelaziosi oculare nel Cane: aspetti clinici e terapeutici. Veterinaria. 1989, B: 47-50.

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Metadata

Authors
Otranto, D., Dantas-Torres, F., Brianti, E., Traversa, D., Petrić, D., Genchi, C., & Capelli, G.
Affiliations
  • University of Bari Aldo Moro (IT)
  • University of Messina (IT)
  • University of Teramo (IT)
  • University of Milan (IT)
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IT)
Corresponding author
Otranto, Domenico
Venue
Parasites & Vectors
Published
2013-01-16
Volume
6
Issue
1
Pages
16-16
ISSN
1756-3305 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2163390948
Cited by
336
References
128
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 28 · 2013: 19
FWCI
4.34
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Parasites & Vectors (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca (Universita Degli Studi Di Milano) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • UniTERAMO Research Catalog (University of Teramo) (submittedVersion)
  • CINECA IRIS Institutional Research Information System (University of Bari Aldo Moro) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Parasitology › Helminth infection and control
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Parasitology › Vector-borne infectious diseases
Keywords
dogs, human, Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilaria repens, Thelazia callipaeda, Onchocerca lupi, emerging pathogens, helminth distribution, diagnostic approach, helminth control, zoonoses, Europe
MeSH terms
Animals, Dog Diseases, Dogs, Europe, Helminthiasis, Humans, Insect Vectors

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