Article
Parasitology
Laidoudi Younes, Helene Barre-Cardi, Samia Bedjaoui, Nazli Ayhan, Marie Varloud, Oleg Mediannikov, Domenico Otranto, Bernard Davoust
Summary: The study conducted in Corsica, France reveals that Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens have a potential transmission period and diversity, with mosquitoes as their vectors. Implementing preventive measures is suggested to reduce the infection risk in both human and animal populations.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Kennedy Mwacalimba, Deborah Amodie, Lisa Swisher, Marina Moldavchuk, Christopher Brennan, Claire Walther, Kelly Bowman
Summary: The study found that injectable moxidectin had a higher 12-month preventive purchase compliance rate compared to monthly heartworm disease preventives, generating more revenue for veterinary hospitals.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Erik Neff, Guha Dharmarajan
Summary: Copper pollution can significantly impact the fitness and disease transmission ability of mosquitoes, as well as transfer contaminants between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Exposure to sublethal levels of copper alters adult female fecundity and vector competence in mosquito larvae, indicating potential implications for public health and environmental dynamics. This study provides valuable insights into the complex interactions between metal exposure, vector-borne disease dynamics, and contaminant transfer in mosquito-parasite systems.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Review
Parasitology
Molly D. Savadelis, Tom L. McTier, Kristina Kryda, Steven J. Maeder, Debra J. Woods
Summary: Heartworm disease remains a significant and pathogenic disease in dogs, despite the regular use of preventive products. Some strains of D. immitis have developed resistance to the only available drug class, macrocyclic lactones (MLs), for heartworm prevention in the United States. The optimization of dose and formulation of moxidectin provides a unique opportunity to improve efficacy against ML-resistant strains. Two new products, ProHeart (R) 12 and Simparica Trio (R), have demonstrated 100% preventive efficacy against recent field strains of heartworm, offering important advances in heartworm prevention for veterinarians and pet owners.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Erich W. Zinser, Tom L. McTier, Nicole S. Kernell, Debra J. Woods
Summary: Research has shown that cryopreserved microfilariae of Dirofilaria immitis can develop into third-stage larvae in vector mosquitoes and are infectious to both dogs and ferrets, where they undergo normal development into adult worms and complete the heartworm lifecycle.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Anastasia Diakou, Roger K. Prichard
Summary: D. immitis infection is a severe parasitic disease in dogs, but prevention can be achieved through the use of MLs drugs. ML-resistant strains of D. immitis have been proven to exist in the Lower Mississippi region, USA, but not reported in Europe. The establishment and spread of resistance is challenging, highlighting the importance of monitoring ML resistance globally.
Letter
Immunology
Martina Miterpakova, Daniela Antolova, Jana Rampalova, Miroslava Undesser, Tomas Krajcovic, Bronislava Vichova
Summary: The emergence and spread of Dirofilaria immitis in Europe highlights the critical need for proper diagnosis of infection.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Katharina Riebenbauer, Philipp B. Weber, Julia Walochnik, Franz Karlhofer, Stefan Winkler, Sonja Dorfer, Herbert Auer, Julia Valencak, Martin Laimer, Alessandra Handisurya
Summary: The incidence of human dirofilariosis cases has significantly increased over the past four decades in Austria, with a notable rise in cases after 1998. Most patients with the disease had a history of travel to regions endemic for Dirofilaria species, indicating changes in human behavior and travel activities as contributing factors to the rise in cases.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
John Wilson McCall, Utami DiCosty, Abdelmoneim Mansour, Crystal Fricks, Scott McCall, Michael Timothy Dzimianski, Ben Carson
Summary: This study aimed to determine whether heartworm infective larvae collected from mosquitoes fed on dogs during low-dose, short-treatment-regimen doxycycline and ivermectin could develop normally in dogs. The results showed that none of the dogs that received larvae from mosquitoes fed on blood from treated dogs had any adult heartworms at necropsy, while the control dogs had a significant number of heartworms.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Review
Parasitology
Filipe Dantas-Torres, Jennifer Ketzis, Gabriela Perez Tort, Andrei Daniel Mihalca, Gad Baneth, Domenico Otranto, Malaika Watanabe, Bui Khanh Linh, Tawin Inpankaew, Pablo Borras, Sangaran Arumugam, Barend Louis Penzhorn, Adrian Patalinghug Ybanez, Peter Irwin, Rebecca J. Traub
Summary: The canine heartworm, Dirofilaria immitis, is widely spread in tropical areas, where the prevalence can exceed 30% in high-risk regions. The lack of compliance with year-round preventives and the unavailability of melarsomine in several tropical countries pose a major concern. The authors of this article discuss the current distribution of heartworm in the tropics, the availability of melarsomine, and alternative management options for heartworm infections in dogs.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Lavinia Ciuca, Valeria Caruso, Sergio Illiano, Antonio Bosco, Maria Paola Maurelli, Laura Rinaldi
Summary: The number of autochthonous cases of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs has increased considerably in southern Italy, especially in coastal areas of the Campania region. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of Dirofilaria spp. in a local dog shelter in Castel Volturno.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Remy Betous, Anthony Emile, Hua Che, Eva J. Guchen, Didier Concordet, Thavy Long, Sandra Noack, Paul M. Selzer, Roger Prichard, Anne Lespine
Summary: Nematode parasites enter their definitive host as infectious larvae and DAF-12 plays a role in their development to adulthood. The filarial nematodes' DAF-12 exhibit higher sensitivity to ligands and can be specifically activated by mammalian sera. These findings suggest that filarial nematodes have evolved to sense and adapt to their host environment to resume larval development.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wanarit Jitsamai, Pimsiri Piromkij, Patchana Kamkong, Sudchit Chungpivat, Piyanan Taweethavonsawat
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence of two mosquito-borne parasites in dogs in Thailand, as well as the effects of season and environmental parameters on their prevalence. The findings suggest that environmental parameters may not have a significant impact on the prevalence of these parasites, but the threat of B. pahangi and D. immitis should still be considered, especially in subtropical regions. Owners and veterinarians should prioritize filarial prevention and control measures for these parasites.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Rodrigo Morchon, Jose Alberto Montoya-Alonso, Ivan Rodriguez-Escolar, Elena Carreton
Summary: This review provides an update on the epidemiological situation of heartworm disease in Europe and analyzes the factors contributing to its continuous spread. The disease has extended to Eastern European countries and the prevalence continues to increase in southern countries where it was traditionally endemic. Factors such as climate changes, presence of new vectors, movement of pets from endemic countries, urbanization of rural areas, and expansion of irrigated crops have influenced the distribution trends and changes in this disease.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Wei Yin Vinnie-Siow, Van Lun Low, Tiong Kai Tan, Meng Li Wong, Cherng Shii Leong, Nazni Wasi Ahmad, Yvonne Ai Lian Lim
Summary: There is limited information on the mosquito species that transmit canine filariosis. In this experimental study, Ae. togoi is identified as a potential vector for both D. immitis and B. pahangi. Additionally, the observation of B. pahangi infection in the head region of Cx. quinquefasciatus is documented for the first time under laboratory conditions.
PATHOGENS AND GLOBAL HEALTH
(2022)