Publications

the peroxidoxin 2 protein of the human parasite onchocerca volvulus: recombinant expression, immunolocalization, and demonstration of homologous molecules in other species.	the peroxidoxin protein of the filarial parasite onchocerca volvulus (ovpxn-2) belongs to a group of highly conserved antioxidant molecules. for a more detailed characterization of this protein and for determination of its expression pattern the ovpxn-2 protein was recombinantly expressed as a his-tagged protein. under reducing conditions the recombinant protein had an apparent molecular mass of 28 kda. considering the size of the his-tag and the flag epitope introduced to the recombinant protei ...	1998	9747934
canine and feline caval syndrome.	the caval syndrome is a serious complication of chronic heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) disease in dogs and cats. the syndrome is characterized by acute anorexia, respiratory distress, weakness, right-sided cardiac murmur, anemia, hemoglobinuria, hepatic and renal dysfunction, signs of forward and backward heart failure, and, possibly, disseminated intravascular coagulation (dic). retrograde migration of adult heartworms from the pulmonary arteries to the right ventricle, right atrium, and venae ...	1998	9753797
dirofilariasis in the domestic ferret.	the popularity of pet ferrets in heartworm-endemic and -nonendemic areas is growing, with ferret ownership in the united states currently exceeding 10 million. the domestic ferret (mustela putorius furo) has been reported to be susceptible to naturally-acquired and experimentally-induced infections of dirofilaria immitis. host-parasite relationships between d. immitis and domestic dogs and cats have been well studied, but there have been relatively few reports on infections in ferrets. laborator ...	1998	9753800
[pulmonary dirofilariasis associated with pleural effusion].	a 61-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of a long history of productive coughing. a chest roentgenogram and ct scan showed a right-sided pleural effusion. the effusion fluid was blood-stained but showed no cytological evidence of malignancy. marked eosinophilia was found in blood and in the pleural effusion fluid. ouchterlony's double-diffusion test done with the patients serum and pleural effusion fluid in agarose showed specific bands toward dirofilaria immitis antigen, and this ...	1998	9754010
canine filariasis. importance and transmission in the baix llobregat area, barcelona (spain).	field and laboratory studies were performed in order to assess the degree of canine dirofilariasis caused by dirofilaria immitis (leidy) in the baix llobregat region, a fluvial area near barcelona, spain. a total of 188 dogs were sampled between may and august of 1994. three main areas were chosen: the western delta, the eastern delta and the northern zone. simultaneously, a mosquito sampling programme was carried out with co2 light traps, to search for infective larvae (l3) of d. immitis. of th ...	1998	9763317
an erp60-like protein from the filarial parasite dirofilaria immitis has both transglutaminase and protein disulfide isomerase activity.	transglutaminases (tgases; ec 2.3.2.13) are a family of enzymes that catalyze calcium-dependent covalent cross-linking of cellular proteins by establishing epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)lysine isopeptide bonds. these covalent isopeptide bonds are of great physiological significance because they are highly resistant to proteolysis, denaturants, and reducing agents. prior studies have demonstrated the presence of isopeptide bonds in the sheath and cuticle of filarial parasites, suggesting an important r ...	1998	9435226
dirofilaria immitis: molecular cloning and expression of a cdna encoding a selenium-independent secreted glutathione peroxidase.	a cdna clone, di29, encoding a homolog of glutathione peroxidase, was isolated from a dirofilaria immitis adult female cdna expression library by a combination of polymerase chain reaction amplification with primers designed from the brugia pahangi glutathione peroxidase gene sequence and hybridization screening of d. immitis cdna libraries. the di29 nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences were very similar to those described for lymphatic filariae and predicted a secreted form of glutathion ...	1998	9501847
evaluation of quantitative buffy coat analysis in the detection of canine dirofilaria immitis infection: a model to determine its effectiveness in the diagnosis of human filariasis.	quantitative buffy coat (qbc) analysis has been reported to have a high degree of methodical sensitivity in the detection of human filariasis. this study was conducted to evaluate its usefulness in the diagnosis of filariasis using a dirofilaria immitis/dog model. by necropsy of 244 stray dogs, 40.6% of the animals were found to harbor 1-58 worms of d. immitis (mean 6.5 +/- 8.4 worms/infected dog). the qbc analysis and thick blood smear (tbs) method detected microfilaremia in 31.6% and 21.3% of ...	1998	9521015
[imported arthropod-borne parasites and parasitic arthropods in dogs. species spectrum and epidemiologic analysis of the cases diagnosed in 1995/96].	between january 1995 and december 1996 nonendemic or only regionally occurring arthropodborne parasites including ehrlichiae and parasitic arthropods in germany were detected in 484 dogs, whereby at least 15 species were involved. listed in decreasing order, leishmania infections occurred most frequently, followed by infections/infestations with babesia canis, ehrlichia canis, rhipicephalus sanguineus, dirofilaria immitis and dermacentor reticulatus. the other species, namely babesia gibsoni, tr ...	1998	9531673
microfilaremia from a dirofilaria-like parasite in greece. case report.	in europe, zoonotic filarial infections in humans are caused by two species, dirofilaria immitis and dirofilaria repens. these parasites are associated mainly with embolic infarcts of the pulmonary artery and subcutaneous nodules, respectively. an unusual dirofilarial infection in a greek patient who showed marked eosinophilia and microfilaremia is presented. although the identification of dirofilaria species is not conclusive, this report is the first on a case of microfilaremia from a dirofila ...	1998	9531965
utility of antibodies against a 22 kd molecule of dirofilaria immitis in the diagnosis of human pulmonary dirofilariasis.	to assess the characteristics of an elisa test for the diagnosis of human pulmonary dirofilariasis, we studied the sera of 24 subjects with other helmintoses and of 37 patients suffering from non-parasitic focal lung diseases, comparing them with negative and positive sera. elisa and western blot with complete somatic antigen and elisa with protein di22 (specifically recognized in cases of lung dirofilariasis) were performed. with elisa sa the false positive rate was 25% in cases with other para ...	1998	9537278
dirofilaria immitis: heartworm infection converts histamine-induced constriction to endothelium-dependent relaxation in canine pulmonary artery.	heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) infection alters the behavior of vascular endothelial cells in vivo and in vitro, with the potential, therefore, to influence vascular function. histamine, an autocoid implicated in the pathogenesis of parasitic and inflammatory diseases, is vasoactive, and causes endothelium-dependent relaxation in some vascular beds. experiments were designed to determine if histamine is an endothelium-dependent vasodilator in in vitro rings of canine pulmonary artery from heart ...	1998	9538869
a highly conserved large molecular weight cyclophilin of filarial parasites.		1998	9562430
prevalence of dirofilaria immitis in cats in japan.	the prevalence of dirofilaria immitis in cats in japan has been examined since 1957. twenty surveys involving a total of 3775 cats, conducted in two islands of japan (honshu and kyushu), were studied. the surveys evaluated both stray (3617) and house (158) cats. presence of d. immitis was detected at necropsy. the results show a prevalence of d. immitis varying from 0.5 to 9.5% for stray cats and from 3.0 to 5.2% for house cats on the two islands.	1998	9566097
cloning, expression and characterization of a new filarial cyclophilin.		1998	9566526
cloning and characterization of cdnas encoding beta-tubulin from dirofilaria immitis and onchocerca volvulus.	beta-tubulin is the target for the benzimidazole anthelmintics. unfortunately, none of these drugs is clinically useful against adult filariae. however, beta-tubulin has been shown to be a target for antibody-based toxicity to brugia pahangi. we cloned and characterized cdnas encoding beta-tubulin from 2 filariae, dirofilaria immitis and onchocerca volvulus, to explore possible explanations for benzimidazole insensitivity among adult filariae and the likelihood that epitopes of beta-tubulin coul ...	1998	9576511
increasing prevalence of canine heartworm in coyotes from california.	thirty-seven subadult and adult coyotes (canis latrans), collected august 1992 through december 1996 from a coastal foothill area in northern california (usa), were examined for adult heartworm (dirofilaria immitis). during 1992 through 1993, at the end of a 6 yr drought, none of four coyotes examined were infected with heartworms. however, during 1994 through 1996, after the drought had ended, prevalences were 91% in 23 adult coyotes and 40% in 10 subadult coyotes. heartworm intensity did not d ...	1998	9577791
cutaneous syndrome possibly caused by heartworm infestation in a dog.	a 9-year old german shepherd bitch was presented with a recent onset of seborrhoea oleosa, hyperpigmentation, erythema, pruritus and alopecia along the neck, thorax, ventrum and the dorsal area of the carpus. the skin changes were believed to be caused by dirofilaria immitis infection. a combination of topical and parenteral anti-heartworm therapy led to the resolution of the lesions.	1998	9578761
preliminary results on the effect of tetracycline on the embryogenesis and symbiotic bacteria (wolbachia) of dirofilaria immitis. an update and discussion.	the distribution and phylogeny of wolbachia in filarial species suggests that these endosymbiotic bacteria may be important in the biology of their filarial hosts. an experiment to falsify this hypothesis would be to treat filarial worms with antibiotics which are active against intracellular bacteria. indeed, it has already been shown that tetracycline treatment inhibits development in a model filarial species (brugia pahangi) at different stages of the life cycle, in both mosquito and mammalia ...	1998	10376278
molecular cloning, characterization and tissue expression of prophenoloxidase cdna from the mosquito armigeres subalbatus inoculated with dirofilaria immitis microfilariae.	a cdna encoding mosquito armigeres subalbatus prophenol oxidase (as-pro-po) was obtained by rapid amplification of cdna ends-polymerase chain reaction (race-pcr) after dirofilaria immitis inoculation. the 2205 bp as-pro-po cdna contains a 32 bp 5'-noncoding region, a 2055 bp open reading frame (685 amino acids), and a 118 bp 3'-noncoding region. hydrophobic signal peptide for the endoplasmic reticulum targeting is not found in the nh2-terminal region. two potential copper-binding domains, amino ...	1998	9459427
resistance of filarial nematode parasites to oxidative stress.	all filariae examined to date express a comprehensive repertoire of both cytoplasmic and secreted anti-oxidant enzymes, although significant differences exist between species and life-cycle stages. adult brugia malayi, dirofilaria immitis and onchocerca volvulus secrete cuzn superoxide dismutases, and the former two species also secrete a selenocysteine-independent glutathione peroxidase. this enzyme has been localised to the cuticular matrix of b. malayi, and the preferential reduction of fatty ...	1998	9770616
helminth parasites of dogs from two resource-limited communities in south africa.	biological samples were collected from dogs in resource-limited communities in the north-west and gauteng provinces of south africa to assess the prevalence of helminth parasitism. these samples included adhesive tape peri-anal skin swabs and fresh faecal samples for helminth examination, and thick and thin blood films (smears) and whole-blood samples in anticoagulant for examination of filarial nematode microfilariae and haemoprotozoa. the eggs of ancylostoma caninum, toxocara canis, toxascaris ...	1999	10855829
[canine heartworm on são luís island, northeastern brazil: a potential zoonosis].	a survey on the prevalence of canine heartworm was conducted in 1, 495 dogs from maranhão island, state of maranhão, northeastern brazil, from 1991 to 1994, by testing for microfilariae in blood. of the total, 1,358 (12.8% of which were infected) were dogs with no known history; they included 1,265 homeless animals (10.3% with microfilariae) and 93 kept by owners at the time the survey was conducted (37.8% of which were infected). prevalence is high among dogs captured and/or living along the se ...	1999	10409793
development of dirofilaria immitis (leidy) in aedes aegypti (l.) and culex quinquefasciatus (say) from maceió, alagoas, brazil.		1999	10446022
human dirofilariasis in the european union.	the dog parasites dirofilaria immitis and d. (nochtiella) repens, well known as zoonotic agents, are widely distributed in southern europe. although both species are canine parasites, infection with immature worms has been found in humans, who develop nodules, mainly in subcutaneous tissue or in lung parenchyma arising from branches of the pulmonary artery. in humans, the parasites do not usually reach the adult stage and microfilaremia is absent, as has been shown by diagnosis using invasive me ...	1999	10461169
survey of canine heartworm in the city of recife, pernambuco, brazil.	six hundred and eleven random-source dogs (338 male, 273 female) one year of age or older, from six sections of the city of recife, pernambuco, were examined antemortem for circulating microfilariae dirofilaria immitis and dipetalonema reconditum adult heartworm (d. immitis) antigen, and examined postmortem for adult heartworms. the prevalence of heartworm infection was 2.3% (14/611), as determined by necropsy for adult worms, and 1% (6/611) had circulating microfilariae of d. immitis; thus, 57. ...	1999	10464398
aedes albopictus (diptera: culicidae): an experimental and natural host of dirofilaria immitis (filarioidea: onchocercidae) in florida, u.s.a.	females of an aedes albopictus (skuse) colony from southeastern florida, u.s.a., ingested low (22.9 +/- 3.2 mg/female) and high (243.2 +/- 37.6 mf/female) numbers of microfilariae from a dog infected with dirofilaria immitis (leidy). high mortality of females occurred during the first 4 d after infection regardless of the number of microfilariae ingested; daily mortality was almost negligible during 5-15 d after infection. percentage of survival 15 d after infection was higher (63%) in females t ...	1999	10467770
utility of adult antigens of dirofilaria immitis for the early detection of dirofilariosis and for the evaluation of chemoprophylactic treatment in experimentally infected cats.	early detection of feline dirofilariosis was achieved by elisa testing using adult somatic (sa) and excretory/secretory (e/s) antigens. sera from experimentally infected cats showed significantly higher igg levels at 2 months post-infection (p.i.) when compared to sera obtained prior to infection. this difference was apparent at all serum dilutions (1:100 to 1:800) in elisa(sa) and at all dilutions except 1:800 when tested with elisa(e/s). changes in specific anti-sa and anti-e/s igg levels were ...	1999	10489197
on the rugose area and caudal papillae distribution in dirofilaria immitis (leidy, 1856) railliet & henry, 1911, by scanning electron microscopy.	the objective of this study was to obtain a better characterization of dirofilaria immitis (leidy, 1856) railliet & henry, 1911, in brazil, ratifying previous accounts and adding new data on the rugose area on the ventral surface of the spiralled posterior portion of males observed by scanning electron microscopy, which presents a different arrangement compared to other species of the genus, and differs also from the genera litomosoides chandler, 1931, and wuchereria silva araújo, 1877, adding a ...	1999	10494817
acanthocheilonema viteae: characterization of a molt-associated excretory/secretory 18-kda protein.	post-invasive third-stage larvae (pl3) of acanthocheilonema viteae were labeled with [(35)s]-methionine in vivo, and proteins released into the culture supernatant before and during the third molt were analyzed. the molting supernatant (msn) contained abundant proteins of 14, 18, 29, and 36 kda. the 14- and 29-kda proteins were exclusively found in the msn, while the 18- and 36-kda proteins were also produced by nonmolting pl3, albeit in much lower quantities. the cdna for the most abundant prot ...	1999	10502469
alternative splicing creates sex-specific transcripts and truncated forms of the furin protease in the parasite dirofilaria immitis.	many extracellular proteins are activated by specific cleavage with an endoprotease. in nematodes, several proteins are cleaved after rx(k/r)r, the recognition site for the subtilisin-like proprotein convertases, furin and blisterase. to characterize furin in the parasitic nematode dirofilaria immitis, we determined the sequence of the difur gene and its multiple transcripts. the gene spans 11 kb; encodes 16 exons and has a complex pattern of alternative splicing which generates at least 16 dist ...	1999	10524247
polymorphism in the dirofilaria immitis immunodominant antigen gene.	dg2, a gene encoding a 34 kda immunodominant antigen of dirofilaria immitis was cloned and demonstrated to be specifically expressed in the larval stage. in this study, a newly constructed genomic dna library was screened by hybridization with dg2. one of the resulting positive clones was similar to dg2 in the structure of its exonic regions but different in number, position, size and sequence of introns. this was designated dgk. full-length cdna was isolated using the rapid amplification of cdn ...	1999	10526421
ligand-gated chloride channel subunits encoded by the haemonchus contortus and ascaris suum orthologues of the caenorhabditis elegans gbr-2 (avr-14) gene.	the alternatively-spliced caenorhabditis elegans gbr-2/avr-14 gene encodes two subunits of the nematode ligand-gated chloride channel family which forms an important molecular target for the avermectin and related anthelminthics. we used reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rt-pcr) techniques to isolate cdnas encoding the products of the gbr-2/avr-14 orthologues from the parasitic nematodes haemonchus contortus and ascaris suum. the predicted polypeptides possess all the characterist ...	1999	10551358
pulmonary presentation of dirofilaria immitis (canine heartworm) in man.	canine heartworm or dirofilaria immitis can occasionally infect man. we present the case of a 36-year-old balkan woman referred to us for a thoracoscopic biopsy of a well defined pulmonary mass. the latter was thoracoscopically resected and proved to be due to dirofilaria immitis on histopathological examination. to our knowledge this is the second reported case in western australia, the first being that reported by brine et al. the prevalence of the disease in australia was recognized in 1969 i ...	1999	10571099
identification of an asparagine amidohydrolase from the filarial parasite dirofilaria immitis.	the nematode cuticle is a complex extracellular structure which is secreted by an underlying syncytium of hypodermal cells. recent studies have demonstrated that the cuticle of parasitic nematodes is a dynamic structure with important absorptive, secretory, and enzymatic activities. in addition, the cuticle serves as a protective barrier against the host. a 48-h third stage larval dirofilaria immitis cdna library was immunoscreened with sera raised against larval cuticles. one clone, l3mc4 that ...	1999	10579432
development of a pcr- and probe-based test for the sensitive and specific detection of the dog heartworm, dirofilaria immitis, in its mosquito intermediate host.	the mosquito-borne filarial worm, dirofilaria immitis, causes heartworm disease in dogs. detection of this parasite in its mosquito intermediate host currently involves dissection and microscopic examination for larval stages. although this method is used commonly as a screening tool for epidemiological surveys, it lacks both sensitivity and specificity. in this study, a more efficient pcr- and probe-based diagnostic assay was developed. the target selected for this assay is a segment of the 16 ...	1999	10657147
[mosquitoes potential vectors of canine heartworm in the northeast region from brazil].	in some coastal districts of são luís, capital of the state of maranhão, brazil, the prevalence of dirofilaria immitis is more than 40% in house dogs. natural potential vectors, as found in other areas of northeastern brazil, are unknown. the aim of this study was to identify probable vectors of the disease.	1999	10689372
[four species of mosquito as possible vectors for dirofilaria immitis piedmont rice-fields].	wild mosquitoes were allowed to feed, during two nights, on a heartworm-infected dog with a very high microfilaraemia (72,000 and 78,000 microfilariae/ml just prior to be allocated in the live trap). a heartworm-free dog was used as control bait in the second night. engorged mosquitoes (aedes caspius, anopheles maculipennis s.l., culex modestus, and cx pipiens) were kept under laboratory conditions, artificially fed until day 10 post-infection (pi) and then dissected for the presence of dirofila ...	1999	10870556
effect of nutrient levels and ascogregarina taiwanensis (apicomplexa: lecudinidae) infections on the vector competence of aedes albopictus (diptera: culicidae) for dirofilaria immitis (filarioidea: onchocercidae).	the effect of habitat nutrients and ascogregarina taiwanensis (lein & levine) infection on the vector competence of a new orleans strain of aedes albopictus (skuse) for dirofilaria immitis (leidy) were evaluated. larvae were infected with a. taiwanensis oocysts and reared under high and deficient nutrient conditions using leaf litter as a food source. ascogregarine-infected and uninfected females were fed on d. immitis-infected blood and examined after 15 d for filariae. susceptibility to infect ...	1999	10071493
molecular cloning of the 22-24 kda excretory-secretory 22u protein of dirofilaria immitis and other filarial nematode parasites.		1999	10080399
pulmonary dirofilariasis.	pulmonary dirofilariasis is a rare entity caused by dirofilaria immitis, the dog heartworm that is transmitted to humans by mosquitos. this filarial nematode enters the subcutaneous tissue, travels to the right ventricle where it dies, and then embolizes the pulmonary vasculature, causing a small pulmonary infarction, which subsequently appears as a solitary nodule. although these nodules are usually identified incidentally by chest radiography in asymptomatic patients, the lesion is generally p ...	1999	10086549
pulmonary dirofilariasis: a clinicopathologic study of 41 lesions in 39 patients.	forty-one cases of pulmonary dirofilariasis in 39 patients are presented. the patients, all americans, were between 8 and 80 years old (median, 58 years), including 23 men and 16 women. twenty-two patients were asymptomatic (56%), and the pulmonary nodule was discovered on chest radiographs during a routine physical examination. seventeen patients (44%) presented with respiratory symptoms or systemic complaints. peripheral eosinophilia was noted in only 10% of the patients. radiographically, mos ...	1999	10088541
human pulmonary dirofilariasis: review of the literature.	the dog heartworm dirofilaria immitis is known to cause solitary pulmonary nodules in humans. human pulmonary dirofilariasis (hpd) is more prevalent along the coastal regions of the united states, especially along the mississippi river valley. diagnosis is generally made by surgical resection, since hpd is often preoperatively presumed to be lung cancer.	1999	10094266
effects of tetracycline on the filarial worms brugia pahangi and dirofilaria immitis and their bacterial endosymbionts wolbachia.	wolbachia endosymbiotic bacteria have been shown to be widespread among filarial worms and could thus play some role in the biology of these nematodes. indeed, tetracycline has been shown to inhibit both the development of adult worms from third-stage larvae and the development of the microfilaraemia in jirds infected with brugia pahangi. the possibility that these effects are related to the bacteriostatic activity of tetracycline on wolbachia symbionts should be considered. here we show that te ...	1999	10221636
molecular characterization of fkbp13 from filarial parasites.		1999	10340490
levels of circulating plasma immune complexes after thiacetarsamide treatment in dogs naturally infected with dirofilaria immitis.		1999	10358890
prevalence of dirofilaria immitis infection among shelter cats.	to determine prevalence of dirofilaria immitis infection among shelter cats.	2000	10909460
susceptibility of geographically distinct aedes aegypti l. from florida to dirofilaria immitis (leidy) infection.	in the present study, five geographically distinct populations of aedes aegypti l. from various regions of florida were compared for their susceptibilities to dirofilaria immitis (leidy) infection. the populations were from gainesville (north central), jacksonville (north eastern), naples (south western), sarasota (west central), and vero beach (east central). mosquitoes of all the populations had fewer parasites in their malpighian tubules 6 and 13 days after blood feeding compared to the numbe ...	2000	10925796
heartworm infection in cats: 50 cases (1985-1997).	to characterize risk factors, clinical findings, usefulness of diagnostic tests, and prognosis in cats with naturally occurring heartworm infection (hwi).	2000	10935039
canine dirofilariosis in two cities of southeastern spain.	several cases of human subcutaneous/ocular dirofilariosis caused by dirofilaria repens from an area in the southeastern spain where previous epidemiological studies have shown a very low prevalence of this species in dogs, have been studied in our laboratory. since the prevalence of this species in dogs did not correspond to the incidence of human cases in the zone studied, a preliminary epidemiological survey was carried out on 114 dog blood samples from two kennels and one veterinary clinic. k ...	2000	10936548
selamectin - a novel endectocide for dogs and cats.		2000	10940518
efficacy of selamectin in the prevention of adult heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) infection in dogs in northern italy.	the efficacy of a novel avermectin, selamectin, was evaluated for the prevention of heartworm disease (adult dirofilaria immitis infection) in 120 dogs (aged 9 months to 13 years at enrolment) presented as veterinary patients. the study was conducted at five veterinary practices in a heartworm hyperendemic region of northern italy. dogs were allocated randomly in a 2:1 ratio to treatment with either selamectin or ivermectin. treatments were administered at monthly intervals for 6 months during t ...	2000	10940526
prevention of experimentally induced heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) infections in dogs and cats with a single topical application of selamectin.	in a series of six controlled studies (four in dogs, two in cats), heartworm-free dogs and cats were inoculated with dirofilaria immitis larvae (l(3)) prior to topical treatment with the novel avermectin selamectin or a negative control containing inert formulation ingredients (vehicle). selamectin and negative-control treatments were administered topically to the skin at the base of the neck in front of the scapulae. in dogs, selamectin was applied topically at dosages of 3 or 6mgkg(-1) at 30 d ...	2000	10940527
immunofluorescent localization of intermediate filaments (ifs) in helminths using anti-mammalian ifs monoclonal antibody.	intermediate filaments (ifs) make up the cytoskeleton of most eukaryotic cells. in vertebrates, a number of if proteins have been identified, showing distributions unique to tissue or cell type. information on helminth ifs is limited to some nematode species. to observe immunofluorescent localization of ifs in helminth tissues, we selected a murine hybridoma clone producing igm antibody to multiple types of mammalian if proteins and examined cross-reactivity to helminth proteins. the selected mo ...	2000	10958445
quantitative analysis of microfilarial periodicity of dirofilaria immitis in cats.	microfilarial periodicity of dirofilaria immitis in the venous blood of infected cats was analyzed by a trigonometric model. cats were infected by subcutaneous transplantation with 120-day-old juvenile d. immitis. microfilariae in the blood were first observed 98 days after transplantation. blood was collected at 4h intervals for a 24h period, and examinations were repeated five times in two cats. the calculated periodicity index was 75.1 and 50.3 in these two cats. the estimated hour of peak mi ...	2000	10962160
prevalence of heartworm infection in healthy cats in the lower peninsula of michigan.	to determine prevalence of heartworm infection among healthy, client-owned cats in the lower peninsula of michigan.	2000	10997156
density and distribution of dirofilaria immitis (nematoda: filarioidea) third-stage larvae in aedes sollicitans and aedes taeniorhynchus (diptera: culicidae).	numbers and the distribution of third-stage larvae (l3) were investigated in aedes sollicitans (walker) and aedes taeniorhynchus (wiedemann) female mosquitoes fed dirofilaria immitis (leidy) infectious-blood with densities of microfilariae (mf) ranging from approximately 7,100-43,400 mf/ml. at each microfilarial density, a maximum of 63-66 infective larvae were recovered from an ae. sollicitans alive on day 15 after infection. in comparison with ae. taeniorhynchus, ae. sollicitans averaged great ...	2000	11004780
human pulmonary dirofilariasis presenting as a small nodule with a cavity.	a 73-year-old woman had a 4-year history of lung fibrosis from collagen vascular disease. she presented with a complaint of dry cough. a chest radiograph showed a 2-cm solitary pulmonary nodule with a small cavity in the right lower lobe. preoperatively, we performed computed tomography of the chest and measured tumor markers. video-assisted thoracotomy was performed because we could not rule out lung cancer. pathologic analysis confirmed the presence of a granuloma with dirofilaria immitis. in ...	2000	11019498
tetracycline inhibits development of the infective-stage larvae of filarial nematodes in vitro.	in recent years, studies have linked tetracycline treatment of filaria-infected animals with reduced adult worm burdens and decreased levels of microfilaremia. these observations are believed to be attributable to clearance of wolbachia, intracellular rickettsial-like organisms found within filarial tissues. although maximal worm reductions were observed when treatment was initiated early in infection, it is not known whether tetracycline inhibits development of infective-stage larvae. to addres ...	2000	11038309
5 s ribosomal spacer sequences of some filarial parasites: comparative analysis and diagnostic applications.	we have amplified by pcr the sequences of the 5 s ribosomal spacer of setaria labiatopapillosa and foleyella furcata. after sequencing, these sequences have been compared with those of dirofilaria immitis and dirofilaria repens. two major goals have been achieved: (i) the establishment of a multiplex pcr-based diagnostic assay, applicable to identify the four species in vertebrate and invertebrate hosts; (ii) the identification, in s. labiatopapillosa and f. furcata, of a canonical spliced leade ...	2000	11040091
cloning and preliminary characterization of a novel cuticular antigen from the filarial parasite dirofilaria immitis.	we have described here the cloning and partial characterization of a cdna encoding a cuticular antigen of dirofilaria immitis. a 48-h third-stage larval d. immitis cdna library was immunoscreened with sera raised in mice against third-stage larval cuticles (mouse anti-l3 cuticle antisera). a strongly immunoreactive clone (l3mc4) was isolated. sequence analysis of l3mc4 showed that it was a partial length cdna. the missing 5' end of the clone was amplified by pcr from d. immitis adult female firs ...	2000	11077266
vector competence of culex quinquefasciatus say from different regions of brazil to dirofilaria immitis.	the vector competence of culex quinquefasciatus from five localities in brazil to dirofilaria immitis was evaluated experimentally. females from each locality were fed on an infected dog ( approximately 6 microfilariae/microl blood). a sample of blood fed mosquitoes were dissected approximately 1 h after blood meal. these results demonstrated that all had ingested microfilariae (mean, 4.8 to 24.6 microfilariae/mosquito). fifteen days after the infected blood meal, the infection and infective rat ...	2000	11080759
spatial and temporal variation in the seroprevalence of canine heartworm antigen in the island fox.	island foxes (urocyon littoralis) are endemic to six of the eight california channel islands (usa). the island fox is classified as a threatened species by the state of california, and recently three of the six subspecies have experienced abrupt population declines. as part of a continuing effort to determine the cause of the declines, we tested island fox serum samples collected in 1988 (n = 176) and 1997-98 (n = 156) over the entire geographic range of the species for seroprevalence of canine ...	2000	11085434
what is your diagnosis? severe pleural effusion and pulmonary atelectasis.		2000	11110448
performance of serologic tests used to detect heartworm infection in cats.	to compare heartworm serum antibody (ab) and antigen (ag) test results, using commercial laboratories and in-house heartworm test kits, with necropsy findings in a population of shelter cats.	2000	10707684
removal of hydrogen peroxide by a 1-cysteine peroxiredoxin enzyme of the filarial parasite dirofilaria immitis.	prior studies have shown that filarial nematodes can effectively metabolize hydrogen peroxide in excess of that generated by activated host cells. however, the mechanisms of h2o2 removal by the filarial parasites are unclear. herein we report the results of studies carried out on the biochemical activity and on immunolocalization of a recombinant peroxiredoxin (prx) enzyme from the dog filarial parasite dirofilaria immitis. a full-length cdna encoding a 1-cys prx enzyme from the dog heartworm d. ...	2000	10726990
vector competence of two species of mosquitoes (diptera: culicidae) from southern california for dirofilaria immitis (filariidea: onchocercidae).	two species of mosquitoes reared to adults from field-collected larvae or egg rafts in or near los angeles county, ca, were exposed to dogs with known levels of dirofilaria immitis (leidy) microfilariae per 20 cubic millimeters of blood. aedes taeniorhynchus (wiedemann) readily blood fed on an infected dog ingested microfilariae but did not become infected. culiseta incidens (thomson) also fed on an infected dog became infected, and 10% of the microfilariae developed to the l3 stage. cs. inciden ...	2000	10730504
evaluation of the igg4 in egyptian bancroftian filariasis.	the igg4 response against antigen extracts from wuchereria bancrofti microfilariae and dirofilaria immitis adult worms was determined by elisa in 65 egyptian adult male patients suffering from different clinical manifestations of w. bancrofti infection. they were divided into microfilaremic (n-35) and amicrofilaremic (n = 30) and these divisions were subdivided into early asymptomatic, hydrocele and late chronic elephantiasis subgroups. the igg4 responses were significantly higher in early asymp ...	2000	10786019
echocardiographic diagnosis of dirofilariasis in a ferret.	heartworm disease is described in a 14-month-old neutered female ferret (mustela putorius furo) which had a three-week history of sneezing, anorexia and dyspnoea. echocardiography revealed the presence of heartworms as hyperechoic densities within the right atrial and ventricular cavities. at necropsy, four dirofilaria immitis parasites (three females, one male) were found in the right heart, the cranial vena cava and the caudal vena cava. histopathological findings were similar to those reporte ...	2000	10812548
the first korean case of human pulmonary dirofilariasis.	human pulmonary dirofilariasis has been documented from many parts of the world, but not in korea so far. we experienced a patient of pulmonary dirofilariasis who had visited a local clinic because of chest pain for 1 month. on chest radiograph, a coin lesion of 2 cm diameter and enlargement of the mediastinal lymph node were shown. an exploratory lung resection was done. pathologically the lesion was a pulmonary dirofilariasis complicated with necrotic pneumonia, fibrosis, and infarction. at th ...	2000	10817033
clinical and laboratory observations in 91 dogs infected with dirofilaria immitis in northern greece.	the medical records of 91 dogs with heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) infection were reviewed, and diagnoses were established by using parasitological and immunological methods. twenty-one animals were asymptomatic (stage i), 57 had mild to moderate clinical signs (stage ii), and 13 had the severe form of the disease including right congestive heart failure and the caval syndrome (stage iii). thoracic radiography revealed right ventricular enlargement in 38 of the dogs, pulmonary vascular enlargem ...	2000	10819132
competence of aedes albopictus and culex quinquefasciatus as vector of dirofilaria immitis after blood meal with different microfilarial density.	aedes albopictus and culex quinquefasciatus were fed canine blood with different microfilarial density of dirofilaria immitis ranging from 2500 to 25,000 mff/ml. larval development in these two mosquito species did not differ significantly. although c. quinquefasciatus ingested more microfilariae, the number of larvae which developed in a. albopictus was invariably greater than in c. quinquefasciatus. mortality of the engorged a. albopictus was significantly greater than that of c. quinquefascia ...	2000	10842003
antigenic role of the endosymbionts of filarial nematodes: igg response against the wolbachia surface protein in cats infected with dirofilaria immitis.	filarial nematodes harbour intracellular endosymbiotic bacteria, which have been assigned to the genus wolbachia. these bacteria appear to play an important role in the pathogenesis of filarial diseases through their lipopolysaccharides. in view of the presence of wolbachia endosymbionts in the body of filarial nematodes, one might also expect that proteins from these bacteria play an antigenic role in humans and animals affected by filariases. to test this hypothesis, we produced in recombinant ...	2000	11197127
dirofilaria repens in a cat with acute liver failure.	acute liver failure was diagnosed in a 12-year-old cat. fine needle aspirate cytology revealed high numbers of unsheathed microfilariae and a hepatocellular reaction with no evidence of bacterial infection. the microfilariae were identified as those of dirofilaria repens by acid phosphatase staining. the high number of microfilariae seen in both the blood and the liver aspirate samples as well as the favourable response to ivermectin amongst other drugs administered, is suggestive that d. repens ...	2000	11205171
determination of metabolite and regulatory enzyme levels in dirofilaria immitis and ascaris suum: a comparative study.	studies on metabolite levels in dirofilaria immitis revealed similarities in several metabolites with those of ascaris suum. the glycogen level in the filariid was however 3-4 times lower than that in a. suum. levels of three regulatory enzymes were also determined in d. immitis and compared with those in a. suum. the activities of hexokinase and phosphofructokinase were similar. however, the levels of glycogen phosphorylase b appeared to be much lower in the filariid than in a. suum. the subtle ...	2000	11391834
igg- and igg4-detected antigens of dirofilaria immitis adult worms for bancroftian filariasis by enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot.	in thailand, wuchereria bancrofti filariasis has persisted along the border between thailand and myanmar, its dynamic distribution caused by the infected transmigrants between neighboring countries, and the availability of susceptible mosquito vectors. dirofilaria immitis adult worm was used as a source of antigens, excretory-secretory (es) and partial surface extracts, to detect human filariasis. es products showed several stained bands with coomassie brilliant blue ranging from 14.5-93 kda and ...	2000	11414461
prevalence of dirofilarial infection in raccoon dogs in japan.	the raccoon dog (nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus) is known to acquire canine heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) infection. we surveyed the prevalence of heartworm infection in free-ranging raccoon dogs in the nishi-tama (tokyo) and kanagawa areas of japan. a total of 75 raccoon dog carcasses, including 29 animals from the nishi-tama area and 46 from the kanagawa area, were necropsied between 1992 and 1993. eight out of 75 raccoon dogs were found to be infected (overall 10.7%). the prevalence of ...	2000	11426580
wsp gene sequences from the wolbachia of filarial nematodes.	wolbachia endosymbiotic bacteria are widespread in arthropods and are also present in filarial nematodes. almost all filarial species so far examined have been found to harbor these endosymbionts. the sequences of only three genes have been published for nematode wolbachia (i.e., the genes coding for the proteins ftsz and catalase and for 16s rrna). here we present the sequences of the genes coding for the wolbachia surface protein (wsp) from the endosymbionts of eight species of filaria. comple ...	2000	10856373
autogenous aedes togoi sub-colony (chanthaburi, thailand strain), an efficient laboratory vector in study of filariasis.	comparative filarial susceptibility and biology between stock colony and selectively autogenous aedes. togoi sub-colony were carried out to determine the laboratorial vector-capacity and viability of autogenous sub-colony. the results of susceptibility revealed that the selectively autogenous ae. togoi sub-colony yielded higher susceptibility than the stock colony, ie dirofilaria immitis: susceptibility rates=80.00% [exp1(f8)] and 76.19% [exp2(f17)] (autogenous sub-colony), 53.33% (exp1) and 71. ...	2000	11127320
abnormal distribution of anionic sites in the glomerular basement membrane in glomerulonephritis of dogs infected with dirofilaria immitis.	ultrastructural alteration of anionic sites (ass) in the glomerular basement membrane (gbm) was studied in glomerulonephritis characterized by linear capillary igg deposition in four dogs infected with dirofilaria immitis and two normal control dogs using polyethyleneimine. ass were identified as small dense particles distributed regularly in the lamina rara externa (lre), but there were no ass in the lamina densa (ld) of the gbm of the control dogs. in the glomeruli of the infected dogs, ass we ...	2000	11129864
other ways to interpret results from heartworm infection study.		2000	11132876
canine heartworm testing in canada: are we being effective?	mass testing of dogs in canada for the presence of dirofilaria immitis has been ongoing since 1977. since that time, there have also been changes in the diagnostic tests available to detect the presence of heartworm and changes in the therapy for heartworm, which necessitate a reevaluation of heartworm screening as currently practiced in canada. the principles of evidence-based medicine were used to determine the prevalence of heartworm infection in various dog populations, and the effectiveness ...	2000	11143927
human extrapulmonary dirofilariasis in texas.	human pulmonary infection due to the dog heartworm, dirofilaria immitis, has been reported in the medical literature for many decades. extrapulmonary infection due to this pathogen is less widely reported, including only nine cases in north america. we report a case of extrapulmonary dirofilariasis manifested as asymptomatic nodular lesions in the anterior abdominal wall of a patient having exploratory laparotomy for carcinoma. we review previously reported cases and discuss the pathophysiology ...	2000	11147464
chitin synthase in the filarial parasite, brugia malayi.	fragments of putative chitin synthase (chs) genes from two filarial species (brugia malayi and dirofilaria immitis) were amplified by pcr using degenerate primers. the full genomic and cdna sequences were obtained for the b. malayi chs gene (bm-chs-1); the predicted amino acid sequence is highly similar, over a large region, to two chs sequences of the nematode caenorhabditis elegans and also to two insect chs sequences. bm-chs-1 is abundantly transcribed in b. malayi adult females, independent ...	2000	11163442
human antibody response to a 56-kda purified excretory/secretory product of dirofilaria immitis.	canine dirofilariasis is widespread in urban areas of central and northern colombia. previously we detected specific antibodies against complex antigens from dirofilaria immitis adult worms in individuals from an isolated tikuna indian community in the colombian amazon. in this study a 56 kda polypeptide from the adult d. immitis excretory/secretory (e/s) products is identified by western blot, isolated by elution from polyacrilamide gels and applied in an elisa-based test for the detection of s ...	2000	11169274
prevalence of exposure to dirofilaria immitis in cats in multiple areas of the united states.		2000	19757579
response of dogs treated with ivermectin or milbemycin starting at various intervals after dirofilaria immitis infection.	the response to heartworm infection before preventative programs were started was investigated in 56 dogs. dogs were infected with third-stage larvae of dirofilaria immitis and started on preventative programs (monthly treatment) with ivermectin/pyrantel pamoate (ivm/pp) or milbemycin oxime (mo) 3.5, 4.5, 5.5, or 6.5 months after infection. each time period comprised a group of six dogs treated with ivm/pp and six treated with mo. thoracic radiographs were obtained prior to infection, at the sta ...	2001	19746662
1999 guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) infection in cats.		2001	19753701
element composition and biochemical components of dirofilaria immitis.	element composition of whole canine heartworms (dirofilaria immitis) was determined using inductively coupled argon plasma emission spectroscopy. the elements evaluated included na, k, ca, mg, p, al, b, ba, cu, fe, mn, sr, zn, as, and pb. the only significant sex difference was calcium concentration which was higher in females. amino acid analyses of body fluid revealed presence of nine essential and eight non-essential amino acids. concentrations for male and female heartworms were not signific ...	2001	11182237
efficacy of moxidectin for the prevention of adult heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) infection in dogs.	the authors report the efficacy of orally administered moxidectin for the prevention of canine heartworm infection in two endemic areas in northern italy. two trials were conducted on a total of 257 dogs, including 137 treated with moxidectin (minimum dose of 3 mcg/kg body weight), 85 with ivermectin (minimum dose 6.6 mcg/kg b.w.) and 35 untreated controls. results of testing for microfilariae and circulating adult female antigens were negative for all treated dogs at the end of both trials. no ...	2001	11921542
use of echocardiography for the diagnosis of heartworm disease in cats: 43 cases (1985-1997).	to determine the usefulness of echocardiography in the diagnosis of heartworm disease in cats and to compare this modality with other tests.	2001	11149717
[prevalence of canine filariasis by dirofilaria immitis and dipetalonema reconditum in maceió, alagoas state, brazil].	a survey on the prevalence of dirofilaria immitis and dipetalonema reconditum was conducted in 1,519 dogs from maceió and two coastal areas in the state of alagoas, northeast brazil, from 1995 to 1999, by testing for microfilariae in blood. all blood samples were from exclusively domiciled dogs with a known history, showing that the infections were autochthonous, confirming transmission of canine filariasis in these areas. in greater metropolitan maceió, 15 (1.3%) microfilaremic dogs were detect ...	2001	11784911
real-time pcr for quantification of the bacterial endosymbionts (wolbachia) of filarial nematodes.	filarial nematodes harbour intracellular symbiotic bacteria belonging to the genus wolbachia. wolbachia is thought to play an important role in the biology of the nematode. moreover, wolbachia appears to be involved in the immunopathogenesis of filariasis and in the onset of the side-effects of antifilarial therapy. investigations in these research areas require reliable methods to quantify wolbachia both in nematodes and in vertebrate tissues. to this purpose, we designed a quantitative real-ti ...	2001	12402526
recombinant dirofilaria immitis-derived antigen can suppress passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reactions.	high levels of antigen-nonspecific ige are produced in animals infected with helminth parasites. generally, the increase in ige is thought to exacerbate allergic reactions. however, high levels of antigen-nonspecific ige may alter some features of anaphylactic reactions. to investigate the molecular mechanisms of antigen-nonspecific ige production induced during filarial infections, we previously constructed rdiag (recombinant dirofilaria immitis-derived antigen) in escherichia coli. in the pres ...	2001	11435731
distribution, prevalence, and relative risk of filariasis in dogs from the state of washington (1997-1999).	using antigen capture and filter tests, 6,078 dogs throughout the state of washington were examined for filariasis between july 1, 1997 and october 31, 1999. in western washington, 791 males and 901 females examined were outdoors, not on prophylaxis, and had traveled out of the state; 6/791 (0.8%) males and 7/901 (0.8%) females were infected with dirofilaria immitis (d. immitis), and one (0.1%) male and one (0.1%) female were infected with dipetalonema reconditum (d. reconditum). there were also ...	2001	11450834
case report: unusual location of dirofilaria immitis in a 28-year-old man necessitates orchiectomy.	the fourth case of zoonotic dirofilaria immitis infection in a california resident is reported. this case was unique in that it involved the spermatic cord, produced significant symptoms, and upon physical examination was suspected of being an incarcerated inguinal hernia. at surgery frozen sections were inconclusive regarding neoplasia and cord involvement precluded removal of the mass without orchiectomy, which was done. histopathology revealed a well-preserved immature male d. immitis, the ca ...	2001	11463124
vectorial competence of aedes aegypti (linnaeus 1762) rio de janeiro strain, to dirofilaria immitis (leidy 1856).	dirofilaria immitis (leidy 1856), a nematode parasite, is the etiologic agent of canine heartworm disease and mosquitoes are essential intermediate hosts. mosquito susceptibility to the worms differ with species, strains and also among individuals of the same strain. to evaluate the degree of susceptibility of rio de janeiro laboratory raised strain of aedes aegypti, we fed mosquitoes on canine blood with different densities of microfilariae (mf). there was no significant difference in the rate ...	2001	11500754
short report: a practical technique for the cryopreservation of dirofilaria immitis, brugia malayi, and wuchereria bancrofti microfilariae.	a technique to cryopreserve microfilariae has been developed. this method was used to cryopreserve microfilariae of dirofilaria immitis, brugia malayi, and wuchereria bancrofti at a controlled rate of 1 degree c/min by use of a freezing tank. microfilariae of each of these species retained their ability to infect susceptible mosquito species and develop to the infective stage after cryopreservation. the method presented here is quickly and easily carried out with inexpensive equipment.	2001	11508394
wolbachia in filarial nematodes: evolutionary aspects and implications for the pathogenesis and treatment of filarial diseases.	the presence of intracellular bacteria in the body of various species of filarial nematodes, including important parasites such as brugia malayi, dirofilaria immitis, and onchocerca volvulus, was observed as early as the mid-1970s. these bacteria were shown to be transovarially transmitted (from the female worm to the offspring) and to be present in significant amounts in the body of the nematode. as highlighted by their discoverers, the potential importance of these bacteria is fairly obvious: ...	2001	11516587
effect of prophenoloxidase expression knockout on the melanization of microfilariae in the mosquito armigeres subalbatus.	melanization is an effective defence reaction used by mosquito hosts to kill malarial and filarial worm parasites. although phenoloxidase (po) has long been considered to be the key enzyme in the biosynthesis of melanotic material in insects, there is no direct evidence verifying its role in parasite melanization. to elucidate the role of po in the melanization of microfilariae (mf) by mosquitoes, a double subgenomic sindbis (dssin) recombinant virus was used to transduce armigeres subalbatus mo ...	2001	11520354