Publications

new diseases and increased risk of diseases in companion animals and horses due to transport.	dogs and horses are transported within the european union for a number of reasons. the transport per se may cause physical problems, exemplified by hyperthermia in dogs and pleuropneumonia in horses, and the stress may reactivate latent infections such as canine herpesvirus-1 and equine herpesvirus-1. preventive treatments are vital to protect dogs from ticks and mosquitoes transmitting their potentially lethal infectious agents, such as leishmania donovani infantum, babesia canis, ehrlichia can ...	2003	16429803
evaluation of crude antigen of dirofilaria immitis third-stage larva for detection of antibody against wuchereria bancrofti infection by indirect elisa.	dirofilaria immitis is an important heart worm in dogs. an immunodiagnostic test is frequently applied to use an alternative antigen from other parasites. a crude antigen from infective third stage larva (l3) of d. immitis was employed in detecting the antibody to bancroftian filariasis in humans by indirect elisa. it was shown that 25 cases of bancroftian filariasis (76%) at a cut-off value of 0.230, were positive. cross-reactivity was tested using available sera of other helminthic infections. ...	2003	19230575
[ultrastructural basis of interactions between prokaryotes and eukaryotes in different symbiotic models].	this paper reviews the author's contribution to the knowledge of the ultrastructural basis of the prokaryote-eukaryote interactions in different models assessed by an ultrastructural approach. in agreement with the hypothesis of the origin of eukaryotic cells, which are chimeras of several prokaryotes with different morpho-functional specializations, symbiosis had major consequence for evolution of life. in arthropods, one of the most successful lifestyles, the presence of endosymbiotic prokaryo ...	2004	15305681
rapid detection of wuchereria bancrofti in mosquitoes by lightcycler polymerase chain reaction and melting curve analysis.	a lightcycler real-time polymerase chain reaction (pcr) assay was developed to detect wuchereria bancrofti dna in blood-fed mosquitoes. the assay is based on fluorescence melting curve analysis of the pcr product generated from a family of repeated dna elements: the 182 bp sspi repeat, specific to the genus wuchereria. according to the melting temperature, w. bancrofti infected-mosquitoes were differentiated from brugia malayi-infected and non-infected mosquitoes as well as from genomic dna of d ...	2004	15449180
specific igg antibody response against antigens of dirofilaria immitis and its wolbachia endosymbiont bacterium in cats with natural and experimental infections.	sera from three groups of cats under different experimental conditions were studied by elisa to assess the host's immune response against synthetic peptides derived from dirofilaria immitis (dipp) and against the surface protein of its endosymbiont, wolbachia (wspr). in experimentally infected cats (group 1), an increase of igg antibody against both dipp and wspr was observed from 2 months post-infection until the end of the study, 6 months post-infection. in experimentally infected cats, treate ...	2004	15482887
sanitary conditions of a colony of urban feral cats (felis catus linnaeus, 1758) in a zoological garden of rio de janeiro, brazil.	the colony of urban stray cats living in the rio de janeiro zoological garden was studied in order to develop a population and health control program. as many cats as possible were captured during two months (47 animals) and were classified according to gender, age, weight and coat markings. they were submitted to a general health evaluation, examined for the presence of ectoparasites and sent to a surgical neutering program. all animals had a blood sample drawn for cbc, platelet count, heartwor ...	2004	15517031
high infection rate of wolbachia endobacteria in the sand flea tunga penetrans from brazil.	tunga penetrans is an ectoparasite causing considerable morbidity in endemic communities. recently, endobacteria of the genus wolbachia were identified also in t. penetrans. since wolbachia were suggested as targets for intervention of insect pests and human filariasis, sand fleas were collected from infested humans, dogs and rats in a hyperendemic area in northeastern brazil, and screened for wolbachia infections. twenty-one adult fleas and four batches of flea eggs were examined by pcr using p ...	2004	15533291
pulmonary dirofilariasis: computed tomography findings and correlation with pathologic features.	the purpose of this study was to describe the computed tomography (ct) and pathologic features of 5 nodules of pulmonary dirofilariasis in 4 patients.	2004	15538153
the role of phenylalanine hydroxylase in melanotic encapsulation of filarial worms in two species of mosquitoes.	melanin formation has a significant influence on mosquito vector competence by limiting the development of metazoan parasites. tyrosine, the rate-limiting substrate of melanin production, can be obtained exogenously or derived from phenylalanine by phenylalanine hydroxylase (pah). the characteristics of this defense mechanism, such as temporal expression of constituent enzymes involved in the biosynthetic pathway, can vary considerably between mosquito species. we investigated the functional rol ...	2004	15544946
evaluation of a single injection of a sustained-release formulation of moxidectin for prevention of experimental heartworm infection after 12 months in dogs.	to evaluate the efficacy of a single injection of a sustained-release formulation of moxidectin in preventing heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) infection for 12 months in dogs.	2004	15566101
helminth parasites of the eurasian otter lutra lutra in southwest europe.	the helminth fauna in 109 eurasian otters (lutra lutra l.) from france, portugal and spain was analysed, together with 56 faecal samples collected in portugal and 23 fresh stools from otters included in a reintroduction programme. seven helminth species were found in l. lutra in southwest europe: phagicola sp. (trematoda), aonchotheca putorii, eucoleus schvalovoj, strongyloides lutrae, anisakis (third stage larvae) and dirofilaria immitis (nematoda), and gigantorhynchus sp. (acanthocephala). euc ...	2004	15575995
dirofilaria immitis: identification of a novel ligand-gated ion channel-related polypeptide.	we have isolated a cdna from dirofilaria immitis that encodes a predicted ion channel subunit, di-lgr-1. secondary structure predictions and database searches reveal that di-lgr-1 is distantly related to ligand-gated anion channels, such as the gaba(a) receptors, though there are marked differences in the sequences of the putative channel forming regions. di-lgr-1 has 52% sequence identity to the caenorhabditis elegans predicted polypeptide, t27a1.4: neighbour-joining trees show that these two p ...	2004	15582516
histopathological and enzyme histochemical observations on mast cells in pulmonary arterial lesion of dogs with dirofilaria immitis infestation.	histopathological and enzyme histochemical observations were performed on mast cells in pulmonary arterial lesion of dirofilaria immitis in dogs. the results showed that chymase- and tryptase-positive mast cells were diffusely present in the lesions, especially in the adventitia and proliferated intima. at 2 weeks after surgical worm transplantation, mast cells already appeared in the intima and media, and chymase-positive cells were dominant in the adventitia. results of this study suggested a ...	2004	15585967
efficacy of an injectable, sustained-release formulation of moxidectin in preventing experimental heartworm infection in mongrel dogs challenged 12 months after administration.	the objective of this study was to ascertain the ability of a single subcutaneous injection of a sustained-release (sr) formulation of moxidectin to protect dogs against challenge inoculation with infective dirofilaria immitis larvae 364 days after administration. twenty four purpose-bred adult mixed-breed dogs were grouped into three blocks of eight based on weight and sex. saline solution (0.9% nacl) or a moxidectin sr formulation at volumes designed to deliver 0.17 or 0.27 mg moxidectin/kg b. ...	2004	15725542
the potential risk of dirofilaria immitis becoming established in the czech republic by imported dogs.	we examined 110 dogs, imported or born to imported females or living together with imported dogs in kennels, for the presence of dirofilaria immitis, and assessed the climatic conditions in the czech republic that may promote spread of the disease. relevant techniques were used to detect specific antigen, specific antibodies and microfilariae. the presence of antigen was detected in one imported dog, microfilariae were not found and antibodies were detected in 30.5% of the imported dogs. no hear ...	2004	15725543
sequencing of the complete gene coding for the groel of the wolbachia of dirofilaria immitis and expression and purification of the recombinant protein.	wolbachia are intracellular bacteria that infect arthropods and filarial nematodes. these bacteria play an important role in the immunology and pathogenesis of filarial diseases through their proteins and, possibly, other molecules. groel is a constitutively expressed bacterial protein; it is highly conserved among bacteria and is involved in the correct folding of newly synthesized proteins. here we report the production of recombinant groel from the wolbachia of dirofilaria immitis. our goal i ...	2004	15828434
an rxr/usp homolog from the parasitic nematode, dirofilaria immitis.	filarial parasites are responsible for several serious human diseases with symptoms such as lymphoedema, elephantiasis, and blindness. an understanding of how these parasites pass through developmental checkpoints may suggest potential targets for intervention. a useful model system for the study of the human parasites is the closely related nematode dirofilaria immitis, the causative agent of dog heartworm disease. in d. immitis, molting from the third to the fourth larval stage can be induced ...	2004	14693382
epidemiological aspects of filariosis in dogs on the coast of paraná state, brazil: with emphasis on dirofilaria immitis.	the present study determined the prevalence and geographical distribution of dirofilaria immitis and other filariae, from dogs in littoral areas of paraná state, in brazil. this survey spanned eight months, between 1998 and 1999, and was also designed to compare the efficacy of different tests for diagnosis of heartworm infection in that area. blood samples were collected from 256 native-owned dogs distributed along the paraná coastal area. five diagnostic procedures were used: direct smear exam ...	2004	15262005
efficacy of a single milbemycin oxime administration in combination with praziquantel against experimentally induced heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) infection in cats.	the efficacy of a combination of milbemycin oxime and praziquantel in preventing the establishment of experimentally induced heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) infection was investigated in a study involving 24 young domestic short-hair cats. the animals were inoculated with 50 infective larvae on day 0. subsequently they were divided into two groups of 12 animals each. the animals in group 1 were treated once with medicated tablets containing 4 mg milbemycin (minimum dose 2 mg/kg body weight) and ...	2004	15262006
contractile activity of cultured adult dirofilaria immitis.	a method for long-term maintenance of adult heartworms (hw) in culture for use in contractile activity studies was developed. culture conditions included eagle's minimum essential medium (mem) containing earle's balanced salt solution and mem vitamins and supplemented with 10% horse serum, ph 7.6, 37 degrees c, and humidified 5% co2:95% room air atmosphere. motility was observed for up to 91 days. reducing the culture atmosphere from 20% oxygen to 5% oxygen reduced acid production and survival t ...	2004	14746979
an ivermectin-sensitive glutamate-gated chloride channel subunit from dirofilaria immitis.	dirofilaria immitis is a filarial nematode that infects dogs and causes cardiopulmonary disease. the most effective way of controlling the infection is by chemoprophylaxis, using members of the avermectin/milbemycin (a/m) class of anthelmintics, which includes ivermectin; these drugs act at invertebrate glutamate-gated chloride channels (glucl). we have cloned two cdnas encoding d. immitis glucl subunits and demonstrated that at least one may be an important molecular target for the a/ms in vivo ...	2004	15313134
critical review of the vector status of aedes albopictus.	the mosquito aedes (stegomyia) albopictus (skuse) (diptera: culicidae), originally indigenous to south-east asia, islands of the western pacific and indian ocean, has spread during recent decades to africa, the mid-east, europe and the americas (north and south) after extending its range eastwards across pacific islands during the early 20th century. the majority of introductions are apparently due to transportation of dormant eggs in tyres. among public health authorities in the newly infested ...	2004	15347388
dirofilaria immitis: worm burden and pulmonary artery proliferation in dogs from michigan (united states).	despite the ability to prevent heartworm disease, infection with dirofilaria immitis continues to be a major problem for domestic dogs. to determine worm burden in heartworm-positive dogs from three county animal shelters in the state of michigan in the united states and to assess the relationship between gross intimal proliferation and worm burden, necropsy was done on 176 heartworm-positive dogs. adult heartworms were found in the heart and pulmonary artery of 170 of the 176 (96.6%) dogs exami ...	2004	15350667
efficacy of long-term monthly administration of ivermectin on the progress of naturally acquired heartworm infections in dogs.	this study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of prolonged monthly ivermectin treatment against dirofilaria immitis in client-owned dogs with naturally acquired infections and to clinically monitor the animal's response to the slow killing of heartworms, with death of the worms distributed over a period of up to 2 years. a total of 17 male and female dogs of different breeds and ages were used. prior to treatment, all of the dogs tested positive for heartworm antigen (ag) and all but two had ...	2004	15381305
mapping the presence of wolbachia pipientis on the phylogeny of filarial nematodes: evidence for symbiont loss during evolution.	wolbachia pipientis is a bacterial endosymbiont associated with arthropods and filarial nematodes. in filarial nematodes, w. pipientis has been shown to play an important role in the biology of the host and in the immuno-pathology of filariasis. several species of filariae, including the most important parasites of humans and animals (e.g. onchocerca volvulus, wuchereria bancrofti and dirofilaria immitis) have been shown to harbour these bacteria. other filarial species, including an important r ...	2004	15037105
[human pulmonary dirofilariasis at rio de janeiro, brazil: a case report].	we report a case of human pulmonary dirofilariasis in a female patient 45-years-old, derived from rio de janeiro, brazil. the chest radiologic finding consisted of single pulmonary nodule located on the left lower lobe that simulated lung tumor. human pulmonary dirofilariasis might be investigated in nodules that are not malignants and require conclusive diagnosis.	2004	15042186
radiographic findings in 16 dogs infected with angiostrongylus vasorum.	thoracic radiographs of 16 dogs infected naturally with angiostrongylus vasorum showed signs of bronchial thickening, an interstitial pattern and a multifocal and/or peripheral alveolar pattern. in dogs treated with fenbendazole, follow-up radiographs showed that the alveolar pattern had resolved and a mild, hazy interstitial pattern had developed. in contrast with dogs with heartworm (dirofilaria immitis), no pulmonary vascular lesions were identified.	2004	15119894
exposure to feline and canine pathogens in bobcats and gray foxes in urban and rural zones of a national park in california.	exposure of bobcats (lynx rufus) and gray foxes (urocyon cinereoargenteus) to a range of common canine and feline pathogens was assessed in urban and rural zones of golden gate national recreation area, a national park in the san francisco bay area, (california, usa) from 1992 to 1995. testing included serology for canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus (cpv), canine adenovirus, leptospira interrogans, feline calicivirus (fcv), feline panleukopenia virus, feline herpesvirus, feline enteric co ...	2004	15137484
comparative methodology for the detection and differentiation of circulating microfilariae of dirofilaria immitis in the dog.	the sensitivities of the knott's test (four 20-microl sediment aliquots), quantitative buffy coat capillary tube method (qbc tube, 111 microl of whole blood) and direct blood smear (dbs, 20 microl of whole blood) were evaluated for the detection of microfilaraemia in dogs. undiluted whole blood samples taken from 70 dirofilaria immitis antigen-positive dogs and 10 serially diluted microfilaraemic blood samples at concentrations of 400, 200, 100, 50, 25 and 12 microfilariae (mff) ml(-1) were exam ...	2004	15153285
prevalence of dirofilaria immitis and gastrointestinal helminths in cats euthanized at animal control agencies in northwest georgia.	cats euthanized at six northwest georgia animal control agencies were examined for adult dirofilaria immitis in heart and lung tissue and presence of gastrointestinal helminth ova by fecal flotation. d. immitis were found in 4 of 184 cats (2.1%). the prevalence of feline dirofilariasis in northwest georgia was lower than that found in other studies conducted in the southeastern united states, but closer to the prevalences occurring in areas of similar topography. heartworm antigen and antibody t ...	2004	15154596
pulmonary dirofilariasis with serologic study on familial infection with dirofilaria immitis.	an asymptomatic patient with a pulmonary coin lesion surgically diagnosed with pulmonary dirofilariasis caused by infection with dirofilaria immitis (d. immitis) is presented. the preoperative stored serum of the patient was positive for d. immitis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa). a family study showed that three of five family members were seropositive for d. immitis. these results suggest that family members of a patient with pulmonary dirofilariasis were frequently exposed to d. ...	2004	15168778
comparison of microfilaria concentration method for setaria digitata infection in cattle and for dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs.	several peripheral blood microfilaria concentration methods that use acetone (acetone test), 2% formalin (modified knott method), 5% tween 20 solution, distilled water, 1% or 0.1% sds were compared for their efficacy in detecting setaria digitata microfilaria in cattle. the acetone test was found to be more efficacious than the modified knott method or the 5% tween 20 solution test for detecting the s. digitata microfilaria in bovine blood. however, besides the acetone test, the modified knott m ...	2004	15187366
population structure of the peridomestic mosquito ochlerotatus notoscriptus in australia.	ochlerotatus notoscriptus (skuse) (diptera: culicidae) is the predominant peridomestic mosquito in australia where it is the primary vector of dog heartworm, dirofilaria immitis (leidy), and a potentially important vector of arboviruses (barmah forest, ross river) with geographical variation of vector competence. although widespread, oc. notoscriptus has low dispersal ability, so it may have isolated subpopulations. the identification of gene flow barriers may assist in understanding arbovirus e ...	2004	15189244
long-term delivery of ivermectin by use of poly(d,l-lactic-co-glycolic)acid microparticles in dogs.	to evaluate the potential utility of poly(d,l-lactic-co-glycolic)acid (plga) as a long-acting biodegradable drug delivery matrix for ivermectin used in the prevention of heartworm disease in dogs.	2004	15198214
detection of paragonimus heterotremus eggs in experimentally infected cats by a polymerase chain reaction-based method.	a polymerase chain reaction (pcr) procedure for the detection of paragonimus heterotremus eggs in stool samples was developed and compared with stoll's egg count method. the primers were designed on the basis of a previously constructed pph-13-specific dna probe, which produced an approximate 0.5-kb amplified product. this pcr method could detect as few as 5 eggs in 0.6 g of artificially inoculated feces of a healthy control cat or as little as 1 x 10(-4) ng of p. heterotremus genomic dna. the a ...	2005	15856902
immune response to and tissue localization of the wolbachia surface protein (wsp) in dogs with natural heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) infection.	human and animal parasitic filarial nematodes, including the agent of canine and feline heartworm disease dirofilaria immitis, harbour intracellular bacteria of the genus wolbachia (rickettsiaies). it is thought that these bacteria play an important role in the pathogenesis and immune response to filarial infection. immunoglobulin g (total igg, igg1, igg2) production against and immunohistochemical staining of tissues for the wolbachia surface protein (wsp) from dogs with natural heartworm infec ...	2005	15876457
is wolbachia complicating the pathological effects of dirofilaria immitis infections?	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 subc ...	2005	15885912
is heartworm disease really spreading in europe?	based on recently published surveys and newly acquired data, a study was conducted to verify the distribution of filarial worm (filarioidea) infections in europe, with particular emphasis on canine heartworm infection (dirofilaria immitis). a geographic information system based on thermal regimen was constructed as a means to identify areas potentially suitable for heartworm transmission, taking into account that the development of d. immitis larvae in the mosquito does not occur below the thres ...	2005	15885913
heartworm disease in dogs: unusual clinical cases.	two unusual cases of heartworm infection are described, including one of spontaneous rupture of cardiac chambers, most likely due to the progressive increase in pressure within the right ventricle caused by dirofilaria immitis infection. another case report describes persistent left cranial vena cava, which interfered with the surgical removal of heartworm via the left jugular vein.	2005	15890447
serological and molecular survey of dirofilaria immitis infection in stray cats in gyunggi province, south korea.	the aim of this study was to carry out a serological and molecular survey for the presence of dirofilaria immitis infection in stray cats using an elisa kit and pcr assay. one hundred and fifty-five stray cats (77 females and 78 males) in gyunggi province in south korea, were used in this study. four (2.6%) tested with the elisa kit showed a positive reaction, and all positive samples by the elisa kit showed a positive reaction by pcr analysis. no significant difference was observed between the ...	2005	15893079
the use of gene silencing to study the role of dopa decarboxylase in mosquito melanization reactions.	mosquito melanization involves hydroxylation of tyrosine to dopa, which then is oxidized to dopaquinone by phenoloxidase, or decarboxylated to dopamine by dopa decarboxlase (ddc). an armigeres subalbatus cdna encoding ddc was cloned and real-time pcr analysis revealed increased transcripts in blood-fed and microfilariae (mf)-inoculated mosquitoes. a double subgenomic sindbis virus was used to silence ddc and assess its role in melanization of mf. ddc transcription and activity were significantly ...	2005	15926892
prevalence of toxocara canis, toxascaris leonina and dirofilaria immitis in dogs in chuncheon, korea (2004).	the intestines and hearts of dogs were examined for toxocara canis, toxascaris leonina, and dirofilaria immitis, after necropsy between june 26 and september 29, 2004 in chuncheon, korea. of the 662 dogs examined, 6 were infected with t. canis (0.9%), 86 with t. leonina (13.0%). fifty dogs were infected with d. immitis among 500 dogs examined (10.0%). five were co-infected with t. canis and t. leonina, and three were co-infected with t. leonina and d. immitis. the cumulative positive infection r ...	2005	15951642
immunoblot analysis of specific antigen bands predictable for dirofilaria immitis infection in cats.	serial sera from four mongrel cats experimentally inoculated with infectious larvae of dirofilaria immitis were analyzed by immunoblot patterns against a phosphate buffered saline-extract of d. immitis. antigen-specific protein bands detected indicate that the low molecular weight bands of 36, 32, 22, 19 and 14 kda, are predictable for positive adult worm infection, suggesting diagnostic usefulness for adult d. immitis infection in cats.	2005	15964689
alteration of extracellular collagen matrix in the myocardium of canines infected with dirofilaria immitis.	the heart consists of cardiocytes and the interstitial extracellular matrix (ecm), which is made up mainly of collagens. the ecm has been suggested to be important in maintaining the structure and function of the heart. this investigation attempted to elucidate the changes in the ecm collagens in the hearts of canines with dirofilariasis. the ecm collagen fibrils of the heart are grouped into endomysial struts, epimysial weaves, and perimysial coils. in the present study, we used the modified si ...	2005	15970383
immunoblotting analysis of somatic components of dirofilaria immitis.	sds-page analysis of dirofilaria immitis extracts demonstrated the complexity of somatic protein component of adult male similar to that of adult female worm. western blot analysis showed six major peptide bands of 85, 66, 42, 20, 16.2 and 14.5 kda recognized in the sera of infected dogs. western blotting sera from dogs with dirofilaria immitis infection suggest that antigenic components in the low molecular weight region may be related to the anti-parasitic mechanism of the host.	2005	15991832
environmental factors associated with bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii seropositivity in free-ranging coyotes from northern california.	bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii is a newly recognized pathogen of domestic dogs and humans. coyotes (canis latrans) are considered an important reservoir of this bacterium in the western united states, but its vectors are still unknown. our objective was to identify environmental factors associated with bartonella antibody prevalence in 239 coyotes from northern california, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. in addition, associations were evaluated between b. v. berkhoffii and two ...	2005	16011426
prevalence of naturally occurring dirofilaria immitis infection among nondomestic cats housed in an area in which heartworms are endemic.	to determine prevalences of heartworm exposure (ie, positive heartworm antibody test results) and heartworm infection (ie, positive heartworm antigen test results or identification of mature heartworms at necropsy) among nondomestic cats housed in an area in rural north carolina where dirofilaria immitis is known to be endemic and among nondomestic cats housed in areas with a low prevalence of dirofilariasis or in an area considered to be free from heartworms.	2005	16013550
dirofilaria immitis prevalence in a canine population in the samana peninsula (dominican republic) - june 2001.	dirofilaria immitis, the etiological agent for heartworm disease, is a zoonotic, vector-borne parasite. the dog is the most common natural host. heartworm disease is present in all us states, as well as in south and central america, asia, europe, africa and australia [. prevalence of feline heartworm disease - a global review. in: proceedings of the heartworm symposium'95, auburn, alabama, usa, 31 march-2 april, 1995. american heartworm society, batavia, usa, pp. 79-86]. according to menda [mend ...	2005	16023785
public health aspects of dirofilariasis in the united states.	coin lesions in the human lung present significant differential diagnostic problems to the physician. there are at least 20 known causes of such lesions, including neoplastic lesions, infectious diseases, and granulomas. the human medical literature contains many misconceptions about the life cycle of dirofilaria immitis, including the method of entry of the infective-stage larvae and the development of the young adult worm. these misconceptions have obscured the recognition of the clinical pres ...	2005	16039780
disease mapping and risk assessment in veterinary parasitology: some case studies.	disease mapping and risk assessment are important tasks in the area of medical and veterinary epidemiology. the development of methods for mapping diseases has progressed considerably in recent years. geographical information systems (gis), remote sensing (rs), and spatial analysis represent new tools for the study of epidemiology, and their application to parasitology has become more and more advanced, in particular to study the spatial and temporal patterns of diseases. the present review high ...	2005	16044673
contractile activity and motility responses of the dog heartworm dirofilaria immitis to classical anthelmintics and other compounds.	a variety of compounds including classical anthelmintics and avermectin analogs were screened for their effects on movements of adult heartworms (hw) (dirofilaria immitis). contractile activity was measured by tension recording of spontaneous movements of intact hw coil preparations (6 min compound exposure) and motility was evaluated by observation of spontaneous, free movements in culture (3 and 7 days compound exposure). results for female hw indicated that some compounds caused spastic paral ...	2005	16076531
six-month prophylactic efficacy of moxidectin sustained release (sr) injectable for dogs against experimental heartworm infection in growing puppies.	the purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of moxidectin sustained release injectable for dogs (moxidectin sr, fort dodge animal health) in protecting growing puppies from experimental infection with the heartworm, dirofilaria immitis, six months after treatment. the study involved 27 puppies, approximately 12 weeks of age at the beginning of the study, with nine puppies in each of three size classes. the small breed class included eight pekingese and one purpose-bred small breed mongr ...	2005	16085364
evaluation of efficacy of heartworm preventive products at the fda.	the center for veterinary medicine, u.s. food and drug administration (fda/cvm) has authority under the united states code 21 under section 514.80 to monitor for adverse experiences of approved animal products. although veterinarians voluntarily report suspect drug-related events to manufacturers, firms that market fda-approved animal products must report serious events to the fda within 15 working days of the veterinarian or pet-owner's call to them. under the present regulations, canine heartw ...	2005	16099105
[diagnostic tests: filaria].		2005	16111250
penetrating foreign body mimicking supraglottic carcinoma.	penetrating trauma to the neck is a rare observation. we report the first case of laryngeal myofibroblastic tumor due to a persistent splinter of glass in the preepiglottic space, which presented with recurrent mild hemoptysis and cough, and mimicked supraglottic carcinoma. the clinical and imaging evaluations are herein reported. finally, medical and surgical options in the management of this unusual observation are discussed.	2005	16134357
safety evaluation of moxidectin sustained-release injectable in 10-week-old puppies.	a study was conducted to evaluate the safety of a commercial formulation of moxidectin sustained-release injectable for dogs (proheart 6, fort dodge animal health) administered as a single subcutaneous dose to 10-week-old puppies. twelve male and 12 female purpose-bred beagles 10 weeks of age were blocked by weight within gender and randomly allocated to three treatment groups. puppies in two groups were treated with moxidectin sustained-release injectable for dogs at three or five times the lab ...	2005	16171949
increased rat alveolar macrophage expression of functional inos induced by a dirofilaria immitis immunoglobulin superfamily protein.	dirofilaria immitis is a worldwide filarial nematode causing heartworm disease in dogs and cats. several mosquito species, which are able to feed both on humans and animals, can transmit this parasite. inflammatory progression of host tissues induced by parasites are mediated by several molecules, including nitric oxide (no), which usually exerts deleterious effects on parasites and occasionally on the host. we analyze the in vitro effect of total d. immitis adult worm somatic antigens on naïve ...	2005	16172008
what is new in the wolbachia/dirofilaria interaction?	presence of transovarially-transmitted endosymbiontic wolbachia bacteria in dirofilaria immitis, and in other filariae of man and animals, presents a new paradigm for our understanding of pathogenesis, treatment and diagnosis of filarial infections. many of the basic biological characteristics of wolbachia have yet to be elucidated, but the results obtained to date suggest that canine or the feline hosts can be exposed to d. immitis wolbachia when larvae, or adult worms, are killed; when wolbach ...	2005	16198819
epidemiology of heartworm: what is happening in south america and mexico?	canine heartworm has been known to exist in the americas for more than 150 years (1847), and the first south american report was published approximately 30 years later (1875). the first human case was reported in 1887 and the first feline case in 1921. coincidently, these two reports were from brazil, where most surveys of the disease during the past two decades have been conducted in dogs. feline cases are seldom found in the south american literature, although feline heartworm disease has been ...	2005	16198820
what is happening outside north america regarding human dirofilariasis?	the etiologic agents of human dirofilariasis in the old world are dirofilaria immitis, which cause pulmonary and subcutaneous nodules, and dirofilaria repens, which cause ocular lesions. although reports of new cases of dirofilariasis are sporadic in other parts of the world, a considerable amount of information is generated in europe regarding human dirofilariasis. most cases have been detected in the mediterranean countries, ukraine, and russia; however, isolated or short series of cases have ...	2005	16198821
the safety-net story about macrocyclic lactone heartworm preventives: a review, an update, and recommendations.	a number of safe, effective, and convenient heartworm preventatives are currently available for virtually all canine and feline pets. yet, a 2001 survey of over 18,000 veterinary clinics in the united states identified more than 240,000 dogs and 3000 cats infected with dirofilaria immitis. this high level of owner compliance failure is alarming. prolonged administration of some of the macrocyclic lactone (ml) preventatives kills young larvae, older larvae, "immatures," young adults, and/or old a ...	2005	16198822
imidacloprid/moxidectin topical solution for the prevention of heartworm disease and the treatment and control of flea and intestinal nematodes of cats.	sixteen controlled laboratory studies, involving 420 kittens and cats, were conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topically applied formulations of imidacloprid and moxidectin for the prevention of feline heartworm disease, treatment of flea infestations and treatment and control of intestinal nematodes. unit-dose applicators and the dosing schedule used in these studies were designed to provide a minimum of 10mg imidacloprid and 1mg moxidectin/kg. treatments were applied topically by ...	2005	16198823
is anthelmintic resistance a concern for heartworm control? what can we learn from the human filariasis control programs?	heartworm prophylaxis is currently largely dependent on the ability of avermectins and milbemycins to arrest the development of third and fourth stages of dirofilaria immitis for prolonged periods, without producing adulticidal effects. major control programs, dependent on the activity of ivermectin, are being implemented for human onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis. the avermectins and milbemycins act on glutamate-gated and gamma-aminobutyrate-gated chloride channel subunit proteins in nem ...	2005	16198824
[human subconjunctival dirofilariasis: two tunisian case studies].	two new cases of human subconjunctival dirofilariasis are reported in tunisia. dirofilaria immitis was identified in the first case and dirofilaria repens in the second. diagnosis was made by histological examination of excised nodules. we note that the patients are young (8 and 10 years, respectively) and that cases of human dirofilariasis caused by dirofilaria immitis are present in tunisia.	2005	16208214
safety of imidacloprid plus moxidectin topical solution applied to cats heavily infected with adult heartworms (dirofilaria immitis).	a topically applied formulation containing 10% imidacloprid+1% moxidectin (advocate/advantage multi) has been developed for monthly application to cats for the prevention of feline heartworm (hw) disease caused by dirofilaria immitis; and for the treatment and control of flea infestations, ear mite infestations, and intestinal nematode infections. a study model was designed to evaluate the safety of this product in cats harboring adult d. immitis infections. eighty adult cats (40 males/40 female ...	2005	16228278
imidacloprid plus moxidectin topical solution for the prevention of heartworm disease (dirofiloria immitis) in dogs.	a topically applied formulation containing 10% imidacloprid+2.5% moxidectin (advocate/advantage multi) has been developed for monthly application to dogs for the prevention of canine heartworm (hw) disease caused by dirofilaria immitis; and for the treatment and control of flea infestations, mite infestations, and intestinal nematode infections. the efficacy of this formulation to prevent canine hw disease was confirmed at three study locations which included the use of 88 purpose-bred beagles 6 ...	2005	16228279
mosquito innate immunity: involvement of beta 1,3-glucan recognition protein in melanotic encapsulation immune responses in armigeres subalbatus.	beta 1,3-glucan recognition proteins (grp) have specific affinity for beta 1,3-glucan, a component on the surface of fungi and bacteria. by interacting with beta 1,3-glucan, grp initiates activation of prophenoloxidase, a key enzyme in the signaling pathway leading to melanotic encapsulation in invertebrates. in this study, we characterize a novel hemocyte-specific grp from the mosquito, armigeres subalbatus (asgrp). the 1.57 kb cdna clone encodes a 499 deduced amino acid sequence, which contain ...	2005	15610820
unusual finding in a nipple discharge of a female dog: dirofilariasis of the breast.	we report a case of dirofilariasis of the breast occurring in a 6-yr-old bernese female dog living in central italy presenting with a breast lump, diagnosed on cytological examination of nipple secretion fluid smears. the direct smears of nipple discharge revealed clusters of glandular cells characterized by mild pleomorphic appearance and the presence of some nematodes of about 350 microm in length in the background. the smears also contained several inflammatory cells, including eosinophils. b ...	2005	15637669
early postoperative ct scanning for juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma: detection of residual disease.	high recurrence rates and early recurrence have been reported for juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (jna) involving the skull base. the purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced ct scanning for the detection of residual disease (rd) in the early postoperative course after surgical excision of jna.	2005	15661706
role of dopachrome conversion enzyme in the melanization of filarial worms in mosquitoes.	melanization is an effective defence reaction of mosquito hosts against invading parasites. in mosquitoes, the biosynthesis of melanin is initiated by the hydroxylation of tyrosine to dopa by phenoloxidase (po). dopa is a branch point of the melanization reaction; it may be oxidized to dopaquinone by po or be decarboxylated to dopamine by dopa decarboxylase. further oxidation of dopaquinone by po produces dopachrome. dopachrome is then converted to 5, 6-dihydroxyindole by dopachrome conversion e ...	2005	16313567
elevated endothelin-1 expression in dogs with heartworm disease.	we explored the involvement of endothelin-1 (et-1) in the pathophysiology of dog dirofilariasis (heartworm disease caused by dirofilaria immitis) by analyzing mrna levels of preproendothelin-1 (ppet-1), the precursor form of et-1, in cardiopulmonary organs as well as et-1 peptide levels in plasma. to determine the cdna sequence and primary protein structure of dog ppet-1, we performed molecular cloning of the full-length cdna. based on the determined sequence information, comparative expression ...	2005	16327228
the first record of dirofilaria immitis infection in a humboldt penguin, spheniscus humboldti.	dirofilaria immitis infection is an important parastic disease in many mammals, especially canids, but has not been reported in bird hosts. filarial worms were isolated from the lumen of the right atrium of the heart and the connective tissue of the lung of a captive female humboldt penguin, spheniscus humboldti, that died at a zoo in japan. one of these worms was observed morphologically and identified as d. immitis by features such as 4 pairs of cephalic papillae, 1 pair of cervical papillae, ...	2005	16419779
relative abundance of tree hole-breeding mosquitoes in boone county, missouri, usa, with emphasis on the vector potential of aedes triseriatus for canine heartworm, dirofilaria immitis (spirurida: filariidae).	aedes (protomacleaya) triseriatus currently shares its habitat in the usa with the introduced species aedes (finlaya) japonicus and aedes (stegomyia) albopictus. in the late 1980s, before the introduction of these 2 species, ae. triseriatus was the dominant tree hole- and artificial container-breeding mosquito in central missouri. aedes triseriatus represented 89% of the mosquito immatures collected from water-filled tree holes and artificial containers at 3 forested field sites in central misso ...	2005	16252517
pulmonary arterial disease in cats seropositive for dirofilaria immitis but lacking adult heartworms in the heart and lungs.	to determine the prevalence and severity of pulmonary arterial lesions in cats seropositive for heartworms (dirofilaria immitis) but lacking adult heartworms in the heart and lungs during necropsy.	2005	16261827
2005 guidelines for the diagnosis, prevention and management of heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) infection in dogs.		2005	16267884
2005 guidelines for the diagnosis, prevention and management of heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) infection in cats.		2005	16267885
detection and differentiation of filarial parasites by universal primers and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.	filarial nematode parasites are a serious cause of morbidity in humans and animals. identification of filarial infection using traditional morphologic criteria can be difficult and lead to misdiagnosis. we report on a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (pcr-rflp)-based method to detect and differentiate a broad range of filarial species in a single pcr. the first internal transcribed spacer 1 (its1) along with the flanking 18s and 5.8s ribosomal dna (rdna) were is ...	2005	16282300
detection of igg antibodies of brugian filariasis with crude male and female antigens of dirofilaria immitis.	crude antigens from male and female dirofilaria immitis were used to detect antibody to brugian filariasis in humans by indirect elisa. both antigens were tested with 42 cases of brugian filariasis, 131 cases of 20 heterologous infections and 35 healthy controls. the results--using male and female antigens--showed sensitivity of 88.1% and 88.1%, and specificities of 64.1% and 51.8%, respectively. cross-reaction from other helminthic infections using crude male antigen gave false-positives with 4 ...	2005	16438185
a preliminary study on in vitro transmission of dirofilaria immitis infective stage larvae by aedes aegypti (l.) (diptera: culicidae).	this study was performed to study an in vitro transmission of infective stage larvae from the mosquito proboscis. there were five experiments with 949 mosquitoes. liverpool strain of aedes aegypti (l.) were used in this study. they were allowed to feed on d. immitis infected dogs with different microfilarial levels which were 1,650, 1,950, 9,000, 9,250, and 11,550 microfilariae per one ml of blood. mosquitoes were forced to feed on solution (5% sucrose in 5% dog serum) in capillary tubes for 20 ...	2005	16438186
aedes aegypti (l.) and aedes polynesiensis marks (diptera: culicidae) in moorea, french polynesia: a study of adult population structures and pathogen (wuchereria bancrofti and dirofilaria immitis) infection rates to indicate regional and seasonal epidemiological risk for dengue and filariasis.	populations of aedes aegypti (l.) and aedes polynesiensis (marks) on moorea island, french polynesia, the local vectors of dengue and filariasis, respectively, were sampled by landing/biting collection at nine localities on the east, north, and west coasts, during the late dry season, early and late wet season (september-may) 2003 and 2004, to investigate epidemiologically important features of the populations and compare them between regions and months. biting rates of both species tended to in ...	2005	16465747
serologic survey of domestic felids in the petén region of guatemala.	blood samples were analyzed from 30 domestic cats (felis domesticus) from the petén region of guatemala to determine the seroprevalence of common pathogens that may pose a potential risk to native wild felids. eight of the cats had been vaccinated previously; however, owners were unable to fully describe the type of vaccine and date of administration. in addition, blood samples were obtained from two captive margays (leopardus wiedii). samples were tested for antibodies to feline immunodeficienc ...	2005	17315469
exposure of free-ranging maned wolves (chrysocyon brachyurus) to infectious and parasitic disease agents in the noël kempff mercado national park, bolivia.	maned wolves (chrysocyon brachyurus) are neotropic mammals, listed as a cites appendix ii species, with a distribution south of the amazon forest from bolivia, through northern argentina and paraguay and into eastern brazil and northern uruguay. primary threats to the survival of free-ranging maned wolves include habitat loss, road kills, and shooting by farmers. an additional threat to the conservation of maned wolves is the risk of morbidity and mortality due to infectious and parasitic diseas ...	2005	17323558
[focus of canine heartworm disease in marajó island, north of brazil: a risk factor for human health].	the occurrence of human pulmonary dirofilariasis maintains a relation with the prevalence of dirofilaria immitis infection in the canine population. several mosquito species are vectors of this nematode. canine blood samples collected in pingo d'agua and união villages, salvaterra municipality (marajó island, pará), in june, 2004 (n = 34) and april, 2005 (n = 90) were analyzed. parasitological and immunological (elisa--kit snap(r) 3dx biobrasil) diagnoses were compared following the examination ...	2006	17119746
vector competence of aedes aegypti (l.) and culex quinquefasciatus (say) for dirofilaria immitis (leidy).	this study was performed to examine the vector competence of aedes aegypti and culex quinquefasciatus for dirofilaria immitis. eleven individual experiments were conducted in this study. nonthaburi and udon thani strains of ae. aegypti were allowed to feed on infected dogs that had 5,750 and 4,600 microfilariae (mw) per ml of blood, respectively. three groups of bangkok-strain cx. quinquefasciatus were allowed to feed on dogs that had 4,800, 5,200, and 5,850 mf per ml of blood. six groups of liv ...	2006	17547063
a serological study of exposure to arthropod-borne pathogens in dogs from northeastern spain.	there is limited information regarding the prevalence of many vector borne pathogens in europe and especially in spanish dogs. we investigated 206 sick and 260 clinically healthy dogs from three different regions in northeastern spain for antibodies to rickettsia conorii (rc), ehrlichia canis (ec), anaplasma phagocytophilum (ap), bartonella henselae (bh), bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii (bvb), leishmania infantum (li) and borrelia burgdorferi (bb) and for antigen of dirofilaria immitis (di ...	2006	16472522
dirofilaria immitis in an african lion (panthera leo).		2006	16489164
natural infection of culex theileri (diptera: culicidae) with dirofilaria immitis (nematoda: filarioidea) on madeira island, portugal.	field and laboratory studies were performed to verify whether culex theileri theobald functions as a natural vector of dirofilaria immitis (leidy) on madeira island, portugal. co2-baited light traps (evs traps) were use to sample mosquitoes monthly basis between february 2002 and february 2003 in the area of quebradas (funchal). three mosquito species were captured, including 58 culex pipiens l., 790 cx. theileri, and three culiseta longiareolata (macquart). only c. theileri tested positive for ...	2006	16506454
ribosomal dna second internal transcribed spacer sequence studies of culicid vectors from an endemic area of dirofilaria immitis in spain.	studies were performed in an endemic area of dirofilaria immitis in spain to genetically characterize the potential mosquito vector species present by means of dna sequencing and elucidate which of these species may be involved in the transmission. the rdna its-2 sequences of two culex pipiens haplotypes, h1 and h2, aedes (aedimorphus) vexans, fredwardsius vittatus, ochlerotatus (ochlerotatus) caspius, anopheles (anopheles) atroparvus, and anopheles (anopheles) plumbeus were obtained. f. vittatu ...	2006	16541266
human pulmonary dirofilariasis: a case report and review of the recent japanese literature.	human pulmonary dirofilariasis is a rare zoonotic infection caused by the dog heartworm dirofilaria immitis, which is transmitted via a vector/intermediate host, generally the mosquito. the authors present a case of histologically diagnosed human pulmonary dirofilariasis, in which the lesion was resected using video-assisted thoracic surgery (vats). the authors also review 24 cases of such zoonosis reported in japan from 1998 to 2004. of these 24 patients with human pulmonary dirofilariasis, 12 ...	2006	16635097
subcutaneous dirofilariasis caused by dirofilaria immitis mimicking a large epidermal cyst.		2006	16643162
identification and analysis of genes expressed in the adult filarial parasitic nematode dirofilaria immitis.	the heartworm dirofilaria immitis is a filarial parasitic nematode infecting dogs and other mammals worldwide causing fatal complications. here, we present the first large-scale survey of the adult heartworm transcriptome by generation and analysis of 4005 expressed sequence tags, identifying about 1800 genes and expanding the available sequence information for the parasite significantly. brugia malayi genomic data offered the most valuable information to interpret heartworm genes, with about 70 ...	2006	16697384
detection of filarial parasites in domestic cats by pcr-rflp of its1.	lymphatic filariasis has been targeted by the world health organization (who) to be eliminated by the year 2020. in addition to chemotherapy and vector control, the control of reservoir hosts is necessary for the control program to succeed. malayan filariasis, caused by brugia malayi, is endemic in the south of thailand where domestic cats serve as the major reservoir host. however, in nature, domestic cats also carry b. pahangi, dirofilaria immitis and d. repens infections and it is difficult t ...	2006	16713099
natural vectors of dirofilariasis in rural and urban areas of the tuscan region, central italy.	entomological investigations by means of dog- and human-baited traps were carried out in summers 2000-2002 in urban and rural areas of the tuscan region in central italy. the aim of the study was to define the mosquito species involved in the transmission of dirofilaria nematodes and to assess the risk that their presence might represent for animal and human health. nocturnal fieldwork on host-seeking activity and feeding preferences was followed by microscopic identification of the mosquito spe ...	2006	16739418
physiological and haematological findings and clinical observations in a model of acute systemic anaphylaxis in dirofilaria immitis-sensitised cats.	this study aims to understand the pathophysiology of anaphylaxis in dirofilaria immitis-sensitised cats by analysing objective physiological and haematological measurements after challenge.	2006	16739523
seroprevalence of canine heartworm disease (dirofilaria immitis) on tenerife island: an epidemiological update.	blood samples from 823 dogs were tested for circulating dirofilaria immitis antigen during a 1-year period (may 2002 to may 2003) on tenerife island, canary islands, spain. seroprevalence of heartworm infection was 21%. heartworm infection was similar in males and females and was more common in dogs aged >6 years. distribution of infection in varying climatic zones was not statistically different.	2006	16821033
a simple molecular method for discriminating common filarial nematodes of dogs (canis familiaris).	accurate diagnosis of canine filariosis is essential for choosing correct therapeutic approach. therefore, reliable methods for discriminating among the different filarial infections in dogs are needed. the authors report simple and highly specific molecular methods that identify the three most common filarial nematodes of european dogs: dirofilaria immitis, d. repens and acanthocheilonema (syn. dipetalonema) reconditum, based on (1) pcr amplifications of mitochondrial dna (12s rdna and coxi) wi ...	2006	16857318
surgery still opens an unexpected bag of worms! an intraperitoneal live female dirofilaria worm: case report and review of the literature.	intra-abdominal filarial infection is extremely rare.	2006	16875465
nematodes from raccoon dogs (nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus) introduced recently on yakushima island, japan.	nematodes were collected from 14 raccoon dogs (nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus) on yakushima island, kagoshima prefecture (kyushu), japan, that were the progeny of recently introduced animals to this world natural heritage area, probably within the last 2 decades. seven nematode species (toxocara tanuki, ancylostoma kusimaense, arthrostoma miyazakiense, strongyloides planiceps, trichuris vulpis, gongylonema sp., and dirofilaria immitis) were collected from the raccoon dogs. two nematode spec ...	2006	16891782
evaluation of a covered-rod silicone implant containing ivermectin for long-term prevention of heartworm infection in dogs.	to evaluate use of covered-rod (cr) silicone implants containing ivermectin for long-term prevention of infection with dirofilaria immitisin dogs.	2006	16948602
what is your diagnosis? multiple myeloma.		2006	16978107