Publications

an elisa for sensitive and specific detection of circulating antigen of angiostrongylus vasorum in serum samples of naturally and experimentally infected dogs.	canine angiostrongylosis is an emerging cardiopulmonary disease in europe which can be fatal if left untreated. we developed a sandwich-elisa based on a monoclonal antibody (mab av 56/1/2) and on polyclonal rabbit antibodies directed against angiostrongylus vasorum adult excretory/secretory - antigen for the detection of circulating serum antigen of a. vasorum. the sensitivity of the test was 95.7% (78.1-99.9, 95% ci) as determined with sera of 23 dogs naturally infected with a. vasorum. the spe ...	2011	21333451
effects of doxycycline on early infections of dirofilaria immitis in dogs.	the antifilarial effects of tetracycline drugs were first demonstrated when they were found to be highly effective against l(3) and l(4) of brugia pahangi and litomosoides sigmodontis in rodent models. tetracyclines are also now known to have activity against microfilariae and adult dirofilaria immitis, but assessment of their activity against larval and juvenile heartworms has not been reported previously. this study assessed the effects of doxycycline administered orally at 10mg/kg twice daily ...	2011	21345592
filarial worms reduce plasmodium infectivity in mosquitoes.	co-occurrence of malaria and filarial worm parasites has been reported, but little is known about the interaction between filarial worm and malaria parasites with the same anopheles vector. herein, we present data evaluating the interaction between wuchereria bancrofti and anopheles punctulatus in papua new guinea (png). our field studies in png demonstrated that an. punctulatus utilizes the melanization immune response as a natural mechanism of filarial worm resistance against invading w. bancr ...	2011	21347449
diagnostic, treatment, and prevention protocols for canine heartworm infection in animal sheltering agencies.	the high prevalence of heartworm infection in shelter dogs creates a dilemma for shelter managers, who frequently operate with insufficient funding, staffing, and expertise to comply with heartworm guidelines developed for owned pet dogs. the purpose of this study was to survey canine heartworm management protocols used by 504 animal sheltering agencies in the endemic states of alabama, florida, georgia, and mississippi. open-admission shelters, which tended to be larger and more likely to perfo ...	2011	21353743
canine filarial infections in tuscany, central italy.	this study was conducted in order to investigate the epidemiology of filarial species in a region of central italy (tuscany) in dogs that did not undergo prophylaxis for filariasis. from 2007 to 2009, 630 blood samples were collected from 40 kennels throughout the regional territory. samples were analysed with knott's modified test and with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) for the detection of dirofilaria immitis antigens, those positive for microfilariae were also subjected to histo ...	2011	21457611
exposure to infectious agents in dogs in remote coastal british columbia: possible sentinels of diseases in wildlife and humans.	ranked among the top threats to conservation worldwide, infectious disease is of particular concern for wild canids because domestic dogs (canis familiaris) may serve as sources and reservoirs of infection. on british columbia's largely undeveloped but rapidly changing central and north coasts, little is known about diseases in wolves (canis lupus) or other wildlife. however, several threats exist for transfer of diseases among unvaccinated dogs and wolves. to gain baseline data on infectious ag ...	2011	21461190
[dirofilariasis in the moscow region, a low disease transmission risk area].	the spread of canine and human dirofilariasis was first studied in the moscow region, a low disease transmission risk area. d.repens infestation was found to have a tendency to increase in moscow residents with the imported cases being predominant. in 33 (84.6%) districts of the moscow region, dogs were registered to have d. immitis and d. repens infestation, with the former being preponderant in 31 districts. an original map of dirofilariasis distribution was compiled with the areas being singl ...	2011	21480551
dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs from underserved, native american reservations in the united states.	blood samples from 1,822 dogs residing on native american reservations in 10 states were collected between february 2004 and august 2007. samples were examined using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) antigen capture test. all elisa-positive samples were subsequently examined for microfilaremia. all dogs were asymptomatic for dirofilaria immitis infection, resided outside (except for winter in the northern latitudes), not on prophylaxis for d. immitis, and had not traveled of ...	2011	21498591
survey of heartworm prevention practices among members of a national hunting dog club.	surveillance data indicate that failures have been reported for virtually all heartworm prevention product categories. resistance of third and fourth stage larvae of dirofilaria immitis to macrocyclic lactones, lack of compliance, other unknown factors, or a combination of these reasons may be the cause of failure. a survey of members of a national hunting dog club was conducted to identify practices used to prevent canine heartworm infections. questionnaires were completed by 708 dog owners. ye ...	2011	21498598
inference of population stucture and patterns of gene flow in canine heartworm (dirofilaria immitis).	abstract understanding the genetic variation within a parasitic species is crucial to implementing successful control programs and preventing the dispersal of drug resistance alleles. we examined the population genetics and structure of canine heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) by developing a panel of 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci for this abundant parasite. in total, 192 individual nematodes were opportunistically sampled from 9 geographic regions in the united states and mexico and genotype ...	2011	21506823
seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii and concurrent bartonella spp., feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukemia virus, and dirofilaria immitis infections in egyptian cats.	abstract toxoplasma gondii and bartonella spp. are zoonotic pathogens of cats. feline immunodeficiency virus (fiv) and feline leukemia virus (felv) are related to human immunodeficiency virus and human leukemia virus, respectively, and these viruses are immunosuppressive. in the present study, the prevalence of antibodies to t. gondii , bartonella spp., fiv, as well as felv and dirofilaria immitis antigens was determined in sera from feral cats ( felis catus ) from cairo, egypt. using a modified ...	2011	21506874
human intraocular filariasis caused by dirofilaria sp. nematode, brazil.	a case of human intraocular dirofilariasis is reported from northern brazil. the nematode was morphologically and phylogenetically related to dirofilaria immitis but distinct from reference sequences, including those of d. immitis infesting dogs in the same area. a zoonotic dirofilaria species infesting wild mammals in brazil and its implications are discussed.	2011	21529396
assessment of the effectiveness of a combination product of spinosad and milbemycin oxime on the prophylaxis of canine heartworm infection.	three separate randomized, blinded, vehicle-controlled studies were conducted to determine the effectiveness of a single treatment and consecutive monthly treatments of a combination flavored tablet product containing spinosad and milbemycin oxime (mbo) in the prevention of the establishment of heartworm infections in dogs challenged with recent field isolates of the heartworm (hw), dirofilaria immitis. for each study, dogs were allocated randomly based on pre-treatment body weights to treated o ...	2011	21530085
improved detection of canine angiostrongylus vasorum infection using real-time pcr and indirect elisa.	this study reports the development of a real-time pcr assay and an indirect elisa to improve on current detection of canine angiostrongylus vasorum infection. a highly specific fluorescent probe-based, real-time pcr assay was developed to target the a. vasorum second internal transcribed spacer region and detected dna in edta blood, lung tissue, broncho-alveolar larvage fluid, endotracheal mucus, pharyngeal swabs and faecal samples. pcr was fast (∼1 h), highly efficient when using edta blood sam ...	2011	21537986
survey of canine dirofilaria immitis infection in new caledonia.	canine dirofilariosis is a frequent parasitic disease in new-caledonia. a survey of canine heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) infection among dogs from the cities of tontouta, nandaï and nouméa, was performed in march 2009 using two antigen test kits; the microwell elisa test: diroche (synbiotics europe) and the rapid immuno migration (rim) test: witness dirofilaria (synbiotics europe). blood samples were collected from 64 dogs: 49 strays and 15 military working dogs. the military dogs received a p ...	2011	21547264
canine vector-borne disease in travelled dogs in germany-a retrospective evaluation of laboratory data from the years 2004-2008.	when importing dogs from various mediterranean countries into western europe canine vector-borne infections are often considered as a major issue. several diseases including babesiosis, leishmaniosis, hepatozoonosis, canine heartworm disease or ehrlichiosis can potentially be endemic in this region and pose a potential health risk for travelling dogs. information on such infections in travelled dogs is scarce and therefore this study has been undertaken to examine the frequency of vector-borne i ...	2011	21565447
anaphylactoid reaction in a heartworm-infected dog undergoing lung lobectomy.	a 7-year-old 23-kg (50.6-lb) spayed female border collie with a history of heartworm disease was evaluated for respiratory distress.	2011	21568776
macrocyclic lactone resistance in dirofilaria immitis.	microfilariae were isolated from a katrina rescue dog that remained microfilariaemic despite successful adulticidal treatments and repeated treatment with high doses of macrocyclic lactones (mls). the microfilariae were genotyped at two p-glycoprotein single nucleotide polymorphic sites which had been found to correlate with reduced sensitivity to mls. the genetic polymorphism (gg-gg), previously found to be associated with insensitivity to mls in vitro, was present at a frequency of 45.3% in mi ...	2011	21570194
catheter-guided percutaneous heartworm removal using a nitinol basket in dogs with caval syndrome.	carval syndrome is a severe heartworm infection where the worms have migrated to the right atrium and vena cava; this condition is associated with a myriad of clinical signs. several non-surgical and interventional methods are currently used for mechanical worm removal. however, the success rate and complications related to these methods are heavily dependent on methodology and retrieval devices used. in this study, we developed a catheter-guided heartworm removal method using a retrieval basket ...	2011	21586882
comparative evaluation of a point-of-care immunochromatographic test snap 4dx with molecular detection tests for vector-borne canine pathogens in hong kong.	abstract there are no comprehensive studies on the performance of commonly used point-of-care diagnostic enzyme immunoassay for common arthropod-borne canine pathogens. a comparative evaluation of an immunochromatographic test for these infections with a comprehensive polymerase chain reaction (pcr) test panel was performed on 100 pet dogs and 100 stray dogs without obvious clinical symptoms. of the 162 positive test results from both immunochromatographic test and pcr, there was 85.2% concordan ...	2011	21612526
a case of dirofilaria immitis presenting as an intramuscular soft tissue mass.		2011	21623126
oxidant/antioxidant balance, minerals status and apoptosis in peripheral blood of dogs naturally infected with dirofilaria immitis.	the present study was aimed to examine lipid peroxides, antioxidants, zinc, copper, iron panels and apoptosis in peripheral blood of dogs with clinical dirofilariosis. in comparison to healthy control, erythrocytic lipid peroxides level and superoxide dismutase activity were significantly (p<0.01) higher in diseased dogs. however, level of reduced glutathione and activities of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-s-transferase and catalase were significantly (p<0.01) lower in diseased dogs. blood ...	2011	21645912
babesia canis rossi infection in a texas dog.	a 5-month-old intact male boerboel dog, imported from south africa 1 week previously, was presented to a texas veterinarian for lethargy, anorexia, and labored breathing. the dog was febrile, anemic, leukopenic, thrombocytopenic, and slightly azotemic. results of the idexx snap-4dx enzyme immunoassay were negative for dirofilaria immitis antigen and antibodies against ehrlichia canis, borrelia burgdorferi, and anaplasma phagocytophilum. an edta blood sample analyzed at oklahoma state university ...	2011	21790699
immunoprophylactic potential of filarial glutathione-s-transferase in lymphatic filariaisis.	to elucidates the immunoprophylactic potential of glutathion-s-transferase (gst) from cattle filarial parasite setaria digitata (s. digitata) against lymphatic filariasis.	2011	21771450
comment on the paper "macrocyclic lactone resistance in dirofilaria immitis" by bourguinat et al.		2011	21764216
microscopic, serologic and molecular surveys on dirofilaria immitis in stray dogs, turkey.	the prevalance of dirofilaria immitis infection was evaluated in stray dogs of erzurum, turkey. a total of 123 whole-blood and 93 sera samples were collected from stray dogs older than 6 months were lived in animal shelter. the pcr and direct microscopic examinations were used for the detection of microfilaria and indirect-elisa was performed for the detection of anti-d. immitis antibodies. the prevalence of d. immitis in the canine population was 8.1% by pcr, 2.1% by elisa. in addition, microfi ...	2011	21757293
canine and feline infections by cardiopulmonary nematodes in central and southern italy.	capillaria aerophila, aelurostrongylus abstrusus, angiostrongylus vasorum and dirofilaria immitis are cardiopulmonary nematodes affecting dogs and cats and presently emerging in several countries. the results obtained in 2009 - 2010 during a study aiming to investigate the occurrence of these nematodes in regions from central (marche and abruzzo regions - sites a and b, respectively) and southern (apulia - site c) italy are here reported. a total of 534 and 436 individual faecal samples collecte ...	2011	21739378
spatial distribution of seroprevalence for anaplasma phagocytophilum, borrelia burgdorferi, ehrlichia canis, and dirofilaria immitis in dogs in washington, oregon, and california.	background: in the us little spatially defined information regarding exposure to most vector-borne pathogens in dogs is available for the states of california (ca), oregon (or), and washington (wa). objectives: the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the spatial distribution of seroprevalence for 4 vector-borne pathogens, anaplasma phagocytophilum, borrelia burgdorferi, ehrlichia canis, and dirofilaria immitis, across the 3 western coastal states of the contiguous united states that ext ...	2011	21827514
the occurrence of dirofilaria immitis, borrelia burgdorferi, ehrlichia canis and anaplasma phagocytophium in dogs in china.	a survey of the occurrence of dirofilaria immitis, borrelia burgdorferi, ehrlichia canis and anaplasma phagocytophium in dogs was undertaken in the people's republic of china between october 2008 and october 2009. a total of 600 blood samples were taken from dogs in four cities in china: 300 in beijing, 150 in shenzhen, 30 in shanghai and 120 in zhengzhou. all samples were tested for the heartworm antigen and antibodies of canine b. burgdorferi, e. canis and a. phagocytophium by using the canine ...	2011	21729390
heartworm genomics: unprecedented opportunities for fundamental molecular insights and new intervention strategies.	vector-borne diseases, including canine heartworm disease (chwd), are of major socioeconomic and canine health importance worldwide. although many studies have provided insights into chwd, to date there has been limited study of fundamental molecular aspects of dirofilaria immitis itself, its relationship with the canine host, its vectors, as well as the potential of drug resistance to emerge, using advanced -omic technologies. this article takes a prospective view of the benefits that advanced ...	2011	22152607
Excretory/secretory antigens from Dirofilaria immitis adult worms interact with the host fibrinolytic system involving the vascular endothelium.	Dirofilaria immitis is the causative agent of canine and feline heartworm disease. The parasite can survive for long periods of time (7years or more) in the circulatory system of immunocompetent reservoirs, producing usually a chronic inflammatory vascular disease. In addition, the simultaneous death of groups of adult worms can trigger an acute disease characterized by the exacerbation of inflammatory reactions and the emergence of serious thromboembolic events. In the context of the D. immitis ...	2011	22050927
Macrocyclic Lactones in the Treatment and Control of Parasitism in Small Companion Animals.	Macrocyclic lactones (MLs) have many anti-parasitic applications in small companion animal medicine. They were first developed as chemoprophylactics against heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) infection to be applied monthly for retroactive killing of third- and fourth-stage larvae. ML-containing products formulated for oral (ivermectin, milbemycin oxime), topical (selamectin, moxidectin) or injectable sustained release (moxidectin, ivermectin) are approved for heartworm prevention in dogs or cats ...	2011	22039798
development of loop-mediated isothermal amplification method for detecting wuchereria bancrofti dna in human blood and vector mosquitoes.	we have developed loop-mediated isothermal amplification (lamp) method to detect wuchereria bancrofti dna. the sensitivity and specificity of lamp method were equivalent to those of pcr method which detects sspi repeat sequence in w. bancrofti genomic dna: both methods detected one thousandth of w. bancrofti dna from one microfilaria (mf), and did not cross-react with dnas of brugia malayi, b. pahangi, dirofilaria immitis, human and culex quinquefasciatus. we also examined the sensitivity of lam ...	2011	21930238
a duplex real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of and differentiation between dirofilaria immitis and dirofilaria repens in dogs and mosquitoes.	this study describes a duplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (pcr) assay for the detection and differentiation between dirofilaria immitis and dirofilaria repens in dog blood and mosquitoes. regions of a cytochrome oxidase 1 (cox1) mitochondrial dna fragment and the second internal transcribed spacer (its-2) of nuclear ribosomal dna were amplified from microfilariae and adult worm samples, using a sensitive ssofast™ evagreen(®) based real-time pcr method coupled with melting-curve analysis. ...	2011	22119343
introduction: heartworm.		2011	22152602
mosquito vectors of dog heartworm in the united states: vector status and factors influencing transmission efficiency.	dog heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) is dependent on mosquito vectors for its maintenance and transmission among vertebrate hosts. consequently, d. immitis abundance and distribution are closely linked with mosquito vector biology and ecology. information on the important dog heartworm vectors in the united states is limited and no comprehensive surveillance of dog heartworm in us mosquitoes has been undertaken to date. here, we review information gleaned from a number of field surveys documentin ...	2011	22152605
first report in italy of the exotic mosquito species aedes (finlaya) koreicus, a potential vector of arboviruses and filariae.	in the veneto region (north-eastern italy) an entomological surveillance system has been implemented since the introduction of the asian tiger mosquito (aedes albopictus) in 1991. during the routine monitoring activity in a tiger mosquito-free area, an unexpected mosquito was noticed, which clearly did not belong to the recorded italian fauna.	2011	21951867
dirofilaria immitis and wolbachia pipientis: a thorough investigation of the symbiosis responsible for canine heartworm disease.	canine heartworm disease wreaks havoc inside canines all throughout the modern world, including the usa. any region where mosquitoes thrive will provide efficient dog-to-dog transportation for the microfilaria of the infectious nematode dirofilaria immitis. veterinary scientists have recently discovered both phylogenetic and biochemical evidence for the obligate symbiosis of d. immitis and the bacteria wolbachia pipientis. as a result, veterinarians have initiated testing of antibiotic therapies ...	2011	21922235
epidemiological aspects on vector-borne infections in stray and pet dogs from romania and hungary with focus on babesia spp.	canine arthropod-borne infections are of major interest in small animal practice and have been widely investigated in central and western europe. however, only limited epidemiological data are available from south-eastern european countries, although diseases including babesiosis or dirofilariosis are widely recognised as important canine infections in these countries. a steadily increasing number of dogs imported from south-eastern europe into germany require particular attention by small anima ...	2011	21947342
the therapeutic potential of the recombinant antigen from dirofilaria immitis (rdiag) for immune-mediated pregnancy loss.	the mammalian fetuses are semi-allograft for mothers. therefore the failure of immunological tolerance often causes pregnancy loss. recently, the effects of helminthes therapy for immune mediated diseases have been reported. in the present study we employed the murine model to examine the therapeutic potential of the recombinant antigen from a nematoda parasite, dirofilaria immitis for immune mediated pregnancy loss. recombinant d. immitis polyproteins (rdiag) had been cloned and selected by us ...	2011	21983343
evidence for macrocyclic lactone anthelmintic resistance in dirofilaria immitis.	reports of loss-of-efficacy (loe) events in dogs infected with dirofilaria immitis despite adherence to accepted prophylaxis regimens with a macrocyclic lactone anthelmintic are attracting considerable attention. it is crucially important to distinguish among several possible causes for these loe reports, one of which is the evolution of resistance to these drugs in heartworms. we review here recent evidence at the molecular level that supports the hypothesis that parasites derived from loe case ...	2011	22152606
prevalence of dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs from dandong, china.	the aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs from dandong, china. a total of 886 dogs were examined for d. immitis infection by microscopic examination and pcr, indicating that the prevalence was 16.6% (213/886) and 24.0% (147/886), respectively. the odds of infection were significantly higher in older dogs and dogs sheltered in outdoor, compared to the younger ones and ones sheltered in indoor. no significant difference of ...	2011	21889850
serological survey of canine dirofilariosis in chongqing, kunming, nanchang, fuzhou, guangzhou, shenzhen, and nanning in southern china.	the present study conducts a serological survey on the presence of canine dirofilariosis in domestic dogs using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) kit. a total of 310 household dogs (166 females and 144 males) in chongqing, kunming, nanchang, fuzhou, guangzhou, shenzhen, and nanning in southern china were examined. of the 310 dogs, 42 (13.5%) were seropositive for dirofilariosis. no statistically significant difference was observed in terms of sex in the seroprevalence of dirofilariosi ...	2011	22024016
macrocyclic lactones and dirofilaria immitis microfilariae.	although there has been extensive veterinary focus on both the effectiveness of macrocyclic lactones for heartworm prevention in dogs and their adulticidal effects, little attention has been directed to their effects on heartworm microfilariae. with routine use of macrocyclic lactones, in some cases knowingly, in dogs with existing heartworm infections, veterinarians should recognize the benefits, and possible complications, arising from this behavior. macrocyclic lactones remain our only class ...	2011	22152603
detection of specific antibodies in dogs infected with angiostrongylus vasorum.	canine angiostrongylosis, caused by the nematode angiostrongylus vasorum, is an emerging cardiopulmonary disease in europe which can be fatal if left untreated. we determined the diagnostic value of the specific detection of antibodies against a. vasorum adult somatic antigen, adult excretory/secretory (e/s) antigen and first stage larvae (l1) somatic antigen in elisas. also, a. vasorum adult somatic antigen purified by monoclonal antibodies (mab) was evaluated in a sandwich-elisa. among the cru ...	2011	22051072
seroepidemiological survey of helminthic parasites of stray dogs in sari city, northern iran.	the objective of this study was to determine the prevalence rate of helminthic parasites in stray dogs' population especially zoonotic infections and to identify potential risk factors in the different areas of sari city in caspian area, north of iran. during the period from april to september 2007, 50 stray dogs were collected from urban areas of sari city. recovered parasites were fixed in alcohol and stained by carmine then observed by microscope. the taxonomic study was carried out by measur ...	2011	21916265
introduction to the alpha-proteobacteria: wolbachia and bartonella, rickettsia, brucella, ehrlichia, and anaplasma.	wolbachia is an obligate intracellular endosymbiont and likely mutualist living within the heartworm dirofilaria immitis and a number of other filarial nematodes in the family onchocercidae. the bacterial infection is passed from worm to worm transovarially; the organisms are in ovarian cells, the developing microfilariae, and multiply and persist in all later developmental stages through the mosquito and into the next host. besides being present in the ovaries of the adult worms, they also are ...	2011	22152604
Anti-Wolbachia Surface Protein Antibodies Are Present in the Urine of Dogs Naturally Infected with Dirofilaria immitis with Circulating Microfilariae But Not in Dogs with Occult Infections.	Abstract Heartworm infection (Dirofilaria immitis) can cause kidney damage due to the presence of circulating microfilariae (mf) that contribute to the production and deposit of immune complexes. It has been shown that mf are a major source of Wolbachia antigen during active infection. Here the authors compared urine samples from 19 naturally infected dogs with (mf+) and 12 without (mf-) microfilariae for the presence of proteinuria and anti-Wolbachia Surface Protein (-WSP) IgG in ELISA. Kidne ...	2011	21919732
Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia canis, and Dirofilaria immitis among dogs in Canada.	The seropositivity of dogs to Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Ehrlichia canis antibodies, and Dirofilaria immitis antigen was assessed in Canada. Borrelia burgdorferi had the highest seroprevalence, while that of Dirofilaria immitis has not changed significantly in the past 20 y. The risk for these vector-borne infectious agents in Canadian dogs is low but widespread with foci of higher prevalence.	2011	22043075
prevalence of selected zoonotic and vector-borne agents in dogs and cats in costa rica.	to estimate the prevalence of enteric parasites and selected vector-borne agents of dogs and cats in san isidro de el general, costa rica, fecal and serum samples were collected from animals voluntarily undergoing sterilization. each fecal sample was examined for parasites by microscopic examination after fecal flotation and for giardia and cryptosporidium using an immunofluorescence assay (ifa). giardia and cryptosporidium ifa positive samples were genotyped after pcr amplification of specific ...	2011	21846585
Typical and atypical manifestations of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in dogs.	Eighteen clinically ill dogs, naturally infected with Anaplasma phagocytophilum, were examined at a veterinary practice in Baxter, Minnesota. A clinical examination, complete blood cell count, enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for A phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Ehrlichia canis antibodies and Dirofilaria immitis antigen, and a polymerase chain reaction test for A phagocytophilum DNA were obtained for all dogs. Physical examination findings included fever, arthropathy, lymph ...	2011	22058372
prevalence of dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs from celestun, mexico, using polymerase chain reaction test.	the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dirofilaria immitis in dogs and to analyze risk factors associated with infection at celestun, a coastal locality in southeast mexico. blood samples were collected from 279 asymptomatic individuals between august 2007 and march 2008 and analyzed by polymerase chain reaction technique. the association between d. immitis infection and sex, age group, and distance of residence from a wetland of dogs was statistically analyzed. prevalence of d ...	2011	20575644
a case of human conjunctival dirofilariosis by dirofilaria immitis in italy.	this short communication describes a case of human conjunctival dirofilariosis by dirofilaria immitis. a 51-year-old man from the emilia-romagna region of northeastern italy referred for ocular foreign body sensation in his right eye. a slight swelling of the bulbar conjunctiva was observed. a live, whitish, 10-cm-long nematode was extracted from the subconjunctival space. histology revealed typical features of a filarioid nematode belonging to the genus dirofilaria sp. molecular analysis with p ...	2011	20846011
epidemiological aspects of canine dirofilariasis in the north of iran.	dirofilaria immitis is an important parasite in dog and other carnivores. our objective was study on incidence and periodicity of heartworm in north of iran and using other methods for its diagnosis in addition to parasitology exam.	2011	22347277
pseudo-tumor of the scrotum, a rare clinical presentation of dirofilariasis: a report of two autochtonous cases due to dirofilaria repens.	in europe, human dirofilariasis refers to a group of autochtonous parasitic infections caused by tissue nematodes of the genus dirofilaria, responsible for two distinct clinical presentations: dirofilaria immitis usually presenting as pulmonary lesions and dirofilaria repens as subcutaneous nodules. rare in humans, genital involvement manifests itself as pseudotumor nodules affecting the scrotum, epididymis, or spermatic cord. we report on two cases of dirofilaria repens infections, involving th ...	2012	23182143
treatment and prevention of natural heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) infections in red pandas (ailurus fulgens) with selamectin and ivermectin.	ten of the 48 red pandas in the chengdu research base of giant panda breeding, sichuan province, china, died in 2006 after prolonged periods of depression, weight loss, and mucocutaneous membrane xanthochromia. during postmortem examination, live heartworms were found in the right cardiac ventricles and pulmonary arteries of all 10 animals. selamectin and ivermectin were used for clinical prophylaxis in the remaining red pandas between december 2006 and november 2010. we observed a gradual decre ...	2012	22306025
evaluation of pulmonary function variables by using plethysmography in cats with respiratory disease associated to dirofilaria immitis.	heartworm associated respiratory disease (hard) is a pulmonary syndrome that results from the vascular and parenchymal inflammatory response associated with the arrival and death of dirofilaria immitis in the distal pulmonary arteries. barometric whole-body plethysmography (bwbp) is a non-invasive pulmonary function test (pft) that allows a dynamic study of breathing patterns and is useful to study airway disease and the response to different treatments. the aim of this prospective non-blinded s ...	2012	22230027
serological screening of canine heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) infections in turkey.	this study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of canine dirofilariosis in ten provinces of turkey using antigen elisa. a total of 317 blood samples were collected from 199 male and 118 female dogs between 2010 and 2011. 27 (8.5%) of 317 dog samples were positive for dirofilaria immitis antigen by elisa. no differences in seroprevalence were observed by sex (male: 9%; female: 8%; p > 0.05). seroprevalence rates were the highest in afyonkarahisar province (18%), followed by eskişehir (1 ...	2012	23227768
canine dirofilaria infections in two uninvestigated areas of serbia: epidemiological and genetic aspects.	in 2009 canine filarial infections were investigated in two northern areas of serbia (pančevo and veliko gradište), applying morphometry, biochemical staining, and immunological kit to detect dirofilaria immitis antigens, and two home-made elisas to detect antibodies to d. repens and d. immitis somatic/metabolic polyproteins. moreover, molecular tools were applied to analyze the phylogenetic relationships of the isolates. the microfilariae detected in 21/122 dogs (17.2%) were identified as d. re ...	2012	23127188
histopathologic effects of dirofilaria immitis microfilaria on internal organs of dog confirming by pcr technique.	the heartworm disease is an infectious disease of dogs with dirofilaria immitis combined with cardiovascular and circulatory abnormalities. the heartworm disease can become a serious health risk when associated with a severe infection. in this study, a male, 8 year-old dog that died suddenly was necropsied and all tissues were examined grossly.	2012	23109954
the comparison of spatial variation and risk factors between mosquito-borne and tick-borne diseases: seroepidemiology of ehrlichia canis, anaplasma species, and dirofilaria immitis in dogs.	canine ehrlichiosis/anaplasmosis and heartworm diseases are vector-borne and zoonotic infections. to compare epidemiology of these vector-borne diseases, a community-based study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of ehrlichia canis, anaplasma sp. and dirofilaria immitis infections among healthy pet dogs. prevalence distribution patterns were geographically contrasting between tick-borne e. canis/anaplasma sp. infections and mosquito-borne d. immitis infection. althoug ...	2012	22925931
a novel dirofilaria species causing human and canine infections in hong kong.	dirofilariasis is globally the commonest manifestation of zoonotic filariasis. we report the detection of a novel canine species causing human and canine dirofilariasis in hong kong. three human cases occurring over 10 months were identified, one presenting with cervical lymphadenopathy, one with an abdominal subcutaneous mass, and one with a subconjunctival nodule. transected worms recovered from the resected abdominal subcutaneous mass were morphologically compatible with dirofilaria. the cox1 ...	2012	22915604
novel insights into the transcriptome of dirofilaria immitis.	the heartworm dirofilaria immitis is the causal agent of cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis in dogs and cats, and also infects a wide range of wild mammals as well as humans. one bottleneck for the design of fundamentally new intervention and management strategies against d. immitis may be the currently limited knowledge of fundamental molecular aspects of d. immitis.	2012	22911833
the genome of the heartworm, dirofilaria immitis, reveals drug and vaccine targets.	the heartworm dirofilaria immitis is an important parasite of dogs. transmitted by mosquitoes in warmer climatic zones, it is spreading across southern europe and the americas at an alarming pace. there is no vaccine, and chemotherapy is prone to complications. to learn more about this parasite, we have sequenced the genomes of d. immitis and its endosymbiont wolbachia. we predict 10,179 protein coding genes in the 84.2 mb of the nuclear genome, and 823 genes in the 0.9-mb wolbachia genome. the ...	2012	22889830
[helminth fauna of the wolf (canis lupus linnaeus, 1758) in belorussian polesie].	the results of our own long-term helminthological investigations (1980-2010) of wolves in belorussian polesie are presented. 87.2% of wolves were infected by helminths according to helminthological autopsy, and 98.5% by coproscopical data. 26 species of helminths were found: 5 trematode species, 9 cestode species, 11 nematode species and 1 acanthocephalan species. the wolf is a new host for nematode dirofilaria immitis (leidy, 1856) in belarus.	2012	22834349
sex ratios of dirofilaria immitis in naturally infected dogs show female bias at low worm intensities.	sex ratios in invertebrates commonly deviate from parity (1:1). various genetic and epigenetic factors distort sex ratios to favor males or females. we examined sex ratios in dirofilaria immitis (heartworms) obtained from naturally-infected dogs. dirofilaria from 84 naturally-infected pound-source dogs were extracted at necropsy, counted and sexed. dogs had a median worm intensity of 15 filariae. overall, sex ratios equaled 1. however, at low worm intensities, dogs were more likely to have femal ...	2012	22819731
heartworms, macrocyclic lactones, and the specter of resistance to prevention in the united states.	in order to provide a background to current concerns relative to the possible resistance of heartworms to macrocyclic lactones, this review summarizes various studies in which lack of efficacies (loes) have been observed in dogs on macrocyclic lactone preventives relative to the united states of america. some of these studies have been published in the peer-reviewed literature, others have appeared in various reports to the center for veterinary medicine (cvm) of the food and drug administration ...	2012	22776618
detection of wolbachia dna in blood for diagnosing filaria-associated syndromes in cats.	a fundamental role for the endosymbiotic bacteria wolbachia pipientis in the pathogenesis of dirofilaria immitis infections has emerged in recent years. diagnostic opportunities arising from this breakthrough have not yet been fully exploited. this study was aimed at developing conventional and real-time pcr assays to carry out a molecular survey in a convenience sample of cats living in an area where d. immitis is endemic and to evaluate the detection of bacterial dna in blood as a surrogate as ...	2012	22649020
detection of heartworm infection in dogs via pcr amplification and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of nucleic acid extracts from whole blood samples.	to develop and evaluate a rapid and accurate assay involving pcr amplification and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of nucleic acid extracts from whole blood samples for the detection of dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs.	2012	22620700
myocardial damage in dogs affected by heartworm disease (dirofilaria immitis): immunohistochemical study of cardiac myoglobin and troponin i in naturally infected dogs.	it has recently been reported that dogs affected by canine heartworm disease (dirofilaria immitis) can show an increase in plasma levels of myoglobin and cardiac troponin i, two markers of muscle/myocardial injury. in order to determine if this increase is due to myocardial damage, the right ventricle of 24 naturally infected dogs was examined by routine histology and immunohistochemistry with anti-myoglobin and anti-cardiac troponin i antibodies. microscopic lesions included necrosis and myocyt ...	2012	22571834
low prevalence of dirofilaria immitis in dogs in johor bahru, malaysia as a reflection of vector availability?	this study was conducted to investigate the low prevalence of dirofilaria immitis in dogs in johor bahru as reported by veterinary practitioners, using wet blood mount, knott's concentration test and two heartworm antigen test kits (idexx canine snap® 4dx and rapigen®). this study also compared the two test kits used and determined the microfilaria species. blood were collected from 100 owned dogs and 50 stray dogs in johor bahru via cephalic venipuncture. a thick blood smear was done and examin ...	2012	22543620
serological survey of toxoplasma gondii, dirofilaria immitis, feline immunodeficiency virus (fiv) and feline leukemia virus (felv) infections in pet cats in bangkok and vicinities, thailand.	the seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii, dirofilaria immitis (heartworm), feline immunodeficiency virus (fiv) and feline leukemia virus (felv) infections was examined using serum or plasma samples from 746 pet cats collected between may and july 2009 from clinics and hospitals located in and around bangkok, thailand. the samples were tested for heartworm, fiv, and felv using a commercial elisa. of the 746 samples, 4.6% (34/746) were positive for heartworm antigen, 24.5% (183/746) had circulating ...	2012	22497870
detection of dirofilaria immitis and ehrlichia species in coyotes (canis latrans), from rural oklahoma and texas.	there is a lack of knowledge regarding the prevalence of dirofilaria immitis and ehrlichia spp. in coyotes in oklahoma and texas. documenting the prevalence of these vector-borne disease agents in coyotes from oklahoma and texas underscores the importance of wild canids as reservoir hosts that infect companion animals and humans. to learn more about the sylvatic cycle of d. immitis and ehrlichia spp. in coyotes from oklahoma and texas, we tested for infection with and exposure to, respectively, ...	2012	22448722
molecular xenomonitoring of dirofilaria immitis and dirofilaria repens in mosquitoes from north-eastern italy by real-time pcr coupled with melting curve analysis.	dirofilaria immitis and dirofilaria repens are transmitted by bloodsucking culicid mosquitoes belonging to culex, aedes, ochlerotatus, anopheles and mansonia genera. the detection of filarioids in mosquitoes for assessing distribution of vectors and/or of pathogens in a given area (also known as "xenomonitoring"), when based on individual dissection of wild-caught female mosquitoes is time consuming and hardly applicable in large epidemiological surveys. our study aimed to evaluate the recently ...	2012	22520170
key factors influencing canine heartworm, dirofilaria immitis, in the united states.	an examination of the companion animal parasite council's (capc) canine heartworm data to clarify the spatial prevalence of heartworm in the united states. factors thought to influence the spatial risk of disease, as identified in a recent capc workshop, are discussed.	2012	23111089
heartworm disease (dirofilaria immitis) and their vectors in europe - new distribution trends.	cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis is a cosmopolitan disease caused by dirofilaria immitis, which affects mainly canids and felids. moreover, it causes zoonotic infections, producing pulmonary dirofilariasis in humans. heartworm disease is a vector-borne transmitted disease, thus transmission depends on the presence of competent mosquito species, which is directly related to favorable climate conditions for its development and survival. cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis is mainly located in countries w ...	2012	22701433
diagnosis of brugian filariasis by loop-mediated isothermal amplification.	in this study we developed and evaluated a brugia hha i repeat loop-mediated isothermal amplification (lamp) assay for the rapid detection of brugia genomic dna. amplification was detected using turbidity or fluorescence as readouts. reactions generated a turbidity threshold value or a clear visual positive within 30 minutes using purified genomic dna equivalent to one microfilaria. similar results were obtained using dna isolated from blood samples containing b. malayi microfilariae. amplificat ...	2012	23272258
comparing the mitochondrial genomes of wolbachia-dependent and independent filarial nematode species.	many species of filarial nematodes depend on wolbachia endobacteria to carry out their life cycle. other species are naturally wolbachia-free. the biological mechanisms underpinning wolbachia-dependence and independence in filarial nematodes are not known. previous studies have indicated that wolbachia have an impact on mitochondrial gene expression, which may suggest a role in energy metabolism. if wolbachia can supplement host energy metabolism, reduced mitochondrial function in infected filar ...	2012	22530989
seroprevalence and geographic distribution of dirofilaria immitis and tick-borne infections (anaplasma phagocytophilum, borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, and ehrlichia canis) in dogs from romania.	tick-borne diseases are of great concern worldwide. despite this, in romania there is only limited information regarding the prevalence of vector-borne pathogens in dogs. in all, 1146 serum samples were tested by snap(®) 4dx(®) (idexx laboratories, inc., westbrook, me) for anaplasma phagocytophilum, borrelia burgdorferi, and ehrlichia canis antibodies, and for dirofilaria immitis antigen. the correlation between positive cases and their geographic distribution, as well as potential risk factors ...	2012	22607068
cross-reactions of sera from dogs infected with angiostrongylus vasorum in commercially available dirofilaria immitis test kits.	dirofilaria immitis and angiostrongylus vasorum are both important potentially fatal canine nematodes with overlapping endemic areas, especially in europe. the preadult and adult stages of both species are living in the arteria pulmonalis and the right heart, and diagnostically detectable circulating parasite antigens have been demonstrated for both species. for the detection of d. immitis infections, a variety of commercial tests have been developed, however, they have not been evaluated for cr ...	2012	23148786
first analysis of the secretome of the canine heartworm, dirofilaria immitis.	the characterization of proteins released from filariae is an important step in addressing many of the needs in the diagnosis and treatment of these clinically important parasites, as well as contributing to a clearer understanding of their biology. this report describes findings on the proteins released during in vitro cultivation of adult dirofilaria immitis , the causative agent of canine and feline heartworm disease. differences in protein secretion among nematodes in vivo may relate to the ...	2012	22781075
the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the filarial nematode wuchereria bancrofti from three geographic isolates provides evidence of complex demographic history.	mitochondrial (mt) genome sequences have enabled comparison of population genetics and evolution for numerous free-living and parasitic nematodes. here we define the complete mt genome of wuchereria bancrofti through analysis of isolates from papua new guinea, india and west africa. sequences were assembled for each isolate and annotated with reference to the mt genome sequence for brugia malayi. the length of the w. bancrofti mt genome is approximately 13,637 nucleotides, contains 2 ribosomal r ...	2012	22326389
exposure to selected pathogens in to selected pathogens in geoffroy's cats and domestic carnivores from central argentina.	wild carnivores share a high percentage of parasites and viruses with closely related domestic carnivores. because of increased overlap and potential contact with domestic species, we conducted a retrospective serosurvey for 11 common carnivore pathogens in 40 geoffroy's cats (leopardus geoffroyi) sampled between 2000 and 2008 within or near two protected areas in central argentina (lihué calel national park, la pampa, and campos del tuyú national park, buenos aires), as well as five domestic ca ...	2012	23060491
a multiplex pcr for the simultaneous detection of species of filarioids infesting dogs.	the present study reports the applicability of a multiplex pcr for the simultaneous detection and differentiation of common filarioids infecting dogs, i.e., dirofilaria immitis and dirofilaria repens, acanthocheilonema reconditum and cercopithifilaria sp. amplicons of different sizes (i.e., 170bp, 480bp, 590bp and 300bp, respectively) of regions within the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene were amplified on a single-step multiplex pcr using a mix of species-specific forwar ...	2012	22248527
on a cercopithifilaria sp. transmitted by rhipicephalus sanguineus: a neglected, but widespread filarioid of dogs.	abstract:	2012	22212459
introduction to the symposium global perspective on the culex pipiens complex in the 21st century: the interrelationship of culex pipiens, quinquefasciatus, molestus and others.	mosquitoes in the culex pipiens complex, including culex pipiens, cx. quinquefasciatus, and cx. molestus, are important pest species and vectors of human and animal diseases throughout the world's tropical, temperate, and holarctic regions. diseases transmitted by member of the pipiens complex include: st. louis encephalitis and west nile virus in north america, west nile virus on several other continents, rift valley fever in africa, lymphatic filariasis caused by wuchereria bancrofti in the tr ...	2012	23401940
multiple myeloma in a dog with multiple concurrent infectious diseases and persistent polyclonal gammopathy.	a 12-year-old, spayed female, mixed-breed dog was presented for acute hematuria, stranguria, polyuria, and polydipsia, as well as lameness for 8 days. previous medical history included treatment for infection with ehrlichia canis, anaplasma phagocytophilum, leishmania infantum, and dirofilaria immitis 6.5 years prior to presentation. besides persistently increased antibody titers to e canis and a phagocytophilum, polyclonal gammopathy with a monoclonal spike and moderate hypercalcemia were obser ...	2012	23278475
host-feeding pattern of culex theileri (diptera: culicidae), potential vector of dirofilaria immitis in the canary islands, spain.	to identify the host range of potential vectors of dirofilaria immitis leidy, the causal agent of canine dirofilariasis, we studied the bloodmeal origin of mosquitoes trapped on two of the canary islands, gran canaria and tenerife, where this disease is considered hyperendemic. on gran canaria, mosquitoes were captured using centers for disease control and prevention (cdc) traps (outdoors) and resting in a bathroom (indoors). only cdc traps were used to capture mosquitoes in tenerife. the specie ...	2012	23270171
haemoparasites of free-roaming dogs associated with several remote aboriginal communities in australia.	tick-borne haemoparasites babesia vogeli and anaplasma platys are common among the free-roaming canine populations associated with aboriginal communities in australia, whilst the prevalence of haemoplasmas, which are also suspected to be tick-borne, remained unexplored. the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of haemoplasma infection in these populations, and to identify any correlation with other haemoparasites. blood was collected from 39 dogs associated with four aboriginal comm ...	2012	22584120
prevalence of dirofilaria immitis, ehrlichia canis, borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, anaplasma spp. and leishmania infantum in apparently healthy and cvbd-suspect dogs in portugal--a national serological study.	canine vector-borne diseases (cvbds) are caused by a wide range of pathogens transmitted to dogs by arthropods including ticks and insects. many cvbd-agents are of zoonotic concern, with dogs potentially serving as reservoirs and sentinels for human infections. the present study aimed at assessing the seroprevalence of infection with or exposure to dirofilaria immitis, ehrlichia canis, borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, anaplasma spp. and leishmania infantum in dogs in portugal.	2012	22452990
first case of anaplasma platys infection in a dog from croatia.	it is known that anaplasma (a.) platys, the causative agent of infectious canine cyclic thrombocytopenia, is endemic in countries of the mediterranean basin. however, few reports are available from the balkans. this case report describes a dog, which was imported from croatia to germany in may 2010. one month later the dog was presented to a local veterinarian in germany due to intermittent/recurrent diarrhoea. diagnostic tests were performed to identify infections caused by anaplasma spp., ehrl ...	2012	22401583
human dirofilaria repens infection in romania: a case report.	human dirofilariasis is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by the filarial nematodes of dogs dirofilaria repens and dirofilaria immitis. depending on the species involved, human infections usually manifest as one cutaneous or visceral larva migrans that forms a painless nodule in the later course of disease. dirofilariae are endemic in the mediterranean, particularly in italy. they are considered as emerging pathogens currently increasing their geographical range. we present one of the few kno ...	2012	22567488
serological investigation of vector-borne disease in dogs from rural areas of china.	to evaluate the anaplasma phagocytophilum (a. phagocytophilum), ehrlichia canis (e. canis), dirofilaria immitis (d. immitis) (canine heartworm), borrelia burgdorferi (b. burgdorferi) infections in countryside dogs from yunnan, hainan and anhui provinces.	2012	23569877
seropositivity rates for agents of canine vector-borne diseases in spain: a multicentre study.	controlling canine vector-borne diseases (cvbd) is a major concern, since some of these diseases are serious zoonoses. this study was designed to determine seropositivity rates in spain for agents causing the following five cvbd: leishmaniosis (leishmania infantum: li), heartworm (dirofilaria immitis: di), ehrlichiosis (ehrlichia canis: ec), anaplasmosis (anaplasma phagocytophilum/anaplasma platys: an) and lyme disease (borrelia burgdorferi: bb).	2013	23607428
identification of dirofilaria immitis mirna using illumina deep sequencing.	the heartworm dirofilaria immitis is the causative agent of cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis in dogs and cats, which also infects a wide range of wild mammals and humans. the complex life cycle of d. immitis with several developmental stages in its invertebrate mosquito vectors and its vertebrate hosts indicates the importance of mirna in growth and development, and their ability to regulate infection of mammalian hosts. this study identified the mirna profiles of d. immitis of zoonotic significan ...	2013	23331513
rapid detection and identification of brugia malayi, b. pahangi, and dirofilaria immitis by high-resolution melting assay.	human lymphatic filariasis is caused by filarial worms such as brugia malayi for which the major reservoir is domestic cats. however, domestic cats or dogs also carry nonhuman filaria such as brugia pahangi and dirofilaria immitis. we have developed a single-tube, real-time pcr with a high-resolution melting (hrm) analysis assay for detection and identification of b. malayi, b. pahangi, and d. immitis in blood samples. the designated primer pair in the pcr can amplify a 114-bp region of mitochon ...	2013	23199268
prevalence of dirofilaria immitis (nematoda: filarioidea) in mosquitoes from northeast arkansas, the united states.	a mosquito survey was conducted to identify which species of mosquitoes carry dirofilaria immitis (leidy) (nematoda: filarioidea), dog heartworm, in northeast arkansas. using polymerase chain reaction, mosquitoes were analyzed for d. immitis, dirofilaria repens railliet & henry, and acanthocheilonema dracunculoides cobbold. mosquitoes were collected from april to october 2009 using black light ultraviolet traps baited with dry ice. sixteen mosquito species were identified. d. immitis was identif ...	2013	23926787
morphometric analyses of canine blood microfilariae isolated by the knott's test enables dirofilaria immitis and d. repens species-specific and acanthocheilonema (syn. dipetalonema) genus-specific diagnosis.	considering the increasing importance of small animals travel medicine and the spread of filariae with zoonotic potential to non-endemic european areas, routine filarial diagnosis in dogs is becoming important. dirofilaria immitis, d. repens, acanthocheilonema dracunculoides and a. reconditum are the most common canine filarial nematodes presenting blood circulating microfilariae (mf) which can be differentiated to species level by the acid phosphatase activity patterns or by pcr. available data ...	2013	23442771
fleas infesting pets in the era of emerging extra-intestinal nematodes.	modifications in climatic conditions, movements of hosts and goods, changes in animal phenology and human behaviour and increase of wildlife, are presently concurring in the geographic spread of vectors and cardio-respiratory nematodes, e.g. dirofilaria immitis, angiostrongylus vasorum, aelurostrongylus abstrusus and capillaria aerophila. all these factors may also influence dispersion and clinical significance of fleas, thus posing relevant challenges in those regions where other parasites are ...	2013	23497511
comments on potential efficacy of monthly administrations of spot-on moxidectin 2.5%/imidacloprid 10% in the simultaneous prevention of major canine filarioses.	information on the efficacy of pharmaceutical protocols for the prevention of the major canine filarioses (i.e., dirofilaria immitis, dirofilaria repens, and acanthocheilonema reconditum) under natural conditions is scant. chemoprophylaxis for canine filarioses under field conditions deserves to be studied more fully and information about vector biology, ecology, and seasonality has to be well appreciated to correctly set control protocols. it is advisable that researchers planning field trials ...	2013	24096604