Publications

establishment of macrocyclic lactone resistant dirofilaria immitis isolates in experimentally infected laboratory dogs.	strains of dirofilaria immitis suspected of lack of efficacy (loe) to macrocyclic lactone (ml) preventive drugs have been increasingly reported in dogs by practicing veterinarians since 2005 in the lower mississippi delta region. if proven, and not controlled in the early stages, the emergence of ml drug resistance threatens to become a widespread problem in the us that may limit the effectiveness of current preventive drug treatment methods.	2014	25376278
characterization of the ca2+-gated and voltage-dependent k+-channel slo-1 of nematodes and its interaction with emodepside.	the cyclooctadepsipeptide emodepside and its parent compound pf1022a are broad-spectrum nematicidal drugs which are able to eliminate nematodes resistant to other anthelmintics. the mode of action of cyclooctadepsipeptides is only partially understood, but involves the latrophilin lat-1 receptor and the voltage- and calcium-activated potassium channel slo-1. genetic evidence suggests that emodepside exerts its anthelmintic activity predominantly through slo-1. indeed, slo-1 deficient caenorhabdi ...	2014	25521608
prevalence of select vector-borne disease agents in owned dogs of ghana.	ticks, sera and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (edta) blood were collected from dogs evaluated at the amakom veterinary clinic in kumasi, ghana. sera were evaluated for dirofilaria immitis antigen and antibodies against borrelia burgdorferi, anaplasma phagocytophilum and ehrlichia canis. conventional polymerase chain reaction assays designed to amplify the deoxyribonucleic acid (dna) of ehrlichia spp. or anaplasma spp. or neorickettsia spp. or wolbachia spp., babesia spp., rickettsia spp., hepa ...	2014	25686301
performance of a commercially available in-clinic elisa for detection of antibodies against anaplasma phagocytophilum, anaplasma platys, borrelia burgdorferi, ehrlichia canis, and ehrlichia ewingii and dirofilaria immitis antigen in dogs.	to evaluate the performance of an in-clinic elisa designed for detection of heartworm antigen and antibodies against 5 tick-borne pathogens.	2014	24941391
molecular detection of co-infections with anaplasma phagocytophilum and/or babesia canis canis in dirofilaria-positive dogs from slovakia.	recently, several arthropod-borne infections have been introduced into previously non-endemic regions in europe as the result of various global changes. at the same time, endemic regions are expanding and the risk of co-infections is rising, due to climate change that allows vectors to move and spread infectious diseases into new areas. the aim of the current study was to confirm simultaneous infections with anaplasma phagocytophilum and/or babesia canis canis in dirofilaria-infected dogs from s ...	2014	24630708
surveillance for ehrlichia canis, anaplasma phagocytophilum, borrelia burgdorferi, and dirofilaria immitis in dogs from three cities in colombia.	emerging infectious and zoonotic diseases are made up in large proportion by vector-borne diseases (vbd). dogs are parasitized by disease vectors such as ticks and mosquitoes, making dogs adequate reservoirs for zoonoses. risk of exposure to vbd exists for the u.s. military personnel and military working dogs (mwd) when deployed globally. the importance of canine vbd surveillance relates to veterinary and public health significance for the host nations as well as for the u.s. troops and mwds. th ...	2014	24604443
[asymptomatic human infection from contact with dogs: a case of human ehrlichiosis].	living with dogs leads one to consider the necessity of identifying canine infections found in the people with whom the dogs live.	2014	24603998
new insights onto cardiopulmonary nematodes of dogs in sardinia, italy.	dog heartworms angiostrongylus vasorum and dirofilaria immitis cause severe parasitological diseases; the importance of these parasitosis is growing due to their health impact on animals, the possible zoonotic implications and the recent spreading across several european countries and previously non-endemic areas. the aim of this study is to update the epidemiological scenario of cardiopulmonary nematodes a. vasorum and d. immitis in dogs of sardinia island and to perform a morphological identif ...	2014	24525757
regional seroreactivity and vector-borne disease co-exposures in dogs in the united states from 2004-2010: utility of canine surveillance.	vector-borne disease (vbd) pathogens remain an emerging health concern for animals and humans throughout the world. surveillance studies of ticks and humans have made substantial contributions to our knowledge of vbd epidemiology trends, but long-term vbd surveillance data of dogs in the united states is limited. this seroreactivity study assessed us temporal and regional trends and co-exposures to anaplasma, babesia, bartonella, borrelia burgdorferi, dirofilaria immitis, ehrlichia spp., and spo ...	2014	25325316
development and evaluation of serodiagnostic assays with recombinant bgsa1 of babesia gibsoni.	indirect elisa, dot-elisa and double antibody sandwich elisa (das-elisa) using truncated recombinant bgsa1 (rbgsa1) were developed for detecting babesia gibsoni infection in naturally infected dogs. truncated bgsa1 gene of 858 bp, encoding 32 kda protein was cloned in pet-32a(+) expression vector, expressed in escherichia coli and the recombinant protein was purified under native conditions. to evaluate the ability of the truncated rbgsa1as serodiagnostic reagent for b. gibsoni infection, a pane ...	2014	25241636
molecular detection of dirofilaria immitis, hepatozoon canis, babesia spp., anaplasma platys and ehrlichia canis in dogs on costa rica.	although vector-borne diseases are important causes of morbidity and mortality in dogs in tropical areas, there is little information on these conditions in costa rica. in pcrs of blood from dogs in costa rica, we did not detect dnas of rickettsia (r.) felis and coxiella (c.) burnetii but we did find evidence of infection with dirofilaria (d.) immitis (9/40, 22.5%), hepatozoon (h.) canis (15/40, 37.5%), babesia spp. (10/40, 25%; 2 with b. gibsoni and 8 with b. vogeli), anaplasma (a.) platys (3/4 ...	2014	26204016
evaluation of a rapid device for serological in-clinic diagnosis of canine angiostrongylosis.	angiostrongylus vasorum is a potentially fatal canine nematode. due to the high variability of clinical signs and the often chronic and subtle course of the infections, the diagnosis is particularly challenging. a rapid in-clinic assay (angio detect test, idexx laboratories, westbrook, maine, usa) for the serological detection of circulating antigen and intended for routine in-clinic diagnosis has been evaluated.	2014	24548539
utilization of computer processed high definition video imaging for measuring motility of microscopic nematode stages on a quantitative scale: "the worminator".	a major hindrance to evaluating nematode populations for anthelmintic resistance, as well as for screening existing drugs, new compounds, or bioactive plant extracts for anthelmintic properties, is the lack of an efficient, objective, and reproducible in vitro assay that is adaptable to multiple life stages and parasite genera. to address this need we have developed the "worminator" system, which objectively and quantitatively measures the motility of microscopic stages of parasitic nematodes. t ...	2014	25516834
proteomic analysis of the urine of dirofilaria immitis infected dogs.	canine cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis caused by dirofilaria immitis habitually develops as a chronic disease affecting pulmonary arteries, lung parenchyma and heart. other organs like kidneys can also be involved. renal pathology is a consequence of glomerulonephritis whose main sign is proteinuria. the aim of the present work is to identify proteins excreted in the urine of d. immitis infected dogs showing proteinuria, and the possible contribution of their loss to heartworm disease. proteinuri ...	2014	24566125
a high resolution melting real time pcr for mapping of filaria infection in domestic cats living in brugian filariosis-endemic areas.	we present here a real time pcr with high resolution melting (hrm) analysis for determining the prevalence and distribution of filarial species in domestic cats residing in brugian filariosis endemic areas of narathiwat province, thailand. filarial species can be clearly distinguished in a single well using a single pair of primers. blood samples were taken from a total of 2039 domestic cats living in endemic areas. microfilariae were detected in 5.7% of the sample, while the overall prevalence ...	2014	24462253
detection of circulating parasite-derived micrornas in filarial infections.	filarial nematodes cause chronic and profoundly debilitating diseases in both humans and animals. applications of novel technology are providing unprecedented opportunities to improve diagnosis and our understanding of the molecular basis for host-parasite interactions. as a first step, we investigated the presence of circulating mirnas released by filarial nematodes into the host bloodstream. mirna deep-sequencing combined with bioinformatics revealed over 200 mature mirna sequences of potentia ...	2014	25033073
parasitology, virology, and serology of free-ranging coyotes (canis latrans) from central georgia, usa.	we examined 31 free-ranging coyotes (canis latrans) from central georgia, usa, for select parasites and viral agents. sixteen coyotes had adult heartworms (dirofilaria immitis). serum samples from 27 animals revealed antibodies against canine parvovirus (100%), canine distemper virus (48%), canine adenovirus (37%), and trypanosoma cruzi (7%); none were detected against leishmania spp. twenty-two of 24 (92%) coyotes were positive for toxoplasma gondii. real-time pcr of feces revealed 32% of coyot ...	2014	25098300
serological detection of anaplasma phagocytophilum, borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and ehrlichia canis antibodies and dirofilaria immitis antigen in a countrywide survey in dogs in poland.	canine vector-borne diseases (cvbds) have increasingly become a focus of attention in the past few years. nevertheless, in many parts of europe information on their occurrence is still scarce. in a large study in poland 3,094 serum samples taken from dogs throughout all 16 polish provinces were tested using a commercial kit for the detection of circulating antibodies against anaplasma phagocytophilum, borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and ehrlichia canis and of dirofilaria immitis antigen. a total ...	2014	24974092
canine infection with dirofilaria immitis, borrelia burgdorferi, anaplasma spp., and ehrlichia spp. in the united states, 2010-2012.	the geographic distribution of canine infection with vector-borne disease agents in the united states appears to be expanding.	2014	24886589
seroprevalence of some vector-borne infections of dogs in hungary.	the first comprehensive study on the prevalence of canine vector-borne pathogens (anaplasma phagocytophilum, borrelia burgdorferi, ehrlichia canis, and dirofilaria immitis) was carried in hungary because, except for babesiosis and dirofilariosis caused by dirofilaria repens, there were no data on their regional distribution and prevalence. in 2011 and 2012, 1305 blood samples were collected from randomly selected, apparently healthy pet dogs in 167 localities of 19 counties of hungary. all sera ...	2014	24689833
development of dirofilaria immitis within the mosquito aedes (finlaya) koreicus, a new invasive species for europe.	over the recent decades, container-breeding mosquito species belonging to the genus aedes have frequently been recorded far from their place of origin. aedes koreicus was first reported in north-eastern italy in 2011, in a region endemic for dirofilaria immitis, the agent of canine heartworm disease. the vector competence of ae. koreicus for d. immitis was here tested under laboratory conditions, by infecting mosquitoes with a local strain of d. immitis.	2015	25884876
clinical and molecular investigation of a canine distemper outbreak and vector-borne infections in a group of rescue dogs imported from hungary to switzerland.	canine distemper virus (cdv) is a major pathogen of dogs and wild carnivores worldwide. in switzerland, distemper in domestic dogs is rarely reported. in recent years, the import of dogs from eastern europe to switzerland has steadily increased. in the present study, we describe a distemper outbreak in 15 rescue dogs that were imported from hungary to switzerland by an animal welfare organisation. the data on vaccination and medical history were recorded (14 dogs), and the samples were collected ...	2015	26179635
parasitology and serology of free-ranging coyotes (canis latrans) in north carolina, usa.	coyotes (canis latrans) have expanded recently into the eastern us and can serve as a source of pathogens to domestic dogs (canis lupus familiaris), livestock, and humans. we examined free-ranging coyotes from central north carolina, us, for selected parasites and prevalence of antibodies against viral and bacterial agents. we detected ticks on most (81%) coyotes, with amblyomma americanum detected on 83% of those with ticks. fifteen (47%) coyotes were positive for heartworms (dirofilaria immiti ...	2015	25984773
prevalence of filarial parasites in domestic and stray cats in selangor state, malaysia.	to determine the prevalence of the filarial parasites,ie.,brugia malayi, brugia, brugia pahangi(b. pahangi), dirofilaria immitisanddirofilaria repens (d. repens) in domestic and stray cats.	2015	26433654
a histochemical study of the nras/let-60 activity in filarial nematodes.	control and elimination of filarial pathogens is a central focus of major global health efforts directed at parasitic diseases of developing countries. accomplishment of these goals would be markedly enhanced by the enhanced destruction of the adult stage of filariae. the identification of new, more quantitative biomarkers that correlate with mortality or chemotherapeutic damage to adult filariae, would greatly facilitate, for example, the development of new macrofilaricides.	2015	26130134
rapid differentiation of filariae in unstained and stained paraffin-embedded sections by a high-resolution melting analysis pcr assay.	apart from infection with human filariae, zoonotic filariasis also occurs worldwide, and the numbers of cases have been increasing steadily. diagnosis of intact filariae in tissues or organs depends on histological identification. the morphology of parasites in tissue-embedded sections is poor and shows high levels of homoplasy. thus, the use of morphological characteristics in taxonomic studies is difficult and may not allow a specific diagnosis.	2015	26273808
elusive angiostrongylus vasorum infections.	the parasitic nematode angiostrongylus vasorum causes severe clinical signs in dogs. the disease is often challenging because infected animals are often presented with clinical signs overlapping those of other diseases.	2015	26306788
serological investigation of leishmania infantum, dirofilaria immitis and angiostrongylus vasorum in dogs from southern portugal.	leishmaniosis, dirofilariosis and angiostrongylosis are parasitic diseases of established importance in dogs worldwide. the aim of the present report was to determine all together levels of infection with or exposure to leishmania infantum, dirofilaria immitis and angiostrongylus vasorum in dogs from the algarve region, in southern portugal.	2015	25890353
recent study on canine vector-borne zoonoses in southern slovakia - serologic survey.	over the last decade a significant spread of canine vector borne diseases has been recorded in central europe. the aim of the study described here, was to collect current data on the occurrence and distribution of three major canine vector-borne pathogens in the veterinary clinical practice by a newly-developed commercial elisa test for the detection of dirofilaria immitis antigen as well as specific circulating antibodies to anaplasma phagocytophilum and borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. circula ...	2015	26408601
current surveys of the seroprevalence of borrelia burgdorferi, ehrlichia canis, anaplasma phagocytophilum, leishmania infantum, babesia canis, angiostrongylus vasorum and dirofilaria immitis in dogs in bulgaria.	canine vector-borne diseases (cvbds) have increasingly become a focus of interest in recent years. some of the cvbds are zoonotic and may therefore also represent a risk for the human population. different factors are in discussion to explain the expansion of vectors and pathogens into formerly unaffected areas. knowledge of the prevalence and distribution of cvbds in bulgaria is scant overall and most data rely on single case descriptions. the aim of the present study was to determine the serop ...	2015	26152413
first record of autochthonous canine ehrlichiosis caused by ehrlichia canis in romania.	this case study describes the first genetically confirmed and clinically manifested autochthonous ehrlichia canis infection in a 9-year-old female mixed-breed dog from romania. health screening of the dog included clinical examination, evaluation of stained peripheral blood smear and hematologic variables, as well as serologic testing and molecular analysis. clinical signs included fever, apathy, dehydration, pale mucous membranes, and weakness. the microscopic examination of the blood smear and ...	2015	25867940
current surveys on the prevalence and distribution of dirofilaria spp. and acanthocheilonema reconditum infections in dogs in romania.	during the last decades, dirofilaria spp. infection in european dogs has rapidly spread from historically endemic areas towards eastern and northeastern countries, but little or no information is available from these geographical regions. the present study provides a picture of filarial infections in dogs from romania and compares two tests for the diagnosis of dirofilaria immitis. from july 2010 to march 2011, blood samples were collected from 390 dogs from nine counties of romania and serologi ...	2015	25544702
filarial infections in domestic dogs in lusaka, zambia.	filariae are common parasites of dogs in many parts of the world, but little is known about the status of these infections in sub-saharan africa. a study was carried out to determine the occurrence and species of filariae among 272 dogs in lusaka, zambia. giemsa stained blood smear and knott's concentration methods revealed microfilariae in 16 (5.9%) of the dogs. pcr confirmed that most of these dogs had acanthocheilonema reconditum infection. ten (4.0%) of the examined dogs were positive for di ...	2015	25944406
targeting lysine deacetylases (kdacs) in parasites.	due to an increasing problem of drug resistance among almost all parasites species ranging from protists to worms, there is an urgent need to explore new drug targets and their inhibitors to provide new and effective parasitic therapeutics. in this regard, there is growing interest in exploring known drug leads of human epigenetic enzymes as potential starting points to develop novel treatments for parasitic diseases. this approach of repurposing (starting with validated targets and inhibitors) ...	2015	26402733
efficacy of two common methods of application of residual insecticide for controlling the asian tiger mosquito, aedes albopictus (skuse), in urban areas.	after its first introduction in the 1980's the asian tiger mosquito, aedes albopictus (skuse), has spread throughout southern europe. ae. albopictus is considered an epidemiologically important vector for the transmission of many viral pathogens such as the yellow fever virus, dengue fever and chikungunya fever, as well as several filarial nematodes such as dirofilaria immitis or d. repens. it is therefore crucial to develop measures to reduce the risks of disease transmission by controlling the ...	2015	26248028
detection of dirofilaria immitis and other arthropod-borne filarioids by an hrm real-time qpcr, blood-concentrating techniques and a serological assay in dogs from costa rica.	canine filarioids are important nematodes transmitted to dogs by arthropods. diagnosis of canine filariosis is accomplished by the microscopic identification of microfilariae, serology or pcr for filarial-dna. the aim of this study was to evaluate a molecular assay for the detection of canine filariae in dog blood, to compare its performance to other diagnostic techniques, and to determine the relationship between microfilarial concentration and infection with other vector-borne pathogens.	2015	25851920
moxidectin steady state prior to inoculation protects cats from subsequent, repeated infection with dirofilaria immitis.	infection of cats with dirofilaria immitis causes seroconversion on antibody tests and pulmonary pathology, often without subsequent development of adult heartworms. consistent administration of topical 10% imidacloprid-1% moxidectin has been shown to result in sustained plasma levels of moxidectin in cats after three to five treatments, a pharmacokinetic behavior known as "steady state".	2015	25880531
fine-scale temperature fluctuation and modulation of dirofilaria immitis larval development in aedes aegypti.	we evaluated degree-day predictions of dirofilaria immitis development (hdu) under constant and fluctuating temperature treatments of equal average daily temperature. aedes aegypti mosquitoes were infected with d. immitis microfilariae and parasite development was recorded at set time points in dissected mosquitoes. time to l3 development in malpighian tubules and detection in mosquito heads was shorter for larvae experiencing a daily regime of 19±9°c than larvae at constant 19°c; larval develop ...	2015	25747489
first molecular identification of mosquito vectors of dirofilaria immitis in continental portugal.	canine dirofilariasis due to dirofilaria immitis is known to be endemic in continental portugal. however, information about the transmitting mosquito species is still scarce, with only culex theileri identified to date, albeit with l1-2, through dissection. this study was carried out to investigate the potential vectors of dirofilaria spp. in continental portugal.	2015	25886610
xenomonitoring of different filarial nematodes using single and multiplex pcr in mosquitoes from assiut governorate, egypt.	wuchereria bancrofti, dirofilaria immitis, and dirofilaria repens are filarial nematodes transmitted by mosquitoes belonging to culex, aedes, and anopheles genera. screening by vector dissection is a tiresome technique. we aimed to screen filarial parasites in their vectors by single and multiplex pcr and evaluate the usefulness of multiplex pcr as a rapid xenomonitoring and simultaneous differentiation tool, in area where 3 filarial parasites are coexisting. female mosquitoes were collected fro ...	2015	25748712
a case report on oral subcutaneous dirofilariasis.	dirofilariasis is an uncommon zoonotic parasitic infection affecting human. the natural hosts for this nematode are animals such as dogs, cats, foxes, jackals, and raccoons. this disease is endemic in south eastern united states, australia, europe, and central and southern asia. dirofilaria immitis and d. repens are the common mosquito borne filarial nematodes that cause infection. several species of mosquitos including mansonia uniformis, m. annulifera, and aedes aegypti are the potential vecto ...	2015	26858848
molecular detection of vector-borne agents in dogs from ten provinces of china.	although many vector-borne agents are potential zoonoses and cause substantial morbidity and mortality in dogs worldwide, there are limited data on these organisms in dogs of china.	2015	26428085
dirofilaria immitis and angiostrongylus vasorum: the contemporaneous detection in kennels.	the cardiopulmonary nematodes dirofilaria immitis and angiostrongylus vasorum are increasingly reported in dogs and are responsible for two diseases with overlapping endemic areas, especially in europe: dirofilariosis and angiostrongylosis. the reasons for their apparent emergence are unknown, but several factors (e.g. increased disease awareness, better diagnostic tools, climatic changes, seasonal population dynamics and movements of animals) may play a role in the recent rise in reports of inf ...	2015	26689960
supergroup c wolbachia, mutualist symbionts of filarial nematodes, have a distinct genome structure.	wolbachia pipientis is possibly the most widespread endosymbiont of arthropods and nematodes. while all wolbachia strains have historically been defined as a single species, 16 monophyletic clusters of diversity (called supergroups) have been described. different supergroups have distinct host ranges and symbiotic relationships, ranging from mutualism to reproductive manipulation. in filarial nematodes, which include parasites responsible for major diseases of humans (such as onchocerca volvulus ...	2015	26631376
first report of the invasive mosquito species aedes koreicus in the swiss-italian border region.	in 2012 and 2013, an entomological survey of aedes albopictus, the asian tiger mosquito, was carried out in the border region of southern switzerland and northern italy, using ovitraps. in july 2013, besides a. albopictus already known to the region several unusual eggs were recovered.	2015	26223377
chemoprophylaxis of dirofilaria immitis (leidy 1856) infection at a high challenge environment.	the frequency of canine heartworm infection in the state of rio de janeiro, brazil was high before chemoprophylactic treatment was available, with one of the highest rates of infection (52.5 %) found among dogs living on the eastern shore of the state. following the launch of a chemoprophylactic product, the rate of infection gradually decreased, and new infections were rarely reported. after 2005, outbreaks reported at the eastern shore as well as for new infections in other areas of high infec ...	2015	26459036
circulation of dirofilaria repens, setaria tundra, and onchocercidae species in hungary during the period 2011-2013.	dirofilaria repens and recently dirofilaria immitis are known to be endemic in hungary. since there is no related research on dirofilaria carrier mosquito species from hungary, we conducted a three-year mosquito surveillance study between 2011 and 2013. during the study period we examined 23,139 female mosquitoes with a generic filaria-specific taqman pcr assay, and characterized them by sequencing a 500 bp segment of 12s rrna. an important result of our study was the detection of setaria tundra ...	2015	26412142
potential mosquito (diptera:culicidae) vector of dirofilaria repens and dirofilaria immitis in urban areas of eastern slovakia.	this paper follows the study from 2013 focused on the molecular screening of mosquitoes as vectors of dirofilaria spp. which provided the information on aedes vexans as a potential vector of dirofilaria repens in slovakia. current entomological and molecular research indicates that ae. vexans can participate also in the transmission of dirofilaria immitis within the region. using the standard pcr method, we examined 10,500 mosquitoes (ae. vexans, ae. rossicus, anopheles maculipennis s.l., ochler ...	2015	26391170
prevalence of dirofilaria immitis in dogs from barcelona: validation of a geospatial prediction model.	like other vector borne infections, the distribution of dirofilariosis caused by dirofilaria immitis is influenced by climatic factors, which regulate the diversity and abundance of mosquito species able to transmit the parasite. geographical information systems (gis) can predict the distribution and epidemiological behavior of dirofilariosis based on temperature and humidity data. this study analyses the prevalence and current distribution of canine dirofilariosis in the province of barcelona ( ...	2015	26162560
laboratory evaluation of the efficacy of 10 % imidacloprid + 2.5 % moxidectin topical solution (advantage® multi, advocate®) for the treatment of dirofilaria immitis circulating microfilariae in dogs.	this study examined the efficacy of 10 % imidacloprid + 2.5 % moxidectin topical solution (advantage ® multi, advocate®, bayer) for the treatment of circulating microfilariae from dogs naturally infected with dirofilaria immitis. the study included two groups of 11 dogs each that consisted of two replicates. replicate 1 contained 12 dogs (6 treated and 6 controls) and replicate 2 contained 10 dogs (5 treated and 5 controls). six of the 10 dogs in replicate 2 were the controls from replicate 1. a ...	2015	26152417
serological cross-reactivity of three commercial in-house immunoassays for detection of dirofilaria immitis antigens with spirocerca lupi in dogs with benign esophageal spirocercosis.	the nematode spirocerca lupi infects dogs and is endemic in israel. it leads to formation of esophageal nodules and neoplasia. infection is diagnosed by coproscopy, endoscopy and radiography. dirofilaria immitis causes heartworm disease in dogs, and has a world-wide distribution, but autochthonous infection has never been detected in israel. infection is confirmed based on identifying d. immitis microfilariae, in concentrated blood specimens by microscopy (knott's test or other tests) and serolo ...	2015	26116456
detection of dirofilaria immitis dna in host serum by nested pcr.	the heartworm dirofilaria immitis is the causative agent of dirofilariasis in dogs. studies have shown that parasite-derived cell-free dna (cfdna) can be detected in host blood and may be a promising diagnostic marker for parasitic infections. thus, our aim was to detect d. immitis-derived cfdna in host serum by nested pcr. sera were collected from 12 dogs with natural d. immitis infections; eight were microfilaria (mf)-positive, and the remaining four were mf-negative. culture fluids derived fr ...	2015	26109256
the emergence of macrocyclic lactone resistance in the canine heartworm, dirofilaria immitis.	prevention of heartworm disease caused by dirofilaria immitis in domestic dogs and cats relies on a single drug class, the macrocyclic lactones (mls). recently, it has been demonstrated that ml-resistant d. immitis are circulating in the mississippi delta region of the usa, but the prevalence and impact of these resistant parasites remains unknown. we review published studies that demonstrated resistance in d.immitis, along with our current understanding of its mechanisms. efforts to develop in ...	2015	26040450
macrocyclic lactone resistance in dirofilaria immitis: failure of heartworm preventives and investigation of genetic markers for resistance.	macrocyclic lactone (ml) endectocides are used as chemoprophylaxis for heartworm infection (dirofilaria immitis) in dogs and cats. claims of loss of efficacy (loe) of ml heartworm preventives have become common in some locations in the usa. we directly tested whether resistance to mls exists in loe isolates of d. immitis and identified genetic markers that are correlated with, and therefore can predict ml resistance. ml controlled studies showed that loe strains of d. immitis established infecti ...	2015	25936435
can the activation of plasminogen/plasmin system of the host by metabolic products of dirofilaria immitis participate in heartworm disease endarteritis?	proliferative endarteritis is one of the key pathological mechanisms of cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis, a cosmopolitan parasitosis caused by dirofilaria immitis affecting dogs and cats around the world. it has been shown that the excretory/secretory antigens from d. immitis adult worms (dies) bind plasminogen (plg) and activate fibrinolysis, which can lead to a survival mechanism for the parasite in its intravascular environment. however, overproduction of plasmin (final product of the route) ha ...	2015	25888952
fibrinolysis and proliferative endarteritis: two related processes in chronic infections? the model of the blood-borne pathogen dirofilaria immitis.	the interaction between blood-borne pathogens and fibrinolysis is one of the most important mechanisms that mediate invasion and the establishment of infectious agents in their hosts. however, overproduction of plasmin (final product of the route) has been related in other contexts to proliferation and migration of the arterial wall cells and degradation of the extracellular matrix. we have recently identified fibrinolysis-activating antigens from dirofilaria immitis, a blood-borne parasite whos ...	2015	25875022
acute phase protein response in heartworm-infected dogs after adulticide treatment.	during the adulticide treatment of dirofilaria immitis the worms die releasing fragments of parasites and causing pulmonary thromboembolisms which could exacerbate the clinical condition. to determine the utility of acute phase proteins (apps) to monitor the progression of the treatment, different positive [c-reactive protein (crp), haptoglobin (hp)] and negative [albumin, paraoxonase-1(pon-1)] apps were measured in 15 heartworm-infected dogs (5 with high and 10 with low parasite burden) followi ...	2015	25801227
doxycycline levels and anti-wolbachia antibodies in sera from dogs experimentally infected with dirofilaria immitis and treated with a combination of ivermectin/doxycycline.	sera from dirofilaria immitis-experimentally infected dogs treated with a combination of ivermectin/doxycycline were analysed for doxycycline levels by hplc and anti-wolbachia surface protein (rwsp) antibodies by elisa and compared with sera from dogs treated with doxycycline alone. results show that doxycycline levels were not statistically different between the two groups. circulating anti-wsp antibody titres were markedly lower in both treatment groups when compared to control d. immitis infe ...	2015	25769472
canine and human dirofilaria infections in the balkan peninsula.	dirofilaria immitis and dirofilaria repens infections are mosquito-borne diseases, mainly of dogs. both parasites are zoonotic, and they sometimes cause serious infections in humans. the aim of this short review was to examine the situation in the balkan peninsula, from where it is not always easy to obtain suitable data, often reported in journals and other publications difficult to be retrieved and with poor or no visibility. the review included data from international and regional literature, ...	2015	25769471
modeling the extrinsic incubation of dirofilaria immitis in south america based on monthly and continuous climatic data.	the spread and recrudescence of dirofilariosis across several regions, either caused by dirofilaria immitis or d. repens, responds to many factors. building upon the temperature model by slocombe et al. (1989), a number of studies have been performed to generate predictive models for dirofilariosis. these studies have demonstrated the length of transmission periods and the number of dirofilaria generations supported throughout several regions of the world (either at large or at small-scale). the ...	2015	25737053
prevalence and molecular epidemiological data on dirofilaria immitis in dogs from northeastern states of india.	the aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of dirofilaria immitis in stray, pet, and working dogs (n = 413, 266, and 103, resp.) from guwahati (assam) and aizawl (mizoram), areas located in two northeastern states of india. diagnostic methods applied were microscopy (wet film and knott's concentration technique), immunological test (ag elisa by snap 4dx elisa kit), and molecular tools (polymerase chain reaction and sequencing), which evidenced 11.38, 18.03, and 13.93% of positi ...	2015	25685835
surface-displayed glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase and galectin from dirofilaria immitis enhance the activation of the fibrinolytic system of the host.	cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis is a cosmopolitan disease caused by dirofilaria immitis, a filaroid parasite whose adult worms live for years in the vascular system of its host. previous studies have shown that d. immitis can use their excretory/secretory (es) and surface antigens to enhance fibrinolysis, which could limit the formation of clots in its surrounding environment. moreover, several isoforms of the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gapdh) and galectin (gal) were identified in ...	2015	25666684
false negative antigen tests in dogs infected with heartworm and placed on macrocyclic lactone preventives.	dogs with chronic inflammation, including those with heartworm being managed with macrocyclic lactones and doxycycline (slow kill, sk), may develop immune complexes that block detection of dirofilaria immitis antigen on commercial tests.	2015	25648086
extracellular onchocerca-derived small rnas in host nodules and blood.	micrornas (mirnas), a class of short, non-coding rna can be found in a highly stable, cell-free form in mammalian body fluids. specific mirnas are secreted by parasitic nematodes in exosomes and have been detected in the serum of murine and dog hosts infected with the filarial nematodes litomosoides sigmodontis and dirofilaria immitis, respectively. here we identify extracellular, parasite-derived small rnas associated with onchocerca species infecting cattle and humans.	2015	25623184
feline heartworm disease: a'rubik's-cube-like' diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.	feline heartworm disease presents a unique diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive challenge for veterinarians. due to the elusive clinical nature and peculiar physiopathology of heartworm infection in cats, a multistep diagnostic process is mandatory. clinical signs may be absent or atypical. at the present time there is no single ante mortem diagnostic test that can reach a high level of sensitivity for feline heartworm infection. the most efficient approach for the diagnosis of feline heartwo ...	2015	26776577
morphological and molecular identification of dirofilaria immitis from jackal (canis aureus) in north khorasan, northeast iran.	the heartworm dirofilaria immitis is an important mosquito-borne zoonotic nematode of domestic and wild mammals throughout the world, causing cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis. this parasite has been reported from carnivores in some provinces of iran. however, in the present study, the occurrence of this filarial nematode is reported for the first time in wild canids of the north khorasan province, located in northeast iran, based on morphological and molecular characteristics.	2015	26714514
18-fdg uptake in pulmonary dirofilariasis.	solitary pulmonary nodules are a common finding on chest radiography and ct. we present the case of an asymptomatic 59-year-old male found to have a 13 mm left upper lobe nodule on ct scan. the patient was asymptomatic and the ct was performed to follow up mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy that had been stable on several previous ct scans. he had a history of emphysema and reported a 15 pack-year smoking history. pet-ct was performed which demonstrated mild 18-fdg uptake within the nodule. g ...	2015	26622926
human subcutaneous dirofilariasis - case report.	human dirofilariasis is a zoonotic disease caused by dirofilaria repens and dirofilaria immitis. it usually presents as a nodular lesion in the lung, subcutaneous tissues or eyes. in animals, dirofilariasis is a very common disease with serious cardiovascular and respiratory manifestations. if adequate therapy is not given at the beginning ofthe disease, dirofilariasis can lead to animal death. on the contrary, human dirofilariasis is frequently mild, sporadic and asymptomatic disease. complicat ...	2015	26591641
tissue-specific transcriptomics and proteomics of a filarial nematode and its wolbachia endosymbiont.	filarial nematodes cause debilitating human diseases. while treatable, recent evidence suggests drug resistance is developing, necessitating the development of novel targets and new treatment options. although transcriptomic and proteomic studies around the nematode life cycle have greatly enhanced our knowledge, whole organism approaches have not provided spatial resolution of gene expression, which can be gained by examining individual tissues. generally, due to their small size, tissue dissec ...	2015	26559510
genetic diversity of dirofilaria spp. isolated from subcutaneous and ocular lesions of human patients in ukraine.	this short communication describes the phylogenetic analysis of 48 dirofilaria worms isolated from human patients in ukraine. 102 cases were both of subcutaneous (47; 46.1%) and ocular (54; 52.9%) locations. worms from 44 patients (15 subcutaneous and 29 ocular) were subjected to dna extraction and amplification of a specific fragment of the 12s rrna subunit, and sequences were used for phylogenetic analysis. results showed that 13.8% of the ocular cases analyzed at molecular level were caused b ...	2015	25447827
description of five dirofilariasis cases in south hungary and review epidemiology of this disease for the country.	dirofilariasis is an emerging zoonosis (supported by climate change) in central europe. human infections are usually caused by dirofilaria repens and dirofilaria immitis with mediation of mosquito vectors. aims of this publication were to report our dirofilariasis cases, and to summarize hungarian epidemiological data by reviewing literature.	2015	26178869
a survey of canine heartworm awareness in grenada, west indies.	heartworm is a common parasite of dogs in grenada, west indies, due to the tropical climate and large number of mosquitoes. because grenada is a developing country and a small island, resources and education on heartworm are limited. in an effort to raise awareness of canine heartworm and the preventive measures available, observations and surveys were performed to determine the following: (a) heartworm knowledge among grenadian dog caregivers seeking veterinary care at the grenada society for t ...	2015	25271772
prevalence of dirofilaria immitis antigen and antibodies to leishmania infantum in cats from southern portugal.	vector-borne diseases (vbd) are caused by a range of pathogens transmitted by arthropods and have emerged in recent years, showing a wider geographic distribution and increased global prevalence. in addition to their veterinary medical importance, cats play a central role in the transmission cycles of some vbd agents by acting as reservoirs, amplifying hosts or sentinels. the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dirofilaria immitis antigen and of antibodies to leishmania infantum ...	2015	25463307
seroprevalence of heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) in feline and canine hosts from central and northern portugal.	dirofilaria immitis is endemic in portugal. several studies have reported the presence of canine heartworm disease, although no previous studies on feline infections have been published. the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of d. immitis in cats and dogs from central and northern portugal. blood samples from 434 cats were tested for circulating anti-d. immitis and anti-wolbachia antibodies. furthermore, 386 dogs were tested for circulating d. immitis antigens. overall feline ser ...	2015	24824176
human subcutaneous dirofilariasis caused by dirofilaria immitis in a greek adult.	human dirofilariasis is a zoonotic infection caused by worms of the genus dirofilaria. most reported cases involve dirofilaria repens, and d. immitis infection has been rarely reported. canines act as a reservoir for the infection, while human infections are sporadic. human dirofilariasis has been widely reported in south europe; however, the worldwide distribution constantly changes. we herein report an extremely rare case of subcutaneous trunk dirofilariasis in a 45-year-old immunosuppressed w ...	2016	26166816
effects of diagnostic test accuracy and treatment efficacy on the occurrence of suspected failure of heartworm prophylaxis in dogs.	food and drug administration center for veterinary medicine (fda/cvm) cited concern regarding failure of heartworm prophylaxis. the positive and negative predictive value of the heartworm antigen test is an estimate of the probability of adult heartworm infection.	2016	23663198
detection of dirofilaria repens microfilariae in a dog from portugal.	dirofilaria repens causes subcutaneous infection in dogs and cats, and is the main agent of human dirofilariosis in europe. detection of d. repens is described in a dog from portugal, a finding that simultaneously represents the first presumable case of autochthonous infection with the parasite in any animal host species in the country. a mixed d. repens/dirofilaria immitis infection (20:1 ratio) was found, with an overall density of 1267 microfilariae per millilitre of blood. morphological feat ...	2016	26486944
aberrant heartworm migration to the abdominal aorta and systemic arteriolitis in a dog presenting with vomiting and hemorrhagic diarrhea.	a 2-year-old dachshund was presented for vomiting and diarrhea. abdominal ultrasound revealed dirofilaria immitis in the abdominal aorta and an avascular segment of small intestine. the dog was euthanized. necropsy revealed d. immitis in the abdominal aorta and widespread necrotizing arteriolitis. this is a unique presentation of aberrant migration of d. immitis.	2016	26740703
the impact of the climate on the epidemiology of dirofilaria immitis in the pet population of the canary islands.	cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis (heartworm) is a zoonotic vector borne disease caused by dirofilaria immitis which affects domestic dogs and cats. two of the seven canary islands are historically hyperendemic areas of dirofilariosis, although no epidemiological study has ever been carried out which includes the other islands. the aim of the study was to complete the epidemiological status of cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis in the canine and feline population throughout all the canary islands. 1643 ...	2016	26801597
dingoes (canis dingo meyer, 1793) continue to be an important reservoir host of dirofilaria immitis in low density housing areas in australia.	heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) is a parasitic nematode responsible for canine and feline cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis and human zoonotic filariosis in both tropical and temperate regions throughout the world. importantly, this study in the wet tropics of far north queensland found d. immitis remains at high prevalence (72.7%) in wild dingoes in low density housing areas in australia. this prevalence is equivalent to the highest levels seen in wild dogs in australia and represents an ongoing r ...	2016	26790730
serum acute phase proteins in dirofilaria immitis and wolbachia seropositive cats.	the aim of this study was to characterise the response of acute phase proteins (apps) in cats seropositive for dirofilaria immitis and to its endosymbiont bacterium wolbachia.	2016	26783021
prevalence of dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs in henan province, central china.	the heartworm dirofilaria immitis is the causative agent of cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis in dogs and cats, and also infects humans. however, there has been no study on dirofilariasis in dogs in central china. from march 2015 to february 2016, sera from 1176 randomly selected household dogs from henan province, central china were examined for d. immitis antigen using the canine heartworm antigen test kit. the overall seroprevalence of d. immitis in dogs in henan province was 13% (155/1176). the ...	2016	27739399
the mitochondrial genomes of the zoonotic canine filarial parasites dirofilaria (nochtiella) repens and candidatus dirofilaria (nochtiella) honkongensis provide evidence for presence of cryptic species.	cutaneous dirofilariosis is a canine mosquito-borne zoonosis that can cause larva migrans disease in humans. dirofilaria repens is considered an emerging pathogen occurring with high prevalence in mediterranean areas and many parts of tropical asia. in hong kong, a second species, candidatus dirofilaria hongkongensis, has been reported. the present study aimed to compare mitochondrial genomes from these parasites and to obtain population genetic information.	2016	27727270
increased detection of dirofilaria immitis antigen in cats after heat pretreatment of samples.	to determine whether pretreating diagnostic samples with heat increases the detection of dirofilaria immitis antigen in adult cats, we evaluated feline serum and plasma samples collected in heartworm-endemic areas of the southern united states.	2016	27694369
polymorphism in ion channel genes of dirofilaria immitis: relevant knowledge for future anthelmintic drug design.	dirofilaria immitis, a filarial parasite, causes cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis in dogs, cats and wild canids. the macrocyclic lactone (ml) class of drugs has been used to prevent heartworm infection. there is confirmed ml resistance in d. immitis and thus there is an urgent need to find new anthelmintics that could prevent and/or control the disease. targeting ion channels of d. immitis for drug design has obvious advantages. these channels, present in the nematode nervous system, control movem ...	2016	27682347
impacts of urbanisation level and distance from potential natural mosquito breeding habitats on the abundance of canine dirofilariosis.	dirofilariosis is an emerging mosquito-borne veterinary and medical problem in the northern hemisphere. the ecological investigation of 56 canine dirofilariosis cases in new endemic locations was performed in szeged, hungary. the aim was to analyse the influence of the spatial patterns of dog abundance and the potential mosquito breeding habitats on the spatial occurrence patterns of dirofilariosis in the city of szeged. the limnoecological characterisation was based on the fluvial habitat class ...	2016	27653430
dirofilaria immitis in a child from the russian federation.	an immature female worm, dirofilaria immitis, was isolated from the scrotum of a 14-month-old child. this is the first identification of human dirofilariosis caused by d. immitis in a relatively northern region (moscow) of the russian federation. the parasite was diagnosed by means of morphological examination of the worm, confirmed by pcr assay. this case raises questions about the range of the d. immitis distribution among humans in russia. to better understand the geographical distribution of ...	2016	27600944
a field survey on parasites and antibodies against selected pathogens in owned dogs in lilongwe, malawi.	the aim of this study was to screen for selected parasites and antibody levels against vectorborne pathogens in owned dogs in lilongwe, malawi. the study population consisted of 100 dogs; 80 participating in vaccination-spaying campaigns and 20 visiting a veterinary clinic as paying clients. all dogs went through a general physical examination including visual examination for signs of ectoparasites. a total of 100 blood samples were analysed using commercial snap tests and 40 faecal samples by e ...	2016	27543039
microfilaricidal efficacy of a single administration of advocate(®) (bayer animal health) in dogs naturally infected with dirofilaria immitis or dirofilaria repens.	the present study evaluated the microfilaricidal efficacy of a single application of the spot-on containing imidacloprid 10%/moxidectin 2.5% (advocate(®), bayer animal health) in dogs naturally infected either by dirofilaria immitis or dirofilaria repens. dogs living in north-eastern and central-southern italy, endemic for d. immitis and d. repens respectively, were randomly screened. sixteen animals, eight infected with d. immitis and eight with d. repens, and fulfilling inclusion criteria were ...	2016	27514879
prevalence, genetic analyses, and risk factors associated with heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) in wild coyotes (canis latrans) from florida, usa.	we detected heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) in 37.2% of 212 coyotes ( canis latrans ) collected from 28 counties in florida, us, between february 2010 and april 2014. adult coyotes had a higher prevalence (45.6% of 103) than juveniles (29% of 80), and there was no significant difference in prevalence between adult male and female coyotes. adults demonstrated a higher prevalence of heartworm in northern counties (56% of 91) than in southern counties (23.1% of 121) and a higher prevalence in urban ...	2016	27458831
selamectin for the prevention of canine dirofilaria immitis infection: field efficacy in client-owned dogs in a high risk area.	dog owners and veterinarians in small animal practices began to waive prevention of canine heartworm disease after heartworm infections seemed to have disappeared in brazil. after 2013, infection rates rebounded, and an evaluation of the efficacy of chemoprophylactic drugs became necessary. included in this re-evaluation was the efficacy of selamectin in client-owned dogs residing in a high infection-risk area.	2016	27450482
human pulmonary dirofilariasis masquerading as a mass.	pulmonary dirofilariasis, caused by dirofilaria immitis, rarely affects humans and is usually asymptomatic, but may present as chest pain, cough, hemoptysis, wheezing, low-grade fever, and malaise. the dead and dying worms obstruct branches of the pulmonary artery, causing infarction and a granulomatous reaction. coin lesions are apparent on radiography, raising concern of malignancy. complete surgical excision is the treatment of choice and an anthelmintic can be administered if residual lesion ...	2016	27432058
gray fox (urocyon cinereoargenteus) parasite diversity in central mexico.	mexico has a long history of parasitological studies in communities of vertebrates. however, the mega diversity of the country makes fauna inventories an ongoing priority. presently, there is little published on the parasite fauna of gray foxes (urocyon cinereoargenteus schereber, 1775) and this study provides new records of parasites for gray foxes in central mexico. it is a continuation of a series of previous parasitological studies conducted with this carnivore in mexico from 2003 to the pre ...	2016	27408801
[infection of blood-sucking mosquitoes (diptera: culicidae) with dirofilariae (spirurida, onchocercidae) in the tula region].	blood-sucking mosquitoes (n = 2277) collected in tula and its region in 2013-2014 were examined using a pcr assay for dirofilariae. a total of 12 species from 4 genera (culiseta, aedes, ochlerotatus [foreign character] culex) out of 18 found mosquito species were infected with dirofilaria immitis and d. repens. the proportion of the infected mosquitoes was 2.5% (d. immitis, 1.5%; d.repens, 1%). according to preliminary data, the most efficient dirofilaria vectors, in the tula region may be ae. v ...	2016	27405207
molecular study of dirofilaria immitis and dirofilaria repens in dogs from tunisia.	dirofilaria immitis and dirofilaria repens are mosquito-borne nematodes which infect primarily dogs as their main definitive hosts. they cause cardiopulmonary (d. immitis) or cutaneous (d. repens) dirofilariasis in canids and other carnivores and can accidentally be transmitted to humans where they can induce a variety of clinical outcomes depending on organ localization. dirofilaria spp. infection in dogs was assessed using molecular methods (pcr and sequencing) to identify the different dirofi ...	2016	27401057
heat treatment of serum samples from stray dogs naturally exposed to dirofilaria immitis and dirofilaria repens in romania.	pre-heating of serum samples has been shown to reverse false negative antigen tests for dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs. here the authors report the results of serum sampling in a population of dogs naturally exposed to d. immitis and dirofilaria repens infection by testing in elisa before and after heat treatment. of 194 dogs sampled from four cities in romania, d. immitis circulating antigens were found in 16 (8.2%) non heated samples and in 52 (26.8%) heated samples. of the 108 dogs exa ...	2016	27369579
molecular detection of wolbachia pipientis in natural populations of mosquito vectors of dirofilaria immitis from continental portugal: first detection in culex theileri.	wolbachia pipientis (rickettsiales: rickettsiaceae) protects mosquitoes from infections with arboviruses and parasites. however, the effect of its co-infection on vector competence for dirofilaria immitis (spirurida: onchocercidae) in the wild has not been investigated. this study aimed to screen vectors of d. immitis for wpip, to characterize these, and to investigate a possible association between the occurrence of w. pipientis and that of the nematode. the presence of w. pipientis was assesse ...	2016	27279553
erratum to: detection of dirofilaria repens and dirofilaria immitis dna in mosquitoes from belarus.		2016	27249968
larvicidal and adulticidal activity of chroman and chromene analogues against susceptible and permethrin-resistant mosquito strains.	mosquitoes play a major role as vectors that transmit parasitic and viral diseases worldwide, especially in tropical and subtropical countries. mosquito borne diseases not only affect humans but they also affect livestock in many parts of the world. they carry diseases that are lethal to dogs and horses. dog heartworm disease (dirofilaria immitis) is a parasitic disease spread through mosquitoes. this disease is not limited to dogs, but it can affect other animals and humans as well. eastern equ ...	2016	27249182
genetic and phenotypic variation in central and northern european populations of aedes (aedimorphus) vexans (meigen, 1830) (diptera, culicidae).	the floodwater mosquito aedes vexans can be a massive nuisance in the flood plain areas of mainland europe, and is the vector of tahyna virus and a potential vector of dirofilaria immitis. this epidemiologically important species forms three subspecies worldwide, of which aedes vexans arabiensis has a wide distribution in europe and africa. we quantified the genetic and phenotypic variation in ae. vexans arabiensis in populations from sweden (northern europe), hungary, and serbia (central europe ...	2016	27232139