Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dirofilaria infection risk in dogs near Italy's Volturno River delta
By Ferrara, M et al.·Published in Journal of helminthology·2022·Ambulatorio Veterinario Domitio, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prevalence ofin dogs living in deltaic coastal plain of the Volturno River (Italy): a geographical risk model of infection.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that 10% of dogs living in the deltaic coastal plain of the Volturno River in Italy had a parasitic infection called Dirofilaria repens, which is spread by mosquitoes. Some of these dogs also showed signs of other infections, like Ehrlichia canis, which can cause health issues. The researchers suggest that pet owners in this area should use mosquito repellents regularly to help protect their dogs from these infections, especially since the environment supports mosquito populations year-round.
People also search for: dog mosquito-borne diseases · Dirofilaria repens in dogs · how to prevent dog infections from mosquitoes
Abstract
The prevalence of vector-associated parasitic infections is high in central-southern Italy. The deltaic coastal plain of the Volturno River has been suspected, by veterinary practitioners, to have a high accidental incidence of Dirofilaria repens. Thus, the goal of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dirofilariasis and other coinfections frequently described in dogs living in the Volturno area. Blood samples of 100 clinical asymptomatic dogs were examined using a Knott's technique and polymerase chain reaction in order to identify microfilariae. Other vector-borne coinfections were also investigated using ELISA kits. The results were analysed using statistical and Geographic Information System (GIS) software. Microfilariae of D. repens were detected in 10% of the dogs surveyed, with a presence of antibodies against Ehrlichia canis (4/10) and Dirofilaria immitis (1/10). Such high incidence should be considered in light of the zoonotic potential for D. repens and the support for more regular use of repellents to prevent the spread of this disease. The GIS analyses indicated that the study area provides suitable conditions to sustain populations of mosquito vectors and D. repens parasites throughout much of the year.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35195063/