This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens: Investigating the Prevalence of Zoonotic Parasites in Dogs and Humans in a Hyperenzootic Area
by
, , , ,
Dimitris Dimzas
1,
Georgios Aindelis
2,
Andronki Tamvakis
3,
Sapfo Chatzoudi
4,
Katerina Chlichlia
2,
Maria Panopoulou
5 and
Anastasia Diakou
1,6,*
1
Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
2
Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece
3
Laboratory of Ecology and System Dynamics, Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, Greece
4
Independent Researcher, Andreou Dimitriou 16, 67100 Xanthi, Greece
5
Laboratory of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece
6
Diagnostics and Laboratory Research Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2024, 14(17), 2529; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14172529
Submission received: 13 August 2024
/
Revised: 28 August 2024
/
Accepted: 29 August 2024
/
Published: 30 August 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Zoonoses: From a Public Health Perspective)
Simple Summary
Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens are mosquito-borne zoonotic parasites that primarily infect dogs. In recent years, the distribution of these parasites has expanded into previously non-enzootic areas. This study aimed to investigate the infection rates in dogs and humans within a hyperenzootic region of Europe, and to estimate the proportional relationship between infection prevalence in dogs and humans. Blood samples from 604 dogs and serum samples from 625 humans residing in Thrace, in northeastern Greece, were collected. The dog samples were examined for Dirofilaria spp. microfilariae using Kott’s test and for D. immitis antigen using a commercial serological test. The human sera were analyzed by Western blot for both parasites. Overall, 177 (29.3%) dogs were found to be infected, with 173 (28.6%) positive for D. immitis and 7 (1.2%) for D. repens, including 6 (1%) dogs with mixed infections. Specific IgG was detected in 42 (6.7%) human samples, with 24 (3.8%) positive for D. immitis and 18 (2.9%) for D. repens. The proportion of infection in humans was 23.4% of the corresponding canine infections in the study area, indicating a high risk of human infection in this hyperenzootic region.
Abstract
The mosquito-borne zoonotic nematode parasites Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens primarily affect dogs. In recent years, their distribution has expanded due to various factors influencing vector-borne pathogens. This study aimed to investigate the comparative prevalence of infection in dogs and humans within a hyperenzootic region of Europe, and to estimate the proportional relationship between infection prevalence in dogs and humans, within the concept of “One Health”. To this end, 604 blood samples from dogs and 625 serum samples from humans living in the Thrace region of northeastern Greece were collected. The dog samples were examined for Dirofilaria spp. microfilariae using Kott’s test and for D. immitis antigen using a commercial serological test. The human sera were analyzed for both parasites by Western blot. The overall prevalence of infection in dogs was 177 (29.3%), with 173 (28.6%) testing positive for D. immitis and 7 (1.2%) for D. repens, including 6 (1%) cases of mixed infection. Specific IgG antibodies were detected in 42 (6.7%) human samples, with 24 (3.8%) positive for D. immitis and 18 (2.9%) for D. repens. The infection proportion in humans was 23.4% of the corresponding canine infections, indicating a high risk of human infection in this hyperenzootic region.
