The particularly high prevalence of Dirofilaria infection in professional dogs used in the police force and armed forces poses a particular problem, since these dogs may serve as epidemiologically important amplifiers within the region of the former Soviet Union.

The article presents the results of the prospective study of 266 patients with dirofilariasis who received medical and diagnostic assistance in Rostov Scientific Research Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology in Rostov-on-Don, Russia from 2000 to 2016. We have assessed the features of the dynamics of epidemiology of this infection in several territories of the Russian Federation, depending on the social structure of patients. Immature females of dirofilaria were found most commonly in humans (82.9 ± 2.6%), the proportion of maturity females and adult males of worms respectively was 10.5 ± 2.1% and 0.9 ± 0.6%. All mature worms were localized inside a capsule. Peripheral blood eosinophilia was detected only in patients with the migration of helminths (19 of 116 persons – 16.4%). Blood samples of patients examined by the method of concentration in 3% acetic acid for detection of microfilariae, showed negative result in all patients.Our data are consistent with the opinion of KI Skriabin about that human as «dual facultative host» for dirofiliaria. It is rare that parasite in human body is able to develop to the imago stage (according to our observations – 11.4%). The immune response to invasion by dirofiliaria in human is manifested as dense connective tissue which forms a capsule. According to our study the rare cases (22) of detection the sexual mature D. repens (10.4%) were localized inside the capsule. Observations of patients with D. repens infection allowed concluding that human for this helminth is «a biological deadend».

Introduction: Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-toff MS) is a reliable method for diagnosing a number of bacterial and fungal infections. It is also effective as a method of rapid diagnosis of several parasitic agents. We used MALDI-toff MS to study the protein profiles of four nematodes: Dirofilaria repens, Dirofilaria. immitis, Ascaris suum and Ascaris lumbricoides. Methods: We studied the protein profiles of dirofilaria (five of each species: D. repens and D. immitis) and ascaris (five of each species: A. suum and A. lumbricoides), using a proteomic analysis based on MALDI-toff MS. Results: Analysis of protein extracts of dirofilaria and ascaris showed spectra with high-intensity peaks in the range of 2-20 kDa. The quality of the spectra (clear graphical reflection of mass/charge to luminous intensity, consistent in repeated analyzes) and the intensity of the spectral peaks were consistent in all samples of the same species. The spectra profiles of D. repens and D. immitis differed in eight major peaks which makes it possible to differentiate species according to the protein profile. The spectra profiles obtained from A. suum and A. lumbricoides proteins differed slightly in 3 major peaks in both species and were discovered in m/z 13000; 13400 and 14400. The protein peaks in diapason 3000 kD-7300 kD specific for all genus ascaris are constant. Conclusions: MALDI-toff MS-based proteomic analysis can serve as an effective taxonomic tool for parasitological studies.

Dirofilaria repens, a filarial nematode of dogs and other carnivores, can accidentally infect humans. The infection occurs widely throughout Europe. We report a case of D. repens in a Danish woman who had been traveling to Crete. A nematode was visualized on examination and ELISA was positive for antibodies against D. repens.