Canine and feline dirofilariosis in a highly enzootic area: first report of feline dirofilariosis in Greece

Diakou, Αnastasia; Soubasis, Nektarios; Chochlios, T.; Oikonomidis, Ioannis L.; Tselekis, Dimitrios; Koutinas, Christos K.; Karaiosif, Rafailia; Psaralexi, Evanthia; Tsouloufi, Theodora K.; Brellou, Georgia; Kritsepi‐Konstantinou, Maria; Rallis, Timoleon

doi:10.1007/s00436-018-6135-9

Cited by 24 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 20 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The prevalence of Diro laria spp. in cats varies between 0% and 33% across Europe [10,31,52,[91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99]. There does not seem to be any data on prevalence in Germany, speci cally.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Retrospective Evaluation of Vector-borne Infections in Cats Living in Germany (2012-2020)

Schäfer

Kohn

Volkmann

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Blood-feeding arthropods can transmit parasitic, bacterial, or viral pathogens to domestic animals and wildlife. Vector-borne infections are gaining significance due to the increase of travel, import of domestic animals from abroad, and due to the changing climate in Europe. The main objective of this retrospective study was to assess the prevalence of some vector-borne infections in cats in which a ‘Feline Travel Profile’ had been conducted. Methods: This retrospective study included test results from cats for which a ‘Feline Travel Profile’ established by the laboratory LABOKLIN had been requested by veterinarians in Germany between April 2012 and March 2020. This above-mentioned diagnostic panel contains direct detection methods via PCR for Hepatozoon spp. and Dirofilaria spp. as well as indirect detection methods via IFAT for Ehrlichia spp. and Leishmania spp. The profile was expanded to include an IFAT for Rickettsia spp. from July 2015 onwards. The prevalence of the different vector-borne infectious agents was calculated. Results: A total of 624 cats were tested using the ‘Feline Travel Profile’. Serological samples for indirect detection methods were available for all 624 cats, EDTA-samples for direct detection methods for 618 cats. Positive test results were as follows: Ehrlichia spp. IFAT 73 out of 624 (12%), Leishmania spp. IFAT 22 out of 624 (4%), Hepatozoon spp. PCR 53 out of 618 (9%), Dirofilaria spp. PCR 1 out of 618 cats (0.2%) and, tested from July 2015 onwards, Rickettsia spp. IFAT 52 out of 467 cats (11%). At least one infection was present in 175 out of 624 cats. Three coinfections were detected before 2015; after including the Rickettsia spp. test results there were 19 cats with confections (in 14 out of these 19 cats Rickettsia spp. were involved).Conclusions: 175 out of 624 cats (28%) were tested positive for at least one vector-borne pathogen. Infections with multiple pathogens could be detected in 4% of the cats from 2012 to 2020. The data emphasizes the importance of considering the above-mentioned vector-borne infections as potential differential diagnoses in cats.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Retrospective Evaluation of Vector-borne Infections in Cats Living in Germany (2012-2020)

Schäfer

Kohn

Volkmann

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The prevalence in Turkey, neighbouring Iran, was zero to 18% (Köse and Erdoğan, 2012). In Greece, canine D. immitis prevalence ranged between 0.7% and 25% (Angelou et al ., 2019; Diakou et al ., 2019). In Poland, Eastern Europe very low prevalence (<1%) was observed (Krämer et al ., 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Filarial worms: a systematic review and meta-analysis of diversity in animals from Iran with emphasis on human cases

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Current systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrate the prevalence reports of filariasis in animals in Iran along with human cases. Studies were screened, relevant papers were selected and the random-effect model was used by forest plot with 95% confidence interval (CI). Of 17 records of human case-reports, particularly from Khuzestan province (5 cases), Dirofilaria repens was the most detected parasite (10 cases) with higher involvement of the right eye (7 cases) than other organs. Eleven animal species were reported to be parasitised by filarioids in Iran. The prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in canids was 14.69% (95% CI: 10.33–19.67), with highest rates (20.92%; 95% CI: 13.84–29.03) in free-ranging dogs. Male (10.07%; 95% CI: 5.10–16.47) and more than 1-year old (20.77%; 95% CI: 8.66–36.42) dogs were more likely to be found infected. The frequency of other filarioids of zoonotic interest was: Acanthocheilonema reconditum in dogs 2.15% (95% CI: 0.71–4.33), Dipetalonema evansi in camels 10.16% (95% CI: 4.73–17.34), Onchocerca cervicalis in horses 3.63% (95% CI: 1.44–6.75%) and Onchocerca fasciata 16.57% (95% CI: 10.12–24.24%) in camels. Still, our knowledge on parasitic filariae in Iran is limited and more investigation is needed in both human and animal populations.

show abstract

“…2,6,7 gating anti-D immitis antibodies in cats show that the rate of exposure to infection is much higher. 16,[19][20][21] Outdoor cats have a three-fold higher risk of being antigen-positive, and male cats have been found to be more likely to develop mature infections in experimental studies. 22 Information about the prevalence of D repens infection in cats in Europe is very limited; however, a study performed in central Italy using both modified Knott and PCR tests found a prevalence of 1.6% in cats compared with 5.6% in dogs.…”

Section: The Cat -An Imperfect Hostmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…27,32 Sometimes sudden death is reported in apparently healthy cats as a consequence of severe pulmonary thromboembolic or haemorrhagic pathology, including haemothorax due to pulmonary artery dissection. 21,31,33 According to experimental studies, an acute systemic anaphylaxis could be involved in this hyperacute course of feline HWD secondary to the release of large quantities of D immitis antigens from dead parasites. The usual clinical signs are severe respiratory insufficiency, hypotension, vomiting and diarrhoea.…”

Section: Pathogenesis and Clinical Signsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…46,57 Successful surgical removal of an adult heartworm that had migrated to the femoral artery, achieved via direct access to the worm from the arteriotomy site, has been reported. 38 Slow kill protocols combining monthly administration of heartworm-preventive drugs with a 1-month course of doxycycline therapy are used in dogs when melarsomine is contraindicated, 58 and have been reported in cats, 21 but their efficacy and safety are unknown and therefore these protocols are not recommended. Nevertheless, all cats diagnosed with HWD should undergo monthly application of preventive drugs (see below).…”

Section: Treatment and Follow-upmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Dirofilarioses in cats: European guidelines from the ABCD on prevention and management

Pennisi

Tasker

Hartmann

et al. 2020

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Overview: Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens are the most important filarial worms, causing heartworm disease and subcutaneous dirofilariosis, respectively. D repens is currently considered an emerging zoonotic agent in Europe. Life cycle and infection: Filarial worms infect mainly dogs, but also cats, ferrets, wild carnivores and humans. The life cycle involves an intermediate mosquito host. Compared with dogs, cats are imperfect hosts for dirofilarial worms. After inoculation, only a low number of L3 larvae develop to the adult stage in a small percentage of cats. Heartworm disease in cats may be associated with severe pulmonary thromboembolism and an eosinophilic inflammatory response in the lungs, potentially leading to sudden death. Otherwise self-cure occurs in most cases after 18–48 months. Subcutaneous dirofilariosis may present as subcutaneous nodules or dermatitis. Diagnosis and treatment: Diagnosis in cats is more difficult compared with dogs and needs a multistep approach (antigen and antibody tests, as well as diagnostic imaging). Cats with acute heartworm disease require stabilisation within an intensive care unit. Cats with respiratory signs or suggestive radiographic changes should receive prednisolone and follow-up with a similar multistep approach. Adulticidal therapy is not safe in cats. Prevention: In endemic areas cats should receive year-round chemoprophylaxis from 2 months of age.

show abstract

Canine and feline dirofilariosis in a highly enzootic area: first report of feline dirofilariosis in Greece

Cited by 24 publications

References 20 publications

Retrospective Evaluation of Vector-borne Infections in Cats Living in Germany (2012-2020)

Retrospective Evaluation of Vector-borne Infections in Cats Living in Germany (2012-2020)

Filarial worms: a systematic review and meta-analysis of diversity in animals from Iran with emphasis on human cases

Dirofilarioses in cats: European guidelines from the ABCD on prevention and management

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About