The enemy at home: leishmaniasis in the Mediterranean basin, Italy on the focus

Gianchecchi, Elena; Montomoli, Emanuele

doi:10.1080/14787210.2020.1751611

Cited by 15 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 171 publications

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“…Nowadays, the disease is endemic in all the Tyrrhenian regions, in those of the Southern Adriatic Sea, and as well in the islands. During the years, the country-wide incidence of CanL has been increasing, with new foci being detected within traditional boundaries of endemic transmission but also in northern regions previously regarded as non-endemic [17,18,36]. Seroprevalence rates reported until now by several…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Canine Leishmaniasis: Serological Results in Private and Kennel Dogs Tested over a Six-Year Period (2009–2014) in Abruzzo and Molise Regions, Italy

et al. 2020

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This paper reports the results of serological tests for the detection of antibodies against Leishmania spp. in Abruzzo and Molise regions from 2009 to 2014, with the aim of evaluating the presence and distribution of canine leishmaniasis. Data were extracted from the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) of the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Abruzzo and Molise, and then the dog identification numbers were matched with those stored in the Canine Registries of the two regions to get information about the age of dogs at time of testing. Dogs were considered positive when having an IFAT (Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test) titer ≥1:80. In total, 41,631 dogs were tested, 85.3% from Abruzzo and 14.7% from Molise. At the provincial level, the percentage of positive dogs ranged from 5.2% (L’Aquila, Abruzzo region) to 21.8% (Campobasso, Molise region). Findings are consistent with the hypothesis that in the coastal areas, the relationships between the host, the vector, and the agent are more favorable for the spreading of CanL, and it seems that densely populated urban internal areas have less favorable conditions. Being a dog hosted in a kennel seems not to be a factor increasing the probability that dogs show positivity, even in long-term sheltering conditions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Canine Leishmaniasis: Serological Results in Private and Kennel Dogs Tested over a Six-Year Period (2009–2014) in Abruzzo and Molise Regions, Italy

et al. 2020

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“…However, analyses on imported leishmaniasis in endemic and non-endemic regions have rarely integrated data from more than a single country [ 4 , 5 ]. L. infantum and L. tropica are the only species known to be transmitted in Mediterranean Europe, but globally between 15 and 20 Leishmania species are pathogenic to humans [ 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To reveal epidemiological trends of the recent years (2014–19), we analysed case data from 15 of the 33 centres of the network, all situated in western Europe and Scandinavia. To our knowledge, this is the largest analysis of the leishmaniases in Europe to date, thereby contributing to permanent monitoring of autochthonous and travel-related cases in Europe [ 6 , 8 ], and supplementing surveillance efforts in eastern European countries [ 9 , 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surveillance of leishmaniasis cases from 15 European centres, 2014 to 2019: a retrospective analysis

et al. 2022

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Background Surveillance of human leishmaniasis in Europe is mostly limited to country-specific information from autochthonous infections in the southern part. As at the end of 2021, no integrated analysis has been performed for cases seen across centres in different European countries. Aim To provide a broad perspective on autochthonous and imported leishmaniasis cases in endemic and non-endemic countries in Europe. Methods We retrospectively collected records from cutaneous, mucosal and visceral leishmaniasis cases diagnosed in 15 centres between 2014 and 2019. Centres were located in 11 countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Data on country of infection, reason for travelling, infecting species, age and sex were analysed. Results We obtained diagnostic files from 1,142 cases, of which 76%, 21% and 3% had cutaneous, visceral, and mucosal disease, respectively. Of these, 68% were men, and 32% women, with the median age of 37 years (range: 0–90) at diagnosis. Visceral leishmaniasis was mainly acquired in Europe (88%; 167/190), while cutaneous leishmaniasis was primarily imported from outside Europe (77%; 575/749). Sixty-two percent of cutaneous leishmaniasis cases from outside Europe were from the Old World, and 38% from the New World. Geographic species distribution largely confirmed known epidemiology, with notable exceptions. Conclusions Our study confirms previous reports regarding geographic origin, species, and traveller subgroups importing leishmaniasis into Europe. We demonstrate the importance of pooling species typing data from many centres, even from areas where the aetiology is presumably known, to monitor changing epidemiology.

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“…Many European countries are enzootic for A. vasorum and VBPs ( Table 3 ). Hence, the simultaneous exposure to these pathogens is a realistic threat even where this has not been verified by purposed studies, especially if one considers that these pathogens are spreading in both enzootic and previously free regions [ 35 , 36 , 136 , 137 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simultaneous Exposure to Angiostrongylus vasorum and Vector-Borne Pathogens in Dogs from Italy

et al. 2021

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Several drivers have recently fostered the expansion of Angiostrongylus vasorum throughout Europe, where Vector-Borne Pathogens (VBPs) are also spreading. However, the level of simultaneous risk of infection is still unknown in canine populations. This study evaluated the simultaneous exposure to A. vasorum and major canine VBPs in dogs of Italy. Sera of 294 dogs were subjected to two ELISAs, detecting A. vasorum circulating antigens and antibodies against the parasite, and to the following assays: (i) SNAP® 4DX (IDEXX Laboratories Inc.) detecting Dirofilaria immitis antigens, and antibodies vs. Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma spp. and Ehrlichia spp. and (ii) IFAT for the detection of antibodies vs. Leishmania infantum, Babesia canis and Rickettsia conorii. Twenty-two (7.5%, CI: 4.8–11.1%) and six (2%, CI: 0.7–4.4%) dogs scored positive for circulating A. vasorum antibodies and antigens, respectively. Seventeen dogs (5.8%, CI: 3.4–9.1%) were positive for A. vasorum antibodies + at least one VBP, three (1%, CI: 0.2–3%) for A. vasorum antigen + at least one VBP, while one dog (0.3%, CI: 0.01–1.88%) was positive for A. vasorum antigen + A. vasorum antibodies + B. canis antibodies. These results show that dogs living in different regions of Italy are at risk of simultaneous infections with both A. vasorum and VBPs. Despite the same scenario being likely in other countries of Europe, the current knowledge is scant. Therefore, further studies are warranted to amplify current epizootiological information and to understand whether control programs should be improved.

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The enemy at home: leishmaniasis in the Mediterranean basin, Italy on the focus

Cited by 15 publications

References 171 publications

Canine Leishmaniasis: Serological Results in Private and Kennel Dogs Tested over a Six-Year Period (2009–2014) in Abruzzo and Molise Regions, Italy

Canine Leishmaniasis: Serological Results in Private and Kennel Dogs Tested over a Six-Year Period (2009–2014) in Abruzzo and Molise Regions, Italy

Surveillance of leishmaniasis cases from 15 European centres, 2014 to 2019: a retrospective analysis

Simultaneous Exposure to Angiostrongylus vasorum and Vector-Borne Pathogens in Dogs from Italy

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