Heartworm disease in domestic dogs in Estonia: indication of local circulation of the zoonotic parasite Dirofilaria immitis farther north than previously reported
Abstract Background The mosquito-borne zoonotic parasite Dirofilaria immitis continues to spread northwards in Europe. This parasite can cause potentially life-threatening heartworm disease in dogs and pulmonary dirofilariasis in humans and is, therefore, a major health concern in both the veterinar...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06217-5 |
| _version_ | 1827316160410943488 |
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| author | Maare Mõttus Paul F. Mõtsküla Pikka Jokelainen |
| author_facet | Maare Mõttus Paul F. Mõtsküla Pikka Jokelainen |
| author_sort | Maare Mõttus |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The mosquito-borne zoonotic parasite Dirofilaria immitis continues to spread northwards in Europe. This parasite can cause potentially life-threatening heartworm disease in dogs and pulmonary dirofilariasis in humans and is, therefore, a major health concern in both the veterinary medicine and human medical fields. This is the first report of D. immitis infections and heartworm disease in the Baltic country Estonia. Methods Data on canine D. immitis infections and heartworm disease were collected from the electronic patient records database of the Small Animal Clinic of Estonian University of Life Sciences, the only university clinic in Estonia. The patient records of dogs with confirmed diagnosis of D. immitis infection or heartworm disease were reviewed and summarised. Results Six dogs had been diagnosed with confirmed D. immitis infection or heartworm disease at the university clinic in 2021–2022. The confirmed diagnoses had been reached following international guidelines, based on a combination of different tests. Molecular confirmation of the parasite species had not been performed. Two of the dogs had been imported while four had no travel history outside of the country. Conclusions Four of the dogs with a confirmed D. immitis infection or heartworm disease had no history of being imported or travelling outside of the country, indicating autochthonous infections and, consequently, local circulation of the parasite in Estonia. These findings represent the new northernmost autochthonous cases of D. immitis infection and canine heartworm disease reported in the European Union. Graphical Abstract |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:10:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-19023d4c53984fc19bd532f52e334544 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:10:04Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-19023d4c53984fc19bd532f52e3345442024-03-17T12:17:01ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052024-03-011711710.1186/s13071-024-06217-5Heartworm disease in domestic dogs in Estonia: indication of local circulation of the zoonotic parasite Dirofilaria immitis farther north than previously reportedMaare Mõttus0Paul F. Mõtsküla1Pikka Jokelainen2Estonian University of Life SciencesEstonian University of Life SciencesEstonian University of Life SciencesAbstract Background The mosquito-borne zoonotic parasite Dirofilaria immitis continues to spread northwards in Europe. This parasite can cause potentially life-threatening heartworm disease in dogs and pulmonary dirofilariasis in humans and is, therefore, a major health concern in both the veterinary medicine and human medical fields. This is the first report of D. immitis infections and heartworm disease in the Baltic country Estonia. Methods Data on canine D. immitis infections and heartworm disease were collected from the electronic patient records database of the Small Animal Clinic of Estonian University of Life Sciences, the only university clinic in Estonia. The patient records of dogs with confirmed diagnosis of D. immitis infection or heartworm disease were reviewed and summarised. Results Six dogs had been diagnosed with confirmed D. immitis infection or heartworm disease at the university clinic in 2021–2022. The confirmed diagnoses had been reached following international guidelines, based on a combination of different tests. Molecular confirmation of the parasite species had not been performed. Two of the dogs had been imported while four had no travel history outside of the country. Conclusions Four of the dogs with a confirmed D. immitis infection or heartworm disease had no history of being imported or travelling outside of the country, indicating autochthonous infections and, consequently, local circulation of the parasite in Estonia. These findings represent the new northernmost autochthonous cases of D. immitis infection and canine heartworm disease reported in the European Union. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06217-5Dirofilaria immitisEuropeEmerging infectionHeartwormZoonosis |
| spellingShingle | Maare Mõttus Paul F. Mõtsküla Pikka Jokelainen Heartworm disease in domestic dogs in Estonia: indication of local circulation of the zoonotic parasite Dirofilaria immitis farther north than previously reported Parasites & Vectors Dirofilaria immitis Europe Emerging infection Heartworm Zoonosis |
| title | Heartworm disease in domestic dogs in Estonia: indication of local circulation of the zoonotic parasite Dirofilaria immitis farther north than previously reported |
| title_full | Heartworm disease in domestic dogs in Estonia: indication of local circulation of the zoonotic parasite Dirofilaria immitis farther north than previously reported |
| title_fullStr | Heartworm disease in domestic dogs in Estonia: indication of local circulation of the zoonotic parasite Dirofilaria immitis farther north than previously reported |
| title_full_unstemmed | Heartworm disease in domestic dogs in Estonia: indication of local circulation of the zoonotic parasite Dirofilaria immitis farther north than previously reported |
| title_short | Heartworm disease in domestic dogs in Estonia: indication of local circulation of the zoonotic parasite Dirofilaria immitis farther north than previously reported |
| title_sort | heartworm disease in domestic dogs in estonia indication of local circulation of the zoonotic parasite dirofilaria immitis farther north than previously reported |
| topic | Dirofilaria immitis Europe Emerging infection Heartworm Zoonosis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06217-5 |
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