Autochthonous Dirofilaria repens in Austria

Abstract Background In Europe animal and human infections due to Dirofilaria repens are increasing. Findings In a nationwide screening for filarioid parasites in Austria, 7,632 mosquitoes were collected from June till October 2012 and divided into 437 pools according to same trapping date and sight...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Katja Silbermayr, Barbara Eigner, Anja Joachim, Georg G Duscher, Bernhard Seidel, Franz Allerberger, Alexander Indra, Peter Hufnagl, Hans-Peter Fuehrer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2014-05-01
Series:Parasites & Vectors
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-226
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Summary:Abstract Background In Europe animal and human infections due to Dirofilaria repens are increasing. Findings In a nationwide screening for filarioid parasites in Austria, 7,632 mosquitoes were collected from June till October 2012 and divided into 437 pools according to same trapping date and sight and mosquito species. For the molecular detection, a real-time PCR approach was followed by conventional PCR. D. repens was detected in the villages Moerbisch and Rust, Burgenland in one Anopheles maculipennis group and one Anopheles algeriensis species pool, respectively. Conclusions The geographical distribution of the two positive pools points to the invasion of D. repens from Eastern neighboring countries. The finding of D. repens in mosquito vectors suggests the occurrence of the causative agent for cutaneous dirofilariosis in Austria.
ISSN:1756-3305