SummaryDirofilaria immitis (canine heartworm) is a fi larial nematode found in the pulmonary circulation and the heart of susceptible hosts. It represents an important zoonotic vector-borne disease of domestic dogs and several wildlife species. Herein we report for the fi rst time, the fi nding of Dirofi laria immitis worms in a brown bear killed in a vehicle collision in Northern Greece. The worms were morphologically identifi ed; molecular examination, based on the analysis of the mitochondrial genes 12S (433 bp) and CO1 (610 bp), verifi ed the identifi cation by demonstrating 100% similarity to D. immitis specimens deposited in GenBank. Brown bears in Greece occupy habitats that are shared with the potential wild and domestic hosts and the vectors of D. immitis and thus may be particularly susceptible to this parasite. This report contributes to the knowledge of dirofi lariosis spread in Europe and on the epidemiological threats that may affect the survival of the endangered brown bear in Greece.
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