Human Dirofilariasis in Latvia - the First Case in Surgical Practice

Melbarde-Gorkusa, Inga; Āboliņš, Arnis; Štrumfa, Ilze; Martinsons, A.; Gardovskis, Jānis

doi:10.2478/v10163-012-0037-1

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…These data show that human subcutaneous dirofilariosis is also endemic in Lithuania. Human Dirofilaria infections are sporadic in Lithuania and in neighbouring countries, where the first cases of dirofilariosis were noted at a similar time [61–63]. In the past few decades, the number of human infections in previously endemic countries has increased dramatically [9, 16, 50, 64].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dirofilaria repens in dogs and humans in Lithuania

et al. 2019

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Background In Lithuania, the first case of canine subcutaneous dirofilariosis was recorded in 2010. Since then, an increasing number of cases of canine dirofilariosis have been documented in different veterinary clinics throughout the country. Human dirofilariosis was diagnosed in Lithuania for the first time in September 2011. However, to the authors’ knowledge, there are no published data on the presence and prevalence of autochthonous dirofilariosis in dogs and humans in the country. The present study provides information about the predominant species and prevalence of Dirofilaria in dogs and describes the cases of human dirofilariosis in Lithuania. It also outlines PCR detection of the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia that contributes to the inflammatory features of filarioid infection. Results A total of 2280 blood samples and six adult worms from pet and shelter dogs were collected in the central and eastern regions of Lithuania in 2013–2015. Based on their morphological appearance, morphometric measurements and molecular analysis, all the adult nematodes were identified as Dirofilaria repens. The diagnosis of microfilariae in blood samples was based on blood smear analysis and Knott’s test. The PCR and sequence analysis of the ribosomal DNA ITS2 region and cox 1 gene confirmed the presence of D. repens . Overall, 61 (2.7%) of the 2280 blood samples were found to be positive for the presence of D. repens. The infection rate of D. repens was significantly higher in shelter dogs (19.0%; 19/100) than in pet dogs (1.9%; 42/2180) ( χ 2 = 100.039, df = 1, P < 0.0001). Forty-nine DNA samples of D. repens -infected dogs were tested for the presence of the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia and, of these, 40 samples (81.6%) were found to be positive. Three ocular and six subcutaneous cases of human dirofilariosis were diagnosed in Lithuania in the period 2011–2018. Conclusions To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of autochthonous D. repens infection in dogs and humans in Lithuania. The present data demonstrate that D. repens is the main etiological agent of dirofilariosis in Lithuania. The DNA of the filarioid endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia was detected in the vast majority of dogs infected with D. repens .

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dirofilaria repens in dogs and humans in Lithuania

et al. 2019

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“…The mosquito-borne Dirofilaria repens normally parasitizes subcutaneous tissues of carnivores and is often asymptomatic in dogs, but can also infect humans, resulting in skin nodules, ocular dirofilariasis or other complications (Capelli et al 2018;Ciuca et al 2020;Pupić-Bakrač et al 2021). In fact, autochthonous human cases have already been reported in countries neighboring Estonia (Melbarde-Gorkusa et al 2011;Pietikäinen et al 2017). Thus far, numerous species belonging to the genera Aedes, Anopheles, Coquillettidia and Culex have been indicated in carrying Dirofilaria repens, as reported by Kronefeld et al (2014), Kemenesi et al (2015), Șuleșco et al (2016) and Shaikevich et al (2019a).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rediscovering the mosquito fauna (Diptera: Culicidae) of Estonia: an annotated checklist with distribution maps and DNA evidence

Kirik

Tummeleht

Kurina

2022

Zootaxa

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Female mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) affect their hosts in numerous negative ways and are crucial to the spread of vector-borne pathogens. It is, therefore, important to have a detailed overview of regional mosquitoes, to be able to detect changes in species diversity and identify possible health threats. The aim of this study was to update the checklist of the mosquito fauna of Estonia for the first time since 1957. For this purpose, 24,344 adult mosquitoes (94% females) were collected in Estonia from 2008 to 2020 using various trapping methods. Specimens were primarily identified by morphological characteristics, but DNA barcoding based on the partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (COI) was also used. Species were included in the checklist based on historical records as well as new collections, while also considering reports from neighboring countries. Species records are supplemented with voucher specimens, distribution maps and DNA evidence. The updated checklist includes 34 species, 27 of which were confirmed with recently collected material. All in all, Aedes communis (de Geer, 1776) proved to be the most common mosquito in Estonia, accounting for 30.1% of the specimens collected. This is noteworthy, as this species has been implicated in the transmission of multiple disease agents present in the area. New evidence revealed the presence of Ae. hexodontus Dyar, 1916, Ae. sticticus (Meigen, 1838), Anopheles messeae Falleroni, 1926 and Culiseta bergrothi (Edwards, 1921) in Estonia.

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“…In a 2012 publication, the European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites [ 19 ] reported the parasite to have established in Austria, Germany and Poland. It has also been found in Lithuania in dogs [ 20 ], and in Latvia, in both dogs and humans [ 21 , 22 ]. Thus far, the northernmost European site where the parasite life-cycle has been confirmed to take place is Estonia, where D. repens microfilaraemia was seen in three dogs in 2013–2014 [ 23 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Dirofilaria repens transmission in southeastern Finland

et al. 2017

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BackgroundThe spread of vector-borne diseases to new regions has become a global threat due to climate change, increasing traffic, and movement of people and animals. Dirofilaria repens, the canine subcutaneous filarioid nematode, has expanded its distribution range northward during the last decades. The northernmost European locations, where the parasite life-cycle has been confirmed, are Estonia and the Novgorod Region in Russia.ResultsHerein, we describe an autochthonous D. repens infection in a Finnish woman. We also present two cases of D. repens infection in imported dogs indicating the life-cycle in the Russian Vyborg and St Petersburg areas, close to the Finnish border.ConclusionsThe most obvious limiting factor of the northern distribution of D. repens is the summer temperature, due to the temperature-dependent development of larvae in vectors. With continuing climate change, further spread of D. repens in Fennoscandia can be expected.

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Human Dirofilariasis in Latvia - the First Case in Surgical Practice

Cited by 6 publications

References 4 publications

Dirofilaria repens in dogs and humans in Lithuania

Dirofilaria repens in dogs and humans in Lithuania

Rediscovering the mosquito fauna (Diptera: Culicidae) of Estonia: an annotated checklist with distribution maps and DNA evidence

Dirofilaria repens transmission in southeastern Finland

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