Dirofilaria spp. and Angiostrongylus vasorum: Current Risk of Spreading in Central and Northern Europe
Year: 2021
Type: review
Abstract: In the past few decades, the relevance of Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens, causing cardiopulmonary and subcutaneous dirofilariosis in dogs and cats, and of Angiostrongylus vasorum, causing canine angiostrongylosis, has steadily increased in Central and Northern Europe. In this review, a summary of published articles and additional reports dealing with imported or autochthonous cases of these parasites is provided for Central (Austria, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Luxemburg, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland) and Northern (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) Europe. Research efforts focusing on Dirofilaria spp. and A. vasorum have varied by country, and cross-border studies are few. The housing conditions of dogs, pet movements, the spread of competent vectors, and climate change are important factors in the spread of these nematodes. Dogs kept outside overnight are a major factor for the establishment of Dirofilaria spp. However, the establishment of invasive, diurnal, synanthropic, competent mosquito vectors such as Aedes albopictus may also influence the establishment of Dirofilaria spp. The drivers of the spread of A. vasorum remain not fully understood, but it seems to be influenced by habitats shared with wild canids, dog relocation, and possibly climatic changes; its pattern of spreading appears to be similar in different countries. Both Dirofilaria spp. and A. vasorum merit further monitoring and research focus in Europe.
Source: Pathogens
Authors: Hans-Peter Fuehrer, Simone Morelli, Maria Sophia Unterköfler, Anna Bajer, Karin Bakran-Lebl, Dorota Dwużnik-Szarek, Róbert Farkas, Giulio Grandi, Mike Heddergott, Pikka Jokelainen, Tanja Knific, Michael Leschnik, Martina Miterpáková, David Modrý, Heidi Huus Petersen, Karl Skírnisson, Aleksandra Vergles Rataj, Manuela Schnyder, Christina Strube
Institutions: University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, University of Teramo, University of Warsaw, University of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish Veterinary Agency, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Musée national d'histoire naturelle Luxembourg, Statens Serum Institut, University of Ljubljana, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Parasitology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Masaryk University, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Biology Centre, Technical University of Denmark, University of Iceland, University of Zurich, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,944
OpenAlex ID: W3202088791