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.

• Keywords
• Angiostrongylus vasorum, Central Europe, Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilaria repens, Northern Europe,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

Dirofilaria repens and Dirofilaria immitis are the most common filarial species affecting humans in Europe. Dirofilaria repens causes subcutaneous or ocular infection, whereas D. immitis is responsible mainly for the pulmonary form. In this report, we present the first human case of periorbital dirofilariasis in the Czech Republic. A 58-year-old woman suffered from an eyelid oedema, redness and pain in the left eye. After excising the parasite from her eyelid, all clinical symptoms disappeared. Based on the morphology and cytochrome oxidase I sequencing, the parasite was identified as D. repens. Histology revealed that the excised worm was female with absent microfilariae in uteri. With respect to the length of the incubation period and the sequence identity with a known Czech isolate, we concluded that D. repens was most likely of autochthonous origin.

• Keywords
• Clinical symptom, Cytochrome oxidase I, Dirofilaria repens, Eye, Filarial, Human, Microfilaria, Ocular infection,
• MeSH
• Cyclooxygenase 1 genetics   MeSH
• Dirofilaria repens cytology   genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Dirofilariasis parasitology   pathology   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Microfilariae isolation & purification   MeSH
• Eye Infections, Parasitic parasitology   pathology   MeSH
• Helminth Proteins genetics   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Case Reports MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Cyclooxygenase 1 MeSH
• Helminth Proteins MeSH

BACKGROUND: Despite long-term research on dirofilariosis in Slovakia, little attention has thus far been paid to Dirofilaria vectors. The particular aim of the present study was molecular screening for filarioid parasites in two different habitats of Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia. In addition, the effect of urbanisation on mosquito species abundance and composition, associated with the risk of mosquito-borne infections, was studied and discussed. METHODS: Mosquitoes were identified by morphological features, and molecular methods were also used for determination of selected individuals belonging to cryptic species from the Anopheles maculipennis and Culex pipiens complexes. The presence of filarioid DNA (Dirofilaria repens, Dirofilaria immitis and Setaria spp.) was detected using standard PCR approaches and sequencing. RESULTS: A total of 6957 female mosquitoes were collected for the study. Overall, the most abundant mosquito species was Aedes vexans, closely followed by unidentified members of the Cx. pipiens complex and the less numerous but still plentiful Ochlerotatus sticticus species. Further investigation of mosquito material revealed 4.26% relative prevalence of Dirofilaria spp., whereby both species, D. repens and D. immitis, were identified. The majority of positive mosquito pools had their origin in a floodplain area on the outskirts of the city, with a relative prevalence of 5.32%; only two mosquito pools (1.26%) were shown to be positive in the residential zone of Bratislava. Setaria spp. DNA was not detected in mosquitoes within this study. CONCLUSIONS: The study presented herein represents initial research focused on molecular mosquito screening for filarioid parasites in urban and urban-fringe habitats of Bratislava, Slovakia. Molecular analyses within the Cx. pipiens complex identified two biotypes: Cx. pipiens biotype pipiens and Cx. pipiens biotype molestus. To our knowledge, Dirofilaria spp. were detected for the first time in Slovakia in mosquitoes other than Ae. vexans, i.e. D. repens in Anopheles messeae and unidentified members of An. maculipennis and Cx. pipiens complexes, and D. immitis in Coquillettidia richiardii and Cx. pipiens biotype pipiens. Both dirofilarial species were found in Och. sticticus. The suitable conditions for the vectors' biology would represent the main risk factor for dirofilariosis transmission.

• Keywords
• Anopheles maculipennis complex, Culex pipiens complex, Dirofilaria, Mosquito-borne diseases, Xenomonitoring,
• MeSH
• Anopheles anatomy & histology   classification   genetics   growth & development   MeSH
• Culex anatomy & histology   classification   genetics   growth & development   MeSH
• Dirofilaria immitis genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Dirofilaria repens genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Dirofilariasis epidemiology   transmission   MeSH
• Risk Assessment MeSH
• Mosquito Vectors anatomy & histology   classification   genetics   growth & development   MeSH
• Population Dynamics * MeSH
• Setaria Nematode genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Setariasis epidemiology   transmission   MeSH
• Urbanization * MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Slovakia epidemiology   MeSH

We report the distribution of mosquitoes of the maculipennis complex in two distinct areas of the Czech Republic (Bohemia and South Moravia) and in one locality of neighbouring Slovakia with emphasis on the detection of the newly described cryptic species Anopheles daciae (Linton, Nicolescu & Harbach, 2004). A total of 691 mosquitoes were analysed using a species-specific multiplex PCR assay to differentiate between the members of the maculipennis complex. In the Czech Republic, we found Anopheles maculipennis (with a prevalence rate of 1.4%), Anopheles messeae (49.0%) and Anopheles daciae (49.6%). In Slovakia, only An. messeae (52.1%) and An. daciae (47.9%) were detected. In this study, An. daciae was documented for the first time in the two countries where it represented a markedly higher proportion of maculipennis complex species (with an overall prevalence almost reaching 50%) in comparison to previous reports from Germany, Romania and Poland. The determination of the differential distribution of maculipennis complex species will contribute to assessing risks of mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria or dirofilariasis.

• Keywords
• Anopheles daciae, Anophelinae, Cryptic species, Maculipennis complex, Mosquitoes, Vector-borne diseases,
• MeSH
• Anopheles parasitology   MeSH
• Culicidae parasitology   MeSH
• Dirofilariasis epidemiology   parasitology   transmission   MeSH
• Species Specificity MeSH
• Insect Vectors parasitology   MeSH
• Malaria epidemiology   parasitology   transmission   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic epidemiology   MeSH
• Slovakia epidemiology   MeSH

BACKGROUND: Mosquitoes are arthropods of major importance to animal and human health because they are able to transmit pathogenic agents such as filarioids (Spirurida), vector-borne nematodes, which reside in the tissues of vertebrates. In Europe, recent research has mostly focused on mosquito-borne zoonotic species, while others remain neglected. Mosquitoes are also vectors of avian malaria, which has an almost worldwide distribution, and is caused by several Plasmodium species and lineages, the most common being P. relictum. The Danube Delta region of Romania is one of the most important stopover sites for migratory birds. The local mosquito fauna is diverse and well represented, while filarial infections are known to be endemic in domestic dogs in this area. The aim of the present study was thus to assess the potential vector capacity for various filarial helminths and avian malaria of mosquitoes trapped in the Danube Delta. METHODS: In July 2015, mosquitoes were collected at seven sites located in and around a rural locality in the Danube Delta region of Romania, using CO2-baited traps and hand aspirators. Additionally, a trap was placed next to a microfilaremic dog co-infected with Dirofilaria repens and D. immitis. All randomly trapped mosquitoes were identified to the species level and pooled according to date, sampling site, and taxon. Three hundred individual mosquitoes sampled next to the microfilaremic dog were processed individually and divided into abdomen and thorax/head. Following DNA extraction, all samples were screened for the presence of DNA of filarioid helminths and avian malaria agents by PCR techniques. RESULTS: All 284 pools (a total of 5855 mosquitoes) were negative for filarioid DNA. One pool of Culex modestus mosquitoes was positive for Plasmodium sp. lineage Donana03. In the individually extracted mosquitoes, one abdomen of Aedes vexans was positive for D. repens DNA, one thorax/head of Ae. vexans was positive for DNA of Setaria labiatopapillosa, and two thorax/head of Cx. pipiens f. pipiens were positive for P. relictum lineage pSGS1. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests the vector competence of Cx. modestus and Cx. pipiens for avian Plasmodium including pathogenic species P. relictum and Ae. vexans for mammalian filarioids. Moreover, it indicates the role of Cx. pipiens f. pipiens as a potential natural vector of P. relictum lineage pSGS1 in nature.

• Keywords
• Avian malaria, Danube Delta, Filarioids, Mosquito vectors,
• MeSH
• Aedes classification   parasitology   MeSH
• Culex classification   parasitology   MeSH
• Culicidae classification   parasitology   MeSH
• Dirofilaria immitis genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Dirofilaria repens genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Filarioidea genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Filariasis epidemiology   parasitology   MeSH
• Insect Vectors parasitology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Malaria, Avian epidemiology   parasitology   MeSH
• Plasmodium genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Dogs MeSH
• Setaria Nematode genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Dogs MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Romania epidemiology   MeSH

BACKGROUND: Human dirofilariasis is a zoonotic infection that continues to spread to previously unaffected areas of Europe. In the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic (CR), imported as well as autochthonous canine infections were recorded in the last decade, and parasite DNA was detected in mosquitoes of Aedes vexans. In the present paper, human Dirofilaria infections are reported from the country for the first time. CASE PRESENTATION: The samples from five patients with suspected tissue helminthiases were investigated. In particular cases, nematodes were isolated from various tissues including skin of lower leg, soft tissues of finger, subcutaneous tissue of hypogastrium, lymph node and peritoneum. The diagnosis was based on light microscopic morphology and/or DNA analysis of the worms. In addition, ELISA examination of patients' sera for anti-filaria IgG antibodies was performed. CONCLUSIONS: In the CR, five cases of human dirofilariasis caused by Dirofilaria repens were recorded during 2010-2014 (species determination for three of them was confirmed besides morphological also by DNA analysis). At least, three of the cases were of autochthonous origin (the patients are Czech citizens residing in South Moravian Region who have never travelled abroad). The findings confirm the natural setting of D. repens in South Moravian Region of the CR. Dirofilariasis should be therefore considered as endemic in this area where it may represent a significant risk factor for public health.

• Keywords
• Autochthonous diseases in Czech Republic, Dirofilaria repens, Emerging disease, Human dirofilariasis,
• MeSH
• Dirofilaria repens genetics   isolation & purification   metabolism   MeSH
• Dirofilariasis diagnosis   parasitology   pathology   MeSH
• DNA, Helminth genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay MeSH
• Immunoglobulin G blood   MeSH
• Skin parasitology   pathology   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Polymerase Chain Reaction MeSH
• Antibodies, Helminth blood   MeSH
• RNA, Ribosomal, 5S genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Subcutaneous Tissue parasitology   pathology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH
• Names of Substances
• DNA, Helminth MeSH
• Immunoglobulin G MeSH
• Antibodies, Helminth MeSH
• RNA, Ribosomal, 5S MeSH