Dirofilaria repens is a nematode affecting domestic and wild canids, transmitted by several species of mosquitoes. It usually causes a non-pathogenic subcutaneous infection in dogs and is the principal agent of human dirofilariosis in the Old World. In the last decades, D. repens has increased in prevalence in areas where it has already been reported and its distribution range has expanded into new areas of Europe, representing a paradigmatic example of an emergent pathogen. Despite its emergence and zoonotic impact, D. repens has received less attention by scientists compared to Dirofilaria immitis. In this review we report the recent advances of D. repens infection in dogs and humans, and transmission by vectors, and discuss possible factors that influence the spread and increase of this zoonotic parasite in Europe. There is evidence that D. repens has spread faster than D. immitis from the endemic areas of southern Europe to northern Europe. Climate change affecting mosquito vectors and the facilitation of pet travel seem to have contributed to this expansion; however, in the authors' opinion, the major factor is likely the rate of undiagnosed dogs continuing to perpetuate the life-cycle of D. repens. Many infected dogs remain undetected due to the subclinical nature of the disease, the lack of rapid and reliable diagnostic tools and the poor knowledge and still low awareness of D. repens in non-endemic areas. Improved diagnostic tools are warranted to bring D. repens diagnosis to the state of D. immitis diagnosis, as well as improved screening of imported dogs and promotion of preventative measures among veterinarians and dog owners. For vector-borne diseases involving pets, veterinarians play a significant role in prevention and should be more aware of their responsibility in reducing the impact of the zoonotic agents. In addition, they should enhance multisectorial collaboration with medical entomologists and the public health experts, under the concept and the actions of One Health-One Medicine.

• Klíčová slova
• Dirofilaria repens, Emergent parasite, Mosquitoes, One Health, Vector-borne infections, Zoonosis,
• MeSH
• Culicidae parazitologie   fyziologie   MeSH
• Dirofilaria repens klasifikace   genetika   růst a vývoj   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• dirofilarióza epidemiologie   parazitologie   přenos   MeSH
• hmyz - vektory parazitologie   fyziologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemoci psů epidemiologie   parazitologie   přenos   MeSH
• psi MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• psi MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa epidemiologie   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.

• Klíčová slova
• Autochthonous diseases in Czech Republic, Dirofilaria repens, Emerging disease, Human dirofilariasis,
• MeSH
• Dirofilaria repens genetika   izolace a purifikace   metabolismus   MeSH
• dirofilarióza diagnóza   parazitologie   patologie   MeSH
• DNA helmintů genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• ELISA MeSH
• imunoglobulin G krev   MeSH
• kůže parazitologie   patologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
• protilátky helmintové krev   MeSH
• RNA ribozomální 5S genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• subkutánní tkáň parazitologie   patologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• DNA helmintů MeSH
• imunoglobulin G MeSH
• protilátky helmintové MeSH
• RNA ribozomální 5S MeSH

The surveillance of vectors for arthropod-borne pathogens is nowadays an important tool in surveillance programmes throughout Europe. Whereas many studies have been performed to screen arthropods for viruses or bacterial pathogens, only limited information is available concerning the geographical distribution and vector range of pathogenic filariae in Central Europe. To consider the prevalence of filarial parasites in mosquito vectors, we performed a molecular survey of mosquitoes for filarial DNA. Mosquito collection was conducted at six study sites in the South Moravian region (Czech Republic) close to the borders with Slovakia and Austria from 2009 to 2011. Molecular screening of mosquitoes was conducted using conventional PCR with primers designed to amplify the mitochondrial cytochromoxidase subunit I gene as well as the partial 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene. A total of 13,222 mosquitoes belonging to six species were captured and distributed into 237 pools with different numbers of individuals. Overall, four pools were positive for Dirofilaria repens (a minimum infection rate 0.03%) at two study sites (both natural and urban). Another filarial parasite detected during a study into Aedes vexans mosquitoes revealed the closest homology to Setaria spp. We detected specific D. repens DNA in Ae. vexans mosquitoes for the first time in the Czech Republic and confirmed the circulation of Dirofilaria spp. in a natural focus of infection providing an epidemiological link between autochthonous canine cases and mosquito vectors in the area studied.

• MeSH
• Aedes klasifikace   parazitologie   MeSH
• Dirofilaria repens genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• dirofilarióza epidemiologie   parazitologie   přenos   MeSH
• hmyz - vektory klasifikace   parazitologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
• nemoci psů epidemiologie   parazitologie   přenos   MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce veterinární   MeSH
• psi MeSH
• sekvence nukleotidů MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA veterinární   MeSH
• sladká voda MeSH
• veřejné zdravotnictví MeSH
• zeměpis MeSH
• zoonózy parazitologie   přenos   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• psi MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH