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Is Dirofilaria repens endemic in the Havelland district in Brandenburg, Germany?

Reinhold Sassnau1, Mareen Kohn, Janina Demeler

  • 11 Kleintierpraxis Dr. R. Sassnau , Berlin, Germany .

Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.)
|August 8, 2013
PubMed

Insights

An outbreak of Dirofilaria repens, a zoonotic parasite, was found in dogs in northeastern Germany. This suggests local transmission may be occurring, challenging previous assumptions about the parasite

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Parasitology
  • Zoonotic Diseases
  • Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

  • Dirofilaria repens is a zoonotic filarial nematode.
  • Northeastern Germany was previously considered free of Dirofilaria.
  • Sledge dogs in Brandenburg were found to be infected.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate an outbreak of Dirofilaria repens in a dog kennel in Brandenburg, Germany.
  • To determine the prevalence and potential for local transmission of Dirofilaria repens.
  • To assess the suitability of the local climate for Dirofilaria extrinsic development.

Main Methods:

  • Modified Knott test for microfilaria detection.
  • Dirofilaria repens-specific PCR targeting the ITS2 region.
  • Analysis of historical weather data (1994-2012).

Main Results:

  • Prevalence of microfilaria positive dogs was 39% (8/28).
  • Filarial DNA was detected in 11 dogs using PCR.
  • Weather data indicated continuous possibility for extrinsic parasite development during summers.

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest autochthonous (local) transmission of Dirofilaria repens in northeastern Germany.
  • The study challenges the notion that northeastern Germany is free of Dirofilaria.
  • Climate conditions in the region may support active transmission cycles of the parasite.

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