Leishmania infantum and Dirofilaria immitis infections in Italy, 2009–2019: changing distribution patterns
Abstract Background For long time, canine leishmaniosis (CanL) was considered endemic in the southern, central, and insular regions of Italy, whereas heartworm disease (HW) caused by Dirofilaria immitis was considered endemic in the northern region and in the swampy Po Valley. Following the reports...
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doaj-47d41790cde44f4eb92511bf8b24b01e2020-11-25T02:02:34ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052020-04-011311810.1186/s13071-020-04063-9Leishmania infantum and Dirofilaria immitis infections in Italy, 2009–2019: changing distribution patternsJairo Mendoza-Roldan0Giovanni Benelli1Rossella Panarese2Roberta Iatta3Tommaso Furlanello4Frederic Beugnet5Andrea Zatelli6Domenico Otranto7Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di BariDepartment of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of PisaDipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di BariDipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di BariSan Marco Veterinary Clinic and LaboratoryBoehringer Ingelheim Animal HealthDipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di BariDipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di BariAbstract Background For long time, canine leishmaniosis (CanL) was considered endemic in the southern, central, and insular regions of Italy, whereas heartworm disease (HW) caused by Dirofilaria immitis was considered endemic in the northern region and in the swampy Po Valley. Following the reports of new foci of both diseases, in this study we update the distribution patterns and occurrence of new foci of CanL and HW discussing the main drivers for the changes in the epidemiology of these two important zoonotic canine vector-borne diseases. Methods Based on the statistical analyses of serological assays (n = 90,633) on L. infantum exposure and D. immitis infection performed by two reference diagnostic centres in Italy over a ten-year period (2009–2019) irrespective of the anamnesis of dogs. The distribution patterns of both parasites are herein presented along with the occurrence of new foci. Results Results highlighted the changing distribution patterns of L. infantum vs D. immitis infection in Italy. CanL is endemic in some areas of northern regions and HW has endemic foci in central and southern regions and islands. Significant differences in L. infantum exposure and HW infection prevalence among the study macroareas were detected. The overall results of the positive tested samples were 28.2% in southern Italy and islands, 29.6% in central Italy and 21.6% in northern Italy for L. infantum and 2.83% in northern Italy, 7.75% in central Italy and 4.97% in southern Italy and islands for HW. HW positivity significantly varied over years (χ 2 = 108.401, df = 10, P < 0.0001), gradually increasing from 0.77% in 2009 to 8.47% in 2016–2017. Conclusions New potential epidemiological scenarios are discussed according to a range of factors (e.g. environmental modifications, occurrence of competent insect vectors, transportation of infected animals to non-endemic areas, chemoprophylaxis or vector preventative measures), which may affect the current distribution. Overall, the results advocate for epidemiological surveillance programmes, more focussed preventative and control measures even in areas where few or no cases of both diseases have been diagnosed.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-020-04063-9Aedes mosquitoesCanine vector-borne diseasesDirofilaria immitisLeishmania infantumSandflies |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Jairo Mendoza-Roldan Giovanni Benelli Rossella Panarese Roberta Iatta Tommaso Furlanello Frederic Beugnet Andrea Zatelli Domenico Otranto |
spellingShingle |
Jairo Mendoza-Roldan Giovanni Benelli Rossella Panarese Roberta Iatta Tommaso Furlanello Frederic Beugnet Andrea Zatelli Domenico Otranto Leishmania infantum and Dirofilaria immitis infections in Italy, 2009–2019: changing distribution patterns Parasites & Vectors Aedes mosquitoes Canine vector-borne diseases Dirofilaria immitis Leishmania infantum Sandflies |
author_facet |
Jairo Mendoza-Roldan Giovanni Benelli Rossella Panarese Roberta Iatta Tommaso Furlanello Frederic Beugnet Andrea Zatelli Domenico Otranto |
author_sort |
Jairo Mendoza-Roldan |
title |
Leishmania infantum and Dirofilaria immitis infections in Italy, 2009–2019: changing distribution patterns |
title_short |
Leishmania infantum and Dirofilaria immitis infections in Italy, 2009–2019: changing distribution patterns |
title_full |
Leishmania infantum and Dirofilaria immitis infections in Italy, 2009–2019: changing distribution patterns |
title_fullStr |
Leishmania infantum and Dirofilaria immitis infections in Italy, 2009–2019: changing distribution patterns |
title_full_unstemmed |
Leishmania infantum and Dirofilaria immitis infections in Italy, 2009–2019: changing distribution patterns |
title_sort |
leishmania infantum and dirofilaria immitis infections in italy, 2009–2019: changing distribution patterns |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
Parasites & Vectors |
issn |
1756-3305 |
publishDate |
2020-04-01 |
description |
Abstract Background For long time, canine leishmaniosis (CanL) was considered endemic in the southern, central, and insular regions of Italy, whereas heartworm disease (HW) caused by Dirofilaria immitis was considered endemic in the northern region and in the swampy Po Valley. Following the reports of new foci of both diseases, in this study we update the distribution patterns and occurrence of new foci of CanL and HW discussing the main drivers for the changes in the epidemiology of these two important zoonotic canine vector-borne diseases. Methods Based on the statistical analyses of serological assays (n = 90,633) on L. infantum exposure and D. immitis infection performed by two reference diagnostic centres in Italy over a ten-year period (2009–2019) irrespective of the anamnesis of dogs. The distribution patterns of both parasites are herein presented along with the occurrence of new foci. Results Results highlighted the changing distribution patterns of L. infantum vs D. immitis infection in Italy. CanL is endemic in some areas of northern regions and HW has endemic foci in central and southern regions and islands. Significant differences in L. infantum exposure and HW infection prevalence among the study macroareas were detected. The overall results of the positive tested samples were 28.2% in southern Italy and islands, 29.6% in central Italy and 21.6% in northern Italy for L. infantum and 2.83% in northern Italy, 7.75% in central Italy and 4.97% in southern Italy and islands for HW. HW positivity significantly varied over years (χ 2 = 108.401, df = 10, P < 0.0001), gradually increasing from 0.77% in 2009 to 8.47% in 2016–2017. Conclusions New potential epidemiological scenarios are discussed according to a range of factors (e.g. environmental modifications, occurrence of competent insect vectors, transportation of infected animals to non-endemic areas, chemoprophylaxis or vector preventative measures), which may affect the current distribution. Overall, the results advocate for epidemiological surveillance programmes, more focussed preventative and control measures even in areas where few or no cases of both diseases have been diagnosed. |
topic |
Aedes mosquitoes Canine vector-borne diseases Dirofilaria immitis Leishmania infantum Sandflies |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-020-04063-9 |
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