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 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 di

SUBMITTER: Mendoza-Roldan J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7161282 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature