Abstract
The aim of the present study was compare the prevalence of D. immitis in dogs and seroprevalence in humans of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain) taking into consideration the four isoclimatic areas of the island. A close relationship between the prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs and the seroprevalence in humans, in each isoclimatic area, was observed. The highest seroprevalence of infection in both canine and human hosts were found in a strip of mid-range altitude with 25.47% and 30.4% in dogs and 25.66% and 29.73% in humans, respectively. The coastal zone and the highest part of the island have prevalences significantly lower. These results demonstrate that the risk of infection by D. immitis in the human population in each area is tied to the prevalence in the canine population. Physicians should be alerted to the possibility of finding cases of human pulmonary dirofilariosis amongst the inhabitants of the island.
References
Acevedo RA, Theis JH, Kraus JF, Longhurst WM (1981) Combination of filtration and histochemical stain for detection and differentiation of Dirofilaria immitis and Dipetalonema reconditum in the dog. Am J Vet Res 42:537–540
Genchi C, Rinaldi L, Cascone C, Mortarino M, Cringoli G (2005) Is heartworm disease really spreading in Europe? Vet Parasitol 133:137–148
Guerrero J, Rojo F, Rodenas A (1989) Estudio de la incidencia de la enfermedad del gusano del corazón en la población canina española. Med Vet 6:217–220
Montoya JA, Morales M, Ferrer O, Molina JM, Corbera JA (1998) The prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain (1994–1996). Vet Parasitol 75:221–226
Morchón R, Ferreira AC, Martín-Pacho JR, Montoya A, Mortarino M, Genchi C, Simón F (2004) Specific IgG antibody response against antigens of Dirofilaria immitis and its Wolbachia endosymbiont bacterium in cats with natural and experimental infections. Vet Parasitol 125:313–321
Morchón R, Moya I, González-Miguel J, Montoya MN, Simón F (2009) Zoonotic Dirofilaria immitis infections in La Rioja, Northern Spain. Epidemiol Infect 138:380–383
Montoya JA, Morales M, Juste MC, Corbera JA (2007) Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) infection in dogs: current update in Spain, pp: 175-180. In: Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens in dog and cat and human infections (C. Genchi, L. Rinaldi, G. Cringoli, eds.) Rolando Editore, Naples, Italy, 211 pp.
Pou-Barreto C, Quispe-Ricalpe MA, Morchón R, Vázquez C, Genchi M, Postigo I, Valladares B, Simón F (2008) Galectin and aldolase-like molecules are responsible for the specific IgE response in humans exposed to Dirofilaria immitis. Parasite Immunol 30:596–602
Prieto G, Cancrini G, Muro A, Genchi C, Simón F (2000) Seroepidemiology of Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens in humans from three areas of souther Europe. Res Rev Parasitol 60:95–98
Simón F, Muro A, Cordero M, Martín JA (1991) Seroepidemiologic survey of human dorofilariosis in Western Spain. Trop Med Parasitol 42:106–108
Simón F, López-Belmonte J, Marcos-Atxutegi C, Morchón R, Martín-Pacho JR (2005) What is happening outside North America regarding human dirofilariasis? Vet Parasitol 133:181–189
Simón F, Morchón R, González-Miguel J, Marcos-Atxutegi C, Siles-Lucas M (2009a) What is new about animal and human dirofilariosis? Trends Parasitol 25:404–409
Simón F, Morchón R, González-Miguel J, Rodes-Moltó D (2009b) Dirofilariosis canina en La Coruña. Galicia. Argos 106:10–12
Acknowledgments
This research is partly supported by Agencia Canaria de Investigación, Innovación y Sociedad de la Información, Gobierno de Canarias, España (cofinanced with FEDER funds) (grant C20080100093) and by Junta de Castilla y León (grant SA090/A09)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Montoya-Alonso, J.A., Mellado, I., Carretón, E. et al. Canine dirofilariosis caused by Dirofilaria immitis is a risk factor for the human population on the island of Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain. Parasitol Res 107, 1265–1269 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-1987-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-1987-7