Exposure of humans to the zoonotic nematode Dirofilaria immitis in Northern Portugal

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2019

Authors

Fontes Sousa, AP (Author) Other; Silvestre Ferreira, AC (Author) Other; Carreton, E (Author) Other; Esteves Guimaraes, J (Author) Other; Maia Rocha, C (Author) Other; oliveira, p (Author) ICBAS; Lobo, L (Author) Other; Morchon, R (Author) Other; Araujo, F (Author) Other; Simon, F (Author) Other; Montoya Alonso, JA (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Epidemiology and Infection

Vol. 147

Final page: e282

ISSN: 0950-2688

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 5 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00R-50J

DOI: 10.1017/s0950268819001687

Abstract (EN): Dirofilariosis caused by Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm) is a zoonosis, considered an endemic disease of dogs and cats in several countries of Western Europe, including Portugal. This study assesses the levels of D. immitis exposure in humans from Northern Portugal, to which end, 668 inhabitants of several districts belonging to two different climate areas (Csa: Braganca, Vila Real and Csb: Aveiro, Braga, Porto, Viseu) were tested for anti-D. immitis and anti-Wolbachia surface proteins (WSP) antibodies. The overall prevalence of seropositivity to both anti-D. immitis and WSP antibodies was 6.1%, which demonstrated the risk of infection with D. immitis in humans living in Northern Portugal. This study, carried out in a Western European country, contributes to the characterisation of the risk of infection with D. immitis among human population in this region of the continent. From a One Health point of view, the results of the current work also support the close relationship between dogs and people as a risk factor for human infection

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 5