Cancrini G, Frangipane di Regalbono A, Ricci I, Tessarin C, Gabrielli S, Pietrobelli M
Dipartimento di Scienze di Sanità Pubblica, Sez. Parassitologia, Università "La Sapienza", P. le Aldo Moro 2, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Vet Parasitol. 2003 Dec 30;118(3-4):195-202. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2003.10.011.
Investigations were carried out in Padova town (Veneto region, NE Italy) to define the actual role of Aedes albopictus in the natural transmission of Dirofilaria nematodes, and to assess the risk that its presence might represent for veterinary and medical health. During summer 2000-2002 daytime captures of human-attracted mosquitoes were carried out in three areas of the town. The presence of filarial parasites in mosquitoes was evaluated by PCR, and sequencing confirmed species assessment. DNA extraction was performed separately on pools of the insect abdomen and thorax-head, to discriminate between Dirofilaria infected/infective specimens. A total of 2721 mosquitoes were caught and A. albopictus was the most abundant species (2534). Filarial DNA was found in 27.5% (19/69) of the abdomen pools formed with mosquitoes collected in summer 2000, and in 11.1% (16/144) and 4.9% (6/123) thorax-head pools coming from samplings 2001 and 2002, respectively. Filarial DNA was belonging to D. immitis and all studied areas harboured infective specimens. These results prove A. albopictus as natural vector of D. immitis in Italy. Moreover, they support the hypothesis that the presence of the mosquito could affect the transmission pattern of canine heartworm disease in urban environment and, considering the aggressive anthropophylic behaviour of the species (30-48 bites/h) proven in Padova town, could enhance the circulation of filarial nematodes from animals to humans.
在意大利东北部威尼托地区的帕多瓦镇开展了调查，以确定白纹伊蚊在丝虫线虫自然传播中的实际作用，并评估其存在可能对兽医和人类健康构成的风险。在2000年至2002年夏季期间，在该镇的三个区域进行了吸引人类的蚊子的白天捕捉工作。通过聚合酶链反应（PCR）评估蚊子体内丝虫寄生虫的存在情况，并通过测序确认物种鉴定。对昆虫腹部和胸头部样本分别进行DNA提取，以区分感染/具有感染性的丝虫样本。总共捕获了2721只蚊子，其中白纹伊蚊是数量最多的物种（2534只）。在2000年夏季收集的蚊子组成的腹部样本池中，27.5%（19/69）发现了丝虫DNA，在分别来自2001年和2002年采样的胸头部样本池中，这一比例分别为11.1%（16/144）和4.9%（6/123）。丝虫DNA属于犬恶丝虫，所有研究区域都存在具有感染性的样本。这些结果证明白纹伊蚊是意大利犬恶丝虫的自然传播媒介。此外，它们支持这样一种假设，即这种蚊子的存在可能会影响城市环境中犬心丝虫病的传播模式，并且考虑到在帕多瓦镇证实的该物种积极的嗜人行为（每小时叮咬30 - 48次），可能会增加丝虫线虫从动物传播到人类的循环。
