Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Zootecnia, Università degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, BA, Italy.
Parasit Vectors. 2012 Jan 3;5(1):1. doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-1.
This study was aimed at investigating the distribution of a Cercopithifilaria sp. sensu Otranto et al., 2011 with dermal microfilariae recently identified in a dog from Sicily (Italy). A large epidemiological survey was conducted by examining skin samples (n = 917) and ticks (n = 890) collected from dogs at different time points in Italy, central Spain and eastern Greece.
The overall prevalence of Cercopithifilaria sp. in the sampled animal populations was 13.9% and 10.5% by microscopy of skin sediments and by PCR on skin samples, respectively. Up to 21.6% and 45.5% of dogs in Spain were positive by microscopical examination and by PCR. Cumulative incidence rates ranging from 7.7% to 13.9% were estimated in dogs from two sites in Italy. A low level of agreement between the two diagnostic tests (microscopical examination and PCR) was recorded in sites where samples were processed in parallel. Infestation rate as determined by tick dissection (from 5.2% to 16.7%) was higher than that detected by PCR (from 0% to 3.9%); tick infestation was significantly associated with Cercopithifilaria sp. infestation in dogs from two out of four sites. Developing larvae found in ticks were morphometrically studied and as many as 1469 larvae were found in a single tick.
Our data suggest that, in addition to the most common species of filarioids known to infest dogs (i.e., Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilaria repens and Acanthocheilonema reconditum), Cercopithifilaria sp. with dermal microfilariae should be considered due to its widespread distribution in southern Europe and high frequency in tick-exposed dogs.
本研究旨在调查一种 Cercopithifilaria sp. 的分布情况，该寄生虫带有最近在西西里岛（意大利）的一只狗身上发现的皮肤微丝蚴。通过对来自意大利、西班牙中部和希腊东部不同时间点的犬的皮肤样本（n=917）和蜱（n=890）进行检查，开展了一项大规模的流行病学调查。
在采样的动物群体中，通过皮肤沉积物的显微镜检查和皮肤样本的 PCR 检测，Cercopithifilaria sp. 的总流行率分别为 13.9%和 10.5%。西班牙高达 21.6%和 45.5%的犬通过显微镜检查和 PCR 呈阳性。在意大利的两个地点，估计犬的累积发病率在 7.7%至 13.9%之间。在同时处理样本的地点，两种诊断检测（显微镜检查和 PCR）之间的一致性较低。通过蜱解剖确定的感染率（从 5.2%至 16.7%）高于 PCR 检测的感染率（从 0%至 3.9%）；在四个地点中的两个地点，蜱的感染与犬的 Cercopithifilaria sp. 感染显著相关。在蜱中发现的发育幼虫进行了形态学研究，在一只蜱中发现了多达 1469 条幼虫。
我们的数据表明，除了已知感染犬的最常见的丝虫种类（即犬恶丝虫、犬心丝虫和无齿鳞毛盘尾线虫）外，还应考虑带有皮肤微丝蚴的 Cercopithifilaria sp.，因为它在欧洲南部广泛分布且在暴露于蜱的犬中高频出现。
