Kramer Laura, Genchi Claudio
Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, via del Taglio 10, 43126 Parma, Italy.
Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health, University of Milan, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milano, Italy.
Vet Parasitol. 2014 Nov 15;206(1-2):1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.03.028. Epub 2014 Apr 4.
Dirofilaria immitis, the cause of canine and feline heartworm disease, was the first filarial nematode described to harbour the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia. This ground-breaking discovery has led to intense research aimed at unravelling the nature of the endosymbiotic relationship; genomic studies have revealed how the bacteria may interact with the parasite and help explain why each is so dependent on the other. Analysis of the immune response to these bacteria may elucidate the mechanisms through which filarial parasites are able to survive for long periods of time in otherwise immune-competent hosts. Finally, studies aimed at the removal of the bacteria using specific antibiotic treatment in infected hosts is leading to the development of novel approaches for interrupting the transmission cycle and for the treatment and control of heartworm disease.
犬恶丝虫是犬猫心丝虫病的病原体，是首个被描述为携带细菌内共生体沃尔巴克氏体的丝虫线虫。这一开创性的发现引发了旨在揭示内共生关系本质的深入研究；基因组研究已经揭示了细菌可能如何与寄生虫相互作用，并有助于解释为何二者如此相互依赖。对这些细菌的免疫反应进行分析，可能会阐明丝虫寄生虫能够在原本具有免疫能力的宿主体内长期存活的机制。最后，旨在通过对受感染宿主使用特定抗生素治疗来清除细菌的研究，正促使开发出中断传播周期以及治疗和控制心丝虫病的新方法。
