title: Detection of Wolbachia in Dirofilaria infected dogs in Portugal.
abstract: Wolbachia pipiens, an intracellular endosymbiont bacteria of filarial nematodes, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of filarial diseases, in particular in heavy Dirofilaria spp. infections. Antibiotic therapy (doxycycline) against Wolbachia has been proven to be suitable adjunct therapy, prior to adulticide treatment of canine dirofilariosis. Despite its importance, investigation on the Wolbachia/Dirofilaria complex in Portugal had not been undertaken so far. This study reports the first detection of Wolbachia in Dirofilaria spp. infected dogs in the context of an ongoing epidemiological survey in central-south regions in the country. Wolbachia DNA was detected by PCR in 52.6% (20/38) of canine blood samples positive for Dirofilaria immitis based on parasitological (Knott's and Acid Phosphatase) and serological (Witness(®)Dirofilaria) methods. No Wolbachia DNA could be detected in samples from dogs with occult infections (parasite negative but antigen positive). The lack of Wolbachia detection in some microfilaremic dogs was somewhat unexpected and needs to be elucidated in further studies, as the presence or absence of these bacteria in association with microfilaria is of importance for veterinarians in the management and control of canine dirofilariosis.
authors.affiliation: Medical Parasitology Unit, Helminthology and Malacology Group, Medical Parasitology & Microbiology Unit, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Landum
authors.affiliation: Medical Parasitology Unit, Helminthology and Malacology Group, Medical Parasitology & Microbiology Unit, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cátia C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Medical Parasitology Unit, Helminthology and Malacology Group, Medical Parasitology & Microbiology Unit, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calado
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, CIISA - Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Alho
authors.affiliation: Medical Parasitology Unit, Helminthology and Malacology Group, Medical Parasitology & Microbiology Unit, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Isabel L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Maurício
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, CIISA - Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: José S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Meireles
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, CIISA - Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luís Madeira
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Medical Microbiology Unit, Center for Malaria and Tropical Diseases, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Celso
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.affiliation: Medical Parasitology Unit, Helminthology and Malacology Group, Medical Parasitology & Microbiology Unit, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal. Electronic address: silvanabelo@ihmt.unl.pt.
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Belo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004285:Dogs; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008842:Microfilariae; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D020577:Wolbachia / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004318:Doxycycline
keywords: Dirofilaria; Dogs; PCR; Portugal; Wolbachia