title: An appraisal of canine and human cases reveals an endemic status of dirofilariosis in parts of Serbia.
abstract: Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens are mosquito-borne nematodes that primarily infect canids, and can also cause mild to serious superficial or visceral infection in humans. In the present survey, peripheral blood from 150 asymptomatic dogs from Serbia were examined using the modified Knott's technique. Dirofilaria immitis, identified based on morphological and morphometric characteristics, was prevalent in dogs not receiving preventative treatment (in 44% and 60% of pound and pet dogs, respectively). These results, together with findings of autochthonous cases of subcutaneous D. repens infection in human patients from Southeastern Serbia emphasize the need for further investigations of this veterinary and public health problem.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Blvd Zorana Djindjica 81, 18000 Niš, Serbia.
authors.forename: Miljan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krstić
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Piazza le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gabrielli
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Blvd Zorana Djindjica 81, 18000 Niš, Serbia.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ignjatović
authors.affiliation: Scientific Veterinary Institute Novi Sad, Rumenački put 20, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Savić
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Piazza le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cancrini
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Blvd Zorana Djindjica 81, 18000 Niš, Serbia; Center of Microbiology and Parasitology, Public Health Institute Niš, Blvd Zorana Djindjica 50, 18000 Niš, Serbia.
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ranđelović
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Blvd Zorana Djindjica 81, 18000 Niš, Serbia.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Momčilović
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Blvd Zorana Djindjica 81, 18000 Niš, Serbia.
authors.forename: Slavica
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stojnev
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Blvd Zorana Djindjica 81, 18000 Niš, Serbia; Center of Microbiology and Parasitology, Public Health Institute Niš, Blvd Zorana Djindjica 50, 18000 Niš, Serbia. Electronic address: otasevicsuzana@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Suzana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Otašević
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000502:physiology*; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055771:Serbia / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Dirofilaria spp.; Dog; Human infection; Prevalence