title: Clinical and pathological effects of Dirofilaria repens and Dirofilaria immitis in a dog with a natural co-infection.
abstract: Canine dirofilarioses are mosquito-borne zoonotic diseases with a continuous expansion of their geographical distribution, as a consequence of different climatic and ecological factors. Dirofilaria immitis, the aetiological agent of heartworm disease, has gained a major veterinary interest, mainly due to its severe clinical implication. In the last decades, D. repens, despite of being regarded as a less pathogenic species, regained attention due to its recognized zoonotic potential. Romania has been traditionally regarded as a non-endemic country, but recent epidemiological surveys are highlighting the presence of both D. repens and D. immitis. The present case report describes the clinical and pathological features of a natural co-infection with D. repens and D. immitis in 5year old male Boxer from north-western Romania. Based on clinical and laboratory investigations, a diagnosis of kidney failure and chronical cystitis was established. The parasites were identified by morphology and confirmed by PCR and sequencing. To the best of our knowledge this is the first worldwide report of the ectopic presence of D. repens adults in the pelvic cavity and mesentery by natural infection and first report of the ocular localization of this parasite for Romania. The clinical and paraclinical findings suggest the implication of D. repens microfilariae in the aetiology of histopathological lesions. Further investigations are needed in order to establish the actual pathogenic potential of D. repens, a frequently neglected parasite.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca 400372, Cluj, Romania.
authors.forename: Mircea
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mircean
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca 400372, Cluj, Romania. Electronic address: ionica.angela@usamvcluj.ro.
authors.forename: Angela Monica
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ionică
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca 400372, Cluj, Romania.
authors.forename: Viorica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mircean
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca 400372, Cluj, Romania.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Györke
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca 400372, Cluj, Romania.
authors.forename: Andrei Răzvan
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Codea
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca 400372, Cluj, Romania.
authors.forename: Flaviu Alexandru
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Tăbăran
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca 400372, Cluj, Romania.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taulescu
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, Cluj-Napoca 400372, Cluj, Romania.
authors.forename: Mirabela Oana
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Dumitrache
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060085:Coinfection / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D060348:Dirofilaria repens / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D004452:Echocardiography; D008297:Male; D008842:Microfilariae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000469:parasitology; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000469:parasitology
keywords: Co-infection; Dirofilaria immitis; Dirofilaria repens; Ectopic localization; Microfilariae