Heartworm Disease (Dirofilaria immitis) and Their Vectors in Europe – New Distribution Trends

Abstract

Cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis is a cosmopolitan disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis, which affects mainly canids and felids. Moreover, it causes zoonotic infections, producing pulmonary dirofilariasis in humans. Heartworm disease is a vector-borne transmitted disease, thus transmission depends on the presence of competent mosquito species, which is directly related to favorable climate conditions for its development and survival. Cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis is mainly located in countries with temperate and tropical climates. Europe is one of the continents where animal dirofilariasis has been studied more extensively. In this article we review the current prevalence of canine and feline cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis in the European continent, the transmission vectors, the current changes in the distribution and the possible causes, though the analysis of the epidemiological studies carried out until 2001 and between 2002 and 2011. The highest prevalences have been observed in the southern European countries, which are considered historically endemic/hyperendemic countries. Studies carried out in the last 10 years suggest an expansion of cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis in dogs toward central and northern Europe. Several factors can exert an influence on the spreading of the disease, such as movement of infected animals, the introduction of new species of mosquitoes able to act as vectors, the climate change caused by the global warming, and development of human activity in new areas. Veterinary controls to prevent the spreading of this disease, programs of control of vectors, and adequate protocols of prevention of dirofilariasis in the susceptible species should be carried out.

Introduction

Dirofilaria immitis is a parasitic nematode responsible of canine and feline cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis in both domestic and wild hosts, and the causal agent of human pulmonary dirofilariasis. It is a zoonotic parasitic disease mainly located in temperate, tropical, and subtropical areas of the world (Simón et al., 2009b). Different species of culicid mosquitoes (Culex spp., Aedes spp., Anopheles spp.) act as an intermediate stage in order to complete their life cycle. When taking a blood meal from a microfilaremic host, the mosquitoes become infected and the microfilariae develop to the third-stage larvae (L3) in the malpighian tubules of the mosquitoes (Cancrini and Kramer, 2001), which are deposited on the host while the mosquito is taking a blood meal, becoming sexually mature within a few months in the main pulmonary arteries and right ventricle.

Heartworm infection is a severe and life-threatening disease. Initially the pulmonary vasculature is affected, and the lung itself and, finally, the right chambers of the heart (Furlanello et al., 1998). Feline infection is diagnosed with increasing frequency in areas where the disease is endemic in canines. However, the development of the parasite in cats takes longer compared to dogs and most infections are amicrofilaraemic. Additionally, many cats tolerate the infection without any noticeable clinical signs or with signs manifested only transiently and sometimes sudden death may arise without warning (Genchi et al., 1992; McCall et al., 2008).

The presence of D. immitis in dogs constitutes a risk for the human population. In the human host is the causative agent of the pulmonary dirofilariasis and in many cases produces benign pulmonary nodules which can initially be misidentified as malignant tumors (Simón et al., 2005).

The transmission of infectious diseases is influenced by many factors, including climatic and ecological elements. It is widely anticipated that climate change will impact the spread of vector-borne diseases in Europe, since arthropod vectors are especially sensitive to climatic factors. Weather influences the development and maintenance of the vectors, but climate change is one of many factors that influence vector habitat. Several studies have described the effects of the climate change in the spreading of other vector-borne diseases in Europe (Semenza and Menne, 2009; Genchi et al., 2011a,b).

The aim of the present work is to review the current epidemiological situation of the cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis in dogs (the main host) and cats in Europe, its vectors and evaluate the possible causes of the changes in the distribution of the disease by conducting a retrospective analysis of the epidemiological situation.

Epidemiological Distribution of Animal Dirofilariasis in Europe Until 2001

Until 2001, cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis was mainly found in the southern European countries, such as Spain, Portugal, Italy, and France. Greece, Turkey, and some Eastern countries reported a few scattered studies while in central and northern European countries only isolated cases were reported (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Comparison of geographical distribution in Europe of heartworm disease observed in dogs between 2001 and 2011. Endemic areas (Red). Sporadic cases reported (Pink). *Illustrated map taking into account Genchi et al. (2005, 2009) and data from the referenced literature.

In Italy, the area of highest prevalence values for dogs and cats was along the Po River Valley in northern Italy, where the prevalence rate for dogs ranged from 50 to 80% in animals no treated with preventive drugs (Genchi et al., 2001). A study of 1986 defined as infected by D. immitis 50% of the Northern provinces and only 15% of the provinces of central and southern Italy (Pampiglione et al., 1986). In the 1980s and 1990s, D. immitis showed a relevant prevalence increase in endemic areas (Genchi et al., 2001) and it was also recorded outside the main endemic area of the Po Valley, in provinces of north-eastern Italy previously regarded as non-endemic (Poglayen et al., 1996). Similarly, in Piedmont, an extensive survey carried out in the 1990s reported a spread of D. immitis westward and south-westward of the traditional endemic area, where D. immitis infection successfully established in hilly and pre-alpine areas as well in urban areas (Rossi et al., 1996). The disease was also present northwards into the provinces of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia (Pietrobelli et al., 1998). Heartworm disease has also been reported in central areas of the country, which showed lower infection rates for D. immitis, i.e., Toscana and Umbría (Magi et al., 1989; Pietrobelli et al., 1998; Genchi et al., 2001), except the Tuscan coast, where Magi et al. reported prevalences higher than 28% in 1989. Epidemiological data on the occurrence of dirofilariasis by D. immitis in southern Italy are scant (Cringoli et al., 2001) and limited to sporadic case reports, though no infection or very low prevalence were found in these areas, where D. immitis prevalence (microfilaremic dogs) was 0.01% in Sicily (Giannetto et al., 1997) and 0.5% in Campania (Cringoli et al., 2001). In Sardinia a prevalence of 4.1% in the southern area of the island was reported (Arru et al., 1968). The infection by D. immitis in cats is documented in northern Italy, where the prevalence rate in the hyperendemic areas resulted to be up to 24% (Genchi et al., 1992, 1993, 2001), while the presence of heartworm in feline populations of other areas of Italy was not investigated so far. Cases of foxes infected by D. immitis in Tuscany were described (Gradoni et al., 1980; Marconcini et al., 1996).

In Spain, D. immitis was found in large areas of the country, although the prevalence of the disease was higher in the southern areas, where the reported prevalence was 8.5% in Andalucia, 6.7% in Extremadura, or 6.3% in Murcia; indeed, in the Iberian peninsula, the highest prevalence was 36.7% in the southern province of Huelva (Guerrero et al., 1989; Ortega-Mora et al., 1991). Other southern areas with high prevalences were found in Cadiz (12%), Córdoba (18%), Badajoz (8–14%), or Alicante (13%; Anguiano et al., 1985; Guerrero et al., 1989; MSD-AGVET, 1991; Ortega-Mora et al., 1991). In the rest of the Iberian Peninsula, the higher prevalences were associated with irrigated areas. In the central areas of Iberian Peninsula low prevalences of canine dirofilariasis were reported. In Madrid, several studies stood the canine prevalence between 1.1 and 2% (Ortega-Mora et al., 1988; Guerrero et al., 1989; Rojo-Vázquez et al., 1990), except in the area of Aranjuez (population under the influence of the river Tajo), where Guerrero et al. (1992) reported a prevalence of 6.8%. In the northwest of Spain, the prevalence reported in Salamanca was 12%, rising to 33.3% in irrigated areas close to the river Tormes (Pérez et al., 1989). In the northeast of Spain, the highest prevalences were found in Zaragoza (13.5%; Castillo et al., 1989), where high prevalences in irrigated areas were found in foxes (31.5%; Castillo et al., 1989). In Catalonia the global prevalence remained low (2.17% region of Catalonia; 1.2% district of Barcelona; Rojo-Vázquez et al., 1990; Gutiérrez et al., 1995); Guerrero et al. (1995) reported an increase of the prevalence of D. immitis infection in dogs in Catalonia from 0.38% in 1989 to just over 5% in 1995. Besides, the prevalences in this area raised noticeably in the irrigated areas, such as River Ebro Delta (35.8%; Anguera-Galiana, 1995) and Bajo Llobregat (12.8%; Aranda et al., 1998). Canary Islands, sited in front of the north-western African coast, were considered an endemic area of the disease. On the island of Gran Canaria, serial epidemiological studies carried out in different years allowed monitoring the evolution of the canine dirofilariasis. These studies showed an increase in the prevalence from 36.7% in 1989 to 58.89% in 1998, reaching the highest prevalence (67.02%) in 1994. This is the highest prevalence reported in Spain so far (Montoya et al., 1998). The island of Tenerife, on the other hand, showed a drop of prevalence from 41.8% in 1984 to 23% in 1999 (Valladares et al., 1987; Guerrero et al., 1989; Stenzenberger and Gothe, 1999). Infections by D. immitis in foxes, were reported with the highest prevalence found in foxes from irrigated areas (32%), while in semiarid regions the prevalence was much lower (1.7%) and in mountain foxes heartworm was absent (Gortázar et al., 1994, 1998). Finally, in the northern areas of the Iberian Peninsula no cases of canine dirofilariasis were reported (Guerrero et al., 1989, 1992) although exist a report of D. immitis infection in a wolf (Segovia et al., 2001).

In Portugal, the only study published showed that canine heartworm infection was prevalent in several southern regions of Portugal, including Ribatejo (16.7%), Alentejo (16.5%), and Algarve (12%). The Island of Madeira had the highest prevalence with 30% of the dogs tested being positive for D. immitis microfilaremia (Araujo, 1996).

In France, D. immitis occurred mainly in the South, along the Mediterranean coast, predominantly in Bouches du Rhône, Vancluse, and Corse Island (5–15%), and to a lesser extent, in Haute-Garonne and Dordogne (Doby et al., 1986a; Guerrero et al., 1992). The overall prevalences of canine dirofilariasis reported in France were 0.74% in 1986, 1.48% in 1988, and 0.8% in 1989 (Ducos de Lahitte, 1990; Guerrero et al., 1992). D. immitis infections were reported beyond the Mediterranean, in field studies with positive findings in Normandy and Brittany in the Northwest of France, as well as in the department of Dordogne in the southwest. Doby et al. reported in 1986 canine prevalences in Brittany of between 3.7–10%, and 5% in Normandy (Doby et al., 1986b; Ducos de Lahitte, 1990). Guerrero et al. (1992) reported in 1992 prevalences in 7.3% of the dogs tested in Alpes Maritimes and 2.5% in dogs examined in Pyrenees Atlantique; nevertheless, most of these dogs had lived in french-administered territories outside of the European continent. The parasite was also diagnosed in northern France (Cherburg area, just below 50°N latitude), showing a prevalence of 3.7%, apparently as consequence of autochthonous infection (Doby et al., 1986a). In cats, microfilariae of D. immitis were detected in the urine, but not in the blood, of a cat in Sommieres, in southern France. The cat also showed radiographic evidence of D. immitis infection (Beaufils et al., 1991).

In Greece a study carried out between 1987 and 1991 showed microfilariae of D. immitis in the 10% of the studied dogs (Papazahariadou et al., 1994) while in 1999 in dogs from the area of Macedonia the reported prevalence was 34.13% (Founta et al., 1999). In general, in Greece during the 90s decade the incidence of the disease increased rapidly and at the end of the millenium was considered endemic in the central and northern parts of the country (Polizopoulou et al., 2000). In a study carried out in 2001 in the Attiki region (south of Greece) low canine D. immitis prevalence (0.7%) was observed (Diaku, 2001).

In Turkey, the first case of dirofilariasis reported in a dog date from 1951 (Güralp, 1981). Until 2001 only a few studies regarding the distribution and prevalence of animal dirofilariasis are published. In the Army Veterinary Research and Training at Gemlik, Bursa, 2.98% of dogs were infected (Coskun et al., 1992), and in Ankara, between 2000 and 2001 a prevalence of 9.3% was reported (Öge et al., 2003).

In Switzerland, border country with Italy and France, Arnold et al. (1994) reported a case of an infected dog and suggested a possible autochthonous infection, which confirmed in 1998 (Genchi et al., 1998), moment at which Switzerland became an endemic country. In the south of Switzerland, between 1995 and 1998, the reported prevalences ranged from 0.6 to 1.07% (Deplazes et al., 1995; Bucklar et al., 1998). Deplazes et al. (1995) diagnosed another autochthonous case in a dog from the south of the country (Cantón de Ticino) close to Como and Varese (northern Italy). In the same region, in 2001 the prevalence raised considerably, reporting 10.7% of microfilaremic dogs and 3.2% of amicrofilaremic dogs, some of them also infected by D. repens (6%; Petruschke et al., 2001).

In Germany, between 1993 and 1996 a total of 80 dogs were diagnosed, of which 45 were amicrofilaremic (Zahller et al., 1997).

In the Netherlands, seven cases of infected dogs were recollected between 1992 and 1993, the same amount of cases of canine dirofilariasis reported in the previous years (Meyer et al., 1994).

In the only study published in Macedonia, the prevalence reported was 0.9% (Ježic and Simic, 1929).

In Rumania, at least four dogs were diagnosed between 1903 and 1935 (Genchi et al., 2001). Later, the average prevalence was 35% rising to 67% in some areas (Olteanu, 1996).

In the former Yugoslavia, in Croatia between 1987 and 1989 several cases of canine dirofilariasis were reported but no considered autochthonous (Brglez and Senk, 1987; Genchi et al., 2001). In Serbia the first report data from 1999 by Dimitrijevic (1999). In Slovenia and Bulgaria, the reported prevalence of D. immitis was around 4–5% (Olteanu, 1996), being in Bulgaria 1.4% in pet dogs and 12.5% in stray dogs (Georgieva et al., 2001). In Albania, a study carried out between 1995 and 1996 with samples from the coastal western area showed infection in 13.5% of the dogs (Rapti and Rehbein, 2010).

In the former USSR (Russia) there are only 3–4 reports of isolated incidents of infection in dogs from the Republics of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, situated in the center of the country, in Ussuri Region in the Far East and in Abkhazia (Artamonova et al., 1997).

Finally, Switzerland, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, United Kingdom, and Hungary also reported dirofilariasis in imported dogs, or dogs previously living in endemic areas of Europe, the south of United States of America and/or Middle or Far East, fact that could distort the real prevalences of these countries (Stokhof and Wolvekamp, 1978; Boros et al., 1982; Hinaidy et al., 1987; Arnold et al., 1994; Meyer et al., 1994; Deplazes et al., 1995; Wohlsein et al., 1996; Zahller et al., 1997).

Epidemiological Situation of Animal Dirofilariasis in Europe between 2002 and 2011

In 2011, cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis remains endemic and spreading out the southern European countries; this disease has spread to countries in Eastern and Center of Europe where its presence and distribution were only reported by sporadic cases or not reported at all (Figure 1).

In Italy, D. immitis is endemic in northern Italy and has now spread all over the country, which shows a current change of distribution of this parasite throughout the Italian territory while canine and feline heartworm infection is more frequently diagnosed in southern regions of Italy (Otranto et al., 2009; Traversa et al., 2010a). While the last studies report the lower prevalences published in the endemic area of northern Italy (6.12%; Piccinini and Carreri, 2010), autochthonous foci of canine dirofilariasis have been described in central regions such as Tuscany and Umbria, which were considered non-endemic until 1999 (Piergilli-Fioretti et al., 2003; Mortarino et al., 2008). Nowadays, heartworm disease infection has become endemic in these areas (Piergilli-Fioretti et al., 2003; Mortarino et al., 2008; Magi et al., 2011). In Umbria (hilly central region), where only imported cases have been previously reported, the prevalence ranges between 5 and 15% (Piergilli-Fioretti et al., 2002, 2003; Genchi et al., 2005; Mortarino et al., 2008). In Tuscany a prevalence of canine dirofilariasis of 12.5% was reported (Mortarino et al., 2008; Magi et al., 2011). Furthermore, D. immitis has been detected for the first time in autochthonous dogs living in another previously Dirofilaria free region of central Italy, i.e., Abruzzo, close to Umbria and Lazio regions (Paoletti et al., 2008). In a recent study carried out in 2008 and 2009, in the Abruzzo region of central Italy prevalences of 2.3 and 0.3% were found in native dogs and cats, respectively (Traversa et al., 2010a). In a recent survey dogs from four different areas of southern Italy were sampled (Apulia and Calabria regions), and prevalences between 0.24 and 2.57% were found in Apulia region while prevalence of 3.43% was found in Calabria region (Otranto et al., 2009). In Sardinia, where the prevalence was very low in the past (<2%), there has been an increasing pattern of prevalence, rising to 17% in the central west area of the island (Scala et al., 2004). D. immitis infections in cats has been diagnosed mostly in northern Italy where prevalences between 7 and 27% have been found, depending on location, in the hyperendemic area of the Po River valley (Kramer and Genchi, 2002; Genchi et al., 2008). In the central area of Italy a prevalence of 23.5% is reported in cats living in Tuscany (Magi et al., 2002). In Tuscany too, epidemiologic studies observe the presence of adults of D. immitis between 6.06 and 7.1% of the red foxes studied (Magi et al., 2008, 2009). For the first time, has been described the first diagnosis of mature heartworm infection and presence of microfilariae in an exotic felid (Panthera pardus pardus) in north-eastern Italy (Mazzariol et al., 2010). Furthermore, a case of D. immitis in a wolf in the south of Italy was reported (Pascucci et al., 2007).

In Spain, a epidemiological study carried out in 2006, reports high prevalences in the Mediterranean coast (18% in Alicante, 9% in Murcia) and on the island of Ibiza (39%; Rodes, 2006), while in Mallorca recently was reported a case of dirofilariasis in a dog which never traveled outside the island (Makowski et al., 2010). Another study shows prevalences of 2% in Barcelona, 0.85% in Tarragona, and 0.3% on the island of Mallorca (Solano-Gallego et al., 2006). In the center of the Iberian Peninsula high prevalences are reported in Arganda del Rey (8%), Azuqueca de Henares (24%), and Guadalajara (10%), areas of influence of the Henares, Jarama, and Tajuña rivers (Gómez-Bautista and Ortega-Mora, 2002). In a study carried out in Salamanca between 2008 and 2009, a prevalence of 29.08% is observed, similar to that reported 20 years ago (Morchón et al., 2011b). Besides, for the first time significant D. immitis prevalences are found in two Northern provinces: La Rioja (12%) and La Coruña (4.2%; Simón et al., 2009a; Morchón et al., 2010). On the island of Gran Canaria, the prevalence of canine dirofilariasis has been gradually dropping, from 23.87% in 2002 (Sosa et al., 2002) to 19.2% in 2010 (Montoya-Alonso et al., 2011). On the island of Tenerife, the prevalence remains constant ranging from 22.3% in 2001 to 21% in 2006 (Morales et al., 2001; Montoya et al., 2006). Regarding feline dirofilariasis, on the island of Gran Canaria two seroepidemiologic studies show an increase of the prevalence from 18.3 to 33% between 2004 and 2011 (Morchón et al., 2004; Montoya-Alonso et al., 2011). In 2006, the first diagnosis of D. immitis infection in an African lion (Panthera leo) born and living in Alicante is described (Ruiz de Ybáñez et al., 2006). Besides, exists a report of D. immitis infection in a fox from the north-eastern of Spain (Mañas et al., 2005). Finally, a study carried out in Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), 48 Eurasian otters from different regions of the Iberian Peninsula were examined, finding D. immitis prevalence of 2.1% (Torres et al., 2004).

In Portugal, in 2011 the overall canine prevalence in the north and north center of Portugal is 2.1% (Balreira et al., 2011), with the higher prevalences found in Aveiro (6.8%) and Coimbra (8.8%). In the last 15 years there is not published any study of prevalence in the south of Portugal, although a study carried out on five Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) from Alentejo, found D. immitis in two of them (Torres et al., 2004). In cats, a study carried out in the north and north-center of Portugal reports a D. immitis seroprevalence of 17.51% (Vieira et al., 2011).

In France, in 2009, a canine prevalence of 0.22% was found in an epidemiologic study carried out in most of the national territory; the positive results came from dogs from Corsica and Boches-du-Rhône, in the south of France; local prevalence in the department Bouches du Rhône is 2.1% and even higher local prevalence is determined for Corsica (12.5%; Pantchev et al., 2009). Simultaneously, a study was done over dogs with clinical signs compatible with D. immitis infection. In this group, D. immitis is confirmed in the 6.87% of the dogs. Of these, most of them are from the South of France, where local prevalences are 27.3% for Corsica and 22.2% for Boches-du-Rhône, and the only two positive cases from the northern part of the country likely came into France from abroad: one was brought from Martinique and other one from French Guyana (Pantchev et al., 2009). The authors of the study suggested that an expansion of the Southern endemic areas of D. immitis into the North has not occurred. They also indicated that dogs in the Southern areas of the country are still at a high risk of heartworm infection.

In Greece, although in 2001 the prevalence found in the Attiki region, in the south of the country, was 0.7% (Diaku, 2001), other study carried out in 2003, reported D. immitis infections in 13.1% of the studied dogs in the environs of Athens, in the province of Attiki (Jensen et al., 2003). Since then the disease is considered endemic in the south of the country too. Lefkaditis and Koukeri (2005) reported in that dirofilariasis is a common parasitic disease in Thessaloniki and the most recent study shows a D. immitis prevalence of 17.9% in dogs living on the eastern foothills of Mt Olympus in Northern Greece (Lefkaditis et al., 2010).

In Turkey the disease is widely spread showing prevalences between 1 and 27%. In Istanbul the infection affects the 1.52% of the dogs (Öncel and Vural, 2005), 2% in the area of Gemlik of Bursa (Civelek et al., 2007), 9.6% in the province of Kayseri (Yildirim et al., 2007), and 26% in the province of Hatay. A study carried out by Simsek et al. (2008) reports prevalences of 14.8% in Ankara, 12.3% in Sakarya, 10.5% in Mersin, and 18.3% in Kocaeli. Finally, in the region of Kirikkale positive cases were also reported (58% of the infected dogs were microfilaremic and 27.46% were amicrofilaremic; Yildiz et al., 2008).

In Germany there is an increase in the number of infected dogs reported, most of them imported from endemic areas. Between 2005 and 2006, the prevalence was 1.2% (5.483 samples included in the study; Hirsch and Pantchev, 2008), between 2008 and 2010 was 1.49% (8.545 samples included in the study), of which 30% were microfilaremic, and between 2009 and 2010 the prevalence was 2.6% (Pantchev et al., 2009, 2011). It is not considered an endemic country since, up to date, all reported cases corresponded to imported animals, most of them coming from Corfu, Sardinia, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Canary Islands.

In United Kingdom isolated cases are still being diagnosed. Recently a dog was diagnosed and not registered as autochthonous so far, since it is not clear if the dog have previously been in endemic areas (Traversa et al., 2010b).

In Rumania the only study found, published by Sofía et al. (2007) reported the presence of Dirofilaria spp. in 23.07% of the studied dogs, which provides evidence of the current presence of the parasite in the country, which is considered an endemic country.

In Bulgaria between 2001 and 2006, 6.6% of the studied dogs were infected and, besides, 8.62% were microfilaremic (Kostadinov, 2007). In this country, canine dirofilariasis is not currently considered a rare disease but an endemic disease. Exceptionally, the presence of D. immitis has been reported in foxes (3%) and jackals (8.9%; Kirkova et al., 2007).

In Hungary two studies have been published, reporting two infected dogs; one of them constitutes the first autochthonous diagnosis which is why it is currently considered an endemic country (Farkas, 2003; Jacsó et al., 2009).

In Croatia and Serbia several studies demonstrate the presence of dirofilariasis as an endemic disease in these countries and its constant spreading. In Serbia, between 2006 and 2007 the global prevalence reported was 7.2% and, specifically, in the regions of Vojvodina and Branicevo was 7.2 and 3.17% respectively (Zivicnjak et al., 2006; Dimitrijevic et al., 2007; Tasic et al., 2008). In the region of Belgrade, a few years later the prevalence was 22.01%, showing co-infections with D. repens in 3.97% of the dogs. In Kosovo, the global prevalence is 9% and in the northern areas of the country increases up to 6.57% reaching 16.1% in some areas (Lazri et al., 2008). In the Istria Peninsula in Croatia, the canine dirofilariasis reaches prevalences of 16 and 8% in the southern areas. In the south of Slovakia, between 2007 and 2008, two studies showed D. immitis infection in 10 dogs co-infected by D. repens (Miterpáková et al., 2010).

In the Czech Republic, Svobodová et al. (2002) detected the first endogenous case of heartworm disease in dogs therefore is currently considered an endemic country. Two years later 89 infected dogs were detected, being one of them imported from an endemic area (Svobodová and Misonova, 2005). Finally, Dobesova et al. (2007) reported a prevalence of 6.7% with co-infection with D. repens in 2.7% of the dogs, all of them collected near Austria and Slovakia.

In Albania, between 2007 and 2008 prevalence was 3% in the district of Tirana and 7% in samples collected between Albania and Kosovo (Lazri et al., 2008; Hamlet et al., 2009).

In Russia, dirofilariasis is currently considered an emerging disease. Lately, numerous cases are appearing in the center and southern areas of the country. In the region of Moscow, canine dirofilariasis has been reported in 33 districts, all of them co-infected by D. repens (Supriaga et al., 2011) and in the region of Rostov (south of Russia), between 2002 and 2009, 6.1% of the studied dogs presented D. immitis, 5% of them co-infected by D. repens and microfilaremic (Kartashev et al., 2011); currently, the region of Rostov is considered an endemic area.

Vector Transmission of Dirofilariasis

Several studies carried out in endemic areas researched which vector species are transmitting agents of cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis. To that end, vector mosquitoes have been captured through field studies using animal-bait traps; besides, these studies allowed the evaluation of the different mosquito species attracted to the hosts and the evaluation of the effectiveness of the transmission of the parasite (Cancrini and Kramer, 2001). These studies have been carried out in several areas of the globe (Unites States of America, Brazil, Italy, Iran…); animals (dog and cat) and/or humans have been used as bait. Approximately 70 species of culicid mosquitoes mainly from the genera Culex spp., Aedes spp., Anopheles spp., Culiseta spp., and Coquilletidia spp. have been identified, and are considered potential vectors of animal and human dirofilariasis, although only in a few cases its real vectorial capacity could be proven (Cancrini and Kramer, 2001; Cancrini et al., 2006).

Various studies in Europe had reported several species of mosquitoes infected by D. immitis larvae such as Cx. pipiens in Spain (Morchón et al., 2007), Italy (Cancrini et al., 2006), and Turkey (Yildirim et al., 2011); Cx. theileri in Madeira, Portugal (Santa-Ana et al., 2006), and on the Canary Islands, Spain (Morchón et al., 2011a); Ae. vexans in Turkey (Biskin et al., 2010; Yildirim et al., 2011) and Ae. albopictus, Ae. caspius, An. maculipennis, and Cq. richiardii in Italy (Cancrini et al., 1995, 2003, 2006).

In Europe, the activity of these species is limited to the period of time between spring and summer, whereas the behavior of the mosquitoes when search a host to feed follows different patterns depending on the species. Some are active only during the night, such as Cx. pipiens, Anopheles spp. while others are active predominantly at dawn or during the day (An. maculipennis, Ae. albopictus) and some other species show two peaks of activity: at dusk and at dawn, such as Ae. caspius (Mattingly, 1969; Di Sacco et al., 1992; Pollono et al., 1998).

Mosquito development and activity are regulated by climate, primarily temperature and humidity, just as L3 development depends on the ambient temperature. It has been demonstrated experimentally that infectious L3 development requires 8–10 days at 28–30°C, 11–12 days at 24°C, and 16–20 days at 22°C. Below 14°C, development arrests, although it can be restarted when the ambient temperature increases above this threshold (Cancrini and Gabrielli, 2007). Consequently, the climate and its changes determine the transmission and presence of dirofilariasis in temperate regions (Genchi et al., 2005). A good example of the impact of climate on the distribution and prevalence of dirofilariasis is illustrated by the island of Gran Canaria. With only 40 km of diameter, this hyperendemic island is divided in four different isoclimatic areas depending on altitude, with marked temperature and humidity differences among them. As consequence, the prevalence of D. immitis is significantly different between the canine populations of each zone, varying from 12 to 32% (Montoya-Alonso et al., 2010b).

There is currently a scientific consensus regarding the existence of anthropogenic climate change, which is ascribed to natural processes and human activity altering atmospheric conditions with an increase of the worldwide mean surface temperature by 0.74°C (Threnberth, 2005; Semenza and Menne, 2009). Global warming affects host-parasite systems by influencing the amplification and emergence of parasite populations, inducing changes in the development and survival rates of both parasite and vector and altering seasonal transmission dynamics (Brooks and Hoberg, 2007). With respect to dirofilariasis, climate change is lengthening annual periods of mosquito activity, shortening larval developmental stages, and increasing transmission across multiple geographical regions, which means more suitable conditions for its spread toward new areas.

Factors Contributing to the Spreading of Canine Cardiopulmonary Dirofilariasis

The analysis of the epidemiologic studies carried out until 2001 and between 2002 and 2011 show a change in the pattern of distribution of the disease, with a spreading toward north and Eastern Europe. The results of these epidemiologic analyses are summarized in the Table 1. Between 2002 and 2011 there are reports of canine dirofilariasis in countries and regions previously considered free of the disease (Sofía et al., 2007; Simón et al., 2009a; Morchón et al., 2010; Kartashev et al., 2011) and there have been reported autochthonous cases of dirofilariasis in countries where previously only imported cases had been reported (Svobodová et al., 2002; Farkas, 2003; Jacsó et al., 2009; Makowski et al., 2010). The cause of this spreading might be multifactorial, and in this review we discuss the different factors affecting the changes of the distribution of cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis in Europe.

Table 1.

Distribution of animal dirofilariasis in Europe until 2011 and between 2002 and 2011.

	Until 2001	2002–2011	Vectors
Portugal	●	●	Cx. theileri
Spain	●	●	Cx. pipiens, Cx. theileri
Italy	●	●	C. pipiens, Ae. albopictus, Ae. caspius, An. maculipennis, Cq. richiardii
France	●	●
Greece	●	●
Turkey	●	●	Cx. pipiens, Ae. vexans
Switzerland	≤10.7%, □	?	?
Austria	□	?	?
Germany	□	≤2.9%	?
United Kingdom	□	■	?
Netherlands	■, □	?	?
Macedonia	≤0.9%	?	?
Rumania	≤67%	●	?
Croatia	■	●	?
Serbia	■	●	?
Slovenia	≤5%		?
Bulgaria	≤12.5%	●	?
Albania	≤13.5%	≤7%	?
Slovakia	?	■	?
Czech Republic	?	●, □	?
Hungary	□	?	?
Republic of Azerbaijan	■	?	?
Turkmenistan	■	?	?
Russia – region of Rostov	■	■, ●	?

Endemic area (●), isolated cases ( ■ ), imported cases ( □ ) and no data (?).

There are several factors which exert a big influence on the spreading of the disease (Genchi et al., 2001). In the first place, the presence and movement of microfilaremic reservoirs, as well as the increasing number of dogs traveling for holidays or commerce of dogs from endemic areas being relocated, are key factors for the maintenance of the infection in endemic regions and the spread into new areas. It is important to mention the role as reservoir of other animals, such as the coyote in California (Sacks, 1998) and the fox in Australia (Marks and Bloomfield, 1998); in Europe, the role of foxes or wolves as reservoirs of dirofilariosis could be important factors to consider when studying the factors contributing to the maintenance and spreading of the disease. Another fundamental factor is the presence of mosquitoes able to act as vectors, as well as the existence of adequate climate conditions for its correct development. Furthermore, it is necessary take into account the introduction in a given area of new species of competent mosquitoes; Aedes albopictus represents an example of this, which being native from southeastern of Asia and western Pacific has spread to Europe, Africa, and America in the last decades. This quick spreading has been facilitated by international transport nets of used tires and gardening products, as well as by accidental transport of adults in vehicles from close affected areas (Reiter and Sprenger, 1987; Madon et al., 2002; Flacio et al., 2004; Roiz et al., 2007). Besides, A. albopictus is a highly adaptable species; in temperate areas its activity period is limited to summer, surviving during the winter in egg-stage, a fact not observed in the mosquito colonies from the tropical areas (Hawley et al., 1987; Mitchell, 1995). In general, a region is susceptible to be colonized by stable colonies of Ae. albopictus when the average temperature is 0°C in winter, 20°C in summer and presents at least 50 cm of annual rainfall (Knudsen et al., 1996). In Europe was found for the first time outside its area of origin in 1979 in Albania (Adhami and Reiter, 1998); later was detected in Italy, where have become a plague (Romi, 2001). Currently it is also present in France, Montenegro, Switzerland, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia, Belgium, Netherland, and Germany (Schaffner and Karch, 2000; Pétric et al., 2001; Flacio et al., 2004; Schaffner et al., 2004; Samanidou-Voyadjoglou et al., 2005; Aranda et al., 2006; Kloblucar et al., 2006; Scholte and Schaffner, 2007; Pluskota et al., 2008; Scholte et al., 2010). There is a concern about the marked anthropophilia observed in Ae. albopictus regarding its involvement on the transmission of several diseases to the human population (dirofilariasis amongst them; Cancrini et al., 1995). Its vectorial capacity has been proved in the transmission of Dengue fever and Yellow fever, is a potential vector for several arbovirus (Mitchell, 1995) and its capacity to transmit infective larvae of D. immitis has been confirmed in its area of origin, in Italy and some areas of North America (Comiskey and Wesson, 1995; Cancrini et al., 2003; Gratz, 2004). In a recent study of the nutritional habits of the mosquito carried out in the province of Rome, it was observed that in the urban areas Ae. albopictus fed almost exclusively on humans, while in rural areas they show a mixed feeding pattern (human-horse and human-dog; Valerio et al., 2010).

Other potential vector species of heartworm disease is Ae. aegypti. This species was vey abundant in the early twentieth century in Southern Europe and in harbor cities of the Mediterranean Basin, mainly in Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, former Yugoslavia, Italy, Corsica (France), and Spain. Currently, constitutes a potential vector of the disease in America (Vezzani et al., 2006, 2011b); however, in Europe it has not been proven as a vector of the disease except in experimental infections (Scholte et al., 2010).

The environmental conditions constitute another important factor affecting the distribution of the disease; these play an essential role in the distribution of the dirofilariasis. Because of the climate change, influenced by the global warming, the vector population has more suitable conditions for its development, increasing the geographical distribution of vectors and the number of mosquitoes able to transmit the disease, as well as the suitable temperatures allow to expand the risk season for the transmission of the disease by favoring the development of infectious larvae in the vector (Genchi et al., 2009), as well as the insertion and spreading of vectors from another areas (Hendrickx et al., 2004; Rogers and Randolph, 2006). Other studies have demonstrated the influence of the climate change in the spreading of other vector-borne diseases in Europe (Semenza and Menne, 2009). On the other hand, it is also important to take into consideration the changes in ecology and the habitat, alterations in the system and water storage, the pollution and the development of resistances to insecticides (Harrus and Baneth, 2005). Building construction and human activity in new areas play an important role given that increases the density of potential hosts and develops a suitable environment for the proliferation of certain species of mosquitoes; the development of residential settlements of non-endemic areas and areas of low incidence led to the spread and increased prevalence of heartworms by altering drainage of undeveloped land and by providing water sources in new urban home sites. Besides, urban sprawl has led to the formation of “heat islands,” as buildings retain heat during the day and subsequently radiate it during the night, which can potentially create microenvironments that support development of heartworm larvae in mosquito vectors during colder months, thus lengthening the transmission season (Arnfield, 2003). Considering these factors, the most favorable environments for the spreading of the dirofilariasis are characterized by high humidity and temperature, which allow the adequate development and activity of the vector. It has been demonstrated that the irrigated lands for farming present higher prevalences that those areas close to them (Gortázar et al., 1998; Montoya-Alonso et al., 2010a). All the mentioned factors might be determinant for the spreading, as well as the rise of the prevalence in new areas (i.e., south of Greece and Italy) where, due to the unawareness of this disease, not adequate prophylactic measurements were taken. On the other hand, due to the increase of the incidence of canine dirofilariasis, a greater attention by the scientific community toward these areas is being paid, resulting in more accurate and numerous epidemiologic studies.

It is also important to notice that, based on the results of the epidemiological studies carried out until 2001 and between 2002 and 2011, a decrease of the prevalence of canine dirofilariosis in hyperendemic areas has been observed. This is clearly seen in the northern Italy, where the prevalence has decreased from 50 to 80% to nearby 6% in the last published study (Piccinini and Carreri, 2010); also, the island of Gran Canaria (Spain) has experienced a decrease of canine dirofilariasis from 67% in 1994 to 19% in 2010 (Montoya et al., 1998). This might be caused by the fact that preventive therapy had begun to be administered continuously to the canine population thanks to the education of the pet owner and a better understanding of the disease (Montoya-Alonso et al., 2010a). Similar trends have been observed in other endemic areas outside Europe, where a decrease in canine dirofilariasis prevalences have been described recently (Labarthe and Guerrero, 2005; Vezzani et al., 2011a); the authors conclude that this trend might be due to effective chemoprophylaxis, the abusive use of injectable ivermectin and the extensive use of tetracyclines to control other infections.

Conclusion

Finally, on the basis of results in this review, it is possible to confirm that the prevalence of canine and feline dirofilariasis is increasing and spreading to the north-eastern and center European countries, being reported new cases of canine dirofilariosis in countries previously considered free of the disease, or being diagnosed more often, as well as the first reports of autochthonous cases in countries where previously only imported cases were described. In general, the increased movement of infected dogs across Europe, a greater attention toward the disease, the climate change, the emergence of new species of vectors and changes in ecosystem due to human activity, lifestyle of people, are the possible causes of this increase. In these countries, this should be controlled by periodic heartworm antigen test done in veterinary clinics for detection of D. immitis infection and a correct prevention protocol should be carried out in all traveling dogs, in the same way that correct protocols of early diagnosis and prevention of heartworm disease has been performed in hyperendemic areas for years, resulting in a decrease of the prevalence of the disease in those areas and contributing to the change in the distributions pattern of the canine cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.