How Italian practitioners manage dirofilariosis in dogs and cats? Data of a second national survey

Marco Genchi; Laura Kramer; Luigi Venco; Lavinia Ciuca; Alice Vismarra

doi:10.1016/j.vprsr.2023.100934

How Italian practitioners manage dirofilariosis in dogs and cats? Data of a second national survey

Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports. 2023 Nov:46:100934. doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2023.100934. Epub 2023 Sep 29.

Authors

Marco Genchi¹, Laura Kramer¹, Luigi Venco², Lavinia Ciuca³, Alice Vismarra⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Parasitology Unit, strada del Taglio, 10, 43126 Parma, Italy.
² Ospedale Veterinario Città di Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
³ Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples "Federico II", Parasitology Unit, via Delpino, 1, 80137 Napoli, Italy.
⁴ Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Parasitology Unit, strada del Taglio, 10, 43126 Parma, Italy. Electronic address: alice.vismarra@unipr.it.

PMID: 37935535
DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2023.100934

Abstract

The zoonotic nematodes Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens are endemic in many European countries and their distribution is changing. A correct diagnosis is the starting point to reduce their spread and veterinary practitioners represent the first line of defense against these two vector-borne diseases in pets and humans. With the aim to better understand current knowledge by veterinarians and to compare them with the previous survey, an online questionnaire was sent to Italian companion animal veterinary facilities. The overall response rate was 22.3%. Approximately 50% and 5% of facilities have diagnosed at least one case of Dirofilaria spp. in the last year in dogs and cats, respectively. In agreement with international guidelines, of the 665 facilities that responded to the questionnaire, 16.8% used Knott's test in combination with serology (Antigenic test-Ag-) to diagnose heartworm infection in dogs. For the diagnosis of D. repens infection, 13.8% used Knott's test in dogs and cats, and 10.5% used Knott's test only in dogs. Most facilities recommended beginning prevention of canine heartworm disease in April and ending in November. Injectable moxidectin and oral ivermectin were the two most commonly used preventives for D. immitis in dogs, while selamectin was most frequently used in cats. The drug most commonly used for heartworm adulticide treatment in dogs was melarsomine followed by the combined ivermectin-doxycycline treatment. The results of this study suggest that, on the one hand, veterinarians are aware of the recent developments in adulticide therapy, while on the other hand, diagnosis is not always made according to what is recommended by international guidelines and that the start and end times of prevention may not be optimal. Furthermore, the data show an increase in cases of coinfection compared to the previous survey.

Keywords: Cat; Dirofilaria immitis; Dirofilaria repens; Dog; Epidemiology; Italy; Questionnaire.

MeSH terms

Animals
Cat Diseases* / diagnosis
Cat Diseases* / drug therapy
Cat Diseases* / epidemiology
Cats
Dirofilaria immitis* / physiology
Dirofilariasis* / diagnosis
Dirofilariasis* / drug therapy
Dirofilariasis* / prevention & control
Dog Diseases* / diagnosis
Dog Diseases* / drug therapy
Dog Diseases* / epidemiology
Dogs
Humans
Italy / epidemiology
Ivermectin / therapeutic use

Substances

Ivermectin