Journal article
Dirofilaria immitis in pinnipeds and a new host record
AM Alho, I Marcelino, V Colella, C Flanagan, N Silva, JJ Correia, MS Latrofa, D Otranto, L Madeira De Carvalho
Parasites and Vectors | BMC | Published : 2017
Open access
Abstract
Background: Dirofilaria immitis is a mosquito-borne pathogen that is spreading worldwide, and the associated infection (i.e. dirofilariosis) is becoming a threat to animals and humans living in endemic areas. Little is known about the occurrence and risk of infection of D. immitis in pinnipeds. Here we report dirofilariosis by D. immitis in several pinniped species kept in captivity in Portugal. Methods: Animals were housed in an oceanographic park located in Algarve, southern Portugal, a geographical area endemic for canine dirofilariosis. To assess the occurrence of D. immitis, blood was collected from the park's resident pinniped population, which consisted of 16 animals (5 common seals P..
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Awarded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Funding Acknowledgements
This study was financially supported by Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT), through a PhD research grant SFRH/BD/85427/2012 and by the Project UID/CVT/00276/2013. The funder had no role in the design of the study, collection, analysis, interpretation of data or in writing the manuscript.