Complementing community science with xenomonitoring: Understanding the eco-epidemiology of Dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs and mosquitoes.

IF 3 2区医学 Q1 PARASITOLOGY

Parasites & Vectors Pub Date : 2025-06-20 DOI:10.1186/s13071-025-06882-0

Tamara Szentivanyi, Laura V González, Ágnes Klein, Zoltán Soltész, László Z Garamszegi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Dirofilariosis is an emerging mosquito-borne disease that particularly affects domestic dogs worldwide but also causes symptoms in humans. Monitoring the distribution of emerging pathogens is essential for understanding the environmental and ecological factors influencing their transmission, which can be used to develop better prevention strategies.

Methods: We applied both community science and molecular xenomonitoring to assess the occurrence of Dirofilaria immitis in domestic dogs and mosquitoes.

Results: As part of the community science approach, we collected infection data from 1491 dogs from owners across Hungary, using a questionnaire survey. We found that 321 dogs (21.5%) tested positive for current or past dirofilariosis infection, with the highest prevalence observed in the southeastern (47.8%) and the eastern regions (43.4%) of the country. Age and living conditions affected infection status, with older dogs (aged 5-10 years and over 10 years) and those kept exclusively outdoors showing significantly higher infection rates. Molecular xenomonitoring revealed D. immitis infection in Aedes albopictus, Aedes koreicus, and Aedes vexans, with the highest minimum infection rate (MIR) in Ae. koreicus (28.5). Similar to community science results, the highest infection rates were observed in the southeastern and eastern regions (MIR: 14.9 and 11.6, respectively), but the two approaches generally provided overall similar geographical patterns.

Conclusions: While xenomonitoring did not detect infections in Central Transdanubia, community science successfully provided host infection data, demonstrating its usefulness in assessing the presence and distribution of the disease. Finally, we emphasize the value of using an integrative approach, combining community science and xenomonitoring for monitoring dirofilariosis, especially in areas where direct pathogen screening is unavailable.

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与异种监测相辅相成的社区科学：了解犬和蚊子感染的生态流行病学。

背景：钩丝虫病是一种新出现的蚊媒疾病，在世界范围内尤其影响家养狗，但也会在人类中引起症状。监测新发病原体的分布对于了解影响其传播的环境和生态因素至关重要，这些因素可用于制定更好的预防战略。方法：采用社区科学和分子异种监测相结合的方法，对家犬和蚊子的免疫Dirofilaria感染情况进行调查。结果：作为社区科学方法的一部分，我们通过问卷调查从匈牙利各地的主人那里收集了1491只狗的感染数据。我们发现321只狗（21.5%）目前或过去感染了dirofilosis，其中东南部地区（47.8%）和东部地区（43.4%）的患病率最高。年龄和生活条件影响感染状况，年龄较大的狗（5-10岁和10岁以上）和专门在户外饲养的狗感染率明显较高。分子异种监测结果显示，白纹伊蚊、朝鲜伊蚊和刺纹伊蚊均有局限性伊蚊感染，其中最小感染率（MIR）以伊蚊最高。koreicus(28.5)。与社区科学研究结果相似，东南部和东部地区的感染率最高（MIR分别为14.9和11.6），但两种方法总体上提供了相似的地理格局。结论：虽然异种监测没有在中跨多瑙河发现感染，但社区科学成功地提供了宿主感染数据，证明了其在评估该疾病的存在和分布方面的有效性。最后，我们强调使用综合方法的价值，将社区科学和外部监测相结合来监测双丝虫病，特别是在无法直接进行病原体筛查的地区。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Parasites & Vectors 医学-寄生虫学

CiteScore

6.30

自引率

9.40%

发文量

433

审稿时长

1.4 months

期刊介绍： Parasites & Vectors is an open access, peer-reviewed online journal dealing with the biology of parasites, parasitic diseases, intermediate hosts, vectors and vector-borne pathogens. Manuscripts published in this journal will be available to all worldwide, with no barriers to access, immediately following acceptance. However, authors retain the copyright of their material and may use it, or distribute it, as they wish. Manuscripts on all aspects of the basic and applied biology of parasites, intermediate hosts, vectors and vector-borne pathogens will be considered. In addition to the traditional and well-established areas of science in these fields, we also aim to provide a vehicle for publication of the rapidly developing resources and technology in parasite, intermediate host and vector genomics and their impacts on biological research. We are able to publish large datasets and extensive results, frequently associated with genomic and post-genomic technologies, which are not readily accommodated in traditional journals. Manuscripts addressing broader issues, for example economics, social sciences and global climate change in relation to parasites, vectors and disease control, are also welcomed.