Overview on Dirofilaria immitis in the Americas, with notes on other filarial worms infecting dogs

Abstract

Canine dirofilariosis in the Americas is primarily caused by Dirofilaria immitis, a mosquito-borne filarial worm infecting dogs, which may also infect and cause disease in other mammalian hosts, including humans. Morphological and molecular evidence gathered in the past decades suggest that other Dirofilaria spp. may infect dogs in the American continent, though the actual taxonomic identity of them still needs to be elucidated. In addition, filarial worms belonging to distinct genera have also been reported in dogs in this part of the world, including Acanthocheilonema reconditum, Cercopithifilaria bainae, and Onchocerca lupi. Among these, O. lupi is a species of major clinical significance, which has been reported not only in dogs, but also in cats and humans in North America. The present article provides a current overview on canine dirofilariosis in the Americas, with notes on other filarial worms infecting dogs. It also provides some insights into outstanding research questions that should be responded to fill some of the several knowledge gaps related to this group of parasites in this continent.