Dirofilarial Infections in Human and Animal Hosts
Summary
Dirofilarial infections arise from filarial nematodes of the genus Dirofilaria, principally Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens, transmitted by mosquitoes to domestic and wild canids, felids and, occasionally, humans. In animal hosts, heartworm disease caused by D. immitis inflicts cardiopulmonary pathology, whereas D. repens induces subcutaneous nodules and dermal lesions. Human dirofilariosis typically manifests as pulmonary or subcutaneous nodules, often misdiagnosed as tumours. The life cycle involves development of third-stage larvae (L3) within mosquito vectors, maturation to adult worms in the definitive host and release of first-stage larvae (microfilariae) into the bloodstream. Global warming, changing vector distributions and increased movement of pets have expanded the geographic range of dirofilarioses, raising both veterinary and public health concerns. Control strategies encompass regular chemoprophylaxis in companion animals, vector management and integrated surveillance under a One Health paradigm. Recent advances in diagnostic sensitivity, experimental models and treatment protocols are reshaping understanding of host-parasite interactions, drug efficacy and elimination programmes.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Dirofilarial Infections in Human and Animal Hosts publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in dirofilarial infections in human and animal hosts across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Microfilariae: The first larval stage of filarial nematodes circulating in the host bloodstream, taken up by mosquitoes during feeding.
Chemoprophylaxis: Administration of chemical agents to prevent the establishment or progression of infection.
Lymphopenic: Describing an organism or animal model with abnormally low levels of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell important for immune defence.
Macrocyclic lactone: A class of antiparasitic drugs, including ivermectin and moxidectin, that target nematode neurotransmission and are widely used in heartworm prevention.
L4 Larvae: The fourth larval stage in the development of Dirofilaria species, following the infective L3 stage and preceding maturation to adulthood.
References
- Early Release - Elimination of Dirofilaria immitis Infection in Dogs, Linosa Island, Italy, 2020–2022 - Volume 29, Number 8—August 2023 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC. Emerging Infectious Diseases (2023).
- Dirofilariasis mouse models for heartworm preclinical research. Frontiers in Microbiology (2023).
- Vector-borne helminths of dogs and humans in Europe. Parasites & Vectors (2013).
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.