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Immunopathology of Dirofilaria immitis Infection

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Abstract

Heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis affects canine and feline hosts, with infections occasionally being reported in humans. Studies have shown that both dirofilarial antigens and those derived from its bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia, interact with the host organism during canine, feline and human infections and participate in the development of the pathology and in the regulation of the host’s immune response. Both innate and acquired immune responses are observed and the development of the acquired response may depend on the host and, or on its parasitological status. This review aims at illustrating current research on the role of both D. immitis and Wolbachia, in the immunology and immunopathology of dirofilariosis.

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Abbreviations

Dipp:

Dirofilaria immitis derived peptides

GroEl:

heat-shock protein of D. immitis (hsp60)

iNOs:

inducible nitric oxide synthase

IL:

interleukin

LPS:

lipopolysacharide

L3 :

third-stage larvae

TGF-β:

transforming growth factor β

TNF-α:

tumour necrosis factor α

WSP:

Wolbachia surface protein

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Parasitología, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain

    F. Simón, A. Román, W. Blasini, R. Morchón & C. Marcos-Atxutegi

  2. University of Puerto Rico, Medicine School, Puerto Rico

    A. Román & W. Blasini

  3. Dipt. Di Produzione Animale, Università di Parma, Parma

    L. H. Kramer & G. Grandi

  4. DIPAV–Sezione di Patologia Generale e Parassitologia Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy

    C. Genchi

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  1. F. Simón
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  2. L. H. Kramer
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  3. A. Román
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  4. W. Blasini
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  5. R. Morchón
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  6. C. Marcos-Atxutegi
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  7. G. Grandi
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  8. C. Genchi
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Correspondence to F. Simón.

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Simón, F., Kramer, L.H., Román, A. et al. Immunopathology of Dirofilaria immitis Infection. Vet Res Commun 31, 161–171 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-006-3387-0

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