Large scale survey on the occurrence of canine and feline extra-intestinal nematodes in Italy

INTRODUCTION. Canine and feline extra-intestinal nematodes are of growing concern because of their emergence in Europe, their pathogenic role and the zoonotic potential some of them have. Thus, a continuing epidemiological monitoring is of crucial importance. This study has investigated their presence in canine and feline populations of different regions of Italy. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Faecal and blood samples were collected from 1000 dogs in different regions of Italy, i.e. Abruzzo (site A, n. 218), Marche (Site B, n. 116), Molise (Site C, n. 69), Lazio (Site D, n. 171), Campania (Site E, n. 83), San Pietro Island-Sardinia (Site F, n. 54), Veneto (Site G, n. 68), Friuli Venezia-Giulia (Site H, n. 66) and Puglia (site I, n. 155). Faecal samples were also taken from 1000 cats in sites A (n. 380), B (n. 103), C (n. 111), D (n. 172), F (n. 94), G (n. 45), H (n. 32) and Piemonte region (site J, n. 63). Faecal samples were examined with appropriate techniques. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS. The overall infection rates were Aelurostrongylus abstrusus 10.4%, Angiostrongylus vasorum 3.4%, Capillaria aerophila 3.4% (cats) and 2% (dogs), Troglostrongylus brevior 3.2%, Capillaria boehmi 1.2%, Dirofilaria immitis 1.8%, Dirofilaria repens 1.7% and Crenosoma vulpis 0.1%. DOGS – Capillaria aerophila was found in sites A (3.7%), D (3.5%), G (2.9 %) and H (6.1%), C. boehmi in sites A (1.4%), D (3.5%) H (1.5%), and I (1.3%), A. vasorum in sites A (3.7%), C (5.8%), D (3.5%) and E (19.3%), and C. vulpis (0.6%) in site I. Microfilariae of D. immitis were found in sites F (27.8%), G (2.9%) and H (1.5%), while D. repens in sites A (2.8%), F (18.5%) and I (0.6%). CATS –Capillaria aerophila was recorded in sites A (4.7%), B (0.9%), C (5.4%), D (1.7%), F (2.1%), G (2.2%), H (6.3%) and J (1.6%), A. abstrusus in sites A (10%), B (3.9%), C (3.6%), D (4.7%), F (38.3%), H (3.1%) and J (20.6%), and T. brevior in sites A (5.8%), C (1.8%) and D (4.7%). The present data confirms that extra-intestinal nematodes of pets are endemic in Italy. Hence, they should always be included in differential diagnosis of canine and feline diseases in the presence of compatible clinical signs.