ArticleParasites & vectors2025
Do not let your guard down! Prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens in dogs entering shelters in northern Italy.
Article in Parasites & vectors, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Geographical Distribution and Molecular Characterization ofAnimals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026Article
- Article
- Efficacy and safety of a sustained-release formulation of ivermectin (FILAPREV®) in preventing heartworm infection (Dirofilaria immitis) in dogs in two endemic areas of Italy.Parasites & vectors · 2026Article
- Clinico-pathological and renal morphological findings in dogs naturally infected with Dirofilaria repens.BMC veterinary research · 2026Article
- Deciphering the socio-environmental factors associated with realized heartworm transmission risk in dogs from Portugal and Spain.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundIn Italy, the area of highest prevalence for canine heartworm disease (CHWD) has historically been along the Po River Valley in the northern area of the country, where prevalence in the mid-nineties ranged from 31% to 98%. Currently, increased awareness among practitioners and the availability of preventives have led to a dramatic decrease in prevalence in the area, although cases of CHWD continue to be diagnosed, suggesting the presence of canine reservoirs, including unowned dogs.
methodsThe aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of Dirofilaria spp. in stray dogs entering shelters located in the Po River Valley of northern Italy by using the modified Knott's test and by antigenic testing.
resultsOut of the 510 dogs tested, 173 (33.9%) were positive for circulating microfilariae: 15.7% (80/510) with D. immitis, 6.9% (35/510) with D. repens, and 11.4% (58/510) with a mixed infection.
conclusionsUnowned dog populations represent an important reservoir for the parasite, allowing D. immitis to remain in a given geographical area and increasing the risk of exposure to all dogs.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.