Dirofilaria immitis

Diethylcarbama2ine [98-89-1/ is a pipera2ine derivative which is given daily as a prophylactic for canine heartworm disease Dirofilaria immitis) or as a therapeutic for roundworms. D. immitis is transmitted only by mosquitoes, and therefore the period of administration varies geographically, depending on temperatures and humidity which regulate the mosquito life cycle. 

The activity of ivermectin against the filarial parasite Dirofilaria immitis in dogs suggested a possible role for the control of filarial parasites of humans (20). It has been extensively tested in human onchocerciasis and is now considered to be the dmg of choice. In a single yearly oral dose, it suppresses microfilariae in the skin and eyes and, in most cases, prevents the progression of the disease to blindness. Table 4 shows the results of a 30-patient double-blind study recorded over one year. 

Bandi, C., McCall, J.W., Genchi, C., Corona, S., Venco, L. and Sacchi, L. (1999) Effects of tetracycline on the filarial worms Brugia pahangi and Dirofilaria immitis and their bacterial endosymbionts Wolbachia. InternationalJournalfor Parasitology 29, 357-364. 

Bazzocchi, C., Ceciliani, F., McCall, J.W., Ricci, I., Genchi, C. and Bandi, C. (2000b) Antigenic role of the endosymbionts of filarial nematodes IgG response against the Wolbachia surface protein in cats infected with Dirofilaria immitis. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B (in press). 

Boreham, P.F.L. and Atwell, R.B. (1983) Adverse drug reactions in the treatment of filarial parasites haematological, biochemical, immunological and pharmacological changes in Dirofilaria immitis infected dogs treated with diethylcarbamazine. International Journal for Parasitology 13, 547-556. 

Genchi, C., Sacchi, L., Bandi, C. and Venco, L. (1998) Preliminary results on the effect of tetracycline on the embryogenesis and symbiotic bacteria of Dirofilaria immitis. An update and discussion. Parassitologia 40, 247-249. 

Harada, R., Maeda, T., Nakashima, A., Sadakata, M., Ando, M., Yonomine, K., Otsuji, Y. and Sato, H. (1970) Electron-microscopical studies on the mechanism of oogenesis in Dirofilaria immitis. In Sasa, M. (ed.) Recent Advances in Researches on Filariasis and Schistosomiasis in Japan. Baltimore University Press, Baltimore, Maryland, pp. 99-121. 

Lee, C.-C. (1975) Dirofilaria immitis. ultrastructural aspects of oocyte development and zygote formation. Experimental Parasitology 37, 449-468. 

Favia, G., Lanfrancotti, A., Della Torre, A., Gancrini, G. and Coluzzi, M. (1996) Polymerase chain reaction - identification of Dirofilaria repens and Dirofilaria immitis. Parasitobgy 113, 567-571. 

The most intimate of the bacterial-nematode associations involves Wolbachia, a genus of rickettsia-like, alpha proteobacteria found in obligate intracellular association with a wide variety of arthropods, and a now well-characterized association with B. malayi and Dirofilaria immitis (Chapter 2). Although not formally identified as Wolbachia, the presence of rickett-sia-like organisms has been observed, principally in the reproductive tracts of Globodera females (Shepherd et al., 1973) and males (Walsh et al., 1983) and in Heterodera larvae (Endo, 1979). 

PDI isoforms have also been described in parasitic nematodes, including 0. volvulus (Wilson et al., 1994), Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Tweedie et al., 1993), Ancylostoma caninum (Epe et al., 1998) and Dirofilaria immitis (Chandrashekar et al., 1998). However, their involvement in collagenfolding events in the respective organisms remains to be determined. 

Chandrashekar, R., Tsuji, N., Morales, T., Ozols, V. and Mehta, K. (1998) An ERp60-like protein from the filarial parasite Dirofilaria immitis has both... 

Richer, J.K., Sakanari, J.A., Frank, G.R. and Grieve, R.B. (1992) Dirofilaria immitis-proteases produced by 3rd-stage and 4th-stage larvae. Experimental Parasitology 75, 213-222. 

Warbrick, E., Barker, G., Rees, H. and Howells, R. (1993) The effect of invertebrate hormones and potential hormone inhibitors on the third larval moult of the filarial nematode, Dirofilaria immitis, in vitro. Parasitology 107, 459-463. 

Kang, S., Cummings, R.D. and McCall, J.W. (1993) Characterization of the A-linked oligosaccharides in glycoproteins synthesised by microfilariae of Dirofilaria immitis. Journal of Parasitology 79, 815-828. 

Warbrick, E.V., Rees, H.H. and Howells, R.E. (1992) Immunocytochemical localisation of a FMRFamide-like peptide in the filarial nematodes Dirofilaria immitis and Brugia pahangi. Parasitology Research 78, 252-256. 

Diprenorphine Dipyridamole Dirofilaria immitis Disorazole Cl and Al Disubstituted adamantyl derivatives Disulfiram D,L-Threo-l-phenyl-2-... 

As in humans filariasis has high prevalence in domestic animals. The microfilariae live in the peritoneal blood and skin while the adult filariids reside in the blood vessels, lymphatic system, subcutaneous tissues and body cavities. In addition, the heartworm of the dog, Dirofilaria immitis, is found in the right ventricle and adjacent pulmonary arteries of carnivorous animals. 

The action of DEC on adult filarial worms is species dependent. The drug shows only poor or no activity on the macrofilariae of L.carinii and D. viteae in rodents and Dirofilaria immitis and D.repens in dogs. The adult worms of O. volvulus are also not susceptible to DEC. However, DEC has been found to kill the adult worms of Brugia pahangi, B.malayi, W.bancrofti, L loa, Dipetalonema streptocerca and Setaria digitata in different animals [7,62]. 

Filariasis We already discussed about the effects of ES-62 on experimental models of human diseases. The canine filarial nematode Dirofilaria immitis-AtmtA antigen (DiAg) is a purified 15kDa protein able to induce antigen non-specific IgE in rats and mice, as well as polyclonal proliferation of B cells. A timely treatment of NOD mice at 6 weeks of life with DiAg completely prevented the insulin-dependent... 

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