Генетическое разнообразие дирофилярий и их симбиотических вольбахий у собак и сравнение методов молекулярной диагностики.

Using molecular diagnostic methods, we studied the presence and diversity of Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens microfilariae and related endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia in the blood of domestic dogs. Of the 53 dogs tested, 39% were infected with at least one species of Dirofilaria. The inconsistency between the filarial species and their Wolbachia bacterial genotype allowed us to identify mixed infection of dogs with both species of Dirofilaria. The prevalence of D. immitis and D. repens mixed infection in infected dogs was 40%. Among the studied D. repens, two nuclear and mitochondrial haplotypes were found. No polymorphism was detected in D. immitis. The accuracy and sensitivity of different molecular diagnostic approaches were compared. Moreover, the determining role of the endosymbiotic Wolbachia in the accurate diagnosis of occult and non-occult dirofilariasis has been designated. Our results highlight the importance of molecular detecting methods to uncover and understand the hidden diversity of Dirofilaria spp.