Heartworm disease in domestic dogs in Estonia: indication of local circulation of the zoonotic parasite Dirofilaria immitis farther north than previously reported.

Background: The mosquito-borne zoonotic parasite Dirofilaria immitis continues to spread northwards in Europe. This parasite can cause potentially life-threatening heartworm disease in dogs and pulmonary dirofilariasis in humans and is, therefore, a major health concern in both the veterinary medicine and human medical fields. This is the first report of D.

Angiostrongylus vasorum in Estonia: Multi-center study in dogs with clinical signs suggestive of canine angiostrongylosis, survey of potential risk behaviors among the dogs, and questionnaire survey of knowledge about the parasite among veterinarians.

Angiostrongylus vasorum is a parasite that can cause life-threatening disease in dogs. In recent years, A. vasorum has been reported spreading into new areas, in particular towards northeastern Europe.