{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,21]],"date-time":"2026-08-21T11:57:48Z","timestamp":1787313468151,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":24,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,3]],"date-time":"2026-04-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1775174400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Pathogens"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Dirofilaria repens is the leading cause of subcutaneous (dogs) and subcutaneous\/ocular dirofilariosis (humans) in the Old World. Despite its rapid geographical spread, driven by climate change, the emergence of new invasive vectors (Aedes albopictus) and growing interest in its study due to the emergence of new cases in areas previously free of the parasite, amongst other factors, scientific research into this pathogen remains limited. This study provides the first longitudinal bibliometric analysis of global research on D. repens (1955\u20132025). Data from Web of Science and Scopus were processed using PRISMA and RAMIBS protocols, resulting in a normalized corpus of 624 documents analyzed via science mapping techniques. The field exhibits a sustained annual growth rate of 3.79%, transitioning into an exponential expansion phase in 2011. While Italy retains historical leadership, spatial analysis confirms a research displacement towards Central and Eastern Europe (Germany, Poland). Thematic evolution reveals a structural shift from isolated clinical case reports to a multidisciplinary ecosystem dominated by molecular epidemiology, vector competence, and surveillance. Dirofilaria repens has gone from being a minor and neglected issue to having a significant number of reports and studies subject to interest in addressing the disease that results from its infection in different hosts. However, the intellectual structure exposes an operational fragmentation between clinical medicine and medical entomology. Future research must overcome national silos and integrate reservoir management with vector control, transforming the current reactive approach into a predictive preventive system aligned with the One Health framework.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens15040386","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,6]],"date-time":"2026-04-06T03:11:28Z","timestamp":1775445088000},"page":"386","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Global Research Trends in Emerging Zoonosis Due to (the Filarial Nematode) Dirofilaria repens (1955\u20132025): A Bibliometric Analysis of a Climate-Driven Expansion"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8656-8155","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ra\u00fal","family":"Aguilar-Elena","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Group on Occupational Risk Prevention and Occupational Health and Safety (GPRL), Valencian International University, 46002 Valencia, Spain"},{"name":"Zoonotic Diseases and One Health Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, Centre for Environmental Studies and Rural Dynamization (CEADIR), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6009-7658","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Iv\u00e1n","family":"Rodr\u00edguez-Escolar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Zoonotic Diseases and One Health Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, Centre for Environmental Studies and Rural Dynamization (CEADIR), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-8302-0449","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Manuel","family":"Collado-Cuadrado","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Zoonotic Diseases and One Health Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, Centre for Environmental Studies and Rural Dynamization (CEADIR), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elena","family":"Infante Gonz\u00e1lez-Mohino","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Zoonotic Diseases and One Health Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, Centre for Environmental Studies and Rural Dynamization (CEADIR), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9070-6709","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alfonso","family":"Balmori-de la Puente","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Zoonotic Diseases and One Health Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, Centre for Environmental Studies and Rural Dynamization (CEADIR), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alberto","family":"Gil-Abad","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Zoonotic Diseases and One Health Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, Centre for Environmental Studies and Rural Dynamization (CEADIR), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2699-1482","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rodrigo","family":"Morch\u00f3n","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Zoonotic Diseases and One Health Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, Centre for Environmental Studies and Rural Dynamization (CEADIR), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain"},{"name":"Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca (IBSAL), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"231","article-title":"Human dirofilariasis due to Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens: An update of world literature from 1995 to 2000","volume":"42","author":"Pampiglione","year":"2000","journal-title":"Parassitologia"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"517","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-017-2434-8","article-title":"Subcutaneous dirofilariosis (Dirofilaria repens): An infection spreading throughout the old world","volume":"10","author":"Genchi","year":"2017","journal-title":"Parasit. Vectors"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106083","DOI":"10.1016\/j.actatropica.2021.106083","article-title":"Zoonotic Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens infection in humans and an integrative approach to the diagnosis","volume":"223","author":"Gabrielli","year":"2021","journal-title":"Acta Trop."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106460","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jinf.2025.106460","article-title":"Human dirofilariasis\u2014A potentially significant nematode zoonosis in an era of climate change","volume":"90","author":"Gasser","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Infect."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"108995","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2019.108995","article-title":"The prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens in the Old World","volume":"280","author":"Genchi","year":"2020","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_6","first-page":"1064","article-title":"Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens implicated as natural vectors of Dirofilaria repens in central Italy","volume":"44","author":"Cancrini","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Med. Entomol."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"257","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pt.2023.12.007","article-title":"Zoonotic dirofilariases: One, no one, or more than one parasite","volume":"40","author":"Perles","year":"2024","journal-title":"Trends Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_8","first-page":"6436130","article-title":"The Complexity of Zoonotic Filariasis Episystem and Its Consequences: A Multidisciplinary View","volume":"2017","author":"Diosdado","year":"2017","journal-title":"Biomed. Res. Int."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1307","DOI":"10.1089\/vbz.2010.0247","article-title":"Dirofilarial infections in Europe","volume":"11","author":"Genchi","year":"2011","journal-title":"Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"663","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-018-3205-x","article-title":"Recent advances on Dirofilaria repens in dogs and humans in Europe","volume":"11","author":"Capelli","year":"2018","journal-title":"Parasit. Vectors"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"207","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-023-05770-9","article-title":"The prevalence of canine dirofilariasis in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"16","author":"Ying","year":"2023","journal-title":"Parasit. Vectors"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"507","DOI":"10.1128\/CMR.00012-12","article-title":"Human and animal dirofilariasis: The emergence of a zoonotic mosaic","volume":"25","author":"Mellado","year":"2012","journal-title":"Clin. Microbiol. Rev."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"58","DOI":"10.1186\/s40249-025-01328-2","article-title":"Vectors, host range, and spatial distribution of Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens in Europe: A systematic review","volume":"14","author":"Hattendorf","year":"2025","journal-title":"Infect. Dis. Poverty"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"909","DOI":"10.1017\/S003118202000058X","article-title":"Filarial worms: A systematic review and meta-analysis of diversity in animals from Iran with emphasis on human cases","volume":"147","author":"Ghasemi","year":"2020","journal-title":"Parasitology"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1136\/vr.152.4.97","article-title":"Systematic review of the distribution of the major vector-borne parasitic infections in dogs and cats in Europe","volume":"152","author":"Trees","year":"2003","journal-title":"Vet. Rec."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"253","DOI":"10.4103\/jioh.jioh_23_24","article-title":"RAMIBS: Reporting and Measurement of Items for Bibliometric or Scientometric Studies in Health Sciences","volume":"16","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Int. Oral Health"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"n71","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.n71","article-title":"The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews","volume":"372","author":"Page","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Fuehrer, H.P., Morelli, S., Unterk\u00f6fler, M.S., Bajer, A., Bakran-Lebl, K., Dwu\u017cnik-Szarek, D., Farkas, R., Grandi, G., Heddergott, M., and Jokelainen, P. (2021). Dirofilaria spp. and Angiostrongylus vasorum: Current Risk of Spreading in Central and Northern Europe. Pathogens, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens10101268"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"P\u0119kacz, M., Basa\u0142aj, K., Miterp\u00e1kov\u00e1, M., Rusiecki, Z., Stopka, D., Graczyk, D., and Zawistowska-Deniziak, A. (2024). An unexpected case of a dog from Poland co-infected with Dirofilaria repens and Dirofilaria immitis. BMC Vet. Res., 20.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12917-024-03921-3"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"295","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2011.01.012","article-title":"Changing climate and changing vector-borne disease distribution: The example of Dirofilaria in Europe","volume":"176","author":"Genchi","year":"2011","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"721","DOI":"10.1016\/S1473-3099(15)70091-5","article-title":"Effect of climate change on vector-borne disease risk in the UK","volume":"15","author":"Medlock","year":"2015","journal-title":"Lancet Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_22","unstructured":"(2026, February 12). European Society of Dirofilariosis and Angiostrongylosis (ESDA). Available online: https:\/\/www.esda.vet."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpddr.2021.03.004","article-title":"Heartworm disease\u2014Overview, intervention, and industry perspective","volume":"16","author":"Noack","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Parasitol. Drugs Drug Resist."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.actatropica.2014.10.021","article-title":"Genetic diversity of Dirofilaria spp. isolated from subcutaneous and ocular lesions of human patients in Ukraine","volume":"142","author":"Rossi","year":"2015","journal-title":"Acta Trop."}],"container-title":["Pathogens"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-0817\/15\/4\/386\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,7]],"date-time":"2026-04-07T12:19:19Z","timestamp":1775564359000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-0817\/15\/4\/386"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,3]]},"references-count":24,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4]]}},"alternative-id":["pathogens15040386"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/pathogens15040386","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-0817"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-0817","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,3]]}}}