FOUNDATIONAL ACT OF THE “EUROPEAN DIROFILARIA SOCIETY” (EDiS)

On the occasion of the Second European Dirofilaria Days, held in Salamanca (Spain) from September 16^th - 18^th 2009, during the general Assembly held on September 18^th, the attendees voted unanimously to launch the “European Dirofilaria Society”  (EDiS).

 It was stated that the mission of the society is to promote the knowledge of both Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens infection, both in humans and animals, throughout all european countries. It was also decided to include Angiostrongylus vasorum (the french heartworm) within the interests of the society because this worm also resides in the lungs and heart of dogs and commonly causes clinical signs which can be severe or even fatal.

 During the assembly, the attendees also agreed that the society will have a close relationship with the American Heartworm Society, as proposed by Dr. John W. McCall and Dr. Jorge Guerrero, officer and member of the executive board respectively of the "American Heartworm Society", which were attending the assembly.

The society is open to all scientists, human practitioners and veterinary practitioners who are involved or interested in the different aspects of Dirofilaria and Angiostrongylus infections. 

Call for Heartworm Samples

Dr. Sonja Wolken, Institute for Parasitology in Hannover, Germany is requesting microfilaria positive blood samples and adult worms from across Europe to perform a survey on the genetic diversity of heartworms. She hopes to generate data that will give us a better understanding of heartworm epidemiology in Europe. Particularly those regions that are heartworm-free so far could benefit from this work if autochthonous heartworm cases emerge.

Please contact Sonja for further details:

Dr. Sonja Wolken

Sonja.Wolken@tiho-hannover.de

Bünteweg 17,
30559 Hannover
Germany
Phone: +49-511-9538797
Fax: +49-511-9538583

THIRD EUROPEAN DIROFILARIA DAYS

PARMA, ITALY

JUNE 21°-22°, 2012

SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT

The European Dirofilaria Society will be holding its third meeting in Parma, Italy. International. The EDIS, founded in 2009, is dedicated to promote the knowledge of both Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens infections in humans and animals in European Countries. Furthermore, Angiostrongylus vasorum (the French heartworm) has been included within the interests of the Society because this worm also resides in the lungs and heart of dogs and commonly causes clinical signs which can be severe or even fatal. 

The 2012 meeting will be an exceptional occasion to join international experts in the field and to exchange information, experiences and ideas on canine and feline heartworm disease and on canine angiostrongylosis, all in the beautiful setting of Parma.

 Looking forward to seeing you in June 

Sincerely,

Claudio Genchi, President EDIS

Preliminary Programme