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The fast development of molecular taxonomy is impacting our knowledge of the world parasite diversity at an unprecedented level. A number of operational taxonomic units have been uncovered and new species described. However, it is not always that new parasite species are being described in compliance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. This is the case of "Candidatus Dirofilaria hongkongensis", a nematode found in dogs, jackals and humans in Hong Kong and parts of India. This name has been proposed without a formal description and without the designation of a holotype, and therefore is an unavailable name. Finally, we argue that using the provisional status Candidatus in zoological nomenclature is inappropriate, considering this term is not considered in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

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INTRODUCTION: To date, there has been no definitive confirmation of the presence of zoonotic dirofilariasis in dogs in Chile. OBJECTIVES: To study the presence of dirofilarias in blood samples from dogs collected in a semi-rural district near Santiago and to compare their frequency in dogs with and without dermatological manifestations. METHODS: We examined 100 blood samples for dog filariae infections using microscopic methods (modified Knott technique). 50 dogs presented dermatological symptoms or signs compatible with filarial infections and 50 were asymptomatic. ITS-2 and 12s rDNA gene amplification by PCR and sequencing were performed in samples microscopically positive for microfilariae. Results. We observed microfilariae in 22 dogs (22%). Of these, 16/50 (32%) were symptomatic and 6/50 (12%) were asymptomatic (p = 0.02). Morphologically, the majority of micro-filariae were similar to Dirofilaria repens, although many had a bigger size than previously described. Nucleotide sequencing of the amplified genes showed no more than 95% homology with the D. repens sequences available for comparison. D. reconditum and D. dracunculoides infections were also identified. CONCLUSIONS: These features might indicate the presence of new species of Dirofilaria or a D. repens close related variant in Chile.

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Introduction: To date, there has been no definitive confirmation of the presence of zoonotic dirofilariasis in dogs in Chile. Objectives: To study the presence of dirofilarias in blood samples from dogs collected in a semi-rural district near Santiago and to compare their frequency in dogs with and without dermatological manifestations. Methods: We examined 100 blood samples for dog filariae infections using microscopic methods (modified Knott technique). 50 dogs presented dermatological symptoms or signs compatible with filarial infections and 50 were asymptomatic. ITS-2 and 12s rDNA gene amplification by PCR and sequencing were performed in samples microscopically positive for microfilariae. Results. We observed microfilariae in 22 dogs (22%). Of these, 16/50 (32%) were symptomatic and 6/50 (12%) were asymptomatic (p = 0.02). Morphologically, the majority of micro-filariae were similar to Dirofilaria repens, although many had a bigger size than previously described. Nucleotide sequencing of the amplified genes showed no more than 95% homology with the D. repens sequences available for comparison. D. reconditum and D. dracunculoides infections were also identified. Conclusions: These features might indicate the presence of new species of Dirofilaria or a D. repens close related variant in Chile.

Introducción: A la fecha no hay datos concluyentes en Chile respecto a la presencia de dirofilariasis zoonótica en perros. Objetivos: Identificar la presencia de dirofilarias en sangre de perros de una comuna semi-rural cercana a Santiago y comparar su frecuencia en animales con y sin manifestaciones dermatológicas. Materialy Métodos. Se examinó un frotis sanguíneo de 100 perros en busca de microfilarias mediante observación microscópica (técnica de Knott modificada). Cincuenta perros presentaban síntomas o signos dermatológicos que se han asociado a esta parasitosis y 50 eran asintomáticos. Se amplificaron los genes ITS-2 y 12s ADNr de filarías en las muestras con microfilarias al frotis, secuenciando los fragmentos amplificados. Resultados: Se observaron microfilarias en 22 perros (22%), 16/50 (32%) sintomáticos y 6/50 (12%) asintomáticos (p = 0,02). Morfológicamente, la mayoría de las microfilarias observadas fueron similares a D. repens; sin embargo, una gran proporción mostró un tamaño mayor al descrito para esta especie. Las secuencias nucleotídicas de los genes amplificados mostraron una homología no mayor al 95% con las secuencias de D. repens disponibles para comparación. Se identificaron además dos especies poco patógenas, D. reconditum por morfología y secuenciación genética y D. dracunculoides por morfología. Conclusiones: Los resultados indican la existencia de una nueva especie de Dirofilaria cercanamente relacionada a D. repens o de una variante de esta especie.

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A case of human intraocular dirofilariasis is reported from northern Brazil. The nematode was morphologically and phylogenetically related to Dirofilaria immitis but distinct from reference sequences, including those of D. immitis infesting dogs in the same area. A zoonotic Dirofilaria species infesting wild mammals in Brazil and its implications are discussed.

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Two new species of Diorfilaria, Dirofilaria macrodemos and Dirofilaria panamensis, are described from the subserosa of Central and South American sloths. Dirofilaria macrodemos, described from the three-toed sloth, Bradypus tridactylus, in Guyana, is characterized and differentiated from other dirofilarias by its length (female 214mm, male 64mm), relatively long tail (female 140 micron, male 110 micron), and the number and distribution of the caudal papillae (7 pairs) in the male. Dirofilaria panamensis, parasite of the two-toed sloth, Cholopeus hoffmanni, in Panama, was previously described as Dirofilaria incrassata by Caballero (1947), but can be distinguished from both D. macrodemos and D. incrassata on the basis of body size (female 66 mm long by 360 micron wide, male 34 mm long by 250 micron wide), tail length (female 80 micron, male 80 micron), and number (6 pairs) of caudal papillae in the male.

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Dirofilaria cancrivori sp. n. is described from subcutaneous tissues of the crabdog, Procyon cancrivorus, in Guyana, South America. The filarid is morphologically distinct from Dirofilaria tenuis, parasite of a related host, the raccoon, in the southern United States, and all other species of Dirofilaria. The parasite can be distinguished from other dirofilarias based on a combination of morphological features including its size, number, and arrangement of caudal papillae on the male tail, size and shape of the spicules, the presence of longitudinal ridges and transverse striations on the cuticle, and the microfilaria.

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