Abstract
To determine the prevalence of microfilariae Dirofilaria immitis (canine heart worm) infection in Tabriz (East-Azarbaijan province, Iran), blood samples from 63 male and 37 female stray dogs of six age groups (< 1 years, 1-3 years, 3-5 years, 5-7 years, 7-9 years and > 9 years) were analyzed by means of the Knott method. Dirofilaria immitis infection was found in 30 of 100 tested dogs (30%). Male dogs (33.3%) were more infected than females (24.3%), but this difference was not significant. Higher prevalence was found in > 9 years old dogs than in other age groups, but this difference was not statistically significant. It would be useful to apply prevention measures to control Dirofilaria immitis infection in the canine population of Tabriz.
Highlights
Dirofilariosis, dog, sex, age Dirofilariosis is a disease of world wide distribution, but the most endemic areas are those with moderate, tropical and subtropical climates where mosquito populations are high and stable
Dirofilaria immitis is commonly found in the pulmonary arteries and the right ventricle of dogs and other canines where it causes canine heartworm disease, but it occurs in cats and humans
Parasite D. immitis was found in 21 of 63 (33.3%) male and 9 of 37 female (24.3%) dogs, but without statistical difference in blood of dogs according to age
Summary
Dirofilariosis, dog, sex, age Dirofilariosis is a disease of world wide distribution, but the most endemic areas are those with moderate, tropical and subtropical climates where mosquito populations are high and stable. Female mosquitoes serve as an intermediate host by sucking blood from a dog with circulating Dirofilaria immitis microfilaria (Mont oya et al.1988). Dirofilaria immitis is commonly found in the pulmonary arteries and the right ventricle of dogs and other canines where it causes canine heartworm disease, but it occurs in cats and humans. The prevalence of heartworm infection in dogs appears to have increased in recent years. This is due to a lack of prevention procedures and weak knowladge of dogs’ owners (Lee et al 1996). This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and epidemiological aspects of dirofilariosis in stray dogs from Tabriz in the northwest of Iran, which is one of the enzootic regions of D. immitis
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