Abstract
The aim of this study was to make the first report on canine heartworm disease in the state of Rondônia and confirm its transmission in this state. Blood samples were randomly collected from 727 dogs in the city of Porto Velho. The samples were analyzed to search for microfilariae and circulating antigens, using three different techniques: optical microscopy on thick blood smears stained with Giemsa; immunochromatography; and PCR. Mosquitoes were collected inside and outside the homes of all the cases of positive dogs and were tested using PCR to search for DNA of Dirofilaria immitis. Ninety-three blood samples out of 727 (12.8%) were positive according to the immunoassay technique and none according to the thick smear method. Among the 93 positive dogs, 89 (95.7%) were born in Porto Velho. No difference in the frequency of infection was observed between dogs raised indoors and in the yard. PCR on the mosquitoes resulted in only one positive pool. This result shows that the transmission of canine heartworm disease is occurring in the city of Porto Velho and that there is moderate prevalence among the dogs. The techniques of immunochromatography and PCR were more effective for detecting canine heartworm than thick blood smears. The confirmation of canine heartworm disease transmission in Porto Velho places this disease in the ranking for differential diagnosis of pulmonary nodules in humans in Rondônia.
Highlights
Heartworm filariasis is a parasitic disease of worldwide distribution for which the etiological agent is a filarial nematode worm named Dirofilaria immitis (Leidy, 1856)
The samples were analyzed to search for microfilariae and circulating antigens, using three different techniques: optical microscopy on thick blood smears stained with Giemsa; immunochromatography; and PCR
We concluded that Dirofilaria immitis occurs in Porto Velho at a moderate rate
Summary
Heartworm filariasis is a parasitic disease of worldwide distribution for which the etiological agent is a filarial nematode worm named Dirofilaria immitis (Leidy, 1856). The adult forms of D. immitis feed on blood components and live for several months or years. They can be found in the right ventricle and pulmonary arteries of dogs, frequently causing coughing, dyspnea and weakness, followed by ascites due to right ventricular failure, anorexia, dehydration and weight loss (SEVIMLI et al, 2007). The pathogenicity of this species varies according to the number of adult worms. The final-stage larvae settle in the lungs, causing nodules that are usually diagnosed as tumors or tuberculosis (WATTS et al, 1999)
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