Meta-Analysis of the Prevalence of Dirofilaria Immitis in Dogs from Grenada, West Indies

,Camille-Marie Coomansingh,Calum Macpherson,Nannette Wagner,Michael Yabsley,Muhammad Bhaiyat,Rhonda Pinckney,Alfred Chikweto,Paul Fields

doi:10.5171/2015.429690

, Camille-Marie Coomansingh + Show 7 more

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https://doi.org/10.5171/2015.429690

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Abstract

A comparison of several individual studies was made in order to determine the statistical significance for the prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs (n=1245) in Grenada, using necropsy and different ELISA test kits. The overall prevalence was estimated to be 17% in a study of live dogs, 12% in a study of necropsied dogs, and 14% when combining the studies using meta-analysis. There was no evidence of infection in dogs less than 6 months of age and no statistical difference (P>0.50) between male and female dogs. The prevalence reported is the cause for concern particularly since Dirofilaria immitis in dogs were found in all parishes in Grenada, favorable climatic conditions exist for vector-borne transmission, there is only sporadic use of preventatives, and there is an almost complete lack of public knowledge of the zoonotic potential of this filarial parasite in Grenada.

Highlights

Dirofilaria immitis is the cause of heartworm disease in many domestic animal species but primarily in dogs
The prevalence reported is the cause for concern since Dirofilaria immitis in dogs were found in all parishes in Grenada, favorable climatic conditions exist for vector-borne transmission, there is only sporadic use of preventatives, and there is an almost complete lack of public knowledge of the zoonotic potential of this filarial parasite in Grenada
Using meta-analysis to combine the results for the four studies on live dogs, 16.8%

Summary

Introduction

Dirofilaria immitis is the cause of heartworm disease in many domestic animal species but primarily in dogs. With the increase of worldwide surface temperature of an average 0.74oC, temperate regions which were once considered free of D.immitis are observing infections during the summer months (Vezzani et al, 2006; Kronefeld et al, 2014; Genchi et al, 2005; Morchón et al, 2012). Several species of mosquitoes are found to be vectors of D.immitis including: Culex ssp, Aedes spp, Anopheles spp, Armigers spp, Myzorhynchus series of Anopheles and Aedes Taeniorhynchus spp (Anderson and Davis, 2014; Vezzani et al, 2011; Manrique-Saide et al, 2010). Dogs with low worm burdens normally exhibit no clinical signs, as the Number of worms increase and blood flow within the heart is inhibited, the following clinical signs are manifested: respiratory distress, pulmonary hypertension, peripheral edema, congestive heart failure and death

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