Abstract
The heartworm Dirofilaria immitis is the causative agent of cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis in dogs and cats, and also infects humans. However, there has been no study on dirofilariasis in dogs in central China. From March 2015 to February 2016, sera from 1176 randomly selected household dogs from Henan province, central China were examined for D. immitis antigen using the Canine Heartworm Antigen Test Kit. The overall seroprevalence of D. immitis in dogs in Henan province was 13% (155/1176). The prevalence was significantly higher in older dogs and dogs kept outdoors, compared to the younger ones and those sheltered indoors. No significant difference of prevalence was observed between sexes. The results suggest that the risk of exposure to D. immitis in dogs is high in Henan, and prophylaxis against the parasite is advisable to decrease the incidence of canine dirofilariosis in this region.
Highlights
The causative agent of cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis, Dirofilaria immitis, affects domestic dogs, cats, and various wild mammals, with increasing incidence in temperate and tropical areas [9, 12, 16]
In the present study, we studied the seroprevalence of D. immitis infection in domestic dogs in central China for the first time and evaluated the main risk factors associated with exposure to D. immitis in this area
Compared with other provinces or cities in China, it was lower than the values of 51.6% in dogs in a study performed in Changchun [8], 38.9% in Taiwan [22], 24.0% in Dandong [9], and 18.8% in Shenzhen [20], similar to those observed in Shenyang (12.7%) [13] and Nanning (13.3%) [20], but higher than those observed in Heilongjiang (1.1%) [21], Guizhou (5.0%) [7], Kunming (6.7%), Chongqing (10.0%), Nanchang (10.0%), and Fuzhou (12.0%) [20]
Summary
The causative agent of cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis, Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm), affects domestic dogs, cats, and various wild mammals, with increasing incidence in temperate and tropical areas [9, 12, 16]. Adult D. immitis worms can survive for seven years or more in dogs, usually producing chronic inflammatory vascular disease [19]. The simultaneous death of groups of adult worms can trigger an acute disorder characterized by the exacerbation of inflammatory reactions and the occurrence of serious thromboembolism that put the life of the infected dogs at immediate risk [14]. In the present study, we studied the seroprevalence of D. immitis infection in domestic dogs in central China for the first time and evaluated the main risk factors associated with exposure to D. immitis in this area
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