Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Canine heartworm disease trends and risks in Grenada
By Kabuusu, Richard M et al.·Published in Preventive veterinary medicine·2020·School of Veterinary Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: An analysis of time trends for canine heartworm disease in Grenada and its associated risk factors based on veterinary clinical pathology laboratory data base records between 2003 and 2015.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that heartworm disease, a serious parasitic infection in dogs, was diagnosed in many dogs in Grenada between 2003 and 2015. The number of cases decreased significantly over this time, but there was a spike in infections from 2008 to 2010. Adult and older dogs were more likely to be affected, and male dogs had a higher risk than females. Neutered dogs had a lower chance of getting heartworm, and infections were more common during the dry season. This highlights the importance of regular heartworm testing and prevention, especially for at-risk dogs.
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Abstract
Canine heartworm (CHW) disease is a common parasitic infection in dogs in the Caribbean islands. However, studies on temporal trends and risk factors are limited for this region. This study represents the time trends in laboratory prevalence and risk factors of canine heartworm infections between 2003 and 2015. In this case series, 662 cases of laboratory-diagnosed heartworm were compared to 662 dogs without a laboratory diagnosis of heartworm (controls). One hundred and seventy two frozen serum positive samples were later analyzed for heartworm antigens using Heska solo® Step CH, and all 172 cases of microfilariae were confirmed as Dirofilaria immitis. Annual prevalence, linear trends and odds ratios (OR) for CHW were estimated using EPIINFO version 7 at a significance level of α = 0.05. Logistic regression was used to assess the association of CHW with variables showing a statistically significant univariate relationship. Laboratory prevalence of CHW decreased from 72 cases per 1000 dogs per year in 2003 to 15 cases per 1000 dogs per year in 2015 [Xfor linear trend = 151.8, p < 0.0001], with the occurrence of an epidemic of CHW between 2008 and 2010. The odds of CHW were higher among adult dogs [(OR) = 3.9 (95% CI, 2.9-7.0)] and geriatric dogs [OR = 2.1 (95% CI, 1.1-4.3)] compared to puppies. The odds of CHW were higher [OR = 1.3 (95% CI, 1.1-1.6)] among male dogs than female dogs, but the odds for CHW were lower among neutered dogs [OR = 0.4 (95% CI, 0.2 - 0.6)] compared to intact dogs. The odds of a dog being diagnosed with CHW were elevated [OR = 4.1 (95% CI, 3.2-5.2)] during the dry season compared to the rainy season. Our findings show that canine heartworm is extensive in laboratory submissions in Grenada. However, the laboratory prevalence of CHW decreased between 2003 and 2015, with an epidemic occurring between 2008 and 2010. Age of the dog, sex, neutered status, and seasonality of diagnosis were significantly associated CHW in Grenada.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32417638/