Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Heartworm infection found in dogs in Baixada Fluminense Rio de Janeiro
By de Andrade Vieira, Viviane Marques et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2024·Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Epidemiological analysis of(Spirurida: Onchocercidae) infecting pet dogs (, Linnaeus, 1758) in Baixada Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that 3.4% of dogs tested in the Baixada Fluminense area of Rio de Janeiro had heartworm infection, which was previously thought to be heartworm-free. This was determined through blood tests conducted from 2017 to 2020, revealing the presence of microfilariae, the larvae of the heartworm parasite. Local veterinarians are now more aware of the need for preventive measures to protect dogs from this serious infection. It's important for pet owners in this region to discuss heartworm prevention with their veterinarian, especially since the parasite is spreading.
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Abstract
infection is routinely detected in dogs during veterinary care in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Parasitological tests for the detection of this infection are routinely performed only in areas with a high prevalence. Baixada Fluminense, a region in Rio de Janeiro, was considered heartworm-free until local veterinarians began to receive blood exams results indicating the presence of microfilariae (MF). A laboratory database was hence used to collect data from 2017 to 2020 to understand the extent of spread of the parasite in this area. The results of complete blood count analysis and MF or heartworm antigen detection tests conducted on canine samples sent from veterinary clinics in Baixada Fluminense (Magé, Duque de Caxias, Guapimirim, Nova Iguaçu, and São João de Meriti municipalities) were included. In total, the results of 16,314 hematological tests were considered. The overall prevalence ofwas 3.4% (554/16,314), considering that only one test result was obtained per animal on the same day. This study is highly relevant because it indicates the spreading geographic distribution of the worms, heightens awareness among local health professionals and the general population, and encourages compliance with prophylactic measures to prevent further spread of parasite.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38756520/