Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Heartworm infection found in 13% of dogs in Henan China
By Wang, Shuai et al.·Published in Parasite (Paris, France)·2016·Department of Human Parasitology, China·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs in Henan province, central China.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that 13% of household dogs in Henan province, central China, tested positive for heartworm infection (Dirofilaria immitis). Older dogs and those that live outdoors were more likely to be infected compared to younger and indoor dogs. This suggests that dogs in this area are at a higher risk of heartworm disease, which can lead to serious health issues. To protect your dog, it's recommended to use heartworm prevention medication, especially if your pet spends time outside.
People also search for: heartworm prevention for dogs · symptoms of heartworm in dogs · outdoor dog heartworm risk
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.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27739399/