Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Canine heartworm infection rates in Southern China cities surveyed
By Sun, Mingfei et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology·2012·Institute of Veterinary Medicine, China·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Serological survey of canine dirofilariosis in Chongqing, Kunming, Nanchang, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Nanning in Southern China.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A survey of 310 domestic dogs in Southern China found that 42 of them tested positive for heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis), which can lead to serious health issues. The highest rates of infection were seen in dogs younger than 4 years old, particularly in the city of Shenzhen, where nearly 19% of dogs were affected. The study suggests that heartworm prevention and treatment are important for dogs in these areas to protect their health. If you live in a region where heartworm is common, it's crucial to discuss prevention options with your veterinarian.
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Abstract
The present study conducts a serological survey on the presence of canine dirofilariosis in domestic dogs using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. A total of 310 household dogs (166 females and 144 males) in Chongqing, Kunming, Nanchang, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Nanning in Southern China were examined. Of the 310 dogs, 42 (13.5%) were seropositive for dirofilariosis. No statistically significant difference was observed in terms of sex in the seroprevalence of dirofilariosis using the ELISA kit. The positive rates for dirofilariosis were 6.6% in the 0-1-year-old group, 13.8% in the 1-4-year-old group, and 21.6% in the less than 4-year-old group. The statistical analysis revealed that significant differences were observed in the 1-4-year-old group (P=0.037, OR=0.441, 95% CI=0.170-1.144) and less than 4-year-old group (P<0.001, OR=0.256, 95% CI=0.095-0.693). In the regional comparison, the shoreline city Shenzhen (18.8%) had a significantly higher prevalence than urban and mountain areas (P<0.05, OR=0.310, 95% CI=0.066-1.445). In conclusion, Dirofilaria immitis infection in domestic dogs was present in Chongqing, Kunming, Nanchang, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Nanning. Therefore, heartworm treatment and/or chemoprophylaxis for the captured domestic dogs are necessary in these areas. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first using serological methods to examine D. immitis infection in domestic dogs in Mainland China in the recent years.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22024016/