Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Heartworm and skin worm infections in dogs in Vojvodina Serbia survey
By Tasić, Aleksandar et al.·Published in Parasitology research·2008·Department of Microbiology and Parasitology·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Survey of canine dirofilariasis in Vojvodina, Serbia.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A survey of dogs in Vojvodina, Serbia, found that nearly half of the dogs tested had a type of heartworm called Dirofilaria repens, which can cause skin problems. The study included 193 dogs, mostly kept outdoors, and revealed that older dogs were more likely to be infected. The researchers recommend that dog owners in this area consider preventive treatments to protect their pets from these infections.
People also search for: dog heartworm prevention · skin problems in dogs · Dirofilaria repens treatment · outdoor dog health risks · heartworm symptoms in dogs
Abstract
In 2006 and 2007, a total of 193 blood samples were collected from privately owned dogs housed predominantly outdoors, resident in four provinces in Vojvodina, Serbian Republic. Circulating microfilariae of Dirofilaria repens, Dirofilaria immitis and Acanthocheilonema reconditum were found in 49.2%, 7.2% and 2.1% of dogs, respectively. Two additional occult heartworm infections were revealed with an antigen test of 90 amicrofilaraemic dogs. Prevalence values were not influenced by sex and breed, but D. repens was significantly more prevalent in dogs > or =6 years old, and differences were observed between provinces. This is the first detailed survey on canine dirofilariasis in the continental part of the Balkans. Vojvodina is shown to have the northernmost limit of heartworm infection in the Balkan area and one of the zones in Europe with the highest prevalence of canine subcutaneous dirofilariasis. Chemoprophylaxis should be considered for resident dogs and dogs visiting this region.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18712415/