Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Canine heartworm infection rates in Kuala Lumpur from 1970 to 2018
By Kunathasan Chelliah, Meera & Šlapeta, Jan·Published in Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports·2019·Sydney School of Veterinary Science, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The prevalence and trends of canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1970-2018).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a recent study found that 3.85% of tested dogs had heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) in their blood. Most of these dogs were not on proper heartworm prevention, which is crucial in this area known for high heartworm rates. Over the years, there has been a significant decline in heartworm cases since 2000, but the parasite is still a concern for pet owners. This highlights the importance of keeping dogs on heartworm prevention to protect them from this serious disease.
People also search for: dog heartworm prevention · symptoms of heartworm in dogs · heartworm treatment for dogs
Abstract
Malaysia is considered a hyperendemic area for canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) due to its favorable climate for the completion of the parasite life cycle. This study provides an updated prevalence data on D. immitis in owned dogs from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and compares the trends of D. immitis in Malaysia. In the period between December 2017 and June 2018, 3.85% (5/130) dog blood samples tested positive for the presence of D. immitis antigen. A majority of the tested dogs (122/130) were not on rigorous heartworm prevention. After collating and analyzing information from 10 historical studies (1970-2017), we identified a significant decline in prevalence of D. immitis antigen in Malaysia, after the year 2000. Historically, the prevalence of D. immits antigen in owned dogs was significantly lower than the prevalence seen in stray dogs in Malaysia. This study demonstrates that D. immitis remains active in Kuala Lumpur, implying that accurate compliance of heartworm prevention is essential in Malaysia.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31027591/