Prevalence of microfilariae in distinctive canine populations

Abstract

Three distinctive canine populations, constituted, respectively, by 451 stray dogs (group I), 136 kennel dogs (group II) and 226 domiciliated dogs (group III), were studied concerning the prevalence of circulating microfilariae, through the blood serum technique. The genus of the parasites (Dipetalonema sp and/or Dirofilaiia immitis) was identified through its morphologic characteristics. In group I, a 36.8% prevalence was obtained to microfilariae of the Dipetalonema sp; from the 27 positive dogs (19.8%) in group II, 26 (19.1%) were infested by the Dipetalonema sp and only one (0.7%) by the Dirofilaria immitis. In finally, the 3Jd group, 7.0% of the animals harboured the Dipetalonema sp and 0.5% the Dirofllaria immitis.