Survey of canine Dirofilaria immitis infection in Caspian provinces of Iran

Abstract

Between July and August 2009, a total of two hundred crossbreed dogs in three contiguous littoral<br><br>provinces of Guilan, Mazandaran and Golestan were sampled. Circulating antigens and/or microfilariae of<br><br>Dirofilaria immitis were found in 25.5% of dogs in the whole studied area. The highest infection rate was<br><br>found in Guilan (51.42%), followed by Golestan and Mazandaran provinces (15.38% and 7.69%,<br><br>respectively). Prevalence values were not influenced by age and sex in the whole area; the values detected in<br><br>low altitude regions were 4.6 times the values found in high altitude areas. This is the first detailed survey on<br><br>canine dirofilariasis in these coastal provinces of Iran. Guilan province, with its certain hyper endemic<br><br>counties, was shown to be the most endemic for canine heartworm infection in the country.<br><br>Chemoprophylaxis should be considered for the dog population in these areas.