title: Low prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs in Johor Bahru, Malaysia as a reflection of vector availability?
abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the low prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis   in dogs in Johor Bahru as reported by veterinary practitioners, using wet blood mount, Knott's   Concentration Test and two heartworm antigen test kits (IDEXX Canine SNAP® 4Dx and   RapiGEN®). This study also compared the two test kits used and determined the microfilaria   species. Blood were collected from 100 owned dogs and 50 stray dogs in Johor Bahru via   cephalic venipuncture. A thick blood smear was done and examined for samples that were   positive for microfilaria species identification. The overall prevalence of D. immitis in dogs   in Johor Bahru was 1.33% (2/150) and the microfilaria identified was D. immitis. The prevalence   of heartworm in owned and stray dogs in this study was 1% and 2% respectively. With only one   false negative result from RapiGEN® test kit, comparing the sensitivity between the two test   kits could not be achieved. The low prevalence of D. immitis found in this study confirmed   anecdotal evidence that prevalence of dirofilariasis is indeed low in Johor Bahru. Additionally,   we speculate that dirofilariasis in dogs might be considered as an indicator of vector   availability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology & Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra, Malaysia.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood / Q000469:parasitology; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D010274:Parasitology / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014730:Veterinary Medicine / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic