Canine heartworm disease in Porto Velho: first record, distribution map and occurrence of positive mosquitoes.
The aim of this study was to make the first report on canine heartworm disease in the state of Rondônia and confirm its transmission in this state. Blood samples were randomly collected from 727 dogs in the city of Porto Velho. The samples were analyzed to search for microfilariae and circulating antigens, using three different techniques: optical microscopy on thick blood smears stained with Giemsa; immunochromatography; and PCR. Mosquitoes were collected inside and outside the homes of all the cases of positive dogs and were tested using PCR to search for DNA of Dirofilaria immitis. Ninety-three blood samples out of 727 (12.8%) were positive according to the immunoassay technique and none according to the thick smear method. Among the 93 positive dogs, 89 (95.7%) were born in Porto Velho. No difference in the frequency of infection was observed between dogs raised indoors and in the yard. PCR on the mosquitoes resulted in only one positive pool. This result shows that the transmission of canine heartworm disease is occurring in the city of Porto Velho and that there is moderate prevalence among the dogs. The techniques of immunochromatography and PCR were more effective for detecting canine heartworm than thick blood smears. The confirmation of canine heartworm disease transmission in Porto Velho places this disease in the ranking for differential diagnosis of pulmonary nodules in humans in Rondônia.
Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas 5 - ICB-5, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, Monte NegroRO, Brasil, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas 5 - ICB-5, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, Monte Negro, RO, Brasil.
Guilherme Maerschner
GM
Ogawa
Laboratório de Genética, Faculdade de Biologia, Centro de Ensino São Lucas, Porto VelhoRO, Brasil, Laboratório de Genética, Faculdade de Biologia, Centro de Ensino São Lucas, Porto Velho, RO, Brasil.
Edson Neves
EN
da Cruz
Laboratório de Genética, Faculdade de Biologia, Centro de Ensino São Lucas, Porto VelhoRO, Brasil, Laboratório de Genética, Faculdade de Biologia, Centro de Ensino São Lucas, Porto Velho, RO, Brasil.
Príscila Nayara Araújo
PN
Cunha
Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas 5 - ICB-5, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, Monte NegroRO, Brasil, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas 5 - ICB-5, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, Monte Negro, RO, Brasil.
Luís Marcelo Aranha
LM
Camargo
D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D009033:Culicidae / Q000469:parasitology; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000032:analysis; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000235:genetics; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male
D018509:DNA, Helminth