Should global warming influence the occurrence of canine dirofilariosis infection in Romania?

Abstract

In order to evaluate the prevalence of heartworm disease in the South-East of Romania, we collected blood from 40 dogs from a shelter in Galati, which were examined by several methods for the Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repenes microfilariae identification, and for the detection of Dirofilaria immitis antigen respectively. Eleven dogs were positive for microfilariae (27.5%), of which 3/11 were co-infections and only 1/40 had D. repens microfilariae detected. Following serological test, D. immitis antigen was detected in 30% of the investigated serum samples (12/40). The high prevalence of heartworm disease requires continuous monitoring of symptomatic dogs, but also of the asymptomatic ones from shelters or of those from veterinary clinics in endemic areas. Furthermore, the mosquito populations control in endemic areas is mandatory.