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Prevalence
of canine Dirofilaria immitis infection in the city
of Algiers, Algeria
Ben-Mahdi Meriem-Hind* and Madani
Mohamed
Veterinary National Superior School of Algiers, P. O. Box
161, Hacène Badi, El Harrach, Algiers, Algeria.
*Corresponding author.
E-mail:
mhbenmahdi@yahoo.fr.
Fax: + 213
21 638 198.
Accepted 7 September, 2009 |
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Heartworm disease is caused by Dirofilaria immitis a
zoonotic, vector-borne parasite and one of the most
pathogenic nematode parasites of the dog. The
epidemiological status of this parasitosis in Algeria stays
to this day unknown even though this country has the ideal
biotope to the development of this disease. The aim of this
study was to investigate the prevalence of D. immitis
infection in dogs from Algiers, in the north of Algeria.
Blood samples were collected from 184 dogs from November
2006 to September 2007 and were examined by the modified
Knott method to detect circulating microfilaria. A total of
34 subjects were microfilaria positive, giving a prevalence
value of
18.48%.
All the samples were further tested by antigen-ELISA in
order to detect dogs with prepatent or occult heartworm
infections. The prevalence rose
to 24.46%
(with 45 seropositives dogs). More male (14.13%) than female
(10.33%) dogs were affected in this study, although there
was no significant difference between both groups. With
regard to general health status, our data
showed a high prevalence of 18.48% of asymptomatic carriers
of the parasite D. immitis, only 5.98% of the
positive samples were from unhealthy dogs. The difference
was statistically significant (p < 0.05). This first report
on the status of D. Immitis infection in domestic
dogs in Algiers, suggests that heartworm treatment and
adequate prophylaxis should be undertaken to control D.
Immitis infection in the canine population of Algiers
city in Algeria.
Key words:
Dirofilaria immitis, prevalence, ELISA, sexe
distribution, dogs, Algiers.
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