Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.46419/vs.55.3.4

Seroprevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in canines from animal shelters in the Colombian coffee region (Eje Cafetero)

Lyda C. Caballero Méndez orcid.org/0000-0001-6504-3149 ; Grupo de investigación BIOECOS, Profesora de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Colombia
Manuela Gómez Domínguez ; Angie Dahianna FRANCO GARCÍA, Médica Veterinaria y Zootecnista. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Colombia
Angie Dahianna Franco García ; Médica Veterinaria y Zootecnista. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Colombia
Margarita Maria Mazo ; Grupo de investigación BIOECOS, Profesora de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Colombia
Rafael R, Santisteban Arenas ; Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Grupo de Investigación BIOECOS. Sede Pereira. Institución universitaria visión de las Américas, Colombia
Luz Natalia Franco-Montoya ; Grupo de investigación CIBAV, Profesora Asociada adscrita a la Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Medellín, Colombia

Abstract

In Colombia, there are reports of approximately 6.4 million pets, making this the fourth country in Latin America and leading the pet sector with an annual growth of 13%. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Dirofilaria immitis, a parasitic nematode, in 170 canines from the municipalities of Pereira, Santa Rosa de Cabal, and La Virginia, located in the department of Risaralda and the municipalities of Calarca and Armenia in the department of Quindio. A cross-sectional study was carried out on canines from animal shelters during the period 2021–2022. Blood samples were taken, and in vitro immunochromatography was performed to detect specific lesions for Dirofilaria immitis. A peripheral blood smear confirmed positive patients, and a chest x-ray was performed to show changes in the morphology of the heart and blood vessels. Seroprevalence was determined by calculating proportions with the 95% confidence interval determined by the exact or Clopper-Pearson method for a proportion based on sample size and the number of positive cases. The seroprevalence of the test for Dirofilaria immitis was 0.62% (95% CI = 0.016–3.42%). This parasite is a nematode of low distribution in areas of the coffee region. However, surveillance programmes that help control and reduce its transmission should be established.

Keywords

dirofilariasis; heartworm; insect vector; nematodes

Hrčak ID:

305881

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/305881

Publication date:

17.9.2023.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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