Epizootological features of dog dirofilariasis in the city of Mykolaiv

Abstract

The paper presents generalized data on the widespread nematodesic disease of dogs (Canis lupus familiaris Linnaeus, 1758), caused by pathogens of Dirofilaria spp., in the conditions of the city of Mykolaiv. The latter is of interest to both humane and veterinary medical doctors. Dirofilariasis is classified as a dangerous transmissible zoonotic disease. The causative agents of the disease belong to the class of round helminths Chromadorea, suborder Spirurina, family Onchocercidae, genus Dirofilaria. They are extremely common in many countries of the world and are adapted to exist in different climatic zones, which is facilitated by the complex biology of parasite development. The aim of the research was to determine the epizootological features of dirofilariasic infestation in dogs according to the data of the "Veles" veterinary clinic in the city of Mykolaiv, as well as to analyze the clinical manifestation of the disease. To identify the larval stage of the causative agent of the disease, diagnostic hemolarvoscopic examinations of 123 dogs were carried out in the clinic. Animals suspected of having heartworm disease belonging to residents of Mykolaiv were examined. The age of the animals was from 1 to 14 years. It was found that the infection rate of dogs with Dirofilaria spp. is 19.51 % with an average intensity of infection 58.3±3.22 individuals/cm3. According to the results obtained on the age dynamics of dirofilariosis in dogs, it was noted that the number of affected animals increases with age. Accordingly, the lowest percentage of the incidence (8.33 %) is in dogs under twelve months. In the group of animals aged 1 to 6 years, it is 33.33 %. The most affected by the pathogens of heartworm infection were dogs aged 6–12 years, where the rate of extensive infection was 45.83 %. Given that the clinical symptoms of this disease can be nonspecific, laboratory tests for the detection of microfilariae in the blood are crucial in the diagnosis. It was analyzed that the clinic was visited by owners of dogs with the first (45.8%) and second class (41.7 %) clinical course of the disease. It was found that the most susceptible to the pathogens of heartworm disease are outbred animals and dogs of Rottweiler and German Shepherd breeds (EI – 37.5 and 20.8 %, respectively). The study did not record patterns regarding the sexual susceptibility of animals to the disease.