Study on Shepherd Dog Dirofilariosis in Kermanshah province in 2011-2012

Dirofilariosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis، a nematode parasite. It can be transmitted by insects and distributed worldwide. Animals such as dog and cat can serve as hosts of the parasite. The aim of this study was the determination of dirofilariosis prevalence and relation between infection with age، gender، strain، season and geographical distribution in the shepherd dogs in Kermanshah province. One hundred and twenty Shepherd dogs selected randomly، the age، gender، breed and the area were recorded، and then the blood samples were taken and sent to the lab. The presence or absence of Dirofilaria immitis microfiler was examined by thick blood smear and modified knott methods. Twenty two out of 120 samples were positive (18. 3%، CI: 11. 4%-25. 3%) in Dirofilaria immitis microfiler. Fourteen male dogs (20%، CI: 10. 6%-29. 4%) and 8 female dogs (16%، CI: 5. 8%-26. 2%) were positive. The most infected rate was observed in over three-year age group and the least infected rate was observed in one and under one-year age groups. In this study 25% of the over three-year age group، 13. 3% of the one to three-year age group and 10% of the one and under one-year age groups were infected. 19. 6% of the infected dogs were hybrids and 21. 4% of the infected dogs were indigenous. The most infected rate was seen in the summer (26. 6%) and the least infected rate was seen in autumn and winter (13. 3%). In different geographical areas of the study، 13. 3% of positive samples were related to the north and the south regions، 26. 6% to the east region and 20% to the west region. There was no significant difference between the prevalence of dog dirofilariosis with none of the above factors. The presence of Dirofilaria immitis infection among dogs in Kermanshah province and the transmission possibility of the infection to human، for controlling the disease it is suggested that the loafer dogs would have to be obliterated and the effective drugs were used against the parasite in order to prevent and treat the infected ones.