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Detection of dog filariasis in Marajo Island, Brazil by classical and molecular methods

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Abstract

Canine filariasis in domestic and wild dogs, foxes, and wolves is caused by several species of filarids. Although these filarial species inhabit different loci in the vertebrate definitive hosts, they generally release microfilariae into the bloodstream. Data about filarial infection in dogs in Brazil, especially on the Marajo Island, is scarce. For this reason, we conducted an analysis of 188 domestic dogs within two Marajo Island municipalities. The overall prevalence of microfilaremic was 32.45%; taken by blood smear and modified Knott’s method. No significant difference of positivity between male and female was observed (X 2 Yates’s correction = 0.341; p = 0.559). Significant age–infection ratios were detected (X 2 = 32.943; p < 0.0001). A high occult infection was detected (53.84%). PCR of rDNA and phylogenetic tree indicated that the microfilariae and adult worms found in domestic dogs from Marajo Island were Dirofilaria immitis.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Secretaria Estadual de Saúde Pública (SESPA) 7a Regional de Proteção Social and Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Salvaterra and São Sebastião da Boa Vista, for technical supports and authorizations for the development of this study. Brazilian financial support: PROCAD-CAPES, FAPESPA, CNPq, and FAPERJ.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Helmintologia “Profa. Dra. Reinalda Marisa Lanfredi”, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brasil

    Adriano P. Furtado, Eder S. Do Carmo, Elane G. Giese, Reinalda M. Lanfredi & Jeannie N. Santos

  2. Laboratório de Virologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brasil

    Antonio C. R. Vallinoto

  3. Laboratório de Biologia de Helmintos Otto Wucherer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Reinalda M. Lanfredi

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  1. Adriano P. Furtado
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  2. Eder S. Do Carmo
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  3. Elane G. Giese
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  4. Antonio C. R. Vallinoto
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  5. Reinalda M. Lanfredi
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  6. Jeannie N. Santos
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Correspondence to Jeannie N. Santos.

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Furtado, A.P., Do Carmo, E.S., Giese, E.G. et al. Detection of dog filariasis in Marajo Island, Brazil by classical and molecular methods. Parasitol Res 105, 1509–1515 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1584-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1584-9

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