PREVALENCE AND PATHOLOGY OF HEART WORM (Dirofilaria immitis) INFECTION IN STREET DOGS AT DINAJPUR MUNICIPALITY AREA

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the prevalence and pathology of Dirofilaria immitis (canine heart worm) infestation in street dogs at Dinajpur municipality area, Dinajpur, Bangladesh. In a study of one year starting from July, 2011 to June, 2012 , a total of 100 dogs were observed and among of them 15, fifteen (9 male and 6 female of different age group and randomly selected) street dogs were collected from different locality of Dinajpur municipality area during Rabies Control Programme. A thorough necropsy examination was done and the characteristics clinical signs and gross lesions were recorded. During this investigation, it was observed that heart worm infection is common in street dogs. This study indicates that about 46.67% dogs were infected with Dirofilaria immitis. Using simultaneous clinical and __histopathological examination and identification, a total of 15 street dogs were examined, among them 7 (46.67%) were positive with one or more species of microfilaria. Parasite D. immitis was found in 5 of 9 (55.56%) male and 2 of 6 female (33.33%) dogs so infestation of heartworm was higher in male than female dog. Prevalence also varied with the age ot street dogs where adults were more susceptible than youngs. The prevalence of D. immitis in dogs > 9 years old was higher (66.67%) than in other age groups. Heart worm infection was recorded higher in poor body conditioned (65.5%) dogs than normal body conditioned (28.57%) dogs. Most of the heart worm infections apparently occurred in summer season. The highest seasonal prevalence was found 50% in summer and 42.85% in winter season. This study dictates that street dogs of Dinajpur district carried heart worm and it could be transmitted to human beings, thus it has zoonotic importance which may be the serious threat to public health.