Prevalence and risk factors associated with Dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs in Kerman city, southeast Iran

Dogs are recognized as one of the primary reservoirs of Dirofilaria immitis, a zoonotic parasite affecting both humans and animals. Endemic cases of dirofilariasis caused by this parasite have been reported in various regions of Iran. The present study was conducted to update epidemiological data on the prevalence of D. immitis infection in both domestic and stray dogs in Kerman city, using the modified Knott’s test and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and to identify risk factors associated with positive test outcomes. Blood samples from ۹۰ dogs (۸۰ stray and ۱۰ domestic) were subjected to hematological examination, modified Knott’s test, and PCR analysis. Based on the results of the modified Knott’s test and PCR, ۷ stray dogs (۷.۷۷%) and ۱۰ stray dogs (۱۱.۱%) were diagnosed as infected, respectively. PCR analysis revealed statistically significant associations between dirofilariasis and two clinical factors-sex and neutering status-both of which were identified as risk factors (p < ۰.۰۵). Furthermore, none of the hematological parameters of dogs testing positive by the modified Knott’s test showed significant deviations from normal values (p ˂ ۰.۰۵). This study provided updated information on the prevalence of D. immitis infection among dogs in Kerman city. The findings confirmed that D. immitis is endemic in Kerman and represented a potential threat to human health and public safety. The present research may contribute to a better understanding of the epidemiological characteristics of D. immitis, thereby supporting future control strategies and the development of effective therapeutic and preventive measures.

کلیدواژه ها:

Dirofilaria immitis ، Dogs ، Hematology ، Iran ، Modified Knott&rsquo ، s Test