• Hero Banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Buying or Selling a Practice
Hospital Design
Leadership & Personal Growth
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Technology
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Live Conferences
Conference News
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Canine Heartworm Prevalence in Animal Shelters: A Statewide Study

August 6, 2018
Kerry Lengyel

A new study reveals that heartworm disease is more prevalent in shelter dogs than in pet dogs in Mississippi. How can this knowledge improve management decisions around this disease in shelters?

Canine heartworm infection presents unique management challenges for animal shelters. To better understand these challenges, the authors of a new study set out to explore canine heartworm prevalence in this environment. Their objective? To determine the prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis microfilaremia and antigenemia in dogs from Mississippi animal shelters.

RELATED:

  • The Educated Client: Understanding and Preventing Heartworm Disease
  • Canine Heartworm Disease Incidence on the Rise

“Not only do heartworm-infected dogs from these shelters enter the local community as pets,” the authors wrote, “they could potentially serve as reservoirs for infection throughout the country if not identified prior to transport.“

Advertisement

Study Design

The investigators collected 283 whole blood and 363 serum samples representing 363 dogs at 18 shelters in 17 Mississippi counties. The whole blood samples were tested with microfilaria tests, and the serum samples were tested with antigen tests. Microfilaria testing was performed using a modified Knott test along with a blood smear test.

Exposures of interest for both outcomes included age, body condition, weight, breed, source, sex, and length of stay at the shelter.

Prevalence of D immitis

Test results showed that the prevalence of D immitis antigenemia was 34.4%, and the prevalence of D immitis microfilaremia was 22.6%. “Prevalence of both microfilaremia and antigenemia was significantly higher in these sampled dogs compared with previous reports for the owned canine population in Mississippi,” the authors wrote.

Regarding risk factors for heartworm infection, the investigators found that weight, sex, source, breed, and length of shelter stay were not significantly associated with antigen presence, but age and body condition score were.

  • Compared with dogs 6 months to 1 year of age, those between 1 and 3 years of age had 2.44 times increased odds of having heartworm antigen present and dogs over age 3 had 7.33 times increased odds of having heartworm antigen present.
  • Overweight dogs were 2.26 times more likely to have heartworm antigen present than dogs with a normal body condition score.

With regard to the microfilaria tests, age was the only risk factor significantly associated with positive test results.

Conclusion

This study emphasizes better understanding of the different risk factors likely to affect canine heartworm disease prevalence, as well as the lesser acknowledged prevalence of heartworm infection in animal shelters.

The modified Knott test the investigators used for the study was able to identify 58% of antigen-positive dogs. The investigators believe this could potentially be used as a screening test in endemic areas—such as Mississippi—where the use of microfilaricidal heartworm preventives is unlikely and access to commercial antigen tests is limited.

“There is a need for local and regional risk assessments for specific populations in order to provide accurate and effective disease prevention, detection, management, and treatment protocols,” the authors wrote.

Related Content:

Parasitology
Preventing transmission of Lyme disease
Preventing transmission of Lyme disease
Podcast CE: 360 parasite protection
Podcast CE: 360 parasite protection
New broad-spectrum parasite protection for cats receives FDA approval
New broad-spectrum parasite protection for cats receives FDA approval

Advertisement

Latest News

Zoetis announces Apoquel grant program

American Veterinary Medical Foundation welcomes new executive director

Details of new pet performance supplement line revealed

Veterinary scene Down Under: DEI advancements, plus title protection and more

View More Latest News
Advertisement