Iranian Social Security Organization, Jiroft, Kerman, Iran.
Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Microb Pathog. 2021 May;154:104863. doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.104863. Epub 2021 Mar 26.
Dirofilariosis due to Dirofilaria immitis is endemic in various areas of Iran. Domestic dogs are the main reservoirs and represent a major potential infection source for the vector and humans.
This study aimed to explore the prevalence of dirofilariosis due to D.immitis and its public health importance in domestic dogs in the Jiroft district, south of Kerman province, Iran, by serological and parasitological methods.
This descriptive study was carried out as a cross-sectional investigation. A questionnaire was completed for 100 domestic dogs from May 2017 to February 2018 and recorded their age, sex, and clinical features. Also, we used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to identify antigens of heartworms in the bloodstream, with 98% sensitivity and 100% specificity, and parasitological techniques (Knott's test) to detect microfilariae in canine blood in Jiroft district, south of Kerman province, Iran.
Overall, 10 (10%) and 4 (4%) domestic dogs were infected as confirmed by ELISA and modified Knott's tests, respectively. The rate of occult infections in the ELISA test than Knott's test was 60%. No significant difference was found between dirofilariosis and gender. In contrast, there was a significant difference between dirofilariosis infection and age (P < 0.05).
The present findings could help understand the epidemiological aspects of D. immitis for future control programs and take appropriate preventive and therapeutic strategies against the disease.
犬恶丝虫病（由犬恶丝虫引起）在伊朗的多个地区流行。家养犬是主要的储存宿主，是传播媒介和人类的主要潜在感染源。
本研究旨在通过血清学和寄生虫学方法，探讨伊朗克尔曼省南部杰罗夫特地区家养犬中犬恶丝虫病的流行情况及其公共卫生重要性。
本研究采用描述性研究设计，于 2017 年 5 月至 2018 年 2 月进行了横断面调查。为 100 只家养犬填写了一份问卷，记录了它们的年龄、性别和临床特征。还使用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）检测血液中心丝虫抗原，其敏感性为 98%，特异性为 100%，并使用寄生虫学技术（Knott 试验）检测伊朗克尔曼省南部杰罗夫特地区犬血中的微丝蚴。
总体而言，经 ELISA 和改良 Knott 试验证实，有 10 只（10%）和 4 只（4%）家养犬受到感染。ELISA 试验的隐匿性感染率比 Knott 试验高 60%。犬恶丝虫病与性别之间无显著差异，而与年龄之间存在显著差异（P<0.05）。
本研究结果有助于了解犬恶丝虫的流行病学方面，为未来的控制计划提供依据，并采取适当的预防和治疗策略来防治该病。
