The impact of the climate on the epidemiology of Dirofilaria immitis in the pet population of the Canary Islands

• Published in: Veterinary parasitology Vol. 216; pp. 66 - 71
• Main Authors: Montoya-Alonso, J.A., Carretón, E., Morchón, R., Silveira-Viera, L., Falcón, Y., Simón, F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 30.01.2016
• Subjects: Age Distribution; Animal; Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial - blood; Antibodies, Helminth - blood; Antigens, Helminth - blood; Canary Islands; Cat Diseases - epidemiology; Cat Diseases - parasitology; Cats; Climate; Dirofilaria immitis; Dirofilaria immitis - immunology; Dirofilaria immitis - physiology; Dirofilariasis - epidemiology; Dog Diseases - epidemiology; Dog Diseases - parasitology; Dogs; Epidemiology; Female; Heartworm; Male; Pets - parasitology; Prevalence; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Sex Distribution; Spain - epidemiology; Wolbachia - immunology; Canary Islands; Prevalence; Heartworm; Epidemiology; Animal; Dirofilaria immitis
• ISSN: 0304-4017; 1873-2550
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.12.005

•The prevalence of heartworm in the Canary Islands was 15.7% (dogs) and 18.1% (cats).•The distribution is related to the climate, demography and management of the pets.•Great disparity was found evaluating the results by island separately (0–22.5%). Cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis (heartworm) is a zoonotic vector borne disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis which affects domestic dogs and cats. Two of the seven Canary Islands are historically hyperendemic areas of dirofilariosis, although no epidemiological study has ever been carried out which includes the other islands. The aim of the study was to complete the epidemiological status of cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis in the canine and feline population throughout all the Canary Islands. 1643 client-owned dogs and 707 client-owned cats were tested for D. immitis antigens (dogs), and anti-D. immitis and anti-Wolbachia antibodies (cats). The prevalence of canine dirofilariosis in the Canary Islands was 15.7%, and the seroprevalence of feline dirofilariosis was 18.1%. A remarkable disparity was found when evaluating the results by island separately, which ranged from from 0% in Lanzarote and El Hierro, low prevalences and seroprevalences in Fuerteventura (1.8% and 2.5% in dogs and cats, respectively), to higher prevalences on the other 4 islands; ranging between 15.7% (dogs) and 14.3% (cats) in La Palma 22.5% (dogs) and 24.1% (cats) in Tenerife. In addition, prevalences and seroprevalences were very variable within each island, these differences being associated to local climate conditions. The distribution and prevalence of dirofilariosis in the Canary Islands is heterogeneous and related to climate, demographic factors and management of pets in the studied areas. Dirofilariosis remains hyperendemic in 4 of the 7 Islands. Since D. immitis is a zoonosis, veterinary and health authorities should be aware of the current prevalence and seroprevalence of animal dirofilariosis. The results show the need for awareness raising campaigns to promote the implementation of prophylactic measures in pets, in order to achieve a decrease in the prevalence of animal dirofilariosis in the Canary Islands.