Seroprevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in Stray Dogs in İstanbul and İzmir

Abstract

Three hundred eighty stray dogs (232 female and 148 male) from İstanbul and İzmir were tested with antigen detecting ELISA for Dirofilaria immitis infection. Blood samples were collected between November 2002 and April 2003. D. immitis infection was found in 4 dogs tested. Seroprevalence among these dogs in İstanbul was 1.52%. Seroprevalence was the highest (2.22%) in the 3-6-year-old age group, followed by 1.02% in the 1-3-year-old age group. However, there was no significant difference between these age groups (P > 0.05). No significant difference between male and female dog groups was observed in İstanbul (P > 0.05). There was no seropositivity among stray dogs in İzmir.