Seroprevalence of heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) in feline and canine hosts from central and northern Portugal
Abstract
Dirofilaria immitis is endemic in Portugal. Several studies have reported the presence of canine heartworm disease, although no previous studies on feline infections have been published. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of D. immitis in cats and dogs from central and northern Portugal. Blood samples from 434 cats were tested for circulating anti-D. immitis and anti-Wolbachia antibodies. Furthermore, 386 dogs were tested for circulating D. immitis antigens. Overall feline seroprevalence was 15%, while canine prevalence was 2.1%. The highest feline seroprevalences of 18.7% and 17.6% were found in Aveiro and Viseu, respectively, while the highest canine prevalences of 8.8% and 6.8% were found in Coimbra and Aveiro, respectively. Cats and dogs showing respiratory signs presented higher prevalences of 24.4% and 17%, respectively, while 50% of cats with gastrointestinal signs were seropositive. The present study confirms the seropositivity of D. immitis in the feline population in central and northern Portugal, and suggests the importance of including heartworm disease in the list of differential diagnoses of cats and dogs showing clinical signs compatible with the disease.
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In neighbouring Portugal, canine dirofilariosis is endemic with an overall national seroprevalence of 2.1%-15.1%.
“In neighbouring Portugal, canine dirofilariosis is endemic with an overall national seroprevalence of 2.1%- 15.1% ( Alho et al., 2014 and Vieira et al., 2015).”
From Culex pipiens as a potential vector for transmission of Dirofilaria immitis and other unclassified Filarioidea in Southwest Spain (2016) · cites this paper as Vieira et al., 2015
The prevalence of Dirofilaria spp. in cats varies from 0 to 33% across Europe.
“The prevalence of Dirofilaria spp. in cats varies from 0 to 33% across Europe [11, 30–40].”
From Retrospective evaluation of vector-borne pathogens in cats living in Germany (2012–2020) (2021) · cites this paper as [38]
In cats, a great variability in prevalences by age ranges can be observed when the results are compared with other studies.
“In cats, a great variability in the prevalences by age ranges can be observed when the results were compared with other studies [7, 14–16, 29].”
From Prevalence of heartworm in dogs and cats of Madrid, Spain (2017) · cites this paper as [15]
The present study is the first epidemiological report of seroprevalence of D. immitis in cats in Barcelona and continental Spain.
“The present study is the first epidemiological report of seroprevalence of D. immitis in cats in Barcelona and in continental Spain, previously only having been reported in the Canary Islands and in the North of Portugal [11,17].”
From First epidemiological report of feline heartworm infection in the Barcelona metropolitan area (Spain) (2014) · cites this paper as [17]
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- Authors
- Vieira, L., Silvestre-Ferreira, A. C., Fontes-Sousa, A. P., Balreira, A. C., Morchón, R., Carretón, E., Vilhena, H., Simón, F., & Montoya-Alonso, J. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (PT)
- Universidade do Porto (PT)
- Universidad de Salamanca (ES)
- Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ES)
- Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama (PT)
- Corresponding author
- Montoya-Alonso, J.A.
- Venue
- Journal of Helminthology
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2014-05-14
- Volume
- 89
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 625-629
- ISSN
- 0022-149X (ISSN-L)
- 1475-2697
- OpenAlex
- W2136167095
- Semantic Scholar
- 25196e52346cea32ef8573096bd9d80b86052eef
- Cited by
- 37
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 2
- FWCI
- 3.04
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Helminthology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Acceda (Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Helminth infection and control
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Keywords
- Dirofilaria immitis, heartworm disease, seroprevalence, feline heartworm infection, canine heartworm disease, circulating antigens, cats, dogs, respiratory signs, gastrointestinal signs, differential diagnosis, Portugal
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Antigens, Helminth, Cat Diseases, Cats, Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilariasis, Dog Diseases, Dogs, Female, Male, Portugal, Prevalence, Seroepidemiologic Studies
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