Dirofilaria immitis occult infection and seropervalence in sheepdogs in Sarab (East Azerbaijan Province)

Dirofilaria immitis is one of the circulatory system parasite of dogs and the effects of cardiopulmonary severe in animal's causes, according to the zoonotic of this parasite and to verify the primary infection of Dirofilaria immitis in the Sarab district, a cross sectional study were conducted on 384 sheepdogs. ELISA tested sera. Seropervalence rate 13.5% 52/384) was reported. The highest seroprevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in 4-6 years dog 21.7% 37/170) and lowest in 0-2 years dog 5.5% (7 /126) was reported. Seroprevalence in male dogs 14/3 (44/306) and in females was 10/ 2% (8/78). The highest infection rate of dogs in the Jalda bakhan village with 48.14% (13/27) and the lowest infection rate of dogs in the Asbfroshan village were with 2.8% (2/70). In the study between infection, sex, race, and how the dog kept was not statistically significant relationship, but with increased age infection level were also increased. Thirty-five dogs 0.5 to 7 years old from various villages of Sarab, and the research design and euthanized in during visceral leishmaniasis studies. They were autopsied and examined the hearts and lungs (especially pulmonary arteries) for the nematode. Rate of the infection in the dogs was three cases (8.5%). Only seven adult male of Dirofilaria immitis was collected from pulmonary artery and one adult male nematode in right ventricular of the dogs. That revealed Dirofilaria immitis occult infection (no present of the microfilariae in the blood) in the dog. The findings of this study Dirofilaria immitis infection in this area need for more comprehensive review and control pollution will emphasize.