Change in the Distribution Pattern of <i>Dirofilaria immitis</i> in Gran Canaria (Hyperendemic Island) between 1994 and 2020
José Alberto Montoya-Alonso,
Sara Nieves García-Rodríguez,
Jorge Isidoro Matos,
Noelia Costa-Rodríguez,
Yaiza Falcón-Cordón,
Elena Carretón,
Rodrigo Morchón
Affiliations
José Alberto Montoya-Alonso
Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Sara Nieves García-Rodríguez
Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Jorge Isidoro Matos
Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Noelia Costa-Rodríguez
Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Yaiza Falcón-Cordón
Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Elena Carretón
Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Rodrigo Morchón
Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Dirofilariosis is a zoonotic disease that mainly affects dogs and cats, with a high risk to public health. The island of Gran Canaria (Spain) has been shown to be a hyperendemic area of infection and, therefore, a model for studying the evolution of the disease. The objective of this study was to track the prevalence and distribution of heartworm in dogs, cats, and residents of Gran Canaria from 1994 to 2020, using published and unpublished data. Blood samples from 5841 dogs, 1203 cats, and 1604 humans were collected in the years analyzed, considering geographical and isoclimatic factors. In 1994, a prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis of 67.02% in dogs was reported, while in 2020 it was 15.81%. In cats, the seroprevalence in 2010 was 33.03%, compared to 17.20% in 2020. The incidence of D. immitis in humans in 2008 was 18.66%, while in 2020 it was 8.27%. For all study groups, temperate cold zone (TC) and temperate mild zone (TM) climates had the highest prevalence. Throughout these 20 years, the prevalence of heartworm disease has decreased. Despite this, it continues to be a hyperendemic island. This study highlights the importance of using the “One Health” perspective and the risks of contagion of the disease.
