Veterinary Medicine International (Jan 2011)

Canine and Human Dirofilariosis in the Rostov Region (Southern Russia)

  • Vladimir Kartashev,
  • Irina Batashova,
  • Sergey Kartashov,
  • Alexey Ermakov,
  • Anna Mironova,
  • Yulia Kuleshova,
  • Boris Ilyasov,
  • Irina Kolodiy,
  • Alexander Klyuchnikov,
  • Elena Ryabikina,
  • Marina Babicheva,
  • Yulia Levchenko,
  • Raisa Pavlova,
  • Nicola Pantchev,
  • Rodrigo Morchón,
  • Fernando Simón

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4061/2011/685713
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2011

Abstract

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Epidemiological data on canine and human dirofilariosis in the Rostov Region (Southern Russia) are presented. Prevalence of Dirofilaria spp. infections in 795 autochthonous dogs, assessed by the Knott test, was 20.25%. The highest prevalence was found in Novocherkassk (38.3%) and Rostov-on-Don (18.5%), while prevalences were lower in other points of the region. Prevalence of D. repens was 44.7%, prevalence of D. immitis was 30.3%, and coinfections were observed in 25.0% of the dog population. A case finding study carried out during 9 years (2000–2009) revealed 131 cases of human dirofilariosis in the Rostov Region, 129 of subcutaneous dirofilariosis and 2 of pulmonary dirofilariosis. Seroprevalence among 317 healthy blood donors from the Rostov Region was 10.4%, while seroprevalence in policemen living in Rostov city and working in training dogs was 19%. These data show high infection rates of Dirofilaria spp. in both human and dog populations of Rostov, probably because of the existence of favorable conditions for the transmission in this region.