Vol. 12, Special Issue 12 (2023)

Author(s):
P Majida Farzana, VR Ambily, Arun George, S Ajithkumar, TR Sreekumar and NP Usha

Abstract:
This study aimed to screen dogs for microfilariasis. Dogs with clinical signs suggestive of microfilaremia underwent for screening. A total of 442 animals were screened for microfilariasis using wet blood film examination and samples that tested positive for microfilaria underwent Giemsa staining to determine the species of microfilaria based on morphological characteristics. All the positive cases diagnosed as microfilariasis were utilized for age-wise, gender-wise and breed-wise occurrence study. From the present study, unsheathed microfilaria was the most common in older dogs, while sheathed microfilaria had higher rates in dogs aged one to three years. Mixed infections were more prevalent in older age groupthan young and middle-aged dogs. Labradors were notably susceptible to microfilariasis. Males had higher occurrences in unsheathed and sheathed infections, while in mixed infections, females were more affected. The clinical signs observed in these dogs were classified into generalized signs, gastrointestinal signs, lymphatic signs, and ophthalmological signs.