Abstract:
A detailed study was conducted on the prevalence on canine dirofilariosis
in Thrissur from June 2002 to May 2003, feasibility of microfilarial antibody
detection by ELISA and comparison of sensitivity of Indirect ELISA and dot-
ELISA in the detection of dirofilariosis. Microfilariae encountered were
identified as those of Dirofilaria repens.
Out of the total number of2435 blood samples from dogs screened by wet
film examination 172 (7.06 per cent) dogs were found positive for microfilariae.
It has been found that canine dirofilariosis was prevalent throughout the year with
more incidence during summer. An Indirect ELISA and dot-ELISA were also
conducted in three groups of animals using microfilarial antigen prepared from
known microfilaria positive serum samples. Out of the total number of 50
samples of known microfilaria positive dogs 49 (98 per cent) and 47 (94 per cent)
were found positive by Indirect ELISA and dot-ELISA respectively. The
corresponding figures in 36 dogs with other helminths were 15 (41.67 per cent)
and 19 (52.77 per cent) and that of32 totally helminth free dogs were 10 (31.25
per cent) and 12 (37.5 per cent) respectively. The results indicate that both
Indirect ELISA and dot-ELISA are feasible for the detection of the microfilarial
antibodies though they are less specific.
