Serological screening of canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) infections in Turkey

This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of canine dirofilariosis in ten provinces of Turkey using antigen ELISA. A total of 317 blood samples were collected from 199 male and 118 female dogs between 2010 and 2011. 27 (8.5%) of 317 dog samples were positive for Dirofilaria immitis antigen by ELISA. No differences in seroprevalence were observed by sex (male: 9%; female: 8%; p > 0.05). Seroprevalence rates were the highest in Afyonkarahisar province (18%), followed by Eskişehir (15%), Nevşehir (14%), Aksaray (12%), Kars (10%), Malatya (9%), Niğde (4%), Mersin (3%) and Konya (2%) provinces. No positive results were obtained in Ankara province. The differences in seroprevalence of Afyonkarahisar, Eskişehir, Ankara, Konya and Mersin was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The seroprevalence of D. immitis infection varied with age. The highest seroprevalence was observed in dogs older than five years of age (the risk of infection increases with age).