[CIRCULATION OF DIROFILARIA REPENS (RAILLIET ET HENRY, 1911) IN THE ARID ZONE OF SOUTHERN RUSSIA]

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Parasitology
• Epidemiology
• Zoonotic Diseases

Background:

• Dirofilariasis is a parasitic disease affecting animals and humans.
• Dirofilaria repens is a common filarial nematode in many parts of the world.
• Understanding the prevalence of dirofilariasis in canine populations is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of dirofilariasis in dogs in Southern Russia.
• To compare infection rates between urban and rural canine populations.
• To identify age groups with the highest risk of Dirofilaria repens infection.

Main Methods:

• Blood samples were collected from 328 dogs in urban and rural areas of the Republic of Kalmykia.
• Diagnostic testing was performed to detect Dirofilaria repens infection.
• Prevalence data were analyzed based on geographical location (urban/rural) and age groups.

Main Results:

• A high prevalence of Dirofilaria repens infection was found in dogs in the Republic of Kalmykia.
• Rural dogs exhibited a higher infection rate (23.6%) compared to urban dogs (15.5%).
• The highest prevalence of infection was observed in dogs aged 4-6 years (33.3%), followed by those aged 7-9 years (29.4%) and over 10 years (28.5%).

Conclusions:

• Dirofilariasis poses a significant health concern for the canine population in Southern Russia.
• Geographical location and age are important factors influencing Dirofilaria repens infection rates in dogs.
• Further research and control measures are warranted to mitigate the impact of dirofilariasis in this region.