Dirofilaria immitis infection in foxes and coyotes in Indiana

Between October 1976 and January 1977, carcasses or hearts and lungs from 202 wild foxes and coyotes in Indiana were collected to determine the prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis infection. Three of 113 (2.7%) red foxes (Vulpes fulva), 3 of 81 (3.7%) gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and 1 of 8 (12.5%) coyotes (Canis latrans) were infected with D immitis. An average of 5 worms (range, 1 to 10) were recovered from foxes and 11 worms were recovered from the coyote. Worms from the coyote were of normal length and all female worms contained developing embryos and microfilariae. Worms from foxes were small, and none of the female worms contained developing embryos.