Identification of microfilariae in canine blood samples from the city of Aracaju (Sergipe, northeastern Brazil)

Abstract This study reported the occurrence of microfilariae from blood samples of dogs from the city of Aracaju, Sergipe, and correlate the prevalence of those infections with the age and sex of the analyzed animals. Each blood samples collected from the cephalic, radial, or jugular veins was processed under modified Knott’s technique and analyzed in triplicates. A total of 378 dogs were analyzed during the study and a total of 15 (4%) animals were positive to circulating microfilariae, being 14 (3.7%) positive for Dirofilaria immitis and 1 (0.3%) for Acanthocheilonema reconditum. The statistical analysis of the results demonstrated a significant correlation between the prevalence of D. immitis and A. reconditum and age of animals, with the rate of infections increasing with the age. A total of 7 females and 8 males were positive to circulating microfilariae, with no significant statistical correlation between those variables. Those results evidence the presence of mosquito-borne blood filarial diseases in dogs from the city of Aracaju and the need to reinforce the diagnosis, treatment and control of these potentially zoonotic diseases.