Epidemiological investigation of canine microfilariasis in tarai region of Uttarakhand

Abstract

The present study was carried out to study the prevalence of canine microfilariasis in Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Pantnagar from January 2006 to December 2011. The tentative diagnosis was made on the basis of history, clinical signs, viz. weight loss, exercise tolerance, lethargy, cough, dysponea, syncope and ascites and physical examination of animal. Blood of suspected cases was collected and sent for haematological and parasitological examination for confirmatory diagnosis. In positive cases the direct wet smear examination revealed presence of microfilaria. Radiological examination of thorax of suspected animals was done for cardiac silhouette evaluation and to assess the severity of infection. On the basis of blood examination which showed presence of microfilaria, 23 cases were found positive for Dirofilariasis. Overall prevalence of canine microfilariasis from year 2006 to 2011 was found 2.52% with maximum occurrence (3.63%) in the year 2009.