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Prevalence of microfilaraemia in episodic weakness and clinically normal dogs belonging to hunting breeds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2009

M.G. Papazahariadou
Affiliation:
Veterinary Faculty, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54006 Thessaloniki, Greece
A.F. Koutinas
Affiliation:
Veterinary Faculty, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54006 Thessaloniki, Greece
T.S. Rallis
Affiliation:
Veterinary Faculty, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54006 Thessaloniki, Greece
S.T. Haralabidis
Affiliation:
Veterinary Faculty, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54006 Thessaloniki, Greece

Abstract

Blood samples from 50 dogs with episodic weakness and 50 clinically normal dogs, all belonging to hunting breeds, were examined for microfilariae using the modified Knott's method. The prevalence of microfilaraemia in dogs belonging to the episodic weakness group was 10% for Dirofilaria immitis, 30% for Dirolfilaria repens and 8% for Acanthocheilonema reconditum. In the clinically normal group, the figures were 14% for Dirofilaria repens and 4% for Acanthocheilonema reconditum. The overall percentage of dogs with microfilaraemia in the episodic weakness group was 44 and that of the clinically normal group 16, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.01). The prevalence of microfilaraemia due to the nonpathogenic filarial species (Dirofilaria repens, Acanthocheilonema reconditum) was 34% and 16% for the episodic weakness group and the clinically normal dogs, respectively, with no significant difference.

Type
Research Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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