Prevalence and distribution of Dirofilaria immitis infection in wild canids in southern Ontario

Jonathon D Kotwa; Claire M Jardine; Olaf Berke; David L Pearl; Nicola J Mercer; Andrew S Peregrine

doi:10.1016/j.vprsr.2019.100349

Prevalence and distribution of Dirofilaria immitis infection in wild canids in southern Ontario

Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports. 2019 Dec:18:100349. doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2019.100349. Epub 2019 Nov 6.

Authors

Jonathon D Kotwa¹, Claire M Jardine², Olaf Berke³, David L Pearl³, Nicola J Mercer⁴, Andrew S Peregrine⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada. Electronic address: jkotwa@uoguelph.ca.
² Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada; Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
³ Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
⁴ Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, Guelph, Ontario N1G 0E1, Canada.
⁵ Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.

PMID: 31796196
DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2019.100349

Abstract

Wild canids represent a potential reservoir host for Dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs in Ontario. Since wild canids are not protected by chemoprophylaxis, understanding the epidemiology of D. immmitis in these populations may help elucidate the background risk of infection for dogs. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and distribution of D. immitis infection in wild canids across southern Ontario. From February 2016 to March 2017, 290 wild canid carcasses (273 coyotes and 17 foxes) were collected from across the region and assessed for the presence of D. immitis at the time of necropsy. Overall, D. immitis infection was identified in 4.8% (95% CI 2.8-8.0%) of these wild canid carcasses. Among coyotes, 5.1% (95% CI 3.0-8.5%) were positive; no evidence of D. immitis was found in the 17 foxes. Dirofilaria immitis infections in wild canids were detected in two regions of southern Ontario: 12 of the 14 D. immitis infections were detected in the south-western region and two were detected in the eastern region. Our findings provide preliminary insights into the prevalence and geographical distribution of D. immitis in coyotes and foxes in southern Ontario.

Keywords: Coyotes; Dirofilaria immitis; Foxes; Heartworm; Southern Ontario; Wild canids.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Coyotes*
Dirofilaria immitis / isolation & purification*
Dirofilariasis / epidemiology*
Dirofilariasis / parasitology
Female
Foxes*
Male
Ontario / epidemiology
Prevalence