Prevalence and seasonal variations of canine dirofilariosis in Portugal

• Authors: Alho AM, Belo S, Ferreira C, Gonçalves L, Landum M, Madeira LC, Meireles J
• Publication Year: 2014
• Journal: Veterinary Parasitology
• Link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304401714004671

Dirofilariosis is a severe vector-borne emergent disease that is spreading worldwide and becoming a serious threat to human and veterinary public health. Portugal, a Mediterranean country, has favorable climate conditions for mosquito development and survival. At present, accurate data on the prevalence and epidemiological pattern of dirofilariosis in Portugal is scarce and outdated. To study these trends, a project was developed to assess the current prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis infection in shelter dogs as well as the prevalence of Dirofilaria species present in three coastal regions in central Portugal: Coimbra, Santarém, and Setúbal.
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