A survey of canine heartworm infections among German shepherds in South Korea

, Lee, Jeong Chee; , Lee, Chai Yong; , Shin, Sung Shik; , Lee, Chung Gil

doi:1996.34.4.225

Korean J Parasito > Volume 34(4):1996 > Article

Original Article


Korean J Parasitol. 1996 Dec;34(4):225-231. English. Published online Dec 20, 1996. http://dx.doi.org/10.3347/kjp.1996.34.4.225
Copyright © 1996 by The Korean Society for Parasitology


A survey of canine heartworm infections among German shepherds in South Korea
Jeong Chee Lee,¹Chai Yong Lee,¹Sung Shik Shin,^*² and Chung Gil Lee¹
¹Division of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Korea.
²Division of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Korea.

Received November 09, 1996; Accepted November 28, 1996.
Abstract
A survey of canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) infections among German shepherds in five areas of South Korea was performed from October 1994 to August 1995 using a microfilarial test (modified Knott's test) and an antigen test (DiroCHEK®, Synbiotics, USA). The infection rate of 127 German shepherds (71 males and 56 females) was 10.2% (13/127) by the microfilarial test, but was 28.3% (36/127) by the antigen test, revealing that 24 of the 36 antigen-positive dogs were microfilaria-negative in the peripheral blood. All dogs that were microfilaria-positive were also antigen-positive. Three of the microfilaria-negative and antigen-positive dogs contained 4 - 15 adult heartworms in the heart and pulmonary arteries upon necropsy. The infection rate among German shepherds was the highest in Hoengsong-gun (Kangwon-do, 84.4%), while those of Yechon-gun (Kyongsangbuk-do) and Chungwon-gun (Chungchongbuk-do) areas were 20.0% and 14.3%, respectively. None of the dogs in the Kimhae-shi (Kyongsangnam-do) and Kwangju areas was heartworm positive. The infection rates of heartworm in dogs at the age of 1-3, 4-6, and 7-11 years were 6.3%, 21.4%, and 56.4%, respectively. Based on the fact that the antigen test is more accurate than the microfilarial test, this study strongly indicates that the prevalence rate of canine heartworm in Korea may be higher than previously reported (3.1~23.0%) which utilized microfilarial tests.

Figures


	Fig. 1 Infection rate of Dirofilaria immitis by age among German shepherds in South Korea. Diagnosis was based on the result of the antigen test (DiroCHEK®, Synbiotics, Inc., San Diego, California, USA) of 127 dogs from 5 cities. All dogs were at least one-year old. Numbers in parenthesis represent the number of infected dogs per number of examined.

Tables


	Table 1 Comparision of the microfilarial test and the antigen test in detecting Dirofilaria immitis infection among German shepherds in Korea


	Table 2 Distribution of Dirofilaria immitis-infected dogs among German shepherds in South Korea


	Table 3 Results of the microfilarial test and the antigen test in detecting Dirofilaria immitis infections from German shepherds in Hoengsong-gun, Kangwon-do


	Table 4 Hemograms of German shepherds with or without antigenemia of adult heartworm

References


2.	Bruner CJ, et al. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1988;92:1423–1427.

3.	Copland MD, O'Callaghan MG, Hajduk P, O'Donoghue PJ. The occurrence of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs in South Australia. Aust Vet J 1992;69(2):31–32.

4.	Courtney CH, et al. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 1990;26:623–628.

6.	Grieve RB, Glickman LT, Bater AK, Mika-Grieve M, Thomas CB, Patronek GJ. Canine Dirofilaria immitis infection in a hyperenzootic area: examination by parasitologic findings at necropsy and by two serodiagnostic methods. Am J Vet Res 1986;47(2):329–332.

7.	Hatsushika R, et al. Kawasaki Med J 1992;18:75–83.

8.	Hoskins JD, et al. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 1984;20:205–210.

9.	Kim CS, et al. J Korean Vet Med Assoc 1985;21:497–499.

*10.*	Lee JG. These Collection of Chonnam University. 17. 1971. pp. 373-381.

*11.*	Lee HS. J Korean Vet Med Assoc 1993;29:25–27.

*12.*	Lee SM, et al. J Korean Vet Med Assoc 1992;28:344–347.

*14.*	Park EB, et al. Res Bull Chinju Agricul College 1962;1:54–58.

*15.*	Patton S, Faulkner CT. Prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis and Dipetalonema reconditum infection in dogs: 805 cases (1980-1989). J Am Vet Med Assoc 1992;200(10):1533–1534.

*16.*	Pratt SE, Corwin RM, Selby LA, Rhoades JD. Prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis and Dipetalonema reconditum infections in Missouri dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1981;179(6):592–593.

*18.*	Rhee JK. Korean J Vet Res 1966;6:42–44.

*19.*	Rhee JK, et al. These Coll Chonbuk Univ 1970;12:27–38.

*22.*	Thilsted JP, Whorton J, Hibbs CM, Jillson GP, Steece R, Stromei M. Comparison of four serotests for the detection of Dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs. Am J Vet Res 1987;48(5):837–841.

*23.*	Wong MM, et al. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 1991;27:33–38.