Current prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs, cats and humans from the island of Gran Canaria, Spain

Abstract

The island of Gran Canaria is a hyperendemic area for canine dirofilariasis. The aim of the present study was to provide data on Dirofilaria immitis in dogs, cats, and humans on this island in 2010. The data confirms the prevalence in the overall canine population (19%), with a considerably higher prevalence (43%) in the autochthonous breed of Canarian Warren hound. The prevalence in the feline population (33%) is higher than that of the canine population, and the existence of specific D. immitis antibodies in the inhabitants of the island of Gran Canaria (12%) is confirmed. In both cats and humans, the prevalence, according to the different climate areas on the island, is related to the prevalence of D. immitis in dogs in the same area, which shows the key epidemiological role played by the canine host with regard to the transmission to other hosts of D. immitis.