• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제52권6호
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• pp.691-694
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to conduct a survey of Dirofilaria immitis infection among stray cats in Korea using nested PCR. We included 235 stray cats (121 females and 114 males) and evaluated each for the presence of feline heartworm infection. Blood samples were collected from 135 cats in Daejeon, 50 cats in Seoul, and 50 cats from Gyeonggi-do (Province). Of the 235 DNA samples, 14 (6.0%) were positive for D. immitis. The prevalence of infection in male cats (8/114, 7.0%) tended to be higher than that in female cats (6/121, 5.0%), but the difference was not statistically significant. In each location, 8, 2, and 4 cats were positive for infection, respectively, based on DNA testing. No significant differences in the prevalence were observed among the geographic regions, although the rate of infection was higher in Gyeonggi-do (8.0%) than Daejeon (5.9%) and Seoul (4.0%). We submitted 7 of the 14 D. immitis DNA-positive samples for sequencing analysis. All samples corresponded to partial D. immitis cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene sequences with 99% homology to the D. immitis sequence deposited in GenBank (accession no. FN391553). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first survey using nested PCR to analyze the prevalence of D. immitis in stray cats in Korea.

• 한국동물위생학회지
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.197-202
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• 2014

Dirofilaria immitis infection is one of the most important parasitic diseases in dogs and public health. It often elicits nodules in the pulmonary parenchyma and in the subcutaneous tissues of human. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of D. immitis infection among 754 dogs in Seoul area from April to December 2012. The infection rate of 754 dogs was 9.8% (74/754) by the antigen test (canine SNAP 4Dx). The infection rates of D. immitis in dogs at the age of < 2, 2~4, 5~7, 8~10, and > 10 years were 3.7% (7/189), 12.9% (30/233), 15.0% (19/127), 9.8% (18/184), and 0% (0/21), respectively. The infection rates in the female and male dogs were 9.7% (33/340) and 9.9% (41/414), respectively. The regional infection rates in northern and southern Han river region of Seoul were 10.7% (44/410) and 8.7% (30/344), respectively. In order to confirm D. immitis infection, we performed PCR on serum samples of 74 dogs which tested positive for D. immitis antigen by the antigen test and we detected a specific gene ITS-2 in 59 serum samples. In conclusion, this study suggests that treatment and preventive care on the D. immitis infection should be considered in dogs of Seoul area.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.130-137
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• 2000

In order to diagnose canine heartworm infection by antigen capture ELISA, the crude somatic(S), partial somatic(below 45kDa) and excretory/secretory(E/S) antigen of adult heartworm were identified and the antigenicity was examined by silver stain, immunoblot and ELISA. Then, production of monoclonal antibody to specific antigen carried out in this experiment. The bands to S antigen and E/S antigen were recognized between 10 and 200kDa and common bands were recognized strongly 14, 18, 28, 43kDa by silver stain. By western blot analysis, fractions to S antigen were recognized 14, 16, 18, 20, 24, 28, 32, 43, 50, 55kDa, etc. and only a 14kDa to E/S antigen in positive sera which were positive in modified Knott's test and necropsy. In ELISA, the positive sera reacted to antigens(SA, $SA_{45}$, E/S) were significantly different from negative sera by Student's t-test(p<0.05). Four hybridoma cell lines(14, 16, 17, 32kDa) than produce specific monoclonal antibodies for these antigens were obtained by immunizing BALB/c mice with a partially purified somatic antigen (below 45kDa) preparation, by fusing spleen cells with SP2/O cell myeloma cells, and by screening cell culture supernatants for antibody. In these results, it was confirmed that partial somatic antigen(below 45kDa) or E/S antigen can be used for serologic diagnosis of heartworm infection and monoclonal antibody reacting with specific antigen(14kDa) can be used for antigen capture ELISA in prepatent period of canine heartworm infection.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.233-241
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• 2001

Dirofilaria immitis, the causative agent of canine heartworm disease, inhabits mainly in the pulmonary arteries and the heart of dogs and cats, causing circulatory and respiratory disorders. Although diagnosis of the disease is based on the presence of microfilaria in the peripheral blood or of specific antigens released from the adult worms into the peripheral blood, the severity of the infection and the assessment of disease progression are based on the clinical signs and radiographic image analysis. We analysed 12 mixed-bred Jindo dogs naturally infected with Dirofilaria immitis without any clinical signs and compared the radiographic images of the heart and the lung with the number of adult worms at necropsy. The dorsoventral radiographs of 12 infected dogs revealed that the right caudal lobar pulmonary arteries (RCaLPA) were dialated in 66.7% of dogs, whereas the main pulmonary artery segment was enlarged in 50.3% of dogs. The cranial lobar pulmonary arteries (RCrLPA) were dilated or pruned in 33.3% of dogs. All dogs displayed the interstitial lung pattern, while the vertebral heart size (VHS) was of normal range. Although a range of 9 to 166 adult worms (av. 45.6) was found in the pulmonary arteries, in the heart or in the vena cava, no correlation with the radiographic findings and/or with the clinical signs was observed.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.92-94
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• 2002

천연기념물 제 331호인 식욕목 바다표범과 포유류인 수컷 잔점박이 물범(harbor seal, Phoca vitulina) 1마리가 폐사되어 부검을 의뢰하였다. 포획시기는 불명확하지만 연령은 10세로 추정되는 물범은 체중이 약 90kg이고 체장140cm이며, 4여년 동안 동물원에서 전시되었다가 폐사하였다. 부검시 심장에서는 선충 2마리가 발견되었다. 이 성충 2마리중 길이가 14cm인 수컷 1마리는 우심방에서 발견되었고, 죄심방에서는 길이가 28cm인 암컷 1마리가 발견되었다. 검사결과 본 선충은 심장 사상충 (Dirofilaria immitis)으로 판명되었고, 동물원 풀장에서 서식하는 동안 감염된 것으로 생각된다.

• 대한수의사회지
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.27-31
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• 1990

A dog which Showed dry muzzle, coughing, dyspnea, weight loss and exercise intolerance was clinically examined. Dirofilaria immitis infection was determined by hematological findings, radiographic evaluation and detection of microfilaria with modified Kno

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.303-306
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• 2008

Unknown age, spayed female mixed dog was presented with a severe lethargy. Radiography, ultrasonography, and blood screen test were performed to make a diagnosis. There were no specific radiographic findings. On the ultrasonography, small amount of ascites was found around gallbladder and hepatic vein was dilated approximately 6.1 mm. Blood screen test revealed a severe anemia. Result of heartworm ELISA kit was positive. At necropsy, parasites were in the left atrium, right ventricles, aorta, pulmonary artery, right renal artery.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제41권1호
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• pp.79-83
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• 2001

Dirofilaria immitis parasitizes mainly in the pulmonary arteries and in the heart of dogs and cats. The parasite is also of public health importance, because it often elicits nodules in the pulmonary parenchyma and in the subcutaneous tissues, or sometimes parasitize itself in the eyes of human. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of heartworm infection among 165 dogs on three breeding farms in the vicinity of Seoul, Korea. Of 165 dogs, 83 dogs (50.3%) were infected with the parasite, as revealed by an antigen-detecting test using the peripheral blood. Of these, 23 dogs (20.2%) contained microfilaria using the peripheral blood, which are potential source of transmission to uninfected animals and to humans in the endemic area. None of infected dogs showed any clinical signs associated with the disease. Since the three farms were located in the vicinity of Seoul, the unexpectedly high infection rate could imply that the possibility of exposure of both animals and humans living in the metropolitan Seoul area to the parasite is higher than in the other area of Korea.

• 한국동물위생학회지
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.133-137
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• 2004

This study was attempted to survey on the prevalence of canine heartworm(Dirofilaria immitis) infections among 206 dogs (male 92, female 114) in Daejeon area from March to December 2003. Blood samples taken from dogs were examined for the presence of D immitis microfilaria by the modified Knott's test and an antigen test( $AGEN^{TM}$ canine heartworm). The result obtained from this experiment were summarized as follows; 1. Eighteen(8.7%) of the 206 examined dogs were microfilaria positive, while twenty five dogs(12.1%) were antigen test positive. 2. The infection rates of heartworm in dogs at the age of <2, 2∼4 and $\geq$5 were 3.8%, 18% and 25%, respectively. 3. The infection rates of heartworm in dogs by housing of indoor and outdoor were 3.3% and 36.4%, respectively. 4. The regional infection rates were Dong-gu(13/29, 44.8%), Seo-gu(7/92, 7.6%), Yuseong-gu(2/33, 6.1%), Jung-gu(1/17, 5.9%) and Daedeok-gu(2/35, 5.7%). 5. The seasonal infection rates were summer(June∼August, 16.7%), autumn (September∼October, 14%), spring(March∼May, 9.4%) and winter(November∼December. 7.7%).7.7%).

• 한국동물위생학회지
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.217-225
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• 2020

This study was conducted to survey pathogens of canine coronavirus (CCV), canine distemper virus (CDV), canine influenza virus (CIV), canine parvovirus (CPV), severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), Dirofilaria (D.) immitis, Giardia and antibodies against Anaplasma (A.) phagocytophilum, Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi, Brucella (B.) canis and Ehrlichia (E.) canis among stray dogs in Gyeonggi province. We collected 271 feces, 291 bloods, 311 nasal and ocular swab samples from 311 of dogs in the Gyeonggi province assistance dogs sharing center from January to December, 2019. Among canine infectious disease pathogens, Giardia was highly detected in 46/271 (17.0%) samples. Subsequently, CCV 10.3% (28/271), D. immitis 8.2% (24/291), CPV 4.1% (11/271), CDV 1.0% (3/311), A. phagocytophilum (antibody) 0.3% (1/291), E. canis (antibody) 0.3% (1/291) were detected. Based on the results, this study is expected to provide a useful reference for disease control and management of stray dogs.