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A serological study of Dirofilaria immitis in feral cats in Grenada, West Indies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2010

C. Fernandez ,
A. Chikweto ,
S. Mofya ,
L. Lanum ,
P. Flynn ,
J.P. Burnett ,
D. Doherty  and
R.N. Sharma
C. Fernandez*
Affiliation:
Animal Emergency Services, Commack, NY11725, USA
A. Chikweto
Affiliation:
Pathobiology Academic Program and Small Animal Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George's University, Box 7, Grenada, West Indies
S. Mofya
Affiliation:
Pathobiology Academic Program and Small Animal Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George's University, Box 7, Grenada, West Indies
L. Lanum
Affiliation:
Pathobiology Academic Program and Small Animal Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George's University, Box 7, Grenada, West Indies
P. Flynn
Affiliation:
Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Missouri-Columbia, USA
J.P. Burnett
Affiliation:
Animal Veterinary Services, Hale, Cornwall, England, UK
D. Doherty
Affiliation:
Pathobiology Academic Program and Small Animal Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George's University, Box 7, Grenada, West Indies
R.N. Sharma
Affiliation:
Pathobiology Academic Program and Small Animal Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George's University, Box 7, Grenada, West Indies
*
*E-mail: christina444@hotmail.com
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Abstract

A study to determine the seroprevalence of Dirofilaria immitis was carried out in feral cats in Grenada. Of the 137 feral cats tested for circulating antibodies (IgG; lateral-flow immunoassay) and circulating antigens (Ag; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), 8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.5–12.5%) were antibody positive and 5.1% (95% CI 1.4–8.8%) were antigen positive. No significant difference between cats aged>1 to 4 years and cats less than 1 year of age was found (P>0.05, χ2). There was also no significant difference (P>0.05, χ2) between male and female cats. Dirofilaria immitis prevalence is relatively high in the feral cat population of Grenada. Evidence of D. immitis infection in feral cats coupled with the endemic nature of heartworm disease in dogs in Grenada leads us to suggest the introduction of heartworm prophylaxis in cats. To the authors' knowledge, this serological evidence of heartworm infection in feral cats in Grenada is the first report from the Caribbean region.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 84 , Issue 4 , December 2010 , pp. 390 - 393
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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