Vol. 10, Special Issue 1 (2021)

Author(s):
B Puvarajan

Abstract:
Canine subcutaneous diroflariosis has been evinced recently with an increasing number of cases in the Orathanadu taluk Thanjavur District Tamilnadu and however there are no published data on the presence and prevalence of Dirofilaria repens in dogs of this region in the State. The present study provides information about the prevalence of Dirofilaria in dogs and molecular means of PCR detection of D.repens from subcutaneous tissues embedded with the worm in affected dogs of this region. Of the127 dogs sampled, 77.9% (n = 99) were positive for D. repens circulating antigen and found positive by PCR for ITS2 and PCR was the most sensitive and specific method, capable of detecting D.repens infections. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the frst report of D. repens infection in dogs in Cauvery Deta Region identified by PCR for Cox1 gene being the main etiological agent of diroflariosis in Thanjavur District.