Blood samples from 50 dogs with episodic weakness and 50 clinically normal dogs, all belonging to hunting breeds, were examined for microfilariae using the modified Knott`s method.
The prevalence of microfilaraemia in dogs belonging to the episodic weakness group was 10% for Dirofilaria immitis, 30% for Dirofilaria repens and 8% for Acanthocheilonema reconditum.
In the clinically normal group, the figures were 14% for Dirofilaria repens and 4% for Acanthocheilonema reconditum.
The overall percentage of dogs with microfilaremia in the episodic weakness group was 44 and that of the clinically normal group 16, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.01).
The prevalence of microfilaremia due to the nonpathogenic filarial species (Dirofilaria repens, Acanthocheilonema reconditum) was 34% and 16% for the episodic weakness group and the clinically normal dogs, respectively, with no significant difference.
Source: Papazahariadou MG, Koutinas AF, Rallis TS, Haralabidis ST. (1994): Prevalence of microfilaraemia in episodic weakness and clinically normal dogs belonging to hunting breeds. In: J Helminthol. 1994 Sep;68(3):243-5.
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