1Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University, Selesih, Aizawl, India.
2Department of Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Sciences, AAU Khanapara, Guwahati-22.
3Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Sciences, AAU Khanapara, Guwahati-22.
4Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Sciences, AAU Khanapara, Guwahati-22.
5Department of Extension Education.
*Corresponding author: E-mail: sanjoy_borthakur@rediffmail.com
A total of 240 dogs were examined for the presence of Dirofilaria immitis infection in a local abattoir at Aizawl, Mizoram. Blood samples were examined for D. immitis by modified Knott's technique for detection of microfilaria. This was then compared with naturally occurring dirofilariosis by localizing adult worms in heart at necropsy and assessment was made on occult dirofilariosis. The prevalence of heartworm was 33.75% and out of necropsy confirmed heartworm disease, 35.89% (29/81) dogs had occult dirofilariosis (amicrofilaremic) as determined by Knott's test. In all the positive cases total number of adult worms were counted and their sex was determined. About 19.75% dogs harboured only male worms and 6.17% dogs harboured female worms while 74.07% of them had both sexes of worms.
Dirofilaria immitis, Knott's technique, Occult dirofilariosis
