Dirofilariasis in Iowa Coyotes

Abstract

(Dirofilaria immitis) were found in eight of 220 (3.6%) coyotes (Canis latrans) collected from fur buyers in Adams, Carroll, Cass, and Warren counties in southwestern Iowa. Infections ranged from one to 23 worms per coyote.

Detection of Dirofilaria immitis via integrated serological and molecular analyses in coyotes from Texas, United States

“…Epidemiological surveys have shown high prevalence rate of heartworm infection among coyote populations in the southern US, including Arkansas (65.8%) ( King and Bohning, 1984 ), Georgia (51.61%) ( Gates et al, 2014 ), Florida (37.26%) ( Aher et al, 2016 ), and Texas (23.08%) ( Thornton et al, 1974 ). In contrast, lower prevalence rates have been reported in more temperate regions of the northeastern and midwestern US regions,a prevalence of 3.4 and 3.9% in New Hampshire and New York respectively ( Agostine and Jones, 1982 ; Monson et al, 1973 ), and 0.6% in Kansas ( Graham, 1975 ), 3.6% in Iowa ( Franson, 1976 ), 8.9% in Nebraska ( Pappas and Lunzman, 1985 ), and 15.98% in Illinois ( Nelson et al, 2003 ).…”

“…Our findings are consistent with recent prevalence rates of D. immitis in coyotes in North America ( Kotwa et al, 2019 , 2020 ; Paras et al, 2012 ). However, the prevalence of heartworm in wild canids population in the US has varied widely over the past 40 years ranging from 0.6 to 70.8% ( Agostine and Jones, 1982 ; Aher et al, 2016 ; Custer and Pence, 1981 ; Franson, 1976 ; Gates et al, 2014 ; Graham, 1975 ; King and Bohning, 1984 ; Monson et al, 1973 ; Nelson et al, 2003 ; Pappas and Lunzman, 1985 ; Paras et al, 2012 ; Sacks and Caswell-Chen, 2003 ; Thornton et al, 1974 ; Worsley-Tonks et al, 2021 ). Several factors have been associated with this wide range of D .…”

“…Among wild animals, the detection of heartworm infection is usually based on the identification of D . immitis adults at necropsy ( Agostine and Jones, 1982 ; Aher et al, 2016 ; Custer and Pence, 1981 ; Franson, 1976 ; Gates et al, 2014 ; Graham, 1975 ; King and Bohning, 1984 ; Monson et al, 1973 ; Nelson et al, 2003 ; Pappas and Lunzman, 1985 ; Sacks and Caswell-Chen, 2003 ; Thornton et al, 1974 ). Recently, other studies have demonstrated that commercial immunochromatographic tests used in the diagnosis of canine heartworm disease could be an alternative screening test for D. immitis infections in coyote populations ( Kotwa et al, 2019 ; Paras et al, 2012 ).…”

Human and Animal Dirofilariasis: the Emergence of a Zoonotic Mosaic

“…Microfilaremic infections of various species of wild carnivores by D. immitis in many U.S. states have well documented (101,141,308,318). Most of those studies were performed on carnivores with peridomestic habits, such as coyotes (Canis latrans), which may constitute an excellent sentinel for the spread of D. immitis (308,367,452), and foxes (Vulpes vulpes) (105,452), with additional sporadic reports of infections in other wildlife carnivores (261).…”