First cases of canine dirofilariosis in Slovakia: a case report

Dogs from two locations in West Slovakia suspected to have dirofilariosis were tested with the help of microfilariae detection, histochemical identification of microfilaria species and Dirofilaria immitis specific antigen detection in the blood serum. Six out of the group of 15 dogs from Bratislava region were found positive with Dirofilaria repens microfilariae. In the second location situated farther to the south, near Komarno, 6 out of 7 dogs were found positive with D. repens microfilariae and 2 with D. immitis. Serological detection of D. immitis antigen was positive in 3 cases among the dogs from this region, 2 of which were found positive with D. immitis microfilariae simultaneously with D. repens. The infection was asymptomatic in all of the dogs included in the trial.