The potential risk of Dirofilaria immitis becoming established in the Czech Republic by imported dogs

We examined 110 dogs, imported or born to imported females or living together with imported dogs in kennels, for the presence of Dirofilaria immitis, and assessed the climatic conditions in the Czech Republic that may promote spread of the disease. Relevant techniques were used to detect specific antigen, specific antibodies and microfilariae. The presence of antigen was detected in one imported dog, microfilariae were not found and antibodies were detected in 30.5% of the imported dogs. No heartworm was found in dogs, which did not travel outside of the Czech Republic. The evaluation of temperature charts showed that it was possible for at least one heartworm generation to develop under climatic conditions in the Czech Republic. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.