Epizootological and epidemiological aspects of dirofilariasis in the southern Russia

The article presents the results of epizootological and epidemiological monitoring of dirofilariasis in the south of Russia in the period 2000-2024. During this period, 4378 blood samples of dogs living and serving in the south of Russia were examined. In general, the prevalence of dirofilaria in definitive hosts decreased from 21.0 ± 1.1% (2000-2008) to 13.6 ± 0.9% (2017-2024). Long-term observations have shown that the level of infection of domestic dogs directly depends on the conditions of their keeping. Over the past twenty years, the prevalence of dirofilariasis in service and apartment dogs has decreased by 4 times, and a stray animal continue to grow and currently reaches 25.0%.

Based on the analysis of 317 medical records of patients with dirofilariasis treated in the clinic of infectious and parasitic diseases for the period 2000-2024, a decrease in the number of patients with dirofilariasis on average per year from 19.56±0.28 (2000-2008) to 6.38±1.50 (2017-2024) people was noted.

Long-term observations of dirofilariasis in animals and humans indicate a positive epidemiological and epizootological situation in the south of Russia. Official statistics indicate a stable incidence rate of the population in Russia of 0.04-0.09 per 100 thousand people, which is due to the expansion of the distribution area of dirofilaria to the northern and north-eastern regions of the country and the urbanization of this invasion.

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