Developing of Immunodiagnostic for Heart worm (Dirofilaria immitis) infection in dogs and cats

Dirofilaria immitis is a filarial parasite that causes an animal disease commonly known as heartworm. This vector-borne parasite can cause patent infections in companion and wild animals. This filarial worm is also found in humans since mosquito vectors are prevalent in tropical regions. In Thailand, strays dogs and cats are becoming of public concern since their numbers are seriously rising annually in Bangkok metropolitan areas. Therefore, under these circumstances stray animals are likely at risk with heartworm infections and might be carriers that are capable of spreading these nematodes to nearby pet. The objective of this study was to develop other diagnostic technique by using the unique protein pattern of Dirofilaria immitis recognized by positive sera of stray dogs and cats analyzed by PAGE and Western blot technique. Western blot analysis revealed that somatic antigens of adult worm contained seven major peptide bands from 25 to 108 kDa recognized by the sera of infected dogs while three bands from 33 to 64 kDa recognized in cats.