AGE IN CARDIOPULMONARY DIROFILARIASIS OF DOG - CONSEQUENCES ON CHEMOPROPHYLAXIS

Canine dirofilariasis is an endemic helminthiasis in New-Caledonia. It s prevalence has been studied in 124 stray dogs. Diagnosis based on fi ltration technique and research of microfilariae. A strong correlation was found between age of dogs and prevalence : 7,7 p. 100 of 6 months to 1 year-old dogs were infected, as compared to 33,33 p. 100 of the dogs in the range 1-2 years-old, 53 p. 100 of the 2-3 years-old ones, 77,4 p. 100 of the 3-5 years-old ones and 80 p. 100 of the animals tha t were older than five. Regression studies showed that the evolution w as not linear, and that age has an epidemiologic impact which is not a simple cumulative effect. Thus, the infection risk depends on age. Do gs less than 1 year are less receptive or less infected than older one s. Infections seem to be uncommon in animals less than 6 months. There fore chemoprophylaxis should begin at this age.