Dirofilaria immitis is a nematode found worldwide and able to infect several species, such as
dogs, cats and, under rare circumstances, humans. In Brazil, most of the infections are
related to coastal areas. The present study aimed at determining Dirofilaria immitis
prevalence and evaluating the possible risk factors for infection in dogs, in Laguna, Santa
Catarina, Brazil. Blood samples from 238 dogs were collected and a questionnaire was
applied to the owners in order to obtain general information about the animals (age, gender …