Morphological and molecular detection of canine dirofilarial species of veterinary and medical importance in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania.

A descriptive cross-sectional survey of Dirofilaria infections in dogs was carried out from January to March 2015 in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania. One hundred and fifty two blood samples were collected from healthy dogs aged more than 6 months living in different areas of Morogoro, and analyzed by modified Knott's technique for circulating microfilariae. Microfilaraemic samples were further analyzed by Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR products were sequenced for molecular identification. Microfilariae were detected by microscopy in 9 samples (5.92%), of which 6 tested positive by PCR. The 5.8S-internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2)-28S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences generated were 97% identical to Dirofilaria immitis and 86% to 90% identical to D. repens, confirming the presence of D. immitis in Tanzania and showing the presence of D. repens, not previously observed.