Dirofilaria repens predominates in shelter dogs from South Romania.

Canine filarioids are zoonotic vector-borne parasitic nematodes distributed mostly in the tropics and subtropics. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, distribution, etiology and genetic variation of canine filarioid infections by three different PCR techniques in four Southern Romanian counties. Blood samples of 300 shelter dogs were screened for infections with canine filarioids by real-time PCR.

Epidemiological Study of Canine Babesiosis and Hepatozoonosis in the South of Romania.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and distribution of canine babesiosis and hepatozoonosis in the south of Romania as well as to assess if there are differences in the prevalence between regions in that area.

Methods: Blood samples from 300 dogs from the south of Romania were screened for the presence of piroplasmids by PCR. Positive samples were further tested for the presence of Babesia spp.