Dataset on prevalence, risk factors, and diagnostic results for canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) in 481 dogs from Ilhéus, Brazil (2024)

This dataset contains the raw data for the study titled "Prevalence, risk factors, and molecular characterization of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs from a previously non-endemic tourist area on the southern coast of Bahia, Brazil." The research investigated the prevalence, associated risk factors, and molecular characteristics of D. immitis in domestic dogs from Ilhéus, Bahia, a coastal region in northeastern Brazil previously considered non-endemic. Data were collected through a cross-sectional study conducted between January and December 2024. The dataset comprises information from 481 domiciled or semi-domiciled dogs residing in the study area for one year or more. Data collection involved several methods. First, a questionnaire was administered to the owners to gather information on animal demographics (breed, sex, age), management practices (e.g., time spent outdoors, vaccination status), environmental characteristics (e.g., type of residence, presence of standing water), and owner-reported clinical signs. Second, blood samples were collected from each dog. These samples were processed for the detection of adult female D. immitis antigens using the SNAP® 4Dx® Plus test and for the presence of microfilariae using the modified Knott’s test. Finally, all households were georeferenced using a GPS device. This spatial data was used to calculate the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) within a 300-meter buffer around each residence to quantify surrounding vegetation density. The data file includes columns for a unique animal identifier, all questionnaire variables, the binary results (Positive/Negative) for both the SNAP antigen test and the Modified Knott's test, and the calculated median NDVI value for each sampling point. This dataset supports the study's conclusions, which confirm the endemic circulation of D. immitis in Ilhéus and identify key risk factors associated with infection in the region.