Heartworm Transmission Risk Factors for Dogs in Iberian Peninsula, 2023-2024

3,670 antigen-positive dogs from Spain and Portugal (2023–2024) were analyzed to identify socio-environmental factors associated with realized heartworm transmission risk. An Ecological Niche Model for Culex pipiens, integrated with parasite development thresholds, was used to estimate risk at each infected animal's geolocation. The study by Rodrigo Morchón found geographic region, climate type, and host housing conditions to be significant predictors.

Use Cases

• Modeling geographic risk heterogeneity for canine heartworm based on regional coefficients for insular territories.
• Assessing the impact of hot semi-arid climates on parasite transmission risk.
• Evaluating the protective efficacy of indoor housing against heartworm exposure.
• Analyzing temporal trends in transmission risk, such as the increase noted in 2024.
• Developing One Health surveillance strategies for emerging inland areas like Castile and León.

Strengths

• Analysis of 3,670 antigen-positive dogs provides a substantial sample size.
• Data spans a recent two-year period (2023–2024).
• Risk estimation integrates an Ecological Niche Model with parasite development thresholds at exact geolocations.
• Multiple linear regression assessed geographic, climatic, and host-related variables.

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to the sample from Spain and Portugal.

Provenance

Source

Rodrigo Morchón via figshare.

Collection Method

Analysis of antigen-positive dogs using Ecological Niche Modeling and multiple linear regression.

Time Range

2023–2024

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-22 04:30:26; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Spain and Portugal, including the Balearic and Canary Islands.