A Study on Physical Characteristics and Environmental Factors Associated with the Risk of Heartworm Infections in Domestic Pets: A Comparison between Theory and Survey Results

Abstract: Heartworm disease, caused by Dirofilaria immitis, remains a significant veterinary concern in tropical environments. This study investigates the correlation between physical traits, rearing conditions, and heartworm infection risks in domestic pets, providing a direct comparison between established veterinary theories and empirical survey results. Data were collected via Google Forms from 110 domestic pets (65.5% dogs, 34.5% cats) in Thailand. Theoretically, long-coated pets and indoor environments are associated with lower transmission rates due to physical barriers and reduced vector exposure. However, empirical survey results revealed a notable 30.0% infection history and 43.6% active clinical symptoms within the sample. While indoor rearing (33.6%) aligned with theoretical protections, the high prevalence in semi-indoor/outdoor (47.3%) and outdoor (19.1%) setups emphasized a critical gap where environmental management fails to prevent mosquito contact. Furthermore, medium and long-coated pets comprised 73.6% of the sample, demonstrating that longer fur often masks active vector feeding on exposed anatomical regions, contrasting with the common misconception of total physical immunity. This comparative analysis underscores the necessity of combining structural environmental controls with mandatory medical prophylaxis rather than relying solely on theoretical physical protections. Keywords: Heartworm, Dirofilaria immitis, Comparative Analysis, Physical Characteristics, Rearing Environment, Domestic Pets. Title: A Study on Physical Characteristics and Environmental Factors Associated with the Risk of Heartworm Infections in Domestic Pets: A Comparison between Theory and Survey Results Author: Phimrada Sumontha International Journal of Life Sciences Research ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online) Vol. 14, Issue 4, October 2026 - December 2026 Page No: 56-58 Research Publish Journals Website: www.researchpublish.com Published Date: 30-October-2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23797055 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.researchpublish.com/papers/a-study-on-physical-characteristics-and-environmental-factors-associated-with-the-risk-of-heartworm-infections-in-domestic-pets-a-comparison-between-theory-and-survey-results