The data and factors
This section describes the data provided by CAPC and lists the factors considered by our analysis.
The raw test results were supplied by the Antech and IDEXX corporations [5,6] and report whether each performed test was positive or negative — no uncertainty margin is supplied for the results. While individual tests are reported by zip-code of the testing clinic, the raw data were aggregated into the number of positive tests and the total number of tests conducted over each calendar year in each county of the conterminous United States. Since only two calendar years of records are available, no attempt is made to include seasonal structure. The IDEXX samples represent both the results of pet-side heartworm antigen test kit and results from an IDEXX capture system [Heartworm RT and the 4Dx Plus (and originally 4Dx tests)] along with tests run by the IDEXX diagnostic laboratories [Heartworm Antigen by ELISA-Canine*]. Antech tests were performed at Antech Laboratories and utilized the Dirochek Assay and the AccuPlex4 heartworm antigen detection assay. Over 2011 and 2012, there were 9,580,719 total tests performed by either method, of which 111,259 were positive. Rudimentary statistical checks do not show vast differences between Antech and IDEXX samples.In most of the southeastern United States, veterinarians assume that outdoor dogs are at risk of heartworm infection, and thus, recommend that clients place their dogs on preventive protection. This may not be practical for all pet owners due to costs. In the CAPC data, many counties in the eastern United States report a small number (say less than 20) of tests. This is likely because tests are not being reported or are incommensurate with CAPC protocols, not because they are uncommonly performed. Tests from such counties are likely performed for the same reasons as other southeastern counties reporting a greater number of tests. In other areas of the United States, such as Montana or Idaho, testing is likely only performed if dogs have signs suggestive of heartworm disease and the veterinarian requires a confirmative test. Sometimes, veterinarians are aware that dogs travel to heartworm endemic areas for part of the year. These dogs may be tested annually when they return to their home state. Also, as is evident from Figures 1 and 2, it is now fairly obvious that heartworm occurs in much of the Western United States. In some of these areas, heartworm testing is probably conducted for the same reasons as more prevalent areas. Overall, while it is understood that there may be some sampling biases in certain areas of the United States, the CAPC data seems fairly reflective of a true random sample for many counties in the United States.
Figure 1  Raw reported heartworm prevalence rates for 2011 and 2012.
Figure 2  Head-banging smoothed heartworm prevalence rates for 2011 and 2012. Other data aspects are worth illuminating. First, heartworm infections are not detectable by almost all testing methods until about 6 or 7 months after the dogs have become infected; this is how long it takes for either microfilariae or antigen to appear in the blood after infection. Thus, many of the detected infections likely commenced the year prior to a positive test result. Because no travel information exists, it cannot be known where a dog acquires infection. However, it is suspected that the majority of infected dogs were infected close to home. Second, it is not known if a dog has been tested more than once. Dogs may be tested more than once annually to verify the need for treatment, to verify successful treatment, or annually tested after the infection is first identified.
The factors chosen for inclusion in this study are those envisioned to impact whether a dog is likely to have heartworm. These factors are a subset of those listed in Brown et al.[2] and contain climate variables (annual temperature, precipitation, and relative humidity; Figures 3, 4, 5); geographic factors (elevation, forest coverage, surface water coverage; Figures 6, 7, 8); societal factors (human population density and household income; Figures 9 and 10); and the presence or absence of Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus and six other mosquito species (Figures 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18). Presence or absence of mosquito species was used because abundance data are not available. Table 1 lists all considered factors. Many (but not all) of the factors are available on a county-by-county basis across the United States. Our methods do not a priori assume that all factors significantly influence heartworm prevalence rates, but rather seek to determine which factors significantly influence prevalence.
Figure 3  2011 U.S. annual average temperature (Degrees F). The temperature data included in this study were annual in nature and were aggregated by the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) [7] by climate region [8]. These data are not county-by-county — all counties within a climate region are assigned the same annual temperature. For example, the state of Alabama has 67 counties and 8 climate regions. Annual temperatures for 2011 were used to generate this graphic. Temperature dependence on latitude is clear.
Figure 4  2011 U.S. annual total precipitation (Inches). The precipitation data were also obtained from the NCDC and has the same spatial resolution as the temperature data. Data used in this figure are for 2011. One sees a relatively dry Southwestern United States and higher precipitation in the southeastern United States.
Figure 5  2011 U.S. annual relative humidities (Percent). Our humidity data were relative (and not absolute) humidities. Relative humidity is not measured directly, but can be estimated from temperature and dew point (dew point is measured) via
RH = exp 17.27 ( D - 32 ) 5 / 9  ( D - 32 ) 5 / 9 + 237.3      exp 17.27 ( T - 32 ) 5 / 9  ( T - 32 ) 5 / 9 + 237.3       100 % ,
where T is annual temperature, D is annual dew point, and exp is the exponential function [9]. As expected, the Southeast is the most humid region in the United States.
Figure 6  U.S. county elevations (Feet). Elevation data were obtained on a county-by-county [10] basis, with height of the highest point in each county used to produce this figure. Data containing average county elevations would be preferable to use but were not readily available. Of course, any biases should be minor in the eastern United States where most counties are homogeneous in elevation. However, the western States are less homogeneous. For example, Inyo County in California contains both the highest (Mount Whitney, 14,505 ft.) and lowest points (Death Valley, -282 ft.) in the conterminous United States. These limitations aside, elevation is a potentially important factor for heartworm prevalence as higher elevations are often associated with drier conditions.
Figure 7  2007 U.S. county forestion coverage (Percent). County forest coverage was obtained from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) [11]. Total county area was obtained from the Census Bureau [12]. Percentages of forest coverage were calculated by dividing the forest coverage area by county area (times 100%). The definition of forest coverage here is restricted to agriculture woodland, which means land supporting trees capable of producing timber or other wood products, including but not limited to logs, lumber, posts, and firewood. This data are updated by the USDA every five years. However, the 2012 data is not available yet; hence, the 2007 data were used to generate the graph.
Figure 8  2007 U.S. county water coverage (Percent). County surface water coverage was obtained from the Census Bureau [12] and was calculated by dividing the surface water area by total county area reported in the Census Bureau [12]. The surface water coverage data were last updated in 2011, which were used in our analysis.
Figure 9  2010 U.S. population density (100 people per square mile). Population densities were calculated by dividing the number of 100 people in each county by the county area. The county populations and areas were taken from the most recent (2010) census data (Census Bureau [13]).
Figure 10  2011 U.S. median household income (Dollars). Median household incomes were obtained from the Census Bureau (2010 census). These data were adjusted for inflation based on 2010 dollars; the Census Bureau adjusts by multiplying 2011 median household income by the ratio of the Consumer Price Index of 2010 and 2011 [14].
Figure 11  Presence of Aedes aegypti.
Figure 12  Presence of Aedes albopictus.
Figure 13  Presence of Aedes canadensis.
Figure 14  Presence of Aedes sierrensis.
Figure 15  Presence of Aedes trivittatus.
Figure 16  Presence of Anopheles punctipennis.
Figure 17  Presence of Anopheles quadrimaculatus.
Figure 18   Presence of   Culex quinquefasciatus   .
Table 1  Heartworm factors considered for inclusion in the study
    Factors   Data available period   Scale   Source
Climate factors  Annual temperature  2011 and 2012  Division  National Climate Data Center (NCDC)
Annual precipitation  2011 and 2012  Division  NCDC
Annual relative humidity  2011 and 2012  Station  NCDC
Geographic factors  Elevation  2012  County  http://www.cohp.org/
Percentage forest coverage  2007  County  United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Percentage surface water coverage  2010  County  U.S. Census Bureau
Societal factors  Population density  2010  County  U.S. Census Bureau
Median household income  2011  County  U.S. Census Bureau
Mosquito species   Aedes aegypti  2008  County  Moore, CG. [15]
Aedes albopictus  2012  County  Hynes NA [16]
Aedes canadensis  2004  County  RF Darsie, Jr. and RA Ward [17]
Aedes sierrensis  2004  County  RF Darsie, Jr. and RA Ward
Aedes trivittatus  2004  County  RF Darsie, Jr. and RA Ward
Anopheles punctipennis  2004  County  RF Darsie, Jr. and RA Ward
Anopheles quadrimaculatus  2004  County  RF Darsie, Jr. and RA Ward
Culex quinquefasciatus  2004  County  RF Darsie, Jr. and RA Ward