The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of heartworm disease in canines from three areas of Lima (San Martín de Porres, Rímac and Lima downtown). Three laboratory diagnostic test were used: microcapillary method, Knott modified method, and ELISA test. A total of 124 dogs without distinction of sex, breed or age were sampled during January to May 2001. The prevalence of heatworm disease was 4.7% when the ELISA test was used, and 0.8% when the microcapillary and the Knott modified tests were used.