Lesions in pulmonary artery in feline dirofilariasis.

Doi, Kunio; Fujinami, Fujio; Yasoshima, Akira; Okawa, Hitoshi; Okaniwa, Azusa

doi:10.1292/jvms1939.44.23

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…9) developed microfilaremia. [1,5,7,8,11,14,24,29]. There are other indications that aberrant migration of the fourth stage larvae occurs more frequently in cats than dogs [6,10,12,20,22,29].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A few reports of feline dirofilariasis suggested that it is relatively rare in Japan [8,17,24,26,31]. The low prevalence of D. immitis infection in cats may be due to spontaneous elimination of the parasite or to death of cats caused by the infection.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the highest prevalence was reported 16% by Abbot [1] in a feline population in Papua New Guinea in 1966, that in Japan was 7% of 100 cats examined in Osaka in 1974 [17]. Feline D. immitis infections may be endemic in all areas of Japan except for certain parts of Hokkaido with infection rates from 0.4 to 7.0% [8,17,24,26,31].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The clinical importance of D. immitis infection in the cat is well recognized in the U.S.A., Europe and Australia and so on by the fact that even light infections are capable of causing severe pulmonary disease and sudden death [1, 3, 5-7, 10, 12-15, 18, 22, 23, 27, 28, 30]. Although feline dirofilariasis has been sporadically reported in Japan [8,16,19,20,29], importance of the parasite in cats has not yet been fully recognized. Thus, examination of the status of D. immitis infection in cats seems important to understanding feline dirofilariasis.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis Infection in Cats in Saitama, Japan.

Nogami

Sato

1997

J. Vet. Med. Sci.

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ABSTRACT. To clarify Dirofilaria immitis infection among cats in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, 1,840 cats were examined postmortem for adult worms and microfilariae in the blood from 1989 to 1995. As a reference control, 500 dogs from the same area were examined in the same way and period. D. immitis worms were found in 15 cats, one of which had microfilariae in the blood. Prevalence rate of D. immitis infection was 0.8% (15/1,840) in cats and 46.8% (234/500) in dogs examined, whereas it was 4.1% and 64.6% in cats and dogs, respectively, aged 2 years and over. Worm burden per positive cat was 1.5 ± 0.7 (mean ± SD), the maximum number of worm was 3 in 2 cats, and 10 cats had a single worm each. All the worm-positive cats were tested for antibodies to feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and antigens of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) cut open and the heart, venae cavae, aorta, pulmonary arteries, lungs and liver were searched for D. immitis worms. The worms collected were counted and measured, and their sex was distinguished. Microfilariae were examined by centrifuging 1 ml of anti-coagulated blood with acetone solution.Antibodies to FIV and antigens of FeLV in sera were tested using commercially available dot-ELISA diagnostic kit (IDEXX, U.S.A.), and reaction was judged positive according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Table 1 shows the prevalence of D. immitis infection in the cats and dogs at necropsy. In 1,840 cats and 500 dogs examined, 0.8% (n=15) and 46.8% (n=234) were positive for D. immitis worms, respectively. All the positive cats were 2 yrs and over in age, and the age was reasonable for this parasite to develop in the final host. The positive rate was 4.1% in 368 cats aged 2 yrs and over. Mean positive rates in the male and female cats aged 2 yrs and over were 4.8% and 3.6%, whereas 63.2% and 65.6% for both sexes of dogs, respectively. RESULTS

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis Infection in Cats in Saitama, Japan.

Nogami

Sato

1997

J. Vet. Med. Sci.

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Feline heartworm disease: A clinical review

Litster

Atwell

2008

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery

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Feline heartworm disease is caused by the filarial nematode Dirofilaria immitis, and is transmitted by mosquitoes in heartworm-endemic areas worldwide. While dogs are the definitive hosts for this parasite, cats can also be infected, and the overall prevalence in cats is between 5% and 10% of that in dogs in any given area. The spectrum of feline presentations varies from asymptomatic infections to chronic respiratory signs, sometimes accompanied by chronic vomiting to acute death with no premonitory signs. Ante-mortem diagnosis can be challenging and relies on a combination of tests, including antigen and antibody serology, thoracic radiography and echocardiography. As treatment with heartworm adulticidal drugs can be life-threatening and heartworm infection in cats is often self-limiting, infected cats are frequently managed with supportive treatment (corticosteroids, bronchodilators, and anti-emetics). Surgical removal of filariae using extraction devices may be considered in some acute cases where immediate curative treatment is necessary, but filarial breakage during the procedure may result in an acute fatal shock-like reaction. Necropsy findings are mainly pulmonary and include muscular hypertrophy of the pulmonary arteries and arterioles on histopathology. A number of safe and effective macrocytic lactone drugs are available for prophylaxis in cats. These drugs can kill a range of larval and adult life-cycle stage heartworms, which may be advantageous in cases of owner compliance failure or when heartworm infection status is undetermined at the time prophylaxis is commenced. An index of suspicion for feline heartworm disease is warranted in unprotected cats with respiratory signs, and perhaps chronic vomiting, in areas where canine heartworm disease is endemic. Many cats, once diagnosed and with appropriate supportive care and monitoring, will resolve their infection and be free of clinical signs.

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