Epidural dirofilariosis in a paraparetic cat: case report of Dirofilaria immitis infection

Abstract

A 6-year-old neutered female cat was examined for chronic and progressive pelvic limb ataxia that progressed to non-ambulatory paraparesis over 1 month. Haematological and serum analyses were mainly within normal ranges. Thoracic and abdominal radiographs did not reveal any morphological abnormalities. Magnetic resonance imaging investigation of the thoraco-lumbar spine demonstrated a well-defined, extradural mass that extended into the epidural space from the L2 to L3 vertebral bodies and expanded in the L2 to L3 left intervertebral foramen. During surgery, a long, narrow, white parasite which was weakly adherent to the phlogistic epidural fat tissue was gently removed from the spinal canal. Histological examination of the pathological tissue supported a diagnosis of epidural steatitis surrounding a female adult Dirofilaria immitis. This is a novel case of natural D immitis infection with spinal localisation in a cat, well documented with magnetic resonance investigation, and cytological and histological examinations, introducing a novel differential diagnosis for extradural spinal masses in cats.

The role of wild canids and felids in spreading parasites to dogs and cats in Europe. Part II: Helminths and arthropods

“…Aberrant migrations with ectopic localizations (e.g. body cavities, central nervous system, eye) have been described for both Dirofilaria species (Dantas- Favole et al, 2013).…”

Bilateral femoral arterial dirofilariasis caused byDirofilaria immitisin a dog

“…Canine heartworm disease typically presents with clinical signs of cough, weight loss, heart murmur and pulmonary crackles due to the presence of adult worms in the pulmonary arterial tree and, in cases of severe worm burden, in the right atria and ventricle, and the caudal vena cava (Bowman and Atkins 2009). Several case reports have described aberrant migration of adult heartworm to other sites, including the epidural space of the spinal cord, stifle joint, peritoneal cavity, brain, subcutaneous tissue and eye (Schnelle and Jones 1945, Segedy and Hayden 1978, Swist 1980, Hamir 1987, Blass and others 1989, Carastro and others 1992, Hodges and Rishniw 2008, Oh and others 2008, Favole and others 2013). According to published reports, adult heartworms have been identified in the femoral arteries (systemic arterial dirofilariasis) from at least 10 dogs (Burt and others 1977, Stuart and others 1978, Cooley and others 1987, Frank and others 1997, Goggin and others 1997, Slonka and others 1997).…”

Dirofilarioses in cats: European guidelines from the ABCD on prevention and management

“…Aberrant migrations (eg, to body cavities, central nervous system, femoral artery) are rare, but more frequently reported in cats than in dogs and are responsible for effusions or neurological manifestations (eg, blind ness, ataxia, paraparesis, monoparesis, seizures). 1,2,37,38 Acute-onset pelvic limb monoparesis due to femoral thrombo embolism was caused in a cat by a 13 cm adult female heartworm extending from the caudal abdominal aorta into the right external iliac and femoral arteries. 38 Interestingly, HWD had been diagnosed in this cat 3 years earlier when it was evaluated for cough and successfully treated with prednisolone.…”