Understanding Feline Heartworm Infection: Disease, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Lee, Alice C.Y.; Atkins, Clarke E.

doi:10.1053/j.tcam.2010.09.003

Cited by 70 publications

(113 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The result is a nonfunctioning lung and an acute respiratory distress syndrome that is often misdiagnosed as asthma or allergic bronchitis but that is actually part of a syndrome known as heartworm-associated respiratory disease (Fig. 10B) (225). This term was coined to describe the lesions associated with the arrival and death of immature heartworms and can also be used for cats that develop the same symptoms due to the presence of adult heartworms (116).…”

Section: Clinical Features Of Human and Animal Dirofilariasis Heartwomentioning

confidence: 99%

Human and Animal Dirofilariasis: the Emergence of a Zoonotic Mosaic

et al. 2012

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SUMMARY Dirofilariasis represents a zoonotic mosaic, which includes two main filarial species ( Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens ) that have adapted to canine, feline, and human hosts with distinct biological and clinical implications. At the same time, both D. immitis and D. repens are themselves hosts to symbiotic bacteria of the genus Wolbachia , the study of which has resulted in a profound shift in the understanding of filarial biology, the mechanisms of the pathologies that they produce in their hosts, and issues related to dirofilariasis treatment. Moreover, because dirofilariasis is a vector-borne transmitted disease, their distribution and infection rates have undergone significant modifications influenced by global climate change. Despite advances in our knowledge of D. immitis and D. repens and the pathologies that they inflict on different hosts, there are still many unknown aspects of dirofilariasis. This review is focused on human and animal dirofilariasis, including the basic morphology, biology, protein composition, and metabolism of Dirofilaria species; the climate and human behavioral factors that influence distribution dynamics; the disease pathology; the host-parasite relationship; the mechanisms involved in parasite survival; the immune response and pathogenesis; and the clinical management of human and animal infections.

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Section: Clinical Features Of Human and Animal Dirofilariasis Heartwomentioning

confidence: 99%

Human and Animal Dirofilariasis: the Emergence of a Zoonotic Mosaic

et al. 2012

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“…Domestic cats can be infected with heartworms in a similar manner as dogs, even if the frequency of infection is lower and the heartworm's lifespan is shorter [19]. There are two main phases of infection: (1) the arrival of immature worms in the pulmonary arterial vessels and (2) the death of adult heartworms [20].…”

Section: Iris-apertomentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Generally, most of the immature worms reach the caudal pulmonary arteries, die and induce a strong vascular and parenchymal inflammatory response known as heartworm-associated respiratory disease [19]. Adult heartworms seem to have an anti-inflammatory effect that minimizes clinical signs in infected cats [20] and the animals may be asymptomatic until they show acute respiratory distress or sudden death caused by deterioration, death, and embolization of worms or worm fragments [19].…”

Section: Iris-apertomentioning

confidence: 99%

Pulmonary artery dissection causing haemothorax in a cat: potential role of Dirofilaria immitis infection and literature review

Biasato

Tursi

Zanet

et al. 2017

Journal of Veterinary Cardiology

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“…Currently available heartworm antibody tests can detect feline infection as early as 1 to 2 months after infection, and are useful as the infection develops in cats that may be antigennegative but have heartworms that have developed to at least the immature adult L4 stage (Lee et al 2010). However, antibody test sensitivity is unpredictable in cats with early as well as late infections (Snyder et al 2000) and may be positive in cats that are placed on preventative medications after initiation of the infection (Dillon et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Immature adult heartworms reaching the pulmonary arteries at approximately 2.5 -4.0 months post infection can cause significant lung pathology in infected cats, a condition referred to as heartworm-associated respiratory disease or HARD ). This stage is associated with an intense immune response, which results in the elimination of most of the immature worms and occurs regardless of whether adult worms are present or will develop at some future time (Dillon et al 2008, Lee et al 2010, Maia et al 2011.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal Pattern of Circulating Antigens and Antibody Responses in Cats Experimentally Infected with Dirofilaria immitis

et al. 2017

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Heartworm disease in cats has been attributed to immature adult heartworms reaching the pulmonary arteries approximately 2.5 -4 months post infection and the presence of mature adult worms in the cardiopulmonary system approximately 6 months after infection. The arrival and death of immature heartworms causes significant lung pathology, a condition referred to as heartwormassociated respiratory disease (HARD). To evaluate the humoral immune response to Dirofilaria immitis, 12 cats were each infected by subcutaneous injection of 100 third-stage larvae. Postinfection serum samples were collected weekly for 4 weeks, every other week for the following 4 weeks, then monthly to day 270 for evaluation of antibodies to D. immitis recombinant antigens HWAg-1 and HWAg-2 and circulating heartworm antigen (HWAg) using the PetChek ® HTWM PF Test Kit (IDEXX Laboratories). Necropsies were performed 278 -299 days post infection for collection of adult worms. Eleven cats were HWAg-1 antibody-positive 68 days post-infection, and the remaining cat became positive by day 140. Eleven cats were positive for HWAg-2 antibody 42 -84 days post infection; all 11 remained HWAg-2 antibodypositive through day 270. Circulating HWAg was detected in 10 cats, 2 by day 140 and 8 others by day 168. The 2 antigen-negative cats had no adult worms at necropsy. This study demonstrates that decomposition of immature adult heartworms can result in detectible levels of circulating antigen prior to sexual maturation. In this experimental Original Article S92EndoparasitEs model, D. immitis antigen was detectable in cats at time points (days 140 and 168) associated with HARD from dying immature adult heartworms.

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Understanding Feline Heartworm Infection: Disease, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Cited by 70 publications

References 23 publications

Human and Animal Dirofilariasis: the Emergence of a Zoonotic Mosaic

Human and Animal Dirofilariasis: the Emergence of a Zoonotic Mosaic

Pulmonary artery dissection causing haemothorax in a cat: potential role of Dirofilaria immitis infection and literature review

Temporal Pattern of Circulating Antigens and Antibody Responses in Cats Experimentally Infected with Dirofilaria immitis

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