The fact that helminths parasitize in the pulmonary arteries and heart will be called dirophylyariasis. Animals that are not examined for helminths for preventive purposes are always at risk. This also includes dogs living in endemic areas who are not given medication for the same prophylactic purpose.
Mosquitoes - if a mosquito has previously bitten a sick animal, the next animal bitten by the insect will be infected. The larva enters the bloodstream of a healthy animal and begins to develop there, followed by reproduction.
The adult, matured specimen lives in the pulmonary artery and multiplies there. In direct contact with helminths, the inner wall of the vessel becomes inflamed, causing it to thicken. This causes disruption of blood flow, resulting in pulmonary hypertension. Vascular congestion can also be caused by dead helminths, as well as by fibrin clots.
In dogs, approximately 75% of the larvae in the third stage survive, whereas in cats it is only 1-10%.While dogs are diagnosed with microfilariaemia, in cats the rate in the blood is not significant.In dogs, an adult can live up to 5 years, while in a cat it is 2-4 years, no more. At the same time in dogs it is from 10 to 15 helminths (adults) ranging in size from 18 cm to 30 cm (if it is a female), when in cats not more than 5 much smaller.Signs that an animal has helminths:
As shown, 20% of dogs suffer from hollow vein syndrome, which becomes life-threatening. Their mucosa becomes pale, the animal is lethargic, its breathing becomes rapid.
If you take a blood test, you can see a decrease in hemoglobin;if there are very small amounts of helminths in the animal's body, the signs of the disease may be absent at all;How the disease is diagnosed
Laboratory method, in which the animal is taken from the blood, swab.Modified Knott's method - it is most effective in the early stage of the disease.Radiography - when the right ventricle of the heart is enlarged it may indicate this disease.Echocardiography - the number of helminths with this method can not be calculated, but their presence in the body can still be determined.PREVENTIVE MEASURESDrugs of the macrocyclic group of lactones are used for preventive purposes. Prophylaxis can be started from the moment when the animal reaches 8 months of age.