Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Unusual heartworm infection signs in four sick dogs
By Sevimli, Feride Kircali et al.·Published in Parasitology research·2007·Department of Parasitology·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs: unusually located and unusual findings.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Four dogs were hospitalized due to poor health and were found to be infected with heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis), which can cause serious issues. The dogs showed signs of mild to moderate anemia and had abnormal blood test results. One dog had heartworms located in unusual places, including the right ventricle of the heart and the lungs, and another dog was also diagnosed with lung cancer. The study highlights the importance of testing for heartworms in dogs that show symptoms of pneumonia or tumors, as these infections can be overlooked.
People also search for: dog heartworm symptoms · dog pneumonia treatment · heartworm testing for dogs · dog cancer and heartworm connection
Abstract
Clinical, blood, serum biochemistry, and parasitological assessments were performed on four hospitalized dogs, not in good general condition, in a study carried out to determine the prevalence of general parasitic infections. Hematological and biochemical parameters and electrocardiographic recording of the animals were determined during the general clinical examinations. Four dogs were indicated to have been infected with Dirofilaria immitis by using modified Knott's method, and the microfilarial density was determined. Mild to moderate anemia and decrease in sedimentation velocity were established in dogs. Differences in other hematological and biochemical values between the dogs were determined. Right axis deviation was determined in a dog. D. immitis was encountered in the right ventricle, bronchus, and the pericardial sac at the end of the necropsy. On the other hand, in the histopathological examinations, pulmonary adenocarcinoma deriving from bronchial epithelium was identified in a dog, and microfilaria was encountered in bronchial and bronchiolar lumens, interstitium of the lungs, and bile ducts. D. immitis has not been considered in the diagnosis of dogs with pneumonia and tumors. The requirement of parasitological examination with respect to D. immitis in the diagnosis of dogs with tumor or pneumonia has been considered vital.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17659383/