Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with heartworm infection showing breathing trouble in Brazil
By S. Barbosa et al.·Published in Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia·2023·View original on Semantic Scholar →
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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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 parasite infection in cats: first case reported in the Legal Amazon region, Brazil - case report
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A cat in Brazil was brought to the vet showing signs of being tired, not eating, having trouble breathing, and appearing slightly dehydrated. Tests revealed that the cat had a heartworm infection caused by a parasite called Dirofilaria immitis, which was affecting its heart and lungs. The vet confirmed the diagnosis through blood tests and X-rays, which showed heart enlargement and lung issues. Treatment for heartworm in cats can be complicated, but recognizing the signs early is crucial for better outcomes.
People also search for: cat breathing problems · heartworm infection in cats · why is my cat not eating · cat heart disease symptoms
Abstract
ABSTRACT A case of infection with Dirofilaria immitis in a cat is reported here with clinical signs of apathy, anorexia, dyspnea, polypnea, slight dehydration and pale mucus membranes. The radiographic examination showed cardiomegaly, lobar arteries dilation of the cranial lobes and tortuosity, enlargement of the caudal lobar arteries. In the right lobe of the lung parenchyma, interstitial pulmonary opacification tending to alveolar opacification was seen. The clinical signs, the movements, and the morphology of the microfilariae in the direct examination of fresh blood, peripheral blood smear and Knott’s modified test supported the diagnosis. We alert to the need for clinicians to consider feline heartworm diseases as a differential diagnosis in endemic areas when cats show respiratory signs.
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 Semantic Scholar: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/7239ec5faaa892766f8fc8295e002d67d8384b76