Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Heartworm infection found in stray cats in Ulsan Korea
By Kim, Jihyun et al.·Published in Parasites, hosts and diseases·2026·Lee Seungjin Animal Medical Center, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Feline heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) infection in stray cats in Ulsan, Korea.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Two stray cats in Ulsan, Korea, were found to have heartworm infection, which is rare but serious. One cat was successfully treated for heartworm-related breathing problems and stayed healthy for four years after diagnosis. Unfortunately, the second cat showed signs of adult heartworms and died suddenly after being symptom-free for a year. This highlights the importance of recognizing heartworm disease in cats, as symptoms can vary and some cats may not show any signs at all.
People also search for: cat heartworm symptoms · stray cat heartworm treatment · heartworm prevention for cats
Abstract
Feline heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) infection is an uncommon but clinically significant disease in Korea. A retrospective review of electronic medical records from a secondary referral animal hospital in Ulsan, Korea, identified 2 antigen-positive (1.5%) cases among 130 stray cats tested between 2019 and 2023, while no infections were detected in 298 client-owned cats. As antigen testing may yield false-negative results in cats with male-only infections, the true prevalence is likely underestimated. This report describes the clinical and echocardiographic findings of 2 infected stray cats. Case 1 involved successful long-term management of heartworm-associated respiratory disease, with the cat remaining healthy for 4 years following diagnosis. Case 2 demonstrated persistent evidence of adult heartworms and sudden death after an asymptomatic period of 1 year. Echocardiography in Case 2 revealed multiple hyperechoic double lines within the pulmonary arteries, consistent with intraluminal adult worms. These cases illustrate the diagnostic challenges and variable clinical outcomes of feline heartworm infection, emphasizing the need for increased awareness in Korea.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41668261/