Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Is heartworm disease linked to allergy in cats
By Sara N. García-Rodríguez et al.·Published in Parasites & Vectors·2023·Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, GB·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Feline heartworm disease and environmental allergens hypersensitivity: is there a link?
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study found that cats with heartworm disease (caused by the parasite Dirofilaria immitis) often show respiratory symptoms and are more likely to have allergies to environmental triggers. Out of 120 cats tested, 60% were positive for heartworm, and nearly half showed respiratory issues. Additionally, over 50% of these cats were also allergic to common allergens like dust mites and yeast. The research suggests that cats with heartworm are at a significantly higher risk of developing allergies, which can worsen their respiratory problems. Treatment for heartworm typically involves medication to eliminate the parasite, but managing allergies may require additional steps.
People also search for: cat heartworm symptoms · cat allergies treatment · respiratory problems in cats · heartworm disease in cats · cat allergy to dust mites
Abstract
Abstract Background Cats can be infected by Dirofilaria immitis, the causative agent of heartworm disease, characterized by respiratory signs, airway hyperreactivity, remodelling and inflammation. Allergy is a multifactorial pathology, and the role of a number of helminth parasites in the development of allergies in humans and other species has been demonstrated in many studies. The aim of the present study was to verify whether cats seropositive for D. immitis present hypersensitivity to some environmental allergens. Methods Blood samples were collected from 120 cats and tested for the presence of specific immunoglobulin G antibodies against D. immitis and for hypersensitivity to 20 allergens, using commercial allergen test kits. Results Of the 120 cats tested, 72 (60.0%) were seropositive for anti-D. immitis IgG and 55 (45.8%) showed clinical signs of heartworm disease of a respiratory nature. The results of testing with the allergen kits showed that 50.8% of cats were seropositive for ≥ 1 allergens, with the most common allergens being Dermatophagoides farinae (25.8%), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (20.0%), Malassezia (17.5%) and Ctenocephalides felis (14.2%). The prevalence of allergies was significantly higher—by almost threefold—in cats seropositive for D. immitis (68.1% vs. 25%). There were no significant differences between the prevalence of allergic cats and presence/absence of symptoms, and the results confirmed that symptoms were not a decisive factor for the presence of allergies. The risk for developing allergies was 6.3-fold higher in cats seropositive for D. immitis than in cats that were seronegative, confirming that seropositivity for D. immitis is a risk factor. Conclusions Cats with confirmed heartworm can develop serious respiratory signs, potentially leading to progression to permanent lung injury and predisposing cats to hyperresponsive airway disease. Previous studies have shown that seropositivity for D. immitis and Wolbachia is related to the presence of bronchoconstriction and bronchospasm in the affected cat. The results support the suspicion that contact with D. immitis may be a risk factor for the presence of allergies. Graphical abstract
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05776-3