Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
First case of heartworm infection in a dog in Cape Verde
By Pereira, Cristina et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology·2013·Veteriná·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: First report of Dirofilaria immitis in the Republic of Cape Verde.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old female mongrel dog on Maio Island in Cape Verde was found to have severe swelling in her lymph nodes and was in poor condition. Tests revealed she was infected with Dirofilaria immitis, a parasite that can cause serious heart and lung disease in dogs. This case is significant as it marks the first reported instance of this parasite in Cape Verde, suggesting that other dogs on the island may also be infected. The findings highlight the need for further studies to assess the spread of this disease among local dogs.
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Abstract
In Maio Island, Republic of Cape Verde, a seven-year old mongrel female dog exhibiting severe generalized adenomegaly and a poor body condition was examined during an animal welfare campaign. A blood smear was drawn from peripheral blood collection and several organisms consistent with Dirofilaria immitis microfilariae were identified. Both the antigen test conducted from plasma and the RT-PCR test performed from the blood smear sample were positive for D. immitis. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of D. immitis in Cape Verde. The fact that the dog was autochthonous and had never left the island strongly suggests there might be other animals infected with the parasite. Our finding confirms the existence of the parasite in the canine population and necessarily implies the presence of a competent vector. As a serious cardiopulmonary disease and with the risk of the pathogen spreading rapidly, broader epidemiological studies need to be conducted to determine D. immitis prevalence in the canine population of Maio Island.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23089147/