Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Heartworm and other infections in dogs and cats in Rio de Janeiro
By Mendes-de-Almeida, Flavya et al.·Published in Acta parasitologica·2021·Departamento de Patologia e Clí, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Infection with Dirofilaria immitis and Other Infections in Cats and Dogs from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: The Need for Prophylactic Enforcement.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study in Rio de Janeiro found that 7% of dogs and 0.9% of cats tested positive for heartworm disease, a serious infection spread by mosquitoes. Additionally, 4.3% of cats had feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and 11.9% had feline leukemia virus (FeLV), both of which can be life-threatening. Among dogs, 27.1% showed signs of Ehrlichia infection and 9.8% had Anaplasma infection, both spread by ticks. The findings highlight the importance of regular testing and preventive measures to protect pets from these infections.
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Abstract
PURPOSE: Dirofilaria immitis, a mosquito-borne nematode that primarily infects dogs, can equally infect cats. Although there have been numerous studies on canine heartworm prevalence in Brazil, there have been few studies on feline infections. Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) are both life-threatening retroviruses transmitted directly between cats. Infections with Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp. are highly prevalent among dogs in Brazil, with Rhipicephalus sanguineus being the main vector for both bacteria. This study aimed to gather information on these infections among dogs and cats in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro by performing rapid point-of-care tests for prophylactic enforcement. METHODS: Surplus samples of serum or plasma from private laboratories were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (SNAP Feline Triple Test or SNAP 4Dx Plus Test). RESULTS: The prevalence of heartworm disease was 7% among dogs and 0.9% among cats, the latter being 12.9% of the former. The prevalence of FIV and FeLV was 4.3 and 11.9%, respectively. Among dogs, the seroprevalence of Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp. was 27.1 and 9.8%, respectively, and Borrelia burgdorferi was not detected. CONCLUSION: Given that such infections circulate among pets, prophylactic measures should be encouraged by small animal practitioners.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33733387/