Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Heartworm larvae found in joint fluid of two dogs with arthritis
By Hodges, Steven & Rishniw, Mark·Published in Veterinary parasitology·2008·Michigan Veterinary Specialists, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Intraarticular Dirofilaria immitis microfilariae in two dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old mixed-breed dog was brought in with swollen joints and pain, showing signs of polyarthritis (inflammation of multiple joints). Another dog had a swollen joint and was later diagnosed with a type of tumor called synovial sarcoma. Both dogs had Dirofilaria immitis microfilariae, which are baby heartworms, found in their joint fluid, likely due to not being on heartworm prevention. These cases highlight the importance of considering heartworm infection as a possible cause of joint problems in dogs, especially in areas where heartworms are common.
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Abstract
Dirofilaria immitis microfilariae were found in the synovial fluid of two dogs. One dog had clinical and cytological evidence of polyarthritis at the time of presentation. The second dog presented with severe effusion in a single joint and was later diagnosed with synovial sarcoma of the affected joint. These patients were not protected with heartworm prophylaxis and lived in heartworm endemic areas. Though there is documentation of D. immitis microfilaria in the synovial fluid of several clinically normal research dogs with cytologically normal synovial fluid, to our knowledge these are the first documented cases of intraarticular microfilaria in a dog with cytologically confirmed polyarthritis. Based on these unique cases, D. immitis infection should be considered a differential diagnosis in patients with polyarthropathies. Interpretive caution must be used when intraarticular microfilaria are present, as concurrent etiologies may also be present.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18248899/