Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Heartworm larvae found in dog's urine in Italy case
By Perles, Livia et al.·Published in Parasitology research·2024·Department of Veterinary Medicine, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Microfilaruria of Dirofilaria immitis in a dog from Italy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 17-year-old mixed-breed female dog in Italy was brought to the vet for blood in her urine and difficulty urinating. During the exam, the vet found signs of heart problems and breathing distress. An ultrasound showed issues with her bladder, and tests confirmed she had heartworm disease, with heartworms found in her heart and even in her urine. This case highlights that heartworms can sometimes be found in unexpected places, so it's important for vets to do thorough checks in areas where heartworm is common. The dog’s treatment would typically involve medications to kill the heartworms and manage her symptoms.
People also search for: dog blood in urine · heartworm disease in dogs · treatment for dog heartworm · why is my dog having trouble urinating
Abstract
Dirofilaria immitis is a mosquito-borne nematode-causing canine heartworm disease, with adult worms localized in the pulmonary arteries and right heart. In rare cases, ectopic migration might occur, and adults and blood circulating microfilariae can be found in unusual organs or fluids (e.g., eyes, abdominal cavity, bone marrow, and urine). A 17-year-old mixed-breed female dog was presented in a private veterinary clinic in Italy for hematuria and dysuria. Physical examination showed cardiac mitral murmur with marked respiratory distress and cyanotic mucous membranes after handling. Abdominal ultrasounds revealed a non-specific chronic cystopathy, while the echocardiography showed enlargement of the right heart associated with tricuspid insufficiency and mitral regurgitation, with the presence of an adult filariae in the right ventricular chamber. Circulating microfilariae were observed in the blood smear and molecularly identified as D. immitis. Unusual microfilaruria was detected in the urine sediment. Data presented raise awareness about the occurrence of microfilariae in unusual locations, such as the bladder, suggesting the need of a thorough clinical and laboratory assessment where D. immitis is endemic.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38647713/