Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Occurrence of Dirofilaria immitis infection in shelter cats in the lower Rio Grande Valley region in South Texas, United States, using integrated diagnostic approaches.
- Journal:
- Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports
- Year:
- 2023
- Authors:
- Mosley, Ilana A et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences · United States
Plain-English summary
This study looked at heartworm infections in shelter cats in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, where many stray animals don’t get regular veterinary care. Heartworm, caused by a parasite spread by mosquitoes, can be serious for cats, but it often goes unnoticed. Researchers tested 122 cats using different methods to check for the infection, finding that 18% of them had heartworm at least once in their tests. Most infections were found through antibody testing, while fewer were detected by other methods. The study suggests that veterinarians should recommend heartworm prevention for cats all year round.
Abstract
Dirofilaria immitis is a mosquito-borne filarioid nematode that affects dogs and cats. Although heartworm infections in cats can be fatal, it is commonly neglected by cat owners and veterinarians. Moreover, diagnosing heartworm infection in cats can be challenging, requiring the integration of multiple laboratorial tests and clinical examination. The objective of this study was to estimate the occurrence of D. immitis infection in shelter cats in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (RGV) region of Texas using a combination of immunodiagnostic and molecular methods. The RGV has a large population of stray animals with limited access to veterinary care. One hundred and twenty-two paired samples of serum and DNA extracted from the blood clots of cats from 14 towns in this region were analyzed. Serum samples were used for heartworm antibody detection (Heska® Solo Step®), and heartworm antigen detection using a commercial ELISA kit (DiroCHEK®) pre- and post-immune-complex dissociation (ICD) via heat treatment. A species-specific probe-based qPCR assay targeting a fragment of the cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1 of the mitochondrial DNA was utilized to detect the presence of parasite DNA. Twenty-two cats (18%) were positive in at least one diagnostic test. Antibody testing detected most cases (19/122; 15.6%); pre- and post-ICD antigen testing detected 6 cases (6/122; 4.9%); and qPCR detected the fewest cases (4/122; 3.3%), with 2 cats positive on all three diagnostic tests. Veterinarians should encourage local cat owners to utilize year-round heartworm prevention.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37208080/