Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Early signs and diagnosis of heartworm in farm dogs in Armenia
By R. V. Slobodyanik & A. L. Kryazhev·Published in Российский паразитологический журнал·2020·Vologda State Dairy Academy named after N. V. Vereshchagin, RU·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: The Main Clinical Signs and Early Diagnosis of Canine Dirofilariosis in the Veterinary Practice of Farms in the Republic of Armenia
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that 8.5% of dogs on farms in Armenia are infected with heartworm (Dirofilaria spp.), particularly affecting dogs aged 5 to 8 years. Common symptoms of heartworm in dogs include coughing, lethargy, and difficulty breathing. The researchers tested various methods for diagnosing this condition and found that the Asan Easy Test Heartworm and SNAP 4Dx Plus Test were the most effective for detecting heartworm in the blood. Early diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment, which can help improve the health of affected dogs.
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Abstract
The purpose of the research is to determine the main clinical signs of dirofilariosis in dogs, taking into account the peculiarities of animal exploitation and to analyze the efficacy and convenience of using some diagnostic techniques. Materials and methods. The main clinical signs of dirofilariosis in dogs on the farms of Armenia have been studied. The presence of microfilariae was determined in native smears and using a modified Knott method. We also used the Asan Easy Test Heartworm and SNAP 4Dx Plus Test one-step cassette rapid tests for visual detection of Dirofilaria spp. antigen in blood serum. Results and discussion. 8.5% of dogs in the farms of the Republic of Armenia are infected with Dirofilaria sp. The most infected were dogs aged 5–8 years (75%). The main symptomatic signs of dirofilariosis in dogs were established in the specific conditions of the studied region and the specifics of the specific exploitation of animals. It has been established that the immunochromatographic test systems Asan Easy Test Heartworm and SNAP 4Dx Plus Test for visual detection of canine Dirofilaria spp. antigen in blood serum are the most effective for the diagnosis of dirofilariosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.31016/1998-8435-2020-14-3-63-68