Echocardiographic Diagnosis of Heartworm Disease (Dirofilaria immitis) in a Dog

Year 2007, Issue: 3, 1 - 10, 31.12.2007

Yücel Meral , Utku Bakırel , Duygu Çakıroğlu

Abstract

This
case report describes a 6 year old male Dobermann referred to our clinic
(Đstanbul University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine) with compleints of
shivering, polydipsia, sneezing, chronic dry cough, mouth breathing, apathie
and diagnosed with echocardiography as Dirofilariasis based on the clinical and
laboratory examinations in Turkey. Clinical pathological irregularities in
pulse rate (60/min), respirations number (78/ min), and capillary refill time (
>2sc), while haematologic values of the case were between the reference
intervals. CK (554 IU/ L) and LDH (763 IU/L) enzyme activities were  high. Electrocardiographic examinations
indicated deep Q  (-1mV / lead II)  and S waves 
(-1 mV / lead II), P-pulmonale (3mV / lead II) and notching in R waves,
where,   echocardiographic examinations
revealed right atrial  and vent-ricular
dilatation  with mature D. immitis   bodies at the pulmonery artery, right
ventricule and right atrium. In conclusion, we suggest that routine
echocardiographic examinations will be beneficial in confirming  D. Đmmitis sus-picion based on clinical and
electrocardiographic evaluations. 

Keywords

Canine heartworm, Dirofilaria immitis, echocardiograph

References

• 1.Ağaoğlu, Z.T., Şahin, A.: Van’da Dirofilaria immitis. YYÜ Vet Fak Derg 3: 117-121, 1992.
• 2.Aktins CA, DeFrancesco TC, Miller M: Prevalance of heartworm infection in cats with cardiorespiratory abnormalities. JAVMA. 212, 517-20, 1998.
• 3.Arita, N.: Diagnostic importance of transesophageal echocardiography on heartworm disease in dogs. Bulletin of Nippon Vet and Ani Sci Univ, (52), 86-88, 2003.
• 4.Asano, K., Suzuki, K., Asano, R., Sakai, T.: Comparison of results of three commercial heartworm antigen test kits in dogs with low heartworm burdens. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1;222(9): 1221-1223, 2003.
• 5.Badertscher RR, Losonsky JM, Paul AJ: Two-dimensional echocardiography for diagnosis of in nine dogs. JAVMA, 193: 843-46, 1988.
• 6.Börkü, M.K., Kurtdede, A., Azizoğlu, D., Kilit, M.: Dirofilaria immitis ile doğal enfekte köpeklerde Thiacetarsamide sodium uygulamaları. AÜ Vet Fak Derg. 43(2): 247-256, 1996.
• 7.Brunner, C.Y., Henrix, C.M., Blagburn, B.L., Hannahan, L.A.: Comparision of serologic tests for detection of heartworm infection. JAVMA. 192 (10): 1423-1427, 1998.
• 8.Çakıroğlu, D. Meral, Y. : Samsun Bölgesinde, Köpeklerde Dirofilaria Đmmitis Enfestasyonu Đnsidansı Đncelenmesi. JIVS ;2:1-12, 2007.
• 9.Calvert, C.A., Rawlings CA.: Canine heartworm disease. In: Kirk, R.W.,ed.Current Veterinary Therapy VIII. W.B. Saunders. Philedelphia, London, Toronto. 348, 1983.J
• 10.Calvert, C.A., Losonsky, J.M., Brown, J., Lewis, R.F.: Comparisions of radiographic and electrocardiographic abnormalities in canine heartworm disease. Vet Radiol.27 (1): 2-7, 1986. 15-
• 11.Cantoray, R., Dik, B., Gülbahçe, S.: Konya’da dört köpekte saptanan Dirofilaria immitis (Leidy 1856) olgusu. Veterinarium. 1(2): 28-32, 1990.
• 12.Coşkun, Ş.Z., Tınar, R., Akyol, Ç.V., Aydın, L., Demir, C.: Doğal enfekte köpeklerde Dirofilaria immitis mikrofilerlerine ivermektinin etkisi. UÜ Vet Fak Derg. 2(11): 121-127, 1992.
• 13.Courtney, C.H., Cornell, C.A.: Evaluation of heartworm immunodiagnostic tests. JAVMA. 197 (6): 724-729, 1990.
• 14.DeFrancesco,T.C., Atkins, C.A., Miller, M.W., Meurs, K.M., Keene, B.W.: Use of echocardiography for the diagnosis of heartworm disease in cats: 43 cases (1985–1997). JAVMA, 218, (1): 66-69, 2001.
• 15.Grene, R.T., Rennet, R.A., Woody, D.: Evaluation of a microfiller technique and two serologic test used in the diagnosis of canine heartworm disease. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 22: 153-156, 1986.
• 16.Güralp, N.: Helmintoloji. Đkinci Baskı, A.Ü. Basımevi, Ankara. 1981
• 17.Jackson, R.F., Lichtenberg, F., Otb, G.I.: Occurance of adult heartworms in the vena cavae of dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 141: 117-121, 1992.
• 18.Kitagawo, H., Ishiao, K., Kawokomi, M.: Cardiopulmonary fonction values before and after heartworm removed in dogs with caval syndrome. Am J Vet Res. 52 (1): 126-132, 1991.
• 19.Kotoni, J., Powers, K.G.: Developmental stages of Dirofilaria immitis in the dog. Am J Vet Res. 43: 2199-2206, 1982.
• 20.Mc Tier, T.: A guide to selecting adult heartworm antigen test kits. Vet Med. 6:528-543, 1994.
• 21.Narine, K., Brennan, B., Gilfillan, I., Hodge, A.: Human pulmonary dirofilariasis: review of the literature. South Med J. 92(3): 276-279, 1999.
• 22.Lombard CW, Acerman N: Right heart enlargement in heartworm-infected dogs. a radiographic, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic correlation Vet. Radiol Ultrasound, 25:210, 1984.
• 23.Oge, H., Doganay, A., Oge, S., Yildirim, A.: Prevalence and distribution of Dirofilaria immitis in domestic dogs from Ankara and vicinity in Turkey. Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr. 110(2): 69-72, 2003.
• 24.Pamukçu, A.M., Ertürk, E.: 1933-1960 yılları arasında Ankara ve yöresinde köpekler de görülen hastalıklara toplu bir bakış. AÜ Vet Fak Derg. 8: 323-346, 1962.
• 25. Pierto C, Venco L, Simon F: Feline heartworm (Driofilaria immitis) infection: detection of spesific IgG for the diagnosis of occult infection. Vet. Parasitol., 70 : 209-17, 1997.
• 26. Polizopoulou, Z.S., Koutinas, A.F., Saridomichelakis, M.N., Patsikas, M.N., Leontidis, L.S., Roubies, N.A., Desiris, A.K.: Clinical and laboratory observations in 91 dogs infected with Dirofilaria immitis in northern Greece. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1:216(5): 693-700, 2000.
• 27.Rawlings, C.A.: Cardiopulmonary function in the dog with Dirofilaria Đmmitis: During infection and after treatment. Am J Vet Res. 41: 319-325, 1980.
• 28.Rodrigues, S.R., Guerra, R.J., Almeida, F.B., Machado-Silva, J.R., Paiva, D.D.: Human pulmonary dirofilariasis at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: a case report. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop, 37(1): 56-59, 2004.
• 29.Selby, L.A., Corvin, R.M., Hayes, H.M.: Risk factors associated with canine heartworm infection. JAVMA. 176 (1): 33-35,1980.
• 30.Stuart, B.P., Hoss, E., Root, C.E.: Ischemic myopathy associated with systemic dirofilariasis. J Am Anim Hosp Ass. 14: 36-39, 1978.
• 31.Thilsted, J.P., Whaton, S., Hibbs, C.M., Tillson, G.P., Stell, R., Sesorne, M.:Comparision of four serotest for the detection of Dirofilaria immitis infections in dogs. Am J Vet Res. 48 (5): 837-841, 1987.
• 32.Tınar, R., Coşkun, Ş.Z., Doğan, H., Demir, S., Akyol, Ç.V., Aydın, L.: Bursa yöresi köpeklerinde görülen helmint türleri ve bunların yayılışı. T Parazitoloji Derg. 13 (3-4): 113-120,1989.
• 33.Tilley, L.P., Canine and Feline Electrocardiography. 3 ed., Lea - Febiger;Philadelphia,67-68, 1992.