Really scary dog filariasis! Filariasis preventive medicine is a must-have item.

Published by Petkusuri Master — 11-25-2022 01:11:03 AM


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About filariasis

Do you know a parasite called heartworm?

This parasite, also known as filariasis, is transmitted by mosquitoes and infects a dog's heart.


Filariasis is a dreaded mosquito-borne parasitic disease that can infect all dogs.

By the time symptoms appear, the disease is often in the terminal stage and cannot be cured.


Preventive medicine is very important because filariasis can be infected anywhere in Japan.


I think there are many people who take preventive measures for their dogs once a month, but what kind of disease is filariasis?

Even if you know the name, there are few owners who know the details.


Here, I will explain again about the question of filariasis that I can not ask now.


Infection route and life cycle of filariae

If you've ever owned a dog, you may have heard the name heartworm.

Filariasis (dog heartworm) is a parasitic disease that is recommended for prevention with oral medicines and injections.


However, it seems that there are still outbreaks in Japan, probably because prevention awareness is not yet widespread in some areas.


We know that mosquito-borne heart infections are common, but many people don't know exactly what the symptoms are and what they need to look out for. will be split.


Proper knowledge of canine filariasis could change future perceptions of prevention.



Filariasis maintains its life cycle through the following steps.


1. Heartworms live in the pulmonary arteries of the heart.


2. About 6-7 months after infestation, adult females give birth to larvae (microfilariae).


3. Microfilariae live in dog blood that is inhaled by mosquitoes.


4. Once inside the mosquito, the microfilariae grow and become L3 (third-stage larvae) after two molts.


5. L3 moves to the mosquito's proboscis and waits for an opportunity to infect.


6. When a mosquito bites another dog, L3 moves into the dog's body. L3 does not yet enter the blood.


7. Within subcutaneous tissue, muscle and fat, L3 develops over about 3 months and migrates to blood vessels.


8. Larvae returning to the right ventricle of the heart mature in the pulmonary arteries, 1. back to



Overview and Symptoms of Filariasis

Dirofilariasis, also known as filariasis, is caused by filariasis.

Heartworm is also called heartworm.


Adult heartworms, which are very similar to somen, grow up to 30 cm in length in the case of females and parasitize the pulmonary arteries of animals. .


Heartworm infestation in dogs causes a variety of symptoms in the body.


・Pulmonary artery parasitism

This is a condition that occurs when adult parasites infest the pulmonary arteries, their natural site of infestation.

Symptoms depend on the number of parasites but include easily getting tired (exercise intolerance), coughing, anemia, difficulty breathing, and ascites.


・Vena cava syndrome

Adult worms migrate from the original site of infestation, the pulmonary artery, to the ostia of the tricuspid valve, impairing tricuspid valve function, resulting in marked circulatory insufficiency and intravascular hemolysis.

The symptoms follow an acute course, with sudden onset of pulmonary edema, hematuria, jaundice, etc., resulting in shock.


・Larvae migratory disease

It occurs when larvae that migrate inside a dog's body invade an organ.

Neurological symptoms such as motor paralysis and convulsions due to invasion of the brain and spinal cord may cause anterior chamber opacification and iritis if they enter the anterior chamber.


・Allergic pneumonia

Many microfilariae die in the capillaries of the lungs, causing eosinophils to accumulate and cause pneumonia and pulmonary edema.


・Glomerulonephritis

A high rate of glomerulonephritis is caused by the deposition of immune complexes involving microfilariae or heartworm adult antigens in the renal glomeruli.

In this case, mild proteinuria is detected.


In this way, filariae circulate in dogs and mosquitoes.

Dirofilariasis is a form of canine filariasis that is transmitted to humans by being bitten by a mosquito carrying larvae of the canine worm.


Heartworm is a deadly disease that kills dogs.


However, dirofilariasis often causes no symptoms in humans and often happens incidentally when an x-ray is done on the chest.


In addition, canine filariasis is a larval migratory disease.

Larval migrans is a general term for diseases in which animal parasites cannot mature in the human body and move from place to place in the larval state.



filariasis in cats

Heartworm is a parasite called heartworm, but recent research has shown that cats can also develop heartworm disease.


Fewer heartworm infestations can cause severe symptoms in cats than in dogs.

This is because a cat's heart and blood vessels are smaller and thinner than a dog's.

Therefore, it may not be possible to perform dog-like treatment.


Also, you can't feel safe even if you keep your cat indoors.


Humans sometimes bring mosquitoes from outside.

Mosquitoes can get into the elevator even on the upper floors.


There is also data that 40% of indoor cats had filariasis larvae.


Of course, there are preventive medicines for cats.

There are medicines that also prevent fleas and ticks, so please consult your veterinarian.

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