Case report: dirofilariasis in a dog
Arnold, P.; Deplazes, P.; Ruckstuhl, H.; Fluckiger, M.
Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde 136(8): 265-269
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7281 PMID: 8091180 Document Number: 426261
A 12-year-old male Siberian Husky from the Milan region with a history of weight loss and fatigue was presented. Clinical examinations revealed increased vesicular sounds and dyspnoea after physical exercise, as the only abnormal findings. Radiologically demonstrated changes of the pulmonary arteries led to a tentative diagnosis of dirofilariosis. The parasitological diagnosis based on serology and the morphology of microfilariae isolated from the blood indicated an infection by microfilariae and adult stages of Dirofilaria immitis. After premedication with Aspirin, the patient was treated against adult filariae with Caparsolat (thiacetarsamide i.v.), and a month later with Ivermectin. Five months after initiation of therapy, the dog was clinically healthy and free of any demonstrable infection with Dirofilaria. In another case of a clinically normal 6-year-old male Husky from the same kennel D. repens microfilariae and Trichuris vulpis infection were diagnosed. Trichuris infestation was treated with fenbendazole, however dirofilariosis was not treated because of the risk of severe side effects of the macrofilaricide. Ivermectin tablets were suggested to be given monthly to the dogs as they were kept in an area wher dirofilariasis was endemic.