Dirofilaria

What is Heartworm? Heartworm disease is caused by the parasitic roundworm known as Dirofilaria Immitis. A parasite is an organism that lives in or on another organism (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the host's expense. Over 70 species of mosquitos can serve as an intermediate host of which the most common carriers would be the Aedes, Anopheles and Culex. It is commonly diagnosed in dogs but can also affect cats as well as ferrets. Infections are also possible in wild animals such as wolves, coyotes, foxes, California gray seals, sea lions and raccoons. On rare occasions, dog heartworms will infect human beings. The parasite, Dirofilaria immitis, is spread dog to dog by mosquitoes. When a mosquito obtains a blood meal from an infected dog and then goes on to bite the owner, it is common for some of the heartworm larva to be transferred to the human. Therefore, Heartworm Disease can be considered zoonotic (Diseases passed from animals to man). In a normal person, the body’s immune system quickly recognizes the parasite and destroys it. In rare instances, however, the larval heartworm manages to migrate to the person’s lungs where the dying parasite stimulates an inflammatory lesion called a “coin lesion”. There have been 100 known cases in the United…

Heartworms are parasitic worms that live in the heart of a dog and is found in areas where mosquitos are prevalent, such as waterways, and coastlines. These worms are called heartworms because the adults live in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels of an infected animal.Heartworms are common in dogs throughout the United States . It matures into adults and produce offsprings while living inside a dog. A dog can have up to 250 worms in its system if not treated in time. When this disease is…

Parasites, whether endoparasites or ectoparasites, cause diseases in animals. The Dirofilaria immitis causes Heartworm disease. Canines that live outdoors has a greater risk of mosquito exposure than any canine that primarily lives indoors. Female mosquitoes feed on the canine’s blood, and if the canine is infected with L1 microfilaria, the mosquito sucks up the larvae that lives in the blood. The next canine that the mosquito takes a blood meal from will be infected with the L3 larvae. This…

Heartworms in dogs is a disease caused by parasitic intestinal worms, worm Dirofilaria immitis that invade and proliferate in the heart so often called the heartworms disease. However, the worms can also attack the heart, lungs and kidneys. There are five types of worms that should alert the owner of the dog, namely: heartworms, and four types of intestinal worms include roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and whipworms. Your local veterinarian will know which worms are often found in the area…

initially presents as a deep-seated swelling that ulcerates and forms a necrotic base with blood and pus. A myriad of helminthic diseases can present with various dermatologic signs and symptoms such as skin nodules, migratory skin lesions, cysts and itching. Various cestode or tapeworm species (such as Taenia solium, Echinococcus granulosus and Spirometra spp.) may form cysts under the skin. Infestation with different nematode or roundworm species (most often zoonotic species that…