Single-topic compilations of the information shaping our profession
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March 2010
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Prevalence
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| Seroprevalence of Dirofilaria immitis, feline leukemia virus, and feline immunodeficiency virus infection among dogs and cats exported from the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricane disaster area |
Highlights:
• Lack of veterinary care, abandonment linked
• Plausible that rescued pets have more disease
• Found prevelance same as in general population
 Relocating to low prevalence areas a concern
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| View article (PDF, 704 KB) |
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| Julie K. Levy, Charlotte H. Edinboro, Carmen-Susan Glotfelty, Patricia A. Dingman, Aundria L. West, Kathy D. Kirkland-Cady |
| J Am Vet Med Assoc 2007;231:218-225. July 15, 2007. |
| Prevalence of naturally occurring Dirofilaria immitis infection among nondomestic cats housed in an area in which heartworms are endemic |
Highlights:
• 97 nondomestic cats in endemic area studied
• 76% had evidence of exposure to D immitis
• Mature heartworms were found in 1 cat
Nondomestic cats in endemic areas at risk
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| View article (PDF, 118 KB) |
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| Clarke Atkins, Anneke Moresco, Annette Litster |
| J Am Vet Med Assoc 2005;227:139–143. July 1, 2005. |
| Prevalence of heartworm infection in healthy cats in the lower peninsula of Michigan |
Highlights:
• 1,348 healthy, client-owned cats studied
• Antibody tests did not detect >20% of infected cats
• Geographic distribution paralleled that of dogs
In-clinic antibody tests have limited usefulness
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| View article (PDF, 240 KB) |
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| Tina S. Kalkstein, Lana Kaiser, John B. Kaneene |
| J Am Vet Med Assoc 2000;217:857-861. September 15, 2000. |
| Prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis infection among shelter cats |
Highlights:
• Adult D immitis were found in 2.5% of cats studied
• Postmortem filter tests negative in infected cats
• Postmortem blood positive for antibodies, antigen
Antigen titers may be higher owing to dying worms
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| View article (PDF, 46 KB) |
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| Michael Hermesmeyer, Robyn K. Limberg-Child, Alice J. Murphy, Linda S. Mansfield |
| J Am Vet Med Assoc 2000;217:211-212. July 15, 2000. |
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Diagnosis
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| Heartworm infection in cats: 50 cases (1985-1997) |
Highlights:
• 50 cats with D immitis infection studied
• Dyspnea, cough strongest indicators of disease
• Indoor housing provides incomplete protection
Serologic tests were most useful for diagnosis
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| View article (PDF, 256 KB) |
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| Clarke E. Atkins, Teresa C. DeFrancesco, Julie R. Coats, Jennifer A. Sidley, Bruce W. Keene |
| J Am Vet Med Assoc 2000;217:355-358. August 1, 2000. |
| Comparison of results of three commercial heartworm antigen test kits in dogs with low heartworm burdens |
Highlights:
• Serum tested from dogs with, without heartworms
• Ability of tests to detect low worm burdens differed
• Sensitivity of the test kits ranged from 78 to 84%
All 3 tests yielded false results for some dogs
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| View article (PDF, 69 KB) |
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| Clarke E. Atkins |
| J Am Vet Med Assoc 2003;222:1221-1223. May 1, 2003. |
| Performance of serologic tests used to detect heartworm infection in cats |
Highlights:
• Serologic tests compared to necropsy findings
• Adult D immitis found in 19 of 330 (5.8%) cats
• Combined Ab, Ag test results were more sensitive
Cats may need more than antibody testing
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| View article (PDF, 95 KB) |
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| Patti S. Snyder, Julie K. Levy, Marc E. Salute, Shawn P. Gorman, Paul S. Kubilis, Paul W. Smail, Linda L. George |
| J Am Vet Med Assoc 2000;216:693-700. March 1, 2000. |
| Use of echocardiography for the diagnosis of heartworm disease in cats: 43 cases (1985-1997) |
Highlights:
• Echocardiography was compared to other tests
• Sensitivity lower than serologic testing
• Detected heartworms in 5 Ag-negative cats
Consider echocardiography in Ag-negative cats
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| View article (PDF, 1.7 MB) |
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| Teresa C. DeFrancesco, Clarke E. Atkins, Matthew W. Miller, Kathryn M. Meurs, Bruce W. Keene |
| J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001;218:66-69. January 1, 2001. |
| Pulmonary arterial disease in cats seropositive for Dirofilaria immitis but lacking adult heartworms in the heart and lungs |
Highlights:
• 630 shelter cats in Florida studied
• Pulmonary arterial wall thickness measured
• Arterial lesions more likely in seropositive cats
Cats without adult worms may still be affected |
| View article (PDF, 264 KB) |
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| Leanne E. Browne, Todd D. Carter, Julie K. Levy, Patti S. Snyder, Calvin M. Johnson |
| Am J Vet Res 2005;66:1544–1549. September 2005. |
| Reassessing the definition of heartworm infection in cats (Commentary) |
Highlights:
• New definitions of disease in cats may be needed
• Pulmonary disease found in cats without worms
• Raises questions about definition of "exposure"
Suggests new classifications of infection for cats
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| View article (PDF, 245 KB) |
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| Clarke E. Atkins |
| J Am Vet Med Assoc 2007;231:1338. November 1, 2007. |
| Scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts and histologic examination of pulmonary microvasculature in dogs with dirofilariosis |
Highlights:
• Capillaries in lungs dilated
• Aneurysms, edema seen in small arteries
• Bronchial-pulmonary arterial anastomoses seen
Gives structural explanation for disease in dogs |
| View article (PDF, 6 MB) |
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| Hiroyoshi Ninomiya, Yoshito Wakao |
| Am J Vet Res 2002:63:1538-1544. November 2002. |
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Treatment
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| Outcome of minimally invasive surgical treatment of heartworm caval syndrome in dogs: 42 cases (1999-2007) |
Highlights:
• 42 dogs with heartworm caval syndrome studied
• 21 underwent transvenous heartworm extraction
• 14 were discharged; 7 survived > 24 months
Good prognosis for dogs that survive to discharge
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| View article (PDF, 1.2 MB) |
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| Christina M. Bové, Sonya G. Gordon, Ashley B. Saunders, Matthew W. Miller, Risa M. Roland, Sarah E. Achen, Lori T. Drourr, May M. Boggess |
| J Am Vet Med Assoc 2010;236:187-192. January 15, 2010. |
| Use of a nitinol gooseneck snare catheter for removal of adult Dirofilaria immitis in two cats |
Highlights:
• Procedure performed on 2 cats with heart failure
• Snare catheter introduced via jugular venotomy
• In both cats, clinical signs resolved within 4 weeks
Snare catheter may be safe, effective technique
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| View article (PDF, 386 KB) |
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| Merrilee T. Small, Clarke E. Atkins, Sonya G. Gordon, Adam J. Birkenheuer, Margaret A. Booth-Sayer, Bruce W. Keene, Yoko Fujii, Matthew W. Miller |
| J Am Vet Med Assoc 2008;233:1441-1445. November 1, 2008. |
| Neurologic complications after melarsomine dihydrochloride treatment for Dirofilaria immitis in three dogs |
Highlights:
• Reports given for 3 dogs treated with same drug
• Dogs developed neurologic signs after treatment
• Severity of signs, prognosis may not correlate
Strictly follow manufacturer's recommendations
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| View article (PDF, 179 KB) |
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| Bianca F. Hettlich, Kirk Ryan, Robert L. Bergman, Steven L. Marks, Barbara C. Lewis, Anne Bahr, Joan R. Coates, Joanne Mansell, Claudia L. Barton |
| J Am Vet Med Assoc 2003;223:1456-1461. November 15, 2003. |
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Prevention
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| Safety of moxidectin in avermectin-sensitive Collies |
Highlights:
• Moxidectin given to 18 ivermectin-sensitive Collies
• 10-30x recommended heartworm dose used
• No signs of toxicosis observed up to 1 month later
Wider margin of safety than ivermectin, milbemycin |
| View article (PDF, 47 KB) |
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| Allan J. Paul, William J. Tranquilli, Douglas E. Hutchens |
| Am J Vet Res 2000;61:482-483. May 2000. |
| Activity of an injectable, sustained-release formulation of moxidectin administered prophylactically to mixed-breed dogs to prevent infection with Dirofilaria immitis |
Highlights:
• Moxidectin SR given at 0.06, 0.17, 0.5 mg/kg
• Dogs inoculated with L3 larvae 180 days later
• No infection in dogs given 0.17, 0.5 mg/kg doses
Single dose of moxidectin protective for 180 days |
| View article (PDF, 716 KB) |
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| James B. Lok, David H. Knight, G. T. Wang, Mary E. Doscher, Thomas J. Nolan, Mattie J. Hendrick, William Steber, Kathleen Heaney |
| Am J Vet Res 2001;62:1721-1726. November 2001. |
| Evaluation of a single injection of a sustained-release formulation of moxidectin for prevention of experimental heartworm infection after 12 months in dogs |
Highlights:
• Treated dogs given single SC injection, 0.5 mg/kg
• Dogs experimentally inoculated after 12 months
• No dogs in treated group became infected
Could eliminate problem of poor compliance |
| View article (PDF, 245 KB) |
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| Merete Holm-Martin, Rick Atwell |
| Am J Vet Res 2004;65:1596-1599. November 2004. |
| Impact of the owner-pet and client-veterinarian bond on the care that pets receive |
Highlights:
• National study of pet owners conducted
• Attachment to pets, not income, drove decisions
• Communication key to client-veterinarian bond
Could increase heartworm compliance by 25%
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| View article (PDF, 691 KB) |
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| Todd W. Lue, Debbie P. Pantenburg, Phillip M. Crawford |
| J Am Vet Med Assoc 2008;232:531-540. February 15, 2008. |
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On the horizon
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| Evaluation of a covered-rod silicone implant containing ivermectin for long-term prevention of heartworm infection in dogs |
Highlights:
• Implants used in challenge studies, field studies
• Concentration of 0.2 ng/mL was maintained
• 100% effective in treated dogs after 12 months
Could alleviate problems of poor compliance |
| View article (PDF, 303 KB) |
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| Craig P. Cunningham, Jenaay M. Brown, Glenn A. Jacobson, Malcolm R. Brandon, Serge R. Martinod |
| Am J Vet Res 2006;67:1564-1569. September 2006. |
| Long-term delivery of ivermectin by use of poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic)acid microparticles in dogs |
Highlights:
• 24 dogs received ivermectin-PLGA formulations
• Dogs infected with D immitis 121, 170 days later
• No heartworms in treated dogs after 6 months
PLGA microparticles are promising delivery matrix |
| View article (PDF, 485 KB) |
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| Steven L. Clark, Angela J. Crowley, Paul G. Schmidt, Ann R. Donoghue, Claude A. Piché |
| Am J Vet Res 2004;65:752-757. June 2004. |
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