Ankit Roy¹, Mahesh Kumar²*, Nikesh S³, Adhikari Sahu⁴ and Bijayendranath Mohanty⁴

^1,41Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
²Department of Veterinary Medicine, RR College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Deoli, Rajasthan, India
³Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, India

*Corresponding Author: Mahesh Kumar, Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Medicine, RR College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Deoli, Rajasthan, India.

Received: March 21, 2025; Published: April 24, 2025

Abstract

Dirofilariasis is a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens. It predominantly affects dogs but can also be seen in cats and ferrets. The disease is transmitted through mosquito bites, with microfilariae developing into adult worms that reside in the pulmonary arteries and heart, causing severe cardiopulmonary complications. A suitable climate with ideal temperature and humidity is essential for sustaining mosquito populations and supporting the development of microfilariae into infective third-stage larvae within the vector. Diagnosis involves antigen testing, microfilariae detection, imaging techniques, and serological assays. Treatment includes adulticidal therapy, microfilaricidal drugs, and supportive care. Prevention is achieved through regular administration of macrocyclic lactones and mosquito control strategies.

 Keywords: Heartworm; Dirofilaria Immitis; Microfilariae; Antigen Test; Modified Knott Test; Radiography; Echocardiographl; Doxycycline; Macrocyclic Lactone

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Citation

Citation: Mahesh Kumar., et al. “Diagnostic Techniques and Therapeutic Management of Heartworm Disease in Dogs and Cats". Acta Scientific Veterinary Sciences 7.5 (2025): 02-12.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Mahesh Kumar., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.