<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Dirofilariasis is a disease of clinical importance in dogs. It is to this end that a case of a seven-year-old mongrel with dirofilariasis was presented to examine the unique features and presentation in the canine patient in question. The dog had clinical signs consistent with the disease. Further diagnostic tests were performed to establish the presence and severity of the disease and make an appropriate treatment plan. The Knott’s test revealed <italic>Dirofilaria</italic> species in the circulating blood and radiography showed right ventricular hypertrophy with pulmonary arterial enlargement and increased bronchial opacification. The treatment instituted was ivermectin therapy by subcutaneous injection every two weeks for six months, cardiac glycoside and antibiotics for 14 days. The clinical signs resolved after completion of the treatment. A general overview of heartworm infection in dogs was also done to update current knowledge of the disease. Though the risk of significant propagation of <italic>Dirofilaria immitis</italic> is considered low, with the climate change and international pet travel regulations, this emerging zoonosis remains a threat.</p></abstract>

Dirofilariasis is a disease of clinical importance in dogs. It is to this end that a case of a seven-year-old mongrel with dirofilariasis was presented to examine the unique features and presentation in the canine patient in question. The dog had clinical signs consistent with the disease. Further diagnostic tests were performed to establish the presence and severity of the disease and make an appropriate treatment plan. The Knott’s test revealed Dirofilaria species in the circulating blood and radiography showed right ventricular hypertrophy with pulmonary arterial enlargement and increased bronchial opacification. The treatment instituted was ivermectin therapy by subcutaneous injection every two weeks for six months, cardiac glycoside and antibiotics for 14 days. The clinical signs resolved after completion of the treatment. A general overview of heartworm infection in dogs was also done to update current knowledge of the disease. Though the risk of significant propagation of Dirofilaria immitis is considered low, with the climate change and international pet travel regulations, this emerging zoonosis remains a threat.

Canine Dirofilariasis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Federal University of Agriculture PMB 2240

Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology

Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology

Folia Veterinaria

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Canine Dirofilariasis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature"}

Dirofilariasis is a disease of clinical importance in dogs. It is to this end that a case of a seven-year-old mongrel with dirofilariasis was presented to...

Canine Dirofilariasis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Published Online: Oct 06, 2020

Page range: 75 - 81

Received: Apr 20, 2020

Accepted: Aug 17, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fv-2020-0029

Keywords
case report, dog, Nigeria, zoonosis

© 2020 O. O. Adebayo et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Canine Dirofilariasis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Published Online: Oct 06, 2020

Page range: 75 - 81

Received: Apr 20, 2020

Accepted: Aug 17, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fv-2020-0029

Keywordscase report, dog, Nigeria, zoonosis

© 2020 O. O. Adebayo et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
case report, dog, Nigeria, zoonosis