Transcript Canine Heartworm Disease: Effects and Treatments

Canine Heartworm Disease:
Effects and Treatments
Traci Smith
Eastern Connecticut State University
Clinical and laboratory
observations in 91 dogs infected
with Dirofilaria immitis in
northern Greece
Z.S. Polizopoulou, A. F. Koutinas, M. N.
Saridomichelakis, M. N. Patsikas, L. S.
Leontidis, N. A. Roubies, A. K. Desiris
Background
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Caused by parasite Dirofilaria immitis
Transmitted by mosquitoes
Prevalent in warmer weather
Prevention is available
Treatment is successful
Three types:
• Type I- asymptomatic
• Type II- mild to moderate clinical signs
• Type III- right congestive heart failure
Symptoms
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Exercise intolerance
Chronic cough
Weight loss
Decreased appetite
Congestive heart failure
Lethargy
Reasons for the Study
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To find the most efficient type of treatment
To determine the best method of detection
To see the long term effects of the disease
To see how well subjects recovered
Methods of Study
• Studied dogs ages 1 to 11 years
• Examined medical records of 91 dogs infected
with heartworm
• Two types of tests were ran for the detection of
heartworm
• Parasitological test
• Immunological test
• X-rays were taken to detect damage to the heart
• 71 dogs were treated
Treatment
• Sodium thiacetarsamide (Caparsolate)
intavenously twice daily
• Melarsomine hydrochloride (Immiticide)
intramuscularly twice daily
• All were given oral ivermectin for 4 weeks
Treatment Results
40
35
30
25
Caparsolate
Immiticide
20
15
10
5
0
# Treated Recovery
Deaths
Stages of Heartworm and
Occurrence of Death
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Type 1
Type 2
Type 3
# Infected
Deaths
Summary
• No differences were found in terms of drug
efficacy or complication rate
• Both detection tests were equally accurate
• Some dogs treated with Caparsolate suffered
kidney damage
• Six fatalities occurred out of 71
• Only 4 dogs had lasting effects on physical
performance
Questions?