Dirofilaria immitis in cats: diagnosis and management

Compend Contin Educ Vet. 2008 Jul;30(7):393-400; quiz 400.

Abstract

Imaging and laboratory studies can help with the diagnosis of heartworm disease in cats, but no test is definitive. Furthermore, even when the diagnosis can be reliably established, therapy directed at the heartworms does little to help the cat. Rather, management is directed at alleviating clinical signs, with an emphasis on prevention for all.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Helminth / blood
  • Antigens, Helminth / immunology
  • Cat Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Cat Diseases / drug therapy
  • Cat Diseases / prevention & control
  • Cats
  • Dirofilaria immitis* / immunology
  • Dirofilaria immitis* / pathogenicity
  • Dirofilariasis / diagnosis*
  • Dirofilariasis / drug therapy
  • Dirofilariasis / prevention & control
  • Echocardiography / veterinary
  • Filaricides / therapeutic use*
  • Radiography, Thoracic / veterinary
  • Treatment Failure

Substances

  • Antibodies, Helminth
  • Antigens, Helminth
  • Filaricides