Dirofilaria immitis.ppt

* * Dirofilaria immitis The dog is the primary host of Dirofilaria immitis. Other Hosts Cats are sporadic hosts, 4% in Louisiana surveys. Most are occult, but there can be an acute seasonal pulmonary disease. The fox and coyote are possible reservoirs. The ferret and sea lion are highly susceptible. Man can develop “coin lesions” with an occult infection of L4-L5 only. D. tenuis, a subcutaneous filarid of raccoons, causes skin nodules in humans. Vectors Thirty mosquito spp. have been reported as vectors. Culex quincifasciatus is the main vector in Louisiana. Aedes albopictus (asian tiger mosquito) is now of equal importance in the transmission of D. immitis. There is a 10-14 day development period in the mosquito in warm weather. At 57oF microfilariae (mf) develop in the malphigian tubules of the mosquito, and at 65 oF can develop and molt from L1-L3. Life Cycle Microfilariae of an infected dog are picked up by a mosquito upon feeding. Life Cycle Microfilaria molt from the L1 stage to the L3 stage within the mosquito. Mf become ‘sausage stage’ and molt in malphigian tubules. L3 escape to hemocoel fluids. Life Cycle L3 is deposited in the hemolymph via the proboscis upon another meal by the mosquito, then penetrate via puncture wound. Life Cycle At 10-14 days after infection, L3 molts to L4 in the SQ tissues. By 60-70 days, L4 will molt to L5 within the muscle fascia. Life Cycle At 3-4 months, the worms enter the heart as L5, still at a small size of 1-3 cm. Life Cycle 5-8 months is the prepatent period. After this time, microfilaria will be present in the blood with the presence of male and female worms. Life Cycle Adults are 10-30 cm. Normally they are 15 cm with a corkscrew tail. Adults live about 5 years in the dog and less than 2 years in the cat. Microfilaria live 1-2 years in the dog with no microfilaricide treatment. Dogs: Chronic Thromboembolic disease results. Glomerulonephiritis, DIC, Pulmonary Infiltrates with Eosinophilia, Post-Cava Syndrome are less