The DOI matches its Crossref record; 67 of the 72 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Heartworm Biology, Treatment, and Control
Abstract
This article is a review of the systematics, taxonomy, biology, prevention, control, and treatment of the canine heartworm, Dirofilaria immitus. This filarioid parasite remains one of the most important and dangerous diseases of the dog throughout the United States. The geographic range of the parasite is expanding, and in many parts of the country it has emerged as a threat to canine welfare only in the last 50 or so years. The article also discusses the pathophysiological mechanisms behind the disease induced, the means for diagnosing the disease, and the means of assessing the success of therapy. The treatment of potential complications of heartworm infection, such as post-adulticide thromboembolism, eosinophilic granulomatous pneumonitis, and caval syndrome, is also discussed.
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“The majority of these cases were caused by D. immitis, which is well known to cause a more severe disease in dogs compared to D. repens, leading to a higher probability of diagnosis [7].”
From Vectors, host range, and spatial distribution of Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens in Europe: a systematic review (2025) · cites this paper as [7]
In the citing paper
“Interestingly, no abnormalities were found in any of the radiographs of the infected dogs, even though, according to literature, approximately 85% of dogs infected with D. immitis show radiographically more or less specific pathologies in the area of the heart and lungs [48,49].”
From The Incidence of Dirofilaria immitis in Shelter Dogs and Mosquitoes in Austria (2021) · cites this paper as [48]
In the citing paper
“These results are consistent with the literature, noting many altogether asymptomatic cases of canine dirofilariosis and a long, symptom-free incubation period (which are also part of the problem in successful monitoring and prevention of the introduction of D. immitis to non-endemic countries) [17,48].”
From The Incidence of Dirofilaria immitis in Shelter Dogs and Mosquitoes in Austria (2021) · cites this paper as [48]
In the citing paper
“which is consistent with preceding studies, showing a long, symptom-free incubation period and many altogether asymptomatic cases of canine dirofilariosis (Schnieder 2006; Bowman and Atkins 2009).”
From Current trends in canine dirofilariosis in Austria-do we face a pre-endemic status? (2020) · cites this paper as Bowman and Atkins 2009
In the citing paper
“For this reason, a melarsomine-protocol consisting of two injections (Hinney and Leschnik 2015) is used at the University for Veterinary Medicine, Vienna in dogs with heartworm disease stages one or two, showing a similar outcome compared with the literature (McTier et al. 1994; Maxwell et al. 2014; Bowman and Atkins 2009).”
From Current trends in canine dirofilariosis in Austria-do we face a pre-endemic status? (2020) · cites this paper as Bowman and Atkins 2009
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Dirofilariosis in the Americas: a more virulent Dirofilaria immitis?
Dantas‐Torres, F., & Otranto, D. (2013) · Parasites & Vectors · doi:10.1186/1756-3305-6-288 · Cited by 165
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Self-citationThe genome of the heartworm, Dirofilaria immitis , reveals drug and vaccine targets
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Heartworm disease – Overview, intervention, and industry perspective
Noack, S., Harrington, J. L., Carithers, D. S., Kaminsky, R., & Selzer, P. M. (2021) · International Journal for Parasitology Drugs and Drug Resistance · doi:10.1016/j.ijpddr.2021.03.004 · Cited by 145
Where are all the anthelmintics? Challenges and opportunities on the path to new anthelmintics
Nixon, S. A., Welz, C., Woods, D. J., Costa, L. M., Zamanian, M., & Martin, R. J. (2020) · International Journal for Parasitology Drugs and Drug Resistance · doi:10.1016/j.ijpddr.2020.07.001 · Cited by 125
Metadata
- Authors
- Bowman, D. D., & Atkins, C. E.
- Affiliations
- Cornell University (US)
- North Carolina State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Bowman, Dwight D.
- Venue
- Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2009-11
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1127-1158
- ISSN
- 0195-5616 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2093615671
- Cited by
- 298
- References
- 72
- Citations by year
- 2026: 20 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 38 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 5.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Veterinary Clinics of North America Small Animal Practice (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Parasitology › Helminth infection and control
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Keywords
- canine heartworm disease, Dirofilaria immitis, heartworm prevention, caval syndrome, geographic range expansion, dogs
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Cat Diseases, Cats, Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilariasis, Dog Diseases, Dogs, Humans, Insect Vectors, Culicidae, United States
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