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Cited by 11Parasitic Diseases Research and TreatmentHelminth infection and controlParasites and Host Interactions

Renal effects of Dirofilaria immitis in experimentally and naturally infected cats

Atkins, C.E., Vaden, S.L., Arther, R.G., Ciszewski, D.K., Davis, W.L., Ensley, S.M., Chopade, N.H.·2011·Veterinary Parasitology
DOI 10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.01.016
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Abstract

Canine heartworm infection has been associated with glomerular disease and proteinuria. We hypothesized that proteinuria, likely due to glomerular damage, would also be found in cats experimentally and naturally infected with Dirofilaria immitis. Two populations of cats were evaluated, including 80 that were each experimentally infected with 60 infective heartworm larvae as part of a drug safety study, and 31 that were naturally infected with D. immitis. Each had a control population with which to be compared. In the experimentally infected group, we evaluated urine from 64 cats. Ten of these cats were shown to have microalbuminuria 8 months post infection. No cat refractory to infection with larvae and no cats from the control group demonstrated microalbuminuria. All 10 microalbuminuric cats were shown to have significant proteinuria, as measured by the urine protein:creatinine ratio. There was a subtle, but significant, association between worm burden and proteinuria, and although the presence of adult heartworms was required for the development of proteinuria, both microfilaremic and amicrofilaremic cats were affected. Neither the presence of circulating heartworm antibodies and antigen nor the presence of antigenuria predicted the development of proteinuria. Both heavily infected cats (5-25 adult heartworms) and cats with worm burdens compatible with natural infections (1-4 adult heartworms) developed proteinuria, and the relative numbers of cats so affected were similar between heavily and more lightly infected cats. Naturally infected cats, for which only dipstick protein determinations were available, were shown to have a significantly greater incidence of proteinuria (90% vs 35%) than did those in an age- and gender-matched control population. Additionally, the proteinuria in heartworm-infected cats was 3- to 5-fold greater in severity. We conclude that cats infected with mature adult heartworms are at risk for developing proteinuria and that this is recognized relatively soon after infection. While heavier infections may predispose cats to developing proteinuria, this complication is seen in naturally infected cats and experimental cats with worm burdens similar to those seen in natural infections (i.e., "clinically appropriate" worm burdens). The clinical relevance of heartworm-associated proteinuria is yet to be determined.

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Authors
Atkins, C. E., Vaden, S. L., Arther, R. G., Ciszewski, D. K., Davis, W. L., Ensley, S. M., & Chopade, N. H.
Affiliations
  • North Carolina State University (US)
  • Iowa State University (US)
Corresponding author
Atkins, C.E.
ORCID
Venue
Veterinary Parasitology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2011-03
Volume
176
Issue
4
Pages
317-323
ISSN
0304-4017 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.01.016
OpenAlex
W2037728882
Cited by
11
References
18
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 2
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Veterinary Parasitology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
North Carolina State University
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Helminth infection and control
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Parasitology › Parasites and Host Interactions
Keywords
Dirofilaria immitis, feline heartworm disease, proteinuria, microalbuminuria, glomerular injury, worm burden, antigenuria, urine protein-to-creatinine ratio
MeSH terms
Animals, Antibodies, Helminth, Antigens, Helminth, Cat Diseases, Cats, Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilariasis, Female, Larva, Male, Proteinuria, Risk Factors

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