Cited by 55Parasitic Diseases Research and TreatmentHelminth infection and controlPulmonary Hypertension Research and Treatments

Pulmonary arterial disease in cats seropositive for Dirofilaria immitis but lacking adult heartworms in the heart and lungs

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Browne, Leanne E., Carter, Todd D., Levy, Julie K., Snyder, Patti S., Johnson, Calvin M.·2005·American Journal of Veterinary Research

Abstract

Objective —To determine the prevalence and severity of pulmonary arterial lesions in cats seropositive for heartworms ( Dirofilaria immitis ) but lacking adult heartworms in the heart and lungs during necropsy. Animals —630 adult cats from an animal control shelter in Florida. Procedure —Cats were tested for adult heartworms in the heart and pulmonary arteries and antibody against heartworms in the serum. Histologic examination was conducted on the right caudal lung lobe of 24 heartworm- and antibody-positive cats; 24 heartworm-negative and antibody-positive cats; and 24 heartworm-, antibody-, and antigen-negative cats. Wall areas of 10 small to medium-sized pulmonary arteries of each cat were measured and expressed as a proportion of total cross-sectional area. Results —Heartworm infection or seropositive status was significantly and strongly associated with severity of medial hypertrophy of pulmonary arterial walls. Heartworm- and antibody-positive cats and heartworm-negative and antibody-positive cats had a significant increase in wall thickness, compared with wall thickness for heartworm- and antibody-negative cats. Heartworm- and antibody-positive cats had the most severe hypertrophy. The proportion with occlusive medial hypertrophy was significantly higher in heartworm- and antibody-positive cats (19/24 [79%]) and heartworm-negative and antibody-positive cats (12/24 [50%]), compared with heartworm- and antibody-negative cats (3/24 [13%]). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance —Cats with serologic evidence of exposure to heartworms, including those without adult heartworms in the lungs and heart, have a greater prevalence of pulmonary arterial lesions than heartworm-negative cats without serologic evidence of exposure. Additional studies are needed to define the pathogenesis, specificity, and clinical importance of these lesions. ( Am J Vet Res 2005;66:1544–1549)

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  • Pulmonary arterial disease associated with exposure to D immitis is considered more severe in cats compared with dogs due to the increased activity of pulmonary intravascular macrophages in cats.

    “Pulmonary arterial disease, associated with exposure to D immitis, is considered more severe in cats compared with dogs due to the increased activity of pulmonary intravascular macrophages in cats.”

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Holmes RA, Clark JN, Casey HW, et al. Histopathologic and radiographic studies of the development of heartworm pulmonary vascular disease in experimentally infected cats, in Proceedings. Heartworm Symp Am Heartworm Soc 1992;81-89.
  2. Blagburn BL. Feline heartworm infection: thoughts and strategies, in Proceedings. 107th Annu Conv Minn Vet Med Assoc. Available at: www.mvma.org/proceedings/parasitology/index.html. Accessed Jun 24, 2004.
  3. Snedecor GW, Cochran WG. Failures in the assumptions: the role of transformations. In: Snedecor G, Cochran W, eds. Statistical methods. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State University Press, 1989; 289-290.
  4. Nelson CT, Young TS. Incidence of Dirofilaria immitis in shelter cats from southeast Texas, in Proceedings. Heartworm Symp Am Heartworm Soc 1998;63-66.

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Authors
Browne, L. E., Carter, T. D., Levy, J. K., Snyder, P. S., & Johnson, C. M.
Affiliations
University of Florida (US)
Venue
American Journal of Veterinary Research
Published
2005-09-01
Volume
66
Issue
9
Pages
1544-1549
ISSN
0002-9645 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2000977566
Cited by
55
References
20
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 8 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 2 · 2012: 3
FWCI
1.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • American Journal of Veterinary Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Helminth infection and control
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Pulmonary Hypertension Research and Treatments
Keywords
feline heartworm disease, Dirofilaria immitis, cats, medial hypertrophy, pulmonary artery wall thickness, pathogenesis
MeSH terms
Analysis of Variance, Animals, Antibodies, Helminth, Body Weights and Measures, Cat Diseases, Cats, Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilariasis, Female, Heart, Lung, Male, Pulmonary Artery, Vascular Diseases

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