• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.729-739
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• 2000

Echocardiography, vital signs, microfilaremia, and blood chemistry of 12 Jindo dogs naturally infected with canine heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) were analysed and compared with those of 5 uninfected control Jindo dogs. Nine of the twelve infected dogs contained microfiaria in the peripheral blood, whereas the presence of adult heartworms in the pulmonary arteries and/or in the heart was detected from four dogs by echocardiography. Among the four echocardiography-positive dogs, two dogs also displayed evidence of heartworms in the right ventricle by echocardiography. Upon necropsy, a total of 547 adult worms was collected from the 12 infected dogs (av = 45.6, range = 9-166). Dogs with positive echocardiograpic images of heartworms contained 48, 74, 104 and 166 adult worms in the heart, pulmonary arteries and/or in the caudal vena cava (av. 98.0), whereas 9 to 39 worms (av. 19.4) were collected from those organs of dogs with negative echocardiography. Most heartworms were found in the right ventricle (438, 80%) at necropsy, whereas relatively fewer worms were found in the pulmonary arteries (96, 17.6%), and in the caudal vena cava (13, 2.4%). The necropsy findings on the location of adult worms significantly differed from the results of echocardiographic analysis in which the right ventricle of most dogs did not show the presence of heartworms. These results indicated that the adult heartworms had been located in the terminal branches of the pulmonary arteries when the host was alive, but the worms moved toward the right ventricle shortly after the heart of the infected dogs stopped beating. Microfilaremia in the peripheral blood was the highest in the blood samples collected at 10 pm. However, the correlation between the number of microfilaria and of adult worms was not observed. Clinical and vital signs of infected dogs did not show any significant difference before and after a 30 minute-exercise at 5 km/hr compared to those of uninfected control dogs.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2005

A survey on the prevalence of heartworms, scabies and demodicosis of 1,011 pet dogs in 5 animal hospitals Jeonju area was peformed from June to October 2004. The result obtained from this experiment were summarized as follows; 1. The 1,011 pet dogs coming to help the animal hospital more than disease of pleonephritis 62($6.1\%$), enteritis 75($7.4\%$), dermatitis 62($6.1\%$), scabies 55($5.4\%$), heartworms 43($4.3\%$), tympanitis 41($4.1\%$), demodicosis 22($2.2\%$), gastritis 21($2.2\%$), fracture 9($0.9\%$), respectively. 2. The 307 examined pet dogs were heartworms antigen positive to 43($14.0\%$), Microfilaria 31($10.1\%$) and the kinds of mixed breeds 34 (antigen and Microfilaria 12), Jindo 19 (antigen 7, Microfilaria 6), respectively. 3. Heartworms antigen positive of examined 34 pet dogs mean ages 4.3 and general blood cell count mean of WBC $20.5{\times}10^3/mm^3$, RBC $61.3{\times}10^6/mm^3$ HGB $6.27g/d{\ell}$ HCT $20.9\%$, PLT $13.0{\times}10^3/mm^3$, MCV $33.2{\mu}m^3$, MCH 39.4pg, MCHC $14.8g/d{\ell}$, RDW $280.1\%$, MPV $9.2{\mu}m^3$, respectively. but showed a few high normal value WBC, MCV, MCH and a low MCHC. 4. This experiment was 1,011 pet dogs to dermatitis 139($13.7\%$) of scabies 55($39.6\%$), demodicosis 22($15.8\%$), respectively.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.46.1-46.12
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• 2023

Background: Heartworm infection in dogs is caused by Dirofilaria immitis and common in shelter animals and outdoors dogs. Caval syndrome can develop with severe infection and physical heartworm removal is essential with heartworm burdens. In this study, we used an improved transvenous heartworm extraction brush, which was expected to cause less cardiovascular damage and allow easier manipulation. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate efficacy of this improved transvenous heartworm extraction brush. Methods: The brush was designed to improve upon the limitations of the previous brush-type devices. The brush was made of a polyvinyl chloride tube and threads of polyamides or polyglyconates. Metal material was inserted at the front tip for easy visualization under fluoroscopy. The eight dogs diagnosed with caval syndrome with large numbers of heartworms and pulmonary hypertension were used in this study. The removal procedure began with the dissection of the subcutaneous tissue around the right jugular vein. The device was inserted through the jugular vein. After insertion, the tube was rotated to catch the heartworms and extracted with the heartworms hanging on the threads. The procedure was repeated several times. Lastly, jugular vein and skin sutures were made. Adulticidal therapy was administered after heartworm removal. Results: The mean number of removed heartworms was 10.5 ± 4.24 and mean number of remaining heartworms was 0.63 ± 1.06. Total procedure time was 72.63 ± 51.36. Except for three cases, heartworms were not detected on ultrasonography after the procedure. No procedure-related side effects were observed within the 1- to 2-mon. Conclusions: An improved transvenous heartworm extraction brush is efficient for heartworm removal in dogs with caval syndrome.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.194-204
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• 2000

Echocardiography was performed to obtain the optimal planes for diagnosis of canine heartworm disease in 11 dogs. Imaging planes were taken the left ventricular outflow tract long-axis view, 4-chamber long-axis view, chordae tendineae level short-axis view and modified pulmonary arteries level short-axis view in the right parasternal window, and aptical 4-chamber long-axis view in hte left parasternal window. After echocaridography, the pulmonary artery valve pat was ligated with double 1-0 silk under the general anesthesia to prevent heartworm moving from pulmonary artery to right ventricle. The dogs were euthanized and examained for heartworms in heart and great vessels. Many adult heartworms were identified ultrasonographically within main pulmonary artery, bifurcation of pulmonary artery and right pulmonary artery, but not identified within right ventricle and atrium. At necropsy, adult heartworms were mainly found in pulmonary artery in 11 days, and also found in right ventricular outflow tract and right ventricle in 2 of 11 dogs. The modified pulmonary arteries level short-axis view was the best imaging plane for identifiying heartworms because the main pulmonary artery, branches of pulmonary artery and right pulmonary artery could be showed. The aortic root internal dimension (AOID) and right pulmonary atery internal dimension (RPAID) were measured from the modified pulmonary ateries level short-axis view and left ventricular outflow tract long-axis view. The RPAID and RPAID/AOID was higher in heartworm infected dogs than normal Korea Jin-do dogs in modified pulmonary arteries level short-axis view, and the AOID, RPAID and RPIAID/AOID was higher than in left ventricular outflow tract long-axis view, respectively. These results indicate that the pulmonary arteries were the major habitat of adult heartworm in canine heartworm disease and the modified pulmonary arteries level short-axis view was the best imaging planes for identifying heartworms because the main pulmonary arteries could be showed. Therefore the modified pulmonary arteries level short-axis view can be used for diagnosing heartworm disease and for monitoring dilation of pulmonary artery.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.309-313
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• 2005

This study was performed to assess the efficacy of surgical treatment with flexible alligator forceps (FAF) on heartworm infected dogs. Twenty dogs (10 males and 10 females) with heartworm infection, age $5.3\pm3.0\;(mean{\pm}S.D.)$ years and weight $9.3\pm6.5(mean{\pm}S.D.)kg$ were treated with FAF. Adult heartworms were removed by fluoroguided technique with FAF under inhalation anesthesia with isoflurane. For evaluation of the efficacy, removal rate and surgical time were measured, and removal sites were found. Antigen ELISA kit test and autopsy were performed to examine remained adult heartworms. Removal rate of total heartworms was $91.4\%$ including 15 complete retrieval cases and surgical time was $30.0\pm7.6(mean{\pm}S.E.)$ minutes. Heartworms were removed from the right ventricle, main pulmonary artery, and right and left pulmonary artery. Surgical treatment with FAF is an effective method with high removal rate, short surgical time, and various removal sites and it could be considered for the removal of adult heartworms in a dog.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.235-238
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• 1999

Two Jindo dogs which show clinical signs of anorexia, weakness and exercise intolerance, were referred, and diagnosed as dirofilariasis by hematology, blood chemistry and ultrasonography. In hematology and blood chemistry, the presence of microfilariae in the blood, anemia, leukocytosis, hemoglobinuria and jaundice were revealed. In ultrasonography, heartworms were found in the right ventricle artery and pulmonary artery as structures of hyperechoic dots or streaks. In autopsy, forty odd and fifty odd of heartworms at dog 1 and dog 2, were ascertained respectively in the right ventricle and pulmonary artery.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.457-463
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• 2023

A 13-year-old neutered male Pomeranian, weighting 3 kg, presented with respiratory distress and depression. Radiographic examination revealed calcified ring-like opacities in the main pulmonary artery, mimicking thoracic foreign bodies. Additionally, right heart and main pulmonary artery enlargement and notable lung infiltrations were also observed. Echocardiography showed coil shaped structures in the main pulmonary artery with increased echogenicity compared to other nearby heartworms, which is consistent with calcified Dirofilaria immitis (heartworms). The dog was diagnosed with caval syndrome, which is the advanced and severe manifestation of heartworm infection. This report presents a rare case of calcified heartworm infection observed during a radiological examination, which resemble foreign bodies. Therefore, chronic heartworm disease should be considered as a differential diagnosis when radiopaque ring-like opacities are observed in the pulmonary artery on thoracic radiographs.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.177-184
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• 2022

Caval syndrome is a severe complication of canine heartworm disease in which affected dogs present with various clinical signs that are often life-threatening. In cases of severe infection, adulticidal treatment has numerous complications as a result of a marked immune response against dead worms. Therefore, several surgical and non-surgical methods, including interventional extraction, have been applied in veterinary medicine. Despite the usefulness and efficiency of conventional retrieval devices, a few associated limitations must be addressed to reduce their risks and increase their applicability. Herein, we introduced a case of treating three dogs with caval syndrome by applying a newly developed heartworm basket device. The dogs were diagnosed with heartworm disease by heartworm antigen testing and direct smear. Imaging findings revealed remarkable remodeling of the right heart and pulmonary vessels and the presence of heartworms in the right heart. Additionally, heartworms were confirmed in the distal part of the abdominal aorta and femoral arteries in one dog, indicating aberrant systemic migration of the worms. Under general anesthesia, the heartworm basket device was introduced into the right heart via femoral venotomy and arteriotomy in one dog and jugular venotomy in the other two dogs. Although the number of cases in this study was small, the basket device was successful in gradual and cautious extraction of the heartworms in all three dogs. They exhibited good prognosis of clinical symptoms as indicated by imaging analyses.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.626-626
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• 2007

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.595-597
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• 2011

A 5-year-old, intact male Beagle was presented with chronic abdominal pain. The dog was diagnosed with dirofilariasis by positive heartworm antigen detection via ELISA and concurrent microfilaria. Thoracic radiographs revealed cardiomegaly with dilation of the main pulmonary artery. Echocardiography revealed the adult worms in the main pulmonary arteries, but other abnormalities other than heartworm infection were not present. To find the cause of the abdominal pain, exploratory laparoscopy was performed. Ectopic migrating adult heart worms were visualized through exploratory laparoscopy and the clinical sign resolved after removing the heart worm. This report describes removing the ectopic migrating adult heartworms using exploratory laparoscopy in the abdominal cavity.