Dirofilaria immitis possesses molecules with anticoagulant properties in its excretory/secretory antigens

Feline Dirofilaria immitis infection

AffectedAnimals: Dogs and cats. Overall, cats are infected by heartworms much less commonly, even in areas in which heavily infected dogs are present. Male cats tend to be infected more commonly and have a larger worm burden than female cats, mostly because male cats spend more time roaming outside and have less resistance to infection than female cats. Cats that spend significant amounts of ti...

Genetic polymorphism in Dirofilaria immitis.

Dirofilaria immitis is the causative agent of heartworm disease. Reports of macrocyclic lactone inefficacy prompted an investigation of genetic polymorphism in D. immitis. Currently, there is a lack of genetic information for this parasite. Information on baseline levels of genetic heterogeneity in the dog heartworm would have important implications for the possible development of macrocyclic l...

Morphological redescription of Dirofilaria immitis.

Morphological descriptions of Dirofilaria immitis are scarce. For this reason, we carried out morphological studies using both light and scanning electron microscopy for this filaroid species. Morphometric and morphological data were compatible with previous descriptions of D. immitis , but several anatomical structures are described by scanning electron microscopy for the first time, such as d...

ABC-B transporter genes in Dirofilaria immitis

Dirofilaria immitis is a filarial nematode causing infection and heartworm disease in dogs and other canids, cats, and occasionally in humans. Prevention with macrocyclic lactones (ML) is recommended during the mosquito transmission season. Recently, ML resistance has been reported. ABC-B transporter genes are thought to be involved in the mechanism of ML resistance in other nematodes. This stu...

Subcutaneous Infection with Dirofilaria immitis Nematode in Human, France