• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.507-516
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• 2003

This study was performed to clarify the induction possibility of anaphylactoid reactions by the administration with the heartworm extracts, and, if any, to elucidate different virulences in terms of the protein concentrdtions and sexes of Dirofilaria immitis. Twenty three clinically healthy D. immitis-free adult dogs were used in the present study. The experimental animals were divided into 5 groups. Group A (5 heads) was administered with an female heartworm extract containing 0.1 g/dl protein concentration. Group B (4 heads) was administered with an male heartworm extract containing 0.1g/dl protein concentration. Group C (5 heads) was administered with an female heartworm extract containing 0.2 g/dl protein concentration. Group D (4 heads) was administered with an male heartworm extract containing 0.2 g/dl protein concentration. Group E (5 heads) was administered with an female heartworm extract containing 0.4 g/dl protein concentration. The changes of clinical symptoms and vital signs (body temperature, heart rate and respiration rate) were examined before and 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours and 24 hours after injection with the extracts, respectively. In addition, the changes of hematological values (RBC, PCV and total leukocytes counts), serum chemical values (ALP and CK) were determined. It was considered that heartworm extract could induce anaphylactoid reaction and adult female heartworm extract was more affective than those of adult male heartworm extract in the changes of clinical symptoms, vital signs, hematological values and serum chemical values.

• 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.18 no.3
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• pp.297-303
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• 2001

A female pug was presented with severe anemia, dyspnea and hemoglobinuria. By B- and M-mode echocardiography, the large number of heartworm were founded in the right ventricle, right atrium and pulmonary artery. The heartworm mass was moved from the right ventricle to the right atrium with the motion of the tricuspid value. Paradoxic septum motion were visible in M-mode of left ventrcular outflow tract and chordae tendineae level short-axis view. Flattened interventricular septum was find in B-mode of papillary muscle level short-axis view. In autopsy, 81 adult heartworms and 7 filarial debris were found. Most of adult heartworm were found in the right ventricle and pulmonary artery. 3 of them were found in the venaca and right atrium, respectively.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.269-272
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• 2018

A 4-year-old, 6.1 kg intact female dachshund was referred to the Animal Medical Center with acute right hind limb lameness. Radiographs revealed fractures of iliac body and tibia in the right limb. In addition, the dog exhibited tricuspid valve regurgitation and moderate heartworm infection in the right ventricle and main pulmonary artery on echocardiogram. To obtain stable anesthetic conditions for operation, an adult heartworm removal procedure was previously followed by repair of the complex fractures. All surgical procedures were done without complication and with stable patient conditions. At a one month postoperative follow-up, the dog was doing well with normal ambulation and no tricuspid valve regurgitation as well.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.42-45
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• 2019

Thromboelastography (TEG) analysis consists of ${\alpha}$, G, K, MA, and R types of values and tests the effectiveness of blood clotting, which can be assessed for platelet function, clotting strength, and fibrinolysis. Canine heartworm diseases caused by Dirofilaria immitis, a vascular nematode, can lead to hyperfibrinolysis and hypercoagulation. In this study, G and MA values showed a statistically significant decrease over time after treatment of heartworm disease. Additionally, the ${\alpha}-value$ showed a high correlation with G, K, MA, and R values. The G value showed a high correlation with K and MA values, while The K value showed a high correlation with MA and R values. This study clearly found a gradual decrease in G and MA values in dogs with heartworm disease over time, both before and after treatment. This suggests that the clot formation time is longer and that the intensity of clot formation is lowered and may improve the risk of thromboembolism in dogs with heartworm disease.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 2003

A survey of canine heartworm(Dirofilaria immitis) infections among dogs in Daefu area was performed from February 2000 to October 2002 using a microfilarial test and an antigen test(AGEN$^{TM}$ Canine heartworm). The infection rate of 220 dogs(96 males, 124 females) was 23.2%(51/22) by the microfilarial test, but was 23.6%(52/220) by the antigen test, revealing that 1 of 52 antigen-positive dogs were microfilaria-negative in the peripheral blood. All dogs that were microgilaria-positive were also antigen-positive. The infection rates of heartworm in dogs at the age of < 1, 1-3, 4-6, 7-11 and 12-15 years were 2.7%, 17.4%, 41.0%, 42.9% and 57.1%, respectively. Based on the fact that the antigen test is more accurate than the microfilaria test. The infection rates of heartworm in dogs by housing of indoor and outdoor were 6.9% and 46.4%, respectively. Based on the fact that outdoor housing is more infectious than indoor housing.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.79-83
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• 2018

This study compared serum concentrations of suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) between healthy and heartworm- infected dogs. Eighteen heartworm-infected dogs and five healthy dogs were included in the study. Dogs were diagnosed and categorized by history, clinical signs, and blood assay, thoracic radiography, echocardiography, and commercial ELISA kit results. Serum samples were sent to the IDEXX reference laboratory for NT-proBNP measurement. ST2 was examined by using a canine interleukin 33 receptor ELISA kit with the quantitative sandwich ELISA method. The severely infected group showed significant elevation of NT-proBNP concentration over those of the control (P=0.03) and mildly infected (P=0.04) group. There were no significant difference in ST2 concentrations among the three groups. The usefulness of NT-proBNP as a cardiac biomarker in dogs with severe heartworm disease was confirmed by the results of this study. Further investigations to assess ST2 as a cardiac biomarker are warranted.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.133-137
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• 2004

This study was attempted to survey on the prevalence of canine heartworm(Dirofilaria immitis) infections among 206 dogs (male 92, female 114) in Daejeon area from March to December 2003. Blood samples taken from dogs were examined for the presence of D immitis microfilaria by the modified Knott's test and an antigen test( $AGEN^{TM}$ canine heartworm). The result obtained from this experiment were summarized as follows; 1. Eighteen(8.7%) of the 206 examined dogs were microfilaria positive, while twenty five dogs(12.1%) were antigen test positive. 2. The infection rates of heartworm in dogs at the age of <2, 2∼4 and $\geq$5 were 3.8%, 18% and 25%, respectively. 3. The infection rates of heartworm in dogs by housing of indoor and outdoor were 3.3% and 36.4%, respectively. 4. The regional infection rates were Dong-gu(13/29, 44.8%), Seo-gu(7/92, 7.6%), Yuseong-gu(2/33, 6.1%), Jung-gu(1/17, 5.9%) and Daedeok-gu(2/35, 5.7%). 5. The seasonal infection rates were summer(June∼August, 16.7%), autumn (September∼October, 14%), spring(March∼May, 9.4%) and winter(November∼December. 7.7%).7.7%).