Dirofilariasis in cats: symptoms, home treatment

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Different types of helminthiases can infect even a pet that lives exclusively in the house and does not go outside. Parasitic infestation by helminthic worms belonging to the genus Dilofilaria, otherwise known as dirofilariasis, is not just a threat to the he alth of the animal. This disease is extremely difficult to diagnose, which cannot but affect the timeliness and outcome of treatment. How can dirofilariasis appear in cats (see photo below in the article)? How dangerous is such a disease for humans or for other pets? How is it manifested and what causes dirofilariasis in cats symptoms? Home treatment how to properly carry out and what drugs can help a cat cope with the disease?

Dirofilariasis - what is it?

The Dirofilarifsis parasite got its name from two Latin words: diro - evil or bad, and filum - thread. Thin roundworms deserveits name because of the length of up to 30 cm and the severe harm that can be done to the host's body. A number of diseases caused as a result of the invasion of the cat's body by parasites of this genus are collectively called dirofilariasis in cats. What are these diseases? First of all, we are talking about poisoning with released toxins, as in the case of infection with other types of parasites. In addition, most of the adult worms die fairly quickly, and parasite fragments remaining in the body are capable of blocking a blood vessel. The result of this most often is the death of a pet from an embolism.

No less dangerous is the influence of filariae and parasite larvae, which cause regular small blood loss and interfere with the normal supply of nutrients and oxygen to organs, thin and damage body tissues. Only timely diagnosis and proper medical intervention can defeat dirofilariasis in cats. Symptoms, treatment, and most importantly, prevention of this disease are essential knowledge for every pet owner.

How does infection happen?

The larvae of the parasite are carried by blood-sucking insects, mosquitoes and, much less frequently, fleas or ticks. Getting together with the blood into the stomach of the carrier, the larvae are thrown under the skin of a he althy individual bitten by an infected insect. In the next few months, difilaria larvae develop in the subcutaneous tissue to the point where they are able to migrate through the blood vessels. For a period of about 4months, most of the larvae will die, but some of them, in numbers from two to six individuals, reach the respiratory system through the bloodstream and settle in the lungs. In addition, individuals can parasitize in the nervous system, abdominal cavity, and around the eyes. Thus, dirofilariasis in cats passes in the first latent, that is, latent, form. Actively growing and later reproducing worms at this stage will release a considerable amount of toxic substances that adversely affect the host's body.

Behind the latent stage, dirofilariasis in cats flows into the most dangerous, acute form. At this stage, the adult worms begin to die, causing clogging of the blood vessels. The result of this sooner or later is the death of the animal.

Who can be a carrier?

Dirofilariasis is most often diagnosed in dogs and cats, but they are not the only ones affected. The carrier may be a human or a carnivore. Invasion in this case occurs in a similar way, through the bite of an infected insect.

Prevention

Are there measures that can reduce the likelihood of invasion or completely prevent heartworm in cats? Prevention of the disease consists in regular treatment of the pet with special insecticides for animals in the summer-autumn period. This is especially necessary before walking near water bodies: parks, a holiday village, and so on.

Symptoms: what are the signs of dirofilariasis?

On what grounds can dirofilariasis be suspected in cats? Invasion symptoms mayvary slightly, depending on the organs in which the parasite individuals are localized. At the first stage, when it enters the subcutaneous tissue layer, the following signs of the disease can be observed:

• Redness of the surface of the skin.
• Appearance of pustular formations.
• Itching.

Further, with the development and maturation of the larvae, in most cases, symptoms such as blue or obvious redness of the mucous membranes, dull and falling out in shreds of hair, general weakness and apathy of the pet, loss of appetite.

However, all these signs appear most often when the invasion is already in the active stage. The main danger of the disease is the absence of visible symptoms at the initial stage. For this reason, veterinarians recommend screening for infestation at least once a year.

Cardiopulmonary heartworm disease

Difilaria worms can parasitize in the heart of an animal, in its right half, for years. With dirofilariasis in the circulatory and respiratory system, symptoms such as:

• Asthmatic symptoms: shortness of breath, cough. For this reason, the disease can be mistaken for asthma, it is possible to refute this diagnosis with further examination.
• Restricted movements, slowness.
• Weight loss, vomiting for no reason.

Dirofilariasis in the eyes

The organs of vision are a comfortable environment for difilaria worms: parasitesequally readily localized in the mucous membrane, and in the eyelid, and in the eyeball. The main danger of this type of invasion is that vision deteriorates significantly, and even after treatment, visual functions may not be restored. Infection of the eye can be easily recognized independently by external signs:

• Wearing eyes, accompanied by reddening of the mucous membrane.
• Visible eyelid swelling.
• A noticeable protrusion of the infected area in the eye area. A small tubercle is formed, which, when pressed, causes pain in the animal.

Examination and tests for the diagnosis of dirofilariasis

You can confirm dirofilariasis in cats using diagnostic methods such as:

• X-ray examination. Most often, it is prescribed to control the condition of the pet, as well as to identify the regression of body functions, to assess the development of the disease. The method is not 100% accurate, but it allows you to make a decision on the admissibility of medical or surgical intervention.
• Serological diagnostics. Test for the presence in the body of a carrier of antigens of an adult difilaria. A negative result obtained after one or two studies also does not guarantee the absence of invasion. The maximum accuracy of the results depends on the presence of mature worms.
• Echocardiography. This type of diagnostics is by far the most effective method to detect dirofilariasis in cats and other carriers of the disease. The study of the heart using ultrasound allows you to determine the existing pathologies and identify the presence of roundworms in the cardiovascular system.

As a rule, in addition to the examination, a veterinarian prescribes a general and complete blood and urine test, which allows an accurate assessment of the changes in the carrier's body that have occurred during the parasitism of difilaria.

Clinic treatment

To combat the Dirofilarifsis invasion, there are two methods prescribed depending on the degree of development of the disease. Often the treatment is a course of injections. To date, the drugs "Tiacetarsamide" or "Melarsomin" are used. Both substances are arsenic compounds, so they should not be used alone for home treatment.

"Thiacetarsamide" contains a higher concentration of poison, in addition, always gives complications to the liver and kidneys of the furry patient. For this reason, the drug is prescribed only with full confidence in the presence of the disease. "Melarsomin" is no less effective, but it belongs to a new generation of drugs. The concentration of arsenic here is not as high as in its predecessor "Thiacetarsamide", so the drug does not give severe consequences. But it also has a number of side effects, and therefore arsenic-based drugs are prescribed if the benefits from them are greater than the negative consequences.

If the respiratory organs are severe enough, prednisolone or other corticosteroids may be prescribed. The entire course, from the beginning of admission togradual withdrawal is also prescribed and monitored by a veterinarian.

As another method of treating dirofilariasis, a surgical operation to remove the adult specimens of the parasite can be prescribed. This method is used in cases where an X-ray examination revealed the presence of adult difilariae - the destruction of such parasites by medicinal methods can lead to blockage of the blood flow. In addition, it is the surgical removal of the helminth that is the only way to get rid of the parasite that lives in the eye area.

After surgery, the cat goes through a recovery period with rest and periodic treatment with adulticides that eliminate the remaining parasites.

In addition to the above methods of treatment, a number of supportive therapy procedures can be additionally developed to allow the animal to restore he alth as much as possible. Such effects include a course of medicinal solutions for expanding the bronchi, oxygen procedures, and so on.

Treatment at home

Excellent prophylactic and anthelmintic drugs have the drug "Stronghold" based on selamectin. Regular external application of the substance during the warmer months, when mosquito bites are possible, reduces the number of larvae in the animal's bloodstream. Absorbed through the skin, the active substances of the drug cause paralysis and, as a result, the death of difilaria.

Similar properties are goodproven preparations "Lawyer" (active substance - moxidectin) and "Milbemax" (milbemycin oxime).

It should be noted that the effect of the above funds is possible only at the initial stage of invasion. Against sexually mature parasites, the medicine is useless.

In order for home treatment of dirofilariasis not to cause even more harm to your pet, the following rules must be observed when providing self-help:

• Don't try to diagnose or prescribe a course of treatment yourself. This should be done by a veterinarian.
• During treatment, your pet will need to follow the regimen recommended by the veterinarian.
• In the process of treatment, regular monitoring of the condition of the lungs and bronchi, the cardiovascular system of the animal is required by the veterinary clinic specialists.