Ocorrência de Dirofilaria immitis em cães no Semiárido da Paraíba.

Abstract

Occurrence of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs in the semiarid region of Paraíba. Canine heartworm disease is a major disease of dogs coastal region. A retrospective study was performed in ALI / HV / UFCG to identify the occurrence of cases of disease in the semiarid region of Paraíba. In the period 2003-2012 881 necropsies of dogs, these 2 animals (0.23%) were performed had the presence of Dirofilaria immitis. The first case occurred in a dog in 2011, male mongrel (SRD), 7 years old, with no information about its origin. The animal died after presenting characteristic clinical signs of cardiopulmonary disease and was sent for autopsy. The clinical outcome was not reported. Macroscopically had ascites, nutmeg liver, cardiac dilation, and only one copy of Dirofilaria immitis in the right ventricle. Microscopic lesions were not observed in the heart. These findings are characteristic of dilated cardiomyopathy. The second case occurred in a bitch, SRD, age 7, from the municipality of Monteiro, Paraíba state. This animal had a diagnosis of breast carcinoma with pulmonary metastases and systemic complications. Euthanasia was performed and submitted for necropsy. Macroscopically, beyond the breast tumor, neoplastic masses were also similar in lymph nodes, lungs and adrenal. The heart was observed 4 specimens of D. immitis next to cruóricos clots in the right ventricular cavity. Histologically was confirmed breast carcinoma with metastasis to lymph nodes, lung and adrenal. The results of this study demonstrate that the occurrence of D. immitis in dogs necropsied at LPA/CSTR/UFCG is low (0.23%) and no animal showed clinical changes associated with this parasitic disease that, despite the sporadic occurrence, the infected animals can serve as a source of infection and spread of disease to animals and humans in the region.