Various types of helminthiases can infect even a pet that lives exclusively in the house and does not go outside. Parasitic infestation of helminth worms belonging to the genus Dilofilaria, otherwise known as dirofilariasis, not only poses a threat to the health of the animal. This disease is extremely difficult to diagnose, which cannot but affect the timeliness and result of treatment. How can dirofilariasis appear in cats (see photo below in the article)? How dangerous is this disease to humans or to other pets? How do symptoms and symptoms cause dirofilariasis in cats? Treatment at home, how to conduct it correctly and with what drugs can help a cat cope with the disease?
Dirofilariasis - what is it?
The parasite Dirofilarifsis got its name from two Latin words: diro - evil or bad, and filum - a thread. Thin round worms deserve their name due to the length of up to 30 cm and the serious harm that can be caused to the body of the wearer. A number of diseases caused as a result of the invasion of the feline organism by parasites of this genus, is commonly called dirofilariasis in cats. What are these diseases? First of all, we are talking about poisoning by emitted toxins, as in the case of infection with other types of parasites. In addition, most adult worms die quite quickly, and fragments of the parasite remaining in the body are capable of blocking the blood vessel. The result of this most often becomes the death of a pet from embolism.
No less dangerous is the effect of filarias and parasite larvae that cause regular small blood loss and interfere with the normal supply of organs with nutrients and oxygen, thin out and damage the body's tissues. Only timely diagnosis and proper medical intervention can defeat dirofilariasis in cats. Symptoms, treatment, and most importantly, the prevention of this disease - the necessary knowledge for each pet owner.
How does infection happen?
Larvae of the parasite are carried by blood-sucking insects, mosquitoes and much less often fleas or ticks. Once with the blood in the stomach of the carrier, the larvae are thrown under the skin of a healthy individual bitten by an infected insect. In the next few months, diphilaria larvae develop in the subcutaneous tissue to a state where they will be able to migrate through the blood vessels. Over a period of about 4 months, most of the larvae will die, but some of them, in the amount of 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, in the eye area. Thus, dirofilariasis in cats takes place in the first latent, that is, latent form. Actively growing and later breeding worms at this stage will secrete a considerable amount of toxic substances that adversely affect the host organism.
Behind the latent stage, cirrhosis in cats flows into the most dangerous, acute form. At this stage, adult worms begin to die, causing blockage of blood vessels. The result of this sooner or later becomes the death of the animal.
Who can be the carrier?
Dirofilariasis is most often diagnosed in dogs and cats, but not only they are affected. The carrier may be a person or carnivores. In this case, invasion occurs in a similar way, through the bite of an infected insect.
Prevention
Are there any measures that can reduce the likelihood of invasion or completely prevent dirofilariasis in cats? Prevention of the disease consists in the regular treatment of a 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?
What are the signs of cats with dirofilariasis? Symptoms of invasion may vary slightly, depending on in which organs the specimens of the parasite are localized. At the first stage, when it enters the subcutaneous tissue, the following signs of the disease can be observed:
- Redness of the skin surface.
- The appearance of pustular formations.
- Itching
In the future, with the development and maturation of larvae, in most cases, symptoms such as blue or obvious reddening of the mucous membranes, dull hair falling out in shreds, general weakness and apathy of the pet, and loss of appetite appear.
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 invasion at least once a year.
Cardiopulmonary Dirofilariasis
Parasitic in the heart of the animal, in its right half, diphilariae worms can for years. With dirofilariasis in the circulatory and respiratory system, symptoms such as:
- Asthmatic signs: shortness of breath, cough. For this reason, the disease can be mistaken for asthma, it is possible to refute this diagnosis with a further examination.
- Bound movements, slowness.
- Weight loss, causeless vomiting.
Dirofilariasis in the eyes
The organs of vision are a comfortable environment for diphilaria worms: parasites are equally 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 is significantly impaired, and even after treatment, visual function may not be restored. Eye infection can be easily recognized independently by external signs:
- Watery eyes, accompanied by redness of the mucous membrane.
- Visible swelling of the eyelid.
- A noticeable protrusion of the infected area in the eye area. A small tubercle forms, which when pressed causes pain in the animal.
Examination and analysis for the diagnosis of dirofilariasis
Dirofilariasis in cats can be confirmed with the help of such diagnostic methods as:
- X-ray examination. Most often it is prescribed in order to monitor the condition of the pet, as well as to identify the regression of body functions, assess the development of the disease. The method does not have one hundred percent accuracy, however, it allows you to decide on the acceptability of medication or surgery.
- Diagnosis is serological. Test for the presence in the body of a carrier of antigens of an adult individual diphilaria. 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 sexually mature worms.
- Echocardiography. This type of diagnosis is by far the most effective method for detecting dirofilariasis in cats and other carriers of the disease. An examination of the heart with ultrasound can determine the existing pathology and identify the presence of roundworms in the cardiovascular system.
As a rule, in addition to the examination by the veterinarian, a general and complete analysis of blood and urine is prescribed, which allows you to give an accurate assessment of the changes in the body of the carrier that occurred during the parasitism of diphilaria.
Clinic treatment
To combat the invasion of Dirofilarifsis, there are two methods prescribed depending on the degree of development of the disease. Often, treatment is an injection course. To date, the drugs "Tiacetarsamide" or "Melarsomin" are used. Both substances are arsenic compounds; therefore, they should not be used alone for home treatment.
"Thiacetarsamide" contains a higher concentration of poison, in addition, it always gives complications to the liver and kidneys of a fluffy patient. For this reason, the drug is prescribed only with complete confidence in the presence of the disease. Melarsomin is no less effective, but it belongs to a new generation of medicines. The concentration of arsenic here is not as great as in its predecessor, Tiacetarsamide, so the drug does not have serious consequences. But he also has a number of side effects, in connection with which arsenic-based drugs are prescribed if their benefit is greater than the negative consequences.
With sufficiently serious lesions of the respiratory organs, prednisone or other corticosteroids can be prescribed. The entire course, from the start of administration to the gradual cancellation, is also prescribed and monitored by a veterinarian.
As another method of treating dirofilariasis, a surgical operation to remove adult parasite can be prescribed. This method is used in cases when an X-ray examination revealed the presence of adult diphilaria, - the destruction of such parasites by drug methods can lead to blockage of blood flow. In addition, it is 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 in compliance with the rest regimen and periodic treatment with adulticides that eliminate the remaining parasites.
In addition to the above treatment methods, a number of maintenance therapy procedures can be developed in addition to allowing the animal to restore its health as much as possible. Such effects include a course of medicinal solutions for bronchodilation, oxygen procedures and so on.
Home treatment
The drug "Stronghold" based on selamectin has excellent prophylactic and anthelmintic agents. Regular external application of the substance in the warm months, when it is possible to get a mosquito bite, reduces the number of larvae in the bloodstream of the animal. Absorbed through the skin, the active substances of the drug cause paralysis and, as a result, death of diphilaria.
The well-proven drugs Advokat (active substance - moxidectin) and Milbemax (milbemycin oxime) have similar properties.
It should be noted that the effect of the above funds is possible only at the initial stage of invasion. Against mature parasites, the medicine is useless.
In order for home treatment of dirofilariasis not to cause even greater harm to the pet, the following rules must be observed when providing independent assistance:
- No need to try to diagnose or prescribe a course of treatment yourself. This should be done by a veterinarian.
- During the course of treatment, the pet will need to ensure compliance with the regimen recommended by the veterinarian.
- In the process of treatment, regular monitoring by specialists of the veterinary clinic over the condition of the lungs and bronchi, the animal’s cardiovascular system is required.