CANINE HEARTWORM DISEASE - BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF THE CAUSATIVE AGENT, PATHOGENESIS, CLINICS, DIAGNOSIS, THERAPY AND PROPHYLAXIS

The present paper gives a survey on biology and ecology of the causative agent as well as on pathogenesis, clinics, diagnosis, therapy, and prophylaxis of the Dirofilaria-immitis-infection of the dog. Because of the constantly increasing number of cases this dirofilariosis is of considerable importance to veterinary practitioners in Germany. In the period between May 1991 and May 1993 D.-immitis-and D.-repens-infections were detected by means of microscopical and/or serological methods in 12 and 3 dogs in Germany, respectively. Eight of the 12 D.-immitis-infected dogs were imported from countries of the Mediterranean Sea - 5 from Spain and 3 from Italy as well as one dog from Costa Rica and one from Tahiti. Two animals travelled with their owners to Portugal (AIKAWA et al., 1981) or Spain (AIKAWA et al., 1981). Two of the 3 D.-repens-infected dogs were imported from Spain (AIKAWA et al., 1981) or Italy (AIKAWA et al., 1981), whereas 1 animal travelled with the owner to Italy/Yugoslavia/Greece/Turkey. One D.-repens-positive dog was additionally infected with Leishmania. Finally, the veterinary practitioners are given useful advices with special regards to diagnosis, current therapy, and prophylaxis.