Pathomorphological features of some organs in dirofilariasis of dogs

Dirofilariasis (from Lat. "diro, filum" meaning "evil thread") is a parasitic disease caused by helminths of Dirofilaria. Filamentous helminths are of the white color and belong to the class of nematodes. On the territory of the Far East, there are 2 types of dirofilarias: D. immitis and D. repens. This parasitic infection is characterized by a very long course; a worm-infested individual can be a carrier of worms for up to three years. At the same time, they poison the body with dangerous products of metabolism and cause numerous pathological changes. Dirofilarias (most of them) are located in the heart and lungs. Microfilarias regularly circulate in the blood of animals. Examining the organs of dogs which have suffered from dirofilariasis, it can be concluded that the presence of helminths in the blood of animals causes damage to the entire body of the dog, injuring every organ.