Heartworm is a parasitic roundworm spread through mosquito bites between hosts. It infects dogs, cats, wolves and other animals. Early infection may show no symptoms, but later symptoms can include coughing, fatigue after exercise, weight loss, and fainting as the worms accumulate in the heart and lungs, eventually causing heart failure if left untreated. Diagnosis involves blood tests to detect microfilariae or antigens or chest x-rays to assess lung damage. Treatment requires a drug to kill adult worms along with restricted exercise for several weeks to prevent further damage. Monthly preventative medications including ivermectin, milbemycin or selamectin can reduce the risk of infection.

1. Heartworm

2. Heartworm Causative agent: ( Dirofilaria immitis ) is a parasitic roundworm that is spread from host to host through the bites of mosquitoes . The heartworm is a type of filaria , a small thread-like worm.

3. Hosts of Dirofilaria immitis dog cat wolf coyote fox ferret sea lion African Leopard Panthera pardus pardus human - rarely.

4. Clinical signs of infection no indication of heartworm infection during the 6-month- Rarely, migrating heartworm larvae get "lost" and end up in unusual sites such as the eye, brain, or an artery in the leg, blindness, seizures lameness . But normally, until the larvae mature and congregate inside the heart, they produce no symptoms or signs of illness.

5. Early signs cough, especially on exercise and early exhaustion upon exercise. severe weight loss, fainting, coughing up blood finally, congestive heart failure.

6. Diagnosis Three methods can be used for the diagnosis: Microfilarial detection. direct blood smear Antigen test. In most practices, microfilarial detection has been supplanted by or supplemented with antigen testing. Radiography. X-rays are used to evaluate the amount of lung damage caused by the presence of heartworms.

7. Treatment melarsomine dihydrochloride , is marketed under the brand name Immiticide It has a greater efficiency and fewer side effects ( thiacetarsamide sodium , sold as Caparsolate ) safer alternative for dogs with late-stage infections. (restricted exercise) for several weeks urgical removal of the adult heartworms

8. Prevention Long term monthly administration of ivermectin year round at three times the dose milbemycin moxidectin ( ProHeart ) administered as pills or chewable tablets. Selamectin ( Revolution ), is a topical preventive that is likewise administered monthly and also controls fleas , ticks , and mites .