Heart worms

Question 1

What are the names of the 2 types of parasitic neamatodes that invade the pulmonary arteries? (And sometimes the right atrium and right ventricle)

Answer 1

Dirofilaria imimtis

Angiostrongylous vasorum

Question 2

The presence of worms leads to inflammation, vascular _____, pulmonary ______, thrombosis, infarction or _____ _____ ____.

Answer 2

occulusion

hypertension

disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)

Question 3

Dirofilaria are transmitted by __________ and occur worldwide in areas where mosquitoes are ______.

Answer 3

mosquitoes

endemic

Question 4

Angiostrongylus (French heartworm) are transmitted by an intermediate host (_____ and ____) and found in Europe, Canada, South America and Africa

Answer 4

slugs and snails

Question 5

Males or females are mostly affected?
What is the minimum age for heart worms to occur and why?

Answer 5

females

6 months, need at least 6 months to complete the lifecycle of the heartworm

Question 6

Marked radiographic changes may be present in animals __________ detectable microfilaria. _______ worm migration or ________ to the brain may cause neurological signs (more often in _____).

Answer 6

without

Abberant

emobilization

cats

Question 7

HW infections are more common in dogs than cats, they tend to be ___- _____. The worms are _____ and ____ than in dogs and have _____ life spans. Affected cats seldom ______, but frequently have asthma-like signs and respiratory _____ (referred to as _____ -_____ ______ _____ or (HARD). Vomiting is common in affected cats. Radiographic DDX includes asthma.

Answer 7

self-limiting

smaller and fewer

shorter

cough

distress

Heartworm-associated respiratory disease

Question 8

Class I of IV of HW= The animal is usually _______. Thoracic rads are normal or only mild _________ abnormalities.

Answer 8

asymptomatic

cardiovascular

Question 9

Class II of IV is Moderate form of disease= Occasional _____, mild _____ intolerance and sometimes a fever. Enlarged _____ arteries (especially in the _____ caudal lung lobe. Right ______ enlargement. A pulmonary _____ may or may not be present.

Answer 9

coughing

exercise

pulmonary

ventricular

knob

Question 10

Class III of IV of HW= Severe heartworm disease includes dyspnea, frequent _____, weight loss, lethargy, hemoptysis, abdominal distention. Severe CV abnormalities on the thoracic radiographs. Enlarged and tortous pulmonary arteries that taper ______. Significat _____ heart enlargement. Prominent pulmonary ______. Lung dz with interstitial to _____ pattern. _____ heart failure. (hepatomegaly, ascites, pleural fluid, dilated vena cava)

Answer 10

cough

abruptly

right

knob

alveolar

Right

Question 11

Class IV of heartworm dz= ______ syndrome, extremely severe dz. Clinical signs as class III plus _______. CV abnormalities same as in class III, but more _____.

Answer 11

Caval- The caval syndrome is a serious complication of chronic heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) disease in dogs and cats. The syndrome is characterized by acute anorexia, respiratory distress, weakness, right-sided cardiac murmur, anemia, hemoglobinuria, hepatic and renal dysfunction, signs of forward and backward heart failure, and, possibly, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Retrograde migration of adult heartworms from the pulmonary arteries to the right ventricle, right atrium, and venae cavae causes disruption of the tricuspid apparatus. Valvular insufficiency, with concurrent pulmonary hypertension, reduces cardiac output thus resulting in forward and backward heart failure. Additionally, red blood cells are traumatized and hemolyzed as they flow through the mass of worms. Therapy consists of supportive care and the removal of the heartworm mass from the right ventricular inflow tract. Caval syndrome in dogs and cats is associated with high mortality rates and generally has a guarded to poor prognosis.

hemoglobinuria

severe

Question 12

In HW infections ALL pulmonary _____ will eventually enlarge. Main pulmonary artery segment enlarges and is called the pulmonary _____. The lung pattern is predominantly _____, but a local or general interstitial and or alveolar pattern may develop due to _______ _____.

Answer 12

arteries

knob

vascular

eosinophilic pneumonia

Question 13

In cats with HW vascular changes tend to be more ______; entral and peripheral pulmonary arteries may _____, subsequently reduce in size and then _____ again. A nonspecific, generalized ______ lung pattern often develops (often indistinguishable from asthma on rads. HW dz _____ leads to right heart failure in cats.

Answer 13

dynamic

enlarge

enlarge

interstitial

rarely