Via @CDCgov



Heartworm disease is a fatal but preventable infection in dogs. Mosquitoes act as the vector of the worm parasite Dirofilaria immitis that caused this infection. From an infected animal host, Dirofilaria immitis is carried by mosquitos to a new animal host as the heartworm larvae called microfilariae. In the new host, the larvae grow into adult worms and stay in heart and lungs blood vessels during the initial infection phase. Later, after several months heartworms enter the heart and cause severe infections.



Many big countries such as the United States, Canada, and continents Australia, Latin America, and southern Europe have reported heartworm disease in huge numbers. Most countries worldwide that have temperate or tropical climates are favorable for mosquitoes. Surprisingly, 70 species of mosquitos can transmit heartworm disease. Therefore the dogs are prone to getting heartworm infections quickly.



The severity of heartworm infection and the signs depend on the number of worms present, the immune response of the infected dog, the duration of infection, and the animal's activity level. Therefore early and correct disease detection becomes very important for the proper treatment.