What's new in heartworm disease?

Before — standard treatment: A histopathology slide depicting pulmonary parenchyma with a standard melarsomine treatment.

"Heartworms: An Emerging Disease." The premise behind the article was that all the factors associated with the transmission of heartworm infections are constantly changing. Man-made changes to the landscape and environment have created suitable habitats for mosquitoes. That, coupled with the steady influx of heartworm positive dogs from endemic areas to traditionally non-endemic areas, has fueled the methodical march of this deadly parasite into the northern and western states. And despite the plethora of heartworm preventives available, there are a million new cases of heartworm infections every year in the canine population. Of course this isn't a new development — it has been going on for years. But we do have new knowledge concerning the biology of this parasite and how that can affect the prevention and treatment of heartworms. I remember a professor telling my graduating class from vet school that half of what we currently know will be obsolete in five years. That statement certainly rings true when I look back on what has been learned about Dirofilaria immitis over the past few years.

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