Radiological Evaluation of Vascular Structures in Cats Infected with Immature Worms of <i>Dirofilaria immitis</i>
Soraya Falcón-Cordón,
Yaiza Falcón-Cordón,
Sara Nieves García-Rodríguez,
Noelia Costa-Rodríguez,
Daniel Julio Vera-Rodríguez,
José Alberto Montoya-Alonso,
Elena Carretón
Affiliations
Soraya Falcón-Cordón
Internal Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Therapeutic Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Yaiza Falcón-Cordón
Internal Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Therapeutic Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Sara Nieves García-Rodríguez
Internal Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Therapeutic Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Noelia Costa-Rodríguez
Internal Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Therapeutic Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Daniel Julio Vera-Rodríguez
Internal Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Therapeutic Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
José Alberto Montoya-Alonso
Internal Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Therapeutic Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Elena Carretón
Internal Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Therapeutic Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
This study aimed to assess thoracic radiographic abnormalities in cats infected with immature stages of Dirofilaria immitis to evaluate the utility of this diagnostic technique during early infection. A total of 123 cats from a hyperendemic area were classified into three groups: asymptomatic cats seronegative to anti-D.-immitis antibodies (Group A), seropositive asymptomatic cats (Group B), and seropositive cats with clinical signs that were at high risk of heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD) (Group C). Radiographic measurements and lung parenchymal abnormalities were analyzed and compared across the groups. Significant differences in several parameters, including CrPA/R4, and CdPA/R9 ratios, were observed between healthy and seropositive cats, suggesting early arterial damage even in the absence of adult worms. Other parameters that showed differences between healthy and infected cats were CVC/Ao and CVC/R4 ratios, but not the VHS. Group C exhibited a marked bronchointerstitial pattern, indicating severe parenchymal alterations associated with clinical signs. The study demonstrated that thoracic radiography can detect early vascular and parenchymal changes in feline D. immitis infections, providing valuable information for diagnosing HARD. However, it also highlights the limitations of radiographic techniques, as some seropositive cats displayed no significant abnormalities. The findings underscore the importance of combining radiography with clinical and serological assessments for a more accurate diagnosis of feline heartworm disease.