Radiographic changes associated with developing dirofilariasis in experimentally infected dogs.
Experimental heartworm infection was established in ten dogs. Five had mild infections (8 to 21 worms) and five had severe infections (41 to 96 worms). After larval inoculation, dogs were radiographed each month for 1 year to evaluate cardiopulmonary changes occurring as the heartworm disease developed. Changes seen radiographically during the first year of heartworm infection were related to the magnitude of the worm burden. In mild infections, changes mainly involved the terminal portion of the right caudal lobar pulmonary artery and were minimal. In severe infections, changes mainly involved the entirety of the right caudal lobar pulmonary artery. In some dogs, an increase in size of the right cranial lobar pulmonary artery was seen. Gross changes in the size of the right ventricle and main pulmonary artery did not frequently occur during the first year.
D000818:Animals; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography