Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), a definitive host for Dirofilaria immitis.
A mature male and a mature female Dirofilaria immitis were found in the right ventricle of the heart of a naturally infected 2-yr-old male Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) that had died of severe lung congestion at a zoo in South Korea. Both developing embryos and microfilariae were present in the uterus of the female D. immitis. Although circulating microfilariae were not detected in blood or tissue, the Eurasian otter may serve as a definitive host for D. immitis.
Matsuda
Kiku
K
Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Chonju, 561-756, Republic of Korea.
Baek
Byeong-Kirl
BK
Lim
Chae-Woong
CW
D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000469:parasitology; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D008297:Male; D010041:Otters / Q000469:parasitology*