Autochthonous Dirofilaria immitis infection in a ferret with aberrant larval migration in Europe.
A two-year-old male ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was presented to the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, for investigation of somnolence. Following unsuccessful therapeutic attempts, the ferret was euthanased and a male Dirofilaria immitis worm was found in the pulmonary artery and a female D. immitis specimen in the subdural space of the cranial cavity. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first European record of D. immitis infection in a ferret, and the first case in which aberrant larval migration and consequent central nervous system signs were observed in a ferret in the course of D. immitis infection.
Molnár
V
V
Veterinary and Conservation Department, Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden, Allatkerti krt 6-12, Budapest, Hungary.
Pazár
P
P
Rigó
D
D
Máthé
D
D
Fok
E
E
Glávits
R
R
Vajdovich
P
P
Jacsó
O
O
Balogh
L
L
Sós
E
E
D000818:Animals; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D005060:Europe; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets / Q000469:parasitology*; D007814:Larva; D008297:Male