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Scientific name of the heartworm.
Dirofilaria Immitis
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How long can L1 remain in the bloodstream?
Up to 2 years
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How long does it take for the L1 to develop into the infective L3 stage once ingested by the intermediate host?
10-14 days/ 2-3 weeks
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What is the temp requirement for L1-L3 in the mosquito?
70 degrees
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What is the lifespan of adult heartworms?
5 years
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How long does it take for the L3-L4 molt?
2-4 days
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How long does it take for the L4-L5 molt?
50-70 days
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How long does it take for the L5 to mature to adult once they migrate to the pulmonary arteries and right heart?
3-4 months
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What is the prepatent period for heartworms?
6 months
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What are the 4 diagnostic lab tests for microfilaria?
- Modified Knott's
- Filter (ex Difil)
- Buffy Coat
- Direct Smear
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What are some ways of diagnosing heartworms other than testing for microfiliaria or anitgen/antibody tests?
- Radiograph: enlarged pulmonary arteries and right heart
- ECG
- CBC: increased basophils/eosinophils
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What is occult heartworm disease?
Presence of adults without microfilaria
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What are the five possible reasons for occult heartrworm disease?
- Immature adults
- Adults one sex or sterile
- Ectopic adults
- Immune mediated clearence
- Montly prevetative: kill microfilaria
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What are two considerations before starting TX of heartworms?
- Cost: can the client afford tx?
- Overall health of animal: liver, kidney function, able to withstand tx.
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What tx is older and less effective (63%)?
thiacetarsamide (Caparsolate)- given IV, bid, 2-3 days
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What tx is newly approved and more effective (90.8%)?
melarsomine dihydrochloride (Immiticide)- deep IM sid/bid, 2 days
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What two products are used off label as microfilaricidals?
- Ivermectin
- Milbemycin oxime
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Ivermectin + Pyrantel pamoate (Heartgard 30 plus, Iverheart, TriHeart Plus)
HW prevention, rounds, hooks
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Milbemycin oxime (Interceptor)
HW prevention, rounds, hooks, whips
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Selamectin (Revolution)
monthly topical; HW prevention, rounds, hooks in CATS ONLY, fleas, some mites, some ticks.
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Lifespan of adults in cats
2 years (vs 5 years in dogs)
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Prepatent period in cats
8 months (vs 6 months in dogs)
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Moxidectin (Proheart 6)
SUBQ injection, every 6mo. HW preventative, hookworms @ time of admin.
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What are some HW preventatives in cats?
- Ivermectin (Heartgard 30 for cats)
- Selamectin (Revolution)- also rounds, hooks in cats
- Advantage Multi
- Interceptor
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What is meant by "caval syndrome?"
Adults in the right heart and vena cava.
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What are some clincal signs of heartworm disease?
- Exercise intolerance
- Chronic cough
- Dyspnea
- Remittent ascities
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