Di·ro·fi·la·ri·a im·'mi·tis

a species of filarial worms; primary hosts are dogs and other canids in tropical, subtropical and temperate climates, adult worms are found chiefly in the right ventricle and pulmonary arteries of dogs; sometimes a serious pathogen of racing and show dogs, especially in the southern U.S. where mosquito vectors are most common; Dirofilaria immitis and its canine host have been used to test chemotherapeutic agents, and an extract of Dirofilaria immitis may be used as a nonspecific intradermal antigen in the diagnosis of human filariasis and in complement-fixation tests.
See also: Dipetalonema reconditum.

Synonym(s): heartworm

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

heartworm

(härt′wûrm′)

1. A parasitic filarial worm (Dirofilaria immitis) that is transmitted by mosquitoes and infects the pulmonary arteries and often the right side of the heart of dogs and other canids and sometimes other mammals, including cats.

2. The condition resulting from infection with heartworms, characterized by respiratory symptoms and fatigue.

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

Heartworm is a parasitic roundworm that is spread through the bites of mosquitoes and because of that, is not prevalent in the UK.

Woman and her dog struck with heart problems within weeks of each other; "When I came home he would sit and look at me as if to say 'I know what you're going through'"

The medical literature continues to refer to canine and human heartworm disease as cardiac infections, and to human pulmonary lesions as ischemic infarcts.

Risk factors for human heartworm infections (dirofilariasis) in the south

"When he was brought here, Lauren knew that the dog was heartworm positive but did not have the dog treated and did not tell the potential owner of his condition,'' he said.

Woman accused of adopting sick dog, abandoning it

UC Davis is sending her home with a year's supply of heartworm, flea and tick preventative medicine.

Hero dog, arrives in the Philippines after US treatment

Advantage treats fleas - Advocate treats fleas plus prevents heartworm, hookworm and roundworm in dogs and cats and other external parasites, such as lice, demodex and scabies.

WHAT'S the difference between Advocate [...]

It begins with overviews of the normal cardiovascular system, examination, cardiac radiography, electrocardiography, and echocardiography, followed by clinical manifestations and management of problems like murmurs, cardiomegaly, cough, respiratory difficulty, jugular vein distention or pulsations, abdominal distention, abnormal heart rate or rhythm, syncope, heart failure, arrhythmias, congenital diseases, acquired valve diseases, myocardial and pericardial diseases, hypertension, and heartworm, and evaluation techniques, investigative procedures, diagnosis, and medical and surgical options and methods, with many images.

Cardiovascular disease in small animal medicine, rev. ed

Fortunately, Bahrain is currently free from heartworm.

De-worming of pets vital for healthcare

MESSAGE: To raise consumer awareness of the dangers of feline heartworm disease, while focusing on the importance of prevention and protection.

Specialty Public Relations Campaign

Angiostronglyus vasorum - or French heartworm - is carried by slugs and snails which have increased in number here because of warmer temperatures.

Warning over killer parasite