THE EFFECT OF PROSTAGLANDIN INHIBITION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF PULMONARY PATHOLOGY ASSOCIATED WITH DEAD DIROFILARIA-IMMITIS

Flunixin meglumine was used to examine the effect of prostaglandin inh ibition on the pathogenesis of Dirofilaria immitis in the pulmonary ar teries of dogs. Immunopathological reactions to dead filariae were mon itored by light and transmission electron microscopy and serology. Lun g lesions in prostaglandin-inhibited dogs exposed to dead filariae wer e enhanced compared to control dogs. This was associated with the pers istence of parasitic antigen in lung tissue and in the blood. Serology demonstrated that after insertion of D. immitis in treated dogs, anti body levels did not change, while immune complex and antigen levels in creased. These results indicate that prostaglandin may have a protecti ve effect on the way the lung reacts to dead D. immitis, and that alte red dynamics of the antigen processing may well contribute to the asso ciated lung lesions.