CANINE HEARTWORM DISEASE - BIOLOGY AND EC OLOGY OF THE CAUSATIVE AGENT, PATHOGENESIS, CLINICS, DIAGNOSIS, THERAPY AND PROPHYLAXIS

The present paper gives a survey on biology and ecology of the causati ve agent as well as on pathogenesis, clinics, diagnosis, therapy, and prophylaxis of the Dirofilaria-immitis-infection of the dog. Because o f the constantly increasing number of cases this dirofilariosis is of considerable importance to veterinary practitioners in Germany. In the period between May 1991 and May 1993 D.-immitis-and D.-repens-infecti ons were detected by means of microscopical and/or serological methods in 12 and 3 dogs in Germany, respectively. Eight of the 12 D.-immitis -infected dogs were imported from countries of the Mediterranean Sea - 5 from Spain and 3 from Italy as well as one dog from Costa Rica and one from Tahiti. Two animals travelled with their owners to Portugal ( AIKAWA et al., 1981) or Spain (AIKAWA et al., 1981). Two of the 3 D.-r epens-infected dogs were imported from Spain (AIKAWA et al., 1981) or Italy (AIKAWA et al., 1981), whereas 1 animal travelled with the owner to Italy/Yugoslavia/Greece/Turkey. One D.-repens-positive dog was add itionally infected with Leishmania. Finally, the veterinary practition ers are given useful advices with special regards to diagnosis, curren t therapy, and prophylaxis.