HEARTWORM (DIROFILARIA-IMMITIS) DISEASE AND GLOMERULONEPHRITIS IN A]BLACK-FOOTED CAT (FELIS NIGRIPES)

A 6-yr-old, 1.36-kg, intact female black-footed cat (Felis nigripes) w as presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University o f Florida, with a history of depression, lethargy, and anorexia. Cardi ac dysfunction and renal failure were diagnosed on the basis of antemo rtem and postmortem findings. At necropsy, heartworms (Dirofilaria imm itis), glomerulonephritis, and endometritis were present. The glomerul onephritis could have been immune mediated and may have been associate d with the heartworm infection or the chronic endometritis or both. He artworm disease should be included in the list of differential diagnos es for any exotic cat housed outdoors in an endemic heartworm region t hat dies peracutely or has suggestive gastrointestinal or respiratory signs. Heartworm prophylaxis and annual serologic testing in exotic ca ts housed outdoors in heartworm endemic regions are recommended.