EPIZOOTOLOGICAL FEATURES, DIAGNOSTICS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT OF CARNIVORES SICK OF DIROFILARIOSIS
Abstract
The article presents the results of scientific research on epizootological features, diagnosis and effectiveness of treatment of carnivores with heartworm disease. Dirofilariasis is an infectious parasitic disease characterized by heart, liver and kidney problems. The disease affects dogs, cats, wild animals, and sometimes people. The causative agent of this disease is the nematodes Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilaria repens and others. They have a transparent body covered with a transparent membrane. Large helminths 25-30 cm long, live, larvae (microfilariae) 0.22-0.29 mm long, with a diameter equal to the size of an erythrocyte. Dirofilaria immitis affects the right ventricle of the heart, the pulmonary artery, causing severe attacks of the pulmonary vein, right ventricle and right atrium. Dirofilaria is usually found in unusual places for parasites: in the eyes, brain, stomach, subcutaneous space, spine. Larvae enter the blood of the host through the insect's proboscis and develop in the animal's body. The larva's life span lasts about 7-8 months. One heartworm produces 30,000 larvae per day. Microfilariae circulate in the blood of pregnant women for three years. The maximum number of microdirofilariae in the peripheral blood of animals in the morning and in the evening, which corresponds to two peaks in the central nervous system. Direct microscopy of a drop of freshly collected blood from a carnivore at low magnification is the simplest, most convenient and fastest method of diagnosing heartworm disease. We also recommend using the research method according to Knott, according to Kulikov. It is also necessary to perform an autopsy of the chest cavity and examine the pericardium and other tissues for the presence of helminths. Prevention of heartworm infection in animals is primarily based on interrupting the transmissible transmission of infestation and consists of several directions: extermination of mosquitoes, detection and deworming of infested domestic dogs, prevention of contact of mosquitoes with domestic animals. Monthly treatment of animals against insects, good quality feeding, timely vaccination and deworming of animals are necessary [19, 21]. The drugs "Ivermectin", "Milbemycin" and "Dironet 500" have a prolonged effect. The use of these drugs with an interval of 30-35 days has a detrimental effect on microfilariae, which prevents the infection of other carnivores and prevents the spread of heartworm disease.
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