The same mosquito that transmits dengue fever to humans – Aedes aegypti – can infect domestic animals with another disease, known as heartworm.
Veterinarian Saskia Vidal Arce explains how the disease, scientifically called dirofilariasis, is transmitted.
“The mosquito needs to bite an infected animal. It will transmit the larva to the healthy animal through the bite, and this larva will reach the blood. From the blood it goes to the lungs and then to the heart. This process can take up to 6 months”, says Saskia.
Heartworm can affect dogs and cats. The disease is more common in coastal regions, with hot and humid climates, which favor the proliferation of mosquitoes.
Find out what alternatives are available to prevent the disease
The best way to combat heartworm is prevention. All the same precautions are recommended to avoid standing water as those recommended to eliminate Aedes aegypti.
Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the risk of mosquito bites in animals by using repellent collars and prevent the growth of worms in them by administering oral dewormer from time to time, according to the veterinarian’s advice.
Check the symptoms of heartworm in dogs and cats
Heartworm symptoms may take a while to appear and only appear when the disease is already advanced. See what the symptoms are:
- Cough
- Exercise intolerance
- Abnormal sounds in the lungs
- Abnormal heart sounds
- Tiredness
- Weakness
- Bloating in the belly
- Liver enlargement
How to know if my pet has heartworm
The diagnosis is made through a blood test that must be requested by a veterinarian.
Heartworm is treatable
Treatment of the disease is time-consuming, explains veterinarian Saskia Arce, and can take up to a year.
Medicines are administered, including antibiotics, and, in some cases, surgery may be recommended to remove the parasites.
If a person notices symptoms of the disease in their pet, it is recommended that they consult a veterinarian.
