Darby Brandy, Dickinson Charles, Gaskins Lori, Hanna Paul
Veterinary Clinical Sciences, St Matthew's University School of Veterinary Medicine, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.
Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
JFMS Open Rep. 2019 Mar 26;5(1):2055116919838083. doi: 10.1177/2055116919838083. eCollection 2019 Jan-Jun.
The aim of this study was to determine the presence and prevalence of heartworm infection in the feral cat population of Grand Cayman.
During the study period, feral cats were routinely trapped and euthanized for population control by the municipal animal shelter. Cats older than 6 months of age were obtained for post-mortem examination shortly after euthanasia. The heart, lungs, pulmonary vasculature, thoracic and abdominal cavities were examined for the presence, location and number of mature heartworms. Sections of caudal lung were evaluated histologically and serologic tests were performed to screen for additional evidence of heartworm exposure.
Mature heartworms were identified in the pulmonary vasculature of 4/36 cats (11.1%). An additional nine cats showed histopathologic changes in the lungs consistent with heartworm exposure, and one cat had a positive antibody test.
The results indicate a minimum heartworm prevalence of 11.1% within this population of feral cats, consistent with published necropsy reports from other endemic localities. Considering the histopathologic changes observed in this group, the true prevalence is likely higher and underscores the importance of heartworm prevention for the companion cat population of the island.
本研究旨在确定大开曼岛野生猫科动物群体中心丝虫感染的存在情况和流行率。
在研究期间，市动物收容所对野生猫进行常规诱捕并实施安乐死以控制种群数量。6个月龄以上的猫在安乐死后不久被获取用于尸检。检查心脏、肺、肺血管、胸腔和腹腔，以确定成熟心丝虫的存在、位置和数量。对尾叶肺组织切片进行组织学评估，并进行血清学检测以筛查心丝虫暴露的其他证据。
在36只猫中的4只（11.1%）的肺血管中发现了成熟的心丝虫。另外9只猫的肺部出现了与心丝虫暴露一致的组织病理学变化，1只猫抗体检测呈阳性。
结果表明该野生猫群体中心丝虫的最低流行率为11.1%，与其他流行地区已发表的尸检报告一致。考虑到该组中观察到的组织病理学变化，实际流行率可能更高，这突出了心丝虫预防对该岛伴侣猫群体的重要性。
