European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases www.abcdcatsvets.org.
J Feline Med Surg. 2020 May;22(5):442-451. doi: 10.1177/1098612X20917601.
and the most important filarial worms, causing heartworm disease and subcutaneous dirofilariosis, respectively. is currently considered an emerging zoonotic agent in Europe.
Filarial worms infect mainly dogs, but also cats, ferrets, wild carnivores and humans. The life cycle involves an intermediate mosquito host. Compared with dogs, cats are imperfect hosts for dirofilarial worms. After inoculation, only a low number of L3 larvae develop to the adult stage in a small percentage of cats. Heartworm disease in cats may be associated with severe pulmonary thromboembolism and an eosinophilic inflammatory response in the lungs, potentially leading to sudden death. Otherwise self-cure occurs in most cases after 18-48 months. Subcutaneous dirofilariosis may present as subcutaneous nodules or dermatitis.
Diagnosis in cats is more difficult compared with dogs and needs a multistep approach (antigen and antibody tests, as well as diagnostic imaging). Cats with acute heartworm disease require stabilisation within an intensive care unit. Cats with respiratory signs or suggestive radiographic changes should receive prednisolone and follow-up with a similar multistep approach. Adulticidal therapy is not safe in cats.
In endemic areas cats should receive year-round chemoprophylaxis from 2 months of age.
犬恶丝虫和心丝虫分别是最重要的丝虫，可分别引起心丝虫病和皮下组织丝虫病。犬恶丝虫目前被认为是欧洲的一种新兴人畜共患病病原体。
丝虫主要感染犬，但也可感染猫、雪貂、野生食肉动物和人类。其生命周期涉及中间的蚊子宿主。与犬相比，猫对于犬恶丝虫来说是不完全宿主。接种后，只有一小部分猫的 L3 幼虫会在少数情况下发育为成虫。猫的心脏丝虫病可能与严重的肺血栓栓塞和肺部嗜酸性粒细胞炎症反应有关，这可能导致突然死亡。否则，大多数猫在 18-48 个月后会自行痊愈。皮下组织丝虫病可能表现为皮下结节或皮肤炎。
猫的诊断比犬更困难，需要采用多步骤方法（抗原和抗体检测以及诊断成像）。患有急性心脏丝虫病的猫需要在重症监护病房进行稳定治疗。有呼吸道症状或提示有放射学改变的猫应接受泼尼松龙治疗，并采用类似的多步骤方法进行随访。在猫中使用杀成虫药物治疗并不安全。
在流行地区，猫应从 2 月龄开始接受全年化学预防。
