Heartworm infected dogs in the Netherlands.

Heartworm infected small animal patients are seldom seen in the Netherlands, because the parasite's life cycle cannot be completed in this climate. We report here four cases of the disease in dogs brought to the Netherlands from endemic heartworm areas. The initial diagnosis was based upon this knowledge and clinical signs (low exercise tolerance and coughing). The diagnosis was confirmed by the radiographic finding of variable pulmonary artery enlargement, the electrocardiographic finding of right ventricular hyperptrophy and the presence of microfilariae in the peripheral blood. Treatment resulted in recovery in three of these patients but the fourth died soon after initiation of the therapy.