Case Report of dirofilariasis in grey wolf in Serbia

Acta Parasitol. 2014 Mar;60(1):175-8. doi: 10.1515/ap-2015-0025.

Abstract

This paper describes a case of dirofilariasis in a two-year old, female grey wolf (Canis lupus lupus). The autopsy revealed the presence of 42 adult forms of Dirofilaria immitis in the pulmonary artery, right ventricle and right atrium, varying in length from 9.5 to 30 cm. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the second report of D. immitis in grey wolves in Serbia. Our finding confirms that the wolf, as a subspecies distinct from the dog, should also be considered as a very suitable definitive host for dirofilariasis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autopsy
  • Dirofilaria immitis / isolation & purification*
  • Dirofilariasis / diagnosis*
  • Dirofilariasis / parasitology
  • Dirofilariasis / pathology*
  • Female
  • Heart Atria / parasitology
  • Heart Ventricles / parasitology
  • Pulmonary Artery / parasitology
  • Serbia
  • Wolves