Dirofilariose: revisão de literatura

Abstract

Heartworm is a disease transmitted by mosquito vectors (Aedes spp, Anopheles spp, Culex spp), which release parasites into the bloodstream. Transmission occurs when a mosquito ingests microfilariae from an infected animal, either by blood transfusion or transplacentally. Its habitat is the pulmonary arteries and the right ventricle. The main host is dogs, and cats have greater resistance to the disease. Heartworm is a zoonosis, therefore, in humans this parasite causes pulmonary heartworm, characterized by the presence of a solitary benign nodule in the lung. Clinical signs vary in duration and severity of infection. Diagnosis is based on clinical signs of cardiovascular dysfunction and demonstration of microfilariae in the blood. The objective of this work is to transmit knowledge about the importance and risks that can be caused by mosquitoes that carry heartworm disease.