An Overview Of Feline Heartworm Disease

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An Overview Of Feline Heartworm Disease - Quiz

We all know that cats are unique. Different from our canine companions in many ways, their physiologic response to heartworm infection is one more thing to add to the list. They’re not just small dogs – and our disease management protocols must be altered to take their unique responses into account. Brian A. DiGangi, DVM, MS, DAVBP (Canine/Feline), discusses disease prevalence, life cycle, clinical signs and prognosis as we development of rational management protocols for shelter pets.

Date: December 2014

Questions and Answers

1.

We hope you have enjoyed the article. A certificate of participation in your name will be awarded at the end of this quiz. Please let us know if you have read the entire article.
- A.
  
  I certify that I have read the entire article.
- B.
  
  I did not read the entire article.
Correct Answer
A. I certify that I have read the entire article.
2.

It is estimated that ___ of shelter cats in some regions of the country are infected with heartworms; however, less than ___ of shelters in high-risk areas prioritize testing for feline heartworm disease.
- A.
  
  1%, 25%
- B.
  
  1%, 50%
- C.
  
  10%, 25%
- D.
  
  10%, 50%
- E.
  
  25%, 50%
Correct Answer
C. 10%, 25%
3.

Cats can get infected with the same heartworm that infects dogs (Dirofilaria immitis), however, they are less resistant to this infection.
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False
Correct Answer
B. False
4.

Which of the following is not true?
- A.
  
  Most studies suggest that cats are infected with heartworms at somewhere between 5 and 15% of the rate of dog infections in the same geographic area.
- B.
  
  "Indoor-only" cats are not as likely to become infected with heartworms as are those that have outdoor access.
- C.
  
  There is no known age or sex predilection for heartworm infection in cats.
- D.
  
  All of the above.
- E.
  
  None of the above.
Correct Answer
B. "Indoor-only" cats are not as likely to become infected with heartworms as are those that have outdoor access.
5.

What differences exist between the heartworm life cycle in cats versus dogs?
- A.
  
  The migration process (when larvae move to the heart and lungs and L3 larvae develop into L4) takes longer in cats than dogs.
- B.
  
  Only one or two adult heartworms are typically found in a fully mature feline heartworm infection in cats, far fewer than what is typically found in dogs.
- C.
  
  Fewer microfilariae are found in feline infections than in canine infections.
- D.
  
  A and B.
- E.
  
  A, B and C.
Correct Answer
E. A, B and C.
6.

Which of the following cause the majority of clinical signs that affect cats?
- A.
  
  The arrival (and death) of the juvenile worms in the blood vessels of the heart and lungs.
- B.
  
  The death of adult heartworms.
- C.
  
  The relatively high number of microfilariae that are circulating in the bloodstream.
- D.
  
  A and B
- E.
  
  None of the above.
Correct Answer
D. A and B
7.

In one scientific study, 28% of cats diagnosed with heartworm disease had no clinical signs of infection.
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False
Correct Answer
A. True
8.

Which of the following is not true regarding diagnosis of feline heartworm infection?
- A.
  
  Diagnosis relies on a combination of clinical and diagnostic findings rather than a single screening test result.
- B.
  
  Blood tests are limited to antigen (testing for the parasite itself) and antibody (testing for the body’s response to an infection) tests.
- C.
  
  Antigen testing is a very sensitive means of heartworm detection (i.e., there is a low chance of false negative test results).
- D.
  
  A positive antibody test result does not mean that a cat is currently suffering from an infection.
- E.
  
  About 50% of cats with heartworm disease will have evidence of enlarged pulmonary arteries on x-rays of their lungs.
Correct Answer
C. Antigen testing is a very sensitive means of heartworm detection (i.e., there is a low chance of false negative test results).
9.

Researchers found a lower chance of erroneously declaring a cat positive (i.e., higher test specificity) if only one test was used, but there was a lower chance of erroneously declaring a cat negative (i.e., higher sensitivity) when the two test results were combined.
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False
Correct Answer
A. True
10.

Which of the following is not true regarding treatment of feline heartworm infection?
- A.
  
  There is no known safe and effective adulticidal treatment available for feline heartworm disease.
- B.
  
  Administration of melarsomine, the compound labeled for treatment of adult heartworms in dogs, is not as effective in cats and its administration is frequently fatal.
- C.
  
  "Treatment" of feline heartworm disease focuses on controlling clinical signs related to the disease process.
- D.
  
  There is evidence that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, are beneficial.
- E.
  
  Corticosteroids (such as prednisolone) and bronchodilators are the mainstays of medical management of feline heartworm disease.
Correct Answer
D. There is evidence that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, are beneficial.
11.

According to Dr. DiGangi, although there is no evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of antibacterial therapy targeting Wolbachia organisms in the management of feline heartworm disease, there is also no reason to suspect that they would be any less effective than in dogs.
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False
Correct Answer
A. True

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Current Version
Dec 30, 2014

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Dec 30, 2014

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An Overview Of Feline Heartworm Disease

We hope you have enjoyed the article. A certificate of participation in your name will be awarded at the end of this quiz. Please let us know if you have read the entire article.

It is estimated that _ of shelter cats in some regions of the country are infected with heartworms; however, less than _ of shelters in high-risk areas prioritize testing for feline heartworm disease.

Cats can get infected with the same heartworm that infects dogs (Dirofilaria immitis), however, they are less resistant to this infection.

Which of the following is not true?

What differences exist between the heartworm life cycle in cats versus dogs?

Which of the following cause the majority of clinical signs that affect cats?

In one scientific study, 28% of cats diagnosed with heartworm disease had no clinical signs of infection.

Which of the following is not true regarding diagnosis of feline heartworm infection?

Researchers found a lower chance of erroneously declaring a cat positive (i.e., higher test specificity) if only one test was used, but there was a lower chance of erroneously declaring a cat negative (i.e., higher sensitivity) when the two test results were combined.

Which of the following is not true regarding treatment of feline heartworm infection?

According to Dr. DiGangi, although there is no evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of antibacterial therapy targeting Wolbachia organisms in the management of feline heartworm disease, there is also no reason to suspect that they would be any less effective than in dogs.

An Overview Of Feline Heartworm Disease

We hope you have enjoyed the article. A certificate of participation in your name will be awarded at the end of this quiz. Please let us know if you have read the entire article.

It is estimated that ___ of shelter cats in some regions of the country are infected with heartworms; however, less than ___ of shelters in high-risk areas prioritize testing for feline heartworm disease.

Cats can get infected with the same heartworm that infects dogs (Dirofilaria immitis), however, they are less resistant to this infection.

Which of the following is not true?

What differences exist between the heartworm life cycle in cats versus dogs?

Which of the following cause the majority of clinical signs that affect cats?

In one scientific study, 28% of cats diagnosed with heartworm disease had no clinical signs of infection.

Which of the following is not true regarding diagnosis of feline heartworm infection?

Researchers found a lower chance of erroneously declaring a cat positive (i.e., higher test specificity) if only one test was used, but there was a lower chance of erroneously declaring a cat negative (i.e., higher sensitivity) when the two test results were combined.

Which of the following is not true regarding treatment of feline heartworm infection?

According to Dr. DiGangi, although there is no evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of antibacterial therapy targeting Wolbachia organisms in the management of feline heartworm disease, there is also no reason to suspect that they would be any less effective than in dogs.

It is estimated that _ of shelter cats in some regions of the country are infected with heartworms; however, less than _ of shelters in high-risk areas prioritize testing for feline heartworm disease.