22 авг. 2019 г. · The worms are called “heartworms” because the adults live in the heart, lungs, and associated blood vessels of an infected animal.
What animal is heartworm most common in?
Heartworm disease is a serious disease that results in severe lung disease, heart failure, other organ damage, and death in pets, mainly dogs, cats, and ferrets. It is caused by a parasitic worm called Dirofilaria immitis. The worms are spread through the bite of a mosquito.
What animal is at most risk of heartworm disease?
Factors that affect the prevalence of heartworm infection include the species of mosquitoes, the climate, and the presence of reservoir animals. The risk of infection is greatest when mosquitoes are actively feeding.
What species do heartworms infect?
Heartworm disease affects dogs, cats and ferrets, but heartworms also live in other mammal species, including wolves, coyotes, foxes, sea lions and—in rare instances—humans. Because wild species such as foxes and coyotes live in proximity to many urban areas, they are considered important carriers of the disease.
What is the name of the worm that is responsible for heartworm disease?
Dirofilaria immitis, also known as heartworm or dog heartworm, is a parasitic roundworm that is a type of filarial worm, a small thread-like worm, that causes dirofilariasis. ... Dirofilaria immitisFamily:OnchocercidaeGenus:DirofilariaSpecies:D. immitisBinomial name
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