Caparsolate Sodium in the Treatment of Canine Filariasis

Abstract

Twenty-five dogs, 1 to 9 years old, with heartworm infection were treated with caparsolate sodium (CS). Prior to treatment, it was confirmed that they belonged to one of the four clinical categories of infection of Jackson, i.e., S-O, asymptomatic; S-1, slight symptoms such as coughing; S-2, typical symptoms of filariasis; and S-3, critical condition. CS was injected into the radial vein in the following manner: 0.4mg/kg daily for 15 days (series 1), 0.8mg/kg daily for 3 days (series 2), and 0.8mg/kg four times every other day (series 3).
In series 1, some dogs suffered from severe coughing and needed medication over a considerably long period. Series 2 and 3, showing no serious response, revealed, however, that CS was almost equally effective to destroy adult worms within about 30 days after initial injection.
Generally, heartworms were swept into the pulmonary artery in 14 days. The intravenous injection of CS in such a dose as employed was confirmed to work regularly to destroy adult heartworms, although it eliminated no microfilariae.
No intensely positive reaction of the Takata-Ara test was observed during the treatment. In addition, it is necessary to keep the injected dog under observation for clinical response and changes in physical conditions due to heartworm destruction.