Coiling of Canine Filariae aroud Chordae Tendineae in Dogs

Abstract

Canine filariae coiled around the Chordae tendineae of the right ventricle in 13 of 278 dogs subjected to autopsy at the author's laboratory over a 3-year period beginning with April, 1964. The 13 dogs showed essentially the same general signs as those of chronic filariasis, such as congestion and enlargement of the liver, ascites, embolism of branches of the pulmonary artery by worms, and dilatation of this artery with roughened endothelium.
Six of the 13 dogs were examined histo-pathologically. In 4 dogs, the coiling worms retained their normal structure well, causing thrombosis, swelling and loosening of tissues, and mild cellular infiltration. In the other 2 dogs, the coiling worms presented a very obscure structure, inducing the appearance of giant cells against foreign body and numerous plasma cells.