Abstract
A domestic female cat 12 years old infected with Dirofilaria immitis was examined clinically and pathologically. It had anorexia for a long time, suffering from dyspnea and cardiac murmur. It harbored microfilariae in the peripheral blood, as disclosed by the micro-capillary technique. It had ascites and died of uremia. Precipitin antibodies against D. immitis were demonstrated when tested by the gel diffusion technique with D. immitis antigen.
Postmortem examination reveraled that 4 (2male and 2 female) living adult worms were in the right ventricle. Main histopathological features were seen in the arteries, kidneys and liver. Light microscopy showd thickening and intimal proliferation of the pulmonary arteries and enlargement of the glomerular mesangium. The immunofluorescent test with anti-dog IgG serum was positive, as IgG was deposited in the glomerular basement membrane and mesangium.
