Lesions in Pulmonary Artery in Feline Dirofilariasis

Abstract

Pathological observation was carried out on 3 domestic cats spontaneously infected with Dirofilaria immitis. Principal lesions were found in a small number of pulmonary arterial branches which corresponded roughly to the site of parasitic infection. Marked degenerative and exudative changes involving the whole layers of the vascular wall and perivascular loose connective tissues were conspicuous in large pulmonary arterial branches containing embolic dead parasites. A certain causal relation may present between disorganized dead parasites and severe necrotic changes.