Prevalencia de Microfilaria immitis en Felis silvestris catus atendidos en clínicas de la ciudad de Guayaquil.

Abstract

The objetive of this work will determine the presence of Microfilaria immitis in cats cared for at Veterinary Clinics in the north and south of the City of Guayaquil. Heartworm is transmitted by zoo-anthropophilic mosquitoes and represents a disease of great importance in Public Health, in humans, nodular lung disease, skin and eyes occurs. In carrier animals such as canines, felines and mustelids, clinical signs such as: respiratory distress, ascites and hemoptisis may develop. In Ecuador, there are few studies on feline heartworm and they are limited exclusively in canines. Heartworm infection is a very different disease in cats than in dogs. Dogs are natural hosts for the heartworm, while cats are not. In cats, the disease is caused by the physical size of the worms and the ability to obstruct blood flow to the heart. In cats, the disease is caused by an inflammatory reaction with the presence of the worms. Heartworm disease has been reported almost all over the world, in tropical and subtropical riparian áreas or with constant humidity, which provide the ideal ecological conditions for the development of the osquito vector. It is adpting to áreas with a continental climate, in which its transmission is limited to the temperate and warm seasons. Through the Woo test, tests will be carried out on cats, in the city of Guayaquil, in order to determine the presence of Microfilariae with the help of a conventional light microscope.