Necropsies were performed on 630 adult cats in northern Florida to determine the prevalence and risk factors for heartworm infection in cats of this region. Heartworms were identified in 4.9% of cats, and serological evidence of heartworm exposure was present in 17% of cats. Not all cats from which heartworms were recovered were seropositive for heartworm antigen or antibody. There was no association between heartworm infection and co-infection with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Male cats were at higher risk of infection with heartworm, FeLV, or FIV than were females. Because even a single heartworm can cause clinical disease or death in cats, the authors conclude that cats in this region should receive heartworm prophylaxis to prevent heartworm infection.
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November/December 2003
Infectious|
November 01 2003
Prevalence and Risk Factors for Heartworm Infection in Cats From Northern Florida
Julie K. Levy, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVIM;
Julie K. Levy, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVIM
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences (Levy, Snyder, Taveres, Hooks, Pegelow, Salute), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610 and the
Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Public Health (Slater, Hughes), College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843
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Patti S. Snyder, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVIM;
Patti S. Snyder, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVIM
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences (Levy, Snyder, Taveres, Hooks, Pegelow, Salute), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610 and the
Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Public Health (Slater, Hughes), College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843
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Larissa M. Taveres, BA;
Larissa M. Taveres, BA
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences (Levy, Snyder, Taveres, Hooks, Pegelow, Salute), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610 and the
Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Public Health (Slater, Hughes), College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843
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Jennifer L. Hooks, BS;
Jennifer L. Hooks, BS
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences (Levy, Snyder, Taveres, Hooks, Pegelow, Salute), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610 and the
Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Public Health (Slater, Hughes), College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843
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Mike J. Pegelow, BS;
Mike J. Pegelow, BS
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences (Levy, Snyder, Taveres, Hooks, Pegelow, Salute), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610 and the
Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Public Health (Slater, Hughes), College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843
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Margaret R. Slater, DVM, PhD;
Margaret R. Slater, DVM, PhD
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences (Levy, Snyder, Taveres, Hooks, Pegelow, Salute), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610 and the
Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Public Health (Slater, Hughes), College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843
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Kathy L. Hughes, DVM, MS;
Kathy L. Hughes, DVM, MS
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences (Levy, Snyder, Taveres, Hooks, Pegelow, Salute), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610 and the
Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Public Health (Slater, Hughes), College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843
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Marc E. Salute, BS
Marc E. Salute, BS
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences (Levy, Snyder, Taveres, Hooks, Pegelow, Salute), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610 and the
Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Public Health (Slater, Hughes), College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843
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J Am Anim Hosp Assoc (2003) 39 (6): 533–537.
Citation
Julie K. Levy, Patti S. Snyder, Larissa M. Taveres, Jennifer L. Hooks, Mike J. Pegelow, Margaret R. Slater, Kathy L. Hughes, Marc E. Salute; Prevalence and Risk Factors for Heartworm Infection in Cats From Northern Florida. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 1 November 2003; 39 (6): 533–537. doi: https://doi.org/10.5326/0390533
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