Changes

disease is transmitted by mosquito bites and there are more than 70 species of mosquito that are able to transmit infection; Aedes, Anopheles and Culex are the most common vector species. Heartwoem disease has been reported in many countries with temperate and is particularly prevalent in the USA, Canada, and southern Europe. The introduction of the PETS travel scheme has increased the concern over Dirofilariasis in the UK.

disease is transmitted by mosquito bites and there are more than 70 species of mosquito that are able to transmit infection; Aedes, Anopheles and Culex are the most common vector species. Heartwoem disease has been reported in many countries with temperate and is particularly prevalent in the USA, Canada, and southern Europe. The introduction of the PETS travel scheme has increased the concern over Dirofilariasis in the UK.

Infected mosquitos are capable of transmitting HW infections to humans, but there are no reports of such infections becoming patent. Maturation of the infective larvae may progress to the point where they reach the lungs, become encapsulated, and die. The dead larvae precipitate granulomatous reactions called “coin lesions,” which are medically significant because radiographically they appear similar to metastatic lung cancer.

Dirofilarias does have zoonotic potential: infected mosquitos can transmit Dirofilaria immitis to humans, but the infection does not become patent. The infective larvae instead reach the lungs, become encapsulated, and die causing granulomatous reactions called "coin lesions" in the process. These are only imporant because they may be confused with neoplastic metastasis to the lungs on radiography^merck.

HW infection rates in other companion animals such as ferrets and cats tend to parallel those in dogs in the same geographic region, but usually at a lower prevalence. No age predilection has been reported in ferrets or cats, but male cats have been reported to be more susceptible than females. Indoor and outdoor ferrets and cats can be infected. Other infections in cats, such as those caused by the feline leukemia virus or feline immunodeficiency virus, are not predisposing factors.

==Life Cycle==

==Life Cycle==