First report of Dirofilaria repens infection in a microfilaraemic cat from Romania

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The first report of D. repens infection in a cat from Romania, that presented simultaneously microfilariae in the blood and adult nematodes in the internal part of the scrotum. Knowing that the cat is an unusual host for both Dirofilaria species, because the production of microfilariae occurs only in 20% of cats with mature female and male nematodes and the microfilarial production from the blood usually lasts only a few months and at low load, veterinarians should be responsible for providing accurate information about the zoonotic transmission of parasite infections from pets, as well as gathering more data regarding the prevalence and pathogenicity of D. repens in this animal reservoir.

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