Treatment and prevention of natural heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) infections in red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) with selamectin and ivermectin
Lan J, Fu Y, Yang Z, Zhang Z, Wang C, Luo L, Liu L, Gu X, Wang S, Peng X, Yang G.
Abstract
Ten of the 48redpandasin the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan province, China, died in 2006 after prolonged periods of depression, weight loss, and mucocutaneous membrane xanthochromia. During postmortem examination, live heartworms were found in the right cardiac ventricles and pulmonary arteries of all 10 animals.Selamectinandivermectinwere used for clinical prophylaxis in the remainingredpandasbetween December 2006 and November 2010. We observed a gradual decrease in morbidity and mortality during this period. As a consequence of our prophylaxis program, dirofilariosis did not occur in the remainingredpandasat Chengdu Research Base during 2010.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Parasitol Int.2012 Jun;61(2):372-4. doi: 10.1016/j.parint.2012.01.006. Epub 2012 Jan 24.
Read full text:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1383576912000074
