Mouse Anti-Canine Heartworm (CHW) Monoclonal Antibody-Detection

Dirofilaria immitis is a parasitic nematode, commonly known as the dog heartworm, which primarily infects dogs but can also affect cats and other mammals. This worm is transmitted through mosquitoes, which serve as vectors for the microfilariae, the larval stage of the parasite. Once inside the host, the microfilariae develop into adult worms, which can grow to considerable lengths and reside in the host's pulmonary arteries and right ventricle of the heart. The adult worms cause damage by obstructing blood flow, leading to heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and potentially, a syndrome known as caval syndrome when worms obstruct the inferior vena cava. The microfilariae circulate in the bloodstream and can cause anemia and organ damage due to their presence.