BULLETIN LEADING THE FIGHT AGAINST HEARTWORM DISEASE SEPTEMBER HEARTWORM 2017 Q&A VOLUME 44 No. 3 Heartworm History: In What Year Was Heartworm First INSIDE THIS ISSUE Treated? Page 4 From the President Page 8 Research Update Abstracts from the Literature Page 14 Heartworm Hotline: Role of Heat Treatment in Diagnostics Page 19 NEW! Best Practices: Minimizing Heartworm Transmission in Relocated Dogs uestions from members, prac- published in the 1998 AHS Symposium 1 titioners, technicians, and the Proceedings. Dr. Roncalli wrote, “The Page 21 Qgeneral public are often submit- first trial to assess the efficacy of a Welcome Our New AHS ted to the American Heartworm Society microfilaricide (natrium antimonyl tar- Student Liaisons (AHS) via our website. Two of our AHS trate) was conducted some 70 years Board members, Dr. John W.McCall and ago (1927) in Japan by S. Itagaki and R. Page 25 Dr. Tom Nelson, provided the resources Makino.2 Fuadin (stibophen), a trivalent In the News: Surgeons to answer this question: In What Year antimony compound, was tested, intra- Remove a Heartworm from Was Heartworm First Treated? venously, as a microfilaricide by Popescu the Femoral Artery of a Cat The first efforts to treat canine heart- in 1933 in Romania and by W.H. Wright worm disease date back to the 1920s. Dr. and P.C. Underwood in 1934 in the USA. Page 26 Nelson referenced a review article by Dr. In 1949, I.C. Mark evaluated its use Quarterly Update Raffaele Roncalli, “Tracing the History of intraperitoneally.” What’s New From AHS? Heartworms: A 400 Year Perspective,” Continues on page 7 American Heartworm Society / PO Box 8266, Wilmington, DE 19803-8266 Become an American Heartworm Society www.heartwormsociety.org / [email protected] fan on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter! OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS PLATINUM LEVEL PO Box 8266 Wilmington, DE 19803-8266 [email protected] www.heartwormsociety.org Mission Statement The mission of the American Heartworm Society is to lead the vet- erinary profession and the public in the understanding of heartworm disease. Heartworm Vision The vision of the American Heartworm Society is a world without heartworm. 2016 TRIENNIAL SYM POSIUM You Could Make a Difference SILVER LEVEL Help us in our mission to lead the veterinary profession and the public in understanding heartworm disease. We have committees that could use your expertise and enthusiasm. Contact us at [email protected] 2 AMERICAN HEARTWORM SOCIETY BULLETIN www.heartwormsociety.org 2017 EXECUTIVE BOARD Officers Dr. Christopher J. Rehm, Sr. Dr. Tony Rumschlag Dr. Patricia Payne President Vice President Editor Rehm Animal Clinic, P.C. Elanco Emeritus Faculty Mobile, AL Greenfield, IN Kansas State University Manhattan, KS Dr. Stephen Jones Dr. Bianca Zaffarano Past-President Secretary/Treasurer Lakeside Animal Hospital Iowa State University Moncks Corner, SC Ames, Iowa Board Members Dr. Elizabeth Clyde Clyde’s Animal Clinic Mattoon, IL Dr. Christopher Duke Dr. Tom Nelson Bienville Animal Medical Center Animal Medical Center Ocean Springs, MS Anniston AL Dr. Brian DiGangi Senior Director of Shelter Medicine Dr. Andrew Moorhead Dr. Jenni Rizzo ASPCA University of Georgia Mission Pet Emergency Gainesville, FL Athens, GA San Antonio, TX Ex-Officio — Non-Voting Dr. Chris Adolph Dr. Doug Dr. John McCall Dr. Robert Zoetis Carithers Associate Editor Zolynas Tulsa, OK Symposium Professor Emeritus Bayer HealthCare Program Chair University of GA Kansas City, MO Boehringer Athens, GA Ingelheim Duluth, GA Dr. Marisa Ames Dr. Craig Parks Colorado State Dr. Elizabeth Virbac University Hodgkins Fort Worth, TX Fort Collins, CO Ceva Animal Health Lenexa, KS Association Management Team Dr. Kathy Gloyd Bonnie Gamble Robin Hipple PR CONTACT ELEVATE DVM ELEVATE DVM (Bulletin) Sue O’Brien Wilmington, DE bonnie.gamble@ ELEVATE DVM Sue K. O’Brien Communications [email protected] heartwormsociety.org [email protected] [email protected] Sonya Hennessy Lisa Scott (Heartworm University) ELEVATE DVM ELEVATE DVM [email protected] [email protected] AMERICAN HEARTWORM SOCIETY BULLETIN www.heartwormsociety.org 3 FROM THE PRESIDENT Time Flies, Science Does Not journals before making changes in our Guidelines or recommendations. There are many nuances in the art of treating infected pets for heartworm. We hear the cries to shorten or make our treatment protocol easier. We simply will not change what has worked so well until we have science to back up any changes the board deems necessary. TRANSLATING Christopher J. Rehm, Sr., DVM, President RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE t seems like just yesterday we were gearing up for the 15th AHS Triennial SCIENCE AND Research has given us safe and effec- ISymposium, held last September RESEARCH BACK UP tive products to prevent and treat heart- in New Orleans. How time flies! We EVERYTHING WE DO worm disease and infection. Sometimes are very pleased to report that the 2016 I bemoan the fact that many have been Symposium broke the attendance record AT AHS spoiled by how well these products set in 2013, received excellent reviews work. I see a good bit of noncompliance As an AHS Board member and now from attendees, and is on the way to in my practice where, thanks to neigh- your President, I attend many meetings having a record number of articles pub- bors and good community compliance, and get many questions. We also receive lished in the Symposium proceedings in a client gets lucky and their pet is not many questions on the AHS website Parasites & Vectors! exposed during those lapses in prevention (heartwormsociety.org) (see page 1 of While time is flying by, science is dosing. We still have to make the plea this issue for the AHS response to a trying to keep up with new topics, new to our clients on behalf of our patients to recent question on the history of heart- information, and new developments protect their pets all year long, with either worm treatment). Practitioners want in the very interesting and complicat- every-30-day dosing or every-6-month answers and guidance, as do pet owners, ed parasite we love to study. Over the injections. We must get our clinic teams, researchers, and teachers of our future years I have heard many AHS Board our colleagues, our teachers in colleges veterinarians. We are working hard to get members, especially past presidents, of veterinary medicine – in all areas of the those answers, but science and research say “I just did not know how much I did country – and the public to buy in to every take time. We have a great team of board not know” about heartworm disease and pet, every visit, every time, and no pet members who communicate regularly infection. I thought I had a pretty good left behind in the fight against this deadly to be sure we get good, solid, accurate grasp on the subject until I sat in on my parasite. The pathology is too devastating information out to our practitioners, techs, first board meeting in 2010. My head was and often lingers for years after treatment, and the public. spinning with all the information, ques- even until the death of the pet. For example, I am very proud of the tions, studies, and efforts that the AHS fact that we reference all the information works on so diligently and so tirelessly in our Guidelines. We also wait until new behind the scenes. research is published in peer-reviewed 4 AMERICAN HEARTWORM SOCIETY BULLETIN www.heartwormsociety.org Caution Federal (USA) law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. Indications SENTINEL® SPECTRUM® (milbemycin oxime/lufenuron/praziquantel) is indicated for the prevention of heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis; for the prevention and control of flea populations Ctenocephalides( felis); and for the treatment and control of adult roundworm (Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina), adult hookworm (Ancylostoma caninum), adult whipworm (Trichuris vulpis), and adult tapeworm (Taenia pisiformis, Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus) infections in dogs and to the efforts of AHS Board member puppies two pounds of body weight or greater and six weeks of age and older. Dosage and Administration EDUCATION Dr. Jenni Rizzo, we are actively increasing SENTINEL SPECTRUM should be administered orally, once every month, at the minimum dosage of 0.23 mg/lb (0.5 mg/kg) milbemycin oxime, 4.55 mg/lb (10 mg/kg) AND OUTREACH veterinary student participation in lufenuron, and 2.28 mg/lb (5 mg/kg) praziquantel. For heartworm prevention, give once monthly for at least 6 months after exposure to mosquitoes. ARE CRITICAL TO AHS (for more on this, see page 21). These are the future researchers and Dosage Schedule Milbemycin Lufenuron Praziquantel ACHIEVING OUR practitioners who will bring us new Body Oxime per per per Number of Weight chewable chewable chewable chewables breakthroughs in heartworm prevention, MISSION 2 to 2.3 mg 46 mg 22.8 mg One diagnostics, and treatment. 8 lbs. 8.1 to If this disease were truly understood, 5.75 mg 115 mg 57 mg One I started my letter talking about the 25 lbs. then everyone would do everything in 25.1 to great AHS Symposia of the past. Time 11.5 mg 230 mg 114 mg One their power to make sure their beloved 50 lbs. flies—in two short years we will be in 50.1 to 23.0 mg 460 mg 228 mg One pet or patient was never exposed and if New Orleans again, at the same world- 100 lbs. Over Administer the appropriate combination of chewables exposed, would have prevention on board class venue, the Ritz Carlton. We can only 100 lbs. to protect the pet from developing heart- imagine the findings of scientific research To ensure adequate absorption, always administer SENTINEL SPECTRUM to dogs worm disease.