Occult Dirofilariasis in a Dog

Occult heartworm infection in canines is defined as the presence of adult Dirofilaria immitis in dogs without concurrent circulatory microfilariae. An occult infection may be the outcome of prepatent infection, unisexual adult infections, worm sterility following therapy and immune-mediated sterile infection.The present piece of communication puts an insight into an occult dirofilarial infection in a bitch. It is concluded that an occult dirofialrial infection still poses a challenge to veterinarians. Hence, the diagnostic modalities underlying the definitive diagnosis of dirofilariasis is application of indirect FAT and ELISA in conjunction with routine Modified Knott's tests (multiple sampling), haematology, urinalysis, serum biochemical profile and thoracic radiography.